The Triwizard Tragedy

The week before the arrival of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons flew by more quickly than expected, at least on Lilyana's part. It was the morning of the thirtieth and she still hadn't come to a decision about entering the Triwizard Tournament. Rumors had spread around the school like wildfire, about which students were going to enter their names. No one from Ravenclaw had been mentioned in any of those rumors and this concerned a few from the house.

"Someone from our house has to at least take a chance," cried Torin, pounding his fist on the table as they were all gathered in the common room.

Heads nodded in agreement.

"I've heard that big bloke, Warrington from Slytherin is going to enter," added Aaralyn with a pointed look. She glanced at Lilyana who smirked. They both knew what would come next.

"You're bloody joking! That brainless oaf, the Hogwarts Champion, come on we can do better than that! We have to enter someone and if I could enter I would!" shouted Torin so loudly that two younger students nearby stared wide eyed at him.

One of the boys, who had remained quiet for quite sometime, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Listen here you lot, I've giving this a lot thought. I agree with Torin in saying that we cannot give chance to having a Slytherin as our school champion." He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. The rest of the group waiting on edge to see if he was really saying what they all thought.

"Go on Merek, get on with it!" shrieked Aaralyn, who could not bare the tension any longer.

"I'm going to submit my name into the Goblet of Fire," he said calmly, looking around at their stunned, but delighted expressions.

The Ravenclaw common room erupted with cheers as Merek turned a bright shade of pink. Torin gave a whoop, nearly over turning the table.

"Well done, Merek," Torin shouted, clapping him on the shoulder. "If it was to be anyone, you'd have my vote."

Lilyana smiled. It was true Merek was probably Ravenclaw's best candidate for the Triwizard Tournament. Still a part of her wanted a shot at the glory, which of course she still had that chance, but then there was the other part of her that still doubted her abilities. It seemed as though the students rumored to enter were all boys, most of whom played on their respective Quidditch teams. Of course, she kept Cedric's concern for her safety in the back of her mind, which to her was the most important factor of all.

~~*~~
The students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons arrived in spectacular fashion and soon all were gathered in the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast. The students of Beauxbatons Academy, for one reason or another, elected to sit at the Ravenclaw table, which drew the interest of many of the student in the house, particularly the boys.

The feast was extraordinary as always. There were even some strange dishes added to the menu especially for their foreign guests. When everyone had filled their stomachs to capacity, Dumbledore stood and announced the beginnings of the Triwizard Tournament. Mr. Filch brought forth an old wooden casket, which opened when Dumbledore gave it a tap. Out of the casket, rose the Goblet of Fire. It glowed bright with blue flames.

"The Goblet will be set in the Entrance Hall. All that are of age will be able to submit their names anytime from the end of the feast until this time tomorrow. At the feast tomorrow the Champions will be selected. An Age Line will be drawn around the Goblet in order to ensure no underage students enter. Off to bed we go then," Dumbledore said, concluding the evening with a wave of his hand.

~~*~~
Lilyana was lying on her bed reading a section from her Charms book when Aaralyn burst into the room, looking extremely winded, but grinning like a loon.

"What's going on, Aara?" Lilyana asked, sitting up and staring curiously at her friend.

Slumping on the end of Lilyana's bed, Aara took a few deep breaths before continuing. "I," she said wheezing in between words, "just... put... my... name... in... the... Goblet."

"You did what?" Lilyana squealed jumping up on her knees. "You're joking!?"

Aaralyn seemed to have regained her breath. "I'm not joking. Anyway, I wasn't the only one putting my name in..." she said looking breathless.

"Really, who else was there?" Lilyana asked, with a notion of who that other person might have been.

"Well there was some bloke from Gryffindor, whose name I can't remember," she said frowning a bit. "And Cedric, he put his name in before me."

Lilyana flopped back down on the bed. She bit lightly on her lip, staring down at her feet.

"Lilyana, what's the matter?" Aaralyn asked as she picked herself up off the bed.

"Nothing," she said with a fake grin. This was far from the truth. Cedric had put his name in the Goblet. It was official. Now where did she stand on her decision? Even Aaralyn had submitted her name. Now it was becoming clear to Lilyana that she shouldn't enter. Instead she wanted to be able to cheer for the Hogwarts Champion, especially if it was one of her friends.

"It's really brilliant that you entered, Aara," Lilyana said after a few moments of mulling over her thoughts. "I reckon you're the first girl to enter. I hope you get it!"

Aaralyn looked over her shoulder at Lilyana with a quizzical expression on her face. "Do you really? Don't lie to me, Lilyana. I know you're pulling for Cedric. Did you even know he was entering?"

Lilyana nodded silently. "Yes, he told me about a week ago. Really though Aara, it would be nice to see a Ravenclaw girl out there!"

~~*~~
Lilyana and Aaralyn strolled down to breakfast late the next morning. It seemed most of the school had waken early to watch the Goblet. When the two took seats at the Ravenclaw table, they were immediately informed that Merek put his name in just a few minutes ago.

Good luck," Lilyana called down the table before indulging herself in the breakfast foods.

Aaralyn leaned over and whispered. "Well, rumor has it that Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor also submitted her name. So, I am not the only Hogwarts girl," she said, sounding slightly disappointed.

Lilyana shrugged. "Ah, well there is plenty of competition and excellent candidates for the Champion. It will be a difficult selection I am sure."

Suddenly, Aaralyn's elbow made contact with Lilyana's side. Wincing, Lilyana rubbed her side, scowling. "What in the name of Merlin was that for?"

"There he is, just next to Adrian Pucey. It's Viktor Krum," Aaralyn squealed, gazing dreamily over at the Slytherin table where the Durmstrang boys were sitting.

"Who?" Lilyana asked. The name sounded familiar but she had no idea why.

Aaralyn looked insulted, but didn't get the chance to reply as someone else joined their conversation.

"Come on, Lil! Viktor Krum, the Seeker for the Bulgarian National Team," Cedric said as he sat down on the bench next to her. "He is only the best player in the world."

"And he is so handsome," sighed Aaralyn still staring in Krum's direction.

Cedric just raised his eyebrows at the comment and turn his attention back to Lilyana. "You didn't put your name in yet did you?" he asked, searching her eyes for the answer.

"No, but I heard you did," Lilyana replied, giving him a fierce look.

"Yes, last night after everyone went to bed. I told you I was going to. Are you going to put your name in?"

It was clear that he only came over to find out the status of Lilyana's decision. She shook her head. "No, I am not going to."

Cedric nodded, looking very pleased and a little relieved. "I can't tell you how glad I am to hear you say that," he said with a grin. "Well, I'm going to work on my Potions essay. See you later, Lil."

Lilyana and her group of Ravenclaw friends spent the day outside, exploring the castle grounds and taking a break from homework. It was a lazy day, but just the thing they needed after a hard week of lessons.

~~*~~
It wasn't long before the entire school was gathered back in the Great Hall for the Halloween Feast. The Great Hall looked marvelous all decorated for the holiday with enormous pumpkins scattered along the walls and live bats fluttering around near the ceiling. It was a cheery event. Though all were anxious for what was to come at the end of the feast, the selection of the Champions.

Everyone grew quiet as Dumbledore stood in his seat and announced that the Goblet would be ready shortly. He took this time to explain that the Champions were to meet in a room through the door on the side of the Hall. Tension in the Hall grew as they all waited for the selections.

The Goblet turned a bright red and began emitting sparks. Lilyana gave a start as a bit of parchment was ejected from the Goblet.

"The Durmstrang champion is Viktor Krum," announced Dumbledore after he caught the paper and gave it a glance.

Aaralyn applauded loudly with the rest of the Hall as the burly Bulgarian Seeker made his way across the room and through the door.

Once more the Goblet spewed out a bit of parchment, this time for Beauxbatons. "Fleur Delacour," exclaimed Dumbledore as one of the girls sitting at the Ravenclaw table exited the hall.

Aaralyn leaned over and whispered. "Her? Blimey, she looks she'd snap in two if she fell over."

Lilyana chuckled, but it was quickly stifled as she realized the only Champion left was Hogwarts. She could feel the tension rise around her as the school waited for their Champion to be selected. Lilyana held her breath as the Goblet glowed red for the final time. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Aaralyn's fingers crossed under the table. Lilyana's eyes followed the bit of parchment as it flew from the Goblet into Professor Dumbledore's outstretched hand. She could feel her heart racing as she waited. Dumbledore's eyes scanned the room before calling out,

"The Hogwart's Champion," he paused for a moment. Lilyana could feel the anticipation building, wishing Dumbledore would just say it already. "Cedric Diggory."

The noise was almost deafening. It was as if someone had just announced school was cancelled forever. The shouting that filled the Great Hall was incomparable to anything that had ever been heard inside the walls of this castle. Students at the table across the hall had leapt to their feet, cheering. Some stayed seated but hollered just as loud, pounding their fists on the table and stamping their feet on the hard floor. Most of the students at the other three tables in the Hall also were cheering wildly.

Lilyana couldn't help but join in the celebration. She stood in her seat and banged on the table as hard as she could, trying to make as much noise as possible in order to release some of the excitement that was built up inside her. Cedric stood proudly from the Hufflepuff table and strolled across the room like a celebrity, disappearing behind the appropriate door. Only when Cedric had left the room did the noise die down, but a buzz of chatter still remained. Lilyana lowered herself back on the bench, grinning from ear to ear and her heart pounding against her chest rapidly. Cedric was the school Champion. She didn't pay attention as Professor Dumbledore continued speaking. He might have been saying something important, but at this point it didn't matter. She even failed to notice that the Goblet mysteriously spit out a fourth name, Harry Potter. The only thing on Lilyana's mind was Cedric.