Champions

✧༺ Chapter One ༻✧

October thirty-first

Rory:

Anastasia, Charlotte, and I walk into the Great Hall, joining Theo, Elliot, and Connor at the Slytherin table. They acknowledge us quietly before returning to Dumbledore standing by the goblet. I'm honestly a nervous wreck because I entered the tournament. I know I said it was stupid, but-

"Now the moment you've all been waiting for, the champions selection!" Dumbledore cuts me off.

He (very dramatically) dims the light in the hall, then walks toward the goblet with an outstretched hand. The fire in the goblet turns red and launches two small pieces of paper. "The Durmstrang champions are Elijah Ambrose and Viktor Krum!" Everyone cheers, mostly for Krum, I assume, and both champions stand up and begin walking out of the hall. I honestly don't understand the big deal about Krum, like, all he does is play Quidditch. I could play Quidditch for god's sake. Ambrose, on the other hand, is very attractive. His features are sharp, and his deep brown eyes complement his dark skin. He walks confidently out of the room, Krum following close behind. As attractive as he is, I have no interest in him. Or anyone, for that matter. I'm perfectly content being alone, plus most men repulse me. I also have trust issues. And commitment issues. And intimacy issues. I'm also far too proud to admit that having a boyfriend could be nice. Thus, I've resigned myself to the life of a lonely spinster with lots of cats. The flames in the goblet turn red again, and two more pieces of paper are deposited into Dumbledore's waiting hand. "The champions of Beauxbatons are Fleur Delacour and Camille Augustine!' Cheers emerge once again, and I study the newly-selected champions. Fleur is tall, with long, blonde hair and piercing green eyes. Camille is shorter, with dark hair, and wide, doe eyes that give her an almost innocent look. Elliot gapes at her. Like, I'm talking jaw dropped eyes wide cheeks red. I laugh at him. "She's cute."

"Cute?!? she's beautiful!" he says, a bit too loudly based on Theo and Connor's amused chuckles. He focuses his attention back on Camille, who has made it halfway across the hall. Her big eyes bounce frantically around the room before meeting his. She smiles at him, and I think I see him die a little inside.

I laugh again. "El? you okay?"

"She's killed me. I'm a goner."

Oh, this kid is so whipped already. This will be good. El deserves this, though. He's the most kindhearted person I've ever met, the complete opposite of the rest of our group. but it works somehow. However, as much as I would like to think about Elliot and his love life, I'm really regretting entering this stupid bloody tournament. i really only did it out of spite for Cedric Diggory, my ex-best-friend-turned-(one-sided) nemesis. Once I saw him enter the tournament with a big ass grin on his face, I ripped a piece of paper from some random kid's book and scribbled my name down. It wasn't until AFTER I did it that I realized there was a chance that I would get chosen with him and not instead of him. It's safe to say I've been a bit on edge lately. I should also probably be paying attention right now since Dumbledore is blabbing-

"The Hogwarts champions, Cedric Diggory and Aurora Everly!"