Disclaimer: Any sentence with two * surrounding it is taken directly from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", chapter eighteen, "The Weighing of the Wands". I will put the number of the page that they are taken from right next to the sentences.I read and reread my chapter four times in search of copyrighted sentences and these are all I found.
As the next few days passed, Hogwarts and its guests got over the shock of a second Hogwarts Champion and got back into the normal swing of things. Classes started again. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students were tought in their carriage and ship by their own teachers, being taught at a different pace than the Hagwartians. Joanna noticed a shift in the mood of the students however, especially between the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, who had usually gotten along fine. Every Hufflepuff that she paased could be heard saying awful things about their usually friends, the Gryffindors under their breath. This animosity was especially obvious to Joanna in the Greenhouses, where the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor fourth years had classes togeather. A couple fights had even broken out, and Professor Sprout and Joanna had to settle the class down again. Students kept coming up to her in the halls to ask her why Harry had also been chosen, and why he was allowed to compete. She never knew what to tell them other than the fact that since his name was chosen, he was bound magically to do so.
Joanna hadn't felt so horrible in a very long time, constantly worrying about Mad- Eye Moody and his suspicions. Whenever she was in the same room as Snape, she tried to catch his eye. She managed to do so more than once, but each time, Professor Moody appeared out of nowhere. She had the feeling that he was purposly keeping them from speaking to eachother. But nevertheless, she was sure now that Snape knew she wanted to speak to him, and was still hoping the chance would come soon.
Meanwhile, Rays advancments toward her stalled. He could tell that something was wrong with her and only asked her what it was once. When she replied that she wanted to keep it a secret for now, he didn't press her for information. She promised him though that she'd tell him in time and that she'd probably get over it soon.
Three of the champions, Joanna noticed, were being followed around the school alot more than usual. Small groups of giggling girls stalked both Cedric Diggory and Victor Krum, begging them all the while to sign their schoolbags and parchment. Fleur didn't need to be half veela to attract the attention of most of the boys in the school. They weren't as obvious as the the girls, but often dropped their things or walked into walls when she passed them in the corridors. Joanna could tell that the blond enjoyed the attention. Not as many people followed Harry Potter around. It seemed as though all three of the other Hogwarts houses had abandoned him, and the red headed boy that could usually be seen with him was missing. Despite the Gryffindor's unwavering support, he seemed rather unhappy.
It was on a bright but chilly November afternoon when Ludo Bagman sent her an owl about three hours after breakfast ended. She was sitting in her room by the fire, reading a particularly interesting book. She jumped when she heard scratching at her window. She opened it and a large, gray owl hopped inside. Attatched to it's leg was a letter from Mr. Bagman, asking her to quickly run and fetch both Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory and bring them to a classroom on the first floor.
After making a quick stop at the staff room to find out where the two boys were located at the moment, she headed first to collect Cedric diggory. He was in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Joanna rolled her eyes at this. She stood outside the classroom door for a few seconds, taking a deep breath. She lifted her hand to knock on it when Moody's voice called out from inside the room.
"Come in Miss Dussan." Apparently he had seen her coming through the wall. She made a face and opened the door to let herself through.
"Well, what is it?" Growled Moody, writing something on a blackboard, his back to her.
"Er..." Joanna was rather uncomfortable, knowing that he was looking at her through the back of his head. "I was just sent an owl from Mr. Bagman, requesting that I collect Cedric and bring him to the First floor."
"Why?" He asked her roughly.
"Er... a photoshoot and interview, I think."
"Very well, Mr. Diggory, you may leave."
"Thank you sir." Said the blond boy, and applause broke out as he stood up and made towards the door. He smiled his wide and handsome smile, but also looked somewhat embarassed.
Joanna stood back to let him out, closing the door in time to hear Moody say, "Alright, alright, get back to work, all of you."
She smiled at Cedric and they made their way down to the First Floor. He was a rather easy going and charming boy. A bit into himself, perhapse, but overall, he smiled easily and spoke politely. He asked Joanna about her job at the French Ministry and she told him all about working in the Department of International Games and Sports, all the time thinking that it wasn't very exciting. He told her that his father worked at the British Ministry in the Sports Department as well.
After she dropped Cedric off in an unused classroom where the pictures were to be taken, she headed downstairs to collect Harry. He would be in potions, which was perfect, Joanna thought. She planned to call Snape aside and ask him to meet her privatly later that evening.
The dungeons were cold as usual, and she listened to the solomn dripping noise as she made her way to the Potions classroom. She paused to take a steadying breath outside of this classroom as well, thankful that Snape couldn't see through walls. When she was ready, she knocked on the door. There was a pause before a deep voice told her to come in. She opened the door, and all the heads in the classroom immediatly turned to look at her.
"Um..." She shifted uncomfortably again. "May I have a word with you out here Professor? It's very important and will only take a minute." She added quickly, because he was about to tell her to come back when the class was finished. He turned and swept toward her, his black robes billowing out behind him again. The class started to mutter as he went.
"Quiet." He threatened them before closing the door.
"What is it, Miss. Dussan?" He asked, looking at her with an expression that was undefinable.
"Well...," Joanna began, "Ludo Bagman sent me to collect Harry Potter and bring him to the first floor for a photo shoot or something. He'll be gone for the rest of the class." Snape looked in the direction of his classroom with disgust.
"If that is all--"
"No," Joanna cut him off. He looked back at her, his eyebrow raised at her nervous expression. "I also wanted to ask you if you'd meet me somewhere private later this evening. Somewhere where our friend Professor Moody won't overhear us. I need to talk to you." He thought for a minute, then gave a single, quick nod.
"At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, behind the Greehouses, six o' clock."
"That's perfect." She gave him a small smile before he re-entered his classroom. A minute later, Harry came out and followed her up into the Entrance hall.
"What do they want with me on the First Floor?" He asked, sounding a little depressed.
"Photo shoot for all the champions. For the Daily Prophet I think."
* "Great," Said Harry dully. " Exactly what I need, more publicity." (Rowling, GOF, Ch. 18, pp. 302) * Joanna laughed unenthusiastically.
"I'm sorry." She told him. "I believe that you didn't put your name in the Goblet by the way. Most of the staff do. And we're trying our best to figure out who did put it in. Professor Moody has a few suspicions." She added as an afterthought.
"Who?"
"I shouldn't really tell you Harry." Joanna said. "Not until we have proof of anything." He looked down at the floor again as she said this. "But try not to worry yourself. We're working on it. And Harry," she said just before they reached the classroom door. He looked up at her.
"I know it's hard, but don't let the other students get to you. It's not worth worrying about what they think. Just focus on preparing your mind for the first task." Joanna said this with complete ernest, knowing very well how it felt to be the center of a school's critisizm.
"You sound like my friend Hermione." He said with even more sadness in his voice, but he cracked a weak smile at the thought of his only current friend.
"Well she's a very smart girl then. Stick close to her, will you?" Joanna had no idea when she became so motherly, but was satesfied when Harry gave her another weak smile and promised he would.
They entered the classroom. It was small, and most of the desks and chairs were pushed aside to make room for it's occupants. Inside the room were Ludo Bagman, who was talking to a witch who Joanna immediatly recognized as Rita Skeeter. She wore hot pink robes and a pair of green horn- rimmed glasses that were outlined with diamonds. She was playing with her rigidly curled, blond hair, sweeping through it with fingers that ended in nails that were very long and equally as pink as her robes. Victor Krum stood in a sunny corner looking more gloomy than usual. His thick eyebrows were drawn togeather in an annoyed concentration. Fleur Delacur was talking to Cedric near the window. When Bagman saw Harry, he jumped to his feet and strode over to shake his hand, knocking Joanna aside in the process.
"Harry, my boy! Good to see you again! We just have to wait for the other judges to arrive and then we can start the Wand Weighing Ceremony!"
* "We have to check that your wands are fully functional, no problems, you know, as they're your most important tools in the tasks ahead. (Rowling,GOF, Ch.18,pg.305)* No sooner had Bagman finished this statement than Rita Skeeter swept towards Harry and practically dragged him into a nearby broom cupboard. Joanna felt extremely sorry for the boy.
She sat at the table and chatted with Ludo Bagman for a good fifteen minutes until Professor Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Mr. Crouch, Ray, two of the four Bulgarian representatives, and an old looking wizard with pale eyes entered the room.
Once Dumbledore rescued Harry from Rita and the broom cupboard, everyone sat down around the table.
* "May I introduce Mr. Ollivander?" Dumbledore pointed to the old wizard. "He will be checking your wands to be sure that they are in good condition before the Tournament." (Rowling, GOF, Ch. 18, PP. 307) * Mr Ollivander was a wandmaker who Joanna had bought her wand from a very long time ago. She barely remembered him.
Fleur was first to get her wand checked. She handed Ollivander her wand gingerly. As he examined her wand, he announced that it was made with a strand of veela hair, which was quite fitting, Joanna thought.
"It is in perfect condition." Olivander stated before handing the silver blond veela her wand. Next he took Cedric's wand.
"It's in fine condition as well. " The wandmaker said, and then took Victor Krum's.
Olivander was quite taken with Krum's wand. He hadn't made it, but a man named Gregorovitch had. He tested it by transforming Dumbledore's goblet into a pidgeon and back again. He nodded in satesfaction and then called for Harry's wand at last.
With great care and satesfaction, he examined Harry's wand. He seemed to have been looking foreward to examining Harrys wand the most, although he never said why. In the end confirmed that it was in excellent condition.
Photos were taken after that, which took a very long time. Rita's camera man seemed intent on focusing every picture on Fleur, but the only one Rita had eyes for was Harry.
"I think it is nearly time for dinner." Dumbledore announced finally at the end of the photoshoot. " I suggest all the students make their way down to the Great Hall now, and any adults that wish to stay and join us, may feel free."
Joanna headed down to the Great Hall with everyone else. Snape wasn't there. She figured, since it was almost six, that he was already making his way to the back of the Greenhouses. Joanna ate hastily, while making sure that she didn't look too suspicious in front of Moody. Then she excused herself, claiming that she had to use the bathroom. Into the Entrance Hall she went, where she opened the great oak front doors and slipped out onto the stone steps. It was chilly in the watery November sun. She pulled her robes closer to her body and set out across the darkening grounds.
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