1.2 ARTEMIS | James Sirius Potter

iii. 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖙 𝖔𝖋 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊

three
the goblet of fire

        Given the events at the evening feast last night and the arrival of the three schools, all conversations the next morning at breakfast were about the same topic in every friend group.

        The Triwizard Tournament.

        With its new and 'improved' rules, it meant that you had to compete as a duo, therefore increasing the probability of being selected. Two out of however many seventeen year old Hogwarts students entered. The last day to enter was Saturday midday—two days away—and Artemis has already decided exactly what she was going to do.

        If she enters the tournament and wins, she'd gain a lot of respect from the Wizarding World and judgments made against herself and her family would be dropped. At least that's what she hoped would happen. Last night she spent more time dreaming about lifting the trophy than actually sleeping, giving herself plenty of time to think over her decision.

        Yes, it's dangerous. Yes, people have died. Yes, there's a good possibility she could die. But also, Aurors will be placed in every task to ensure nobody does something stupid and reckless, like dying. Artemis isn't stupid. She had O's in every single one of her NEWTs last year. It's not like she'll suddenly forgot how to cast a spell the moment a dragon breathes fire at her.

        The only issue with wanting to enter is the whole fuss about getting a parents permission. In other words, Artemis had to persuade her father, who is still grieving the loss of his wife, into allowing his daughter to enter a competition that could, maybe—possibly kill her too.

        As soon as she got back to her shared dorm room, Artemis sent Apollo to her father with a letter, trying to soften the blow, asking for him to write out a permission letter for her. In case she did somehow get chosen and would need to show proof. It was early morning, not much into eight o'clock and Artemis was restless, keeping an eye out for her father, ready to badger him the moment he walks into the Great Hall.

        From where she sat on the Slytherin table with Blair and Tiberius—who's in Hufflepuff—she had a perfectly good view of the tall, magical goblet that will decide who'll represent their school in the tournament. In front of the long teachers table stood the Goblet of Fire. Blue flames burned seductively from the top, practically begging Artemis to drop her name straight into its icy flickers. It was magnificently wonderful to look at, definitely caught in a trance, the flames mesmerising her, filling her with a winning greed and—

        "Artie?"

        Artemis blinked once. Twice. Turning her head around to rejoin her friends in the land of reality. Whenever her eyelids fell shut, she could still see the flicker of blue from the goblet against the black abyss of nothing. "Sorry. What did you say?" She asked, taking a bite out of some toast and spreading more raspberry jam onto her next slice.

        "Are you going to Hogsmede this weekend?" Tiberius queried.

        Hogsmede. Huh. Artemis almost forgot about the first trip to Hogsmede is Saturday, right before they announce the competitors. "Probably. You guys going?"

        Eagerly Blair nodded, her teeth on show, her face glowing with delight. "Saturday is mine and Sander's two year anniversary. He's taking me out on a date to celebrate," she gushed, her violet eyes dreamy and filled with adoration. An uncomfortable knot formed inside Artemis's stomach, the regret weighing heavily upon her shoulders, feeling like the Greek God Atlas.