"Harry Almighty"

By Loki Palmer

Author's Note: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1

"Wonderful!" said Headmaster Dumbledore. "Now that we have our three Champions –"

Whatever words the Headmaster was about to say died on his lips, as he noted the Goblet of Fire had not gone out yet. The flames spewed out a fourth parchment, which Dumbledore caught and examined.

"What? This can't be ... it's impossible ... would Harry Potter please come to the front?"

With a little push from his friend Hermione Granger, the shocked young man came forward to see his name on the parchment. How could this be? The Headmaster motioned for him to go towards the back room where the other Champions had gone.

~HARRY ALMIGHTY~

"Je dois protester Albus: c'est un outrage!" (I have to protest, Albus: it's an outrage!) said Madame Maxine.

"Madame, je ne peux pas penser avec vos protestations!" (Madam, I cannot think with your protestations!) said Dumbledore. "HARRY! DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE?"

"NO, SIR!"

"DID YOU HAVE AN OLDER STUDENT DO IT FOR YOU?"

"NO, SIR!"

As the Headmistress of Beauxbatons saw the features on Harry's face, she decided that he could not be lying. There was too much fear written there.

"Professor Dumbledore, how could this happen? All I want is to have one peaceful year at Hogwarts; is that too much to ask?"

"What about the Eternal Glory?" said Headmaster Igor Karkaroff.

Harry's eyes smoldered at the Dumstrang Headmaster, but Professor Snape answered for him, saying, "Igor, young Potter here defeated the Dark Lord when he was a baby, knocked out a Troll in his first year, killed a Basilisk in his second year, and sent Dementors fleeing in his third year. If you are as wise as we hope you are, you will hold your tongue ... or face his wrath. Facing an angry dragon on the rampage would be safer. You want to face his wrath? Go ahead; we shall have a bed reserved for you in the Hospital Wing ..."

Karkaroff held up his hands. "Now that you mention it, Severus ... I will withdraw the question. Forgive me, Mr. Potter."

Harry's eyes calmed down, and he nodded. "I accept your apology, Headmaster Karkaroff."

There was the sound of a wooden pegleg clunking on the ground. "If you ask me," said Professor Moody, "it must be a powerful Confundus charm that somebody cast on the Goblet to confuse it into accepting a fourth student. I agree that Mr. Potter could not have done this, as the charm is beyond the abilities of a mere fourth year, regardless of how powerful he may be ... no offense to Mr. Potter, of course ..."

"None taken, Professor Moody."

"Now, if I were him, considering that people have died in this tournament before, I would think the person who tossed my name into the Goblet would be somebody out to kill me ..."

"We all know of your recent paranoia, Mad Eye," said Karkaroff with a sneer.

Moody glared at Karkaroff. "Once upon a time, Karkaroff, part of my job description was to hunt down dirty, rotten, nogoodnik scumbags like yourself that are a constant menace to the security of the British Wizarding World ... or have you forgotten that?"

"While your guess is the best guess we can think of at the moment," said Dumbledore, "could you back off, Alastor?"

"Constant vigilance, lad – it will go a long way in keeping you safe. I will see you in class."

"Even with that guess from Professor Moody," said Harry with a sigh, "I'm afraid there is nothing that we can do about this, am I right?"

Dumbledore looked at Bartemius Crouch. "Barty, you know the rules. Is Harry right?"

Crouch nodded. "If the Goblet has chosen Mr. Potter as a Champion, he must compete. I hate being the bearer of bad news to one such as Mr. Potter, but he is right."

Harry buried his head in his hands. "Oy gevalt ... why me?"

~HARRY ALMIGHTY~

Up on the Astronomy Tower, Harry was pacing back and forth.

"Why do I deserve this? Could somebody please answer that for me?"

"Harry, is that you up here?" said a familiar voice. Harry smiled as he turned around.

"Hermione, how did you find me here?"

"I just ... had a feeling you would be here. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"No, not at all. I'm grateful for the company. Do you think I put my name into the Goblet?"

"No, Harry. I saw the shock on your face when Professor Dumbledore announced your name, and that told me everything I needed to know. Ron is feeling miffed about it, though - he thinks you did. Neville, Dean, Seamus, and I had to beat him up just to silence him."

Harry smiled. "Thank you for that support ... but Hermione, I am wondering something ..."

"What would that be, Harry?"

"Do you think there is a God up there?"

"Yes, I do, Harry ... why do you ask?"

"Well, if there is a God, then why does He allow me to experience so much suffering?"

"That, Harry, is a complicated question. Some suffering is due to the bad actions of others, some suffering is due to our own actions, and some suffering just happens."

"It could be that God is a Cosmic Sadist."

She gasped in shock. "Harry! Are you certain you believe that?"

"I am not questioning whether there is a God, Hermione. I'm questioning what His nature could be."

"Yes, but Harry ... risking the wrath of the Almighty like that ... offending Him is tantamount to inviting your own funeral ..."

"Hermione, what have I to lose? I've lost my parents, my godfather's on the run from a Ministry that wants to kill him, and now, I find myself entered into a Tournament that will be the death of me!"

He turned his face towards the sky. "WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THAT, ALMIGHTY ONE?! MY LIFE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE SINCE THE DAY I WAS BORN! IF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF SO GREAT AND SO POWERFUL, WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING TO HELP ME OUT DOWN HERE?! WHAT AM I, A MAGICAL EXPERIMENT NOT WORTH YOUR TIME?! THE ONLY ONE NOT DOING HIS JOB IS YOU!"

Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder crackled as Hermione, scared that Harry had said too much, rushed him back down to Gryffindor Tower. Even Gryffindors knew that there was a fine line between brave and stupid. Rescuing a friend from a Troll was the former; inviting the Almighty's full wrath upon oneself, and hoping to survive it, was the latter.

Little were they aware that from the moment these angry words of challenge left Harry's lips, the Almighty Himself had an answer ready to arrive ...

Author's Note: Well, another fanfic started. I hope y'all enjoy this!

Smiles and laughter,

Loki Palmer