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When the Prancers entered the candlelit Great Hall, it was almost full. The Goblet of Fire had been moved; it was now standing in front of Dumbledore's empty chair at the teachers' table. Fred and George — clean-shaven again — seemed to have taken their disappointment fairly well.

Fred smiled as he waved at Blair, Neville, Dean and Seamus who sat down in front of Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Hey Little B. I hope it's Angelina."

"So do I!" said Hermione breathlessly. "Well, we'll soon know!"

The Halloween feast seemed to take much longer than usual. Perhaps because it was their second feast in two days.

Blair kept on glancing towards Hermione, thinking if Hermione did like Diggory. Hermione felt her stares and raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Blair?"

Blair crossed her arms and looked towards the Goblet. Hermione, surprised at her reaction, turned to Neville. "What's wrong with her?"

Neville hesitated before answering. "She'd like to know if you fancy Diggory."

"Gramen!" Blair looked at him with a look of betrayal.

Hermione let out a laugh. "I don't fancy Diggory, Blair. Where'd you get that?"

Blair looked at her with hopeful eyes. "Really?"

Then, a smirk made its way onto her face. "How 'bout me, Granger? Do you fancy me?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I fancy you as much as I fancy marrying a slug." Blair pouted like a little child before winking at Hermione and turning to Dumbledore.

At long last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state; there was a sharp upswing in the level of noise within the Hall, which died away almost instantly as Dumbledore got to his feet. On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Ludo Bagman was beaming and winking at various students. Mr. Crouch, however, looked quite uninterested, almost bored.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber" — he indicated the door behind the staff table — "where they will be receiving their first instructions."

He took out his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it; at once, all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging them into a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting... A few people kept checking their watches...

"Any second," Lee whispered, a few seats away from Blair.

The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red again. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it — the whole room gasped.

Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white.

"The champion for Durmstrang," he read, in a strong, clear voice, "will be Viktor Krum."

"No surprises there!" yelled Ron as a storm of applause and cheering swept the Hall.

Blair clapped along and saw Viktor Krum rise from the Slytherin table and slouch up toward Dumbledore; he turned right, walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the next chamber.

"Bravo, Viktor!" boomed Karkaroff, so loudly that everyone could hear him, even over all the applause. "Knew you had it in you!"

The clapping and chatting died down. Now everyone's attention was focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more. A second piece of parchment shot out of it, propelled by the flames.

"The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour!"

"It's her, Blair!" Harry shouted as the girl who Blair helped got gracefully to her feet, shook back her sheet of silvery blonde hair, and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, but not before sending a smile to Blair.

"Oh look, they're all disappointed," Hermione said over the noise, nodding toward the remainder of the Beauxbatons party. Two of the girls who had not been selected had dissolved into tears and were sobbing with their heads on their arms. When Fleur Delacour too had vanished into the side chamber, silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion next...

And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out of it; the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment. "The Hogwarts champion," he suddenly stopped and stared at the name before clearing his throat, "Harry Potter."

The applause died down, and everybody looked at Harry with surprise on their faces. Harry himself looked stunned as well. Blair smiled comfortingly before pushing him slightly. Harry went down the chamber.

After he left, whispers and chatter rose in the hall, but then all attention turned to the Goblet of Fire as it turned red once more. Dumbledore had his eyes wide open before he reached out a long hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name with surprise, clearly written on his face. Blair was surprised to see Dumbledore look towards her, but the words that came out of his mouth made Blair pale. "Blair Wood."

This time, all heads turned to Blair. Uneasy at their glances, Blair whispered to Hermione. "Hey, Mione? How did Oliver get into the tournament if he's graduated already?"

Hermione looked at her with surprise. "Blair, he called your name. Not Oliver's."

"W-What? But I didn't put my name in, you know I-"

"Blair Wood!" Dumbledore called again.

Neville squeezed her shoulder before giving her a push as she did to Harry. Blair stumbled lightly and felt the hundreds of eyes upon her. 

"Through the door, Blair." Dumbledore said with a grave tone. Blair frowned as all the teachers, even Hagrid looked completely astonished at Blair.

Blair went through the door and found Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour and Harry around the fire. Krum was leaning against the mantelpiece, Fleur was looking around and Harry was pacing and thought of ways of how his name could've gotten in.

When Blair walked in, Fleur looked surprised to see her. "What is it?" she said. "Do zey want us back in ze Hall?"

Harry ran to Blair. "Blair, you know I didn't do it, right? I didn't put my name in."

"H-Harry-"

Blair was cut off as there was a sound of scurrying feet behind her, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Blair by the arm and led her forward.

"Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing Blair's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen... lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce —incredible though it may seem — the fourth Triwizard champion?"

Viktor Krum straightened up. Fleur looked at her with confusion. Harry looked at Blair with wide eyes, asking silently if it was true. Blair just nodded with confusion in her eyes. Both of them didn't know why, but somehow, someone sneaked in their names.

Fleur let out a laugh after a few moments of silence, "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."

"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Blair's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"

Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Fleur frowned, and Harry still looked bewildered. He knew none of them put their names in, judging from the look on Blair's face.

"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," Fleur said contemptuously to Bagman. " 'Zey cannot compete. 'Zey are too young."

"Well... it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Blair and Harry. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as their names came out of the goblet... I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage... It's down in the rules, you're obliged. Harry and Blair will just have to do the best they —"

The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Blair heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door.

"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy and zis little girl are to compete also!" Blair glared at the veela. Little girl? Who was she to call Blair little?

Madame Maxime had drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of her handsome head brushed the candle filled chandelier, and her gigantic black-satin bosom swelled. "What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she said imperiously.

"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips of ice. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions — or have I not read the rules carefully enough?" He gave a short and nasty laugh.

"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. " 'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust."

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."

"It's no one's fault but Potter and Wood's, Karkaroff," said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter and Wood's determination to break rules. They have been crossing lines ever since they arrived here —"

"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently through his curtain of greasy black hair.

Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at Harry, who looked right back at him. "Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" he asked calmly.

"No," said Harry.

Dumbledore then turned to Blair. "How about you, Blair?" Blair gulped before shaking her head.

"Did any of you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape.

"No," said Harry and Blair vehemently.

"Ah, but of course 'zey are lying!" cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling.

"They could not have crossed the Age Line," said Professor McGonagall sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that —"

"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line," said Madame Maxime, shrugging.

"It is possible, of course," said Dumbledore politely.

"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" said Professor McGonagall angrily. "Really, what nonsense! Harry and Blair could not have crossed the line themselves, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that they did not persuade an older student to do it for them, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!" She shot a very angry look at Professor Snape. Blair felt relieved that Professor McGonagall was there and that she believed them.

"Mr. Crouch... Mr. Bagman," said Karkaroff, his voice unctuous once more, "you are our — er — objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"

Bagman wiped his round, boyish face with his handkerchief and looked at Mr. Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance.

When he spoke, however, it was in his usual curt voice. "We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."

"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front," said Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed.

"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," said Karkaroff. He had dropped his unctuous tone and his smile now. His face wore a very ugly look indeed. "You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore."

"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that," said Bagman. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out — it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament —"

"— in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" exploded Karkaroff. "After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"

"Empty threat, Karkaroff," growled a voice from near the door. "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?" 

Moody had just entered the room. He limped toward the fire, and with every right step he took, there was a loud clunk. He sent a smile to Blair, who sent one back.

"Convenient?" said Karkaroff. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody." Blair noticed how his hands had balled themselves into fists.

"Don't you?" said Moody quietly. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter and Wood's name in that goblet knowing they'd have to compete if it came out."

"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" said Madame Maxime. "I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Karkaroff, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards —"

"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter and Wood," growled Moody, "but funny thing... I don't hear them saying a word."

"Why should 'zey complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. " 'Zey 'ave ze chance to compete, 'aven't 'zey? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money — zis is a chance many would die for!"

"Maybe someone's hoping Potter and Wood are going to die for it, after all, they've been through tons of trouble, haven't they?" said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl. An extremely tense silence followed these words. Blair found Harry's hand and clutched it tightly. She'd have to die before someone would get to Harry.

Ludo Bagman, who was looking very anxious indeed, bounced nervously up and down on his feet and said, "Moody, old man... what a thing to say!"

"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime," said Karkaroff loudly. "Apparently he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons."

"Imagining things, am I?" growled Moody. "Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the boy's name in that goblet..."

"Ah, what evidence is zere of zat?" said Madame Maxime, throwing up her huge hands.

"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!" said Moody. "It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament... I'm guessing they submitted Potter or Wood's name under a fourth school, to make sure they was the only one in their category. Then, made it so the Hogwarts Champion would be forced to be one of them."

"You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody," said Karkaroff coldly, "and a very ingenious theory it is — though of course, I heard you recently got it into your head that one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised basilisk egg, and smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So you'll understand if we don't take you entirely seriously..."

"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody retorted in a menacing voice. "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff — as you ought to remember..."

"Alastor!" said Dumbledore warningly. Moody fell silent, though still surveying Karkaroff with satisfaction — Karkaroff's face was burning.

"How this situation arose, we do not know," said Dumbledore, speaking to everyone gathered in the room. "It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Blair and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do..."

"Ah, but Dumbly-dorr —"

"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it." Dumbledore waited, but Madame Maxime did not speak, she merely glared. She wasn't the only one either. Snape looked furious; Karkaroff livid;

Bagman, however, looked rather excited. "Well, shall we crack on, then?" he said, rubbing his hands together and smiling around the room. "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?"

Mr. Crouch seemed to come out of a deep reverie. "Yes," he said, "instructions. Yes... the first task..."

Crouch moved forward into the firelight. Blair frowned. He looked rather ill. "The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry, Blair, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard... very important...

"The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. 

"The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."

Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore. "I think that's all, is it, Albus?"

"I think so," said Dumbledore, who was looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"

"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," said Mr. Crouch. "It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment... I've left young Weatherby in charge... Very enthusiastic... a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told..."

"You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?" said Dumbledore.

"Come on, Barty, I'm staying!" said Bagman brightly. "It's all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting her than at the office!"

"I think not, Ludo," said Crouch with a touch of his old impatience.

"Professor Karkaroff — Madame Maxime — a nightcap?" said Dumbledore.

But Madame Maxime had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and was leading her swiftly out of the room. Blair could hear them both talking very fast in French as they went off into the Great Hall. Blair saw Fleur look at her with an unreadable gaze before she continued on her way. Karkaroff beckoned to Krum, and they, too, exited, though in silence.

"Harry, Blair, I suggest you go up to bed," said Dumbledore, smiling at both of them. "I am sure the Gryffindors are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise." Harry and Blair nodded, and they left together.

The Great Hall was deserted now; the candles had burned low, giving the jagged smiles of the pumpkins an eerie, flickering quality.

Blair stopped and pulled Harry into a hug. "We can't really have a quiet year, can't we?"

Harry smiled before hugging her back. "I s'pose. Y-You believe me, right, Aika?"

Blair pulled away and smacked his shoulder lightly. "Of course, James. I don't know who did it, but I'm sure we're in this together." Harry bumped shoulders with her as they walked towards the common room in silence.

Blair thought of the looks on Hermione, Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus' faces. They looked shocked at what happened. Blair frowned at the thought of them thinking that she actually put her name in the Goblet of Fire.

"Hey, we're here." Harry nudged her out of her thoughts. The two took deep breaths as they came face to face with the Fat Lady.

"Well, well, well," said the Fat Lady, "Violet's just told me everything. Who's just been chosen as school champions, then?"

"Balderdash," said Harry dully.

"It most certainly isn't!" said the pale witch indignantly.

"No, no, Vi, it's the password," said the Fat Lady soothingly, and she swung forward on her hinges to let Harry and Blair into the common room.

The blast of noise that met Blair's ears when the portrait opened almost knocked her backward. Next thing she knew, she was being wrenched inside the common room by about a dozen pairs of hands, and was facing the whole of Gryffindor House, all of whom were screaming, applauding, and whistling.

"You should've told us you'd entered, Little B! We could've gotten in together." bellowed Fred; he looked half annoyed, half deeply impressed.

"How did you do it without getting a beard, Harry, Blair? Brilliant!" roared George.

Harry frowned at them. "We didn't do it. we don't-"

But Angelina had now swooped down upon them; "Oh if it couldn't be me, at least there are 2 Gryffindors —" "We've got food, Harry, Blair, come and have some —"

"I'm not hungry, I had enough at the feast —"

But nobody wanted to hear that they weren't hungry; nobody wanted to hear that they hadn't put their name in the goblet; not one single person seemed to have noticed that they weren't at all in the mood to celebrate...

Lee had unearthed a Gryffindor banner from somewhere, and he insisted on draping it around Harry like a cloak. Blair moved away before he could get the other one on her. Blair frowned as she couldn't see Neville, Dean, Seamus, Ron or Hermione in the common room. She just wanted to explain to them and get it over with.

Seeing how Harry couldn't get away, Blair held out a hand to him after glaring at them all. "Look, we're tired, and we're going to bed, alright?" 

She pulled Harry along as they ran up to the dormitory as fast as they could. They let out sighs of relief as they found Ron was lying on his bed. Blair smiled weakly when she saw Neville, Dean and Seamus there as well.

"Where've you been?" Harry said to Ron.

"Oh hello," said Ron. He was grinning, but it was a very odd, strained sort of grin. Blair looked at Harry and helped him take off the banner.

"So," Ron said, when Harry had finally removed the banner and thrown it into a corner. "Congratulations, you two."

"What d'you mean, congratulations?" said Blair, staring at Ron. There was definitely something wrong with the way Ron was smiling: It was more like a grimace. The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.

"Well... no one else got across the Age Line," said Ron. "Not even Fred and George. What did you use — the Invisibility Cloak? Or maybe a potion?"

"The Invisibility Cloak wouldn't have got any of us over that line," said Blair slowly. "And you saw what the Aging Potion did to Fred and George. How could I have done it?"

"Oh right," said Ron. "I thought you might've told me if it was the cloak... because it would've covered the three of us, wouldn't it? But you found another way, did you?"

"Listen," said Harry, "I didn't put my name in that goblet. Neither did Blair. Someone else must've done it."

Ron raised his eyebrows. "What would they do that for?"

"I dunno," said Harry.

Ron's eyebrows rose so high that they were in danger of disappearing into his hair. "It's okay, you know, you can tell me the truth," he said. "If you don't want everyone else to know, fine, but I don't know why you two are bothering to lie, you didn't get into trouble for it, did you? That friend of the Fat Lady's, that Violet, she's already told us all Dumbledore's letting you enter. A thousand Galleons prize money, eh? And you don't have to do end-of-year tests either..."

"We didn't put our names in that goblet, Ron!" said Blair, starting to feel angry.

"Yeah, okay," said Ron, in a skeptical tone, glaring at Harry. "Only you said this morning you'd have done it last night, and no one would've seen you... I'm not stupid, you know."

"You're doing a really good impression of it," Harry snapped.

Then, Ron turned his glare to Blair. "And you. Probably asked one of the older years to do it for you, did you? After all, they'd probably do it for you."

Blair scoffed at his attitude. "Ron, we didn't do it. We don't know how our names got in, but we didn't do it. And what do you mean by that?"

"Yeah?" said Ron, and there was no trace of a grin, forced or otherwise, on his face now. "You want to get to bed, Harry, Blair. I expect you'll need to be up early tomorrow for a photo-call or something."

He wrenched the hangings shut around his four-poster, leaving Harry and Blair standing there by the door, staring at the dark red velvet curtains, now hiding one of the few people they had been sure would believe them.

Harry grumbled a good night to Blair before going to his own bed. Neville, Dean and Seamus took that as their cue to come in and they led Blair to Neville's bed which was the farthest from Harry and Ron's.

Blair looked up at them sadly. "I didn't-"

"We know. We believe you, Caelum." Dean softly said before pulling her into a hug. Neville and Seamus soon joined in, comforting the distraught ringleader of their group.

Blair pulled away and remembered something. "What about Mione? Did you see her? Do you know what she thinks?"

The three exchanged glances before shaking their heads. "No, we didn't. You should get some sleep, Blair. You can sleep in my bed tonight." Neville said and ruffled her hair.

Blair smiled up at them gratefully before pulling them into another hug. "Oh, what would I do without you, Ignis, Tranqs, Gramen?"

"You'd probably be in the Black Lake by now." Seamus snorted.

Blair let out a chuckle. "Maybe, the giant squid would go out with me, you know?" 

The four of them shared quiet laughs before retreating in for the night, but Blair couldn't sleep. She was scared that Hermione was one of those who would think that Blair put her name in the Goblet. She was sure Ron would believe her and Harry, but look what happened. Blair let out a sigh before closing her eyes. Everything will be fine... somehow.

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