If Only//Harry Potter [4]

10

The day of the first tournament arrived sooner than anticipated, and Autumn was nervous. It's not that she didn't trust that Harry could win, she didn't trust that the person who put Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire is a free man.

Hermione followed Autumn who stormed towards the tent of the Champions. Autumn almost walked in, but Hermione held her back.

"You can't go in there, not yet at least." Hermione said quietly.

Autumn sighed.

"Psst." Hermione whispered. "Harry? Harry is that you?" 

Autumn saw a shadow in the tent, and immediately saw that it was Harry.

"Yeah." Harry answered through the cloth of the tent.

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked. "Okay? The key is to concentrate. After that, you just have to—" 

"Battle a dragon." Harry answered.

Autumn couldn't take it anymore. She threw open the cloth and ran inside, hugging Harry instantly.

A flash of light came from the other side of the tent. Autumn felt Hermione's presence next to hers.

"Young love!" Rita Skeeter exclaimed.

Autumn realized that the light came from her camera, and that she had taken a photo of Autumn and Harry hugging.

"How. . .stirring." Rita Skeeter said. "If everything goes unfortunately today, you two may even make the front page."

Autumn glared at the woman, just as much as everyone else did. Maybe even more.

"You have no business here." Viktor Krum said, his Bulgarian accent was loud. "This tent is for champions. . .and friends."

Rita stared at him. "No matter, we've gotten what we've wanted." Then she took one last picture before walking to the other side of the tent. 

"Good day, champions." Dumbledore walked into the tent with the Barty Crouch. Autumn nearly groaned, but she didn't want to disrupt. "Gather round, please. Now, you've waited, you've wondered, and at last the moment has arrived. A moment only four of you can fully appreciate." Dumbledore paused at the sight of Hermione and Autumn. "What are you doing here, Miss Granger and Miss Grey?" 

"Sorry, we'll just. . ." Hermione started to say.

Autumn pulled Harry into another hug, but quickly pulled away. "Good luck, Harry." She whispered as she and Hermione walked out of the tent. Autumn caught eyes with Cedric, and flashed him a smile.

Harry looked longingly at his two best friends as they left.

"Barty, the bag." Dumbledore said, once Autumn and Hermione left.

"Champions, in a circle around me. Miss Delacour, over here. Mr. Krum. And, Potter, Mr. Potter, over here. That's right." Barty rearranged the champions as he liked, pointing out where they should stand. "Now, Miss Delacour, if you will." Barty held the bag out for Fleur.

Fleur reached her hand inside the bag and placed a small green dragon into her hand.

 "The Welsh Green." Barty said. He moved over to Krum. "Mr. Krum."

Krum reached his hand inside and pulled out a dragon.

"The Chinese Fireball. Ooh." Barty moved over to Cedric. 

Cedric pulled a dragon out of the bag.

"The Swedish Short-Snout." Barty stated. "Which leaves. . ."