Chapter 6: Young Champions

I am enjoying my time here at Hogwarts. It is Thursday night, the day we are going to find out who was supposed to be selected as champions in the Triwizard Tournament. I am excited about this because I have never attended an event like this. We took our seats when we arrived in the Great Hall. I sat down next to Margo and Hermione. Nala sat behind me.

"Sit down. Please." Professor Dumbledore said.

"I wonder who will be picked," Kiara said.

"Well, we're about to find out," Kovu said.

Professor Dumbledore began his speech again. "Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for: The Champion Selection."

Professor Dumbledore raised his arm. With the movement of his hand, the flames began to extinguish. Professor Dumbledore walked over to the Goblet. I watched with amazement when the flames from the Goblet turned red. Professor Dumbledore grabbed the parchment that fell out of the Goblet.

"The Durmstrang champion is Victor Krum." Professor Dumbledore announced. Everyone from the Durmstrang school clapped and cheered for Krum. His friends congratulated him as he went over to Professor Dumbledore. Krum shook his hand with Professor Dumbledore and walked away.

The flames from the Goblet turned red again. Professor Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment that flew out from the Goblet. "The champion for Beauxbatons... is Fleur Delacuor!" Professor Dumbledore announced.

Fleur's friends applauded for her, cheering her on as Fleur walked over to Professor Dumbledore to shake his hand. After Fleur walked away, Professor Dumbledore caught another piece of parchment paper.

"The Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory!" Professor Dumbledore announced. The school roared with cheers when he was announced champion. Cedric smiled when he shook his hand with Professor Dumbledore. Soon, the cheering died down when he walked away.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions! But in the end, only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions, this vessel of victory... the Triwizard Cup!" Professor Dumbledore shouted. The Triwizard Cup was reviled. Holy shit, it was amazing! The Triwizard cup shimmered with bright silver and blue. Everyone cheered at the sight of the cup, and so did I. Man, I wish I could possess something as magnificent as that.

But the cheering died down when the Goblet's flames were spinning out of control. The flames turned red again. Professor Dumbledore caught the parchment paper that was thrown out of the Goblet.

"Harry Potter." Professor Dumbledore muttered. Students began whispering to one another. Wait, what? There is no way my dad could be the champion. No way.

"Harry Potter." Professor Dumbledore said again. Everyone gasped, looking in our direction.

"HARRY POTTER!" Professor Dumbledore yelled. I looked over at Harry, who looked just as shocked as I was. Harry hesitated for a moment. Hermione nudged him on the shoulder.

"Go on, Harry. Harry, for goodness sake!" Hermione said impatiently, practically pushing Harry. Harry walked over to Professor Dumbledore who looked pissed. I looked over my shoulder toward Ron and Hermione. Ron looked pissed as well. No, I would say he was livid. Professor Dumbledore angrily handed Harry the piece of parchment paper. As Harry was walking away, People were yelling at him.

"He's a cheat!" One boy yelled.

"He's not even 17 yet!" Another boy yelled.

Harry walked past the professors nervously. Professor McGonagall put a comforting hand on his shoulder before walking away again. I leaned into Margo's chest for comfort. Just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, the flames turned red again.

"What the...?" Jefferson said, looking at the Goblet with confusion.

"Wait, weren't there supposed to be only three champions?" Aunt Sarafina said.

Professor Dumbledore grabbed a piece of parchment paper that fell out of the Goblet. "... Lana Potter."

I almost passed out. How? How?

"LANA POTTER!" Professor Dumbledore yelled. My whole body was shaking. I refused to move away from Margo's lap.

"Mommy." I whimpered, looking up at Hermione.

Hermione nudged me, urging me to go towards Professor Dumbledore. "It's okay sweetie, go before he gets pissed," Hermione said.

"It'll be okay, I promise," Margo said, kissing me.

"Here, I'll go with you," Nala said. I slowly got up from Margo's lap, with Nala following behind me. I glanced at Miguel and Scar as I walked toward Professor Dumbledore. Just like Ron, they were livid. I gulped, knowing a punishment was in store for me later tonight. Professor Dumbledore didn't say a word when he handed me the piece of parchment paper. I avoided everybody the best I could when I was walking past them. The kids were badmouthing me as I walked by.

"She's a cheat too!" The same boy yelled.

"Like father like daughter!" Another boy yelled.

"Leave her out of it!" Nala shouted at the kids, turning me away from them. The professors just gave me looks. I walked past a professor in all-black robes, black greasy hair, and cold black eyes. Earlier, Harry introduced me to him as Professor Snape. I've never actually met him before, but from what I could tell, he did not seem like a nice guy. I had some tears forming in my eyes when I made my way to Professor Dumbledore's office.

When I passed Professor McGonagall, she put a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay sweetie, just go wait in Professor Dumbledore's office. We will see what we can do." Professor McGonagall said. Nodding, I continued on my way to the headmaster's office. Once we finally reached the office, I met up with Harry who looked shocked to see me here.

"Lana? What are you doing here?" Harry asked me.

With tears streaming down my face, I hugged Harry tightly and began to have a mental breakdown. "I'm sorry Dad... The Goblet picked my name and I... It wasn't my fault! I wasn't the one who put it in I swear! And now Miguel and Scar are going to beat me later! Ron is angry with me! I don't know what to do!" I wailed. I continued to cry uncontrollably. Harry and Nala pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Shh... don't worry sweetie. Everything's going to be okay. I don't know why the Goblet picked us. But we'll figure it out." Harry said.

"But I don't want to deal with Miguel and Scar!" I sobbed.

"I won't let them touch you. I promise." Nala said. Just then, the adults stormed into the office along with some of my family members. My parents, Miles, Gwen, Uru, and Ahadi were there as well as Scar and Miguel. I saw my wife, Margo in the group. I was surprised to see my grandparents, Rio and Jefferson as well. They looked angry. Everyone was angry.

"It's wrong, I tell you!" Madam Maxime yelled.

"You French tart. Everything is a conspiracy theory with you!" Karkroff yelled.

"Quiet! I can't think!" Professor Dumbledore shouted. Professor Dumbledore stormed up to me and Harry. "Harry! Lana!" He roared, pinning Harry against the wall.

"Did you two put your names in that Goblet?" Professor Dumbledore demanded.

"No, sir," Harry said.

Before I could react, Miguel attacked me, pushing me down and pinning me to the ground. "What the hell are you doing, huh?! You think you can go behind my back!?" Miguel yelled.

"Miguel, stop this!" Miles yelled.

"Stay out of it, Miles!" Miguel yelled. Miguel turned his attention back to me. He slapped me hard across the face. "You dirty lying whore! You put your name in that Goblet when you were not supposed to! Now you have to pay the price!" Miguel yelled. As Miguel raised his hand again, Gwen and Nala stopped him before his hand could connect with my face.

"NO ONE CALLS MY WIFE A WORE!" Nala roared. Nala attacked Miguel with such force that she knocked him over. Margo quickly rushed over to me to help me up. I trembled in Margo's arms as I watched Nala and Miguel fighting, destroying the office.

"Miguel, Nala, that's enough," Gwen said firmly, stepping in between the two to break up the fight.

"Leave her alone or you'll regret it," Margo said. Miguel grumbled but got off of me. His red eyes were still glittering with anger.

Professor Dumbledore turned his attention back to me and Harry. "Harry, Lana, are you absolutely sure you two did not put your name in that Goblet?" Professor Dumbledore asked, his voice still demanding.

"No sir." Harry and I said, trying our best to remain calm.

"Did you guys ask the other students to put your names in the Goblet?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"You two are absolutely sure?" Professor Dumbledore asked again.

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"I swear I didn't put my name in the Goblet!" I shouted.

"Shut up Lana!" Miguel yelled, slapping me across the face.

"But of course, they're lying!" Madam Maxime yelled, waving her arm.

"The hell they are! The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionably powerful magical object! Only an exceptionally powerful Confundus Charm could have hoodwinked it. Magic way beyond the talents of a fourth year and first year." Professor Moody said.

"Yeah, they couldn't have possibly put their names in." Margo chimed in.

"You seemed to have given this a fair bit of thought, Mad-Eye," Karkaroff said.

"It was once my job to think as dark wizards do, Karkaroff. Perhaps you might remember." Professor Moody spat.

"This doesn't help, Alastor! Leave this to you, Barty." Professor Dumbledore said.

"The rules are absolute. The Goblet of Fire constituents a binding magical contract. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have no choice. They are as of tonight... a Triwizard champion." Crouch said.

"What?!" Everyone from my family shouted.

"No, she isn't competing!" Ahadi yelled. "I forbid it!"

"I'm afraid she has no choice. I'm sorry but I can't do anything. She must compete." Crouch said.

"Please, she's just a kid," Uru said.

"I'm sorry. She must compete." Crouch said. All my parents exchanged worried glances with one another. Ahadi was angry too. When we left Professor Dumbledore's office, Uru put her paw on my shoulder.

"Don't worry sweetie, we will figure it out. It's not your fault." Uru said.

"Thanks, Mom. I know I wanted to compete, but I realized how dangerous it was. I didn't want to compete like this either." I said.

"We will talk to the headmaster again and see if we can get you out of this," Margo said. I nodded, tears streaming down my face.

"Keep up, Lana! We don't have all day!" Scar yelled. Once we finally made it to the Gryffindor common room, we got ready for bed. I stayed quiet for most of the night because I was still in shock. My mind was spinning with lots of questions. How did my name and Harry's name get into the Goblet? Who could have done it and why? All I know is, my life is in danger, and so is Harry's.

After I finished getting ready for bed, my husband's stormed into my room. I groaned, knowing I was going to be in for another round of beatings.

"Unbelievable! Absolutely Unbelievable! You know what you did was wrong, right?" Miguel shouted, glaring at me with his arms crossed.

"You've been a very bad girl today, Lana," Scar growled.

"How many times do I have to tell you guys!? I did not put my name in that damn Goblet!" I yelled.

"Then why did the Goblet pick you, huh?" Miguel demanded.

I stayed silent, not knowing what to say.

"That's what I thought. I think it's time we teach her a lesson, don't you, Miguel?" Scar said with a smirk.

"Agreed," Miguel said.

I got scared when Miguel cracked his knuckles. Scar sharpened his claws

"You've been a bad girl, Lana. It's time for you to learn your place." Miguel says, his voice cold and calculating. Miguel steps forward and slaps me hard across the face.

"You've been nothing but trouble since we have been married," Scar said. Then why did you guys marry me? Just do us all a favor and leave my life I thought. My thoughts were interrupted when Scar swiped his paws at me with his claws. The claws made deep cuts into my skin.

Miguel steps forward and starts punching me in the stomach. I screamed in pain. I felt each blow as it lands. I try to put my hands up to defend myself but Miguel and Scar kept hitting me. I felt weak and helpless, knowing there is nothing I can do to defend myself from my abusers. I didn't have time to react when Scar swung his paw at me, hitting me in the jaw.

"Please, please, stop!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. But they didn't stop. They just kept going. Miguel kicked me hard in the ribs, knocking the wind out of me. Scar scratched me with his claws again. I tried to fight back again, but I couldn't. They're too strong and much bigger than I am.

I continue to feel their fists raining down on me, hitting me over and over again. I could feel myself slipping in and out of concussions. I don't know how long this lasts, but they eventually stopped. I lay there, bruised and bleeding, trying to catch my breath.

Miguel stands over me with his arms crossed over his chest again. "I hope you've learned your lesson," Miguel said.

I looked up at him, my vision blurred from tears. "What lesson?" I ask my voice barely a whisper.

Scar turns on the remote control to my shock collar. Scar shocks me. I screamed when I felt bolts of electricity coursing through my body. "That we're in charge." Scar adds, his expression cold and unforgiving.

"And you will obey us. You will do as we say or else there will be consequences. Understood?" Miguel said, his voice also cold.

I sat on my bed, my body shaking with fear, not knowing what to say. I snapped out of it when Miguel shocked me again. "I said, is that understood!?" Miguel yelled.

"Yes, Miguel," I said, my voice barely a whisper. They both leave the room. I don't know how much more of this abuse I can take. What I do know is that I need to get out of these relationships, fast.

I decided to talk to my father, Harry about this so I made my way to the boy's dormitories, still in tears. I was going to walk inside but I stopped when I heard Harry and Ron arguing.

"How did you and Lana do it?" Ron asked Harry. Harry stayed silent. "Never mind. Doesn't matter. Might have let your best friend know, though." Ron spat.

Harry turned around angrily. "Let you know what?" Harry demanded.

"You know bloody well what." Ron spat again.

"I didn't ask for this to happen, Ron. Neither did Lana. Okay? You're being stupid." Harry said.

"Yeah, that's me. Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's stupid friend." Ron said angrily, lying down in his bed. Harry stormed up to him.

"I didn't put my name in that cup. Nor did Lana. I don't want eternal glory, I just wanna be..." Harry stopped for a moment. Harry sighed before continuing. "Look, I don't know what happened tonight, and I don't know why. It just did."

Ron said nothing, turning over in his bed. Harry went back to his bed. Before going to sleep, Ron looked over at Harry. "Piss off," Ron said.

I sighed, leaving the boy's dormitories. My talk with Harry will have to wait until things cool down. Looks like Harry and Ron won't be talking for a long time. Hell, I don't think Ron will be talking to me either. This is going to be a long school year.