Harry Potter's Coolest Aunt

The Four Champions

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Aishi sat there, aware that every head in the Great Hall had turned to look at her. She was stunned. She felt numb. She was surely dreaming. She had not heard correctly. There was no applause. A buzzing, as though of angry bees, was
starting to fill the hall; some students were standing up to get a better look at Aishi as she sat, frozen, in her seat.

Up at the top table, Professor Percy had swept past Ludo Bagman and Professor Karkaroff to whisper urgently to Professor McGonagall, who bent her ear toward her, frowning slightly. Aishi turned to Harry; beyond them, she saw the long Hufflepuff table all watching her, openmouthed.

"I didn't put my name in," Aishi said blankly. "You know I didn't." "i know love.....i know, " Harry said, holding her hand tightly. At the top table, Professor McGonagall had straightened up, nodding to Professor Percy. "Aishi Merha!" she called again. "Aishi! Up here, if you please!" "Go on," Hannah whispered, giving Aishi a slight push.

Aishi got to her feet, trod on the hem of her robes, and stumbled slightly. She 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 she could feel hundreds and
hundreds of eyes upon him, as though each were a searchlight. The buzzing grew louder and louder. After what seemed like an hour, she was right in front of McGonagall, feeling the stares of all the teachers upon him.

"Well . . . through the door, Aishi," said McGonagall. She wasn't smiling but extremely worried. Aishi moved off along the teachers' table. Hagrid was seated right at the end. He did not wink at Aishi, or wave, or give any of his usual signs of greeting. He looked completely astonished and stared at Aishi as she passed like everyone else. Aishi went through the door out of the Great Hall and found herself in a smaller room, lined with paintings of witches and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite her.

The faces in the portraits turned to look at her as she entered. She saw a wizened witch flit out of the frame of her picture and into the one next to it, which contained a wizard with a walrus moustache. The wizened witch started whispering in his ear. Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, 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. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur Delacour looked around when Aishj 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 he had come to deliver a message. Aishi didn't
know how to explain what had just happened. She just stood there, looking at the three champions. It struck her how very tall all of them were. Cedric noticed her behaviour and went to her "Aishi? What's wrong?" He asked now, worried

There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Aishi by the arm and led him forward. "Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing Aishi's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen . . . lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the fourth Triwizard champion?"
Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he looked at Bagman, and then when he looked at Aishi, it changed to worry . Cedric looked shocked . He looked from Bagman to Aishi and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said, "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."

"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Aishi's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!" Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned. "But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," she said contemptuously to Bagman. " 'E cannot compete. 'E is too young....A frail butterfly......." "Well . . . it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin
and smiling down at Aishi. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as her 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 . . . Aishi will just have to do the best she -" " NO!" She said, pushing herself away from him, terrified. Cedric immediately held her close, trying to calm her along with Fleur and Krum, who too noticed her shaking in fear. The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor McGonagall, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor Percy, Professor Krishna, and Professor Snape. Aishi heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall before Professor Krishna closed the door.