For Our Parents Willed So

For Our Parents Willed So

*

The Goblet of Fire

*

The whole castle of Hogwarts was bubbling with excitement. The students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons had just arrived, and everything anybody was talking about was who was going to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. Even the most hopeful first-years were adding their names into the goblet, although it was clear that they wouldn't get chosen.

As for the Marauders, well, Sirius was trying to tempt the others into participating. "I know I've no way of getting to be the competitor," he told the others as they sat under their favourite tree on a Saturday, uncaring about the chilly weather. "Still, I'm gonna put my name in. I just would feel a lot better if I wasn't the only one dumped." At this, he laughed, though still eyed his friends challengingly.

"There's a bunch of younger students for you to share your misery with," muttered Severus from his comfortable position with his head in James's lap. His fiancé, concerned about his health as he was lying on the frozen ground, had taken away his own winter cloak and covered him with it. The blind boy had seemed grateful, though nothing but a brief smile had been passed between them.

"Severus is right, you know," Remus commented. "I mean, the goblet's supposed to pick the one person most capable of winning the Tournament for each school, right? So, the chances of those first-years passing are about as good as the chances of you passing, what with having only one lung and all."

"But I want to try," Sirius whined. "Just for the Hell of it, if not for anything else. Please, guys?" He gave them his best puppy eyes. Being a dog Animagus, he was very good at making puppy eyes.

"Apparently we have to do it," Remus commented dryly. "Otherwise you're never going to leave us in peace." Grinning at their other friends, he added, "You up to it, guys?"

"Might as well," Peter said cheerfully, grinning back at his fiancé. "I mean, it's not like I'll be chosen anyway; I'm far too clumsy for that. Better that way, in any case. It's too dangerous for me."

Severus's eyebrows rose even though his eyes stayed closed. Not that he had a real reason to open them, anyway. "And here I was thinking you Gryffindors were courageous," he said amusedly. As he heard the protesting sounds from the various Gryffindors around, he added, "Now, don't take it so personally, you all. It's just that I'm a Slytherin, so I'm not even expected to dare to do dangerous things. If the mutt truly thinks it's so important, I'll put my name there. Merlin knows I won't be chosen to be the competitor."

"That's the spirit," James laughed, petting the Slytherin's hair gently. "Okay, it's decided, then. We'll all go and put our names in. That way Sirius won't feel so lonely when he's rejected."

So, they all quite gladly got up from their positions on the freezing ground -- despite Severus's halfhearted protests -- and started to head towards the castle. Soon enough James and Sirius transformed to escape the cold, as did Remus and Peter, although not before helping Lily and Severus onto James's back, much to the stag's annoyance. The two non-Animagi, however, both just smirked.

"You can very well carry us, Jamesie," Lily commented lightly. "You at least have fur covering you; Severus and I don't. We'll freeze to death if we don't get inside fast enough!"

"Besides, you don't want me to stumble on something and hit my head on a rock, do you?" asked Severus with a similar tone. "That might happen if I walked around on my own, you know."

At this, they felt the stag shudder slightly. Exchanging satisfied smiles, they settled more comfortably onto the magnificent animal's back, being quickly carried to the warmth of the castle.

*

Everybody in the Great Hall was waiting anxiously. The Marauders all sat together, whispering to each other. They'd all put their names to the goblet -- Remus had written Severus' name for him, as the best the blind teen could do was a messy scrawl -- and were now waiting to hear the results being announced. Severus, Sirius, and Peter were all sure they wouldn't get picked, but there was no telling with James and Remus. They were both powerful and skilled wizards, Animagi and all. There was every chance of one of them getting picked to represent Hogwarts in the Tournament.

The feast had been a very quick affair, probably the shortest in the history of Hogwarts. Now everybody tensed as Dumbledore finally finished eating and then stood up.

"Ah, well," the Headmaster of Hogwarts said. "I guess the goblet will soon be ready to tell us its decisions. When the competitors hear their names announced, I'd like them to kindly come here, walk by the Staff Table and go over there," he pointed at the door behind the table, "to get their first instructions."

After Dumbledore waved his wand, they were suddenly sitting in a very dimly lit hall. All students were a bit startled at the sudden change, aside from Severus, who naturally didn't even notice the difference. They now stared at the brightly shining goblet and the flames in it -- again, aside from Severus. The blind boy was currently leaning his elbows against the table, seemingly just about to fall asleep. Only James' constant poking on his side kept him awake -- and very annoyed.

Suddenly the flames turned red, flaring high. A long flame came up, sending a tiny piece of parchment fluttering in the air. Almost everybody gasped; only Dumbledore calmly took the parchment, Severus still fighting -- not too eagerly, though -- to stay awake through the whole event.

"For Durmstrang," Dumbledore said loudly, "we have Hansa Leiktor."

The whole Hall was filled with cheering and applauding as the mentioned student -- a rather tall, not brilliantly beautiful but in a way pretty girl -- started to make her way towards the front of the Hall. She walked around the Staff Table and then disappeared through the doorway that had been pointed out earlier.

After everybody had quietened down, the flames soon began to shine red again. The next parchment slip was just as easily caught in Dumbledore's hands, and he raised it to read the name aloud.

"The competitor for Beauxbatons," he said, "is Alexander Malfoy."

Now, a boy who resembled Lucius very much, from his overly expensive robes to his long, blond hair, rose from his seat. Lucius raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. James, however, turned towards Sirius.

"Is he some relative-in-law of yours, Padfoot?" he asked. "Malfoy isn't that usual a name, you know."

At that, Sirius shrugged. "Lucius has mentioned having some cousins in France," he told them. "I wouldn't be surprised if that guy was indeed related to him."

After Malfoy had disappeared from view as well, they all turned towards the goblet, now more anxious than ever. When the flames flared red again, everybody held their breath -- well, almost everybody. James missed this moment as he had turned towards Severus to shake his fiancé.

Dumbledore caught the parchment slip just as easily as before. "And for Hogwarts' competitor, we'll see --" he started, turning his gaze at the text. Then just stared at it for a while. After a few moments of everybody wondering what was wrong, he closed his eyes, shook his head, and then looked again. For a moment he still looked half shocked, half amazed -- not something you'd often see on his face -- but then a broad smile spread on his face, a twinkle in his blue eyes as he finished his statement.

"Severus Snape," said Dumbledore. Even though his voice was quiet, it was very well audible in the sudden silence that had fallen to the Great Hall. All Hogwarts students stared at the one Slytherin in the Gryffindor table, while the foreign students, not knowing what had silenced them, also looked there to see just what shocked them so much. When all they saw was just a darkhaired boy standing up, however, most frowned in confusion and started quietly talking to each other, trying to figure out what was so stunning about him.

"Are you sure you can get there?" asked James worriedly as Severus stood up. The bespectacled boy was still rather shocked. "It's the door over there; I can get you there if --"

"There's no need to," the Slytherin interrupted him. "First appearances are important, so I guess I can use the Bat Radar Charm to lead my way just this once." He looked determined as he whispered the charm.

"If you're sure." James still looked doubtful, as did Peter and Sirius. Remus frowned deeply but didn't say anything. Even Lucius raised his eyebrows at the Head Table, obviously already thinking about what effect the Tournament might have on the baby Severus was currently carrying.

Severus had already walked some way towards the Staff Table as everybody broke out of their shock well enough to actually applaud. The blind boy paid them no attention, neither did he even acknowledge the teachers aside from turning so as not to collide with the table. The foreign Headmasters frowned at this, but as Dumbledore then leant towards them and whispered something, obviously explaining the situation, their eyes widened. They then regarded Severus with very surprised expressions as he left the Hall.

"Ah, zo 'ere'z the lazt competitor," Alexander Malfoy said, turning towards the door from where he had been standing in front of a fireplace. "What'z your --" His jaw dropped as he got a good look at Severus, seeing his milky white eyes. "You're blind?" he blurted out.

Severus quietly dropped the Radar charm, his quiet murmurs covered by Hansa Leiktor's surprised shout, "But -- he truly is blind! How's that possible?"

Severus raised an eyebrow, a tiny smirk on his lips. "My name is Severus Snape. It is pleasant to meet you," he said smoothly, nodding at them with the experience of years in locating the source of a voice. "And yes, I am indeed blind. Do you have a problem with that, perhaps?" he asked then smoothly. "I shall meet you in a duel if you wish, and I do believe that I would win that match."

"You seem very certain of yourself," noted Leiktor, her eyebrow raised in turn. "How comes it that you're even allowed to study here? You're blind; you might cause a danger to other students."

"I'd lived with almost no sight for over seven years by the time my injury was first noticed," replied the sightless boy, "and I've been completely blind since last Christmas. I got eleven OWLS out of twelve on my fifth year, and that's only because I had no way to pass the practical Astronomy exam. I do believe you cannot say the same, can you?" Turning towards Malfoy -- or, at least, the place where the boy had been when he'd last spoken -- he said, "You're Alexander Malfoy, right? Are you by any chance related to our Potions Professor, Lucius Malfoy? My fiancé's best friend is married to him."

"I do think so," the other young wizard said, a bit to left from where Severus had assumed he would be. As the blind boy turned a bit to face him directly, he continued, "I'm pretty sure that one of my father's cousins had a son called Lucius. So, yes, he is most probably my second cousin."

They might have continued talking, had the door not been opened at that moment. However, it was, letting the headmasters and the Ministry officials in. And so, they spoke no further.

*

As everybody went to sleep the school hadn't even nearly recovered from the shock of the competitor of Hogwarts being blind. Some were already saying that there had been a mistake, that they should get a new competitor who wouldn't get killed during the first task due to lack of sight, but Dumbledore had been adamant. He had pointed out that the flames of the goblet had died out, not to be lit again until the next Tournament. Also, he wasn't only sure that Severus would survive all three tasks, he was also certain that the blind boy would actually manage to win the Tournament.

So, the hearts of the students of Hogwarts were a bit lighter as they went to sleep than they had been immediately after the goblet's decision. After all, Severus had managed to not only pass each year but to actually stay near the top of his year all the time despite his lack of sight. Surely he'd get through this as well. There was still doubt, of course, but that was only natural. There would have been many better choices, at least to human logic -- but who knew what reasons the goblet had for its decision?

However, in one little bedroom within the castle somebody was not as sure. This was the very same bedroom where the competitor himself slept peacefully, seemingly oblivious to the danger that awaited him. Next to this peaceful form lay another, this one tense with fear and worry.

James wrapped his arms securely around his fiancé's slim waist, drawing Severus close to himself. He couldn't help the feeling that something was bound to go wrong. The Tournament was dangerous even to normal students; deaths among the participants were not that rare. And with Severus blind...

Then he determinedly shook such thoughts from his mind. The Goblet always chose the ones most likely to win out of each school; it wouldn't have chosen Severus if he wasn't indeed the best one. Severus would be fine, participate, and win. There was absolutely no reason to feel so fearful.

So why was there such an unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach...?