Chapter Text
Introduction
In the cool still of the morning, one boy rolled out of bed and cursed the cold stone floors. He careful padded around the dormitory, pulling on his usual school uniform of black trousers, white shirt, black vest, green tie. He picked up his robe, set it down, picked it up, put it on, looked in the mirror, took it off, put it down.
’Come off it,’ he said to himself, ’I bet no one else has been this bloody nervous about entering into some stupid contest. I probably won’t even be chosen.
‘And if you are,’ a wicked part of his mind added, ’No one will cheer. People will be angry. You aren’t the hero that they want.’
Pale fingers ran through coal black hair, musing and straightening and messing it again, one last time before turning away from his reflection. Staring at himself wouldn’t help, especially if he looked as shaky as he felt. He was glad he had decided to do it early. Better that no one see. That way no one could be disappointed if he wasn’t chosen. Or rub it in his face, more like.
At the bottom of the stairs leading to the common room he paused to put on his shoes. The clank of the heavy soles would have woken up his roommates and after seven years of living with them he could only imagine the ribbing he would get.
He was almost out the common room door when, “Knew you couldn’t resist. Everyone wants to be the champion, risking life and limb for immortality.” When he turned around, she was perched on the closest chair facing the door. She finished examining the ends of her platinum hair and flicked the locks of her shoulder as if she couldn’t be more bored; but he knew her and the lines on her face, the tight pull of her eyes and the purse of her lips, the tension in her shoulders, spoke of worry and fear.
“Exactly, everyone will try to put it. Chance is against me. But I don’t want to always be wondering What If,” He offered her his hand and pulled her up. She was tall, 5’10” but she came up to just below his nose. She tucked her head down and nestled against his chest. Between sitting and holding each other, the movement was fluid, an action done countless times, second nature.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Viola was surprised when he laughed, “I didn’t think it would instill confidence for you to see me shaking and nervous just to put my name into a stupid cup.” She smiled back at him and took hold of his hand, pulling him to the door.
They stood at the edge of the Entrance Hall, watching as the early rising students milled about. The were only a few, three or four, but it was more than was usually awake in a saturday. He had been hoping that there wouldn’t be a single person to see him. What if the Goblet just spat his name back out at him? Viola let go of his hand, letting him cross the golden age line on his own. The other students looked up. There was a hint of displeasure on their faces, he wasn’t the champion they wanted. He stood before the Goblet nervously nervously before dropping in the paper.
He watched as the fire singed his name.
Cassius Warrington
Chapter One: The Goblet of Fire
The Halloween Feast came too fast for Cassius. Usually it was his favorite holiday, the day of magic, a day where even muggles remembered witches and wizards. The Great Hall was as beautiful as it always was, shining in the candlelight, great jack-o-lanterns of every size grinned and grimaced from every corner. The candles within cast great shadows all around. The Goblet of Fire had been moved back in from the Entrance Hall and now stood proudly in front of Dumbledore’s empty seat.
The feast itself was both the longest meal he had ever eaten as well as the shortest. He didn’t even remember eating anything, or any of the conversations buzzing around him. Cassius’ girlfriend, Viola Richmond, had said nothing. She simply placed her hand on his knee, gentle and comforting. They had been together since their fourth year and he couldn’t imagine life without her, her simple knowing of what he needed, the way the world seemed calm when she was there. Cassius flipped over a chunk of bread, one he’d been toying with for quite some time, when the plate emptied itself. His golden reflection glimmered back at him.
The hall roared greatly. Even faster, the noise was gone. Cassius looked up at Dumbledore. If he could just stay focused on the headmaster, it wouldn’t be that bad, surely. If he just focused on Dumbledore, maybe his heart would stop pounding.
’Why in the name of Merlin did I put my name in if I was going to be this bloody nervous about my name being called?’ he yelled at himself, his brows pulling together.
“...Now, when the champions’ names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber, where they will be receiving their first instructions.”
Dumbledore’s words registered with Cassius, but only just. His eyes had focused on Dumbledore’s hat. He barely noticed the room darken. Out of the corner of his eyes, the flames burned red and began to spit sparks. Dumbledore caught the charred paper effortlessly.
“The Champion from Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum.” and again, “Fleur Delacour!” and then, the words Dumbledore was waiting for, “The Hogwarts champion is Cassius Warrington!”
The entire Slytherin table rose to its feet, cheering loudly, clapping and banging on the table. Viola grabbed Cassius’ elbow, pulling him to his feet, “That’s you! You have to go! You’re the champion!” She pressed her hands against his back and pushed him towards the top of the Hall.
Through the cheering of the Slytherins was the heavy silence of the Ravenclaw table and the hisses and boos of the Gryffindor table. Cassius glanced briefly at the Hufflepuff table and met the eyes of Cedric Diggory, who lead a polite round of applause. Many things the Hufflepuffs were, but they were excellent sportsmen, usually. Cedric had always been honest and true on the Quidditch pitch and Cassius thought for a moment that it should be him. He should be the one whose name was called. The boos and the hisses turned his spine to steel. He nodded to Cedric and then turned towards the staff table, head held high.
’I might not be what they wanted, but I will win this. For all of them. Whether they like it or not.’
Viktor and Fleur were already inside, making polite, albeit forced, conversation. Despite the awkwardness between them, they looked like champions. They had a glow about them of strength and determination, sheer raw power. Of course, that may have just been from the fire behind them. The two of them turned as the saw him come through. Both assessed him. He had talked to Krum before, they sat at the same table every day, so why wouldn’t he have talked to him? But this time, Krum looked at him like a rival. The knowledge filled Cassius with adrenaline. He loved competition, thrived on it. Fleur had that same look about her. She did not look delicate, as she usually did, but fierce and unafraid.
“Vell, you are the Hogvarts champion then?” Krum asked, a faint smile on his lips.
Cassius smiled, finally feeling triumph, “Guess so. Makes us rivals then, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose it does. It vill be an excellent competition.”
The door creaked open behind Cassius. The three of them turned, expecting to see Dumbledore, or even Mr. Ludo Bagman. Instead was Harry Potter, looking more lost and confused than first years in september.
“What is it?” Fleur said, “Do zey want us back in ze Hall?”
Harry stood there, as if in shock. It struck Cassius just then, what must have happened. But it couldn’t have. The Goblet only chooses one champion per school. How had he managed it? But then again, it didn’t matter. He would be competing against Harry Potter. If he won, it would be an amazing stroke, defeating the Boy Who Lived. But at the same time, Harry was just a boy, just a kid, and these games could be dangerous, deadly even.
“Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Harry?” Dumbledore asked calmly.
“No.” said Harry. Cassius felt his brows pulled together in confusion, why not just admit it? it wasn’t as though they could make him drop out now. It was a contract, and Harry was required to fulfill it. From what Cassius had heard, Harry had no trouble breaking the rules. Granted, what he heard was usually from a loudly complaining Draco Malfoy, but Cassius was pretty sure that at this point in time, he would have admitted if he had done it. Instead of adding to the pressure on the boy, he decided to have a seat until everything was done with.
Cassius only tuned back in when Mr. Crouch began to give the first task, “The first task was designed to test your daring, so we are not going to be telling you what it is,” ’Then why tell us you are? What a waste,’ “Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard… very important… The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and a panel of judges.”
Cassius couldn’t help the nausea that hit him just then. He could almost hear the crowd now, the same as it had been when his name was called. He had hoped that the houses would calm down, that they would support him despite the rivalries simply because he was one of theirs. But with Harry being a champion, he had little hope of cheering from anyone outside of Slytherin. For a moment he felt hatred, anger, but it wasn’t Harry’s fault, not really.
“The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-the-year tests.”
It sounded like nothing, just blank noise, nothing but sound. Since there seemed to be no more important information, Cassius tuned out again. ’No help from teachers? But then again, that has to be just a technicallity. Viktor doesn’t look upset. Or surprised. Neither does Fleur. Did they already know? Did Karkaroff and Maxine tell their students? So it was just a technicality, and Dumbledore was the only one playing by the rules so far. That’s fine, I don’t really mind bending the rules, or breaking them entirely if I have to. Not like anyone else will play nice.
Cassius thought long and hard about what he needed to study, who he could ask for help and who would be more on Potter’s side. Before he knew it, the other headmasters had swept their champions out of the room, and the ministry workers had gone from the room.
Dumbledore turned to the two Hogwarts champions,”Harry, Cassius, I suggest you go up to bed. I am sure Gryffindor and Slytherin are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise.”
Cassius smiled and Harry and nodded, rising from his seat, “Well, mind me walking you to the stairs?” Harry looked suspicious, but Cassius was determined to be a good sportsman. Harry could be a good ally. And hell, if he was going to lose to anyone, it was damned well going to be someone from Hogwarts.
He waited until they were out of the room, Dumbledore safely out of hearing, “So how did you do it?”
“I didn-” Harry sure got worked up fast.
“Okay, so you didn’t do it. Still, gotta wonder who did. I wonder how much someone has to hate you to put your life in danger like that.”
“You believe me?”
“Of course. You don’t strike me as someone who lies for fame, you don’t have to, you’re the great and infallible Harry Potter. Fame comes free to you. But I’ll tell you what, you had better learn how to lie and how to cheat, even if it’s only to ask for help. Because if we lose on our own school grounds, I will be extremely angry.”
They came to a stop in front of the stairs in the Entrance Hall and Harry turned to Cassius, meeting his eyes for the first time in the evening, “I don’t know what you think this will accomplish. But I’m not letting my guard down, not because we’re from the same school. I-”
“Stop. I get it, Slytherin is the most hated house here. You don’t think I know that? You don’t think I know that no one here trusts us? I’ve been here for seven years. Seven. Years. Of being hated and mistrusted and booed at and hissed at. Don’t put your guard down. It would be stupid. Because when it comes time, when it is a choice between you and me, I will choose me. I will stab you in the back the moment it benefits me. I’m not ashamed of that. But if it’s between you and Krum, or you and Fleur, then I will destroy one of them for a chance to have a Hogwarts champion. This may very well be the last time I’m so open with you, especially if you keep up this angry kid act. We can work together, or we can be enemies. Doesn’t matter that much to me.”
And with that, Cassius turned on his heel and walked away.He wasn’t sure if Harry was still standing there, he didn’t care at all. He wound his way through the dungeons, his feet carrying him down the familiar path. Before he knew it, he was stepping into the common room and was engulfed by the loud cheering, echoing off of the high ceilings and shaking the large glass windows that peered into the Black Lake.
The others might not be glad he was the champion, but his house was ecstatic. Looking around the room he found Viola. He took hold of her and pulled her to him, kissing her with all of the excitement and fear and anxiety and ecstatic joy he had inside.
This was why he had put his name in. This is why he became champion.
He would make sure that history would remember his name.
Cassi-us, Cassi-us, Cassi-us, Cassi-us.