act two: little dark age
chapter twenty-eight

Three students. That is how many that would be chosen for the Triwizard Tournament. Three students who would be completely on their own in these tasks. Their lives were severely at risk, according to the Ministry, but thankfully the people Daphne loved were not old enough to compete. So, she wasn't as worried as she would be, despite the ever growing feeling of something being wrong.

Nothing could really go wrong for her, or so she kept telling herself. She wanted to know that everything would be okay and that everything was good. But something was severely off and it was almost as if there was something flashing red in her mind, before glowing green. The Beacon.

Lucerys had barely seen his daughter in his time at Hogwarts. As he had been instructed to do several things for the Tournament by the Ministry, but the times he caught sight of her, it was like he was worried. He knew something was coming just as she did. Or, he knew something that she didn't. Slowly trying to make sure she was okay because something was coming.

Most of the students had piled back into the Great Hall, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had gone to find seats while Daphne stayed behind. Walking along the outer edge of the hall as her eyes remained narrowed, the whispers in her ears slowly grew louder. Finally, a sign of the danger I feel. She hated to sound so grateful for a damn curse, but she knew that there was something going on and this confirmed her suspicions.

Lucerys seemed to keep an eye on the girl as well as he stood. Watching as she paced back and forth while her gaze flickered between him and the cup. Daphne wondered what might be going on in his mind, if he was going to keep quiet or simply come over and tell her what he was on about. But, he stayed where he was.

But after a few moments, it seemed as though he began to pace around just as she had. The two occasionally spared glances while some made faces while trying to figure out what they were doing. Everyone had figured out that he was Daphne's father very quickly and many things began to spread about the two regarding the previous year and their past.

Daphne's eyes narrowed before she halted her movements by the door, looking around for Caius and Atticus as she tried to spot them in the crowded room. Yet, they were nowhere to be seen. Hiding no doubt from the girl who grew more and more annoyed as time passed. She was beyond angry with the information they had left her. They had left her with nothing but more confusion.

Finally, Lucerys looked at her before striding down from the teachers' spots. Walking down through the seats before making his way to his daughters as some watched and made small comments about the two. Daphne looked at her father as she placed her arms behind her back while standing up tall.

"Dad," Daphne lifted her head while smiling slightly, "What a pleasure to see you here."

Lucerys rolled his eyes while forcing down a small grin while looking at her, "I assume you're rather annoyed with me."

"Annoyed?" Daphne questioned as she tilted her head to the side, "This is what you and Uncle Moony talked about, how we must be prepared."

"It is," Lucerys didn't deny it as he sighed before looking back at the goblet, "There's some rumors going around."

"What rumors?" Daphne questioned as she looked at her father with narrowed eyes.

Lucerys slowly turned back to her as he pursed his lips together, "There's a rumor someone slipped something into the cup. And by your mannerisms I can safely assume you think something's going to happen as well."

"I haven't seen it," Daphne was quick to say as she looked around, adjusting her tie as she bit down on her lip, "I can just feel it. It's not certain, not with me yet."

Lucerys slowly nodded as he placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't let it stress you, my sweet girl. I know you've been having a rough time after the Quidditch World Cup."

"It's not just that," Daphne muttered as she sighed, "Atticus told me something, about something coming for me and I'm not safe. I'm meeting with him tomorrow to find out more with Caius, but I'm worried. This has all started so soon."

But there wasn't time for Lucerys' to answer as something caught Daphne's attention.

"It's dangerous," Daphne turned around as she heard the whisper in her ear, she looked around for the source of the noise before turning back... but she was no longer with her father in the Great Hall.

"It's always been dangerous, it's been dangerous all these years we've hidden," The voice of a man caused her to furrow her eyebrows.

"It's time, Regulus. She'll need to be ready and she'll need to know - our sons, it's time."

Regulus? As in her Uncle? The one that was dead? A lot of questions were raised in Daphne's mind. Something about it told her this wasn't the past but it was so dark, that she could barely see anything or anyone as she tried her best to catch sight of some indicator of the time.

"It's the tournament. If we go out now and reveal ourselves...." The man seemed against this.

"What if she's already seen us? What if she knows?" The woman tried to stand firm.

"She doesn't know!" The man was really not wanting to be out in the world.

"You don't know that, you know what he's planning for her this year. What she's planning for her..." How wonderful, they're planning something for Daphne or so she assumed.

"Daphne," Lucerys' voice caught the girl's attention as everything faded once again, she looked at her father who looked concerned, "What is it?"

"Something bad is about to happen," Daphne looked over at her friends as she began to worry, "To all of us."

Lucerys sighed as he placed a hand on her back, looking at Barty before back at his daughter, "Go sit down. Anything that happens, tell me. Keep me updated."

"I will."

Daphne was seated beside Harry, the boy looking enamored with everything. Ron was two rows behind them while Hermione was only one row back. Daphne knew that Ron and Harry were excited to have a year to sit back and watch others. Whether they be struggling or simply playing a game, they had an off year for once.

"Sit down, please," Dumbledore ordered as he looked around at the students as everyone piled through the Great Hall, "Now's the moment you've all been waiting for: The champion selection!"

Dumbledore turned and pointed his hands at the fireplaces that hung on the walls. Each one slowly going out as Dumbledore's hand passed over their direction before they were all off, and he was facing the goblet of fire. Slowly moving towards it before placing both hands on it. Then he backed away with one hand up as it began to glow red, before it spat out a piece of parchment into Dumbledore's hand.

"The Durmstrang champion is, Viktor Krum!" Dumbledore exclaimed to all that sat in the hall before the crowds erupted in glee for Krum.

Daphne clapped as she noticed the boy she had been looking at when Bulgaria arrived, she made a face before watching as Krum walked over to Dumbledore, shaking his hand before following the elders direction as he walked out of the Great Hall. The goblet then glew red again before spitting out a blue piece of parchment.

"The champion for Beauxbatons is.... Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore exclaimed once again, causing a great deal of cheering.

The Beauxbatons girls all looked slightly angry and happy at the same time as they cheered for their classmate. Fleur looked proud as she rose from her seat before following in Krum's footsteps as she shook Dumbledore's hand before disappearing. Leading to the goblet glowing red again and spitting out more paper.

"The Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore bellowed out before smiling at the Hufflepuff who was congratulated.

The crowds cheered as they witnessed the three champions. Clapping and smiling as they congratulated all of those who had disappeared from the hall after their names came from the goblet for this... tournament of death. It's about to happen, Daphne's subconscious spoke to her as she felt her body shift.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions! But in the end, only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions!" Barty and Lucerys now walked back over while carrying something covered by cloth, "This vessel of victory! The Triwizard cup!" He turned around and the cloth flew off of it revealing a gleaming cup which everyone awed at.

But then Daphne noticed how Snape descended down the stairs in confusion. Everyone's gazes now slowly pointing towards the goblet as it went wild. Daphne shook her head as she placed her hands over her mouth. Praying this wasn't happening. As Dumbledore walked over, it gleamed red and spat out a piece of parchment.

"No," Daphne looked at Harry who looked confused, "No!"

"Harry Potter...Harry Potter?" Dumbledore yelled out as Daphne practically grabbed onto Harry as if he were going to disappear, the girl holding his arms as she shook her head, "HARRY POTTER!"

The entire room erupted in whispers as everyone looked at one another. Doubting Harry. Talking shit about Harry. Everyone figured he wanted more fame to go along with his name. Harry didn't want this. He hadn't done this.

"No... no," Hagrid shook his head as he tried to shut this all down while Harry sunk into Daphne, not knowing what else to do.

"HARRY POTTER!" Dumbledore bellowed out furiously as he looked around for Harry.

"Daphne," Someone was trying to pull the two apart, grabbing ahold of the girl, "Daphne let go."

"Go on, Harry. Go," Hermione managed to get Harry and Daphne apart before jerking Harry up and throwing him out into the lions den, "Harry for goodness sake."

Daphne rose to her feet as one of the boys held her back. As Harry walked away, his gaze remained completely on her as he kept looking back and staring at her in shock and horror. Daphne looked scared. She didn't need this to be happening. He couldn't be in this tournament, no. This isn't right.

"He's a cheat!" A few students who sat near the teachers began to yell outraged.

"He's not even seventeen yet!" Someone else proceeded to yell as their arms went into the air.

"He didn't do this!" Daphne exclaimed as she tried to fight against everyone who was trying to sit her down, "There's been a mistake!"

Daphne was finally wrestled down after Hermione and Dean Thomas grabbed her by both shoulders before placing her down into her seat as she continued to protest and fight against their grips. She wasn't letting this happen. It couldn't happen. Harry was too young. This tournament was suicide.

Daphne was one of the first ones to leave the Great Hall. Gunning straight through the doors down towards the dungeons, letting her body instinctively lead her so that she could find her brother and she could find her cousin. This conversation wasn't waiting until the next day. They were going to have it right now.

"Atticus Black! Caius Malfoy!" Daphne raised her voice ever so slightly as she noticed them standing in a corridor, "This isn't waiting. It's happening now."

"You've had a vision?" Atticus asked, believing that be the best answer for her acting like this, "What was it?"

"My visions are kept within my mind, and my mind alone," Daphne spoke firmly as she looked at the boy, "I'm what someone wants, after all. Trust no one."

Caius' face locked as he sighed, "He's coming back, Daphne. Voldemort's going to be back. By the end of this term."

"I wished I could say I'm shocked or no, but I had a feeling something like this was coming," Daphne looked around to make sure they were alone, "Is that what you meant by the beast?"

"He's in the castle, Daph. Watching you and Potter," Atticus' tone went sour at Harry's name, "He needs you both."

"Well he sure as salazar not getting us," Daphne was firm on her ground as she crossed her arms, "I suspect you don't know names."

The two shared looks before staying silent. Not giving out anymore information while Daphne bit down on her lip as she nodded her head before sighing. Pressing a hand to her forehead before looking at the two once again.

"They constructed it all. The World Cup was planned, you were the target," Atticus couldn't help but slip up and say despite Caius glare, "You're not safe anymore. I doubt that you ever will be, not until the wars over."

"How do I know I can trust you?" Daphne asked as she tilted her head to the side, "What if this is some sort of diversion to keep me off of my game."

"It isn't," Atticus spoke firmly before Caius gave him a pointed look.

"Caius, leave," Daphne ordered, noticing that he was controlling her brother.

"I can't," was all he said as he looked down at her, "You need to. Now."

Daphne furrowed her eyebrows as her eyes narrowed into a glare, "I'll watch my back, but you better watch your own," She muttered before she was off.

As days passed, tensions began to rise thick in the friend group. Ron and Harry had a huge falling out over the tournament. Ron blaming Harry and basically shoving him off to the side while Harry tried to fight through. Daphne moved between sides but stuck to Harry, hating that he was practically left alone.

But tonight, the girl had been drinking fire whiskey while trying to convince herself that everything was going to be alright. Ignoring the worry in her bones as she managed to get back up to the Gyrffindor common room after arguing with the Fat Lady.

"Daphne, come on," Harry watched as she walked in the portrait hall awfully late in the night, "You'll see," He spoke as he noticed her confusion, "Sirius?" He called out through the darkness.

Daphne had a bit too much firewhiskey, slightly confused as to why he was talking to the air, "He's not here?"

Harry had looked down at a paper on the couch, noticing how it called him a teenage tragedy, "You know, I'm tired of it all."

"I know," Daphne frowned at her friend, as she placed a hand on his back, "Did I tell you, I keep getting asked if we're dating? Funny, right?"

Daphne nearly screamed as she jumped back onto Harry after he threw the paper in the fire and a face came out of the burnt wood. Harry grabbed ahold of her while looking a little startled himself before he slowly let go of her.

"Sirius. How?" Harry questioned while Daphne held a hand over her chest.

"Blimey, give me a heart attack will ya?" Daphne heaved out before she fell back onto the couch.

Sirius made a little smirk as the fire, "I don't have much time, so let me get straight into it," he then continued on, "Did you or did you not put your name in the goblet of fire?"

"No!" Harry exclaimed as he looked at the fire.

"I had to ask," Sirius sighed before going on, "Now, tell me about this dream of yours. You mentioned Wormtail and Voldemort. But who was the third man in the room?"

"I don't know," Harry explained as he leaned down, motioning for Daphne to come near the fire and she did.

"You didn't hear a name?" Sirius asked while looking between the two.

"No," Harry shook his head while looking lost, "Voldemort was giving him a job to do, something important. I heard Daphne's name."

"And what was that? Why?" Sirius asked while Daphne swallowed thickly not knowing any of this.

"He wanted... me and her. I don't know why. But he was going to use this man to get us," Harry explained while Daphne felt her stomach dropped, "But I mean, it was only a dream, right?"

"He's in the school, Atticus warned me about this, a man tasked to get us both. Atticus said he's here," Daphne looked at Harry who seemed worried, "We aren't safe."

"I would say, yes, it's just a dream but now there's room for concern. Look, Harry, Daphne, the Death Eaters at the World Cup, Daphne's torture, your name rising from the goblet... these are not just coincidences. Daphne is right, Hogwarts isn't safe anymore even if my dear brother is there."

"What are you saying?" Harry began to panic as he leaned more into the fire while Daphne chewed on her lip.

"I'm saying the devils are inside the walls. Igor Karkaroff? He was a death eater, and no one, no one stops being a death eater. Then there's Barty Crouch, heart of stone. Sent his own son to Azkaban."

"Someone's moving," Daphne whispered as she looked back which caused Harry to do so as well as he looked around.

"You think one of them put my name into the Goblet?" Harry asked urgently.

"I haven't a clue who put your name in that goblet, Harry. But whoever did this is no friend to you. People die in this tournament," Sirius began to mutter as he spoke lowly.

"I'm not ready for this Sirius," Harry looked beyond scared as he shook his head.

"You don't have a choice," Sirius spoke as he looked at Harry and Daphne.

"Someone's coming," Daphne and Harry realized at the same time.

"Keep each other and your friends close, Harry," Sirius gave them a look before he disappeared in the fire.

Ron had emerged from the boys dormitories, "Who were you talking to?"

"What? Who says I was talking to anyone?" Harry questioned as he got up, helping Daphne to her feet who acted tired.

"I heard voices," Ron spoke shortly as he looked at the two, "Besides you two."

"Maybe you're imagining things," Harry tried to diffuse the situation while leaning against the back of the couch, "Wouldn't be the first time."

"Damn," Daphne muttered out as she looked shocked.

"You're probably just practicing for your next interview, I suspect. Goodnight, Daph," Ron looked at the girl before disappearing back up the stairs.

"You've got to get to bed. You're tipsy," Harry gave the girl a look as he sighed, "We'll talk in the morning."

Daphne simply agreed before making her way to bed. The morning would be one hell of an event. Or who knows, she'd figure out more later. She'd run from everyone eventually.