The Wolf's Lion ~ Harry Potter (Editing)

Chapter Twelve | The Champions

Thursday night came soon enough. Everyone was excited to find out who the three Champions would be.

Everyone was gathered in the Great Hall, eagerly awaiting to find out. The professors, judges and heads of the schools stood at the end of the hall. The goblet had not been moved, so it stood in the centre of the massive hallway.

"Sit down please," said Dumbledore, ready to begin the ceremony.

Ariana sat down on the tiered benches beside Harry, with Ron and Hermione behind her. Her blue eyes were focused on Dumbledore, just as excited as the others.

"And now the moment you've all been waiting for, the champions selection!"

Dumbledore approached the goblet and the flame turned a raging red, spitting a smoking piece of parchment into the air.

Everyone waited anxiously as they waited for Dumbledore to announce who the first champion was, shuffling in their seats.

"The Durmstrang champion is... Viktor Krum!"

The boys of Durmstrang cheered as everyone applauded, supporting the newly announced champion. Viktor arose and shook hands with Dumbledore, making his way to stand with the staff and faculty.

The goblet proceeded to launch another smouldering piece of paper out of its depths, landing on the hand of Dumbledore.

"The champion from Beauxbatons... Fleur Delacour."

Ariana clapped as a beautiful blonde girl shook hands with her headmaster, a beaming smile upon her face. She, too, joined the staff at the front of the hall.

The quartet of Gryffindors were even more excited now; the Hogwarts champion was about to be announced. Ariana watched intently as Dumbledore caught the last piece of paper.

"The Hogwarts champion... Cedric Diggory."

The Hogwarts pupils cheered as Cedric shook Dumbledore's hand, receiving a hearty clap on the shoulder as he headed to join the others.

"Excellent! we now have our three 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 Tri-Wizard cup!" Dumbledore pointed to a covered cup that Crouch had just set down. The brown covered flew off to reveal a silver cup, sky blue panels glowing in all of its glory.

All of the students cheered mighty, but the noise died down as the Goblet of Fire glowed red once again. Dumbledore approached it, raising his hands to his face as the goblet's flames grew.

Ariana watched in amazement and shock as two more bits of paper shot towards the ceiling, falling like leaves until Dumbledore caught them.

His eyebrows furrowed. Ariana watched him intently as he looked up. "Harry Potter? Ariana O'Connor?"

Ariana's heart began to beat at one million miles per hour. She had not put her name in, nor had she had anyone else do it, so why was her name spat out? She also knew Harry didn't put his name in.

"Harry Potter! Ariana O'Connor!" Dumbledore bellowed.

Ariana didn't move, she couldn't. This could not be happening. Her name in the Goblet of Fire? No, she refused to believe that it was happening.

"Go on," Hermione urged, pushing their shoulders.

Ariana slowly rose to her feet, but Harry remained seated, still in shock. Both she and Hermione pulled him up,

"Harry for goodness sake," Hermione sighed, helping Ariana push him forward.

Everyone's eyes were on the pair of fourth-year Gryffindor, weighing heavily on their bodies. Ariana could feel their stings, but she refuses to look at them.

Dumbledore said nothing, simply handed them the slips of parchment with their names on them. His face was both a picture of disbelief, shock and worry.

Ariana looked to Harry as they slowly approached the stage, having to join the others. The white-haired of the two felt as if she could throw up, but forced herself forwards. Confusion was the most prominent feeling present within her.

The crowd around them began to clamour, shouting things such as 'They're cheats!' and 'They're not even seventeen!'

As they made it to the stage, Ariana felt the weight of Snape's glare as she walked past. She linked eyes with him as she passed, then quickly broke it.

Professor McGonagall, however, was more sympathetic. She was stern and made sure to enforce the set rules, but the pair of Gryffindors had a good relationship with her. As they passed, she laid a hand on each of their shoulders, keeping them there until the two passed.

Ariana stood in between Harry and Cedric, ignoring everyone in the hall who stared at her. She could hear Hagrid repeating the word 'no' over and over, shaking his head, refusing to accept the fact that Harry and Ariana were going to compete in the most brutal competition known to wizard-kind.

A stunned Dumbledore regained his voice, "Um, please put your hands together for our champions."

Slow and uncertain applause filled the room, punctuated by booing pupils.

The Champions held each other's hands and raised them. Ariana intertwined her hands with Harry and Cedric, raising them above her head.

She maintained a steady mask on her face, but on the inside, she was in turmoil. She couldn't understand how her and Harry's names ended up inside the goblet, or how the hell they were going to survive the upcoming events.

Once the ceremony was over, Ariana felt like running from the hall. She could not catch up with Hermione and Ron, since Dumbledore had instructed herself and Harry to go straight to the Trophy Room.

On the way down, Ariana and Harry were completely silent. Neither knew what to say, nor did they wish to speak. Both of them were still recovering from the state of shock they were on, though it was a mighty task.

The only thing Ariana wanted to do now was send a letter to Remus, but she wouldn't allow herself even if she could. This was not his burden, it was hers and hers alone.