A Greater Power

Chapter 11: The Five Champions

Third Person POV:

Harry sat there, aware that every head in the Great Hall had turned to look at him. He was stunned. He felt numb. He was surely dreaming. He had not heard correctly. 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 and Rhiannon as they sat, frozen, in their seats. 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. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione; beyond them, he saw the long Gryffindor table all watching him, open mouthed.

"I didn't put my name in," Harry said blankly. "You know I didn't."

Both of them stared just as blankly back. Harry look to the Slytherin table to find Willow much the same, a look of disbelief on her face. Pansy was whispering something in her ear.

"Your name was called get up." Pansy urged, though scared for her friends life just as much as Willow was.

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

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

"Go on," Hermione whispered, giving Harry a slight push. Wilow stood up and firmly walked to Dumbledore, though everything was screaming at her to sit back down.

Harry got to his feet, trod on the hem of his robes, and stumbled slightly. He set off up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. It felt like an immensely long walk; the top table didn't seem to be getting any nearer at all, and he could feel hundreds and hundreds of eyes upon him, as though each were a searchlight. The buzzing grew louder and louder. After what seemed like an hour, he was right in front of Dumbledore, feeling the stares of all the teachers upon him. Willow grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly, reassuring him, that she would be there with him the whole way.

"Well . . . through the door, Harry. Willow," Dumbledore said. He wasn't smiling. Harry and Willow moved off along the teachers' table. Hagrid was seated right at the end. He did not wink at either of them, or wave, or give any of his usual signs of greeting. He looked completely astonished and stared at the pair as they passed like everyone else. Harry and Willow went through the door out of the Great Hall and found themselves in a smaller room, lined with paintings of witches and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite him. The faces in the portraits turned to look at him as he entered. Harry saw a wizened witch flit out of the frame of her picture and into the one next to it, which contained a wizard with a walrus mustache. The wizened witch started whispering in his ear.

Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire. They looked strangely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum, hunched-up and brooding, was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the other two. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur Delacour looked around when Harry walked in and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair.

"Do you think now would be a good time to get Krum's autograph for Ron?" Willow whispered to him. Harry turned to face her and gave her the 'Are you serious right now?' look.

"What is it?" she said. "Do zey want us back in ze Hall?"

She thought they had come to deliver a message. Neither Harry nor Willow didn't know how to explain what had just happened. they just stood there, looking at the three champions. It struck Harry how very tall all of them were. There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Harry by the arm and led him forward.