Chapter 29:

Picking of the Champions

Unfortunately, Draco had been right; Moody was in no way happy with her for standing up to him against Draco. However, he admitted that she had guts, and therefore he often picked on her for demonstrations – though whether to punish or promote her, Jessa didn't know,…but she got the feeling it was the former. She could feel his magical gaze on her more often than not…it was quite disconcerting.

Not many people were talking to her, in fact. Harry and his friends included. They were still upset with her for taking "the ferret's" side. It wasn't right of Draco to say any of what he did, and she felt horrid for not realizing – or not wanting to see – how bad it was. But that didn't mean she wouldn't stand up for him when a professor targeted him either. And he was one of the only ones who was nice, welcoming even to her. That wasn't something she would give up so easily.

However, even if he wasn't ready to fully talk to her, Jessa was worried about her brother. Tonight was the Halloween feast, where they would choose the Champions for the Tournament.

"What are you so nervous about? Your brother's underage, he couldn't possibly have entered," said Taryn as they took their seats, trying to reassure her friend.

"Puecy, you obviously don't pay much attention if you think that's going to stop Potter from being in the tournament."

"My brother has the worst luck; why should this year be any different?" she asked, only half-joking.

"Touché," Blaise chimed in as he took his seat a few spots down. "Now the only question is, are you going to be joining him this year or not?"

Jessa chuckled, albeit half-heartedly; because if this went the way she thought it would, then of course she was going to try and help her brother.

Everyone was silent, anticipation hanging in the air as the Hogwarts Headmaster explained what would happen and for the chosen to please make their way behind the staff table to receive further instructions.

The blue flames from the Goblet turned red, shooting out the first piece of parchment. A round of applause went up – enthusiastically – as famed "Viktor Krum" was chosen as the Durmstrang champion.

Just as he disappeared, the red flames produced a second piece of parchment. "Fleur Delacour," was announced as the Beauxbatons champion.

The air was highly charged in anticipation of the Hogwarts – and "home team's" champion pick. The flames turned red for a third time as a Hufflepuff: "Cedric Diggory" was chosen. Him, Jessa recognized, from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. A fair player, nice enough the few times she'd met him, with a keen eye – that could only help him in a competition like this.

As Diggory disappeared through the staff door, Jessa just waited. The pit in her stomach hadn't disappeared. So she kept her eyes trained on the Goblet, groaning as the flames turned red for a fourth time.

Why did it always have to be him?

Chatter increased as Harry disappeared, much to the enraged commotion amongst professors and students alike around her. As the students were dismissed, she told her friends she'd meet them back at the dorm.

"It's almost curfew!" Taryn pointed out.

"I need to talk to him. They'll understand that. And if not, what's one detention?" she replied with a shrug.

It was harder to get up to Gryffindor tower than she thought it would be, even given the amount of peers walking that way. She ended up being jostled a lot amidst all the excitement and ended up next to two boys who were rapidly talking but stilled when they spotted the crest on her robe.

"Sure you're going the right way?"

She just nodded, the stairs affecting her breathing.

When she made no motion to slow down or turn around, the boys glanced at each other, before pulling her aside.

The two boys faced her, but didn't crowd her. The first was a sandy-haired boy with light eyes and a strong Irish accent; his companion was a good head and then some taller than his friend, with dark skin and brown eyes. She recognized them both but couldn't recall their names.

"Obviously you're coming to Gryffindor Tower for a reason. Hoping to sneak in?"

"No! I was going to wait outside. I just needed to talk to – to someone," she protested, cutting off. She knew, given the events of the night, it might not be the wisest thing to say her brother's name right away.

"You look really familiar," the taller boy noted.

"I do go to school here too, you know," Jessa responded wryly. He chuckled.

"No, I mean, I feel as if I've seen you somewhere else," he muttered, thinking for a moment.

"Seamus, doesn't she look like the woman in the picture on Harry's nightstand?" he said suddenly turning to his friend. Seamus, as was his name, looked her over before shrugging.

"I wonder why…" Thomas mused aloud.

"Perhaps that's because Lily Potter's my mother," Jessa supplied, and both boys looked at her in surprise.

"You're Harry's sister?"

"In the flesh and blood," she replied in amusement.

"Guess that answers who you're wanting to speak to and why, then," Seamus muttered, though there was less bite in his voice than before.

"Dean Thomas," the taller of the two said, holding out his hand to her. "And this git is Seamus Finnigan. We're in your brother's year," he explained, officially introducing themselves. "There's a small alcove off the portrait entrance you can wait by."

"Thank you," she replied, relieved as they escorted her to the designated waiting spot. She still received varying degrees of concerned looks, but most ignored her. The few who knew her gave her a quick wave.

"G'night," Seamus said and Dean nodded in agreement before they disappeared through the portrait.

She leaned against the wall, knowing her brother might still be a while. As it was, she was in luck and it seemed the professors hadn't wanted to keep them too late; Harry appeared not even half an hour later.

"Harry!" she called out, ripping his attention from his own mind.

"Jessa? What are you doing here?"

"I had to make sure you were okay. What happened?"

Harry came to sit next to his sister.

"Dunno. Someone set me up. I didn't put my name in the Goblet. I wouldn't."

"I know that," she said, nudging him gently. "I'll help however I can, you know that, right?"

"Of course. Do you need help getting back to the – your – common room?"

She shook her head. "I just – I know you're overthinking how it could have happened. Is it bad I was pretty sure your name would be called? If only because of our – your – past years here?"

He rolled his eyes. "No. I don't know why I'm so surprised. Sirius is not going to be happy, though."

"How is he doing?"

Harry nodded. "Well. Or, as well as he can be."

"I'm glad you have him to lean on."

"Me, too."

A clock chimed. "You'd better go. You're late as is."

She nodded. "Please, be safe," she replied, hugging him tightly before she disappeared into the dimly lit corridors.

Harry sighed, before running a hand through his messy hair and heading to his own bedroom. So much for this being a 'calmer' year for him.