_Harry_
The invited schools arrived in their own spectacular ways. First, Beauxbatons came flying in a carriage, pulled by Abraxs. They were a group of girls, all dress in light blue clothes. After them, Durstram emerged from the bottom of the Black Lake, in a boat that resembled one from a pirate movie. They were the contrary of Beauxbatons, a group of boys dressed in heavy dark red clothes.
Everyone was seated, Beauxbatons and Durstram in the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables.
-Welcome to Hogwarts, I hope that you enjoy your stay here - said to the Beauxbatons and Durstram students- now before I explain the rules, let's enjoy the dinner that the elves have prepared for us.
He was sitting with Thalia, Neville, the Weasley twins and the Gryffindor chasers. Neville had been told about their secret, he confessed that he was a demigod too, son of Demeter. Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia and Katie had joined them in their offerings to the Gods. His relation with Ron and Hermione was nonexistent, they were both seated away from him, Weasley eating like a pig, Granger didn't touch her plate complaining loudly about slaving.
Dinner was over when Dumbledore rose again.
-Now that dinner is over, I am happy to announce the official beginning of the Triwizard Tournament.
Bagman appeared in that moment carrying trunk, he opened it, taking out an ancient looking cup that he placed in a pedestrian in front of the Headmaster.
-This is the Triwizard cup, it would help us determine the competing students from each school. It also is the trophy that will be lifted by the winner.
A spark shot from the headmaster wand, and flames filled the inside of the cup.
- Every student who desires to participate must write their name and school in a piece of paper, and throw it into the cup. To prevail from an underage wizard to enter their names, an age line will be placed.
The headmaster waved his wand, a flaming circle form around the cup. It shinned for a couple of seconds before fading.
- Finally, Madam Maxime, Headmaster Karkarof and I had decided that this year every champion would be allowed to have help. As it is forbidden in the rules that a teacher of any competing school to help, I have asked one of my oldest friends to send some of his best students. These students will arrive tomorrow for dinner, they would gladly help anyone who asks, but their priority will always be the champions. They have different abilities and will attack if provoked or insulted. So please don't offend them, and wellcome them as I know you all will. You had until tomorrow at dinner to submit your name to the cup, the choosing ceremony will be after dinner. Now it's late, all of you to bed.
31st of October dawned cloudy and windy. Students didn't seem to be bothered by the weather, after all, there were used by the Scottish Autumn by now. Everyone was excited not every day was Halloween, dinner that day was a banquet, more than the one of the previous day. The Great Hall was decorated with huge carved pumpkins and bats flew over the high ceilings. But for Harry it wasn't a day to celebrate, it was the anniversary of his mother's death and the star of 10 years of hell at Durskaban. Even more, every year at Hogwarts something bad had happened: 1st-year troll, 2nd-year the opening of the chamber, 3rd-year a suspected criminal had tried to enter the Gryffindor common room, that it turned out to be his godfatther was irrelevant as he didn't knew at that time. Nothing out of normal had happened during the day, so by night, he was ready for whatever was going to happen. His bet was that his name would come out of the cup, and he would be forced to participate. He had spent all the time with someone since the cup was placed, so he would have witnesses who could say that he hadn't put his name, it would probably won't work but if his suspicions are true... He had read about the Tournament and about the awful amount of death participant, and he didn't want it, he had said it out loud that morning in the common room for everyone to hear.
Dinner was over, everyone had their attention put on the goblet, its fire had changed into the previous blue to an intense red.
- It seems that the goblet had made its decision. When I say your name, please stand up and go through that door. You will receive more information inside that room.
A slightly charred piece of parchment flew to the headmaster's hand.
-The champion of Beauxbaton is, Fleur Delacour
A wave of applause was heard from the Beauxbaton contingent, even though some of the other girls appeared to be crying.
Another parchment came out of the goblet
-The champion of Durstram is, Viktor Krum
This time more people applauded most likely because of him being a famous Quidditch player. Other boys of his school clapped on his back.
The third and last parchment
-And finally, the champion of Hogwarts is, Cedric Diggory.
This time thunderous applause was heard, even the Slytherin table was cheering at the school representant, probably happy that Cedric wasn't a Gryffindor, and he was a pureblood.
The fire in the goblet went out, and Harry thought that maybe this year it would be normal. He and his friend were about to celebrate the achievement, when the goblet light up again this time with greenish flames, expelled another parchment and went out again. All of them knew that it was his name in it, the fates clearly hated him.
-Harry Potter -the headmaster called
Harry didn't want to go, he hadn't put his name, he didn't want to participate.
-Harry Potter -the Headmaster called again
-Go, Harry, I will call father -said Thalia
Harry didn't have another option, but to get up and follow Dumbledore, he could see as he went to the side chamber Thalia going out of the Hall, he just hoped that his father could get him out, or at least help him survive.
Harry got into the after chamber, the other champions were seated in the sofas around the fire, ignoring each other. The door creaked as he opened it, the older three students turn to see him.
- What is happening -Fleur asked- do they want us back?
The Headmasters of the three school entered, followed by Ludo Bagman, one of the organisers of the tridamned tournament, and Barty Crouch, the International affairs ministry official
-Extraordinary -Ludo said happily- astonish, ladies and gentlemen let me announce the four champion.
-Is this some kind of British joke? -said Krum not too happy.
-I am afraid that is not, Ms Delacour, Mr Krum and Mr Diggory. Harry's name had come out of the Goblet.
-I didn't put it there, I swear, I don't want to participate, I just want a normal year -Harry said angry, raising his voice with every word.
-Mr Potter your name had come out of the goblet, you had to participate. -said Bagman smiling
-Harry, did you put your name in the goblet -ask Dumbledore
-No -he answered
-Did you ask someone to do so, an older student? -Dumbledore insisted.
-I didn't -he said- I swear I didn't put my name, nor I want to participate .
- He clearly did. -said Snape, appearing through the shadows- he is just an attention seeking brat, just like his father.
-This is not possible, Hogwarts can't have two participants -Maxime said
- If we would have known that your age line didn't work we would have brought a bigger selection of students. -Karkarov added- If Hogwarts had two participants, it's just fair that the other schools have two too.
-I am afraid Igor, that that is not possible, once the goblet's fire extinguishes, it can't be ignated again until the next tournament. -Dumbledore said, then turning to Harry added- and you Harry, will have to participate. If your name comes out of the goblet, you are bound to the competition.
-Like father, like son -murmured Snape
-Albus, there's have to be another way -McGonagall whispered
-I sorry, but the goblet had decided.
- I didn't put my name, I swear. -he said, and seeing the disbelief in the other people in the room he added- I swear it on the Styx.
Thunder resonated, through the room. Everyone looked surprised, it was a known unbreakable bound, they wait for something to happen to him, but he wasn't lying and Styx didn't come to claim his soul.
- It seems that Mr Potter was telling the truth, but that doesn't change anything, you will have to participate. -Dumbledore said, and for the first time, the Headmaster looked as old as his one-hundred years.- Maybe we should continue tomorrow, it's getting late. -He turned to the other participants- Come tomorrow at 10 to this room, you will meet the advisors there. Minerva if you could tell the students what had happened, tell them the advisors will be presented tomorrow. And explain the situation to the advisors too.
_Thalia_
Sneaking out of the Great Hall wasn't a difficult matter, nor was finding an empty place. There was a bathroom close, she entered the cubicles and create a rainbow with her wand.
-Oh, Iris Goddess of the rainbow show me Zeus, Mount Olympus. -she said throwing a dracma into the rainbow.
Zeus image appeared in the rainbow
- Thalia, is there any problem? Where is Harry?
-That's the problem -she answered- remember the Tournament that was going to happen in the school, well Harry had been chosen, unwilling, and we don't know why.
- Uhm, well right now I can't go, it's against the rules, but I will see if I can do something. -he didn't seem to like the idea of not being able to appear, and probably blast into oblivion whoever was responsible of his son being into a dangerous show- I will see both of you this Sunday as we already decide. Call me if there is news about it. Take care, and see you on Sunday.
It went as good as she expected, hopefully on Sunday they will have a way to get her brother out of the Tournament. She went to the common room, with some luck she will arrive sooner than the rest and stop them to throw a party, something highly possible, as Gryffindors seems to love to celebrate everything.
She wasn't the first one, there were already some students. Most of them were trying to put banners and other party things. the Gryffindor Quidditch team was there too, thinking like her, that what had happened wasn't something to celebrate. The Weasley twins were treating everyone who thought the contrary, that they will be pranked so bad they will end up in the infirmary, that stopped most of them.
She had never shown her demigod powers at Hogwarts, even though everyone knew who she was, and some had asked her to show what she could do, she had kept her abilities hidden. But tonight she wasn't in a good mood, and those people didn't get the idea that Harrys choosing wasn't something to celebrate. She first shot to the banners, that burned and turned into ashes, some of them got the memo and retired to their rooms. There was just a couple of student, led by Cormac McLaggen, a student from her year. McLaggen was insufferable, and she had been thinking for weeks for an excuse to shoot some lightings at the idiot, she didn't overpower it, but she hit him square in the chest and threw him against the wall.
-No party.-she said angrily
The rest of the group run upstairs, soon followed by a dazed McLaggen.
The door opened and the rest of the students poured into the room, some went to their dormitories other hanged in the common room with their friends. Most of them were talking about how a fourth-year student had entered in the tournament. Most of them were envious, as they had wanted to enter too. No one was complaining as loudly as Ronald Weasley, poor Dean and Seamus were enduring his complaints.
After a couple of minutes, the door opened again this time Harry entered, accompanied by Neville, that had stayed behind to wait for Harry, and Professor McGonnagal.
_Harry_
Everyone started leaving the room, Cedric and him were the last champions to leave.
-I believe you, Harry, I will try to convince the Puffs that you didn't do it to try to steal glory from our house. -Cedric said before leaving.
No other words were exchanged. Waiting outside for him and Professors McGonagall were Sprout and Neville. Sprout had a sad smile, she was happy that one of his Puffs had made it into the tournament, but worried that a minor student, even if said student was from another house, was put into unnecessary danger. McGonnagal looked worried, more than his companion, that one of his favoured students was once again into a dangerous, with highly death toll, tournament. Neville stood there with a reassuring smile, saying that everything will be alright.
Cedric and Professor Sprout left the Great Hall, direction Hufflepuff common room, while He was escorted by Neville and McGonagall to the Gryffindor common room.
- Don't worry Harry we believe you, at least the rest of the Quidditch team and I do -Neville said, breaking the silence -They went to the common room, to try and stop any kind of party.
Professor McGonagall looked proud of his words.
- Mr Potter, I know that I hadn't been the best head of the house to you, but if you need any help with the tournament tell me. I may not be able to help you directly, but I could try to guide you, to someone out of the school, that may do. And if you need help with another thing, school-related or personal, feel free to come to my office.
Harry didn't know what to say, I was true that she hadn't been any help the previous years, but she seems sincere like she was trying to change his opinion on her.
-Thank you, Professor McGonagall, I appreciate it.
They arrived at the common room, it appeared that the joint efforts of the Quidditch team and Thalia had evaded any attempt of celebration.
-It appears that it won't be necessary to tell you, that no party will be celebrated in regards to Mr Potter's entree on the tournament. -Said Professor McGonagall before leaving.
Everyone in the room remained silent, he sat in one of the sofas, his friends sat around him, his sister by his side. They were forming a shield between him and the other ones, like trying to dare anyone to past through them to reach him. But that didn't last long.
-How did you do it mate? -Ronald Weasley said.
The guy was insufferable, in his mind, for some unknown reason, they were still friends, even though he had made it clear more times that he could count, that they weren't.
-You could at least share the secret with your best friend? How did you cross the age-line? How did you make it so your name came out as a fourth champion? You know what, you are the best Hogwarts champion, much better than that Diggory.
The Weasley twins got up, marched to their younger brother, grabbed him by the arms and took him upstairs to the dormitory. Probably because they wanted to yell at him, how much of an idiot he was making himself. Or probably to save him from Thalia's ire, there were sparks flying from her fingertips. The rest of the students still in the common room went upstairs too, almost running, scared of what could they do to them if they dare to say a word. The Quidditch team were the last to leave, feeling that he and Thalia needed some time alone.
-I talked to father -she said, as soon as they were alone- he couldn't come right now, but he promised that his visit next Sunday was unmoving. He said he will try to find a way to get you out of the tournament, or in worst case scenario help you with it. And he was going to contact some friends for help too. You are not alone Harry, we are all behind you.
She hugged him, wished him good night and went to bed, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He didn't want to go to his bedroom, Ron was there, but he couldn't sleep in one of the sofas, and Neville was on his side. So with a sigh, he got up and went to his bed, leaving the common room totally empty.