Haley Potter and The Goblet Of Fire

Delicate Trust

The next day, Saturday, most students eat breakfast early and admire the goblet, which is surrounded by a thin gold line. A third year girl says that everyone from Durmstrang has put in their name but she hasn't seen anyone from Hogwarts.

Hearing a laugh, Haley turns and sees Fred, Cassandra, and Lee coming down the stairs having just taken their Aging Potions. Hermione warns them that Dumbledore would've thought of this, but Cassandra jumps over the line. Fred joins her, and a moment later, the twins are ejected from the circle and Fred sprout long beard and Cassandra hair turns complete white. Everyone, including Dumbledore, laughs.

In the Great Hall, Haley, Ron, and Hermione discuss with Dean and Seamus that Cedric Diggory and the Slytherin Quidditch captain put their names in. They see Angelina Johnson, a Gryffindor Chaser, looking embarrassed. She tells the table that she just had her birthday and so put her name in.

They watch Madame Maxime supervise as all her students submit their names. Hermione arrives in time for the trio to go meet Hagrid. When Hagrid answers the door, Hermione is dumbfounded: Hagrid is wearing his best suit and has his bushy hair slicked down. He happily tells them that the skrewts are now three feet long and starting to kill each other, so he only has 20 left.

As Hagrid makes tea, they discuss the Triwizard Tournament. Hagrid knows what the first task will be, but he refuses to say. Finally, around five o'clock, they decide it's time to head to the feast. Hagrid puzzlingly puts on cologne before they go and then leaves the trio to walk up with Madame Maxime.

When the feast is over, Dumbledore gets to his feet and explains that when the goblet chooses, the champions should proceed to a small room off the hall. The goblet's flames turn red, and a piece of parchment flutters into Dumbledore's hand. He announces that Viktor Krum is the Durmstrang champion. A moment later, he reads that Fleur Delacour will be the Beauxbatons champion. Finally, he says that Cedric Diggory will represent Hogwarts. Dumbledore starts to address the remaining students, but the goblet turns red again and spits out one more piece of parchment that reads,

"Haley Potter."

Haley sits blankly and tells Ron and Hermione that she didn't put her name in. There's no applause, but Dumbledore calls for Haley to follow the other champions. Haley trips on her robes as she gets up and walks through the doors. Fleur, Krum, and Cedric stand by the fireplace, looking impressive and mature.

Fleur Delacour looked around when Haley walked in and smiled at her "What is it?" she said. "Do zey want us back in ze Hall, Haley?"

She mistakes Haley as a messenger and moments later, Bagman excitedly enters and introduces Haley as the fourth champion. The other three look bewildered and angry. Bagman, however, smiles and says that Haley's obligated to compete.

Dumbledore, Mr. Crouch, Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, Snape, and McGonagall interrupt Bagman as they enter the room. Madame Maxime and Karkaroff are furious, while Snape maliciously says that Haley has no respect for rules. Dumbledore silences Snape.

Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at Haley, who looked right back at her, trying to discern the expression of the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles.

"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Haley?" he asked calmly.

"No," said Haley. She was very aware of everybody watching her closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.

"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape.

"No," repeated Haley, still in shock to process the situation she found herself in.

Both Maxime and Karkaroff accuse Dumbledore of making a mistake with his Age Line. Angrily, McGonagall insists that everyone should believe Haley.

Karkaroff asks Mr. Crouch for his opinion. Curtly, Mr. Crouch says that they must follow the rules; Haley must compete. Karkaroff insists that they set the Goblet of Fire up again until each school has two champions, but Bagman points out that it won't reignite until the next tournament. When Karkaroff threatens to leave, Moody enters and reminds him that the tournament is a binding magical contract and all the champions must compete. Moody insists that someone put Haley's name in, knowing she'd have to compete.

Maxime and Karkaroff insist that whoever put Haley's name in wants to give Hogwarts a better chance at winning, but Moody suggests that whoever did it might want Haley dead. Karkaroff points out that Moody sees assassination plots everywhere. The two argue but Dumbledore stops them and says that Haley still has to compete. Bagman is the only one who looks excited, and he asks Mr. Crouch to give the champions their instructions. Haley thinks that Mr. Crouch looks ill as he says that their first task will test their courage, that the champions cannot accept help, and that they'll be excused from final testing.

As Haley and Cedric trudge out of the Great Hall under the weight of Dumbledore's reprimand, the tension between them is palpable. Cedric's gaze flickers with suspicion as he turns to Haley, his voice low and edged with disbelief.

"How did you manage to get your name in the goblet?" Cedric's question hangs heavy in the air, echoing off the stone walls of Hogwarts.

Haley's jaw tightens as she meets Cedric's gaze, his own eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and uncertainty. "I didn't," she replies firmly, her low tone tinged with exasperation. "I swear, Cedric, I didn't put my name in there."

Cedric's eyebrows furrow, his expression skeptical. "You're telling me you didn't enter yourself? No sneaky plans or anything?" he presses, his voice tinged with suspicion.

Haley sighed. "No, Cedric. I have no idea how my name ended up in that Goblet."

Haley's mind races as she struggles to find an answer that will satisfy Cedric's doubts. She knows that the situation is dire, that her very life may hang in the balance, and the weight of it all threatens to crush her. She wonders if anyone will believe her, if she stands any chance of proving her innocence.

Haley's thoughts swirl with a tumult of emotions. She ponders the motive behind whoever may have manipulated the goblet, questioning whether they seek to bring her harm or merely to humiliate her. The specter of Voldemort looms large in her mind, a constant reminder of the ever-present danger that lurks in the shadows.

Haley shudders as she recalls her dream, the chilling visions that had haunted her sleep. She wonders if there could be a connection, if Voldemort's dark influence extends even into the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. The thought sends a chill down her spine, a cold reminder of a perilous experience.

As they reach the Gryffindor common room, Cedric caught Haley's arm throwing her off her thoughts. He remained silent for a moment, studying Haley's troubled expression. "Look, Haley, I want to believe you. But this is serious. Lives are on line. I hope for your sake that you're telling the truth."

Haley nodded almost mechanically, her gaze fixed as she watched Cedric bid her good night and depart.