Year Four: The TriWizard Tournament

Part 9

Anne spent the rest of the day in the library. She couldn't get the horrible image of the tortured spider out her head. It haunted her, as did Mad-Eye Moody. Something about him was very disturbing.

When she finally made her way toward the Great Hall for dinner, she saw several people scattered around the Goblet of Fire; each stepping up to it to either admire or drop their names into the flames. A thin golden line had been traced on the floor, forming a circle ten feet around it in every direction.

Anne spotted Cedric among the crowd. She watched him as he approached the goblet and put his name into the flame. Several Hufflepuffs nearby applauded. Then as he turned and walked away, Cedric looked over at Anne who smiled meekly. He smiled back at her before heading into the Great Hall.

Someone laughed behind Anne. Turning, she saw Fred and George hurrying over looking very excited.

"We've done it!" said Fred triumphantly.

"Cooked it up just this morning," added George.

"Done what?" asked Ron who had just come on to the scene with Harry and Hermione.

"We've cocked up an Aging Potion," replied Fred.

"Guys, I'm not so sure if this is going to work," Anne tried to caution them.

"Oh yeah? And why is that, Annie?" scoffed George.

Hermione pointed out the golden line around the goblet. "You see that? That is an age line. Dumbledore drew it himself."

Fred laughed. "So?"

"So a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by something pathetically dimwitted such as an Aging Potion," said Hermione.

"That's why it's so brilliant!" George boasted. "Ready, Fred?"

"Ready, George!"

Anne and the others watched the twins jump inside the age line, and cheered. They put their names into the flame and high-fived. There was a loud sizzling sound, and they were flung across the room. When they got up, they had full heads of gray hair and beards.

"You said.....you said...." Both twins were rolling around on the floor fighting. The crowd erupted with laughter.