chapter text
Monday October 31, 1994; after dinner
The Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry Potter watched as the Goblet of Fire chose Viktor Krum, the famous Quidditch player, as champion of Durmstrang; Fleur Delacour, a beautiful blonde, as the Beauxbatons Champion; and Cedric Diggory, Seeker of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, as the Hogwarts champion.
The Great Hall was silent save for Dumbledore's voice announcing champions as the Chalice went about its work; but now Harry Potter could hear the students muttering in three different languages - and Dumbledore was still speaking.
To Harry's right, Hermione asked, "Back to the tower?"
"Not yet," Harry said. "I have an idea."
„Was?said Ron to Harry's left. "Dude, the show's over..."
The goblet spat out a fourth piece of parchment. Dumbledore stopped talking.atstopped talking.
Then everyone in the vast room heard Harry's murmured words, "Here it comes."
„HARRY POTTER!exclaimed Dumbledore.
Harry was disappointed but not shocked to hear his name called even though he hadn't given his name to the goblet. As Harry took a deep breath and calmed down, he thought:Perform contingency plan bolllocks.
****
Only two people in the Great Hall knew for certain what had just happened: Barty Crouch, Jr., who transformed into Polyjuice to impersonate Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody; and Albus Dumbledore.
The Elder Wand is truly a marvelthought Dumbledore. Through a Legilimency spell cast by the Elder Wand, Dumbledore learned of Tom Riddle's conspiracy and Barty's part in it (and Harry Potter's reluctant part in the conspiracy); then an Elder WandI confusehad convinced Barty that his Polyjuice disguise had completely fooled the Headmaster.
Dumbledore didn't know Tom's full storyline at the time because Barty didn't know the full storyline at the time. All Barty knew was that his task was to get the Goblet of Fire to choose Harry Potter's name as champion, and then to ensure Harry survived the first two tasks.
Dumbledore assumed that at some point during the third task, Tom intended to kill Harry.
Dumbledore agreed with that. The sooner Harry Potter died, the sooner the prophecy would be fulfilled - meaning the sooner anyone other than Harry could attempt to kill Tom without suffering a killing curse.
Someoneexcept that Harry could try to kill Tom like, hypothetically speaking, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
"The Defeator of Grindelwald and the Subjugator of Voldemort" - such a title would sound goodthought Dumbledore.
****
Meanwhile elsewhere in the Great Hall
„Mean, Torment!” said Ron. "How did you get your name?"
Hermione looked at the two boys on her left. To Harry's left, Ron's face showed the Weasley twins' delight as they played an "impossible" prank. While Harry's face tried not to show an expression - but to no avail.
Harry turned to Ron and said through clenched teeth, "MeNOSay my name, Ron.
Then Harry turned to the Headmaster. "Professor Dumbledore, I didn't send my name. I refuse to be a part of it.
"Harry, my boy," said the Headmaster, eyes sparkling, "Your name is on this parchment. I'm told your handwriting is distinctive...
Hermione thoughtRather "hardly readable"..
"- and the handwriting I see isquiteunmistakable."
"Holy shit, Harry," Ron muttered, "if you wantreveal, be brave enough to admit it. don't be an idiotcoward.“
Harry ignored Ron. "Professor Dumbledore, I repeat: I did not send my name andI do not goto participate in it. Have you also forgotten that this tournament is for?deitymagician and I amonly fourteen?”
"Look, boy," said Ludo Bagman, "the chalice that spits out your name creates a binding magical contract. Fourteen or forty, it doesn't matter, you're in now.
Harry said, "But it's mefourteen. 14-year-olds cannot sign contracts. If I went to Gringotts and borrowed money, the goblins would say, 'We won't lend you money because you're too young to sign the loan agreement.'”
"Harry, my boy," said the Headmaster, "you're making the other champions wait." Hermione saw the Headmaster give this to Harryi am so disappointed in yousee.
"Let me get that straight," Harry growled. "I'm not putting my name in, someone else is putting it in for me - but I still have to be a champion in this tournament. I'm too young to sign a written contract and my signature means something, but I'm still stuck in this tournament.
"Potter," said Hermione's least favorite teacher, "a hundred points from GryffindoreDetention with me tomorrow night for lying.
„lying, Snape?” Harry quickly pointed his wand at the ceiling. "I swear by my magicis my lifethat I did not put my name on the Chalice, I did not ask anyone of legal age to put my name on my behalf, and I do not know nor can I guess how my name was put in place. Let the magic judge my words. ”
Hermione gasped when Harry risked itatwith such an oath.
Meanwhile, Harry exclaimed, "I EXPECT A GUARDIAN!A bright white, stag-shaped figure emerged from Harry's wand and galloped overhead for a few seconds before disappearing.
Harry looked at the Headmaster and said softly, "I refuse to be a champion becauseEUdidn't give my name.
"But you have to!" said Bagman. "You're under contract now..."
"I am?" asked Harry as he glared at the Headmaster.
"My boy," Professor Dumbledore replied, looking like the sad bearer of bad news, "there is nothing I can do."
Harry snorted. "You are the principal of this school,ethe chief warlock of the Wizengamot,eder Supreme Mugwump der International Confederation of Wizards,emy magic guardian. Self-proclaimed, I might add..."
Hermione blinked, startled.The director is from Harryself proclaimedmagic guardian? What does that mean?
Harry continued, "So don't tell meit can'tHelp me. It's not just onelie, but there is oneIdiotLie."
Everyone gasped.
"Another night of detention, Potter!" yelled Professor Snape. "And another hundred points from Gryffindor for disrespect!"
Mister. Bagman said, "Listen boy, you're not listening to us. That is aMagic ContractYou are in. You must complete all three tasks of the Triwizard Tournament or you willlose your magic.“
Harry snorted. "Have you everthick and non-gorm pillocksforget that i amCreated by Muggles?I didn't know I could do magic until my eleventh birthday!
Hermione was starting to have a bad feeling about how this argument was going to end.
Harry looked at Ron. "What do you sayNow, Ron?
Hermione saw Ron's ears were red as he replied, "You should have noticedMein, your best friend, as they sayMeinName also in the chalice, butBrain. The boy who survived doesn't want to risk someone else taking the glory. You're acheater, and now you are oneLiarAlso."
Hermione said, "Ron, how can you say something like that? Harry typedEid, togetherPatronsoon after!"
"Just proves he's really, really good at lying," Ron snapped.
„Enoughsaid the Headmaster. "I challenge you to join the other champions."
Harry held his wand to his throat. "If.” Then he saw Mr. Bagman. In a magically amplified voice, Harry asked, "When is the first task, Mr. Bagman? Which date? What's the time?"
Both Bagman and the Headmaster looked confused when Harry apparently changed the subject, but Hermione was scared.Please, Harry, don't do what I think you're going to do..
Meanwhile, Bagman said, "The first task is on November 24th. Sometime in the early afternoon.
Harry took a step forward and to the right, stood in front of Hermione and then turned to Hermione. He turned his back on the director. Harry took Hermione's hand as his amplified voice said:
"Hermione, you are the only person in this institution that I will miss. I won't miss anyone anymore; and thelazy,envious,sloppy redheadi will not loseno way.“
Then Harry looked at Ron. "In case you haven't figured it out yet, Weasley, you're not my friend anymore, 'better' or not. You remind me a lot of Malfoy.
Then Harry turned to Hermione, who was now crying silently. Harry's amplified voice said:SeI lose my magic on November 24th, it won't be a problem. It's definitely in there somewherebundle of clothesUK where I can live and go to school.”
Then Harry yelled, "FUCK YOU ALL".
"Harry, stop your arrogance," the Headmaster demanded.
Harry leaned forward. "Goodbye, Hermione. I love you.still.“
Harry then kissed Hermione on the lips; but it was a short and chaste kiss. Hermione wanted to cry and dance.
"Harry, please don't do this," Hermione whispered.
Harry patted the pocket of his robes and whispered back, "I have your parents' mailing address and phone number. Let's not lose touch.
Harry leaned back until he was on his feet again. He took his wand with his free hand,Photohe opened his wand in half and tossed the two halves over his shoulder.
Then Harry left the Great Hall and the Castle.
Professor Snape said loudly:Finally, we are free from the brat.