Chapter 17: Goblet Fire!
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"Honestly Malfoy you sound like Weasley," Greengrass said with a smug smirk.
The blonde girl had amused him all day with her comments towards his friend and with each laugh he gave it only seemed to encourage her more.
"Quit laughing Black, and don't compare me to that mud blood befriending blood traitor."
"Draco," Aries said sternly, "That's your father talking." Cassiopeia Black and Lucius Malfoy had very similar views on the topic of muggles and muggleborns, but their place in the magical world was something they did disagree on.
While Lucius thought that muggleborns should not be allowed into their society at all, Cassi believed they should be integrated so well that they were more magic than muggle, it was something Aries tended to agree with.
The only thing that could agree on was that the old families should stay in power, and that the muggles needed to learn their place in the world.
How, was still a heated discussion between the two families. Aries had long tried to hold Draco's blood prejudice in check and knew that Uncle Lucius thought him to be a bit of a bad influence in that category.
Dumbledore rising to his feet cut off Draco's reply and silenced the hall.
"It seems at last the Goblet is ready to determine our champions. I would ask that when a champion is called, they make their way to the next chamber, where they will receive their instructions."
He gave a wave of his wand and the hall plunged into darkness, save for the Goblet of Fire which shone brightly, casting a blue light onto the students.
The flames turned suddenly red and a tongue of flame so hot Aries could feel it on his face shot into the air, and a charred piece of parchment floated down into Dumbledore's awaiting hand.
"The champion for Durmstrang," Dumbledore stopped for a moment, as if to be sure of what he had read.
"Aries Black." The Durmstrang delegation erupted in cheers, shocking everyone, as the surly occupants had been the quietest since their arrival.
Aries stood flashing his friends a triumphant smile as he made his way to the back chamber. He did miss the look of open curiosity on Albus Dumbledore's face and the equally shocking look on Sirius Black.
He ignored them both, passing into a smaller room, lined with portraits and a handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace.
Moments later he was joined by the French champion Fleur Delacour who gave him an appraising look which he returned with a flirtatious smile.
Lastly, to no surprise, Cedric Diggory walked in. The three did not speak to one another and all turned to the door as it opened. But it was not as he expected.
The first thing Aries Black noticed about Thomas Potter was that the boy was confused and clearly frightened.
He slipped into the boy's mind and caught a glimpse of a charred piece of parchment and Dumbledore calling out the boy's name.
"It seems we have a fourth champion."
….
"Did you place your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Dumbledore asked calmly. The whole room was tense, accusations of cheating had already been said, and James Potter, who had come in with Sirius Black and Dumbledore, looked furious.
"No." Thomas answered.
Aries noted that a third man with greasy hair and a hooked nose made a soft noise of impatient disbelief.
He recognized him as Severus Snape, the youngest potions master in history, or at least he had been.
Snape's books on potions had been some of Aries' favorite growing up and he looked forward to learning from him personally.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?"
"No." he answered vehemently, but Aries could see that he was afraid.
"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxine.
"Of course he's not." Aries venomous statement cut off the argument before it could continue. "Look at him, only a fool could believe that he did it. He's terrified, as he should be."
"Black's right," a man gruffed from near the door. He only had one real eye, the other being a magical one that swirled around the room and he hobbled on a wooden leg towards them.
"He's been forced to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract and the like. Rather convenient, eh?"
"Convenient?" Kakaroff asked. "I'm afraid I don't understand you Mad-Eye." Ah, he was the Auror, Alastor Moody, though most called him Mad-Eye .
Aries did not miss the way his headmaster attempted to belittle the Auror.
"Don't you?" Moody growled. "It's very simple Kakaroff, someone put Potter's name in the Goblet knowing he'd have to compete. People have died in this tournament, and someone is probably hoping Potter is going to die from it."
….
They finally let the champions leave after a pointless argument in Aries' opinion.
The Goblet of Fire was a magical binding contract and so now four champions would compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
He could tell that Delacour had been interested in walking with him out of the castle, but Madame Maxine had held her back.
Unfortunately, the last thing he wanted was to be with Kakaroff alone. The man annoyed him to no end, and while Aries respected the position he held, the man was a coward pure and simple.
Thankfully Kakaroff was pulled aside by the potions master and he was able to enjoy a quiet walk back.
The halls, and his mind, had a different idea however. Much like eight years ago when Aries had visited the Chamber of Secrets, memories that did not belong to him floated to the forefront of his mind.
He could remember taking that hall to the boy's room, and he undoubtedly knew that that left turn could lead him down to the Slytherin common room, even though he had never been there.
It was a lot to take in and he welcomed the void, pushing the assaulting memories back in the recesses of his mind.
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