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Chapter 19: Derail
🕑 Added 2025-01-10 07:32:28 +0000 UTCAuthor’s Note: Hey everyone, here's the next chapter! Iris gets some well-deserved closure, there's an unexpected twist, and Elias loses control. I hope you enjoy it! The next chapter will shift to another character's POV to give some insight into how this all happened and why.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 19: Derail
Elias Blake
Hogwarts
"I don't think the fire should be that color," I mumbled as Dumbledore activated the Goblet. I wondered if my mind was playing tricks on me, but I didn't believe the indigo color was supposed to appear.
Hermione and Iris, next to me, were in awe as the flames, a breathtaking display of magic, lit up from the Cup. The visiting schools followed Canon, with Durmstrang seated at the Slytherin table and Beauxbatons with Ravenclaw. Everyone was excited for the upcoming Tournament, even after Dumbledore spoke firmly about the age line.
There were groans and hollers from the crowd, but everyone understood why the schools had implemented that restriction. No one wanted a repeat of the tragic accident that happened the last time the Tournament was held when all three participants died during the second task.
Ron let out a frustrated sigh, his jealousy palpable. When Ginny gave him a sharp look, he quickly quieted down, but the hint of jealousy remained in his eyes, easy for anyone who knew him to see. He then turned his attention to the Slytherin table, visibly frowning as he observed Krum chatting with Malfoy.
"At least the food is different from what we usually have," Iris remarked, her eyes sparkling as she licked her lips in anticipation. The house elves had truly outdone themselves for this occasion, putting in extra hours to prepare a feast that held a special significance.
Nodding, I observed the vast array of plates on the table, and I could feel my excitement rising even more. Since I spent most of my time in the orphanage when I was not in the school, I had few opportunities to try food from all these countries.
Plates brimming with French delicacies smelled heavenly and were presented with such elegance that even the girls from Beauxbatons were looking at them in awe. The creamy coq au vin and ratatouille were particularly eye-catching to me, especially since I remember those plates from my past life and my inability to try them. Besides the French dishes, food from the Northen reaches of the continent were available, from rich stews to smoked meats that had a heavy tint of spices.
No one knew where their castle was located, and their students' origins made it even harder since they were from different countries. Not a single one like Hogwarts, which barely had any students from abroad. The only ones who came to mind were the Patil twins , Cho Chang, and Sue Li.
This blend of cultures made the spread at the table even more mouthwatering, considering how the plates differed from one another.
The three schools savored the food with gusto, slowly breaking the ice between the students and professors.
The Gryffindor table was as loud as ever, and the visit from the other schools did nothing to stop the twins from animating the air with their jokes and pranks. Not even McGonagall's cat-like gaze made them nervous.
"Who do you think will enter?" Iris asked excitedly.
"Hmm, I guess most of the upper years in our house will try it," I smirked, seeing most of them whispering between themselves.
"True, they have to show their bravery," Iris nodded approvingly, "What about the other houses?"
Hermione pursed her lips, "I don't see many in Hufflepuff putting their names in, and the only one we know is good enough for something like this is Cedric."
"Cedric is damn good," Iris nodded, "I can barely beat him most of the time; he really makes me try."
I chuckled at the proud look on Iris's face. "You are one of the best at the school, Iris. I can't think of ten students who can beat you when you get serious."
"At least they aren't cheating," Iris stuck her tongue at me.
Rolling my eyes, I just shook my head, "I'm special, that's all."
Hermione huffed, "As for the Slytherins, they will join to fight against our house. Warrington will probably lead them."
"Ugh, that fucker," I scowled, "I don't think he is as good as Cedric. The best Slytherin has to offer is probably Selina. She can give Iris a good fight, and if she is as cunning as they say, she could be the one chosen by the Goblet."
"Selina is good," Iris admitted with a nod, "And she is one of the few Slytherins I can stomach. She is surprisingly nice, even if every conversation with her feels strange."
True, Selina Fawley was the current leader of the crossed-wands, and she was a nice person, even if she always talked like she was in the middle of a political reunion. The Fawleys weren't part of the Dark faction at the Wizengamot, and her family stayed neutral during the last war. They were much like the Greengrass, even if less affluent, considering they focused more on the political side of the spectrum.
According to the newspaper, her father was one of Amelia Bones's supporters.
"But I think that Cedric is the best the school has to offer," I said softly, knowing that he would be the chosen and hopefully the only one from our school. I couldn't imagine Iris's name coming out with all the extra security.
"Do you want to come here tomorrow when they choose the participants? Or would you rather do something in my hollow?" I asked the girls softly, knowing what the day meant for her.
Iris smiled brightly, and Hermione nodded with understanding.
"I think I would rather stay with you both," Iris replied softly. "And Ash, we cannot forget about her. Maybe we can take Hed with us so that she can play with the baby."
Having a nice idea, I perked out of my seat with a grin.
"You know what? I think I can do something nice to get your mind away from what happened that day, Iris. Give me a second; I'll be back in a minute."
With that said, I stood up and started walking toward the main table.
Iris and Hermione looked at me quizzically but just remained observing for now.
While waving at a couple of students, I was almost forced to stop when I felt a strong pull toward the Ravenclaw table.
Thankfully, after the DADA class with Crouch Jr. the pull was easy enough to ignore, but even then, I couldn't stop myself from looking in that direction.
And there she was... Fleur Delacour was genuinely the most beautiful girl I had seen in both of my lives. Not only did she have an otherworldly beauty, but she also had an aura that pulled you in, and I wasn't talking about her allure.
But I couldn't help but snort at the situation at that table. It was hard enough not to cringe visibly at how almost every single male there was nearly drooling at the sight of that ethereal beauty, and the girls were glaring at the direction of the Veela.
It was pitiful in a sense since, considering her uncomfortable face, it clearly wasn't her intention to attract that much attention.
Shaking my head in pity, I continued toward my destination.
"Professors, how are you all in this night?" I smiled genially at everyone sitting at the main table.
Of course, Dumbledore was in his throne-like chair in the middle of the table. Sitting next to him were the other two headmasters, who returned my greetings with a smile and nod from Maxime, and a sneer from Karkaroff.
Putting no attention at all to the ex-death eater and smiling at the half-giant, I turned my attention to the rest of the table.
All the professors were present. Flitwick, Snape, McGonagall, and Sprout were the closest to the middle but were not the only ones there. Babbling, Sinistra, and even Trelawayney were present, professors who usually preferred to eat away from the great hall. However, the occasion was important enough for them to attend this dinner.
"What brings you here, young Elias?" Dumbledore asked with a genuine smile. He was in a good mood, and it showed.
"I wanted to ask for a favor, headmaster?" I asked softly so that only he could hear.
Next day.
"You have no idea how much this means to me, Eli." Iris wiped her eyes with a conjured napkin, thanks to Professor Flitwick, who accompanied us.
"It was my pleasure, Iris. This could be nice for you, and honestly, everyone was in the wrong by not offering this the past couple of years." I smiled at her.
Professor Flitwick averted his eyes in shame, but he was smiling at seeing Iris being so free and happy.
We were in Godric's Hollow, the small community where Iris and her parents used to live before that tragic night. Upon hearing my request, Dumbledore was surprised, and shame showed on his face, as he had never thought about this before. Still, after a few minutes of convincing him, he allowed us to visit today instead of staying at school.
I was sure such a request would not be accepted easily, but considering who we were, his acceptance was not that surprising.
We left the school before lunch under the protection of Professor Flitwick, who offered to chaperone us with a happy smile. We ate in the small pub at Godric's Hollow, one of the few shops in the whole place, where he spent the entire time telling us stories about Iris's parents.
Although he was not that close with James Potter, Lily was his favorite student throughout his years as a teacher, so he knew much more about her.
Hermione walked softly behind Iris and hugged her firmly, "We will always be there for you, Iris. You mean the world to us; never doubt that."
Putting my hand on her back, I pushed Iris inside the graveyard, where her parents were buried, along with the rest of the Potters and the Wizarding families living there.
"I didn't know that Hannah lives here," I remarked slowly, walking inside the graveyard and looking at the first gravestone.
"Yeah," Iris nodded anxiously, "She never said anything; I wonder if her parents knew mine."
She was clearly nervous about visiting her parents' graves for the first time, and it showed, but her courage made Gryffindor's house proud. I was sure this wasn't easy for her.
As we walked further into the graveyard, the air felt solemn and oppressive as we got deeper inside. No one was present beside us; we could only hear our shoes on the gravel and a couple of branches and leaves we stepped on.
Iris's grip on Hermione's hand tightened, her knuckles going white. I could see the struggle in her eyes, but they were also filled with anticipation as we grew closer. Her body was shivering, and it hurt watching her like this. It was probably one of the hardest things she had done in her life.
Knowing that the moment was incredibly special for everyone, Professor Flitwick hung back, giving us a semblance of privacy.
Iris, Hermione, and I got closer to one another as we tried to show our support to Iris, who started trembling even more.
"We are almost there," I whispered softly in Iris's ears. Don't worry; we will be there with you."
Hermione nodded and opened her mouth, but it was too late. We had finally reached Iris's parents' resting place.
The words carved into the polished stone stood out starkly:
James Potter
Born 27 March 1973 – Died 31 October 1993
Loyal husband, devoted father, Marauder to the end.
Lily Potter
Born 30 January 1973 – Died 31 October 1993
Beloved wife, brilliant mind, courageous heart.
Iris froze, her breath hitching audibly. For a long moment, she stood there, staring as she observed the gravestones in great detail.
"They would have been so proud of you," I said softly, breaking the silence. My voice was not loud, but I knew Iris heard as she breathed out unevenly.
Iris's lips trembled as she stepped closer, her hand reaching out to trace the engraved letters. "I... I always imagined what they'd be like," she whispered, trembling as she wept, rooted in her place. "What they'd say to me. How they would hold me."
Hermione sniffled quietly beside her, her arm still wrapped around Iris's shoulders. "They would say they love you, Iris. That they always have, and always will."
Tears rolled down Iris's cheek until she was sobbing openly, her hand still resting on the cold stone. Hermione pulled her into a firm embrace, and I stepped closer, resting a comforting hand on Iris's back.
"It's okay to let it out," I murmured. "You've carried this weight alone for so long. We are here for you, whatever you may need, Iris."
Iris nodded through her tears, her shoulders shaking. For the first time, she let herself grieve in the place where her parents had been laid to rest. It was a closing that happened almost too late.
"I'm sorry," Iris whispered hoarsely. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you; it was all my fault."
Hermione's voice was fierce as she replied, "You were a baby, Iris. You have nothing to apologize for. They sacrificed themselves so you could live, and they wouldn't want you to carry that guilt."
I knelt beside her, my voice steady. "They died to give you a chance at life, Iris. Please don't waste it by blaming yourself for something you couldn't control. Honor them by living fully, by being happy."
Iris wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and gave a trembling smile. "You are right, Eli. I'll try... For them."
I looked at the gravestones slowly, "I would have loved to meet them. I wonder if they would have approved of me."
Iris snorted softly, her tears ending, "They would have loved you, Eli. Probably after cursing you for stealing their daughter."
Hermione let out a peal of laughter, "That's probably right. But they would learn how big his heart is and accept him because of that."
"I will take care of her; you have my word," I vowed, still looking at the gravestones. "I will do my best to give her everything she was, to be happy and make you even more proud."
Iris groaned in mortification and embarrassment, "You can be such a dork, Eli... But thank you for everything."
"It was something that needed to be said at least once, Iris," I smiled widely in her direction, "I will always be there for you. Always."
Iris gave up her pretense of a tough act as she threw herself at me, bawling her eyes.
"And I'll do the same; you will always have my support, you hear me!" Iris shouted in a mix of affection and shame.
Hermione chuckled as she hugged Iris from behind. "We should go. We still need to sneak out of the school to meet Padfoot. I think the selection should be over by now, and all the students will be in the dormitories in a few minutes."
"You are right," Iris nodded, cleaning her face from the tears. Her eyes were puffy, but she looked in peace, and that was all that mattered.
Professor Flitwick eventually approached, his expression filled with fury.
"Is there something wrong, Professor?" I asked, my stomach knotting in fear. No... this shit couldn't be happening.
"There was a problem at Hogwarts," Flitwick said seriously, catching me off guard. I had never heard him sound like this, not even when Crouch Jr. impersonated Moody. It was a mix of anger and frustration.
"What happened, Professor?" Hermione asked sharply. Does it have anything to do with the Tournament?"
"I'm afraid that you are correct, Miss Granger," Flitwick replied, "a fourth contestant has been selected."
No... No... I had stopped this. This wasn't supposed to happen! I fucking stopped it with Crouch by suggesting the fucking Aurors to be inside the school! I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING!
I lost control. The temperature around me dropped rapidly as a mist began to envelop my body. A bone-chilling cold exploded outward, so sudden that frost formed instantly on the ground, pushing Iris, Hermione, and Flitwick away.
The air thickened with condensation as it swelled around me. I had never felt such rage, anger, or hatred. I couldn't even name the emotion I was experiencing—the frustration of defeat after trying so hard to change the future.
"No!" I shouted, my voice echoing unnaturally, carried by the sharp wind swirling around me. "This can't be happening!" The ice began to expand, covering the graves and my companions with a thin layer.
"Eli!" Hermione yelled, her voice muffled by the gale. She grabbed my arm but flinched back at the frigid touch of my skin. "Please, stop! You're going to hurt someone!"
I didn't hear her at first. All I could see was red—no, white, a blinding, frozen fury that clouded my thoughts. I had done everything to derail Voldemort's plans. Everything. And yet, here I was, being the fool of the story.
"Whose name!?" I shouted. "Whose name did that blasted goblet spit out?!"
Professor Flitwick had his wand drawn but not pointed at me. He was surprised, his mouth open as he saw me lose control.
"It was your name, Elias!" he shouted, his face grim. "You were chosen as the fourth champion!"
What the hell had happened? I felt myself freeze as my mind processed his words.
I could feel something bubbling inside my chest, but I wasn't sure what it was. Anger? Yes, I was angry about the situation, but mostly I felt relief. What I had done was not for nothing... I didn’t know why this happened, but I preferred it over my worst fear.
Iris and Hermione gasped at Flitwick's admission, their eyes shifting to me with worry, but I was already beginning to calm down.
My control over ice made it easy to dispel the frost now that I was regaining my composure. So, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and focused on myself.
This was good. Much better than if Iris's name had been chosen by the Goblet. She was capable, but I knew how much public opinion affected her. I didn't understand why my name was chosen, and I would make Voldemort pay for this, but at least it was better than the alternative.
Sighing deeply, I opened my eyes to feel the girls throwing themselves at my chest, their eyes filled with worry and fear.
"I'm sorry for the outburst," I said, breathing deeply. "I don’t know what came over me."
Flitwick exhaled and tucked his wand into its holster. "It was an understandable reaction, Mister Elias."
"Now, I have to ask, even though I know the answer." He continued grimly, "Did you, by any chance, put your name into the Goblet?"
Snorting, I shook my head, "You know I did not, professor. We weren't even present most of the day, and I had no reason for doing so."
"That's what I expected," he nodded, "but I fear a lot of people won't believe you."
"I don't care what anyone thinks except for these two," I smiled, relieved that Iris's name was not the one drawn from the Cup. "And when I find the one responsible, I will make them pay."
"We will make them pay," Hermione scowled as Iris continued to hug me fiercely.
"Just how did this happen?" Iris asked with a frown, "We knew that Crouch was planning something, and Madam Bones vetoed a bunch of Aurors in the castle. How could they have done this?"
"That, I do not know," Flitwick shook his head sadly, "But we are needed back in the castle. Albus sent me a patronus alerting me of the situation, and he asked for your presence."
"Then we better not keep them waiting," I nodded, taking a deep breath. It was time to face the music.
150 points awarded
