Eyes on the Prize

"You might want to do something about that." she whispered in his ear, "I don't think Professor McGonagall will be particularly happy about that."

She was pointing at one of the far windows of the Great Hall. Resting directly behind it was Hedwig. She was moving back and forth across the windowsill, watching Harry all the while. She was beginning to attract the attention of three or four students on the other side of the hall.

"How could you possibly have noticed that?" asked Harry in bewilderment.

"Unlike you and Ronald, I actually pay attention."

"So do I, but I can't have possibly noticed that!"

"McGonagall's going to have a field day." said Dean, having looked in the direction that both Harry and Hermione were looking.

"It's fine, she's not disturbing anyone, and she isn't even in the hall." defended Harry.

"I don't think that's responsible, Harry." reprimanded Hermione.

"Last year, your definition of responsible was me forking over the Marauder's Map and my Firebolt." argued Harry quietly, "So I'm not entirely sure how accurate it is."

Hermione huffed angrily before turning back to her food, not saying another word.

Harry turned back towards the fourth, fifth, and sixth year Gryffindors, who were now making bets on who the champions would be. They seemed to be debating over the Hogwarts Champion in particular, which didn't surprise Harry even a bit. Most people had already decided that Krum and the Veela girl would be the champions of their respective schools, a notion Harry wholeheartedly agreed with.

"Ten sickles says it's Angelina." said Katie loudly, earning a smile from the girl and a glare from Alicia (the latter of the two reactions only causing Katie to smile smugly).

"Nah, it'll be Jordan or Davies." argued Dean, "They're both athletic and all that."

"And I'm not?" asked Angelina in a dangerous tone, which caused Dean to pale slightly.

"It'll be pretty-boy Diggory, just you wait." said Seamus.

"Didn't think he'd want to risk his good looks!" exclaimed Dean, causing a number of Hufflepuffs who had overheard their conversation to glare angrily at him.

"He's got a good shot, I'll put a galleon on him."

Harry turned back to his meal, adding a bit more meat to his plate. After a while, the food had changed into several courses of desserts, many of which looked foreign, yet equally delicious. Harry helped himself to several slices of Treacle Tart, as did Ron. As they served themselves Professor Dumbledore stood from his seat.

"The Recorder Glass will be turned on in five minutes, marking the Selection of the Champions and the true beginning of the Triwizard Tournament." he announced.

"Wonder what the tasks are going to be." said Dean happily as he helped himself to a tasty looking French dessert.

"The first task is always against a magical creature of some sort." noted Seamus.

"And the other two?" asked Neville.

Seamus shrugged.

"Depends. They're random, I think." The Irish wizard turned back to his plateful of desserts, helping himself.

As they finished up their desserts, Harry spotted the Auror Guard quietly entering the hall, before making their way to the stands where the reporters and ministry members sat. Harry quietly waved at Tonks and Hestia from where he sat, receiving a small wave in return. After a few more moments the dessert plates all disappeared. Every witch and wizard seated within the hall now sat silently, waiting.

A few ministry members as well as Camille Estelle stood in the back, turning on the Recorder Glass. After a moment, one of the ministry members nodded towards Fudge and Dumbledore, who both nodded back. Dumbledore then made his way towards the lectern, before addressing both the recording orb and those within the hall.

"Witches and Wizards, allow me to welcome you to the Selection of Champions, the beginning of the Triwizard Tournament!" he announced to the hall, earning applause from everyone within the room.

"Now, I believe that the Goblet of Fire will be making it's first selection shortly." said Dumbledore, causing all eyes (and the recorder orb) to turn towards the Goblet of Fire, whose flames seemed to glow slightly brighter.

"If you are selected champion, please make your way through the door behind me, and into the next chamber, where you will be given your first set of instructions." said Dumbledore, motioning towards the door behind the left portion of the staff table. He waved his hand, causing all the torches in the hall to dim, leaving only the flames of the goblet to provide any significant source of light.

That might be all he can do without a wand, but it's still pretty damn impressive; I can work on that next.

The blue flames of the goblet turned a dark red before suddenly a crumpled piece of parchment shot out from the flames. Dumbledore gently plucked the parchment out of the air, flattening it so it could be read.

"The Durmstrang champion," said Dumbledore, his strong voice permeating through the hall, "is Victor Krum!"

The hall applauded loudly, many calling out the Quidditch Star's name as he passed. Krum made his way to where Dumbledore stood, shook his hand, and disappeared through the door behind the staff table.

"Imagine if we were Hogwarts Champion!" moaned Ron, "We'd be able to meet him and everything!"

"You do realize you can still meet him, right?" said Dean, clapping as he spoke.

"Yeah, but I would be just another fan!"

"You'd still be another fan if you were Hogwarts Champion." Harry pointed out, "All you get is a fancy title."

"And fame and glory!" said Ron, "I'd be on his level!"

The cheering in the Great Hall quieted as Dumbledore raised his hand. A moment later, the goblet's flames turned red once more, a fancy piece of blue parchment bursting from within.

"The Beauxbatons Champion," read Dumbledore, "will be Fleur Delacour!"

So that's her name. I guess this means no more referring to her as Veela girl.

The hall applauded once more as Ron banged his head against the table in frustration. Harry also noticed that very few Slytherin students clapped, although nearly all of the males did stare at Fleur's backside as she made her way over to Dumbledore. She shook hands with him, before turning to walk towards the door. As she did so, her eyes briefly met Harry's. A moment later she had passed through the door.

"Did you see that?" Ron whispered excitedly, "She looked at me!"

"No, it was me!"

"She looked me over, I tell you!"

Harry rolled his eyes before shifting his focus to the Beauxbatons students at the Ravenclaw table. More than half of them had watery eyes, with a few of them even having broken down into full blown tears. The remaining students all looked incredibly angry, and were glaring daggers into Fleur Delacour's back.

"They look disappointed." noted Hermione, also looking at the Ravenclaw table. Harry couldn't help but agree, as well as wonder what it was that had caused such animosity between Fleur Delacour and her peers.

Although I suppose being a beautiful Veela is all the reason they need. It's somewhat sad, honestly.

After the hall had quieted down, the flames turned red for a third time. A white piece of parchment landed in Dumbledore's outstretched hand, which he unfolded. The silence in the hall was tense; this was the Hogwarts Champion, who would be representing most of the students in the hall.

"The Hogwarts Champion," said Dumbledore, "is Cedric Diggory!"

"Son of a bloody bastard!" yelled Ron, though nobody had heard him besides Harry and the few Gryffindors surrounding him. The cheer that rose from the Hufflepuff table was far too loud, with each and every one of the Hufflepuff students raising to their feet, applauding loudly and roaring with delight.

Harry turned to the stands at the back of the hall, searching for Tonks. He and her had made a little bet on the outcome of the Champion Selection, and he had seemingly just won. He eventually found Tonks standing next to Hestia, glaring at him. He sent her a cheeky smile and a wave, before turning back to his friends.

"Ah, well," said Seamus, "it's not like we're allowed to compete anyway; we'll just have to watch how it plays out."

"And that, witches and wizards, concludes the Selection Ceremony!" said Dumbledore, "Now, a few more - "

The headmaster stopped abruptly, the reason as to why being very apparent to all. Everyone in the hall was not completely silent, staring at the Goblet of Fire. The goblet turned red once more before a fourth piece of parchment shot from the flames. Dumbledore plucked it out from the air, his face paling slightly as he read it over.

"Harry Potter!" he announced loudly to the hall.

.....

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