Chapter 94: Unexpected

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," Dumbledore got to his feet as the Hallowe'en feast ended. "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 indicated the door behind the staff table — "where they will be receiving their first instructions."

He took out his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it; at once, all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging them into a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames al­most painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting. … A few people kept checking their watches. …

"Any second now," said the Ravenclaw Prefect, who was just few seats away from Chris.

The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red again. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it — the whole room gasped.

Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white.

"The champion for Durmstrang," he read, in a strong, clear voice, "will be Viktor Krum."

"See?" Chris said smirking and clapped with others.

"It's just a lucky guess." Ginny rolled her eyes. "If you're so sure then tell me who'll be selected from Beauxbatons?"

"... ummmm...." Chris looked around the Ravenclaw table to see the Beauxbatons girls as Viktor Krum rise from the Slytherin table and slouch up toward Dumbledore; he turned right, walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the next chamber.

"Bravo, Viktor!" boomed Karkaroff, so loudly that everyone could hear him, even over all the applause. "Knew you had it in you!"

The clapping and chatting died down.

"She." Chris pointed at the girl who was asking for the French dish yesterday.

Ginny looked unimpressed. Everyone's attention was focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more. A second piece of parchment shot out of it, propelled by the flames.

"The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour!"

"Really?" Ginny said surprised as the same girl who Chris just pointed, got to her feet, shook back her sheet of silvery blonde hair, and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.

"...er... actually this was a good guess." Chris said clapping. "I should take Divination seriously, don't you think?"

Ginny was about to reply, but Colin nudged her and pointed towards the other Beauxbatons girls. Almost everyone looked disappointed, two of them were in tears. Few Ravenclaws tried to talk to them.

"So much for a champion." Ginny snorted. "I mean they can't even take this rejection, how were they going to compete?"

"Shhh Ginny." Colin said as silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excite­ment you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion next …

And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out of it; the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment.

"The Hogwarts champion," he called, "is Cedric Diggory!"

"Well I'm little disappointed that Angelina didn't make it but I'll cheer for Cedric, for Hogwarts." Chris said clapping with the rest. Chris laughed as every single Hufflepuff jumped to his or her feet, screaming and stamping, Cedric made his way past them, grinning broadly, he shoot a glance towards the Ravenclaw table and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers' table.

Chris looked around to see exactly whom Cedric tried to see.

"It's Cho." Ginny said, pointing at Cho and her friends who were giggling.

The applause for Cedric went on so long that it was some time before Dumbledore could make himself heard again.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore called happily as at last the tumult 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 —"

But Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking, and it was appar­ent to everybody what had distracted him.

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The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were fly­ing out of it. A long flame shot suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment.

Automatically, it seemed, Dumbledore reached out a long hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it. There was a long pause, during which Dumble­dore stared at the slip in his hands, and everyone in the room stared at Dumbledore. And then Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out —

"Harry Potter."

"What?" Chris, Ginny and Colin said at the same time.

There was no applause. A buzzing, as though of angry bees, was starting to fill the Hall; some students were standing up to get a better look at Harry. Chris looked at the Gryffindor table only to find him frozen, looking down shocked.

Up at the top table, Professor McGonagall had got to her feet and swept past Ludo Bagman and Professor Karkaroff to whisper urgently to Professor Dumbledore, who bent his ear toward her, frowning slightly.

"But how's this possible? Harry's fourteen." Ginny said frowning. "It's impossible for him to get past the age line."

"Do you think they'll allow him to compete?" Colin asked.

At the top table, Professor Dumbledore had straightened up, nodding to Professor McGonagall.

"Harry Potter!" he called again. "Harry! Up here, if you please!"

"I don't think he did this but I do know one thing," said Chris looking at Harry. "He is sooo screwed this time."

Harry make it slowly, trembling a little to the teachers' table then walked inside the chamber.

For a few moments nobody spoke, even Dumbledore was looking at the Goblet of Fire, maybe to see if anything else happens but nothing happened. Then suddenly its fire died down.

"Then this is it. Time to go back to bed. All of you." Dumbledore said without smiling and Chris realized there was a hidden sigh in his voice.

Soon, one by one everyone started to get up from their seats, still whispering among them. The teachers disappeared behind the small chamber door.

"You all go. I'll stay for a moment." Chris said.

Colin tried to ask something but Luna stopped him.

"Good night Chris." She said and three of them walked away with the rest.

Chris saw Filch taking down the Goblet and walking away. Chris walked out of the Great Hall and sat on a stair of the Entrance Hall, thinking about what just happened and what's going to happen.

Chris checked her watch and saw almost half an hour passed, she was successfully avoided Filch by leaning beside a statue and then waited. Finally she heard two female voices. She looked up to see Madame Maxime and Fleur Delacour walking towards her. They were so busy among them talking in French that they didn't notice Chris sitting in a corner. Chris only make few words out of their conversation.

"Don't you worry, he's is just a boy. I don't think he's even half prepared for this championship." Madame Maxime said to Fleur, in French. "Your main competition is that Victor Krum."

And they walked out of the entrance hall, which was greeted by another pair of voices.

"So what if he's Harry Potter, Headmaster?" Krum asked to Karkaroff.

"Listen my boy, I think, after his popularity, it's very likely for Dumbledore to teach him few things personally." Karkaroff replied grimly. "I don't think that's a good thing. We've to prepare for anything."

"Yeah just because you favor your students, you assumed Dumbledore will do the same?" Chris whispered, as they walked out. "Though it'll be cool to learn from Dumbledore."

"So … tell me …" Chris heard another voice. "How did you get your name in?"

It was Cedric and Harry.

"He didn't." Chris said walking towards them.

The two boys looked surprised to see her there.

"Chris!" Harry looked relived. "You believed..."

"Of course I believe, you didn't put your name in that stupid Goblet." Chris said cutting Harry off. "How could you? You don't have the brain to trick that Goblet or you don't have the gut to piss Dumbledore or the other schools off; specially when you're barely trained for this competition."

"I.... I...." Harry felt speechless, his expressions were debating about he should be happy or sad.

"So... You're the actual Hogwarts Champion, Cedric." Chris smiled, looking at Cedric. "Congratulations. I really hope you win."

"Ah... o.... thanks. I'll give my best." Cedric said, looking surprised. "Well … see you, then."

Cedric smiled at Chris and Harry then headed for a door to its right. They stood listening to him going down the stone steps beyond it, then, slowly, he started to climb the marble ones.

"Hufflepuffs common room is near the kitchen, which is just downstairs." Chris said seeing Harry's face. "By the way, did you went to met Dobby?"

"Yeah.. no.. I was trying to but then Hermione...." Harry sighed. "I really don't want to enter this competition, Chris."

"I know." Chris replied as they started walking.

"Professor Moody said someone would have used an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm on that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament, and also my name was under a fourth school so I can be the only candidate to get selected.... he guessed whoever did this, wants me dead very badly." Harry said without thinking, it was clear he was still in shock.

"Mad-Eye explained all of this himself?" Chris asked surprised.

"Yes. He said he thinks the way Dark wizards thinks," Harry replied. "No one really trusted him, maybe other than Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall. But I think he was telling the truth... someone really wants me dead."

"What're you hiding Harry?" Chris asked looking into his eyes.

"I.... I.... me..." Harry shivered under her gaze. "I had a dream, before the start of the term. I was at Sirius's place that time. I saw Vold.... sorry."

"You can take his name in front of me." Chris said.

"Thanks. Voldemort, I saw Voldemort with someone, I think Voldemort called him, 'Kazle'; they were planning someone's death... actually no they were planning two peoples death. I heard one of them was me... and then I woke up with my scar hurting."

"Did you tell this to...."

"I told this to Sirius and I guess he told that to Dumbledore but Dumbledore didn't talk to me about this." Harry sighed. "Sirius just asked me to be careful but now...."

"You know Harry maybe you're not ready for this but there is one thing inside you, which makes you, well, you." Chris said as they almost reached the portrait of fat lady. "You're brave enough to face this."

Finally Harry smiled a little.

"Well, well, well," said the Fat Lady, as they looked up. "Violet's just told me every­thing. Who's just been chosen as school champion, then?"

Another pale witch was standing with the fat lady.

"Balderdash," said Chris ignoring her comment.

"It most certainly isn't!" said the pale witch indignantly.

"No, no, Vi, it's the password," said the Fat Lady soothingly, and she swung forward on her hinges to let them into the common room.

The blast of noise that met them when the portrait opened almost knocked them backward. People literally grabbed Harry and pulled him inside. Harry looked bewildered as he reached for Chris. Chris just gave him a reassuring nod and made her way through the crowd to her room. Ginny was standing on the stairs.

"What happened?" She asked as soon as she saw Chris.

There were loud noises, people were screaming for Harry.

"First, let's go to our room." Chris said climbing the stairs. "And please ask Colin to not to take pictures of Harry, right now. He'll be angry."

"Alright." Ginny nodded and went back to the common room.

Chris changed her clothes and sat on her bed when Ginny came back.

"He didn't put his name but now he have to compete and honestly he has no idea how." Chris said simply before collapsing on the bed. "Good night, Ginny. There's lot to think about."