Chapter Fifteen
The next day was a Saturday, a fact Harry was very grateful for as he sat on the cool grass with Draco, Daphne and Pansy all dressed in their white robes.
He was watching the candle burn down calmly. For the first time in ages his head didn't hurt, it was like he was floating slightly outside his body; he could get through anything like this.
"Harry?" Daphne said, "You OK?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah I'm fine. Just… peaceful I guess. My scar has been hurting for weeks, but it's OK at the moment."
"That's good." Pansy smiled.
Draco was also looking at the candle still, running his fingers over the many little kisses on his robes. It was always tough for him, this time of the year; being close to the dead is difficult when you have a lot of dead to remember.
Harry's brain had been focused firmly on his father. Karkaroff's comments had rattled him. He was starting to realise that the world would never see Severus as he did. He was also angry that the suggestion that Danica was some how less important because she was a girl.
Several of the Durmstrang students had been sat on the patch of grass that jutted out into the lake where the ship was docked. They also where surrounded by candles, pictures of loved ones and deep in prayer.
Harry, Daphne, Pansy and Draco waited until the candle was almost completely burned down before blowing it out and making their way up to the castle. They were just inside the Entrance Hall when three people with long white beards and hair, pushed past them on the way to the Hospital wing.
"What happened?" Harry asked Hermione, who was sitting reading one of her school book.
"Fred and George Weasley, and Lee Jordan, the one who does all the commentary for Quidditch? They tried to use and ageing potion to cross the line and enter. It backfired, I told them that it would." She said, snapping the book shut and putting it carefully in her bag, "Did it go well?" she pointed to their white robes.
Harry nodded, "Yeah. I mean, it's always tough, a bit, I guess. Brings up a lot of old feelings you know."
Hermione nodded, "I can imagine."
They heard several sets of boots behind them as the Durmstrang students came into the room and circled around the Goblet of Fire. Each one reached forward around the circle and put their names is. Karkaroff stood to the edge and nodded at them.
"Well done, best of luck to all of you." He said, patting only Krum on the back.
They waved to Harry, Draco, Pansy and Daphne on the way past, back out to the ship.
"All the Beauxbatons put their names in earlier." Hermione told them, "They all lined up and put them in one by one." She looked around her to make sure there wasn't a Weasley nearby, "Ron has a huge crush on one of the Beauxbatons girls, the one with long, silvery blonde hair? She looks a bit like Tracy Davis? Anyway, he's convinced himself that she's part Veela." Hermione shook her head, "He wont stop going on about her; she asked him for the bouillabaisse yesterday and he's convinced he has her. And if it's not her he's going on about, it's how amazing it is to have Viktor Krum in the school."
Harry laughed, "Driving you a bit nuts?"
Hermione laughed as well and nodded, "Sorry, just needed to get it out."
Draco smirked, "Can't blame you there. Anyway we should go and get changed. See you after the choosing?"
Hermione nodded and walked off towards the Gryffindor common room, Harry, Draco, Pansy and Daphne going the other way to the Slytherin rooms.
Harry changed quickly, carefully packing his white robes away in the bottom of his trunk. He and Draco met up with Pansy and Daphne in the common room before making their way down to the hall.
Birgitta, Agne, Havelock and Viktor had all chosen to sit with them again and where excitedly talking amongst themselves when Harry and his friends arrived.
"I hope you don't mind, ve liked sitting vith you yesterday." Agne smiled.
"Yeah no problem." Daphne smiled, sliding into the seat next to her.
"Ve saw you out in the ground earlier. Ve didn't see many others though." Havelock said.
Harry shrugged, "Most people don't really follow the old ways any more." he felt sad just saying the words out loud.
"That is a shame. Nearly everyone does at home." Krum smiled.
"Must be nice." Draco said, with a sigh, "I always feel like everyone is judging us here."
"Your hall looks very nice." Brigitta said, looking around at the huge carved pumpkins and dozens of live bats flying around the room.
"Yeah, any excuse to decorate." Daphne laughed.
Brigitta and Agne smiled.
"Ve also decorate the castle, back home, vhenever ve can." Havelock said.
"How do you decorate?" Harry asked, "You said a lot of people still follow the old ways?"
The Durmstrang students nodded.
"Yes, nearly all of us do." Krum said, "Many of our families come to visit. All Hallows Eve is a big holiday for us all."
"Ve decorate the hall for a veek before hand. Ve all make decorations, new vones every year." Agne said.
Brigitta pulled out a piece of parchment and quill, drawing a quick sketch of the hall at Durmstrang, "See ve all sit at tables, but around the edges of the room, like this. The teachers sit at the top table, but it is connected vith ours."
Harry, Draco, Pansy and Daphne all looked at the drawing eagerly.
"Ve decorate vith paintings, around the valls and ve make paper lanterns to remember those ve have lost. At midnight, ve go to the grounds and send them up into the air. They have a picture of the person, normally and their name. It is a nice vay to connect, you know?" Brigitta explained.
"I vish ve hadn'thad to come so early." Havelock sighed, "I am very happy to be here, please do not think it is that. It is just I miss being at the school. My parents vill be there now, vith my siblings."
"You have siblings?" Daphne asked.
Havelock nodded, "Yes. I have one older brother, three younger brothers and four younger sisters."
"Wow!" Pansy smiled, "That's a lot of siblings."
Havelock nodded and grinned, "Yes. I love them all so much though, I vouldn't change it for the vorld."
"It must get annoying sometimes though?" Harry said, "I mean I love Danica, still want to throw a pillow at her when she wakes me up at three in the morning."
Havelock let out a laugh, "Yes. I share my room at home so going to school, it is a little bit of a break. Time to myself."
"Look." Said Krum, pointing behind them.
Harry turned and saw the Goblet of Fire was being moved, with some difficulty, by Filch; who put it on a small stool in front of the top table.
The teachers all filed into their seats, the Beauxbatons students standing again when Madam Maxine was taking her seat.
Harry saw that Hagrid had tried to tame his hair with large amounts of a thick looking grease and was wearing his furry suit. He kept giving small waves to Madam Maxine, who blushed and smiled back.
Harry was about to say something when Dumbledore stood and welcomed them all to the feast once again.
The feast seemed to take forever. Harry wasn't very hungry and it was the second feast in two days; he just wanted to see who was chosen.
Adrian Pucey, who was currently Slytherin Quidditch team captain had Harry's vote as Hogwarts Champion, although he just mostly hoped it wasn't a Gryffindor; they'd never hear the end of it.
At long last the golden plates where cleared away and silence fell over the hall. Dumbledore, dabbed his mouth with his napkin and stood up.
Either side of him, Madam Maxime and Professor Karkaroff were looking tense and excited as to be expected. Ludo Bagman was practically bouncing up and down in excitement. Mr Crouch on the other hand looked completely bored, he might as well have not been there.
"Well, the Goblet is almost ready to make its decision." Dumbledore said, "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them, please, to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber," he pointed to the door behind the staff table, "where they will be receiving their first instructions."
He took out his wand and swept it around the room. Every candle that wasn't in the pumpkins, flickered and died; leaving the Hall bathed in a dim glow. The Goblet of Fire burned more brightly than ever.
Harry watched as the blue/white flames flared up and turned bright red, sparks flying wildly. A long tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred bit of parchment flew up with it. Dumbledore reached out and grabbed it from the air.
He squinted in the dim light, "The champion for Durmstrang," he read clearly, everyone in the hall took a deep breath.
Harry could see the Durmstrang students all hold tightly to each others hands.
"Will be Viktor Krum!"
Birgitta, Agne, Havelock all looked very disappointed but clapped him on the back and cheered for him as he grinned and stood up.
"Bravo, Viktor!" Shouted Karkaroff proudly, he was so loud everyone could hear him, even over the clapping, "Knew you had it in you!"
Viktor walked up along the staff table and into the chamber. Quickly the Goblet turned red again. Another shot of flame burst out and another piece of parchment fluttered into Dumbledore's hand.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," Dumbledore said, "is Fleur Delacour!"
The girl with silver blonde hair stood up and swept a few stray locks down her back. Several of the other Beauxbatons students looked heartbroken and two of the girls had actually burst into tears, head on their arms.
Fleur walked up to the teachers table gracefully and disappeared into the door. Harry could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end with excitement. Next would be the Hogwarts champion.
The third bit of paper shot out the Goblet and floated down. Harry felt like the whole Hall was holding it's breath.
"The Hogwarts champion, is Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff table exploded in cheers as Cedric stood up and was patted on the back by everyone who could reach him. The noise was deafening.
Harry was disappointed that it wasn't a Slytherin but a Hufflepuff was the next best thing; Nikka would definitely be happy.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore said happily, as at last the noise finally died down, "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real-"
Dumbledore stopped. It wasn't a surprise that he had. The Goblet, which should have grown still, had shot up another red flame and another bit of paper was drifting slowly down.
Dumbledore reached out a hand, half on automatic, and grabbed the parchment. He held it close to his nose and stared out to the Hall. There was a long pause and Dumbledore licked his lips, he coughed to clear his throat and read out the piece of parchment.
"Harry Potter."