Everyone gathered in the Great Hall for the big feast on Halloween evening. The feast was fantastic as usual. Hermione begrudgingly ate a small dinner as she continued her S.P.E.W. protest. After supper, everyone sat around anxiously talking about the Triwizard Tournament.
The Goblet of fire began to glow as bright blue flames shot out of it and danced through the air. Dumbledore rose to his feet and approached the Goblet, shielding his eyes from its bright glow. The entire hall had fallen silent and their eyes were fixed upon the cup in front of the staff table. The cup began to spit out flames more violently and a singed slip of paper flew into the air and fluttered down into Dumbledore's outstretched hand. He unfolded it and announced:
"The Durmstrang Champion is Viktor Krum!"
The Durmstrang students cheered and clapped Krum on the back as he rose from the Slytherin table and made his way forward to shake Dumbledore's hand before being ushered through a door behind the staff table.
A second slip of paper shot into the air with a trail of smoke and was snatched by Dumbledore.
"The Beauxbatons Champion is Fleur Delacour!"
A cautious smile spread across Fleur's face as she stood up and hugged her sister Gabrielle before stepping forward to be greeted by Dumbledore.
The Cup lurched a third time and another slip of paper was propelled into the air. It was the moment that the majority of them were waiting for -- the announcement of the Hogwarts Champion.
"The Hogwarts Champion is Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers as their classmate rose and received an ovation from the rest of the Hogwarts student body. Diggory shook Dumbledore's hand and made his way out of the hall through the same door that the other two Champions had passed through. Dumbledore grinned at the rest of the hall as he turned back toward them.
"We now have our three Champions! It is your duty to support them throughout the rigors of the tournament as they face.."
The Goblet of Fire erupted a fourth time. Flames were shooting out of it like small comets. Dumbledore turned back toward it and a fourth slip of paper floated through the air. Dumbledore caught it and unfolded it as he muttered something under his breath that was inaudible to everyone else.
"HARRY POTTER!" he shouted turning toward the Gryffindor table.
The Great Hall had once again fallen completely silent. Harry wasn't sure what to do. Hermione nudge him forward and he stood up and walked toward Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore had a stern look on his face. He pointed him toward the door and instructed him to follow the other three champions. Harry passed through the door and down a small corridor that opened into a room where the other three champions were sitting.
A moment later the door burst open behind him and the five tournament judges rushed in. Ludo Bagman had a wide smile on his face. He was pleased that Harry would be in the tournament. Madame Maxime and Igor Karkaroff were not as thrilled however. They accused Dumbledore of messing up the Age Line and said that Hogwarts was trying to cheat its way into having a second Champion. Harry swore that he did not put his name into the cup.
"Of course he is lying," Madame Maxime said. "He must not be allowed to compete!"
"The magic required to trick the Goblet would be way beyond that of a 4th year," Mad-Eye Moody growled as he entered the chamber.
Barty Crouch spoke up: "We must follow the rules, and they clearly state that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament. As of tonight, Mr. Potter is a Triwizard Champion."
Mr. Crouch informed the Champions that their first task would be a surprise one that would test their courage. He gave them other instructions and excused them all for the night. Harry quickly made his way back to Gryffindor Tower. He as afraid that no one would believe him that he didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire. He was right.
As the Portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and Harry stepped into the Common Room, he was greeted by cheers and all of the other Gryffindors asking how he managed to fool the Goblet. Harry just wanted to find Ron and Hermione to provide him with a bit of sanity. He didn't find it with Ron though. Ron accused him of putting his name in the cup and excluding Ron from his plan. Harry felt betrayed and tried to explain that he didn't do it, but Ron didn't want to hear it. He stormed up to the dormitory and ignored Harry for the rest of the night.
Harry found Hermione the next morning who thankfully believed him. But she was worried about how Harry's name had been put into the Goblet of Fire. Hermione suggested writing to Sirius to tell him what was happening which he did. Harry's life at Hogwarts was worse than just receiving the cold shoulder from Ron. The Hufflepuffs were all mad as well because they believed Harry was trying to steal the spotlight from Cedric. Even the Ravenclaws believed that Harry was desperate to earn himself some more fame by tricking the Goblet of Fire. The Slytherins were all wearing badges that would flash the message "SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY - THE REAL Hogwarts Champion" in gold bright gold lettering which would fade to green letters that read "POTTER STINKS!"
Harry was disturbed during Monday's Potions lesson by Colin Creevey who had been sent to bring him to Ludo Bagman. Bagman was sitting next to a witch in magenta robes who he introduced as Rita Skeeter. She was going to interview the Champions to write her article for the Daily Prophet on the tournament. Skeeter asks Harry all sorts of personal questions about his past trauma and about how he entered the tournament. As Harry answered her questions her magical quill raced across her parchment independently scribbling things other than what Harry was saying.
After the interviews was the weighing of the wands. Mr. Ollivander had come from London to test the four Champions wands and ensure that they were in good working condition. Finally, the Champions posed for a few photographs before Harry hurried back to his dormitory. Hedwig had delivered a response from Sirius while Harry was away. Sirius wanted to arrange a meeting on the night of November 22nd. He planned to come see Harry through the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room.
Things had gotten worse for Harry since Rita Skeeter's piece ran in the Daily Prophet. Nearly the entire article turned into a puff piece about Harry while barely mentioning the other Triwizard Champions. Fleur Delacour wasn't even mentioned in the piece at all as if she wasn't even a part of the tournament. The article was full of shit that Harry did not even say. Skeeter even invented a rumor that Harry had found love at Hogwarts -- with Hermione.
Fleur Delacour (Yehom) a Normal Student/Staff has been omitted from Rita Skeeter's article about the Triwizard Tournament on day 4.
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Yehom (4): Kitkat16, SeaBeeGipson, Sister Midnight, iSocialism
It is now night 4. Please PM any night actions to me in your personal role PM by 1:00pm CST on Thursday, February 23rd.