au_muses October topics: What do you fear most?
Harry sat with his fellow Gryffindors as the feast came to a close. The excitement and anticipation in the air from the students who were waiting for the champions to be announced was contagious. Harry glanced up at the staff table and caught the wink from Sirius and the smile of encouragement from Remus. They knew he was nervous, and were trying in their own ways to calm him down. Harry attempted to catch Cedric's attention, but it was impossible to see past Colin snapping photos. The flash was a bit blinding.
A few minutes later the plates disappeared, and Headmaster Dumbledore approached the center of the stage. All eyes were on him as the goblet was brought in. Harry cast a look around the great hall and took note of those from the ministry who had come along for the announcement. He took a deep breath and sat back a bit as Dumbledore made his speech. The goblet spit out the first name:
"The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour." The beautiful blonde that Harry had found himself drawn too shortly after her arrival to the school practically floated to the front of the hall. She gave a quick bow and smile to the crowd who had already exploded with applause. Quickly she was ushered away to the room where the champions were to meet. The goblet spit out it's second name, and no one was really surprised when Viktor Krum's name was announced. He already played professional quidditch, and was without a doubt the prince of Durmstrang.
Over the excited crowd, Harry finally caught Cedric's eyes. There was a smile and a silent mouthing of the words, 'Good luck.' Harry returned the words and found that he truly meant them. If it was not his name that came from the goblet he did hope it would be Cedric's. While Harry Potter might be the chosen one of the wizard world, it was Cedric who was the prince of Hogwarts. The name flew into Dumbledore's hands and Harry knew who it was before Dumbledore said the name. He saw the visible relief cross over Dumbledore's face and then a quick glance at the Hufflepuff table. When Cedric's name was called, the entire room exploded into cheers, Harry among them. He'd made a go of it, but Cedric was the true champion. He couldn't even find it in his ego to be upset about it.
Cedric gave him a look just before he approached the front of the hall to be ushered toward the room. No sooner had he disappeared behind the doors did the fourth name come flying out of the goblet. Those moments seemed to move painfully slow. The entire room became silent and still as the Headmaster unfolded the paper. He looked straight at Harry and then over to the staff table at Sirius. No, it couldn't be. What was this?
"The fourth champion...is Harry Potter."
There was barely any applause. Most of the students were casting venomous glares at him. Accusations reflected in their gazes as Harry tried to wrap his mind around what had happened. "Go on, Harry, you're a champion too!" Colin squeaked as he shot off another round of photos. It had been Angelina who half pushed him off his seat, whistling loudly as Harry slowly, so bloody slowly, walked toward the front of the school. The Slytherins hissed at him like the snakes they were. He looked up at Sirius who looked as shocked as Harry had ever seen him. The Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students looked mutinous. The Hufflepuffs looked angrier than Harry had ever imagined they could look. They were quite intimidating as a group that size. The Ravenclaws simply looked disgusted. It was only his fellow lions that were celebrating at this unexpected turn of events.
He entered the room with Dumbledore, Snape, Remus and Sirius right behind him. The ministry officials were on their heels. Harry caught the confused look that Cedric shot him, but he didn't have time to explain before the room erupted in accusations and theories. He moved toward the back of the room. He wouldn't realize until later he had practically placed himself behind Sirius as if his godfather could shield him from the chaos that was erupting around them. He barely paid any attention to what was said. All he could think of was that Dumbledore had been right. Someone made damn sure Harry would be chosen as the champion regardless of who else entered. Only one person would have wanted him to be selected this badly.
Voldemort.
It wasn't that Harry made light of what Voldemort was. He had the scar to look at every day to remind him of what the man was capable of. He was an orphan because of that monster. The fact was, he never forgot about him, but he assumed he was safe. There was no safer place than Hogwarts right? The only wizard that Voldemort feared as Dumbledore, and that was who was in charge of the school. This fear creeping up on him now was one he hadn't experienced before. He was terrified that if Voldemort had managed to get close enough to rig the results of the tournament then it meant he could get close enough to Harry again. More so, he could get close enough to those Harry was closest too. Sirius, Cedric, Remus, Albus, Hagrid, and all of his friends were all neatly contained in one place; this school. The fear was blinding and distracting. So much so that he didn't look up until he heard Snape's accusation.
"Isn't it clear how it happened? Professors Black and Lupin obviously enchanted the cup so that Potter would be selected as a fourth champion."
There was a sudden movement as Sirius lunged and Remus stepped between him and Snape and held Sirius back. "No, not here, Sirius."
Sirius snarled in Snape's direction, but it was Albus who spoke.
"Harry, did you place your name under a different school?" The question was quiet and without accusation, but it stung regardless.
"No. No of course not."
"This is an outrage! Hogwarts can't have two champions. It's not fair to our schools." Madame Maxine was shaking.
"I'll resign," Harry said quietly as the room fell silent and looked at him.
"How noble, Potter, except you can't resign. It's a magical contract. You are bound to compete." Snape's tone held nothing but accusations and for the first time ever, his words cut Harry to the core. He hadn't cheated. He wouldn't have done that to the school, to Cedric.
The rest of the meeting was a blur. When the champions were finally released, Harry said quickly and quietly to Cedric, "I'll use the mirror and call for you in a bit. I need to speak with my godfather. Congratulations, Ced, I'm sorry this happened."
He bolted for the door and looked at Sirius desperately, "Your quarters now please?" It was the first time in a long time that he had felt every bit a child needing his guardian's advice. He was out the door and making his way for the stairs without waiting for a reply. Harry knew his godfather would be right behind him. He never let him down.
[Open to Sirius and later Cedric]