When we align; a Neville Longbottom fanfiction

7. The Triwizard Tournament

The next morning, Cass woke up early. It took a lot of effort, but she managed to drag Daphne out of bed as well. Still in their pyjamas, they went to the common room where, a couple of minutes later, Blaise and a barely awake Theo joined them.

"Happy Birthday!" They exclaimed in unison, offering Theo a neatly wrapped present. It took him a moment to process what was happening, but when he did, he grinned and took the packet.

"Thanks, you guys!" He hugged them one by one, lingering on his sister's embrace. When he opened his present, revealing a photo album filled with pictures they had collected through the years, he couldn't contain his emotion. "This... means so much. I've missed you." He whispered, flipping through the pages.

"Awh, we missed you too!" Daphne was close to tears as she ruffled his hair.

They spent some time observing the moving photographs and reliving those moments. It was a much needed time. All of Cass' anxieties and fears seemed to dissolve one by one. It was like a boulder had been compressing her chest, lifting at last. That was what mattered the most: being with people who supported her even if they didn't know what was going on.

"We left some pages blank so that you'll fill them up with time." Blaise explained when Theo had flipped through the empty sheets. He thanked them again, his gaze lingering on Cass.

At that moment, she could see her brother once again, the one who would open up to her despite their father's prohibitions, the one she could be completely honest with.

The one who had been sharing all her anxieties and fears even though he had never shown them.

The common room started to fill up with students, so they decided to go to breakfast. Outside the Great Hall, they came across the Durmstrang students on their way back to the ship. Karkaroff was leading them, keeping a firm grasp on Krum's shoulder.

"There's a rumour going around that Warrington got up early and put his name in." Cass overheard one of the Gryffindors say to Harry Potter. "That big bloke from Slytherin who looks like a sloth."

"We can't have a Slytherin champion!" Potter shook his head, looking disgusted.

"Why don't you have a go at it then, Potter?" She heard herself saying before she could process what was happening. He blinked, just as confused as she was. "Maybe this year will also revolve around you, huh? Harry Potter, Patron Saint of Scarheads, Champion for Hogwarts. That sound alright?" Daphne, Theo and Blaise, after the initial shock, snickered beside her. She narrowed her eyes at the Gryffindors, watching as Potter was trying to think of a comeback.

"Just let it go." Hermione Granger grabbed his arm and dragged him to the Gryffindor table.

"What was that?" Daphne was still laughing when they sat down for breakfast.

"I have no idea, to be honest. I heard he was talking about not wanting to have a Slytherin champion and my mouth just went off. Bicker with Malfoy all you want, but don't bring us into it."

"In all fairness, you brought yourself into it." Blaise noticed, raising his eyebrows at her. He was right, of course, but Cass didn't want to recognise it yet. So much for laying low.

That night, dinner seemed to take longer than usual. Everyone was counting the minutes until the three Champions would be revealed, buzzing with excitement.

At last, Dumbledore got to his feet. On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision. I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them to  please come up to the top of the Hall and go through into the next chamber, where they will be receiving their first instructions." He proceeded to wave his wand, extinguishing the candles illuminating the Hall. The Goblet of Fire shone brightly with its dancing blue flames, everyone's eyes pointed at it.