The Goblet of Fire | Hermione Granger x Male Reader (Book Four)

14. Four Champions

Y/N's POV

Shocked, I stayed where I was and glanced at Harry. Everyone was staring.

"Y/N L/N, Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called again. "Up here, if you please!"

"Go on," Hermione whispered, giving me a slight push.

I got to my feet and set off up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. It felt like an immensely long walk, the top table didn't seem to be getting any nearer at all, and I could feel hundreds and hundreds of eyes upon me, as though each were a searchlight. The buzzing grew louder and louder. After what seemed like an hour, I was right in front of Dumbledore, feeling the stares of all the teachers upon me.

"Well, both of you through the door," said Dumbledore. He wasn't smiling.

Me and Harry moved off along the teachers' table. We went through the door out of the Great Hall and found ourselves in a smaller room, lined with paintings of witches and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite him.

Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire. They looked strangely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum, hunched-up and brooding, was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the other two. Fleur Delacour looked around when we walked in and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair.

"What is it?" she said. "Do zey want us back in ze Hall?"

She thought we had come to deliver a message. I didn't know how to explain what had just happened. I just stood there, looking at the two other champions.

There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took me and Harry by the arm and led us forward.

"Extraordinary!" he muttered. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentleman...lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other two. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the third and supposedly fourth Triwizard champion?"

Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed me and Harry. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said. "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."

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

I rolled my eyes, he had forgotten about me, I supposed that was what was expected if I was side by side with the Boy who Lived.

"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," she said contemptuously to Bagman, "'e cannot compete. 'E is too young."

"Well...it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry, "but, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name's come 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 will just have to do the best he-"

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.

"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!"

"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" Maxine 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?"