Chương 84: Four Champions
The three of them returned to the Great Hall where Art and the girls were separated and sat at their respective tables. There was a mixture of excitement and tense in the atmosphere as the students debated on who would be picked.
"Cason obviously has the best shot. I mean the guy is a genius."
"Diggory is his close friend and has a shot. Plus he is so handsome."
"Art is good looking too! It is too bad he is dating that french girl…"
Art bitterly shook his head at the whispers he heard. He sat down between Fred and George who were now beardless with large smiles are their faces.
"How was your… date?" Fred asked with a smirk.
"Pleasant." Art answered with a happy smile, clearly he enjoyed his day with Fleur.
"So, ah… what did you all do?" George asked slowly, his smirk matching Fred's.
"I showed her the grounds and we ate at the edge of the lake." Art said truthfully.
"You show her the dorms?" Fred asked, his smirk grew wider.
Art didn't answer and simply punched Fred in the shoulder who cringed and grabbed his shoulder in pain.
The hall suddenly quieted down as Dumbledore stood up and waved his hands, dimming the flames in the room.
"Well the Goblet is about ready to make a decision, another minute I would say. Now when the Champions are called I'd like them to approach the table and make their way into the next chamber where they will receive their first instructions." Dumbledore said loudly, his blue eyes sweeping the entire room.
The Goblet's flames suddenly turned a different colour and something shot out and Dumbledore caught it.
"The Champion for Beauxbatons is… Fleur Delacour!" Dumbeldore announced.
The crowd responded with a loud applause with the students from Beauxbatons cheering loudly. Art grimaced, thinking his life was about to get a bit more complicated, but clapped loudly.
Another piece of paper shot out and Dumbledore grabbed it and read loudly, "Durmstrangs Champion is… Viktor Krum!"
Krum walked to the front and disappeared into the next room.
"Bravo, Viktor!" Karkaroff voice was heard over the applause.
"Okay, here we go." Fred whispered in anticipation.
Everyone seemed to be holding their breaths as the watched the Goblet unblinking. A piece of paper shot out of the Goblet and Dumbledore snatched the smoking paper out of the air.
"The Champion of Hogwarts is… Artland Cason!" Dumbeldore said with a large smile.
Art let out a sigh of relief and stood up with a smile. The crowd was deafening as Art walked up to the front. Karkaroff looked angry as he carefully watched Art while Maxime looked worried, not for him but for Fleur.
Dumbledore handed him his slip of paper and whispered, "Good luck."
Art thanked him and headed into the next chamber where Fleur and Krum were waiting. Fleur saw him and a bright smile appeared on her face.
"I knew you would be picked." she said brightly, walking up to him.
"Glad you were." he said, kissing her forehead.
He then approached Krum and stuck out his hand.
"Artland Cason, pleasure to meet you." Art said in very rough Bulgarian.
Krum's eyebrow shot up and slowly took his hand. "Your Bulgarian is bad." he said bluntly.
"As is your english." Art said with a laugh.
Krum nodded his head and walked away, ignoring Art and Fleur.
Fleur and Art conversed some more but were interrupted when Harry Potter walked through the door.
"Do they want us back in zee hall?" Fleur asked in english, with a very strong accent.
Art noticed Harry's expression and asked, "Harry, what is wrong?"
Harry didn't say anything and absently handed Art a piece of paper with his name on it.
"You were chosen?" Art muttered to himself. He looked at Harry and asked seriously, "Do you know who put your name in?"
Harry wasn't able to answer as Dumbledore and the other Headmasters burst through the door with Ludo Baggins and Barty Crouch behind them.
"Harry, did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire or ask an older student to do it for you?" Dumbledore asked seriously.
"No professor!" Harry answered immediately.
"He is lying!" Madame Maxime yelled.
"Since when did the host school get two champions? This is ridiculous." Karkaroff said with a sneer.
"Harry isn't lying."
Art spoke up and gave Karkaroff and Maxime a look.
"What do you know?" Karkaroff said, glaring at Art.
"More than you. Someone put his name in to harm him, possibly kill him." Art said seriously, looking at Harry carefully.
The room went silent and Harry looked at him in shock.
"K-kill me?" Harry stuttered.
"Don't be preposterous, who would want to kill him?" Karkaroff asked.
"Oh I don't know. Maybe Voldemort or anyone of the countless Death Eaters that escaped Azkaban?" Art asked mockingly, getting in Karkaroff's face.
Karkaroff flinched at Voldemort's name and subconsciously rubbed his forearm.
"Don't like hearing that name Karkaroff?" a low growl came from the back of the room.
"Alastor." Dumbledore said, clearly a warning.
Moody slowly limped into the room and spoke in a low voice, "A student couldn't have done this. Only a powerful Confundus Charm could trick the Goblet in thinking there was a fourth school."
"You seem to have given this a lot of." Karkaroff said with an implying tone.
"It was once my job to think like Dark Wizards Karkaroff or did you forget?" Moody said, clearly threatening him.
Karkaroff paled visibly, glaring at Moody.
"Enough Alastor. Mr. Crouch, what do the rules say?" Dumbledore asked.
Crouch took a deep breath, his face was pale and gaunt. "The rules are absolute. Harry Potter must participate in the tournament."
"Well you will understand Durmstrang not participating." Karkaroff said with a huff.
"That is an empty threat." Art said quickly. He then pointed at Krum, "You can leave but Mr. Krum needs to participate. We all do, magically binding contract and all."
"Smart boy. Convenient isn't it? Potter has to compete and risk his life. Someone thought this through carefully." Moody said in his raspy voice.
Art let the adults bicker some more and he came up to Fleur.
"Do you think someone is actually trying to kill him?" she whispered.
Art nodded, "It makes sense. Harry is somehow related to Voldemort's downfall. Removing him is removing a major obstacle in his return."
Soon Ludo called them over for details about the first task. Crouch spoke in a aged voice as described the first task.
"The first task is designed to test your daring so we will not be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard. The first task will take place on November 24th, in front of the students and a panel of judges. The Champions are not permitted to ask for help or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the Tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first task with only their wands. They will receive information about the second task after the first. Champions are also exempt from end of year exams." Barty Crouch finished, looking paler after speaking so much.
As soon as he finished, Madame Maxime and Karkaroff guided their champions out of the room, shooting glares at Dumbledore and Harry.
Dumbledore sighed and said, "You better head to bed Art and Harry."
They both nodded and left the room. They silently made their way towards Gryffindor Tower.
"Do you believe someone is trying to kill me?" Harry suddenly asked.
Art stopped walking and looked down at Harry's face.
"Yes. So get stronger. I won't be able to protect you in this tournament Harry so you need to get stronger. Ask Fred and George to help you." Art said seriously.
"You won't train me?"
"If I am seen helping you the other Headmasters will throw a fit. We need people to think that we are fighting against each other." Art explained. "Fred and George should be able to help you."
He paused and looked into Harry's eyes, reading his thoughts.
"Don't let Voldemort win Harry. Don't die."
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