Get Out Alive // Draco Malfoy

>>34<<

"Did you see what he did? He's crazy, he's just insane," Lia shouted as we left the classroom and ran down the stairs. Never in my life had I seen people flee a room so quickly, not even when Fred and George set off a dungbomb in Binn's class that one time when they had a free period.

However, that lesson was literally torture. At Durmstrang we were already taught about the unforgivable curses but even there they weren't carried out in class.

"Well, I guess he didn't get his name 'Mad Eye' for nothing. Though I thought it was just because of his creepy and somewhat disgusting eye but apparently not," David said with a slightly disturbed look on his face as most had.

"Yeah but the Cruciatus curse? That's pretty perfidious, don't you think?" Lia shook her head in disgust.

"It kind of is... But have you seen Longbottom? He went so pale and almost fell off his chair," I interjected into the conversation, as the young Gryffindor looked like he was about to faint.

"Longbottom's always been a chicken but I can't blame him this time. I felt a bit queasy too," Lia said.

"It's possible but I think his parents were tortured with that curse and went mad because of it. My parents once told me something about the Longbottoms being in St. Mungo's Hospital for a long time but not recognising anyone and probably not coming out of there," I explained to my friends, causing them to put on thoughtful, pitying looks.

"To move on to something better, the champions for the Triwizard Tournament are about to be chosen. I can't wait to see who it is." Lia, as usual, tried to lighten the mood a bit, trying to get everyone thinking nicer thoughts, "We can freshen up quickly and then go straight to the Great Hall so we can get good seats. I want to sit really close." We nodded in agreement and David had to laugh, "You never want to miss anything either."

"I'll join you in a minute," I promised them both, "I have to see McGonagall first and give her back some books she lent me. Save a seat for me!"

I made my way to the transformation classroom when I was suddenly stopped.

"Hey, Anna, wait a minute. I need to talk to you." I turned around and saw my brother running towards me. Having already guessed what he wanted from me, I quickly turned back around and pretended not to notice him, hoping he would leave me alone and I could get away from him. I quickened my steps but Ethan was faster than me, of course.

"Will you stop for a moment! I know for a fact that you saw me. You can't fool me." he said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side of the corridor so we weren't standing amongst all the students walking to the Great Hall.

"What do you want from me, Ethan. I'm in a hurry, in case you haven't noticed," I said annoyed, waving one of the books in front of his face to emphasise my point.

"I just wanted to know what it is between you and that Weasley guy," Ethan revealed his concern, confirming my suspicions.

"It's absolutely none of your business who I'm involved with or not," I snapped at him irritably. At least he didn't have to interfere in everything in my life, because if I did that to him, he would be even more upset than I am.

"Of course it's my business. You're my sister, I want to know what kind of guy this is," he countered me.

"The only thing that matters to you is that it's not Malfoy, isn't it? So be happy about that and stay out of it, Ethan. It's my business and I'm old enough to decide that for myself."

"I don't think -" Ethan started but I interrupted him.

"I really have to go and hand in the books now. Deal with it, Ethan, and stop interfering with everything," I said and continued on my way, my brother just rolling his eyes.

I handed McGonagall back her books, she was asking if I was making any progress yet. She was quite curious as to whether I could manage the Animagus thing, but since I wanted it so badly, I answered her question in the affirmative before joining my friends in the Great Hall.

As I entered the hall, Harry, Ron and Hermione also went in and I gave them a smile, along with a quick "hello". Harry and Hermione returned my greeting as well as my smile but Ron looked at me quite sullenly. I wondered what his problem was this time, after all I had just spent hours answering him questions about Viktor but apparently he was quite moody. He didn't respond until Hermione poked him in the ribs and gave him a nasty look, which made me laugh. She had them both completely under control.

While the trio walked to the Gryffindor table, I sat down at the Slytherin table with my friends who were sitting very close to the goblet.

"Did I miss anything?", I asked around the table but before anyone could answer me, Dumbledore began to speak.

"Everyone please take your seats...silence, please. Now comes the moment you've all been waiting for, the selection of the champions!" the Headmaster shouted as he waved his wand, causing some of the candles to go out, the lights to dim and the blue glowing flames of the Goblet of Fire to shine brighter.

Everyone watched excitedly as the blue fire suddenly turned red and spat out the first champion of the Triwizard Tournament. Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment that flew through the air and read out the first name.

"The champion from Durmstrang is..." he began and paused dramatically, in which I just prayed it wouldn't be my brother, "Viktor Krum!" I exhaled in relief and joined in the applause. Everyone in the Great Hall clapped and bawled.

"Aren't you worried?" asked Lia in wonder, "After all, he is one of your friends."

"It's Viktor Krum, Lia. He's practically already won this thing, it's not him I'm worried about. He can do just about anything," I admitted excitedly, already eager to see the rest of the champions.

The fire turned red again and revealed that Fleur Delacour would be competing for Beauxbatons. Even with her, I was quite confident that she would do well in the tournament. She was a very talented witch.

"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!" The students erupted into cheers and applause again, louder than the other competitors. "Excellent! Now we have our three champions who will compete in the Triwizard Tournament but only one of them will win and go down in history. Only one will lift this chalice of champions, the vessel of victory. The Triwizard Cup!" exclaimed Dumbledore enthusiastically.

"Shouldn't there only be three champions?" asked David, pointing to the goblet in the middle, which was once again turning red.

"I thought, what's going on here?", I asked and the two of them shrugged unknowingly as another piece of parchment flew in Dumbledore's direction.

Quickly, Dumbledore read out what was on the piece of paper, but so quietly that no one could understand him. But when he read the name for the second time, everyone's breath caught. "Harry Potter!"

"How is that possible?", I heard Zabini say. "He's not seventeen yet," Malfoy added incredulously.

"Harry Potter?!" shouted Dumbledore a third time and Harry finally rose from his seat and walked to the front, out of the hall to the other champions. No one clapped, no one cheered. Just some annoyed heckling, like "He cheated!" or "He's not 17!".

Something about that couldn't be right.