The Triwizard Champions
“Thank you all for gathering here tonight.” Dumbledore spoke from the front of the great hall. “I have invited Barty Crouch, the head of the department of magical ministry cooperation, here tonight to inform everyone about the rules of the triwizard tournament. Over to you Barty.”
“Good evening everyone, I know most of you have probably already heard the rules but I want to be certain that everyone is aware of what they are going to be signing up for so listen carefully. The triwizard tournament is named accordingly as it consists of three wizards or witches from three different schools competing in three extremely dangerous tasks with no external help in order to win the triwizard cup and eternal glory. However, due to the nature of these tasks, this year the ministry has decided to appoint an age limit of 17 years old to prevent anyone under age from entering into something they can’t completely comprehend. The champions will be selected by an impartial judge, the Goblet of Fire, which will be revealed tonight and this will mark the official beginning of the tournament. Dumbledore if you may.” Barty pointed over at Dumbledore who levitated a large jewelled casket into the centre of the room. The man then tapped the top of the casket causing it to fold down and reveal a wooden goblet with blue white flames coming out the top of it. “Anyone wishing to submit themselves as a champion must write their name and school on a piece of parchment and place it into the flames. You will have until 5 o’clock on the 31st of October to enter your name and the champions will be revealed by the Goblet at 7pm that day. The Goblet of Fire will be placed in the entrance hall so that everyone has access to it. Although an age line will be placed by Professor Dumbledore to prevent anyone under age from even attempting to enter. Think wisely before entering because once you are called as a champion you will stand alone and there will be no way out.”
The rather ominous end to Barty’s speech caused a ripple of whispers to sound around the hall.
“All right everyone it is getting late so everyone back to their common rooms so you are all well rested for your classes tomorrow.” Dumbledore called over the noice which just increased as everyone continued to talk as they got up and headed to their respective common rooms.
***
Over the next week whenever they weren’t busy, he and his friends would sit in the entrance hall, joined by a lot of other students, in order to check out who was entering their name. Obviously, every student from the foreign schools entered their names and unsurprisingly any Gryffindor that was of age had entered their name but there had been some surprises from the other houses.
From Slytherin there had only been two students who entered their name – Peregrine Derek and Lucian Bole. He was surprised that Adrian Pucey hadn’t entered since rest of the Quidditch team that had been old enough had entered but the older boy had mentioned that he wanted to focus more on exams this year since it was his first year of NEWT content which was fair enough.
From Ravenclaw there had been 10 students that he vaguely recognised but didn’t know the name off. He had also been surprised that there had been so many Ravencalws cause he thought they would have been like Adrian and preferred to focus on exams.
From Hufflepuff there had been 2 students that he knew the name of – Cedric Diggory and Beatrice Haywood but also another 4 students that he couldn’t name.
The most interesting people to have entered had been Fred and George Weasley who despite only being sixteen had decided to try and get past Dumbledores age line using an ageing potion. He and Hermione had tried to warn the two of them that something as simple as an ageing potion wouldn’t defeat Dumbledores spell but their concerns fell on deaf ears and the twins tried anyway. After drinking the potion they had managed to step through the line to a great amount of cheers but the problem came when they placed the parchment in the fire. Immediately blue flames came flying out hitting the two boys backwards outside the line and then within seconds they had grown long grey beards which could have rivalled Dumbledores. They didn’t take the rejection too hard though and actually refused to let Madam Pomphrey fix them for a few days preferring to go around impersonating the headmaster, Fred even going as far as to sit in Dumbledores chair up in the staff table. The headmaster that day had had a rather awkward meal at the Gryffindor table because McGonagall and Severus had played along with Fred.
However now the week was up and the situation didn’t seem as fun because in a few hours the champions would be revealed and he had a feeling of dread building in him. He always felt awful on Halloween, but this was different, he had recognised the pattern of everything going wrong on this day and he wasn’t confident that the trend wouldn’t continue.
“Harry, your name can’t possibly come out of the goblet because it hasn’t been placed in their, it can’t be placed in their because of your age so you don’t need to worry so much.” Draco tried to comfort him. He was currently lying with his head on the older boys lap, hands running soothingly through his hair.
“Why did they have to pick today to it?”
“The spooky atmosphere of Halloween adds with the tension. I don’t know but it is just a really unfortunate coincidence ok, your name can’t be drawn.” Draco said confidently, he wished he could match that confidence right now but until his name isn’t drawn tonight he couldn’t stop worrying about the possibility that it will be.
***
It was time. All the students from Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were crowded into the Great Hall, the goblet having been moved back there once more, staring impatiently at the front of the room where Barty Crouch and Dumbledore were standing.
“The time has arrived for our champions to be drawn, I would like to wish good luck to every student who’s placed their name within the Goblet, you have already shown a great deal of bravery by entering and I know that whoever is selected will do their school proud.” Dumbledore reached out a hand towards the goblet causing the blue flame to turn red and a piece of charred parchment to fly out into the man’s outstretched hand. “The Durmstrang champion is…. Viktor Krum.” The room exploded into cheers as Krum got up and walked to the front, receiving hand shakes from Dumbledore and Barty and a pat on the shoulder from the Durmstrang headmaster, Igor Karkaroff, before walking out through the side staff door. “Well done to Mr Krum, now our next champion will be…..” Once again Dumbledore extended a hand towards the goblet, the flames turned red and another piece of charred parchment came flying out. “From Beaxbatons, Fleur Delacour.” More cheers erupted around the hall, although quieter than Krum’s, as Fleur walked to the front receiving hand shakes as well but her headmistress, Madam Maxine hugged her tightly before allowing her to leave through the side staff room door. “One champion remains, the Hogwarts champion, let’s see who it will be.” For the last time Dumbledore reached out a hand and the flames turned red releasing a charred piece of parchment. “Cedric Diggory is our third and final champion.” Hufflepuff house went mental, getting up to clap Cedric on the back, whistling, shouting, it was chaotic but he understood why they were so excited. Hufflepuff always ended up being overlooked and this was a chance for them to get rightful attention, so he cheered along loudly watching Cedric shake hands with Dumbledore and Barty before being attacked in a hug by Professor Sprout and finally joining the other two champions. “That is all for today folks,” Dumbledore started and he let out a sigh of relief. His name hadn’t been chosen, his worry had been for nothing. He grinned broadly barely even listening to the rest of Dumbledores speech in favour of silently celebrating. Then it happened. The Goblet of Fires flames turned red causing gasps and whispers to drown out Dumbledore who looked around confused to see what had started the commotion. A slip of parchment came flying out of the flames towards Dumbledore who gingerly grabbed it before looking up shocked. “Harry Potter.”
“No this isn’t happening, it isn’t happening. It’s not real.” He murmured under his breath feeling nauseous.
“Harry Potter.” Dumbledore shouted louder.
“No it’s not real, it’s not real.”
“Harry Potter.”
This time Pansy pushed him out of his seat. “You need to go up.” She whispered apologetically.
Slowly he made his way down the room receiving glares from all directions, especially Hufflepuffs, until he reached the front where instead of receiving a handshake from Dumbledore or Barty all he got was a questioning look. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at Severus as he passed the man before heading through the staff room door into a side chamber where the other three champions were waiting.
“Are you here to bring us back out?” Fleur asked standing up.
“Erm no, I’m erm my name came out the Goblet. I’m a champion.”
“But there is only meant to be 3 champions, how can you be one?” Krum questioned.
“I don’t know, I didn’t put my name in. I don’t want to be here.” He said quietly not really knowing how to explain to the two foreign students that everything went wrong in his life. Before he could be asked anymore questions, the staff room door opened once more to reveal Dumbledore, Barty, Severus, Karkaroff and Maxine. Severus immediately came over to stand behind him a comforting hand placed on his shoulder as Dumbledore started to talk.
“Harry did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?”
“No sir.”
“Are you sure? You didn’t get one of the older students to do it for you?”
“No sir, I promise I didn’t enter it. I wouldn’t want to, why would I want anymore trouble?”
“I just had to be sure, Barty how do the rules work in this situation, what will happen now?”
“Unfortunately Mr Potter has to compete, his name came out the Goblet of Fire which means he has been entered into a binding agreement. There is nothing we can do.” Barty explained, the hand on his shoulder gripping tighter.
“There must be something you can do. What would happen if he broke the agreement?” Severus spoke up for the first time.
“He would loose his magic and become a squib.”
“Shit, is there some sort of loophole.” Severus asked desperately losing complete composure.
“I’m sorry but no, he must compete.”
“That is preposterous, that is entirely unfair. How can Hogwarts have two champions? I demand a redraw.” Karkaroff announced angrily.
“That is also not an option considering the other three champions are also in a binding contract. The tournament will just have to be held with the four of you, now I must get going to inform the ministry about this new development. A meeting will be scheduled with all of you in the near future to give you the details about the first task. Good night all.” As soon as Barty left the room chaos ensued between the two foreign heads and Dumbledore about the inequality.
“Everyone be quiet.” Fleur shouted, which surprisingly worked, he thought it might possibly be due to her Veela genes. “There is no use fighting about something that can’t be changed. Anyway, no offence to you Harry, but can he really be counted as a second champion when he is only 14 years old. He is a child who knows about half the magic we know so if anything Hogwarts is at a disadvantage for having an unqualified minor in the game. I think we should all just get to bed tonight, it has been a busy day so we will have fresher heads to talk this through tomorrow.”
Despite the fact he had pretty much been insulted by the girl he was grateful that someone else other than Severus seemed to care that he was being forced into a death tournament he didn’t sign up for at all.
“I agree with her, something or someone has tampered with the Goblet somehow but I highly doubt it was anyone with Hogwarts best wishes at heart. If they were truly trying to get an advantage I highly doubt they would choose a fourteen year old for that and it is too late to be arguing about this any further.” Krum agreed.
“Yes I’m with them as well, Harry obviously didn’t enter and no one on his side would have done it for him either and if there is no way to get him out of it there is no use fighting. This championship is to create external ties not just make us argue more so let’s break it up tonight and everyone can have a conversation tomorrow when things aren’t as fresh.” Cedric added.
“Thank you, this seems like the smartest option.” Severus said to the three champions before turning to the heads. “Good night all, this can be continued tomorrow, I wish to speak to my son alone.”
He silently followed Severus down to their private quarters and as soon as they were in their he broke down.
“Shhh come here it’s all going to be alright. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now but I will not let anything bad happen to you ok? I won’t let you get hurt.” Severus wrapped him in a tight hug.
“I knew it was going to happen, I have had a bad feeling about it ever since the tournament was announced but it’s real now. I really am going to have to compete. I don’t even know what I’m going to do considering I am no where near as advanced as the rest of them, I am going to have no chance at surviving the tasks.”
“You are brilliant at defence so if you practice some more advanced spells you will pick them up easily and you will get through the tasks somehow because you have a stupid amount of dumb luck when it comes to dangerous situations that give me heart attacks. It will all work itself out in the end, everything will work itself out.”
“Can I sleep here tonight? Today is too much, between it being Halloween and this happening, I don’t want to be in the dorm for tonight.”
“Of course, you know you can sleep here whenever you want to, wether you have a reason to or not.”
“Could I maybe also sleep in your bed, maybe if I am with you I can have a full nights sleep without the nightmares about green lights or tournaments.”
“Of course you can stay in my bed, I will never pass up an opportunity to cuddle you considering soon you will be too grown up and think it’s uncool to be close to me. I have to savour every moment I get.” Severus joked lightly bringing a small smile to his face.
He quickly went to his room to put pjs on before going into Severus’s room, slipping under the covers and pressing himself as close to the man as possible.
“Remember if you need me at all don’t hesitate to wake me up, I don’t care what it’s for, if you need me wake me.” Severus said quietly.
“Don’t worry I will. Good night.” He whispered.
“Good night.”
Despite sleeping with Severus, he still had a few nightmares but they weren’t as bad as he would have thought they would be tonight and anytime he got a bit restless from one, Severus would be rubbing a hand through his hair or over his back while whispering soothing words into his ear. Barty may have said that if you are chosen you would have to stand alone, but he knew Severus would be standing by him in whatever way possible so he guessed he had that going for him. No matter what happened with this tournament, he would not be alone.