Chapter Text
Everyone was gathered in the hall. The selection of the champions was about to start. There was an air of excitement, not unlike a game of Quidditch.
“Who do you think it’s gonna be?” different people were murmuring.
At last, Dumbledore stepped beside the Goblet of Fire, and started his speech.
“Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision. I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now”
Suddenly, there was a surge of energy felt around the castle, as if an earth-shattering spell had just been cast. Dumbledore’s face went from excited to worried in a heartbeat. It went from worried to full on terror when he realized his whole body had gone numb and was disintegrating in front of his own eyes.
He looked around the hall and saw that many people within the hall were also disintegrating. What was going on? He barely heard the first scream before his whole body completely disappeared.
Harry was in shock of what was going on around him. Dumbledore disappeared. As had half of Gryffindor it seemed like. George was gone, Lavender was gone, Katie, Alicia, Seamus, Colin…they were all gone. The Great Hall, which was filled to the brim, now seemed empty. What the hell just happened?
Ginny’s mind was racing. Colin was disappearing in front of her eyes. She looked around and saw more and more people just crumbling into ashes in a similar manner. She screamed, despairing over the fact that she could be next. She could disappear and she hadn’t even…
Struck by panic and resolve, she raced over to a certain raven-haired boy and planted her lips onto his. If she was going to fade away, might as well get a kiss out of it. It seemed Ron was thinking the same thing, because even before Ginny ran over to them, he grabbed Hermione’s shoulders to turn her around and kiss her.
The goblet was going haywire. Two of the names it was about to spit out had just seemed to…stop existing. What on Earth could make two people just stop existing? As it would turn out, it would be the universe itself.
The hall was nearly empty by the time the two couples separated. The remaining people had ran in a panic. The four of them were thinking the same thing: What now?
It was the next morning. The four slips of paper had been left unbothered by anyone until Professor McGonagall had picked them up and realized what they were. It was a hectic night of flooing back and forth between the Ministry and colleagues. After a visit to the Burrow, she knew that Arthur, Molly, and Percy were all missing and unaccounted for. She managed to contact Bill and Charlie and told them the news of their parents and brother…s. She had almost forgotten about George.
Minister Fudge was missing. As were Amelia Bones and Barty Crouch. In a hurried decision, the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Alice Diggory, was made Interim Minister. Her first course of action was population check. Half of the Wizengamot, including the Chief Warlock, were missing. The President of MACUSA had contacted her reporting a similar situation, as well as the French, Russian, and Bulgarian Ministers. Then there was the fact that the Prime Minister himself also disappeared. Somehow, half of the human and animal population had just vanished into thin air.
“If I may have your attention, please!” Acting Headmistress McGonagall addressed the remaining students, “Despite the current circumstances, and because of binding magical contracts, the Ministry has decided to go ahead with the tournament. These are your champions. Viktor Krum from Durmstrang, Victoire Béjart from Beauxbatons, Angelina Johnson from Hogwarts…and Harry Potter...from Ilvermorny.”
“Ilvermorny?!” Harry exclaimed, “What the hell’s Ilvermorny?”
“It’s the American wizarding school,” Ron surprisingly answered first, “And why are you surprised? You didn’t enter yourself?”
“Ron, you know he wouldn’t, and is now the time to be arguing? When half the castle is missing?” Ginny glared at him.
Ron looked down sheepishly and murmured, “I guess not.”
“Have you guys heard anything from your parents?” Hermione asked.
They both shook their heads before looking to Fred, who still looked sickly pale. He hadn’t spoken a word since George was wiped from existence.
“However, seeing as there is a shortage of staff, this school year has officially been canceled by the board of governors. But as there might be some housing issues, I am allowing everyone here to stay if they so wish to.”
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn’t want to go back to the Dursley’s. If they were still here, at least.
“I will also have a discussion with every student as to what their home situation is and what their options are. Today will be those with last names A through G. Until then, I urge you to get something to eat and for the champions to come see me in the trophy room.”
Hermione and Ginny nudged Harry’s shoulders for him to get up, which he did reluctantly. As he walked to the trophy room, he looked around the hall to see who was there. Cho was there, crying her eyes out. Dennis, Colin’s brother, didn’t look any better. Lee Jordon was sitting next to Fred, patting his shoulder. Neville looked at him with a blank expression. Parvati was in a similar position with Fred; he didn’t see Padma anywhere in the room. Dean seemed lost without Seamus. Goyle looked like a headless chicken without his other half and someone to boss him around. The Greengrass sisters were holding each other for dear life.
If there was word to describe not just Hogwarts, but the world now, it would be lost. They are lost.
When he entered the trophy room, Angelina immediately cornered him.
“How the hell did you enter? More importantly, why?”
“I didn’t and I didn’t want to. I have no idea how my name got in there, I swear!”
“On your life and magic?”
“On my life and magic!”
“Well, that’s all the confirmation I need,” the voice of McGonagall called out to him, “I will be talking to the Ministry and see if we can find a way to back out of your contract.”
“Yes, yes, but for now, all I have to say is that the first task will take place on the twenty-fourth of November at noon,” Ludo explained in a more somber voice than he was used to, “And seeing as there’s no point to anything anymore, you will have to face a dragon and catch a golden egg. As to whether there are enough dragons to actually do this, we’ll see.”
“Professor Flitwick will escort you to the Department of International Magical Co-Operation, Mr. Potter,” McGonagall informed him.
“Thank you…headmistress.”
Harry watched the tiny man light the fireplace and step into it. He followed suit.