DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter; J. K. Rowling does. A.N. at the end.

Halloween was the worst holiday in existence, Harri decided to herself mentally. As soon as she saw the Goblet in the center of the room flare up again, she knew her year was done for. Harri had hoped, some might even have called it prayed, for an easy year this year. After the mess of her last three years at this school-and now this, her name being called from the Goblet-she knew it was hopeless. She just couldn't seem to catch a break. Fate sucked; it was as simple as that.

Dumbledore read her name off the paper and looked around the room, searching for her. Harri didn't stand though, just stared in disbelief at the once more being forced into a situation where her life was at risk. Hermione had nudged her forward after a few moments while Harri herself was still trying to process what had just happened. It woke her up from her daze and her features settled into anger. When Hermione nudged her again-ever the rule follower and authority figure worshiper-Harri turned toward her with fury in her gaze and glared.

"I didn't put my name in, I don't want anything to do with this bloody tournament. Stop trying to force me to go and accept something I didn't fucking do Hermione." Harri snapped softly at her friend in irritation. She just as soon yelled it though. Because the Great Hall was more silent than a grave yard after the fourth paper was spat from the stupid cup.

"Harri Potter!" Headmaster Dumbledore shouted this time from his place beside the Goblet with the slip of paper, that apparently had her name on it, still in his hand. His gaze met her own and she could already see the disappointment in his eyes. Harri met his eyes with her own and settled the old man with her own look of disappointment. She would have thought he knew her character by now. On what plane of existence would she ever voluntarily sign up for a tournament that could kill her? The bloody thing was known for its death toll!

"Miss Potter, I suggest you proceed into the antechamber." the Headmaster called after their short stare-off. Harri snorted and shook her head.

"Yeah, no. I wasn't anywhere near that thing the entire time it was out in the open so there's no way I put my name in the thing. I want nothing to do with this." Harri proclaimed clearly, stubbornness and determination setting her chin as she crossed her arms. Dumbledore looked shocked at her openly defying him. Considering how placating she's been the past three years she almost relished his expression. But she didn't have time to relish it.

"That being said, we need to figure out how your name was entered. So, proceed into the antechamber with the other champions." Dumbledore ordered tersely. Harri shook her head obstinately.

"I'm not a champion, they've already been selected from the three schools participating. And how do I know I won't be automatically bound to this bloody death tournament as soon as I step into that room?" Harri argued back her posture never faltering and complete defiance laced in her tone. Beside her, she could see Hermione stare at her slack-jawed. Probably for having the audacity to argue with a teacher, much less the Headmaster of their school. Dumbledore's gaze hardened but before he could say anything Bartemius Crouch, the Ministry representative of the Tournament, caught Harri's attention out of the corner of her eye. He was shaking his head, his face was as pale as the ghosts floating around.

"As soon as your name was emitted from the Goblet of Fire you were bound to the TriWizard Tournament Miss Potter." Crouch announced and Harri's previous indignation shattered into a million pieces. She held her outside appearance together as best as she could. She didn't want to give any indication that she was hopelessly terrified at this new development. Her tormentors, Malfoy and his cronies, would exploit her smallest weakness. If she showed how terrified she was at this occurrence she would never hear the end of it. Malfoy was annoying like that. It was a very fine line she had to balance. She had to convey her innocence and defiance while at the same time not show her fear or worry with her situation.

"I'm a minor, contracts are void unless my guardians accept." Harri argued helplessly, looking and hoping for a way out of this. She doesn't want this. Why didn't they understand? Why were they trying to force her into this? "Right?" she demanded after the silence and the almost apologetic look Crouch gave her. It was then she knew how deep she was. If even the person in charge of the tournament didn't look hopeful, there likely wasn't any hope for her getting out of it.

"Potter, come dear. We will discuss everything in the chamber." Professor McGonagall requests softly gesturing for her. Harri wants to fight, she wants to protest. She sits in indecision for only one moment before sighing heavily. Her shoulders visibly slump in defeat. Her eyes closed tightly to hold off the tears of frustration. She stands shakily and walks over to her Head of House, who puts an arm around her shoulders to try and offer comfort.

But Harri can hear the whispers already. Looks of outrage and anger, some pity, greet her as she walks down the way with Professor McGonagall. It was going to be second year all over again, with the whole school hating her. She could feel it. She chanced a glance back to her friends. Neville looked at her with worry, Hermione wore a face conflicted with disbelief and panic; it was Ron's however that had her almost crumbling. Her first ever friend, the boy who stood between her and who they thought was a crazy murderer just last year, was glaring at her with such a look of jealousy and anger and hate she almost tripped over her own feet in surprise because of it. She looked away quickly, forcing herself to put her friends and her own feelings to the back of her mind. She couldn't think of them now; she could figure them out later. She had to focus only on what was going on now. Only the present situation was important.

McGonagall supported her the entire way to the antechamber. Once they were out of the prying eyes of the students and other teachers her professor offered her empty platitudes and encouragement. Harri appreciate the sentiment but knew better. She would get the backlash from this. It honestly didn't even matter if they did end up getting her out of competing. The damage was done. No one would ever believe that she didn't actually put her name in the Goblet. People couldn't seem to help but think the absolute worst of her.

"Professor, I appreciate what you're trying to do but we both know that regardless of the outcome of our talk in the antechamber no one will actually believe me. It will be second year all over again. Could . . . um, could I come to you if I need to?" Harri asked after voicing her thoughts.

"My dear, you always could. I've seemed to have failed you utterly already if you didn't feel like you could come to me before. You should be able to come to any of the teachers in this school. I know you will never willing go to Severus but Professors Flitwick and Sprout will always be available to help you in anyway. I need to know you understand that." Professor McGonagall implored the young girl. She'd stopped walking and placed both her hands on Harri's shoulders. Harri could see the sincerity in the older woman's eyes. She nodded to her professor in understanding and McGonagall squeezed her shoulders before letting go. Once again placing a comforting arm around her and guiding her to the room that the champions were waiting in. As they opened the door the three Triwizard Champions' heads swivelled to the two witches.

"Professor? Harri? Is something wrong?" Cedric questioned when he recognized them. He moved toward them and met them in the middle of the room and glancing at both females curiously.

"Terribly wrong. Horrifically wrong actually" Harri answered hugging her arms around herself tighter as she stood awkwardly next to her Professor. She didn't meet anyone's eyes in the room as the three champions each gave her varying looks.

"What happened?" Cedric asked gravely, looking from Professor McGonagall and then to Harri again. The longer the two stayed in silence the more he worried.

"Someone's trying to kill me. . . again. My name came out of the cup." Harri all but whispered since he was standing next to them. Merlin, she hopped Cedric believed her. That he didn't resent her for what happened; accuse her of stealing a spotlight that was rightfully his.

She actually really liked him, a lot more than she'd originally thought she would. They'd found time since the start of term to meet up and hang out. She enjoyed talking with Cedric; he had such a different way of viewing the world. He helped her out and explained aspects of the wizarding world and society that she didn't understand. She didn't want to lose their tenuous friendship. She chanced a glance up, to assess his expression, but the doors crashed open and chaos ensued.

All three headmasters were arguing, Barty Crouch chimed his two sense every so often and exasperated things further. Severus and Professor Moody trailed along behind them, taking in the arguments. Everyone was rushing into the room, heading right toward Harri and McGonagall.

"It is obvious that she cheated and is lying!" Madame Maxime exclaimed angrily directing her glare full force at Harri. The girl shrunk more into herself at the accusation, rubbing her own upper arms in self-comfort and looking down at the floor. So that she wouldn't have to meet the accusation in everyone's eyes head on.

"Headmistress Maxime have care of how you speak. You do not know Miss Potter but I do, she does not lie. For the last three years I've taught her she has never been anything but truthful, even at her own expense. And just so you know Miss Potter indeed stayed as far away from the Goblet the entire time it was accepting contestants. She was in the library the entire day then infirmary the entire night. I myself was with her in the library and I'm certain Madame Pomfrey would testify Miss Potter's whereabouts as well. Would you like to insult my honor as well now?" McGonagall's Scottish boage was out in full force as she defended her cub. Harri gave her Head of House a grateful look over her glasses and snuck a look at the other school's headmistress. The big lady did not seem to like the dressing down her head of house just gave her. Harri couldn't care less about her though. The big lady's opinion doesn't matter to her. She was just another person, on the very long list of people, that automatically thought the worst of her.

"The fact remains however that Miss Potter is a contestant and fourth Champion for the Triwizard Tournament." Barty Crouch interrupted the two witches' stare down. Everyone's eyes moved to Mr. Crouch and Harri's narrowed at the man.

"How can this even be possible? I didn't enter, how does the stupid cup even know it's me that is bound, shouldn't the magical contract be for whomever put my name into it, not what a slip of paper says? How can an inanimate object read or determine my worth from just my name?" Harri demanded, angry all over again at the hopeless situation she was in. Mr. Crouch looked at her with a sour look.

"It is bound to the name Miss Potter."

"How? Shouldn't there be a recall or something? Obviously something's happened to the stupid thing , it called four names in an event for three people. How does that even work with the physical contract? The contract itself should only be for three people-"

"Someone used a powerful confundus on the goblet and wrote your name and under it a fourth school so that you would be chosen." Professor Moody interrupted gruffly and Harri stared at him in irritation. It was like he wanted there to be more reason for her to have to compete.

"Okay, but the actual physical contract for the Triwizard Tournament. How is that even still in effect? There are four competitors." Harri insisted. There had to be a loophole. Some way for a person to forfeit without loving their magic. Nothing is faultless.

"I've had enough of this petty squabbling, Miss Potter, you are apart of this tournament; you are in a magically binding contract-to not compete will mean the loss of your magic." Mr. Crouch stated finally. Harri clammed up and shrunk in on herself once more at the glare he gave her. Her returning anger was short lived, drying up and running off with the limited confidence she attained recently. There was only so much defiance she could muster, only so much confidence she could show. Professor McGonagall put a comforting arm on her shoulder again and gave Mr. Crouch a glare of her own. It was very effective if Mr. Crouch's about face out of the room was anything to say about it.

The other contestants were herded out of the room by their respective headmasters and Harri couldn't exactly read their expressions. Fleur Delacour looked conflicted, feeling indignant that Harri was now a part of the tournament but also confused by what she'd heard and observed from the younger girl herself. Viktor Krum didn't have any expression on his face as he walked by and was ushered out of the room by Karkaroff. Harri missed the backward glance in her direction as Krum left out the door. Cedric was the worst though, since she knew him. He didn't seem to know what to think either and after everything Harri had shared with him about her life at Hogwarts in her years past. Add in the time they'd spent together this year alone, she thought he knew her a bit better than the average student, thought he was her friend.

He looked conflicted as he glanced between her, Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore. Harri looked up at him, earnestly and hoping beyond hope that he believed her. After several moments of Cedric still looking conflicted, Harri's temper got the better of her and her features fell into a glare, settling on him.

"Fine then" Harri huffed to Cedric, her temper getting the better of her, and stormed out of the chamber. She stewed in her disappointment and anger with him as she left. She should be used to it by now; constant disappointment. People were always disappointing her.

Since no one followed her out she assumed Professor McGonagall was chewing the headmaster a new one. She wandered the halls, struggling to get her emotions under control and settle her temper. She didn't know what awaited her in Gryffindor Common Room but she doubted it was anything good. And she wasn't ready to face any more accusation or scorn. She wasn't ready to face anything, good or bad, right now. She was so sick and tired of being in these situations. It was sad to think that she was just expecting them now.

She met with no other students as she walked. She didn't have the map with her this time but she'd studied it so often that she didn't need to get around the castle anymore anyway. Its most useful aspect was in telling her where others were. She, Fred, George and Lee Jordan all knew Hogwarts far better than any other student, probably better than even the teachers. Lost in her thoughts, she made her way up to the Astronomy tower. She kept her ears open for anyone that might intercept her and asked portraits kindly if they'd seen anyone else come or go recently. Most answered her too, they enjoyed the odd conversation students would gift them with. Harri had been so fascinated by the lifelike paintings that in her free time you could usually find her just talking to them.

Once she was at the top of the tower she did nothing but lean against the railing and stared off into the distance. Her gaze directed toward the Forbidden Forest but she wasn't really looking or watching for anything-another one of her pastimes, watching the Forest. She stayed there for hours, processing everything that she could remember. Everything that happened tonight and the night before.

She had to be prepared for the scorn and stares and outright hate that would rear its head tomorrow when morning broke. She was under no impression that people would take her side or believe her. She also had to make sure that those simple-minded idiots that turned on her at the drop of a had didn't know their scorn hurt her. Because it was going to hurt being so disliked again. Last year, despite being supposedly 'hunted' by Sirius, was an easier year for her. She'd had the opportunity to learn more about some of her classmates. She even became tentative friends with some of her year-mates in other houses. That was all in the wind now though, she had to expect the worst because to even hope a little bit would be crushing when she was proved wrong. She'd learned that lesson well growing up with her relatives.

She had to be better though. She had to be a better person so that when, if, they finally woke up from their stupidity they knew that it was only them that were in the wrong. That lesson, she'd learned from Second year here. She had to be nothing but respectful and polite, even when they said things that would hurt her. She knew that her temper would sometimes get the better of her though and that she might not always be nice, might snap back or defend herself, but she will never start anything. Only finish it. She couldn't succumb to their level. Making a promise to herself as she took one more deep breath of fresh air, she promised to be better.

As she made her way back to Gryffindor Tower on silent feet, she mused to herself her earlier thought at the start of this mess; Halloween was the absolute worst holiday in existence.

NOTE:

I hope everyone reading has enjoyed this chapter. If you'd please leave an encouraging review or critique, they are most certainly welcome. Flames, however, are unnecessary and unwelcome. If you have nothing nice to say then it is best to say nothing at all. :)