"Hogwarts own Hufflepuff... CEDRIC DIGGORY". The Hufflepuff Table erupted into chaos at the announcement of Cedric as the third Champion, the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Tables were slightly more subdued and there were even a few boos from Slytherin. "Cedric, if you'd make your way up here, that's it son, now please join the other two champions just through those doors.
As the applause for Cedric died down Dumbledore continued, "Now that we have our three Champions, lets give a round of applause for those that entered but were not chosen. This applause was as louder or louder than it had been for the Champions. After only a few seconds though it started slowing down and people began to murmur amongst themselves and point. If anyone other than Hermione had been paying attention this is when they would have noticed Harry slipping on his pair of Joo Janto 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses, and watching them kick in and turn completely black; they also would have noticed his completely relaxed attitude towards any impending danger. With a knowing twinkle in his eyes, Dumbledore turned to face the, once again, glowing Goblet of Fire. It's flames turned Ice Blue and in a brilliant burst of magic an unprecedented fourth piece of parchment shot out of the TRI-Wizard Cup and into the air.
He caught the piece of parchment just as easily as the others and unfolded it, trying not to appear happy and to sound disappointed at the same time, read... "HARRY POTTER" "Will Harry Potter please come up here." After waiting a couple of seconds, and seeing no movement from the student body, Dumbledores voice became a shout...
"HARRY POTTER"
Hermione nudged Harry out of shock and he began to stand. "Go on Harry, we'll figure this out just like we've figured everything else out so far." Harry took off his really cool sunglasses and looked at his wife and she could see a resolve pass before his eyes. As he handed her his invisibility cloak and sun glasses, he spoke to her, "No Hermione, I, that is, We are going to end this now, be ready for anything as I'm not sure what I'm doing or what is going to happen." As Hermione took the cloak and glasses she nodded and discreetly slid her wand out of its wrist holster and into her hand as Harry began to move towards the, soon to be former, Headmaster.
Harry moved toward the Head Table where Albus Dumbledore and the Heads of the of the other schools were staring at his approach. As Harry passed, "Harry," Dumbledore spoke only loud enough so that Harry could hear him, "this is for the Greater Good, it's the way things have to be, you'll understand some day." In a louder voice, so everyone could hear him, he continued. "Now go through the doors on the right and join the other Champions." Harry just smiled at the man and in an voice that confused Dumbledore and chilled his blood said, "No old man, this is for Your Personal Greater Good and this ends now, I hope you've said good-bye to any loved ones and hello to any god or gods you may worship."
Harry continued past his former Headmaster towards the doors indicated. Instead of going right through the doors, he made a left and walked to the middle of the Head Table and, pulling his wand out, jumped up on the table and shouted for all to hear. "This is My Wizards Oath, if it is found lacking than so am I and magic will punish me for it. I, Harry James Potter, do hereby swear by, on, and unto magic that I did not enter my name, have someone else enter my name, or in any way, shape, or form have anything to do with my name being put into the Tri-Wizard Cup or being drawn as a "Champion" for your amusement in this blood sport of a tournament. LUMINOS MAXIMUS." The light that came from Harry's wand was bright enough to cause the entire Great Hall to close their eyes and even after Harry canceled the spell most would still see spots for several minutes.
Dumbledore was the first to recover, "Harry, my boy, what, what have you done?", he said in his best grandfatherly, you should be ashamed of yourself, voice. "The Goblet of Fire is a binding magical contract, your oath, while it might prove your innocence, will not get you out of competing in the Tournament." "I know Albus", Harry spit out the name with as much venom as he could, "and I have a plan for dealing with that as well. In fact the Goblet is going to help me out of the Tournament."
Harry jumped off the table and began walking towards the Goblet ignoring all faculty and students. He never saw Dumbledore reach for his wand, however he did see what appeared to be a very powerful stunner fly over his right shoulder and seconds later felt and heard the former Headmasters wand sail over the same shoulder and into the hands of his lovely, and (thankfully) overly protective wife. Hermione Jane Granger-Potter was now the new master of the Elder Wand, and in possession of two of the three Deathly Hollows.
Harry continued walking until he was in front of the Goblet, then reaching out he grabbed both handles and stated, "I, Harry James Potter, ask the inherent magic of the Goblet of Fire to right the wrongs that have been presented here this night and to bring forward and punish those who would subvert Its magic". Harry and the Goblet both began glowing an eerie Ice Blue as tendrils of magic started to whip around the Great Hall.
The magic of the Goblet seemed to shoot out everywhere, striking "Mad Eye" Moody and instantly picking him up and reverting him back to Barty Crouch Jr., one struck Dumbledore just as he started to recover from Hermione's stunner as others swept out of the Great Hall. In a brilliant flash of that same Ice Blue light, a ring, locket, diadem, small silver cup, Voldemort's snake Nagali, and Voldemort himself appeared suspended in the magic of the Goblet. No one even noticed the tendril that struck under the Gryffindor table and stabbed a nine toed rat as it tried to scurry out of the Great Hall. A final tendril of magic shot out of the Goblet stabbing Harry in his infamous scar and lifting him off the ground as well.
What everyone in the Great Hall saw was the ring, locket, diadem and cup shimmer before a small black ball seeped out of each item. The balls floated in the air for several seconds before joining into a single sphere and shooting into Voldemort's chest. The ring, locket, diadem and cup fell to the ground. The stone from the ring, instead of falling like the other items, shot through the air and was caught by Hermione, with the practiced ease of being married to a seasoned seeker. In a flash of the same Ice Blue magic of the Goblet of Fire, Hermione Jane Granger-Potter (the new Mistress of Death) and five others vanished from the Great Hall.
Hermione appeared in a stylized courtroom, she was in the judges box and before her in five chairs and a cage sat Harry, Albus, Wormtail, Barty Jr and Lord Voldemort, Nagali lay in the cage apparently asleep. After several minutes of trying to change his chair into something more comfortable, Albus Dumbledore sighed and sat in the plain, straight backed, wooden chair.
Having sat patiently through Albus's failed attempt to regain control of the situation, Hermione finally spoke in a voice that chilled everyone to the bone. "I am the Mistress of Death, I am your Judge, Jury and if need me executioner. It is my duty to judge your souls and send you on to your next Great Adventure, if that is what you deserve. I will start with the lowest offenses and work to the highest."
In perfect Parseltounge Hermione began, "Nagali, your only offense is to have been turned into a soul anchor for the wizard known to you as Voldemort, was this of your own choosing?" "No Mistress, I was a simple serpent, non poisonous, I escaped from the man who bought me and just wanted to catch some mice and try to stay warm during the long Scottish Winter. The Speaker did something to me, binding me to Himself, making what you see before you now. I would like nothing more than to return to my life before the Speaker." hissed Nagali. "Then that is what you shall get." Hermione lifted her hand and with a simple summoning gesture pulled the soul fragment from Nagali and returned it to Voldemort. With another gesture Nagali disappeared and found itself returned to its original size and purpose slithering through the Forbidden Forest, once again free.
Death turned to face Harry, "Harry James Potter, I remove the fragment of Voldemort's soul that resides in your cursed scar and return it to its original vessel." With a gesture a black blob burst from Harry's forehead and slammed into Voldemort's chest. "With that done, I ask you what should be done with you? You killed a man and destroyed a piece of another's soul, that piece I now return." A black blob appeared out of nothing and for the final time slammed into the chest of Voldemort. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"What I did was in defense of my own life or that of an innocent, I felt regret at the time it happened and feel regret at taking another's life every day. I make no excuses for what I have done and take full responsibility for my actions and for the results of my actions. I accept whatever penalty you see fit to give me."
The Mistress of Death spoke, "Because you had no other choice and you feel remorse for your actions, your life has been judged and your slate has been cleared. What has happened was set in motion long before you were born, You reacted better than most would have in a similar situation. You will go from here to make what you will of your life, but for now I ask that you remain and bear witness to the fates of the four left before me." Harry accepted as Death continued.
"Peter Pettigrew A.K.A. Wormtail, you betrayed your friends for no other reason then jealousy! You were Jealous of Remus's brains, Sirius's looks and James for his magic, then along came Lily who had all of that and more. They protected you when you would not protect yourself, they called you family. You were like brothers, there was nothing they wouldn't do for you. Why did you betray them? What did they do to make you hate them so"?
"The Dark Lord has powers undreamed of, he came into my head and showed me what the others really thought of me. They never cared for me, I was simply the butt of their jokes, I was their fall guy"! "How many detentions did you ever serve Wormtail, James and Sirius took the blame so that YOU would not have to. Remus was supposed to be a calming influence on those two, but they corrupted him and you enjoyed the benefits of their work. How long did it take you to become an Animagus? Did they abandon you? No, they worked with you so that all four of you could be together".
"You seem to want to blame everyone but who should be blamed. You, Wormtail, are to blame for your own shortcomings. Your fate has been decided, you will relive your life and next we meet we'll see what you have learned".
Peter awoke as if from a long sleep and looked around his nest. His NEST? Yes, his nest, Death did not say he would relive his life as a human, just that he was to relive his life. He stretched his wings and flapping them found he got lift and could fly. Peter looked around and noticed that he seemed to be on the grounds of Hogwarts, than he saw a large group of students gathered by the lake and decided to find out what was happening down there. On his first pass he flew to high and could not hear what was being said so on his second pass he made sure to fly lower. Just as he began to hear what was being said, a huge hand shot into the air and stunned him. The last thing he saw was the ugliest female Ogre the world has ever seen, dressed in a pink tutu with fake fairy wings on her back and a plastic wand in her hand wearing a necklace of ears, pop him in her mouth like a tic-tac; though he did think she had a very nice beard.
"Barty Crouch Jr. what have you to say for yourself, torture and murder and that was just your fist night as a Deatheater?" "There is nothing for me to say, the Dark Lord asked it of me and I was more than willing to serve. What I did, I did for my Lord and Master. If he were to ask me now, I would do it all over again. My only regret was that I was caught before I could kill more." Turning to look at his Master, "Forgive me my Lord for failing you."
"Barty Crouch Jr. you have been found... Wanting, and your immortal soul is forfeit. You shall spend eternity in the deepest levels of Hell never knowing rest, never knowing comfort. I will waste no more energy on you, BEGONE." Barty Crouch Jr. simply disappeared with a silent scream on his lips.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, for that's who you now are, with your Horcux destroyed and you soul once more in one piece, you are no longer that foul, self made moniker Lord Voldemort. I will give you a choice Tom, a chance to show compassion or regret for any of your victims and your soul will be cleansed and you may start your next Great Adventure free from any taint. Continue with your current beliefs and by the time we are finished here Hogwarts and the World will have forgotten about you, you will not even be a footnote on the pages of history. It will simply read that some unknown, no-name Dark Lord wannabe tried and failed to take over Magical Britannia. I leave the decision to you Tom, what do you choose?"
A much younger looking Tom Riddle (eyes no longer red but brown, he had a nose once more and his skin had a healthy tone) lifted his head to speak, "Do you really think that I Lo, Lo...", he couldn't say his own made up name. "The Greatest Wizard that will ever have walked this planet, would be content just to move on? NEVER, I will find a way to return to the Mortal Realm and finish my conquest of first Britannia than the world. For I have gone further than any wizard or witch has ever gone to ensure that I will never be defeated or forgotten."
"That is where you're wrong Tom", the voice sounding more sympathetic, more like Hermione's own, than Deaths. "Harry has beaten you every time the two of you have met. He's beaten you as a baby, as an eleven and twelve year old, and if we count this then that brings us to four, (the third time in the last four years) and he's only fourteen years old Tom. Even now the general populace is forgetting about you, Magical and Mundane alike can no longer remember what you look like or your deeds, oh people will still have died however now it was because of a house fire, car wreck, gas explosion, accident and even old age. You, Tom Marvolo Riddle, will not be remembered as the cause of any of their pain and suffering. I can and do take that power from you."
"You have made your choice Tom, because your life was not an easy one I was willing to clear your slate and allow you to move on to the next Great Adventure. Like Harry, things happened to you that were out of your control, before you were born and while growing up. Unlike Harry, you would not, could not, look past the bad to see what the good had to give you. Because you have refused to show any remorse or any feelings at all for your past actions your immortal soul is forfeit and any and all traces of your existence will be removed from history, you no longer exist Tom, this is the price you must pay". The being formally known as Tom Marvolo Riddle faded from existence and from the collective minds of the world.
At that precise moment, all over the world, every marked disciple of the Dark Lord Voldemort felt a searing, stabbing pain in their left arm. In Hogwarts, Prof. Snape along with eleven sixth and seventh years (five Slytherin, and three each from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor) felt this pain. Each pulled up the sleeve of their robes to reveal that the dark mark was longer there. What they, and most of the other previously marked Death-Eaters, wouldn't learn until slightly later was that since their tattoos were connected to Voldemort their magic had gone away at the same time the Dark Lord and dark mark had disappeared, along with all knowledge of who they had served. They remembered doing the crime, but not in who's name they did it. These once proud Death-Eaters were now no better than the Squibs and Mundanes they professed to despise so much. Their families would have to decide wither to still accept them or banish them from the Magical World.
Turning to the final chair Death stared at Albus Dumbledore, but before she could say anything Albus spoke in an offended voice. "You said from least to worst, you can not sit in judgment of me and say that I am worse than a mad man, a Dark Wizard, a man that killed without thought or compassion for his fellow man, I've never killed anyone in my entire life."
"That is a lie and you know it Albus, you are well aware that it was your curse that struck and killed your sister, (his head snapped back as if he'd been slapped across the face and went ashen as it looked like he was going to be sick down the front of his robes). Your pettiness that's what caused the death of a child that only wanted everyone to stop fighting. True, after that you, personally never killed again, you always found someone else to kill for you, then you would guilt trip them into hating what you asked them to do. You were complacent in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, by not taking on your former lover Grindlewald decades earlier. You were almost to late and if he hadn't thought you were going to join him he may have fought harder and won". As Death spoke the ghost of Albus's sister appeared near him along with Grindlewald and everyone that he (Grindlewald) had killed. Still Death spoke on as more ghosts appeared before the supposed "Leader of the Light".
"What about all those that died because you erroneously thought their killers deserved a second, third or even fourth chance. What about the victims Albus, didn't they deserve another chance as well. You had ample chances to remove Tom before he caused to much trouble, but saw him as your pet project, your crowning achievement, something not even Merlin had achieved, a redeemed Dark Lord. Rest assured Albus, we're almost done there."
"I just want to reintroduce you to some other "old friends" you might remember. Do James and Lily Potter ring a bell, what about Frank and Alice Longbottom? You heard a prophecy and deduced that of all of the hundreds of Magical children that would be born during the end of July that it had to be either the Longbottom or Potter child. YOU had the families go into hiding, if you were so worried why did you not bring them to Hogwarts, there was plenty of room even with school in session, plus they would have only been a Floo call away from the Aurors and St. Mungos."
"The consensus of most of the Sentient Magicals in the know about such things (and there are a lot Albus, if you'd only of asked) is that the prophecy was fulfilled that first Halloween night that Harry removed Tom from the living, but you being the all knowing, all seeing Albus Dumbledore decided it wasn't over. You sent an innocent man to Azkaban and sealed a parents will just to gain control and to manipulate a small child. Is this the way you envisioned the end of Tom, Albus, or did you have something more "Grand" in mind?"
Albus looked like he'd been sucker punched and was doing one of the best "fish out of water" imitations Death had seen in many a year. "Of course Harry has to die for Tom Riddle to be gone for good! Then with Harry dead and Voldemort mortal again, I would appear and kill him in the name of Harry Potter and would pass away as an even greater wizard than Merlin." Albus said regaining his composure, "You heard him, he's gone further than anyone else ever did to make himself immortal, so whatever you did is only postponing the inevitable. HARRY POTTER MUST DIE FOR LORD VOLDEMORT TO BE FINALLY AND PERMENTLY LAID TO REST!" Albus stood and shouted the last part as if it would convince Death that he was right. As Hermione/Death just stared at Albus he slowly lost his courage and slumped back into his chair.
"So the great Albus Dumbledore knows better than Death itself... Albus Percival Wilfred Brian Dumbledore, your hubris seems to know no bounds. Even while you are in my realm you refuse to see the truth and substitute your own reality in its place. So that shall be your punishment, you will live your fantasy life in the world you have created in your mind. You shall no longer be a menace to yourself or others and no-one shall be able to bring you back. At the moment of your death you will have perfect clarity and know that what you thought was right was actually wrong and I shall judge you again that day to see where your next Great Adventure will take you." With that Albus shimmered out of Death's realm leaving only Harry and, the Mistress of Death herself, Hermione.
Harry heard a throat clear, and spun around to face three figures that hadn't left when Dumbledore did his disappearing act. Two he recognized from the Mirror of Erised as his mum and dad, and the third he finally came to realize was the one, true Death. Harry hesitated for a moment until he saw Hermione smile and nod, then ran foward and was embraced by his parents.
The three cried together until Lily Potter looked up and waved Hermione to the small group. As Hermione approached, Lily reached out and taking her hand pulled Hermione into a crushing hug. "Thank you Hermione for looking after my son so well. No mother could ask for a better daughter-in-law than what you have given us." She was joined by James and Harry as a three way hug and cry fest turned into a four way.
A deep baritone that would have put Barry White to shame interrupted their group hug. "Hermione Jane Granger-Potter, Mistress of Death, for the good that you did today I grant you one boon of your choosing." Hermione and the Potters huddled together to come up with a request for Death. Finally they seemed to reach a consensus, Hermione took out the Elder wand and the resurrection stone and presented them to Death. "We thought about asking for the return of Harry's parents, but how would we explain this to the Wizarding World, we would be accused of being Necromancers. Then Harry would have to suffer all over again as one day they would pass away once more. Instead we ask that you allow us to retain the Cloak of Invisibility as a Potter Heirloom as it is the least dangerous of the Hallows. The Elder wand and the Resurrection Stone are too dangerous for humans to possess. We feel that for what you are offering that this is our best option."
"You have made an excellent choice, I would have granted you anything that you asked for. Your reasoning is sound, the Elder wand and Resurrection Stone only lead to more death. The Invisibility Cloak has never caused a death (looking at James) only mischief. You have another choice to make Harry Potter, you and your wife may stay here with your parents, you may stay and your wife go to be with her parents, and finally you may both return and see what life has in store for you."
"When do you need our answer? Is it possible We could spend a couple of days getting to know a little about my family? I already know what my final choice will be, but I would still like to talk it over with Hermione and my parents." "Then that is what you shall have Harry Potter," said Death's baritone voice, "48 hours in my world is no more than a breath in Yours, I will return to get your final decision, until then use this time to get to know your family once more". Harry nodded and Death just simply ceased to be. Over the next 48 hours James and Lily got reacquainted with their son and his bride. They laughed as they exchanged stories of their Hogwarts years. James and Lily were angry with Dumbledore for his treatment of Harry and terrified when they were told about the basilisk, but were very proud that Harry always seemed to do what was right and not what was easy.
Soon enough the 48 hours were up and Death appeared. "So have you reconsidered your choice Harry Potter?" "No Sir, I have not. While I would love to remain with my parents, I could never ask Hermione to give up hers, and I know I'll see them again some day." Hermione continued, "And I would never willing leave Harry here and return to my parents." Together they said, "We choose to remain together and see what the rest of our lives will be like."
What the students and teachers saw in the Great Hall that night was this. As Harry approached the Goblet of Fire Dumbledore pulled his wand, but Hermione was faster and stunned and disarmed the Headmaster. Then Harry grabbed the cup, magic flames shot out and some trinkets showed up. What caused the real uproar was the appearance of the little, ugly, baby Voldemort and his snake. Chaos reigned for several minutes as spells came from every direction at the snake and Voldemort, but stopped when all the spells were absorbed by the magic of the cup. Then the trinkets fell to the ground as a black mist left them and shot into Voldemort, nobody noticed the stone fly to Hermione or, moments later, when she disappeared.
Several more minutes passed before they were astounded as first the snake faded from view, then Harry visibly relaxed yet retained his death grip on the Goblet. The Voldemort/baby thing started shaking then strangely everyone seemed to forget it was there at all and no-one could remember what it looked like, where it may have gone or if there had really ever been something there at all. The strangest thing was when Albus just stood up and started sprouting gibberish that was no language anyone knew.
Hermione walked over to Harry and got him to release his hold on the Goblet and placing a hand on his shoulder led him toward the exit to the Great Hall and out of the castle proper for an extended weekend of rest and relaxation. As they were leaving it was Colin Creavy that could be heard shouting... The Goblet of Fire... Fire, Fire, the Goblets on Fire.
The Goblet had burst into flames and consumed itself in its own magical fire. Without a Goblet there was no tournament and no binding contracts, the three Champions were elated to hear they would not have to compete in events that had a 73% mortality rate (well the one that was the most human, and not dead, was elated, Fleur still wanted to eat... beat something up). Instead, with the agreement of all three schools, a series of events were held for all students seventeen or older (only fair seeing as Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had only brought of age students/creatures themselves). The end result, surprisingly enough, was that nobody cared who won. Each school won its share of competitions, all the students were friendly and happy and each school went away with a better understanding of the others, yeah right and if frogs could fly they wouldn't bump there asses when the jumped. But that's a story for another time.
Alt ending#1
Fleur is enraged that there is no Tournament and goes crazy destroying most of Great Britain. It's only with the help of all the Aurors, Hit-Wizards, Her Majesties Royal Navy, the Hulk and Iron-Man in his Hulk-Buster armor that they were able to subdue her. She now roams free on Monster Island terrorizing Godzilla, Godzooki and those two really little women that sing not to mention the rest of the Japanese movie monsters, Yes, she's very happy.
Alt ending#2
With no Tournament there's no reason to wake Krum from the Dead. The Headmistress of Beauxbatons slaughters a cow and put enough barbiturates in it to stun the state of Texas. This just slows down Fleur enough to get her back into the saucer craft where they fire her into the sun. On clear days when the sun is out, if you use a telescope you'll (burn your eyeballs out staring at the sun through a telescope) see the People of the Sun trying to reverse engineer the saucer craft so they can capture Fleur and send her back here. Pray they never figure it out in your lifetime.
Alt ending#3
Without a Tournament Fleur wants something to remember Scotland, that something is Cedric. She kidnaps Cedric but on their way back to France they detour though Italy where Cedric is bitten by a shiny vampire. He escapes Fleur before they reach France and makes his way to America, specifically Washington State. Where he changes his name to Edward and pretends to be a high school senior forever. That is until he meets this only slightly attractive, clumsy, uncoordinated girl (whose hippie mother can't handle her being so straight laced and sends her to live with her father) and falls madly in love with her. But that's a story I'll only tell at Twilight.
HarryPotterismygodhahahaonlyjokingbutmagicisreallyreal
A/N: The epilogue is next and hopefully it will be as good as I feel the rest of the story was (well hopefully better than that, but we'll just have to wait and see what you think). Remember, please read and review and that two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do. See you on Chapter 3 of Dead Again, bye-bye.