I Want Him

Chapter 2

Year 4

1994

//The Triwizard Tournament and Mad-Eye Moody's Defence Against the Dark Art's Class//

The train grumbled along the tracks toward Hogwarts School. In the central carriage, Robyn Potter sat beside her brother next to the window of the Hogwarts’s express looking out the window with a bored expression whilst Hermione read the Daily Prophet opposite her with Ron beside her. She stared at the blurry trees and lake with the sound of the trolley lady making her away down the carriage filling ears, “Anything from the trolley?” The trolley lady’s voice called “Anything from the trolley?” Robyn sighed and looked up just as the trolley lady stood in front of their compartment and smiled at them with her plump face, “Anything from the trolley dears?” Robyn shook her head politely whilst the two boy’s stood and stood in front of the door and began ordering sweets.

“Whose jumper was that, Robyn?” Hermione whispered and she looked at her friend then down at her owl that was in the cage beside her, “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You did not leave the tent in that jumper, Robyn.” Robyn didn’t reply and just continued to stoke Oswald, Hermione rolled her eyes “Well continued this later." She muttered as Harry and Ron joined them again.

No we won’t, Robyn thought “This is horrible.” Hermione said with a grimace after scanning over the article “How can the Ministry not know who conjured it? Wasn’t there any security?”

“Loads, according to dad.” Ron said chewing of a drewball and Robyn looked at them, “That’s what worried them so much. Happened right under their noses.” Harry scratched his scar and she flicked her gaze to him as Hermione asked,

“They’re hurting again, aren’t they?” Hermione commented looking at the twins and Robyn raised an eyebrow, “Your scars.” Robyn looked at Harry with a questioning look then looked at Hermione and shook her head with a small shrug, H

“I’m fine.” Harry denied and Harry nodded in agreement beside her, Hermione leaned forward as she whispered,

“You know Sirius will want to hear about this…what you saw at the World Cup and the dream.” The dream in question was one she and Harry been having about an old man being killed by you-know for a few weeks. Robyn bit her lip then looked outside at the scenery with a blank expression on her face.

***

Robyn looked up at the teachers table, toward their Head Master, Professor Dumbledore, as he stood to adress them. She was sat between Hermione and Seamus at the Gryffindor table with her brother and Ron opposite them.

“Well, now we’re all settled in and sorted, I’d like to make an announcement.” He said loudly to the crowd, “This castle will not only your home this year but home to some very special guests as well”

“You see, Hogwarts has been chosen…” He stopped as Filch muttered something to him and Professor Dumbledore nodded then Filch ran back down the aisle huffing, holding his leg - he looked very unhappy. This caused a smirk to form on Robyn's face. She never dwell on peoples pain but, she had to admit, Flitch was an exception after the number of times he'd tried to get them into trouble. She looked back at Professor Dumbledore as he continued, “So, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: The Triwizard Tournament.” Robyn looked around as everyone began muttering shocked but she only frowned and shared a confused glance with her brother, “Now, for those of you who do not know the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school, a single student is selected to compete. Let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say…these contests are not for the faint-hearted. But more of that later." She saw Fred and George smirking at eachother a little away from her. She was most definitely not one for purposely throwing herself into dangerous situations. Well...she didn't have a track record to support that:

First year: Went into known dangerous area for the Philosphers stone.

Second year: Went to find the Chamber of Secrets alone.

Third year: Went to save a 'serial killer' and ran into the forest alone at night.

Yeah. She was definitely not one for dangerous situations. The only difference she would experience if she entered the Triwizard Tournament would be that others would be watching.

She looked up at the Professor Dumbledore as a warm smile formed on his face,"For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxatons Academy of Magic and their headmistress, Madam Maxine.” Robyn’s head turned to the grand door’s as they opened. A large group of beautiful girls dressed in silk blue dresses walked in elegantly and then stopped a few paces in front of the doors and sighed dreamily and waved their arms then continued forward and Robyn raised an eyebrow. They girls then stopped beside Harry and Ron and sighed again holding their hands out then walked on, Ron and the other boys leaned out and watched the behinds of the girl’s and Robyn laughed behind her hand as Ron muttered, in awe,

“Bloody hell.” She flicked her eyes over to Slytherin table and her eyes landed on Draco Malfoy, who was watching the girls with a blank expression on his face. She hurriedly looked at the Beauxaton girls, who sighed and blue butterflies flew from their mists and fluttered around, the girls then danced across to separate side’s in front from of the teacher’s table,

“Blimey. That’s one big women.” Robyn looked up at Seamus’s comment to see a women that must have been twice the size of the average women walking between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff table.

Madam Maxine was dressed in a long maroon red coat with black fur rimming the edge of the collar and sleeves and her hair was a neatly cut bob. Robyn's jaw dropped in shock at the shire height of her. Professr Dumbledore walked forward and met with the lady half way and grasped her hand, even he only reached her waist, and a Beauxatons student twirled and stopped at the end of the aisle with a small girl, dress in a white leotard, ran forward and held the other girls hand and bowed as their headmistress came toward them. Robyn rolled her eyes as the whole school clapped and cheered loudly, mostly the boys of Hogwarts though – including Harry and Ron. Professor Dumbledore kissed the lady’s hand and she left to stand to the side with her students while Professor Dumbledore ran up to the owl podium and turned to the students once again as he said,

“And now our friends from the north. Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and their high master, Igor Karkaroff.” Robyn turned to the doors again as massive hunky men dressed in thick wool clothing, each holding, a staff march through the doors, stamping their staff’s every so often and then spun them so the stick was but a blur before stopping and hitting the floor again. Robyn’s eyes widened at the display as sparks flew from the ground where the staff hit, they spun their canes again before dropping them and running forward with their head’s bowed, Robyn gasped as one began doing a cartwheel and spinning while the other’s lined up, their backs to the students of Hogwarts, then Robyn looked as another student and Igor Karkaroff entered the great hall, Robyn gasped loudly when she recognised the man beside him,

“It’s him.” Robyn gulped nervously, looking at Ron who clarified,

“Blimey. It’s Victor Krum.” Krum marched forward staring straight ahead, Robyn turned her head to see a Drumstrang student pose and blow the end of his wand producing a large stream of fire in the shape of an eagle that disappeared a few seconds later. The blue eyes of Robyn turned to Professor Dumbledore who had his arms open in greeting

“Albus” Grinned Karkaroff his voice thick and rough as he hugged Professor Dumbledore,

“Igor.” chortled Professor Dumbledore. Once the students of the new schools had taken their seats and the head’s of the school’s sat the teacher’s table, the feast began.

Robyn pilled her plate with lasagna and salad and dug into it with her fork like a starved women, “Who do you reckon is the new defence against the dark art’s teacher?” Harry asked after swallowing a mouth full of potatoes and she looked at the table as Ron shrugged,

“I don’t know."

“There’s no one new.” She looked back at her friends “Maybe they’re just having a teacher teach two subjects.”

Ron groaned, “I am not having more lessons with Snape.” Ron muttered and Robyn nodded in agreement and began eating again.

Dinner soon past and desert replaced it but it was barely touched by anyone. Robyn, like her fellow students, was watching Filch direct a few people place a large golden statue on the stand where the teachers table sat. "Your attention, please!” boomed Professor Dumbledore stepping up onto the stand and standing beside the golden statue, everyone went silent and turned to the Hogwarts headmaster, “I’d like to say a few words....Eternal glory. That is what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament. But to do this, that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks."

“Wicked.” grinned the Weasley twins a little away from Robyn,

“For this reason, the Ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule.” informed Professor Dumbledore “To explain all this we have the Department of International Magical Cooperation…Mr. Bartemuis Crouch.” RobyN watched as the man who threaten her, Harry, Ron and Hermione at the World Cup move behind the teachers tables toward Professor Dumbledore. Just then, a loud flash of lightening cracked in the great hall and Robyn looked up see the outside image on the roof flashing lightening and thundering loudly. Robyn ducked slightly whilst the students, mostly first years, screamed in terror but the lightening stopped as suddenly as a stream of red light shot into the air opening up the dark clouds above to show the star filled sky. Robyn gulped and shfted her gaze to the teachers table and saw a man stumping out a door a little to the left. He thick man with a fake eye, that whizzed around madly, strapped to his face that was covered in scars and he walked with a rather obvious limp.

“Bloody hell." Ron muttered, “It’s Mad-Eye Moody.”

“Alastor Moody?” Hermione questioned, “The Auror?”

“Auror?” repeated Dean Thomas, confused, and Robyn raised an eyebrow as she looked at Ron,

“Dark-wizard catching.” Ron mumbled to his friends, “Half the cells in Azkaban are filled thanks to him. He’s supposed to be mad as a hatter, though, these days.” Robyn watched as Mad-Eye grunted as he walked along the teacher’s table leaning on his staff before reaching Professor Dumbledore who pulled the man into a strong handshake and conversing with him for a few moments before Mad-Eye stumbled to the side and pulled out a flask and swallowing it like it was his life-line,

“What that he’s drinking, do you suppose?” Seamus asked from beside Robyn,

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s pumpkin juice.” Harry responded not taking his eyes of Mad-Eye, Robyn’s pulled her blue eyes away from the man and looked at the stand where Barty Crouch now stood,

“After due consideration,” The man said his voice shaking slightly, “the Ministry has concluded that, for their own safety, no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the Triwizard Tournament." The boo’s and shouts of anger had started before Crouch had finished, “This decision is final.”

“That’s rubbish!” Fred and George yelled, “That’s rubbish!”

The boo’s became louder and louder whilst Robyn bit her lip out of nervousness then Hermione leaned close and whispered into her ear, “They’re not too happy about that, then” Hermione remarked to Robyn who nodded in agreement before looking at her headmaster to see him gently touch the top of the golden statue and it melted down until only a large brown goblet was left, the noise quietened to nothing. The goblet ignited with dancing blue flames and Professor Dumbledore looked around at all the students with a serious expression, “The Goblet of Fire. Anyone wishing to submit themselves to the tournament need only write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly. If chosen, there’s no turning back. As from this moment, the Triwizard Tourament has begun."

***

“Alastor Moody.” Stated Mad-Eye the following day in their first defence against the dart arts of the year and also, first lesson of the term, he turned and picked up a bit of chalk and moved to a black board as he began to write: MOODy. “Ex-Auror…Ministry malcontent…” Threw the chalk to the floor and Robyn flinched with her eyes wide, “…and your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. I’m here because Dumbledore asked me. End of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions?” Robyn gulped from beside Hermione as he ran his real eye over the students, “When it comes to the Dark Arts…I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many Unforgivable Curses there are?” Robyn’s eyes widened, she’d read about them in one of her books.

Why was he teaching them to fourth years?

“Three, Professor.” Robyn piped up her throat working tightly,

“And they are so named?” questioned Mad-Eye as he moved over to the black board and wrote he number three,

“Because they are unforgivable and cannot be reversed." Robyn continued, her hand shaking slightly, “The use of any one of them will – “

“Earn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban, correct Miss Potter.” grumbled Mad-Eye, turning to face them,

“Now, the Ministry says you’re too young to see what these curses do.” Professor Moody said, “I say different!” His voice was louder and he slammed his hand on Neville and Dean’s desk, two infront of Robyn and Hermione, “You need to know what you’re up against! You need to be prepared. You need to find another place to put your chewing gum besides the underside of your desk, Mr. Finnigan!” Robyn spun around to see Seamus lean back up in his chair was a shocked expression that confirmed that what Professor Moody said was true,

“No way.” Uttered Seamus “The old codger can see out the back of his head.” Moody threw he bit of chalk across the room and Robyn ducked out of instinct as Professor Moody bellowed,

“And hear across classrooms! So which curse shall we see first? Weasley!” Robyn looked at Ron to see him looking up at the teacher fearfully,

“Yes?” he whimpered,

“Stand.” demanded Professor Moody and Ron complied slowly and stood behind his desk. “Give us a curse.”

“Well, my dad did tell me about one.” Ron sad quietly “The Imperius Curse.”

“Oh, yeah, your father would know all about that.” Murmered Professor Moody with a short nod, “Gave the Ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why." Robyn watched nervously as Mad-Eye walked to his desk where all manner of bugs, insects and other creatures were trapped in glass jars and he cooed, “Hello.” He. reached into a jar and pulled out a freakishly looking spider with massive legs and pincers, it was about the size of his palm. Professor Moody pulled out his wand and pointed it at the creature “Engorgio” And the spider tripled in size and was almost bigger than his large hand, Robyn gulped and her hands clenched under the desk in fear. He cast, “Imperio!” The creature shook for a moment and Moody flicked his wand to Dean’s desk where the spider jumped onto his book and Dean and Neville recoiled pushing their chairs back. Moody then flicked his wand a Crabbe, where the spider landed on his head and the boy squeezed his eyes shut and clamped his hand over his face, “Don’t worry. It’s completely harmless.” Then it moved onto Parvati’s hand where she froze and gasped in terror. Robyn’s hand clamped over her mouth to stop herself screaming as it climbed onto her shoulder then the spider was hovering over Ron’s head, “If she bites…she’s lethal.” Robyn looked at her friend worriedly but her eyes locked with Malfoy who was laughing at Ron’s dismay as the spider dropped onto Ron’s mop of red hair. Malfoy’s grey eyes locked with hers and his smiled fell at her glare, “What are you laughing at?” Malfoy attention was pulled away from Robyn as the spider landed on his pail face,

“Get it off!” Malfoy shrieked and everyone else laughed whilst Robyn bit her lip and stared at the pail boy,

“Talented, isn’t she?” Jeered Professor Moody with mad smile on his scared face, “What should I have her do next? Jump out the window?” Moody flicked his wand and the spider hit a large magnifying glass and slid down, “Drown herself?” He forced the squirming spider to hover over a bucket of water. Robyn stiffened as she scared in disgust at the torture then relaxed a little as he directed the creature back into his palm, “Scores of witches and wizards have claimed that they only did You-Know-Who’s bidding…under the influence of the Imperius Curse. But here’s the rub: How do we sort out the liars? Another, another.” Robyn’s class mates raised their hand but her attention was drawn to Neville who slowly raised his up, “Up, up. Come on. Longbottom, is it? Up.” Neville stood, “Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for herbology.”

Neville nodded, trembling, “There’s the…The Cruciatus Curse.” Neville forced out and Robyn could see the pain it took to say those words,

“Correct, correct!” exclaimed Moody, “Come, come.” He gestured for Neville to him, the Gryffindor did so and stood beside Mad-Eye “Particularly nasty.” The teacher dropped the spider on the table, “The torture curse.” Mad-Eye pointed his wand at the spider and said “Crucio!” The spider began to scream and writhe in pain, Robyn’s muscles worked in her face as she saw the crunched up expression of horror and fear on Neville’s face. It happened for a few long seconds with the expression on Nevilles face getting worse.

“Stop it!” Hermione finally screamed, “Can’t you see it’s bothering him? Stop it!” Professor Mad-Eye looked up at Hermione before stopping and the spider collapsed in relief. Robyn gulped as Mad-Eye picked up the spider and moved to her and Hermione’s desk and placed it in front of Hermione, Robyn stared at the spider her jaw clenched and her eyes wet,

“Perhaps you could give us the last Unforgivable Curse, Miss Granger.” Professor Moody said deeply Hermione shook her head and Robyn couldn’t remove her gaze from the creature on Hermione’s book, “No? Avada Kedavra!” Robyn was immobilized as the spider dropped dead, unmoving. Robyn couldn’t even blink. The memory of her parents death loomed in her mind; the flash of green light, her mother’s scream, and the shrill cry of ‘Avada Kedavra’.

“The Killing Curse. Only two people have known to have survived it…” Robyn felt Mad-Eye move so he was standing directly in front of her. Her pail blue eyes raised up and looked at her teacher and he stared at her with both eyes, “…and they are sitting in this room.”

Robyn’s throat worked and a single tear slid down her cheek as her mother screams of her name rang in her ears.