three champion trio

♡

AFTER RETURNING TO Beauxbatons' huge carriage for the night, Lucy and her friends headed straight for their beds. Unlike at school, where Lucy was used to sharing with just Fleur, the dormitories in the carriages was a room of four, meaning both Misty and Verity would be joining them - which the two blondes didn't mind, truth be told.

After hours of lying, chatting, and sniggering silently after having Madame Maxime knock on their door twice to tell them go to to sleep, one by one, they all dropped off.

The next day, Fleur, Lucy, and surprisingly Verity as well, were up bright and early, Beauxbatons parchment with their names on in hand, eager to head to the Goblet of Fire and place them inside it. Of course, Misty would be joining them, but knew for sure her name was going nowhere near that goblet. No way.

Luckily for them, they no longer had to wear their silk travel attire, which they'd learned did not go well with Scotland's cold weather, as they'd spent their time the previous day shivering. Instead they dressed themselves in their everyday uniform - a light blue buttoned up classic collar above a knee length dress, sealed under a light blue blazer with dark blue trimming on the edges, the Beauxbatons emblem embroidered on the left pocket, with dark blue stockings and shoes. Best of all - that god awful hat was now optional.

After having breakfast in what Lucy had now learned was called the 'Great Hall', the Beauxbatons students had their first two lessons with their teachers in their school carriage. In all fairness, nobody was able to concentrate today, for everyone was distracted by the excitement of the tournament. Lucy was itching to go to the Goblet of Fire and place her name in, and she couldn't rest until she did so.

Eventually, they made it to the hall and all three girls - Fleur, Lucy and Verity, placed their names in the goblet, Misty watching with a wide, encouraging smile. Fleur and Lucy had always agreed with each other that if either one of their names came out, the other would be supportive without any negativity or bitterness. They'd never let a tournament come between them, full stop. Lucy didn't know what was going through Verity's mind, though, and how she'd behave if one of her friends got chosen instead of her. She could only hope she'd be just as supportive.

Little did she know, she'd be soon to find out.

After placing their names in the Goblet, Lucy and her friends decided to stick around for a while, curious to see who else was entering the tournament. Many Hogwarts students were lingering, too, but there weren't many students from Durmstrang at all.

There was a small round of applause for each student slipping a piece of parchment into the goblet, and each person's popularity was demonstrated through how enthusiastic each round was.

The four Beauxbatons girls couldn't help but comment on the fact that almost every friendship group from Hogwarts had the majority of the same colour tie.

"They're like little cults," Lucy joked, to which Fleur had sniggered.

Not long after, the same boy Lucy had smiled at the night before, the one with the yellow tie, soon came bursting through the doors, turning many heads his way as his friends blinded through with him, hyping him up to put his name forward.

"Go on, Cedric!" Another boy with a yellow tie said. "Put it in!"

The boy Lucy now knew as 'Cedric' laughed as his friends rowdily pushed him into the circle, clapping their hands as they did so. The blonde watched from the bench she was sitting on, next to Fleur, who was mid conversation with Misty and Verity.

Cedric dropped his scrappy bit of parchment into the goblet, and yet another round of applause sounded. He turned around with a wide grin, before jumping back to his friends who cheered, patting him on the shoulder before they proceeded to linger, chatting.

Lucy's attention diverted back to her own friends, and joined back in with their conversation.

Throughout the whole day, people were entering and leaving the hall, putting their names forward confidently for the tournament or cheering their friends on as they did. Even some under-age people tried it, much to Lucy's amusement, as she watched them take the consequences of ignoring the age line. Two red-headed twins had been victims of the age line, and were blasted from the goblet after passing it, and ended up growing beards and their hair turning white. Lucy and Fleur had both snickered together.

And then, the time of day Lucy had been longing for finally arrived - the Halloween feast, or more importantly, the champion selection.

"Now the moment you've all been waiting for!" Dumbly-dorr announced, as everyone sat down and the rumble of chatter began to fade. "The champion selection!"

Lucy grabbed Fleur's hand and they both squeezed them tightly, exchanging excited glances. The Hogwarts Headmaster dramatically turned around slowly, dimming the lights. Lucy could feel her heartbeat in her chest.

Dumbly-dorr stepped forward to the goblet gradually, as everyone apprehensively waited for the first name to be cast. Eventually, the first scrap of parchment was released.

"The Durmstrang champion - Viktor Krum!"

There was a loud applause as he fist pumped, before standing up and joining the Hogwarts headmaster. Lucy released her grip from Fleur's hand to clap politely - in all fairness, she wasn't the biggest fan of Quidditch, so she wasn't too familiar with Krum or why he was famous. Neither was any of her friends really, but someone could probably fill her in.

Krum shook Dumbly-dorr's hand, before disappearing into a room at the back of the hall. Lucy found Fleur's hand again under the table, as she wondered which room Krum was vanishing into. The girls took a deep breath as the blue fire inside the goblet turned red yet again and another slip of parchment appeared.

"The champion of Beauxbatons..." Dumbly-dorr began.

Fleur and Lucy's breaths hitched in their throats as they gripped onto each other's hands more tightly, drawing them closer.

"...Lucy Lunette!"

Lucy let out an excited little squeal, before composing herself yet again. Krum had been modest, so she probably should be as well. Fleur's and Misty's faces lit up and Misty reached forward to shake Lucy's arm slightly with excitement. Verity clapped with a smile.

As much as Lucy was trying to keep herself together, she couldn't stop herself from wearing a wide grin as she strutted forward, past all the students who had their eyes on her, applauding loudly let again. Lucy ever so desperately wanted to do a tiny victory dance, but instead shook Dumbly-dorr's hand with a straightened back, before heading for the door Krum had disappeared behind. Before she too vanished, she turned her head to flash her friends, who were still applauding loudly and gleefully, a smile.

The noise faded as the door closed behind her, and Lucy looked around to find herself in a trophy room.

Krum, who had previously had been examining one of the trophy cases, turned around quickly as Lucy's shoes tapped loudly against the stone steps whilst she walked.

"Bonjour!" he said with a friendly tone through a thick Bulgarian accent. "You... Beauxbatons... champion?"

"You're not fluent in French, are you?" Lucy said with an amused expression.

Krum blinked, before raising his eyebrows slightly.

"You are not French?"

"Ah," Lucy said. "Not really. I moved to France when I was nine and I come from an English family, so..."

Krum stayed silent, as though he was still listening for an extended explanation. Lucy's eyes flickered before she continued.

"...so I can speak French since I've lived there for eight years..." she said. "But at home I speak English to my mum, so that's probably why I still sound English,"

"You have a tiny French accent," Krum stated, before holding his hand out. "I'm Viktor Krum,"

"Lucy Lunette,"

She shook his hand with a grin, which he returned. Lucy was glad he hadn't expected her to already know who he was. It would've been especially awkward for her, as well, considering she wasn't a Quidditch fan.

They were interrupted by yet another applause sounding from the other side of the thick walls. The two's heads snapped towards the door, waiting for it to open.

Funnily enough, the brown haired boy with the yellow tie just kept cropping up in front of Lucy. He sauntered in wearing a beam, his eyes landing on the other two champions.

"And here is the Hogwarts champion!" Viktor was the first to speak, shaking Cedric's hand just as he'd done with Lucy and introducing himself.

"I'm Cedric," he smiled, before turning to Lucy.

"Lucy," she nodded, returning his warm smile. Cedric's hand was still held out from shaking Krum's, and Lucy glanced down at it with crossed arms. Realising Cedric was offering to shake her hand too, she quickly released her folded arms and wrapped her small hand around Cedric's.

"It feels weird shaking people's hands," Lucy said. "All fancy and formal,"

Cedric immediately looked taken aback, and Lucy prepared herself for the obvious question.

"Erm... if you don't mind me asking-" he began politely, but she cut him off.

"I'm English, my family are English. I moved to France when I was nine, so that's why I went to Beauxbatons. Yes I can speak both,"

Cedric paused before nodding.

"Right,"

There was a short silence.

"Actually," Lucy said, turning back to Cedric. "You might know my uncle,"

"Really?" he asked.

"Yeah, he taught here last year," Lucy said. "Defence Against the Dark Arts, I think?"

"Professor Lupin!" Cedric's face lit up. Lucy nodded, with a smile. "He's your uncle?"

"Yep, that's him,"

"He was one of my favourite teachers. Probably the best one yet to teach that subject, it was rubbish when we found out he was leaving - although, it wasn't a surprise,"

"Why?" Lucy said defensively, crossing her arms and frowning a little. She didn't know her uncle, but he was family, and she was ready to defend him against werewolf insults anyday.

"Oh- it was nothing to do with him!" Cedric said quickly, noticing Lucy's protective manner. "The position's cursed,"

"What?" Krum pulled a face, and exchanged a confused look with Lucy.

"Apparently You-Know-Who wanted it," Cedric explained to the two who were looking at him with bewildered expressions. "But, Dumbledore obviously wasn't a fan of that idea, so he said no. Ever since then, we haven't had a teacher last longer than a year. Cursed."

"Oh," said Lucy, resting her shoulders. She couldn't help but take note of the fact that Cedric called who she thought was Dumbly-dorr 'Dumbledore'.

"Dumbledore?" she spoke.

"...Yeah, our Headmaster?"

"I thought it was Dumbly-dorr," Lucy said, before letting out a laugh. Cedric broke into a grin.

"Did you?"

Lucy nodded, smiling to herself. "That's Maxime's pronunciation for you. Ten out of ten, like always,"

She felt a bit stupid, actually, because it was obvious, now, that Madame Maxime's French accent made it sound like she was saying 'Dumbly-dorr' rather than 'Dumbledore'. How Lucy had missed it, she didn't know.

The door creaked open yet again, and a figure stiffly stood at the top of the steps. The three champions looked towards him, as he steadily made his way down the steps. Lucy's eyebrows creased.

"Do they want us back in the hall?" she asked. It was when he drew nearer, she recognised the younger boy from passing her the cassoulet at the Welcoming Feast. Harry Potter? She still wasn't too sure, and didn't want to make assumptions. Perhaps she ought to ask him, but it's a bit of a strange question to ask - especially if it wasn't him.

The boy didn't answer, just looked between the three with an uneasy expression. Soon after, a group of staff burst into the room, all practically shouting, making Lucy jump. She swore in English under her breath, and Cedric chuckled down at her.

"I protest!" she heard Madame Maxime call out, and the blonde scrunched up her face.

"Harry!" Dumbledore called out, storming towards the boy. Lucy stepped back out of fright as he gripped the younger boy by the shoulders and accidentally pushed him back into one of the trophy cases. Lucy's eyebrows raised.

"Harry! Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?!"

Ah, so he was called Harry, Lucy thought, nodding to herself. Definitely Harry Potter. Although it took her a moment to understand what Dumbledore was saying through his harsh voice. Something about Harry putting his name in the goblet?

"No sir!" Harry replied with a panicked look.

"Did you ask one of the older students to do it for you?!"

"No sir!" He repeated.

"You're absolutely sure?"

"Yes, yes sir!"

Madame Maxime sauntered through, whacking a hanging light out of her way as she walked. Lucy snorted, looking down. She quickly straightened and composed herself, yet again.

"But of course he is lying!" she said through a more prominent French accent than Lucy.

"Er... what's happening?" the blonde girl asked, though she was ignored by the adults, as a Hogwarts professor with one magical eye and a scarred face began to ramble.

"Like hell he has! The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful magical object only an exceptionally powerful confundus charm could have hoodwinked it. Magic way beyond the terms of a fourth year!"

"You seem to have given this a fair bit of though, Mad-Eye!" another man said, who Lucy could only assume was the Durmstrang headmaster.

"It was my job to think as a dark wizard still, Karkaroff, perhaps you remember,"

Lucy's eyes flickered between the adults, becoming a bit uneasy at the sudden tension in the room.

"It doesn't help here, sir,"

"We'll leave this to you, Barty," Dumbledore said, turning to yet another man. The three champions were impatiently waiting for someone to fill her in on what was going on.

"The rules are absolute," Crouch said. "The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract,"

He turned around with astonishment, looking directly at Harry, who was still wearing a panicked expression.

"Mr Potter has no choice. He is, as of tonight, a Tri-Wizard Champion,"

Cedric and Lucy exchanged wide eyed glances before everyone turned to look at Harry - standing anxiously, his eyes flicking between the adults and older students staring at him. Lucy was completely baffled.

"What?!"