Chapter 55

LB

The next morning, Jack was waiting for me at the entrance hall. He was casually leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over each other. He was smiling and winking at the girls that passed him. He was even more handsome than he was over a year ago, his childish features long gone. He's a lady's magnet, that's for sure. Alicia tugged my sleeve.

"I can't believe you dated him! He's so hot!"

The twins snorted and I pursed my lips at them. "He is good looking, isn't he? But first and foremost, he's my best friend. I've known him for ages."

"So, you two are not together?"

I was just starting to like Alicia, but her wanting to pound on him the minute he arrived, stirred something in me. I breathed in deep, my eyes on Jack, whose smile broadened when he saw me approach. Angelina must've noticed because she jumped in before I exploded.

"Merlin, Alicia. Can you not jump on him the second he arrives."

"I-"

"He's not only her best friend, but also her ex." She continued. "And obviously, they still love each other very much."

It was true, what Angelina said. What kind of love it was, was still up in the air. But I was happy for her support. I glanced at the twins, but their faces were set in stone. I sighed before smiling up at Jack. He pushed himself off the wall and wrapped his arm around me. "Goeiemorgen."

"Morning." I smiled up at him. "Where's Jazz?"

"Still snoring in the carriage." He snickered. "Have you put your name in yet?"

"Last night with Angelina, you?"

"Was planning on doing it now, care to join?"

"Yeah, the twins were going to put their names in anyway."

Jack looked up at the twins, smiling. "Good luck, mates."

The twins looked surprised at him, since they barely had said two sentences to him. "Oh, thanks." They murmured.

"Come on, let's go, then we can get some breakfast." Angelina said, already tugging Lee towards the Entrance Hall where the Goblet was stationed. Alicia followed them silently, then the twins and us. Jack swished a piece of parchment elegantly out of his blue silk robes. He shot me a wink before crossing the age line swiftly. With a typical Beauxbatons flair, he tossed it in fire, under applause from the other students. Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting on one of the benches, clapping alongside the others. Jack came back, swinging his arm around me again. The twins were whispering in the corner, glancing at the Goblet.

"Ik ben zo terug." I whispered to Jack, who nodded.

I walked over to the twins, and slightly touched their arms. "Hey." They both turned to me with a soft smile. "Are you okay?"

They both placed a hand over mine that rested on their arms. "Yeah, just wondering if whether it is still worth it because you put your name in." Fred winked.

I pushed their arms, but they took my hands in theirs, letting them hang between us. They intertwined their fingers with mine and I allowed them. The moment our fingers closed around each other; it shot a shock through my whole body. Ignoring the weird sensation, and the twins inquiring eyes on me, I stood on my toes and kissed their cheeks.

"Good luck." I said as I pulled my hands out of theirs. I looked down, hiding a blush before turning on my heel towards Jack.

"It's not going to work." Hermione said in a sing along voice. The twins ignored her, but I shot her a glare. I usually liked Hermione, but this was not the time.

"Ready?" Fred asked his twin.

"Ready." And they both leaped in together. The room cheered and applauded loudly as they crossed the line. They turned to look at me grinning, a twinkle in their eyes. Suddenly there was a sizzling sound, and the twins were hurdled out of the circle. I gasped as they landed painfully and with a loud thud on the other side of the room. Then there was a popping noise, and they grew large, grey identical beards. I stepped forwards as the whole room started laughing. But when the twins stood up and looked at each other, they joined in, clearly not in pain. I let out a breath of relief. The twins turned to look at me from across the room, shooting me a wink. They turned around laughing as they made their way to the Hospital Wing.

LB

"The Goblet is almost ready to make its decision." said Dumbledore and Angelina grabbed my sleeve anxiously. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now when the champions' names are called, I would ask them to come up here, walk along the staff table and go through into the next chamber." I knew the chamber of course, Dumbledore pointed to, I arrived there over a year ago. He headmaster waved his wand, dimming the lights, so the ominous light of the Goblet filled the great hall.

"Any second." Lee whispered next to Angelina, his eyes fixed on the Goblet and his fingers intertwined with hers.

The fire in the Goblet turned red, shooting sparks from it. The next moment a charred piece of parchment flew out of it. Dumbledore caught it gracefully, he peered at it at arm's length. The whole room was silent, it sounded like nobody was breathing.

"The champion for Durmstrang... Viktor Krum!"

"No surprises there!" Ron yelled between a storm of applause and cheering, including me. The broad quidditch player slouched over to the headmaster before he disappeared in the room. Everyone quieted down again and turned back to the Goblet. A second piece of parchment shot out of it.

"The champion for Beauxbatons is..." I grasped for Jack's hand and squeezed it tight. "Fleur Delacour!"

"Oh." I groaned. "I'm so sorry." Jack squeezed my hand reassuringly, giving me his dazzling smile before clapping with the rest of them. Fleur rose from the Ravenclaw table where she decided to sit today and swept towards the room. The Goblet was sending red sparks again and Jack intertwined our fingers again, while Angelina took my other hand.

"The Hogwarts champion is..." It seemed like he paused longer than with the other schools and my heart was pounding in my chest. My grip on Jack and Angelina's hand went even tighter. "Alexandra Lupin-Black!"

My eyes turned wide, and my mouth dropped slightly open, while applause erupted around me. It was even louder than with Fleur and Krum.

"Hell yes!" Was shouted from the Slytherin table. I glanced their way and saw Draco grinning from ear to ear, clapping loudly. Next to him, Blaise and the two Nott brothers clapped enthusiastically with him.

"Congratulations." Angelina turned my attention to her.

"Are you mad?" I asked quietly.

"Of course not." She beamed. "You deserve it." She hugged me tight.

"Gefeliciteerd, schat." Jack kissed me again in front of everyone. "Jij gaat dit geweldig doen!"

I smiled shyly at him, when I turned, the twins had leaned over the table to give me a kiss on the cheek. "We knew it!" They chimed grinning wide. "Now go."

"Alright, alright." I chuckled. When I went to go to the front of the room, Harry was smiling and clapping loudly. I smiled to my friends one last time before I stepped into the room where Fleur and Krum were already waiting. Fleur didn't look remotely surprised at seeing me. We both waved our wands casting the translating charm.

"Why am I not surprised." She smiled as she walked over. We hugged for a few seconds. "I'm sorry I haven't come to speak to you."

"That's okay. I know you've probably been exploring." I winked.

"You know me, always curious." She giggled. I saw Krum move in the corner of the room.

"Hey, Viktor. I don't know if you remember me." I said outstretching my hand to him.

"I remember, Alexandra, right?" He said as he shook my hand. "We met at the ball about three years ago."

"Indeed, you wore those hideous dress robes." I grinned.

"Karkaroff made me wear them." He grunted. "What are we supposed to do n-" He was interrupted when the door opened again. Harry walked in paler than a sheet, his eyes wide.

"Harry?" I stumbled forward. "What's wrong? What are you doing here?" I asked grasping his shoulders.

"I - I." Harry couldn't utter a single word which made me fill with worry.

"Harry?"

The door opened again, and Bagman waltzed in smiling. "Extraordinary! Gentlemen and ladies, may I introduce to you, the fourth Triwizard champion."

Viktor straightened up, looking at Harry with a frown. Fleur looked stunned but smiled at Bagman. "Oh, very funny joke, mister Bagman."

"It's not a joke, is it?" I asked Harry, my voice trembled. He shook his head slightly. "Did you-?" He shook his head again and I knew. I gave him a single nod but didn't let go of him. The door behind Harry opened again and several people stormed in. Dumbledore, Mr Crouch, Karkaroff, Madam Maxime, McGonagall and Snape.

"Madam Maxime!" Fleur said at once. "They are saying that this little boy is to compete."

I squeezed his hand as he tensed at the little boy comment. Madam Maxime turned to Dumbledore.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I'd like to know myself." Karkaroff said. "Two Hogwarts champions? Nobody told me that was allowed. We were under the impression that your age line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore. Otherwise, I would have brought along more candidates from our school."

"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff." Snape said. I tensed and glared at the Potions professor. How dare he, how fucking dare he. Snape didn't look at me. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules-"

"How dare you!" I snapped at him, and all eyes turned to me. "Harry didn't put his name in the Goblet! Did you even look at him? He's clearly in shock." McGonagall stepped forward, a hand outstretched but I continued. "Dumbledore drew the age line himself, and you think Harry, a fourth year -" I turned to Harry. "No offence." He shrugged, still looking pale. I turned back to the potions' professor, who looked at me with a blank expression, but his eyes betrayed him. "Could find a way around it?! You're mental!"

"You let your students talk to you like that?" Karkaroff huffed.

"Don't, Karkaroff." I was surprised that Madam Maxime and Professor McGonagall silenced him.

I wanted to grab Harry and run out of the room, bringing him home to his Godfather. Professor Dumbledore turned to Harry, and I squeezed his hand. "Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" He asked calmly.

"No."

"Did you ask an older student -" His eyes flickered to me. "- to put it into the Goblet for you?

"No." He said vehemently.

"He could not have crossed the line." McGonagall said sharply. "I think we can all agree on that."

"Maybe Dumbly-dore made a mistake?"

"It is possible, of course." Dumbledore replied simply.

"You know perfectly well you didn't make a mistake." McGonagall said angrily. "Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes he did not persuade an older student to do it for him. I'm sure that should be enough for everybody else."

"Mr Crouch, Mr Bagman-" Karkaroff started. "Surely you must agree that this is most irregular?"

Bagman turned to Karkaroff with a frown, but it was Crouch that answered. "We must follow the rules, and they clearly state that those people whose names come out of the Goblet are bound to compete."

"You can't let him compete." I nearly shrieked. "He's underage, he's barely fourteen! He didn't put his name in. He isn't here voluntarily. You can't-"

"Miss Lupin-Black." Dumbledore said calmly. I was breathing heavily, and Harry squeezed my hand reassuringly. Moody stepped inside the room and all the professors started discussing again, I turned to look at Harry.

"Are you okay?"

He took in a deep breath. "Not really."

"I'm sorry. They can't let you enter, they just can't." I whispered.

"Apparently they can." He said forlorn.

"I am going to send a message to Sirius, he won't let this happen." Harry was about to protest when I asked. "Do you have your cloak with you?"

"No." He whispered, looking at the teachers who were still discussing. "Why?"

"I have an idea."