READ! IMPORTANT!
A/N: so, I had to change the dates of the tasks for Jupiter to be 17 and still have time to practise between tasks. so the dates will be: 1st task - 15th of December; 2nd task - 15th of March; 3rd task - 15th of June. now, I know that the school year ends in June and they're not supposed to have any task in the last month of school, but this was the best I could do and they still have 2 weeks before school ends, so yeah. sorry, on with the story...
--
More silence fills the room, followed by a round of whispers. My head is spinning and I zone out, losing myself inside my own mind.
I can't let Harry compete in the Tournament. He's not ready. He hasn't learned enough to survive this. But... I have. I am in the same year as Cedric, I know as much as him. So if he's worthy, then so am I!
Yes... I won't let Harry die.
My internal speech is broken by George's light touch on my shoulder; we have to go back to the Common Rooms. I get up and look around, trying to find Professor McGonagall. I finally find her and run in her direction.
"Professor? Professor!" I push through the hurrying students, trying to get McGonagall's attention. "Professor!"
I finally reach her, already out of the Great Hall, and she turns to look at me, her fierce eyes turning quite softer.
"Ms Black..." she mutters, "How can I help you?"
"Professor, I..." I mumble, "Is there any way for me to compete instead of Harry?"
Her eyes widen.
"I beg your pardon?" she stutters.
I take a breath to gain confidence.
"I want to compete instead of Harry" I announce firmly.
"And why is that, may I ask?" she inquiries, looking taken aback.
"Professor..." I begin, "Harry didn't ask to be chosen, believe me, he didn't put his name in the Goblet. He's like a little brother to me, Professor, you know that..."
Her face softeners again.
"You are not seventeen-years-old yet, Ms Black-"
"But I will be!" I reply, "I heard the first task will be on the fifteenth of December; I'll be seventeen by then!"
She looks at me and thinks for a few moments.
"Follow me" she demands, walking back towards the Hall.
I follow her all the way to the door behind the Teachers' Table. She peeks her head inside and calls someone. Dumbledore comes out, looking at me through his half-moon spectacles.
"Ms Black" he states simply.
"Professor Dumbledore" I reply, not sure of what to say.
He smiles and asks, "What can I do for you, Ms Black?"
"Professor," I begin, "is there any way I can replace Harry in the Tournament?"
His smile widens.
"Courage is a particularly important trait" he says, "And I appreciate the quantity of so that lives inside of you"
He pauses.
"Come inside" he opens the door and I am instantly met with shouts and discussions. Some of the people inside acknowledge my presence, turning to look at me. Fleur gives me a puzzled and quite annoyed look, Krum shoots me a short glare and turns to look at Karkaroff, who is in the middle of a discussion with Snape, and Cedric flashes me his sweet and reassuring smile, though his eyebrows frown in confusion. Harry stands in a corner, silent and more disoriented than any other person in the room.
YOU ARE READING
A World Fading To Black - BOOK 2
FanficNow that her father is free and her family is reunited, most of her problems seem to be solved. Key word: 'most'. When problems disappear, new ones take their place. She'll start a new year at Hogwarts, with new mysteries, new dangers, new problems...
