531 Champions

They continued to chat for a bit while eating about what Nick was going to do after graduating early until the meal was over and Dumbledore drew everyone's attention. "Well , the goblet is almost ready to make it's decision. I estimate it requires one more minute. Now when the champions names are called I would ask them please to come up to the top of the hall. from there go through the door to the next chamber." he said pointing out the door in question behind the table. "They will receive their first instructions there." he added calmly.-

He then took out his wand and with a wide sweep of his arm extinguished all sources of light save the goblet itself that cast a beautiful blue light over the hall. Everyone waited nervously for the moment of truth when the champions would be chosen. The moment the goblets flame experienced a change everyone knew that the time had come. The fire grew violent and turned red as a tongue of flame shot out to reveal a charred piece of parchment fluttered down to where Dumbledore could grab it. "The champion for Durmstrang is Viktor Krum!" he announced loudly.-

The students from that school cheered at this and Krum himself looked proud of the achievement. Karkaroff loudly congratulated Krum as the boy walked to the next chamber and the applause quieted down as the flames turned red again and another piece of charred parchment shot out. "The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore announced and the great hall exploded in applause as the students of that school and more than a few of the males students of Hogwarts cheered for the girl. Fleur had turned to look at Nick as she left but grit her teeth angrily after seeing him have a bored look.-

The tension in the air however grew when all of the Hogwarts students waited with bated breath for the final champion, the Hogwarts champion , to be announced. It became eerily silent as the flames of the goblet turned red once more and another piece of parchment was shot out. Dumbledore was just as eager as the rest of the school to find out who had gotten the position. Even Nick waited to see if Harry had managed to take that spot by his own merits unlike in the canon where Crouch Jr had cheated him into the tournament.-

Nicks lips widened in a grin as he saw Dumbledores expression look conflicted for the briefest moment before he read the name. "The Hogwarts champion is Harry Potter!" he said and the whole school went crazy though for different reasons. While most were happy regardless of Harrys house there were a considerable few that gave Nick confused looks as they had expected him to be the champion instead. Dumbledore clearly saw these confused looks and chose to explain. "Some of you may be wondering as to why our own Mr. Ravenclaw was not chosen."-

"The answer my dear students is that he knew that his participation would not be in the spirit of this event and as such chose not to place his name in the goblet of fire." He said seriously. Most of the students in the great hall looked towards Nick for confirmation and chose to accept that answer after Nick nodded in agreement. The students from the other two schools had bitter looks on their faces but didn't openly say anything about the matter. They didn't have to however for Nick to understand that in some way they felt slighted or scorned like they weren't worthy of competing with him in his mind , they were right too.-

He truly thought that him joining the competition would be nothing less than bullying the weak on his part so he wouldn't have tried to join it even if he was allowed to. "Well now we have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you to give your champions every once of support you can muster. By cheering them on you will give a very real boost in courage and make them want to give one hundred percent of their effort." Dumbledore said encouragingly before dismissing everyone on grounds of dinner and the choosing being over.-

This was one change in canon that Nick had long expected after he did away with Voldemort for good since there was no one plotting in the background to have someone else participate in the tournament for some sort of nefarious plan. There was quite a lot of celebration going on and while Nick was happy for Harry he chose not to actively take part in the festivities. He had done his part in allowing this to happen and felt that gloating about an expected outcome was in bad taste.