The Triwizard Champions
The week past quickly after that, James still felt like it didn’t go fast enough. Quidditch was canceled for the tournament and his dream of getting Gryffindor to the top in his last year of school went downhill. Peter wasn’t subtle about being happy about his chance to sleep in but he made up for it for the heaps of truffle cakes he stole from the kitchen.
Durmstrang, Beauxbatons and Hogwarts met in the Great Hall as a whole again since the first night. Everyone was excited and James couldn’t help but feel anxious.
He had told his parents about the tournament and that he had put his name in the cup. His dad was very happy about it and told him if he got chosen they’d be at every challenge, his mum did not share her husbands thoughts. She was written a seperate letter telling him to be careful and not to get caught up in the idea of eternal fame.
The tables were filled with food but James couldn’t find the stomach to eat anything. Sirius and Lily were at the Ravenclaw table and Remus and Marlene were at Slytherin, James found that he missed them. They had grown close over the week with their likeness for quidditch and an urge to prove someone wrong by winning the tournament. James was still foolishly obsessed with Lily but she seemed to pay him no mind and more towards Snivellous. Snape. Severus.
Snape had put his name in the Goblet, he derided James about being one of the first people to put his name in and Sirius had to flick his forward and tell him it didn’t matter.
“I hope it’s you.” Two 5th year girls said to James as he was eating his peas. They were giggling and one even gave James a kiss on the cheek before running away squealing.
Mary was laughing into her hand and took James’s hand, acting lovesick. “Oh dear sweet Jamie I hope it’s you! You would make such a brave ferocious champion!”
“Geroff.” James muttered, blushing hard and wiping his cheek. “I didn’t ask her to do that.”
“Obviously not, your usual bravado would be frolicking.” Peter joked, stealing one of James’s chips.
"Why won’t this stupid cup hurry up? I bet it knows I’m wetting myself waiting.” He whined taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes.
“Do you want me to get one of your fan club to clean your mess.” Alice said, Mary laughed harder and the girls exchanged a high five.
Dessert went faster luckily and James shoved it down just to hurry the evening.
The minister of magic was standing with Dumbledore after the food was cleared and the hall was silent.
“The Goblet is almost ready to make its decision,” said Dumbledore. “I estimate that it requires a minute or two. Now, when the champions’ names have been called, I would like them please to come to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table and through the next chamber-“ he indicated to the door behind the staff table - “ where they will hear their first instructions.”
With a wave of his wand, every light in the Hall went out, the crescent moon and Goblet were the only sources of light. The Goblet brighter than anything else.
“Come on, come on any second.” A sixth year muttered.
The flames inside the goblet of fire suddenly turned red. Sparks flew from it and turned into tiny fireworks. One piece of parchment flew from the Goblet and the hall full of students gasped.
Dumbledore caught the parchment and held it at arms length so he could read it from the Goblets lights, which turned back to blue.
“The champion for Durmstrang,” He read loud and clear, "will be Remus Lupin.”
“Oh bloody hell yes!” James yelled as a storm of applause and cheer swept through the hall. Remus looked dumbfounded with his eyes wide. Marlene was shoving him and cheering whereas Igor and August looked more upset. His Headmaster Arnoldi was crying with glee and shouting applauses. With one last shove from Marlene, Remus got up and shook Dumbledores hand, took his parchment and walked through the chamber behind the staff table.
“Bravo Remus!” Arnoldi boomed, very loudly from the staff table, “I knew you had it in you.”
The clapping and cheering quieted down and everyone’s attention was back to the Goblet.
They waited another second before the flames turned red. Sparks flew from the flames, and another piece of parchment fluttered out. Dumbledore caught it again and held it in the light of the returned blue flames.
“The champion for Beauxbaton,” He read just as loudly, “will be Sirius Black.”
James whooped loudly for his friend and the hall once again erupted with applause and cheering. Few people gasped at the sound of the ruthless Black family name but that didn’t make the cheering die down. Madam Arquette was clapping loudly and her wings were fluttering with happiness. Regulus and Lily were hugging and cheering for Sirius as he grinned widely at James’ headmaster. He stood up and shook Dumbledores hand and took the parchment, he was stopped by his Headmistress who kissed his cheek and gestured for him to continue. And he too walked through the chamber.
Two done one to go. The Goblet burnt red and the last parchment flew out, being caught by Dumbledores quick hands. He waited for the flames to turn blue before reading the name. He cleared his throat and James wanted to snatch it from him and read it himself.
“The champion for Hogwarts, will be James Potter.”
Applause louder than the other two champions stormed through the hall. James was slapped on the back my Pete and Frank who were cheering for him. Mary was whooping and Alice had tears streaming down her face as she laughed. James laughed in surprise and sock and got up and walked to Dumbledore who looked at him with pride.
“Congratulations James, you have made us very proud.” He said, his crows feet next to his eyes were very prominent and he shook his hand and handed James the burnt piece of parchment. He walked passed the staff table with a grin at McGonagall who smiled fondly and told him well done. James was swelling with happiness and pride as he went into the chambers where Remus and Sirius already were.
They ran at him and the three were pulled into a hug.
“We made it boys! Who’d have thought we three idiots would get chosen?” James joked. Sirius had never looked happier and Remus was beaming.
“Someone pinch me?” Remus asked with his eyes closed. Sirius pinched his arm with a wider grin and Remus scowled. “Thanks Padfoot.”
“Padfoot?” James asked.
Sirius laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “We share a common room space and I walked out in these sole support shoes I have and Remus was reading on the couch and he asked why I had pads on my feet. Even though they were very expensive sole support shoes for my high arched feet! Anyway, it’s my nickname now and it’s not any better than bloody Prongs.”
James through his head back and laughed, “Oh Godric, this story is so weird. Pete and I have known each other since we were five and my hair has always been this wild tangly mess so he put those twisty craft sticks in my hair one day when we were eight and mum said they looked like prongs. Guess it sort of stuck.” James chuckled at the memory and turned to Remus. “What about you, Moony?”
Remus shook his head, “Long story short, Marlene said I was too pale and I said she was too blond then she said at least she wasn’t a moon man and then she called me that for a while. Then she called me Moony one time in 3rd year and it became permanent. Not very exciting.”
“Not going to lie, shouldn’t we be more nerveux than telling each other our nickname origin stories?” Sirius said.
Remus shrugged. “I’m not nervous, more confused as to how I’m a more worthy champion than Igor. The Headmaster called him to his office to discuss training before anyone else was told, he spent all holidays learning hexes for fucks sake. He’s going to hate me now.”
James chuckled, “if you’re worried for your life, you can stay in my dorm. I’m sure you’re allowed into other houses common rooms.”
“Oi, am I a potato to you?” Sirius complained. James told him he could come too.
“Our champions!” Dumbledore said, a group of teachers coming in behind him.
Arnoldi put his hand on Remus’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear, Remus nodded.
Madam Arquette tugged on Sirius’s school skirt he was wearing and he bent so she could talk to him.
James felt Professor McGonagall put a hand on his shoulder. “You alright, Potter?” She asked. James grinned at her and nodded.
“You have been chosen and now bound by a magical contract to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. Each of you will face three dangerous tasks many grown wizards and witches haven’t dared faced. The tasks you will have to follow are designed to test your magical ability, intelligence, resourcefulness and courage. After each task you will receive marks from your headmaster or headmistress, we will agree on who comes which place.” Dumbledore looked at the other headmasters with raised eyebrows, they each nodded. “Each champion must stand alone during the Tournament, receiving no help from anyone. Cheating will reduce your marks but I do encourage using the time between tasks to get some research in.” He winked at James making him smirk.
“The number of deaths from this Tournament is concernedly high but we have set up precautions, if we see you are on the brink danger that may lead to death, we will step in. Have I missed anything Minister?” Everyone turned to the minister who shook his head. “I believe thats everything that could be covered.”
“Perfect! Now gentlemen, you must be exhausted after this riveting day. Get some rest, you have two weeks before the first task. If you have any questions I believe your headmaster or headmistress will know the answer. Congratulations again boys, this is something to be proud of."
Headmistress Arquette took Sirius by the hand after Dumbledore finished his speech and walked them to wherever their quarters were. Remus’s headmaster had kept his hand on his shoulder and they aparated without another word.
“They’re surely fast to get out of here.” McGonagall sniffed, Dumbledore chuckled, “I’m sure you should get going too James, there’s a common room of students waiting for your arrival.” He said with a twinkle in his eye.
James was indeed met with a crowd of students in red and gold, treating him like the winner of the last quidditch game.