The Extra Champions

Cedric gave Dumbledore a polite nod with a dazzling smile, then walked into the room.

The flames in the Goblet of Fire returned to their calm blue, and Dumbledore, the students, and the professors all put it out of their minds. With that, the Goblet of Fire had finished its task.

"What three outstanding young talents. I imagine the Goblet of Fire had quite a headache selecting only three Champions. First, I would like to wish everyone here an enjoyable viewing experience. This, too, is an honor..."

Suddenly, everyone present changed expression and stared past Dumbledore at the Goblet of Fire behind him.

When Dumbledore noticed that the face of the student nearest him had turned from blue to orange, he turned around in surprise just like the students.

A familiar tongue of flame stretched out from the fire and spat out a scorched piece of parchment.

Dumbledore extended a long, slender hand and caught the drifting parchment almost instinctively.

Everyone leaned forward, trying to get closer to that extra piece of parchment.

When Dumbledore finally saw the name on the parchment, his eyes, like a deep autumn pool, rippled sharply in an instant.

He stared at that parchment for an especially long time, longer than he had at any of the previous three.

Only when everyone's eyes had begun to ache from staring did he turn around, his gaze seeming to grow hooks as it landed precisely on Harry in the crowd.

Harry immediately felt as if a dragon had fixed its eyes on him. Dumbledore was looking at him—he was absolutely certain of it. Dumbledore had to be looking at him.

Harry grew a little nervous. Though he seemed to have done nothing wrong, he had not even turned in a single assignment late.

"Harry Potter." Dumbledore's voice