Edmund has strong feelings about the teaching methods of Professor Moody, while he can respect them he can also have a distaste for them, teaching Unforgivables right in front of victims. The indents of Neville's nails were still visible in Edmund's forearms, they even drew a little blood. Before Edmund could even comfort his best friend, the professor had requested Neville to return back to the classroom for a cup of tea.
At lunch, Hermione waltzed into The Three Broomsticks with a box in her hands, it was filled with badges. Edmund looked up from the name 'S.P.E.W.' and glanced over at Ron, who had a grimace on his face. Before the Weasley could get a word out, Edmund butted in. "What are your goals?"
"Short-term aims are securing fair wages and working conditions." Edmund tilted his head as he listened to her. He knows that elves like to be put to work but he hadn't done his research on house-elves, he wouldn't know if it was just nature or nurture. "Long-term is changing to law about non-wand use," Edmund grimaced, the wand law was tricky. "And trying to get an elf into the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, because they're quite underrepresented."
"How do we all do this?" Asked Harry.
"We start by recruiting members. I was thinking, maybe two Sickles to join, compensation for the badge. Edmund, you're the treasurer, Harry is secretary and Ron is our creative director." Edmund raised his eyebrows.
"How about I pay ten Sickles for us and the next two members." Edmund offered, "I think that having to pay would definitely be something people wouldn't want to do." Hermione beamed at him. Edmund stood up and looked at the clock that hung up in the Three Broomsticks. "We've got to get going, Harry."
The Gryffindor stood up at the same time a bell rang from the door. "Did I just miss you?" Lavender asked with a playful pout on her face.
Edmund shrugged, "Got to get robes made, maybe next time Lavender." He gave her a polite smile, "They're near the back." He said and the two siblings walked out of the Inn and down a street where they had never been before.
The Black just hoped that it was going to be a good suit, he had moved a class with Dumbledore to get it over with. He was aching to learn things from the headmaster again, especially with the announcement of the apprentice's participation. He was just glad that the whispers of the apprentice died down a bit, making space for him to finally breathe.
They walked up to the front desk and Edmund looked at the frail, elderly man who was standing there, his head up, waiting expectantly. "Hello," Edmund greeted the man and looked around at the different mannequins and fabrics. "We're Edmund Black and Harry Potter."
"So you are, good afternoon." The man smiled, "Come on up on that little platform, have you decided on which shoes you will be wearing?" Edmund blinked and glanced over at Harry, who merely shook his head, "Then we'll find you a nice pair of shoes." The old man waved his wand and shoes came flying out from between the shelves donned in fabrics and boxes.
Edmund couldn't quite follow what was happening all around them because all of the sudden there were five different measuring tapes measuring his lower body, there were fabrics going against his skin and with every shake of the man's head many more fabrics appeared. "Do you have a colour preference, or an idea?"
"I was thinking a black, white and red suit?" Edmund suggested while Harry just mentioned his colours, "Maybe no robe, but a blazer?"
The tailor raised his eyebrows, "Something muggle?"
"It wouldn't be muggle if it was made by you." Edmund said, weakly. The tailor just nodded and continued to make their suits, Harry didn't follow the same idea as him seeing that he had different shades of black and green against his skin.
They had to stand still for a total of two hours. They left with a stunned silence as the tailor had sent them off to head back to their school, stating that it would be sent with the carriages, so that he would be sure that the two of them didn't wrinkle it.
By the time October came, the club already had five members, including his group along with Neville and Susan. They've been trying to coax Padma into it but the girl was too busy with her parents, she kept muttering something about her dress outfit being made all wrong. At the dinner table was the only time Padma wouldn't be distracted,
Edmund clenched his jaw as he saw Hermione laugh at something Ron said, but his jealousy immediately dropped when he could see Lavender put her hand on Ron's arm and laugh as well, the Weasley looked smitten.
The Hufflepuff pulled his eyes away from Hermione and turned to the boy who tapped his shoulder. "Sorry about your arm." Neville whispered to him, the boy was saying that every few times ever since he had seen it left a faint scar on his arm.
"It's fine, Neville. I do it as well, a nasty habit if I say so." He grinned at the Longbottom, putting him at ease. "I'm sure the rest of his class would be less intense."
"I doubt that." Padma said with her mouth full of bread. "He seems like the type to get worse, especially since he only has a year to teach." Edmund pursed his lips and nodded slowly.
By the announcement of the class' next subject, Padma's theory was proven correct as they all stood in line to be put under the Imperius Curse by the retired auror. Edmund and Harry stood near the front as they watched their classmates do the most unusual things under the influence of the spell. A Slytherin had to hop around, Neville did some gymnastics but it seemed like no one was able to fight off the curse.
Edmund clenched his fist as the man pointed his finger at Edmund, "Black, you next." The man said menacingly. Draco gave the Black a concerned look and Edmund had to look another way to not show his annoyance, the Malfoy's had been rather intruding with their amount of letters, sent directly.
"Imperio!" The man casted and Edmund relaxed, his shoulders sagged down and his eyes slowly closed, all the alertness behind it fading away. Then came the rough voice of Mad-Eye, 'Spin around…Spin around' It felt like the lessons Edmund had with his Uncle Severus. Edmund took in a breath and opened his eyes to look at the professor once again.
"That's more like it." Moody said and curiously looked at Edmund. "Potter! You're up." Edmund just blinked a few more times before moving back to the class, trying to fit in between the peering eyes.
The class whispered to one another after they were dismissed by Professor Moody, the first one in the group stopped in their steps, causing Draco to sneer at them. "Can't bloody Ravenclaws walk?" The boy sniggered with his friends.
"Delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday the 30th October, lessons will end half an hour early. Students will return their bags and books to their dormitories and gather in front of the castle to greet our guests before the welcoming feast." Terry Boot read.
Edmund raised his eyebrows, "One week." He muttered.
"Wonder if Cedric knows." Susan said to Edmund, "Want to find him?"
Harry looked confused behind at the three Hufflepuffs - Neville didn't really say anything - and asked, "Cedric? Is he entering the tournament?" The Potter questioned.
Ron just scoffed, "That idiot, Hogwarts champion?" Ron questioned with a grimace on his face, as if Cedric had personally held a pile of dung under his nose. "He's just a Hufflepuff."
"Idiot?" Edmund repeated as he caught onto Ron's shoulder. "He has actually accomplished something, in his third year he was a seeker. You didn't even dare try-out."
Ron grabbed Edmund's hand from his shoulder and glared at Edmund. "You keep saying that you aren't Cedric's 'yes-man' but here you are defending him like his little guard dog."
Edmund glowered over Ron, "Yes-man? Guard dog?" He repeated, "Are you once again going to be this stupid, Weasley?"
"You should watch what you're saying." A hand was put on Edmund's shoulder, it was cold and the voice was from someone he could recognize in a second. "The 'yes-man' around here would be you, Weasley. Don't think no-one has noticed you run after Harry and Lavender. Can't choose between lover or friend, Weasley, you're so poor you can't afford to have both." Draco was acting as if he was talking against a toddler.
Ron moved to throw a punch at Draco but Edmund quickly gripped the weak fist. The Black glanced at Harry and nodded in the direction of the Great Hall. "I'll see you around, Harry." Draco and the Hufflepuffs moved to the Hufflepuff table, with Draco just standing there awkwardly. "I'm sorry for that." Edmund said quietly.
"I say we beat him up behind the stands." Draco suggested and Susan snorted. There was a familiarity between them that Edmund had noticed only a hint of.
"We'll leave it." Edmund shrugged, playing once again the bigger man in the scenario. Edmund never once looked in the direction of the Gryffindor table. "I've got better things to do."
Draco blinked, "You really should learn what side you're on."
"No sides, Draco." Edmund hummed after he took a sip of water. "Just trying to keep the peace."
Draco looked conflicted, the pure-blood nodded before making his way over to the Slytherin table, sitting between his friends with a pondering look on his face. Edmund picked up his plate and sat over at the Ravenclaw table with his friends, not looking over at the Gryffindor table which was next to Hufflepuff.
Edmund was in no mood for Ron's angry staring.
By the time the end of October came, the club already had five members, including his group along with Neville and Susan. They've been trying to coax Padma into it but the girl was too busy with her parents, she kept muttering something about her dress outfit being made all wrong.
The only time Ron and Edmund would talk was a hello, when Edmund needed something from Harry or when Ron joined Hermione to study in the library. Everywhere where Lavender was, Ron was. Edmund supposes that Ron is actually trying to be someone for Lavender.
The Great Hall had been decorated to a level that Edmund never knew of, he knew that they did a lot for Christmas but never to exceed for such an event. It made Edmund's hand sweat a lot more. They all stood outside, he could hear Harry, Hermione and Ron whispering amongst themselves but Edmund and his friends stayed quiet in anticipation.
Then a glimmer in the air and at the same time, Dumbledore let out an amused sound, "Aha! Unless I am wrong, I suppose the delegations from Beauxbatons are approaching." Edmund raised his eyebrow and stuffed his hands in his pocket.
"Abraxans." Edmund muttered in amazement. He had only caught a glimpse of them once in France. He supposes that is where the winged horses originated from. Only seconds after the magical horses landed, the carriage it was pulling along touched the ground. It was amusing to see it bounce a little, even.
Edmund straightened his posture on instinct when the tall woman stepped out of the carriage. Edmund followed Dumbledore's clap the moment the headmaster started. They exchanged a few words but Edmund kept his eyes on the carriage, he wondered if those lost girls from the World Cup were present.
About a dozen boys and girls emerged from the carriage and were standing behind Madame Maxime, shivering. Edmund pulled his wand out and casted the warmth spell over them before transfiguring his coat into a blanket. He handed it over to the closest girl before turning to his fellow housemates, "Come on now, we're used to the cold eh?" He said and after a few seconds of contemplation many coats and warmth charms were casted over them.
"Je crois que nous aurions dû envoyer une prévision météo." Edmund joked to the girl who he had given his jacket to, she just laughed and whispered a 'merci' before kissing his cheek and quickly walking over to her group of friends who were all giggling.
Edmund blushed as Seamus poked his rib, "What did you say to the french girl to make her laugh?" The boy said in slight awe.
"I just told her a joke." The boy poked him once again, "I told her, 'I think that we should have sent a weather forecast.'"
"That wasn't that funny." Dean muttered as he shook his head, "It's because he's so tall and handsome."
"Think so." Seamus looked over at the group of French girls and waved. A few of them cringed and looked away.
"Maybe it was because he was nice enough to give them his jacket." Susan butted in and linked her arm with Edmund's. "I would have swooned if I didn't know him as such a dork."
"And nerd." Neville added, shivering as he had given his jacket to one of the French girls as well. After another second, the French headmaster had put all of her students in action as they passed the Hogwarts students up the steps. A hand squeezed his forearm and trialled up his arm as the girl whom he had given his jacket to winked at him.
"I've never seen him this red." Susan whispered to Padma. He was in such a shock he didn't even realise that the students of Durmstrang were revealing themselves out of their lake. The first man was wearing different furs over his shoulder.
Edmund heard the whispers of Krum's appearance and noted it down. A prominent figure such as him will most likely sign up for the tournament, especially with how the man - Professor Karkaroff - had pulled him to the front. They followed them into the Great Hall, many students were squealing over Krum, including Ron, he even saw the bit of ginger jump up to get a good look of the seeker.
Edmund shared a surprised look with his fellow Hufflepuffs when they saw the Beauxbatons' delegations sit at their table. Susan patted his arm and motioned over to the girl who was waving them over elegantly. Susan pulled on both Edmund and Neville's arm to go around the Durmstrang students and sat down by the girl. "I aime your uniform." Susan said in broken french.
The girl just smiled brightly, said 'Merci', and continued to speak in broken English. "If tu don't mind, could I keep the manteau, a bit longer?" She said.
Edmund gave her a small smile. "Ce n'est pas un problème." He replied. "Edmund Black." He stuck his hand out.
The girl put her hand on top of his and Edmund gave Susan a confused look before slowly lowering his head to kiss her hand. The girl pulled away laughing, "Sorry! Sorry. I was joking. Fleur Delacour." She said and shook his hand. Her accent was higher than her French and had a heavy accent.
She shot up as she saw Madam Maxime stand up by the staff table. Edmund raised his eyebrows as he looked at her. She only sat back down along with her fellow Beauxbatons students when their headmistress sat down. "Strict?" Edmund simply asked and Fleur nodded.
He couldn't blame them for having their attention focused the moment their teacher walked in, because Edmund immediately turned to listen to Dumbledore when the man stood up, Fleur long forgotten. "-The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast," said Dumbledore. "I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!"
Edmund's eyes rested on the Bouillabaisse the moment he saw it and looked up at Hermione, who he caught already looking at him. He smiled and mouthed it to her. She just smiled back and made sure to let him see that she plated it. "Your French is very good." Fleur said, making Edmund rip his eyes from Hermione.
"Thank you." Edmund said, "I learned it this summer."
"I can tell." Fleur smiled and Neville just raised his eyebrow, staying quiet. Edmund wanted to snort and just tell the Longbottom that backhanded comments are the French way of communicating.
Edmund took a bite of his food when he caught a glance of who had just walked in. Bagman was happily walking between the tables to reach the staff table. "Edmund Black." The man stopped by him. "I wanted to say that you did a rather good job commentating for the World Cup, such a pity I couldn't tell you after, well you know what happened."
Edmund nodded and gave the man a polite smile. "It wasn't a problem, sir." Bagman held his hand out and Edmund shook it.
"Have a nice viewing of the Tournament, sport." Ludo Bagman said and nodded at his friends before continuing walking down to the staff table. Percy Weasley walked into the Great Hall after Ludo walked away from Edmund, having seen the interaction, Percy was right back to sending Edmund glares out of envy.
"The moment has come," said Dumbledore, Edmund saw Dumbledore smile at how he immediately had caught everyone's attention, including those of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to commence. A few more words of explanation before we bring in the casket."
"Casket?" Edmund whispered under his breath.
"For those who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports." People applauded louder for Bagman than Crouch, Edmund thinks it is because Bagman used to be a famous Beater.
At that moment Edmund saw how important presentation is, smiling and waving, just acknowledging the applause rather than not doing anything, not even smiling. "The casket, then, if you please, Mr. Filch." Filch carried a wooden chest encrusted with jewels and placed it on the table before him. "-and, of course, their ability to cope with danger." Dumbledore's speech wasn't something that interested Edmund because there was a big wooden chest with jewels that looked like it was centuries old.
"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore continued calmly, "One from each of the participating schools. The champions will be marked on how well they perform each of the tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after the final task will win the Triwizard Cup. Our champions will be chosen by an impartial selector" The silence was never so thick as it was in the Great Hall. "The Goblet of Fire."
With that Dumbledore tapped the casket with his wand thrice, slowly the lid creaked open and inside of it, Dumbledore pulled out a large wooden cup, it would have been ordinary was it not for the flames dancing with a blue-white colour. With the casket closed, Dumbledore carefully placed it on top. "Anybody, who would want to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school on a slip of parchment and drop it into the goblet." A few heads were turning to look at one another but Edmund didn't care as he watched Dumbledore hold out three parchment slips. "Like so, has my apprentice been put in thrice, only the headmistress and headmaster can do so." Three papers were dropped in, each turning briefly red and emitting sparks.
Edmund felt the colour drain from his face. "I wonder who the apprentice is?" Neville hummed. "You must be the apprentice with all your natural beauty." Neville whispered and Edmund and Susan gave him a weird look.
"You don't know who your apprentice is?" Fleur asked, "We already knew when she first selected her."
"When did that happen?" Edmund asked.
"In our second year." Fleur answered and motioned over to a girl further down the table who was surrounded by her peers of Beauxbatons. Madam Maxime stood up and as if on instinct, which it most likely was, Fleur stood up as well. She squeezed Edmund's shoulder before giving back the blanket. "Thank you, once again. Bonne nuit." She winked at him once again and walked away along with the rest of the group.
Edmund stood up and felt hands on his shoulder. "How." Seamus pleaded as he looked between Edmund and Fleur. "I will fight you for her."
Edmund recoiled and slapped Seamus' hand from his shoulder. "You're talking nonsense Seamus." A faint glow of silver shone as she looked back at Edmund one more time and then it dawned on Edmund. "She's a veela." He said and looked over Susan who was just looking smug and amused. "You knew she was a veela."
"Of course." Susan motioned to Neville who confusedly looked at the fork in his hand, the indents in his hand were gripping it so tightly. "It isn't everyday that Neville would dare fight you for a girl." Edmund let out a breathless laugh. "Merlin, Hermione must mean a lot because you didn't fall for it."
"He wasn't flirting back?" Neville looked less clouded. "Oh blimey."
Edmund cringed as he glanced over to the Ravenclaw table to see Hermione talking to Padma. "No I wasn't." He then remembered the rejection and how she never denied not liking him romantically. "Maybe I should, move on?"
Susan looked at him in disbelief. "What?"
"Maybe I should move on."
Susan and Neville just looked at one another before Neville shook his head, "Let's get you to bed mate." Edmund stood up and followed his friends down into the basement, but not without glancing at Hermione.
The next day Edmund and the Hufflepuffs were in the Great Hall, they watched people put in their names, so far it had been every single one of Durmstrang. Edmund watched the golden line around the goblet, forming a circle. Edmund tapped Susan's arm when he saw Fred, George and Lee run in, looking as if they had won the lottery.
They kept watching as the Wealseys and Lee approached the cup. They stepped over the line and the twins followed one another, then they were blown away by the circle and landed against the cold stone. Edmund snorted when they revealed their beards.
"Fawcett and Summers tried the same thing." Susan snorted, "Kind of funny to imagine them with bears." They watched Fred, George and Lee go to the hospital wing, with Lee just laughing out loud after them.
"Fawcett and Summers don't have the guts for it." A voice said and Edmund turned around to face Angelina Johnson, someone who had sent him a valentines card, he'll never forget how the girl added a lipstick kiss to the bottom. Along with her name, even, rather bold. "Say, Edmund." Edmund raised his eyebrow at her. "If I get chosen, will you finally say yes to a date?"
Edmund's jaw dropped and he looked at the Goblet of Fire just standing there, tantalising him. "Merlin." He said, "I hope you get chosen." Susan choked on her drink and Neville's eyes widened. They didn't know that if Angelina was chosen, that it would mean that Edmund wouldn't be chosen.
The Gryffindor looked taken aback as well, like his friends but recovered nicely. She leant down and planted a kiss against his cheek. "Thank you, Edmund." She whispered and confidently walked up to the Goblet, dropping her name in.
"Didn't know you were jumping in the deep end." Susan snorted.
"Getting over Hermione like that isn't a healthy way, Ed." Neville shook his head and as if his head was magnetic, he turned to look at the group of students and headmistress. His eyes fell on the veela-girl and both Edmund and Susan knew that they had lost Neville.
The students donned in pearly blue walked up to the goblet, in an organised line and dropped their slips of parchment. Edmund looked at all of the students and blinked when he saw one wink at him. "Bon matin." He waved at her with a friendly smile.
"Oh merlin." Padma dropped her plate on the table and looked at Edmund. "Has he gone insane?" She asked, not having been there for his announcement.
"He's trying to get over Hermione in an unhealthy way." Susan said and then added, "And douchey, he's giving Angelina Johnson a shot if she gets selected as Hogwarts Champion." Padma let out an impressive whistle.
"The fact that you still have her attention is wow." Edmund shrugged and looked over at the staff table. The vacant chair of his uncle Severus was glaring at him. He had visited the man, of course, spent some time with him, talked a bit about the World Cup fiasco and such. He visited when it was his birthday, showering him in gifts, once again.
The memory that he had gotten was different, it was shorter than usual and his mother looked worn out. She just talked about how tall he must have been by now and how she talked about him, imagining what he would be like when he was older. It just broke Edmund's heart. Amanda Potter, his mother went on a rant at the end of the memory, talking about how she could have made a few more spells, how she would have been a teacher instead of making spells if Voldemort hadn't threatened everyone she had loved. How she wishes that life would have worked out for all three of them, their little family. Then she talked about Harry, how she wished she could have given him a home, even though it would have been temporary.
It just broke his heart.
"Edmund?" He took in a breath as he looked at the person who called out his name. He blinked and was confused as there stood Draco, willingly by the Hufflepuff table, not because they were talking and accidentally led him there. "Mother sent you a book, it's about the dark arts. She thought you'd be interested in the Durmstrang education."
Edmund blinked and softly gripped the book, "Tell your mother I said, thank you. Draco." The blonde gave him a confused look and nodded before he moved back to the table.
"I don't think many more people are going to be submitting their names." Edmund declared and stood up, looking over at the Quidditch teams sitting together. Blue and yellow. "I'm thinking we're going to do something fun."
His friends stood up and followed Edmund to the Quidditch teams, a bit confused. "Let's have a friendly match." Edmund suggested. "Just a little bit of fun."
Cedric looked up from his conversation with a Ravenclaw beater and looked at the group. "Yeah?" The group nodded, looking quite excited for it. "Yeah." They stood up and walked out of the door. Edmund could see a little skip in the step of the Ravenclaw chasers, seemingly aching for a go at Quidditch.
—
Donned in dirty gear they stood by the edge of the field. Professor Flitwick and McGonagall were standing under an umbrella looking amused as they looked down at the Quidditch players. They had played many games of Quidditch before they started to make a game out of it, tag in the air, tag with the Bulger and catch the snitch where all the chasers had to chase after it.
Some students of the other schools had noticed and were watching on the stands. One of them even tried to get a game in as well, but Krum was held back by his headmaster. Something about needing to be in tiptop shape.
Their game was fun as they also had beginner players in it after they had dismissed the rules. Padma and Susan were on a broomstick, weakly throwing the quaffle or missing the Bludgers completely. They were all covered in dirt and had been urged inside by their professors, saying that the feast and reaping of champions would happen soon. All of the players quickly showered in their house dormitories and quickly dressed themselves in proper attire before rushing upstairs for the feast.
The Hufflepuffs stayed together, talking with the occasional Beauxbatons student. Cedric sat on the left of Edmund and Susan sat on the right. After it was clear that the feast was coming towards its end, Susan had grabbed Edmund's hand tightly. "I hope you don't get picked." She whispered, Edmund's confused face fell and turned pale.
"You know." He whispered back.
"I always know, Edmund." Susan said and turned to look at the goblet. Dumbledore got on his feet and the other headmasters were tense and looking expectantly at Dumbledore. A clear contrast to them was Bagman, who was winking at different students. Crouch looked like he wanted to be everywhere but at Hogwarts.
"The goblet has neared its choice of who will be the champion representing their school and its students." Dumbledore had a flair for dramatics as Edmund knew the man stepped behind the fire, to just come out over it with his beard looking as if it was the fire. "One more minute. After the goblet has made its choice, the champion's names are called, and will go through here, into the next chamber." Edmund always wondered what was behind that door, "where they will be receiving their first instructions." With that Dumbledore waved his wand and hauntingly, it was as if the wind blew out all the candles in the pumpkins.
Edmund could see the blue-white fire reflect in everyone's eyes, he could also see in them how the fire turned red and sparks began to fly, Susan tightened her grip on his hand, a tongue of flames shot up and lowered, leaving a charred piece of parchment fluttering in the air. "Viktor Krum! Champion of Durmstrang and apprentice of Igor Karkaroff." A storm of applause and cheering sounded through the echoing Hall.
Susan's hand eased up and Edmund could feel his fingers again. "No surprise that he's the apprentice." Edmund muttered to Cedric who just nodded.
Then Viktor disappeared behind the door and Susan's hand tightened up once again. Once again, red goblet, tongue of flames and the sound of fluttering parchment. "Fleur Delacour! Champion of Beauxbatons!"
Susan let go of his hand and the two clapped and cheered for the girl who stood up only a few seats from them. She glanced over and Edmund gave her an encouraging nod, ignoring the whirling mess of worry in his stomach. As soon as she disappeared from their sight, Susan's hand was gripping his leg instead. "If you go, go with grace." Susan said loudly, intending it for both Edmund and Cedric.
Cedric looked a bit confused but nodded anyways, a smile on his face. Then happened the same thing, red fire from the goblet, pestering him that he was going to burn in the tournament, the tongue of flames, it was coming out to get him and then the fluttering sound of parchment. The sound of him being blown up.
He knew that he was overthinking it but all Hermione had been talking about was the past games and how they played out. "Edmund Black!" Dumbledore shouted out and Edmund's back straightened, "Champion of Hogwarts and Apprentice of Albus Dumbledore!" By the revelation of the apprenticeship, students from Hufflepuff had jumped up to their feet, screaming and stamping as Edmund was pushed from his seat and between the tables to get to the staff table.
He looked to the side to see Cedric's disappointed, yet proud face and Susan's wide eyes. But his heart couldn't fathom the look on Hermione's face as she looked at him with wide eyes, her hand over her heart and Padma's hand on her shoulder, urging her to celebrate Edmund's participation in the tournament. Behind them was Draco, looking at Edmund with wide eyes, he was kicking up his friends to celebrate with him. A family member was chosen to be the Champion of Hogwarts.
He then looked to his right as all he could hear was his own heart and the stomps of students clapping and cheering for him. Harry's eyes were wide and he was screaming for Edmund, he was cheering for his brother. Then there was the ginger, as red as his hair, cursing at Edmund for being a liar and so secretive. That made Edmund snap his head back and walk up behind the staff table, he glanced over at his uncle Severus and disappeared from everyone's sight behind the door.
"Edmund?" Fleur questioned, her and her headmistress were staring at the door. Edmund's smile was faint as he still heard the pounding between his ears. He could hear the applause for him continue, even behind the closed door. Then came professor Dumbledore's voice, giving a speech like he usually does, in their lessons and for every feast there could be, because who is Dumbledore without his speech.
Edmund turned around as he didn't hear anything behind the door again, then for the final time it opened. "Harry?" Edmund breathed out.