Chapter 3
The Champions
Thursday night, came sooner than anyone had anticipated. The Great Hall was full of students and the entire faculty had joined in as well. The flames of the goblet had changed colour, this time to red. That meant, that the three champions had been selected.
The goblet was brought into the great hall as the students finished their dinner. All ate quickly, extremely excited to know the results. Once the tables were magically cleared. The two headmasters and one headmistress, walked over to the Goblet of Fire.
Athena and Igor Karkaroff the headmaster of Durmstrang, stood behind Dumbledore, who placed his hands on the Goblet, the fire swirled as if awakening.
The flames then danced merrily and spat out a parchment.
"And for the moment, we have all been patiently waiting for…the Hogwarts champion…is…Mr. Zeus Shorthorn!" Albus announced proudly, the hall erupted in cheers for their champion. Banners holding Zeus's image, fell from above the Slytherin table. Zeus stood up from the Slytherin table as Dumbledore called him over. The head boy walked to him, proudly pushing his blonde hair away from his brown eyes, an exuberating smile lit his face. Dumbledore congratulated him heartily and asked him to stand by the side.
The goblet then spat out another name.
"Mr. Viktor Krum, has been chosen to be the champion for Durmstrang!" Dumbledore announced in the same merry tone. Similar banners fell over the Ravenclaw table that Victor Krum had occupied.
Viktor Krum stood from the table and walked over to Dumbledore. Shaking hands with him, as Karkaroff pulled him into a one-arm strong hug and made him stand next to Zeus. They shook hands and congratulated each other.
Sarah sat stuck to her seat in apprehension, a sickening feeling at the bottom of her gut. Only the AIMS champion remained unannounced. Since morning, she had a bad feeling about this. She knew that the mistake she had made earlier, just to prove to Dennis that she was gutsy, would be the gravest one she had committed in her whole life. Unless, life was kind to her and the universe would forgive her folly.
The Goblet spat out the AIMS champion's parchment. Sarah sunk in her seat, a look of horror on her face. That was her chit, she just knew it.
"And our last champion…representing AIMS, will be Ms. Sarah Lincolns!" Dumbledore announced clapping for her, looking straight at her.
A sense of instant regret and dread washed over her, as banners of her fell over the Gryffindor table. She stood and walked heavily over to Athena. Her great aunt, was smart enough to put on the happy façade, but Sarah knew she was equally surprised and shocked and probably disappointed by the fact that Sarah, who she had believed to be the one with her head on her shoulders, had even put her name in the goblet.
"The Triwizard tournament has set forth begun…" Dumbledore announced clapping for the champions.
"Dumbledore…" Athena called taking a step closer to Dumbledore as she looked at the goblet with a worrisome frown. Dumbledore who turned around to look at what Athena was directing his attention towards.
"The Goblet…why is the fire still alive?" Athena asked looking at Dumbledore tensely.
"I'm not sure." He whispered frowning.
"Something…is very wrong…" Athena said as the goblet began to shake.
The gentle flames, seemed to grow angry and dark. Suddenly, the goblet spat an uncontrollable wave of fire towards the sky, and then out flew another chit. The flames then fizzled out and turned to nothing. The parchment floated like a feather, as if teasing the silent hall. Dumbledore caught it in his hand. He then read the words etched on it.
The other two heads waited in anticipation. But Dumbledore's face had gone white, as he muttered something under his breath incoherently.
"Dumbledore?" Karkaroff questioned in a demanding tone.
"Harry Potter." Dumbledore called loudly but calmly.
The hall that was cheerful, suddenly grew silent, and then burst into whispers.
"HARRY POTTER!" Dumbledore repeated his voice, much louder this time.
"Come up here, and accept your chit…Mr. Potter!" Dumbledore said looking straight at the boy who was trying to hide away from the crowd. His friend Ronald, pulled him up and pushed him ahead.
The 14-year-old, pushed his glasses up and walked towards Dumbledore, confusion on his face. Accepting the chit from him, he looked at the man.
"Sir…I don't know how…"
"Not here Harry." Dumbledore replied calmly.
"Will the champions and their headmaster and headmistress, and the Triwizard committee join us in my office please." Dumbledore stated, as Athena and Sarah shared a look of disbelief. It was one thing that Sarah had been chosen, that was her own doing. But this Potter boy…? He was only 14, there was no way, he could have passed the age line that the heads had put in place. Besides, this was the Tri-Wizard Tournament, how could there be a fourth champion?
Sarah and Athena walked towards the Hogwarts headmaster's office in silence. Sarah could sense her great-aunt's frustration. Sarah knew her parents had made her swear to look out for their daughter, and for Sarah to have so blatantly disobey them, wasn't something that Athena had expected.
"Aunt Athena…" Sarah began apologetically.
"No…Sarah…just don't say anything." Athena replied rigidly. This was supposed to be a celebration for AIMS and Athena could feel nothing but dread in her heart. This was her family, her great niece, Michelin's daughter, Margery's grand-daughter…how was she supposed to feel anything else but dread?
"I'm sorry…I honestly wasn't going to put my name in…I was just proving a point to Dennis and the parchment caught on fire…and…"
"What is done is done Sarah. You realise, you don't have a choice. You will have to compete!"
"I know. And I'm not scared…I…I'll make you proud…I swear to it…"
"Oh Sarah! We're all already very proud of you already…just make it out alive!"
Sarah grew silent as the depth of Athena's words hit her.
"Like I said…we can't change the past…but let's press towards the future…with great hope…you are someone with great potential Sarah…I know you'll do well…" Athena offered some words of courage as Sarah gave her a small smile.
They paused outside a large Gargoyle.
"Melon Mellows!" said Athena as the Gargoyle revolved to reveal a spiral staircase.
"Melon Mellows? Like the candy?" Sarah asked slightly amused.
"Don't ask…this man is absolutely ridiculous! What she saw in him, I will never…never mind…go on climb up!" Athena said realizing who she was speaking to. Sarah frowned at her comment, but did what she was told.
When they entered the office, there seemed to be chaos, which was expected.
Karkaroff was accusing Dumbledore of cheating. Barty Crouch was trying to aggressively figure out from Potter, how he had managed to get past the age barrier. Everyone seemed to be attacking the boy, instead of figuring out what the next steps would be.
"Gentlemen!" Athena snapped as everyone grew silent and looked at her.
"What is done is done…instead of bickering about how this boy did it…perhaps we can try to figure out what to do with him?" Athena snapped as the room looked at her. It seemed like the entire staff helping on the tournament had gathered there—The Triwizard Support Committee as they were called was made of the heads of all the houses, and a few other teachers and people, like the groundskeeper and the caretaker.
"You…I don't know about Headmistress McGonagall, but Durmstrang will not stand for such insult! Hogwarts has clearly managed to hoodwink the Goblet into believing there's a fourth school!" snarled Karkaroff.
"Enough Mr. Karkaroff…he's a child…he's clearly not capable enough to have done this!" Athena snapped.
"And if you have an issue with the same, I suggest you bring it up with your ministry who were clearly dying to enter the tournament, meanwhile pushing the French aside by force of hand!" Athena snapped glaring at him. The man now shut up, glowering at her.
"Barty…we leave this in your hands…" Dumbledore said looking at Mr. Crouch.
Mr. Crouch considered the room for a few minutes.
"The Goblet of Fire works as a magically binding contract…by putting your names in the Goblet you have literally signed it. There is nothing that can be done. Harry Potter will have to compete! If this is as Mr. Potter says, that he didn't put his name in Goblet, then the perpetrator will show their face soon enough." said Mr. Crouch looking at Harry.
"You can't possibly say that Mr. Crouch…he's a child…not a piece of meat…you can't possibly be suggesting we risk his life and do nothing!" Minerva snapped fiercely, coming to her student's defence.
"There must be some course of action that we can take…might I suggest expelling him?" Snape offered as Minerva shot him an angry glare.
"NO!" She snapped at him. He raised his hands and backed away.
"It need not be so drastic Professor Snape. However, there is a clause in the tournament's rules…" Began Ludo Bagman as the room turned to him for a solution.
"We could give him a mentor. The rules clearly state, that in case the staff agrees to frame tasks accordingly, the champions who require mentors have the option of pairing with one." Said Ludo Bagman.
"If he gets a mentor…then so should all of our champions!" Karkaroff snarled in revolt.
"Why should he have an unfair advantage?" He added eyeing the 14-year-old.
"Albus…Athena…would you like your champions to have mentors as well?" Barty Crouch asked feeling a little optimistic about their solution.
Athena looked at Albus, who looked back at her with a small smile on his face, as if pleading with her to agree to the proposition. Athena inhaled heavily. Her thoughts were cut into by Sarah.
"This…mentor? Could it be anybody?" Sarah asked suddenly as the room looked her.
"Yes…Ms. Lincolns, anyone of age, who you believe is capable enough to get you through…"
"Anybody?" Sarah pressed. Ludo Bagman nodded politely, unsure as to why she was quizzing him.
"Sarah…NO!" Athena hissed. She had understood who Sarah was proposing.
"Why not?" Sarah snapped at her.
"Sarah…be reasonable!" Athena offered rubbing her eyes irritated.
"You be reasonable, Aunt Athena!" She retorted sharply.
Athena pulled back in surprise, looking at her sternly. Sarah's nostrils flared as she turned to Barty Crouch and Bagman.
"I would like a mentor." Sarah said shooting straight at Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman in full confidence.
"Well then...Mr. Shorthorn…that just leaves you, I suppose…"
Zeus looked at his head of house, their eyes met. The man looked at him darkly and sighed, but gave him a gentle nod.
"Yes, sir, I would like a mentor." Zeus Shorthorn replied politely.
"It's settled then. This Tri-wizard tournament will have mentors. Now champions, you have two weeks to get your mentors into Hogwarts and up to speed. Following, which we will be starting with formalities of the tournament. Like a press interview and the wand weighing ceremony…" said Barty Crouch looking at the champions as they nodded in cohesion.
Athena tried to push some common sense into her great-niece about choosing the right mentor for herself, she needed someone reliable, who would show up in time and be there constantly for her. The person that Sarah was suggesting was as unavailable as the rain in a dessert. Besides, where exactly was Sarah going to find her mentor? No one ever knew where she ever was, constantly roaming around America for work. She hardly ever had time to go home, she hadn't even seen her beloved brother in over months! What could possibly possess Sarah to think that, she would just leave everything and come be her mentor?!
However, this fell on deaf years. This meant, Athena needed to call in reinforcements.
Michelin flooed into the office that Athena had been using.
"Michelin…you're here!"
"I came as soon as I received you letter Aunt Athena!" Michelin replied. He looked like he had come straight from MACUSA, he was dressed in his formal wizengamot uniform, as if he had just flooed in after a case.
"Well…you need to put some sense into your daughter…she demands that your sister be her mentor…you know her Michelin…she's not going to show in time…Sarah only has a week left to produce her…and that too after some serious convincing and pleading! Where are we supposed to scout for her, what if she's off-grid again? As far as I know, she must be…because Sarah wrote to her the same night her name was pulled out of the goblet. It's been over a month, and we've pushed for another week's grace period; all the other champions have their mentors locked…Barty Crouch has been doling out threats, to take away Sarah's right to a mentor, if we don't produce one urgently…and there has been no response. We don't even know, if she got the letter." Athena said pacing in the empty office.
Michelin stood there in silence listening to his aunt, who went on complaining about his sister, rather than his daughter, who had created this whole mess, in the first place.
"This isn't her fault you know…it's Sarah's!" He said shaking his head and sighing. He needed to figure out a solution for this quickly.
"There you go, defending her again. Be that as it may…"
"No, Athena! You are very partial to her…you, and my mother, my father, have babied Sarah all her life…and so have Zenia and I…and she has taken all of us for granted. Thinking we'll come save her every single time. It's time she took responsibility for herself…she's of age for Merlin's sake!"
"You can't possibly suggest that we not help her find a mentor, Michelin!" Athena snapped in horror.
"No, of course not, all I'm just trying to say is that…Sarah isn't as angelic as you think she is. I warned you about her Aunt Athena…" Michelin said trying to calm his rising temper.
Someone entered the empty classroom as Michelin raised his head. His eyes darted from Athena to the woman who had just stepped into the room. There was not a single doubt in his mind that this woman was his other aunt, his mother's youngest sister. He stood out of respect, and possibly, slight excitement of meeting her for the first time in his life. He oddly, remembered her face in bits and pieces from his childhood, he seemed to remember her laughter as well…but he hardly had any clear memories of her. Of course, after he had turned 8, she had never visited them in Boston.
"Michelin…this is my sister…your aunt…"
"Minerva…I know…it's so nice to finally meet you!" He said with a beaming smile on his face.
"You as well Michelin…" Minerva said trying her best to keep her smile on her face.
Michelin touched the right side of his face consciously, but shook off the feeling. That was generally how people reacted the first time they met him. He wasn't ashamed of it, not anymore. In fact, he called it "his brotherly mark". Not many people knew why, but were too awkward to ask. It wasn't a mark though. It was the result of a dark spell that hadn't been meant for him. It had almost taken his sister away from him, along with half of the flesh from his once handsome face. It had taken months in the hospital to get it to look like this. It still looked mangled, but it was what it was. His wife didn't mind, so it didn't bother him.
Michelin shook the feeling as Minerva looked apologetically at him.
"It's nothing…it doesn't bother me." He said laughing it off.
His cheery mood however, did not last for long as his daughter now entered the room.
"Hey…Dad…" She said sheepishly.
"Sarah…do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Sarah didn't say a word. She bit the inside of her cheek; she couldn't admit that this was a mistake, made in a moment of stupidity, to prove her bravado to a complete fool. She didn't want her father to think less of her. However, it seemed like he didn't require a clarification to think it.
Sarah shrugged. Which made her father angrier.
"Is that all you have to say? A shrug? Really Sarah…you're seventeen years old, isn't it high time you started behaving like an adult!" He scolded her harshly.
"Exactly…I am an adult…capable enough to make my own decisions!"
"And yet, I find myself here to clean up the mess you have made!" He mocked her.
Sarah looked away, anger building inside her as well.
"I didn't ask for you to be here!"
"And you think that she will magically appear upon your request?" Michelin snapped at his daughter.
"She should! I THINK SHE OWES ME THAT MUCH!" Sarah snapped back at her father. He grew angrier.
"You are one spoilt brat! You think really believe that people will just throw away…their lives…just so that they can come help you?! Sarah! I didn't raise you to be selfish!"
"You and mom do…every time she needs anything!" Sarah muttered angrily under her breath.
"And so does she when we have asked…but those situations were never crafted out of stupidity! And that doesn't mean you think she is your personal secretary…do you know how busy she is?"
Sarah rolled her eyes at her father.
"I am aware of how busy she is…did you know they call her the American Dumbledore here? It's ridiculous!" Sarah scoffed at the ridiculous title.
"If you spoke to her, she'd understand…she'd come without complain…it's you who has a problem!" Sarah said pouting.
"And how exactly am I going to do that Sarah? I don't know where she is…" Her father replied sighing tiredly.
"I figured it out…and I did half the work for you…Tessra Jones…I already wrote her a letter…" Sarah said carefully pushing the topic. Her father scoffed.
"Wha—are you—do you hear yourself, Sarah? You think the most powerful magical being in America…and possibly the world is sitting ideal to make time for you?"
"She said she'd make time for any AIMS student who required the Coven's help!"
"What? When?"
"On our fifth-year visit!"
"Sarah…that's just something they say…Tessra Jones, isn't going to involve herself in these affairs!"
"Then why has she agreed to visit me soon? And…and in the letter that she wrote back, she said she'd bring her here too!" Sarah argued.
Michelin frowned.
"Did you tell her who you were?" Michelin asked quickly catching onto her scheme.
"I may have mentioned it…" Sarah replied sheepishly.
"Sarah! You know how dangerous that is…for her…for you! What if that letter fell into the wrong hands?!" Michelin snapped.
"I had…I had no other solution…I know she has enemies…but I need her…she's the only one who can get me out of this safely…the only one I can trust to stay by my side…you know this too Dad…!"
"Besides, if you can't help me, then don't stop me from getting the help I need…" Sarah snapped, but then cut herself short and looked down at the crest on her jacket.
Michelin and Athena looked from Sarah to each other. Sarah's blazer crest had changed from the AIMS symbol to the crest of the 27 Coven. A magic that was weaved into their uniforms to make sure students knew there was a coven member in their midst. And then appropriately behave and greet them with a hand over their crests and a small bow.
"She's here!" Sarah almost yelled at the top of her voice.
"I'm sorry…who's here?" Minerva asked finally entering this convoluted discussion.
"TESSRA JONES!" Sarah said beaming. She threw a pleading look at her father.
"Dad? Please…please help me speak to her…I…I've never spoken to someone like her…I don't want to mess this up more!" Sarah said desperately as a sense of fear of such a large authority figure set her nerves on edge.
"Fine." Michelin said finally giving in.
"Let's go…meet Tessra Jones, I suppose…" Athena said exasperatedly. She led the family to the great hall.
Tessra had never been one to respond to such "urgent" requests of children. However, this letter had begged her for help. And she had been in a particularly giving mood when she had opened it. However, the peculiarity of the situation was what drew Tessra in more.
The letter was simple. One Ms. Sarah Lincolns, who was the AIMS Tri-wizard tournament champion, had written to her requesting urgent help from the 27 Coven. She had also mentioned that she was the niece of a coven member and would be highly obliged if Tessra could permit said member to mentor her. Hmph! As if she needed her permission, if she hadn't been on another mission down south, she would have rushed here herself, putting everything aside and probably informed Tessra of her involvement months later.
Tessra had seen a lot of the world, but she had never been to Hogwarts. She knew the great Albus Dumbledore plenty well, especially after he had started the uprising against Grindelwald in America. Tessra had taken over as the leader of the coven and had supported him in his endeavour. They had met a few times after at the International Magical Confederation conferences, and he had always struck a pleasant enough conversation with her.
Tessra looked around the entrance hall, trying to figure the way forward. She found a few AIMS students loitering. They bowed the minute they saw her and their crests changed. They led her to the great hall where there were scatterings of students and staff eating lunch.
All the AIMS students present there noticed her. They left their lunch and greeted her the way they were supposed to. Most of the students from other schools seemed perturbed by this sudden gesture. This drew Dumbledore's attention to her. He and a moustached chap stood hurriedly and walked towards her.
"Lady Jones…?" said the moustached chap in absolute shock as Tessra looked at him and then to Dumbledore.
"Albus…It is good to see you. It has been years has it not?" Tessra asked smiling politely. Dumbledore bowed his head gently.
"Bartimus Crouch, my lady, I'm the head of the International Magical Corporation here at the Ministry of Magic. Lady Jones…what are you doing here?" asked the moustached chap, he seemed unnerved by her presence, but he tipped his bowler hat to her out of respect.
"An AIMS student wrote to me, asking for urgent help…and if there's an AIMS student in need…that's where I will be." Said Tessra looking at him and shook his hand.
"Lady Jones…"
Tessra turned around to see a man walk into the hall and come join the party of three. Along with him was his daughter and Headmistress McGonagall. The young girl and the headmistress both greeted Tessra the way they were meant to.
"You must be the niece…?" Tessra asked smiling as Sarah nodded raising from the low bow, looking like a deer caught in the middle of a hunt.
"And one would assume…you are the famous brother I have heard so much about…it is good to put a face to the name…Michelin Lincolns." Tessra said kindly, offering her hand to him. He bowed and kissed her fingers clad with rings.
"It is an honour my lady…" Michelin replied.
"You're…you're her father?" Mr. Crouch asked.
"Uh…yes sir…" Michelin said looking at the moustached man.
"You're the Chief Attorney General for MACUSA, Michelin Lincolns?" Mr. Crouch asked surprised.
"Yes I am." Replied Michelin, it wasn't often that he got recognized outside bureaucratic circles.
"I remember your closing argument from the law suit at the International Magical Confederation for MACUSA vs The Anti-Muggle League! That was a landmark judgement. I'm Bartimus Crouch, the head of the International Magical Corporation department at the ministry in London." Mr. Crouch stated offering Michelin his hand to shake. Michelin bowed his head gently and accepted the handshake gracefully.
"Now that we are…all acquainted…shall we get down to business?" Athena offered.
"Yes, of course." Tessra said looking straight at Sarah, who once again looked baffled as to what to say.
"I looked into what you said Ms. Lincolns, and I have some rather difficult news, you choice of mentor, is…well, otherwise occupied at the moment. I have sent a scout out to deliver your message to her on priority. We are hoping to receive news of her very soon." Tessra said gently.
"Oh." Sarah said dejectedly.
"I can however, appoint someone as…"
"No! Thank you!" Sarah said shaking her head.
"Sarah!" Michelin stated warningly.
"No…Lady Jones…sorry…I…can't…I need her." Sarah said almost on the verge of panic-stricken tears.
Tessra frowned.
"I can understand why, she is your aunt. However, every member of the 27 is equally skilled!" Tessra offered cuttingly.
"I'm…I'm sure they are Lady Jones; I apologize for my daughter…I will speak to her and have her reconsider…"
"No, Dad! If it's not her, it's nobody!" Sarah stated adamantly. Michelin looked at his daughter as if she was spouting nonsense.
"Ms. Lincolns, have you lost your marbles? You wrote to the leader of the 27 Coven for help, and now that she is here, you are refusing aid?" Mr. Crouch spat at Sarah in shock. She shot her best glare at him.
"You are being extremely stubborn Sarah…we're trying to help you!" said Athena snappishly, hoping once more to put some sense into her great niece.
"This is not the help I expected! You're the leader of the 27 and you can't get one single member to come to my aid, who's to say the person you are pitching to be my mentor instead, is reliable enough!" Sarah snapped stubbornly.
All the adults seemed stunned by the way Sarah spoke to Tessra Jones, even the bravest of men coward under her gentlest statements. And here she was, a spoilt 17-year-old, defying all odds and showcasing another level of what most might term as absolutely and incompletely moronic bravado.
"SARAH!" Michelin yelled loudly as now the entire hall, was suddenly listening into the conversation.
Sarah looked at her father defiantly, and then she looked at Tessra who seemed to be studying her closely an interested smirk on her face.
"Ms. Lincolns…perhaps you should pay heed to what your…" Dumbledore tried to offer some advice.
"There will be no need for that Albus…" Tessra Jones said raising her hand. She looked at Sarah with a rather peculiar smile. She placed her finger under her chin, pulling her head up to look into her eyes. Sarah looked at her with fear in her eyes.
"How many days, can you give us Mr. Crouch? I understand that we are terribly late already. However, these are…special circumstances." Tessra asked still staring straight at Sarah.
Barty Crouch, who seemed extremely bothered by all this, was now in a fix. He had been hounding Sarah and Athena with threats of pulling AIMS' mentorship away. However, he could not do the same to the great Tessra Jones.
"Uh…I…I can uh…push the same by a couple of days…"
"I need an exact number please."
"A week…won't be a problem…right Barty? We are still figuring out the tasks to begin with." Dumbledore offered looking at Crouch, who frowned at him.
"I will need just two days." Tessra said still looking into Sarah's eyes, unblinkingly, searching for something. Sarah's fear, died away and she smiled at Tessra. They shared some sort of telepathic conversation. No one knew what was shared between the too. And no one ever would.
"Are you sure? You haven't been able to locate her mentor in an entire month…I am beginning to think of this as an impossible task…I feel as if this…woman…whoever she is…is not interested…"
"Two Days, Mr. Crouch. I apologize for my members delay, but I can assure you, she will not ignore my calling. She doesn't have a choice." Tessra snapped as politely as she could finally stepping away from Sarah and looking at the man. Mr. Crouch nodded in defeat.
"You know Ms. Lincolns, your aunt is as stubborn as you are…a little piece of advice…it is endearing to me…but you should count your blessings that it is." Said Tessra smirking.
"Now…Albus, may I bother you for a spare office for the next two days?" Tessra asked Dumbledore. He nodded willingly.
"Thank you." Tessra replied politely.
"I will get you your mentor Ms. Lincolns. You need not fret." Tessra said.
Dumbledore then led her towards the spare office she had requested for.
"Who in the world is your aunt?" muttered Barty Crouch murderously.
"Oh…you'll see." Sarah replied smirking.
She then turned her back on them and walked towards the Gryffindor table to get lunch. A victorious smile on her face. She had no idea how she had managed this. But for once in her life, she was happy, she had listened to what her aunt kept telling her to do.
"Be more fucking assertive Sarah! Or you'll let people kick you around like a doormat!"
Sarah Lincolns, was done being a doormat.
AN/- Do leave a review, a lot is left to be revealed