In a blink two months had careened by and it was now All Hallows eve, or for you muggles out there reading this account, Halloween.
Rain lashed the castle windows in steady sheets while the wind howled around Hogwarts' ancient towers, causing banners representing the three schools to sway gently high above the Great Hall thanks to the weather simulation magic reflecting the atomosphere outside above the great halls vaulted ceiling.
The traditional feast was over and the student body and staff included were well sated on a number of holiday inspired foods and treats.
what came after was a simple silent casting from the old headmaster which had all the tabled vanish, while the bench seats carried their occupants to form bleacher on three sides of the hall, with the Goblet of fire itself being brought in thanks to Mad eye-moody.
Its flickering blue flames the only source of light left in the room.
Students from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang filled the hall to capacity, conversations overlapping into an excited roar that refused to die.
However that illusion was shattered almost in an instant when the headmaster raised a single hand, while he called for quiet.
The conversations dissolved almost immediately.
As entertaining as conversing with friends was, the champion selection had the attention of everyone present, none dared to look away, wanting to witness history in the making.
"Now the moment you've all been waiting for!"
The elderly Headmaster stood center stage twisting and turning to all three sides of students as he spoke out.
"The champion selection!"
His voice carried effortlessly through the room, all eyes gathered to see what he'd do next.
And do something he did as without a word, and with eye closed tight, he approached the goblet with one arm stretched out, until his hand came into contact with its surface.
It was only a single moment of contact but immediately after it was made the goblet released a reaction.
The Goblet suddenly blazed brighter.
Blue fire erupted nearly three feet into the air.
Then—
It condensed into scarlet before there was a flash returning it to its original blue flame.
WHOOSH.
And from this scarlet flame ejected a single charred piece of parchment.
Dumbledore caught it neatly, turning it slightly in his hands.
"The Durmstrang Champion..."
A heartbeat.
"...Viktor Krum."
For a split second—
Silence.
Then the Durmstrang students erupted.
Clapping all around, as those nearest the young lad, clasped him on the shoulder or gave a first hand grasp.
Silently Krum even did a little bit of a fist bump as if he hadnt expected this result at all.
Getting up and descending the bleachers before coming to Dumbledore who shook the boys hand, before raising an arm and directing him to the trophy room adjacent to the great hall.
As he passed the Draconis seats, he caught Cassius's eye.
The Bulgarian offered a single respectful nod.
Cassius returned it.
Nothing more needed saying.
The Great Hall slowly settled again.
The Goblet's flames once more had shifted to scarlet, and raged brightly.
Then—
WHOOSH.
A second parchment launched skyward.
Dumbledore caught it once more.
He looked down, smiled strained a little on this one.
As he grasped an oragami heart that bore a name on only one half of the hearts shape.
"The champion for Beauxbatons..."
His eyes lifted.
"...is Fleur Delacour."
This once more set off a round of applause, but unlike Krum who was silent throughout this champion was not.
Fleur rose gracefully from her seat among the Draconis house members, and approached dumbledore, who had an arm outstretched to shake hands with the second chosen champion, however the girl simply dodged the hand and with her eyes locked on his opened her pretty little mouth.
"...Fleur Draconis née Delacour," she corrected politely.
A simple statement but its relavance once more reminding all in attendance to the shocking scene they had witnessed months ago, and how much worse the situation had progressed under their noses.
Off to the side, Cassius was busy pinching the bridge of his nose, muttering silent curses about how he never agreed to that.
The beaxbaton students didnt care Fleur was Fleur, that girl had been thinking about Cassius none stop for years, so this revalation was not shocking, as for the Hogwarts students... well the girls silently wept a little, while the boys tried to bore holes into Cassius from afar.
Dumbledore paused only briefly before offering an understanding smile.
"My apologies."
Without going for a handshake a second time he just raised his arm and guided her as well to the trophy room to join the now waiting Krum.
Only one champion remained.
Everyone leaned forward almost unconsciously.
The Goblet burned brighter.
Brighter still.
The blue flames twisted violently inside the ancient cup.
The strongest reaction created thus far, almost as if something was not so much resisting the cups choise but instead enhancing it.
Cassius could only nod his head in contemplation.
'Seems im not the only one who tampered with the cup to make sure i was chosen.'
The fire exploded upward.
The largest eruption yet, a scarlet fireball shot out and roared up into the false sky.
A scorched black piece of paper fluttered down bearing silver writing, which was caught by the headmaster.
And after doing a double-take while glancing over at the two most likely culprits, his voice wavering slightly finally read out the name upon it.
The hall waited.
Breathless.
"The Hogwarts Champion..."
Dumbledore looked directly toward the Draconis table.
"...Cassius Snape."
The reaction from the girls of house Draconis was explosive as they all shot to their feet for a standing ovation, showering Cassius with Hugs and Kisses.
At the teachers table, Severus looked like his spirit had left him, sure he was proud as a peacock that his own son would compete for such a prestigious title, but at the same time the dread in his heart about the dangers that very same son would now be required to face, and against wizards years his senior... it was almost to much for the old mans poor heart to handle.
While on the otherside Lily Evan bore a smile that was only a tich away from being a full blown sneer.
Her eyes locked onto the bastard boy who bore her blood, a constant reminder of her single mistake one she regretted making from the minute of his birth.
As for the rest of the hall however they were stunned into silence.
No clapping, no cheering just dead silence until a single accusatory cry sounded out from the back of the hall.
"He's a cheat! Not even Seventeen yet!"