Hello Readers. For those who have favorite me, sorry it took a year to get a new story out, but that's life. To those who are new, I hope you enjoy this story and please REVIEW.
I do not own Harry Potter in any way shape or form.
Chapter 1: A New Choice
At the edge of the horizon, the sky slowly began to change from it's inky black to a variety of colors. As the first golden rays of sunlight began to spread across the ground, the castle known as Hogwarts would be bathed in a golden light, extending it's shadow to cover the grounds of the small village nearby known as Hogsmeade. Just outside of the gates that lead to Hogwarts, a tall burst of golden flames suddenly appeared. By the time that the flames faded, a tall figure was standing in place of them, with a single trunk set on the ground next to him, and a majestic golden red phoenix on his shoulder.
Usually when someone looked at this man, this wizard, they expected to see a kindly visage, complete with a grandfatherly smile and twinkling blue eyes. However, right now his expression was grim as he read the newspaper that was in his hands, not even acknowledging the small creature, a house-elf, that had appeared and taken his trunk away. Finally finishing the paper, he folded it up and slip it inside of his long silver robes. With a simple wave of his hand, the gates leading to Hogwarts swung open, and he began to take the long walk up to the school.
"This explains why the ICW ended so quickly Fawkes," the wizard, Albus Dumbledore, said to his phoenix, who responded with a musical trill. "I can only hope that Cornelius and the rest of the Ministry will begin to prepare for the war that is to come. Sometimes, I wish that I had taken up the seat of the Minister if only to make sure as many are prepared as possible." Sighing deeply, he continued walking up towards Hogwarts in silence, merely enjoying the peace and view.
That peace however, was quickly be broken on the approach of a simple brown owl, just as he reached the Entrance Hall. Extending an arm to allow the bird to land, he gently removed the letter attached to its leg before giving it a quick stroke of it's feathers, and watching it fly away. Opening the letter, he would began to read it, a look of concentration on his face. As he ascended the Grand Staircase, his face began to turn grim once more. By the time he had reached the Seventh Floor, which contained his office, he finished reading the letter and reached into his robes, withdrawing a single blood-red lollipop.
"I do really hope that the unfortunate vampire who ended up with my bag of Lemon Drops is okay," he mused aloud as he began to unwrap the Blood-Pop. Beginning to eat the Blood-Pop as the gargoyle guarding his office jumped aside, he started to think of how he could resolve this latest issue. Taking a seat in his chair, he waved his hand and summoned a letter that had been put on his shelf for reference. Spreading it out on his desk, he reached into his robes and withdraw the issue of the Daily Prophet he had been reading before, setting it on the desk as well, followed by the letter he had just read.
His face would morph into a look of concentration, almost as if he was trying to figure out some kind of puzzle. A good hour would pass, during which he would begin to eat another Blood Pop, before he would finally slump back in his chair, a grim and sorrowful look on his face.
"I fear that young Harry will be in a great deal of danger this year if I have read everything right," he said aloud. "But it is to late to stop the Tri-Wizard Tournament from happening now. I doubt that even with Alastor's help, I will be unable to stop young Harry from being entered." Pausing for a minute, he looked up at all the awake paintings of former Headmaster's and Headmistress's. With a nod of his head, the paintings began to all speak, all at the same time, offering their opinion on the matter.
While listening to so many paintings speak at the same time might be confusing for many people, Albus Dumbledore wasn't on of them. He was used to this, having been Headmaster for many years, and his face took a contemplative look as he listened. After another hour passed, Dumbledore would raise a hand, and the paintings took that as a signal and all fall silent.
"I hardly think that expelling young Harry would solve any problems Phineas," he said, giving a pointed look to the most recent Slytherin Headmaster's painting. "And giving him a rare magical illness would only be a temporary solution Dilys. While I could have someone watch over the Goblet while the names are being placed, I fear that Harry's misfortune will have him entered regardless."
Deciding to take a small break for breakfast, as the sun was clearly visible now in the dawn sky, Dumbledore called for a House-Elf, it being a one of his favorites called Kippy, to bring him some breakfast. Eating in silence, he began think over the various other suggestions that the former Headmaster's and mistresses had come up with. Sighing as he finished his meal, still without an answer to his dilemma, he turned towards his shelves with a resigned expression. Reaching up to his highest one, he grabbed a tattered looking hat and set it down in the center of his desk. The hat remained still for a minute before stirring, something resembling a face appearing from it's many folds.
"Bee in your bonnet Headmaster," the Sorting Hat asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. I find myself in a difficult situation, and require the opinion of Hogwarts on a matter of upmost importance," Dumbledore responded, his voice containing a grim tone. Watching as the hat bowed it's tip, he continued. "I have just received word from Sirius that young Harry has begun to have dreams about Voldemort. Apparently, he has obtained some sort of body, and is beginning to plot once more. I believe that he plans on using the Tri-Wizard Tournament as a means to get to Harry. What's worse is that Death Eaters have just attacked the World Cup, and the Dark Mark was seen in the sky."
Pausing for a minute to catch his breath, he continued to speak at the sight of the Sorting Hat's nonresponse.
"I have already consulted the portraits, and while they have many ideas on what to do, none of them will be effective in the end." A brief moment later, the Hat seemed to come alive again, and responded.
"Hogwarts would try to warn you against manipulating Mister Potter's life again, but we understand the need for it this time. While the Tri-Wizard Tournament can not be canceled, the Goblet of Fire can be used for other purposes."
"I see, so Hogwarts believes that if we can get young Harry into a different magically binding contract, that he can avoid the Tournament?"
"Yes, we believe that you will find something that can be used in the Charter. And we recommend that whatever you choose takes Mister Potter away from Hogwarts, to keep any other plans from being formed."
"I see, thank you again for your assistance in this matter," Dumbledore said, lifting the Sorting Hat and placing it back on the top of the shelf.
"One more thing Albus," the Hat said, an unknown tone coming into it's voice. "Should you call on us for assistance, and it is not concerning Hogwarts in any immediate form, we shall no longer answer to you and you shall be the Headmaster in only title until we find someone else worth of the position." With that, the Sorting Hat finally went immobile again, leaving behind a sorrowful looking Dumbledore.
Walking over to one of his many bookshelves, Dumbledore took down the largest of the tomes off of it and set it on his desk. Flipping to the part of the Charter that had to deal with the Goblet of Fire, he began to read it, attempting to find another viable use of the Goblet. A short amount of time passed, during which various different House-Elves popped in and out sporadically, delivering various bits of mail, cleaning up his breakfast, and giving him status updates on the various things going on around Hogwarts. He always took a break from his research to deal with these things, wanting Hogwarts to be at it's best for when the other schools arrived. After which he always return to his research, determined to find his answer.
It would take him most of the day before he finally found something that he believed would work.
"I will have to make various arrangements to make sure that this happens, but this is the best way to ensure young Harry's safety," he said somberly, closing the Charter. Withdrawing his wand, he gave it a quick flick, causing the Charter to fly back to the bookshelf, the Daily Prophet to be sent to the Library for archiving, and the letter from Sirius to his room for future storage. Another flick of his wand caused a few pieces of parchment to appear on his desk. Taking his time to compose the letters, it wasn't until nightfall that Dumbledore finished, sending Fawkes to deliver the letters to Sirius, and Gringotts.
"Hermes," he called out, causing a House-Elf to pop into his room. "Hermes, please have the kitchen staff prepare a meal for the rest of the staff tomorrow. And inform the staff that there shall be a meeting at noon. If they ask, tell them that we are going to be reviving another old tradition, and that they will need to prepare."
Well, here is the first chapter of what I hope will be a good story. I hope you don't find this chapter to boring, but it is vital to the overall plot of the story. I do have a good amount of the plot thought out, it is just going to be the typing it up that will take a while. I already have the pairing decided on, and am going to keep it a secret until the time is right. I enjoy criticism, so please review.
Edit: Got rid of most of the uses of the word would, people were getting annoyed.