Triwizard or rather, Pentawizard Tornament

Chapter 8

There was a great bustling about as the students from the three schools anxiously and excitedly waited for the three Triwizard Champions to be announced.

"Sit down please." Dumbledore began, immediantly the students ceased their chatter and took their seats. "Now, the moment you've all been waiting for, the champion selection." Dumbledore dimmed the lights and for every moment that padded, Lucy's ominous feeling increased.

The Hogwarts headmaster turned to face the selecting cup and waited. The Goblet of Fire's blue flame flashed an eerie red and shot out a scrap of paper. "The Durmstrang Champion is, Viktor Krum." Dumbledore announced resulting in cheering breaking out. Viktor Krum came forward, was congratulated by Albus Dumbledore and was then sent out the door.

The Goblet of Fire's flame switched to the strange weird red and released a circle of paper that floated down to Dumbledore. "The champion of Beauxbatons' is Fleur Delacour." Dumbledore read. Applause greeted the revelation and Fleur, like Krum, was congratulated by the Hogwarts Headmaster before being sent to the Champion waiting room.

The champion selection process was repeated and Dumbledore declared, "The Hogwarts Champion, Cedric Diggory." The applause was louder and much more in abundance for Cedric than for the other champions. The whole school was roaring at a deafening sound level. Like the others, Cedric was congratulated and sent to another room.

"Excellent! We now have our 3 Champions. But in the end, only one will go down in history. Only one, will hoist this chalice of champions. This vessel of victory! The Triwizard Cup!" Dumbledore pivoted around and pointed at the newly placed and now uncovered chalice that seemed to be emitting a blue light.

Suddenly, the Goblet of Fire's blue flame once again grew and turned into that eerie red flame. Lucy's ominous feeling intensified. A small scrap of parchment was freed from the flame and road down the air currents to the Headmaster.

"Harry Potter." He mumbled, then he repeated it in a clear voice. "Harry Potter. Harry Potter!"

"Go on Harry. Harry for goodness sake, go." Hermione shoved Harry forward. All eyes were on Harry as he traversed to Dumbledore, and then out the door in silence.

The Goblet of Fire burned red again, for a fifth time. Albus Dumbledore solemnly read the next scrap of parchment. "Lucy Pevensie!"

Unlike Harry, Lucy didn't hesitate. She wordlessly accepted her parchment from the worried Headmaster and, while avoiding eye contact with her father, exited the room.

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The gate swung open for Lucy, emitting her entrance to the Champion waiting room which seemed to double as a treasure room. Harry appeared to have arrived just before her.Cedric Diggory, Viktor Krum, and Fleur Delacour stood silently by the lit fireplace.

Arguing increased in volume as the professors and headmasters rushed into the room.

"Harry! Harry did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?" Dumbledore questioned as he grabbed hold of Harry's collar and almost pushed Harry into a pile of gold treasure.

"No sir." Harry tried to regain his footing.

"Did you ask one of the older students to do it for you?" Dumbledore seemed to growl.

"No sir." Harry denied.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Dumbledore interrogated.

"Yes. Yes sir." Harry nodded.

"And you! Miss Pevensie?" Dumbledore turned to Lucy.

"I don't know how anyone would get passed the age barrier if they were not of age and I did not ask anybody to put my name in the Goblet of Fire for me." Lucy assured him.

"Well of course they are lying!" Madame Olympe Maxime, the extremely tall Headmistress of Beauxbatons angrily declared.

"No they're not! The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful magical object. Only an exceptionally powerful confundus charm could have hoodwinked it! Magic way beyond the talents of two fourth years!" Mad Eye Moody brushed off Madame Olympe's accusation.

"You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Mad Eye." Igor Karkaroff, the headmaster of Drumstrang cut in.

"It was once my job to think as Dark Wizards do Karkaroff, perhaps you remember?" Alastor's voice was dangerously low.

"That doesn't help Alastor!"Dumbledore walked between them on his way to Bartemius Crouch, the Head of the Ministry's Department of International Magical Cooperation. "I leave this to you Barty."

Bartemius Crouch took a deep breath. "The rules are absolute. The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract. Mr. Potter and Miss Pevensie have no choice. They are, as of tonight, Triwizard Champions.