We sat in the great hall. The three schools gathered and everyone anxious about whom will compete in the wizards tournament. I hoped it would be someone strong, someone whom actually would be able to finish; without dying.
Next to me sat Cho and Luna, me in the middle. Everyone listened to what Dumbledore had to say, but I was stuck in my daydreaming. This had been a constant problem in my life, everything, all the time, problems. During exams; daydreaming. During quidditch games; daydreaming, and so on.
*
"Quite very soon, this; goblet of fire, will spit out those three students who will be compete in the.. Triwizards tournament!".
Everyone started clapping and cheering. There was a lot of noice and hard for me to focus. I came back to reality and looked around. I looked for Cedric, and I knew he was dating Cho, i did. But I still couldn't keep myself from him.
*
They brought the goblet of fire. Names started to appear; Viktor Krum from Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons and Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts.
I froze, everyone seemed so happy, joyful. But I froze. Cedric, his life was in danger, real danger.
Dumbledore stood up as the champions left the hall. "Is there someone who wishes to, not, have these three competing?". Without thinking, my hand slipped up. Everyone turned, looking at me and I suddenly felt extremely nauseous.
Dumbledore waved at me to go up to him, and I did. As I stood there, not knowing what to do, the goblet of fire started to spark red. Everyone's attention changed as the goblet spit out a new piece of parchment. It slowly fell to the ground, right before my eyes. I bent down and picked it up, when I saw who it was I felt shivers up my spine.
"Goldstein, can I?". Dumbledore asked and I handed him the piece of parchment.
The elder man read the parchment over and over trying to understand what stood on it.
"Harry Potter.". Albus mumbled. His eyes searching in the hall for the boy. "HARRY POTTER!". I shivered. My mind simply couldn't process this.
Harry walked up front and looked at me, I had almost never spoken to him for real, I guesses now was time.
"I'm sorry". I whispered as he passed me. Harry nodded and was then greeted by the ones he passed. He slipped down the stairs just as every other champion had.
"Aria, come here". Said professor McGonagall and we walked out the hall heading to her office. On the way there she asked me why I didn't care for the champions to compete.
"I just fear for Diggory. He's my only friend". I said with low voice. The woman looked at me and sighted.
"But, Aria, you're such a nice woman. What about your dorm-friends?".
"Well. Luna and Cho are amazing, really, but I don't know much about them".
*
I sat in Minerva's office. It was red and green, the walls were covered in bookshelves and some Gryffindor signalments. There stood two red sofas in the middle of the room, facing each other. Then there were her desk. I guessed that back to the right was her sleeping place and back to the left was the bathroom.
"Wait here, Albus and I will be right back". Said the elder woman and left. I stood up and walked to a bookshelf. My hands swept over the backs of the books. I took a book and sat back down in the sofa. I opened the book and read what was written in it.
Lovely Minerva.
This book is for you, have a wonderful time at Hogwarts. Don't do anything stupid and stay away from the quidditch team.
Love, mum.
I had never really thought of people this way. Everyone has been a child and everyone has been new at something. The thought of professor McGonagall being a wild child, living life, playing quidditch. It was wonderful. To think about life.
As I sat in the sofa reading the book Minerva returned with Albus head to heal after her. They smiled at me and sat down in the sofa on the other side of the room. I put the book down, careful, not to have it broken or destroyed.
"Have you read it, Goldstein?" Said the man with white beard and his eyes on the book. I shook my head. "It's lovely, Minerva lent it to me in her third year. I was, how do you say? Mind blown?".
I smiled. "I- I'm sorry, professor McGonagall. I didn't mean to snoop". She nodded and smiled.
"Now, Goldstein. Tell us, why, don't you want those champions?". Albus smiled and his nose wrinkled causing his glasses to slowly slide even further from his nose.
I looked at them. "I tried to tell, professor McGonagall, before. But I might have been unclear. Cedric is really nice, I've only spoken to him a few times but he's one of my three friends. What if he dies? I would be incredibly sad with that. Well I would if anyone died, but still". I took a breath. That was the most I had spoken since never.
"I see". Dumbledore stood up, he mumbled something to McGonagall that I could hear. "What if you go back to your dorm and we'll inform you of what we decides. Alright?".
*
I nodded to my professors and then left. On my way back I met Harry. He looked frightened, and sad.
"Hey, Potter". I catch up with the boy and smile at his sad eyes. "Are you alright?".
He sighted and looked at me. "Look, Goldstein, I know you put my name in it so that Cedric wouldn't have to. Just- leave me alone". Harry walked away from me and I was left there standing in the cold.
