Obsidian (Harry Potter Fan Fiction, Sequel to the Lazuli Trilogy)

Eleven - Orion

I watched in shock as Toby made his way towards the small door through which the other champions had vanished, and then he followed in their footsteps, only pausing to make brief eye contact with Scor, who stood horrified beside him.

I looked to his mother, who had stood up at the table, and was rushing after Toby, only to be held back by Professor Longbottom, who stepped between her and the door. Uncle Draco stared after Toby with a ferocious glare on his face, and as he slowly remembered where and who he was and turned back to face the rest of us, he adjusted his tie stiffly, and cleared his throat.

"That marks the end of tonight's events. Please return to your dormitories, thank you."

With that, he turned away from us, and marched towards the door, disappearing inside, with Aunt Andromeda breaking away from Professor Longbottom and rushing after him.

Around me, everybody began to stand and chatter, discussing the new champions and the unlikely turn of events in which the headmaster's son had been selected as the champion. On my own table, I heard a few mention the word's "preferential treatment," but after a swift glare from me, they quickly ducked their heads down and hurried away.

I made my way down the table to Cecelia, Toby's sister, who was sat fixed to her spot on the bench. Her friends all promised to see her back at the Common Room, but Cece barely acknowledged them, in complete shock at what had just happened.

I placed a hand on her shoulder, and sat down beside her.

"He'll be ok, Cece," I said, looking from the door to Tom - the youngest of my Malfoy cousins at Hogwarts age - who was grinning with glee and chatting smugly to his friends that it was his older brother who'd be chosen as the champion. I found myself smiling at his excitement; at least one of Toby's siblings were proud of him.

"I know," Cece replied with a sigh. "I just wish that he'd told me that he'd entered his name. I wonder if Dad will make him drop out?"

I shook my head. "He can't - you heard what he said. When your name is pulled from the Goblet of Fire, that means you're the champion, jinx, padlock, no returns. You can't drop out, even if your dad is running the whole show."

Cece rubbed her forehead with a sigh. "I'd have expected this from Scor - he was always the show-off and one who had to be the centre of attention - not Toby."

I put my arm around my cousin's shoulders. "Maybe that's why he did it," I replied quietly.

"I bet Mum and Dad are really laying into him; I wish I could go and defend him," she said with a sigh.

"I'll go; I'm not their kid so they can't punish me," I volunteered. Cece looked at me sceptically. "They can give you detention," she argued. I shrugged my shoulders. "Dear cousin, I'm in detention all the time anyway, so it may as well be for a noble cause. Don't you worry your pretty little head about Toby - I'll go to rescue his stupid bum from the wrath of your parents."

Cece raised an eyebrow, as if she was trying to decide whether I would assist or just aggravate the situation further. Finally, she sighed and nodded her head. "Let me know what they say when you get back," she said as she stood up, and then headed after the last stragglers out of the Great Hall.

I turned and began to stride in the opposite direction, almost reaching the door before I heard someone clear their throat.

"You are not meant to be going in there, I think," a voice said.

I looked over my shoulder at the teacher's table, and saw the Durmstrang Headmaster - Kratzovic - still sat in his seat, with his hands folded contently on his stomach, and a slight malevolent smirk on his face. At least one headmaster was happy with his champion, I thought to myself.