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Later that evening, when the sun began to settle and the clouds bestowed a great rain storm, almost everyone Zinnia knew was gathered in the great hall watching the blue flames dance in the elevated Goblet. Zinnia was curled onto the bench where Hermione sat, Hermione reading a large book about the history of something Zinnia couldn't care less about whilst Zinnia skimmed over her mothers copy of The Great Gatsby, intermittently surveying the crowd gathered by the blue light.

Between her reading she inspected the students crossing the age line and placing their name in at the chance of eternal glory. Suddenly a large group of rowdy boys burst through the crowds enthusiastically cheering on their friend.

"Come on, Cedric. Put it in" one of the boys cheered as they all pushed the slightly damp boy through the age line. The boy lingered for a bit, then gently placed his name in the cup.

As he did so Neville came walking by, head in a book.

"What are you reading there Neville?" Zinnia asked, she always found it fascinating his recall of herbology. She loved to hear about the different plants he had discovered in his readings.

"Goshawks Guide to herbology" he replied with a grin wider than she had ever seen.

"I might need to borrow that from you sometime, be sure to tell me about it in Herbology class. Assuming you're still up for being my partner?" Zinnia almost incoherently rambled to the excited boy.

"Who else would I want?" Neville laughed as he turned to exit the great hall.

Zinnia looked around for a moment more to notice that Hermione had not moved since she sat down.

"And what are you reading there?" Zinnia asked to be polite, sometimes she found what Hermione was reading interesting but if it was anything about the Goblin War she zoned out.

"Mhn" is all she got from the girl, her eyes zooming across the page. Zinnia furrowed her eyebrows and made the executive decision to poke her cheek.

"Hey what was that for?" Hermione snarled, whipping her head to face the girl.

"Just checking you weren't catatonic" Zinnia justified, shrugging her shoulders with a sly smile

"If i was catatonic i wouldn't have said 'mhn'' Hermione stated turning her head back to her page, smiling much to her dismay.

"Fine then, next time you're unresponsive i'll go about my merry way" she laughed, returning her head back to her book. All the sudden the cheering and wooing sounds of Fred and George Weasley came from the door of the great hall. They were met by the rising supportive applause of their peers.

"Well, lads, we've done it" Fred chuffed to the audience they had gathered

"Cooked it up just this morning" George followed up. Hermione whipped her head away from them in disarray.

"It's not going to work" she childishly mocked the two buffoons. The twins, shocked at this remark, jumped either side of her with an energetic bounce

"Oh, yeah?" Fred pulled her leg
"And why's that Granger?" George mocked right back at the nagging girl.

"You see this? This is an Age Line. Dumbeldore drew it himself" she explained as if everyone in the room could match her intelligence and automatically understand what she was getting at.

"So?" Fred continued, convinced that everything he tried had to work. Hermione scoffed at this and dramatically closed her aging book.

"So a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by a dodge as pathetically dimwitted as an Aging Potion." she explained in a ramble, demeaning the two's antics. Zinnia couldn't help but laugh hysterically from the sidelines at the back and forth banter she was seeing.

"But thats why it's so brilliant" Fred teased the girl again

"Because it's so pathetically dimwitted," George continued to explain. Zinnia let out another hysterical laugh, this time catching the attention of the two boys.

"And what about you princess, find this amusing?" Fred poked at Zinnia, whilst the two boys came over and leered at either side of her

"You can't possibly believe this will work" she managed to let out through her chuckles

"I don't see why not" George retorted

"Oh yes because simply nothing could ever go wrong in a plan laid out by Fred and George Weasly" she laughed, sarcastically ridiculing them

"Just you see Beaumont" Fred stated

"Here lies the beginning of a new era" George finished. The two moved over further down the bench laughing and stood up, bottles in hand.

"Ready Fred?"

"Ready George." Fred responded, the two popping of the cork of their potion

"Bottoms up!" they both exclaimed as they intertwined their arms and gulped down the contents of the small vials. They both eagerly jumped from the benches inside the age ring.

There was a moment of silence, everyone waiting for the two to be thrown out or spontaneously burst into flames. But alas nothing but silence came, followed by an uproar of students cheering at the wits of the two. Zinnia snuck around behind Harry and Ron.

"A galleon says they'll be thrown out in no more than ten seconds" Zinnia whispered into Harry's ear, unaware of how utterly flushed that made him feel.

"You're on" he laughed at her, turning his head, putting his blind faith in the twins. Little to Zinnia's knowledge he was also beginning to get a warm surge in his chest whenever he talked to her, although it had been happening since the start of third year. He had talked to Ron about it and he brushed it off as hormones tricking his brain into thinking he likes the girl he has the most contact with, but not without the teasing of Ron of course.

"Ready?" the twins spoke, preparing to put their names in the cup. As they dis Zinnia half expected the cup to simply spit them out then and there but alas, their names went in unbothered. They were met by another uproar of applause, shocked that they actually got away with it.

However the celebrations were hastily interrupted by the flying bursts of flames spat out by the goblet. One nearly singed the hair straight off of Harry's head, and the two red headed boys were thrown into the air and dropped onto the floor with a painful thud. Everyone looked on at the two, still processing what just happened as they burst into laughter. As the twins rose from the floor, they began to sprout beards and their once ginger hair was replaced with brittle grey locks. They both looked at each other in astonishment as they surveyed each other's wrinkles.

"You said!"

"You said!" they repeated at each other as they launched at one another, everyone began to gather around and laugh at the two. Harry hovered over Zinnia looking down at the smiling girl.

"Guess you owe me a galleon Potter" she teased, turning around to look up at him. They both stared at each other for a moment, eyes locked. A faint blush appeared on both their cheeks. Harry rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.

"Can you write to me and I owe you?" he chuckled while keeping the conversation.

"As long as you fork up eventually boy wonder" she smiled widely at him and turned back to the twins rolling around on the floor humorously. They continued to squabble and throw themselves as the crowd that had gathered began to chant 'fight fight fight' egging the boys on.

Suddenly everyone's attention was drawn to the doors of the great hall, the crowd split down the middle and stood in silence as Viktor Krum entered the room with Igor Karkarof and a fellow student behind him. They had a stern look on their face as they surveyed at the display in front of them. Krum continued to keep his head forward as he took determined strides towards the goblet.

Everyone remained silent as he crossed the threshold of the age line and placed his name in the blue flames. Subtly as he did so, he turned to look at Hermione still sitting down reading her book. She smirked at him in reply and turned her head as she followed him out.

Once Krum had left with the same confident stride Zinnia rushed over to her friend.

"What was that all about huh?" She nudged Hermione after seeing the hard to catch eye contact between her and Krum.

"What was what?" she bashfully replied, playing dumb at Zinnia's question. The two girls looked at each other and smiled, Zinnia raising her eyebrows at the girl and Hermione replying by burying her head in her book once again. Zinnia left the girl on her own and decided to head back to the common room to finish up her homework.

As she climbed through the portrait to the common room she spotted her brother, Aster, lounging upside down on one of the armchairs amongst his friends. She rushed over to him.

"Hey, what did you get Daisy for her birthday?" she said knocking the feet of the boy

"What?!" he asked, returning to an upright position with a bright red face from all the blood rushing to his head.

"You know Daisy, your sister, the little one who acts like a mobster" She explained

"Yeah I bloody well know who my sister is, Z" he snarled back at her

"Alright, then what was the 'what' for?" she questioned, a lot of their conversations seemed to be like a game of tennis, throwing sentences back at each other.

"Well I thought I could just write my name on whatever you give her, you know like you did last year" he complained, worried at the idea that he hadn't even thought of buying anything.

"I only did that because it was your first year, its tradition and now you have to fend for yourself" She replied, annoyed at the boy's laziness. Aster grunted in reply, palming his face.

"You better get a move on, it's gotta get home by the 18th" Zinnia shouted at the boy as she trudged up the stairs to return to her dorm.

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On Thursday night the whole school and the guest students gathered in the great hall for the choosing of the Triwizard champions. The room was abundant with buzz as the cramped students chatted amongst themselves about the tournament.

Zinnia sat next to Harry with Fay behind her and Kian on the other side, as they all anxiously awaited the champions to be chosen.

"Sit down. Please" Dumbledore demanded over the excited students. "Now the moment you've all been waiting for: The champion selection" he spoke in the middle of the room next to the hovering goblet. He flung his arm to the side of the hall and one by one, the fires that lit up the room dimmed as he moved his hand across the room. The room is now only being lit by the vibrant blue flame of the goblet. Harry and Zinnia turned to each other in excitement. Kian then elbowed her sides and raised his eyebrows towards the unassuming Harry. Zinnia only returned a confused expression as she shook her head.

Dumbeldore's hand led him towards the goblet as he gently placed his hands on its sides. Everyone in the room was completely silent, entranced by the show put on before them. Everyone watched on as Dumbeldore assumed his position back to the side of the goblet, staring at it intently.

Suddenly the once cool blue tone of the flame sprouted an intense red as the light blinded the Headmaster. It shot up a simple piece of smoking paper and Dumbeldore caught it with ease. Zinina didn't think he could move any slower, the tension bubbling away in her stomach.

"The Durmstrang champion is Viktor Krum" He called out. The crowd burst out in cheers as Viktor celebrated to himself. His fellow students pat him on his back in congratulations, as he strode towards Dumbeldore and shook his hand. He was promptly led to another room as the crowd prepared for the second name to be called.

The applause quieted down as the blue flame once again erupted in red as it shot out a delicate round piece of paper of which Dumbeldore once again caught with ease.

"The champion from Beauxbatons is Fleur delacour" He shouted. The table filled with the silver dressed students cheered for her as the beautiful blonde woman approached the Headmaster graciously.
The third name once again jumped from the red flame and landed in the hands of the Headmaster. The room became more anxious as the next name to be drawn was the Hogwarts champion. Zinnia gripped Kian's forearm nervously as she awaited a name to be called.

"The Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory" He announced. The whole room bursted into a voracious cheer as Cedric arose from his table to the applause of his Hufflepuff classmates. He made his way over to the secluded room hugging his friends with gratitude on the way.

"I hoped it would be him" Zinnia whispered to Harry, he smiled back at her, glad that their friend they had made at the World Cup was representing their school.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions" Dumbeldore enthusiastically announced with his arms wide open. "But in the end, only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions, this vessel of victory, The Triwizard Cup!" he announced, spinning around to point at the unveiling of a luminescent blue cup. It was adorned with silver details and was quite possibly the most fascinating thing Zinnia had ever seen. The room was engulfed in a tremendous cheer and everyone looked upon the dazzling cup.

Although Zinnia noticed Professor Snape strangely looking up at the goblet. Everyone turned around and found it sprouting out more elaborate blue flames. Zinnia looked to her friends in confusion, there were only supposed to be three champions she thought.

It once again turned an eerie red as the flame enlarged and the Headmaster looked on with concern. A roaring flame came bursting out of the goblet, larger than any of the other ones, a piece of paper flying out of it. Dumbeldore hesitantly caught the paper and read it out.

"Harry Potter" he muttered so silently only a few students could hear.

"Harry Potter?" he spoke louder, this time looking around the room for the boy.

Harry quickly sat down, looking straight at Zinnia. They both shared no words as the look they gave each other was enough to say. Everyone turned to look at him as he ducked his head.

"HARRY POTTER!" Dumbeldore roared in fury, still searching for the raven haired boy.

"Go on, Harry" Hermione said from behind him, urging him to move. But he was frozen in time, he couldn't fathom why his name was in the cup and who on earth would put it in there. His mind was running at a million miles per hour. He turned to Zinnia next to him.

"Z, i didn't-" he tried to speak

"I know" was all she had to reply with and just a tad of the tension in his chest released. She knew he was merely a pawn in this.

"Harry, for goodness sake." Hermione pushed the boy up towards the middle of the room. He slowly got up, trying to maintain eye contact with Zinnia as that was the only thing that was keeping him grounded at that moment. Everyone couldn't stop looking at him as the deafening silence filled the room. Although Zinnia wouldn't have even noticed if everyone was talking because her mind was utterly fixed on Harry.

Harry approached the befuddled Dumbledore as he handed Harry the smoking piece of paper. Harry, not believing it and hoping it was some sick joke, checked the paper only to find his name scrawled upon it loud and clear. He didn't know what to do except follow where the other champions led.

Zinnia was finding it hard to keep her breath steady, watching the boy slowly walk down the hall to the hidden room. The silence was broken by students shouting at the hyperventilating boy.

"He's a cheat!"

"He's not even seventeen yet!" they shouted as Harry walked to the teachers and disappeared behind them. Almost immediately the teachers followed Harry into the room.

"All of you off to bed!" Dumbeldore shouted quickly before leading the staff away.

Zinnia just sat there in silence for a while whilst everyone burst into talking and headed out of the hall. Her breath quickened and she stared at the now flameless goblet. How could this happen? Who did this? How did someone do this? Why can't Harry just have a normal year?. The words of Hermione Granger rang in her head "People have died in this tournament" echoed over and over again until she couldn't take it. Her thoughts were interrupted by the hands of Kian and Fay gently touching her shoulder.

"Z... you alright? Fay asked the dumbstruck girl as Kian looked on anxiously.

"He didn't - he can't- he- he" Zinnia attempted to match her words with her thoughts. "Where is Hermione and Ron?" she asked the two after noticing their absence.

"They ran off, Hermione chased after Ron after he stormed off in a huff, he looked pretty pissed if you ask me" Kian explained to her, kneeling down so he was eye level with her.

"This isn't happening" Zinnia muttered as she stood up with her face in her hands. They all silently walked back to their respective common rooms with thought bouncing around in their heads. Whilst Zinnia was walking back in a dazed state she ran into Prim.

"Did you have anything to do with this?" Prim confronted the girl.

"Of course not, what kind of question is that?" she bit back at her, not wanting to take any of her bullshit tonight

"You guys are always causing a ruckus like this, just thought this was another one of your silly plans" She rambled back at her, Zinnia looked as if she would bite her head off but noticed a glint of worry in her sister's eye. She let out a shaky breath of air ignoring the insult from Prim.

"Listen, I myself am still processing what happened, but I assure you we didn't do this. someone else did and they're obviously not a fan of Harry." she reasoned with her. Prim seemed to ease her face at this statement, still worried but less stuck up. They stood there looking at each other for a bit before she spoke.

"Just... don't do anything stupid okay. Stay safe" Prim uttered with her head down, reluctant to show affection to her sister she was worried about.

"Oh look she does have a heart" Zinnia replied sarcastically without a laugh.

"Fuck off" Primrose repled and shot off to her common room in a huff.

Zinnia walked to the Gryffindor common room with her head down and racing. She sat on the couch and stared into the fire. When Fay and Hermione asked if she was coming to bed she swiftly shook her head, stating that she would wait for Harry to come back.

She sat there for a while, she would have grabbed her book but was too afraid Harry would come back in the time it would take to go to her dorm and come back, and she would miss him. So she waited anxiously and stared into the fire whilst fiddling with her robes.

After what felt like forever but was only a few minutes, The door to the room swung open and Harry emerged from the tunnel. Zinia jumped off of the couch and embraced him in a bone crushing hug.

"God Z, i'm not dead yet" he morosely joked.

"Shut up, you're not going to die" she said, releasing him from her grip. They stared at each other with uneasy breaths. "I know you didn't do it, Harry" she shakely spoke.

"That's good, I have a feeling you might be one of the few who believe that," he uttered, looking at the floor.

"Hey, you're going to get through this, you're the boy who lived remember" she attempted to spark some confidence in him

"Yeah well it's not as glamorous as it's hyped up to be '' he quickly replied.

"You should go to bed, cranky" she ordered him. "We can talk about it in the morning" she reasoned, feeling her eyes struggling to stay open. The two muttered goodnight to each other and returned to their dorms. Harry being met by the grumpy Ron and Zinnia getting apologetic stares from her roommates. They both fell asleep, the prospect of what was to happen anxiously running around in their minds.

(A.N- sorry this chapter is a little shitty, had a bit of a crazy week but thanks for the votes and the reads)