The only thing I claim to own is my empty bank account, so please no suing. J.K. Rowling the amazing fictional artist that she is owns all the characters, and a bit of plot :). Which is why she is rich, and I am not.
This is my first story ever written and posted, so please constructive criticism only, no flaming. I know the likely hood of a 14 year old being scouted for a Premier League like the Arsenals is probably 0, but I thought it would be fun to write. With that being said I am American, and my knowledge of European football is not the best. So, if you have any tips please message me. I also do not have Beta, and apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes.
Zane and Oliver made it back to Hogwarts just as everyone was walking in for the Feast. The team had made it back to Hertfordshire by mid afternoon, so Zane had a chance to hangout with his family for a while. He had even gotten to see his sister's costume, and if he teared up a bit after seeing that she had chosen to dress as a mini him in an Arsenal's uniform well no one said anything. He had of course had taken a picture so he could show everyone at Hogwarts. The entrance to the Great Hall was full of excited students that couldn't wait to see who the champions were. Zane was hoping that tonight went by quickly, he was rooting for Cedric to be chosen, but he really wanted to go to bed, they really were up late last night, and he hadn't gotten much sleep on the bus. He still had the occasional nightmare from his past or some weird vision of the creepy looking Voldemort so he tended not to sleep much in public.
Oliver clapped Zane on the shoulder. "Well mate let me know how it goes, but if I'm going to make it for my family dinner I better head out now."
"Alright see you tomorrow, say hello to your folks for me."
"Of course of course, you know my dad is your number one fan, so he'll probably ask about you before I get the chance. I swear sometimes the old man likes you better. He would prefer it if I played football over quidditch like mum." He said with a laugh.
"It's not the football mate; I'm just generally a more likable bloke."
"Keep telling yourself that."
Oliver left back out the main doors and Zane headed to the Gryffindor tables. He sat down next to the Weasley twins, their brother Ron, sister Ginny, Dean, and Hermione. "Salutations Gryffindors," he said with a smile. "How is your evening going?"
"Look who it is Fred"
"I see who it is George."
"The prodigal son returns."
"How was the"
"party Zaneykins?"
"Do you have"
"any juicy"
"details to share?"
Zane laughed. "Afraid not mates; everyone stayed at the hotel last night and had a drink fest while telling stories. I do however have this adorable picture of my sister in her costume." He said while pulling the picture out. He handed it around for everyone to see.
"Aww," said Hermione and Ginny at the same time. "She looks like a little you!"
"That is by far"
"the cutest"
"little sister"
"we've ever seen," said the twins.
"Hey!" Ginny said. "I'm your little sister you jerks!"
"Yes but you've"
"never dressed up as"
"one of us before"
"now have you?"
Ginny huffed and mumbled about prat brothers under her breath. The food appeared on the tables and everyone started to dig in.
"So Zane, who are you hoping gets to be the champion for Hogwarts?" Dean asked.
"Cedric Diggory."
"What you want a Hufflepuff to be the champion?" Asked the twins younger brother Ron. He was talking with his mouth full so some food came flying out.
"Really Ron close your mouth when you chew. No on wants to be covered in what you're eating."Hermione who looked disgusted said. For the first time Zane was thankful for that girl's bossy streak, he was quite disgusted himself.
"There is nothing wrong with a champion being from Hufflepuff Cedric is a great guy. It doesn't matter what house anyone is in, I have friends from all the houses." Zane replied.
Looking embarrassed from Hermione's scolding Ron said,"I guess your right, Hufflepuff's not all that bad. Better than it being a Slytherin."
Zane glared at Ron. "It wouldn't matter if it was a Slytherin either." Ron's jaw dropped down. "Like I said I have friends from all the houses."
"Yeah, but not Slytherin I mean your the Boy-Who-Lived, how can you be friends with a slimy snake?"
Zane hated when people brought up that tittle, and he really hated when people judge others they didn't even know. "Really not all Slytherins are bad, I mean sure there is a few like Malfoy who is spoiled twat, but we shouldn't judge a whole house off just him. If we judged the entirety of Gryffindor by you they would think we were all prejudice prats with no table manners." Ron got up and stormed to the other end of the table and sat down by Lavender Brown. Zane looked at the twins. "I would say I'm sorry be we all know it be a lie."
"No apologies needed"
"Ron deserved everything"
"you said."
"Well now that my brother has made a complete fool of himself lets get back to the good stuff." Ginny said while looking very serious. "Zane are any of the guys on your team cute and single?"
The twins, Dean, and Zane all said in unison, "to old for you." Ginny crossed her arms and huffed. Ginny and Zane had somewhat of a brother sister relationship after he saved her in his second year. Just like with Hermione this gained him her parents support in everything he did. It also earned him bimonthly care packages with Mrs. Weasley's homemade baked goods, and a Christmas and Birthday present each year. The twins and Ginny are really the only Weasleys that he cares for out of the ones he has met. Percy was terribly annoying and a bit to bossy like Hermione. He was constantly kicking Zane out of his and Oliver's dorm room, claiming their constant sport talk was giving him a headache. This just made going over plays and workout schedules harder since they had to do it in the noisy common room. The youngest Ron well he had just shown what was wrong with him. They met on the train first year and had introduced themselves him as Ron Weasley and Zane as Hadrian Knox. After he sat down though he could only talk about wanting to meet the famous Harry Potter. So Zane found an excuse to leave as soon as possible. He found himself in a compartment with two identical red heads that looked like the one he just escaped from, and was worried they would be the same way. However, he found out they were nothing at all like their brother, and had even laughed when Zane informed them that the sad part was he was talking to Harry Potter the entire time. They become fast friends after that train ride, they were Zane's confidants and guide to most things wizard, and he was their silent partner in crime. His sister had gotten her mischievous streak from somewhere after all. The Gryffindors all knew he was the one helping Fred and George with their pranks, but out of fear of retribution they wisely kept their mouths shut.
Dumbledore stood up from his chair and walked to the podium. He put his wand to his throat and said,"The time has come for the goblet to pick its three champions."
"Everyone turned their eyes to the goblet. The flame went from blue to red, and a whip of fire with a piece of parchment lashed out towards Dumbledore. It stopped when the piece of parchment was in front of him. It fell from the flame and floated into the Headmaster's hands, he looked at it and then called out,
"The Drumstrang Champion is... Viktor Krum!
All the Drumstrang students were hooting and clapping, and quite a lot of the Hogwarts students were clapping also. There was a group of girls at each table that were fawning over Krum, and Hermione was rolling her eyes at them. Zane looked over at the Slytherins and saw his friend Marcus Flint clapping. Zane raised an eyebrow, Marcus hates everyone, so the fact he was clapping for Krum was very odd. Marcus looked right at him and noticed the eyebrow raise and mouthed,"later." Zane nodded his head and turned back to Dumbledore. There was another flame headed towards him with another parchment.
"The Beauxbatons Champion is...Fleur Delacour!
Almost the whole male population was cheering for her, which made Hermione once again roll her eyes. The other girls from Beauxbatons however looked like they were going to cry. The only male student they brought to Hogwarts was whispering harshly to them, it looked like from here he was telling them to pull themselves together and cheer for their classmate. Zane chuckled when he saw the guy pinch the bridge of his nose and look towards the ceiling, as if he praying for someone to just strike him with lighting. Zane leaned over and whispered to Fred. "I feel sorry for the Beauxbaton's bloke could you imagine having to deal with all those girls constantly." Fred looked over at Zane,"your looking at all wrong mate." He said with an eyebrow wiggle. By the time he looked at back a Dumbledore he already had the last parchment in his hand.
"The Hogwarts Champion is...Cedric Diggory!"
Zane clapped along with all the Hogwarts students but the Slytherins. This time it Zane who got the raised eyebrow from Marcus, and just like Marcus he mouthed later. Zane and Marcus hadn't been able to talk much in the last few weeks so he hadn't gotten a chance to tell him about his friendship with Cedric. It didn't matter to Zane if anyone knew he was friends with a Slytherin, but it could cause some problems for Marcus with his house and possibly his family. So they kept their friendship pretty tight lipped. Dumbledore had walked away from the podium and had begun to shake hands with Karkaroff when the goblet once again turned red and shot out another parchment. Dumbledore picked it up and read the name,
"Harry Potter."
Zane started shaking his head no, he looked over at the twins who were looking pale, and this did nothing to calm Zane's nerves.
"Harry come here please," called Dumbledore. Zane had forgotten how to move until Ginny had pushed him up and away. He made his way over to Dumbledore, "but sir I wasn't here, I didn't...I wasn't here!"
"I know Harry, but right now I need you to join the other champions, we will be there in a moment."
As Zane walked out the hall he caught sight of Marcus, he look worried. "Oliver," he mouthed knowing Marcus would understand. He would contact Oliver and have him come as soon as possible; Zane knew Oliver was his only alibi, well him and his teammates, but he knew the word of some muggles was not going to help him now. He shakily made is way into room that the champions were in and slid down the wall. He put his head in his hands and wondered what he did so wrong to deserve everything he's been through.
"Zane?" Cedric asked. "What's wrong?"
"Do zey need us back into ze hall?" Fleur asked.
Zane shook his head no. Madame Maxime, the two Headmasters, Professor McGonagall, Snape, Ludo Bagman, and the minister all came rushing into the room. With Professor Moody hobbling behind them.
Karkaroff crossed the room and pointed down at Zane like he was a dirty garment left on the floor. "He might have not been here Dumbledore, but he still could have asked one of his friends to put his name in the goblet." The other three champions gasped.
"Vhat is going on?" Krum asked.
"The most outstanding thing has happened." Ludo clapped. "There is a fourth Champion!"
"Zis little boy, 'e will be competing?" That made Zane angry he wasn't a little boy.
Snape started stalking towards him. "You went to far this time Potter! Look at all the trouble you have caused!" Snape hissed. Karkaroff wasn't far behind Snape and was closing in on him as well. Zane didn't like being this close to people who were that angry so he tried to back up, but there was no escaping. Zane was pushed up against the wall blocked in by them. "Who did you ask to put your name in the goblet BOY?!" He roared. With the close threatening presence and boy being screamed Zane started having a flashback of his Uncle. He throw his arms over his head and started begging for his uncle to stop. Karkaroff backed up but Snape's sneer just grew more intense. He closed in the two steps between them and picked him up by his robes and shook him. "Stop pretending boy, it will get you no attention here!"
"STOP!" Oliver who had just walked in to the room screamed. "LET HIM GO!"
"Why should I listen..."
"Severus." Dumbledore said. "Now."
Snape let Zane go and stormed out the room. Oliver walked over to Zane and grabbed his arm and started to him lead him out.
"Where do you think your taking him?" Karkaroff yelled. "He has yet to give any answers."
Oliver glared at them all, "and he won't be in this state. We will be back, we require some privacy."
Oliver lead Zane back out into the hall, luckily it was empty. Oliver gently pushed Zane down against the wall, and then sat down next to him with their knees barely touching. He kept quiet to not startle him; all he could do now is wait for Zane to come back out of it on his own. He had a good deal of experience in handling Zane's flashbacks and nightmares. Zane hardly had them anymore, but his first year at Hogwarts, between trolls and possessed teachers, was rough on him. They were almost non existent in his second until he faced a Basilisk and Tom Riddle. In third year the school was crawling with dementors, and they affected his friend very badly because of all the horrors Zane went through when he was younger. Zane had told Oliver about his past during his first year, and Oliver thought it was amazing that someone could go through all that and still be a strong as Zane is. He did of course end up with a few quirks from it like the nightmares, flashbacks, his constant need to look over his shoulder, and his severe trust issues, but who wouldn't have. Even though Zane had a lot of friends, he didn't actually trust many of them. As far as Oliver knew himself and Flint are the only ones Zane has ever told about his past. Ugh Flint, I'm going to have to tell that stupid troll thank you, for contacting me about what happened, thought Oliver. The Christmas of Oliver and Zane's second year his parents had given them both watches that you could send messages to the other wearer. After Zane met Marcus and they became friends he bought another watch to spell into their set. When Marcus and Oliver said it was unnecessary to link their watches, they would never have a need to talk to one another Zane just shrugged them off and said they might if something every hapens to him. Guess he was right. Oliver looked over at Zane to see him lift his head up and stand up with his back pulled straight. They never talked about the flashbacks, or nightmares it was important to Zane to hold his head up high and prove he was strong. Oliver didn't think he had anything to prove, certainly not to him who knew about his past, but he would never force Zane to do otherwise. Oliver stood up as well and they walked back into the room. It was obvious that everyone had been arguing the entire time they were gone.
"It's a magical binding contract I am afraid he has to compete," said Fudge who sitting in a chair with his shoulders slumped over and looked unnaturally pale.
"Should someone check on ze the boy, 'e did not look vairy good when 'e left." Madame Maxime said.
"I'm sure it was all a ploy to get away from here and get their story straight! How did that other boy even know to come, he was not in the hall. If they are not guilty then how did he know where we were?" Karkaroff asked trying to sound smarter than he actually was.
Zane stood up straight and got a look of determination in eyes. "There is no story to get straight; I did not put my name in end of story. Nor did I ask anyone to put my name in the goblet. Oliver knew we were here because another friend contacted him with the details of the situation. I was with Oliver all night and he would have noticed if I went missing. So I knew I would need him to come clear my name, but I can see now that will not be enough for you. I'm willing to take veritaserum if it will all make you believe me and allow me to get to bed faster. If that's okay with you Minister I know the use of it has to be approved."
Fudge, who was off at the side looking like he had no idea to what was going on, jerked his head up at the mention of his name. "Why yes of course Harry, if that is what you want to do."
"Very well Harry I will call Professor Snape back."Dumbledore sent off his patronous to Snape. It didn't take long for Snape to walk in with a clear crystal vial in his hand.
"Glad to see you decided to get the truth out him." Said Snape who looked entirely too pleased. Zane sat down in a chair and held his tongue out.
"Actually Severus Harry volunteered to use veritaserum." Dumbledore told him while walking up beside Zane. "Put the drops on his tongue and then I shall question him." Snape did as he was told and then stepped back with a sneer on his face.
"What is your name?"
"Hadrian Zane Knox"
"What is the name you were born with?"
"Harry James Potter"
"When is your Birthday?"
"June 1st"
"When is your actual birthdate?" Dumbledore said with a bit of a huff.
"I don't know, no one has ever told me." Several gasp were heard throughout the room.
"Harry did you put your name in the goblet?"
"No"
"Did you ask any of the older students, or professors to put your name in the goblet?"
"No"
"Severus the antidote please." Snape gave Zane the antidote and then raceed out of the room as fast as possible. No apologies, not that Zane was expecting one.
"If he did not put his name in the goblet than who did?" Karkaroff asked.
"Someone I'm sure zat wanted to give Hogwarts two bites of ze apple." Madame Maxime said.
"Or someone that wanted the boy dead." Grunted Moody speaking for the first time since the whole fiasco started. He rolled his eye when everyone in the room gasped in shock.
"Of course he would think this was all connected with a plot of some sorts. The crazy paranoia of this man is ridiculous." Karkaroff snorted.
"It's not paranoia if people are actually out to get you!" Moody barked. "It would take a powerful wizard to hoodwink an artifact like the goblet, this goes way past that of a mere school rivalry or plot to cheat."
"Not my problem," said Zane.
Madame Maxime stared at him as if she was trying to dissect him. "It is not your problem if someone wanted to c'eat, or if someone wants you dead?" She asked.
"You said I have to compete no matter what correct?" When he saw their nods he continued, "then it does not matter to me finding them will not help the situation I am currently in. Someone out for my blood isn't exactly a new idea to me, so by now I'm used to it. I have had a long day so if you don't mind I would like to head to bed now."
"Of course Harry, just let Bagman here go over some details about the first task, and then you can all head to bed."
As soon as Bagman gave the information Zane took off with Oliver and the other champions on his heels.
"Now I think this situation calls for a nightcap, and maybe we can come up with a few ideas about how this happened." The Headmaster said to the remaining occupants of the room.
