Chapter IX: Three Champions and a Spare

I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Harry Potter. They belong to Joss Whedon and Joanne K. Rowling respectively.

Here we go again...

Great Hall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
October 31st 1994

"Lexie!"

Xander looked up from his place at the head table to see a very welcome face from his past. He barely got out his reply of, "Dorcas!" before the redheaded blur that was Dorcas Meadowes glomped on him. Xander grinned. Dorcas was an enthusiastic little thing, for all that she was fairly short. Xander could see Minerva fighting a smirk at Dorcas' greeting.

Dorcas' first meeting with Xander Harris had been in early 1980. Xander had returned to England with a fiery vengeance following the cursing of his only son, Jesse. It was unclear to all but Xander how exactly he had discovered that Dorcas was being targeted by Voldemort. All that anyone was sure of was that Voldemort himself, along with a few death eaters, had decided to end her.

Enter the Hunter. Xander had arrived at a critical juncture, throwing a live grenade right into Voldemort's face. By the time Voldemort had recovered his wits and realised what had dropped into his lap he had just barely enough time to kick it away before getting an explosive dismemberment. The resulting explosion still killed a death eater and shook Voldemort and the other three up enough that they did not note the escape of Xander and Dorcas.

Xander was heavily criticised in the press and by Dumbledore for using muggle weaponry in a wizarding fight. One of the few that defended him was Dorcas Meadowes who felt that without Xander's crazy plan that she would have been just another name in the casualty figures. The sad truth is that she was likely correct.

Xander shook his head free of the memory. "Well, well. What's this I hear about you being a department head now, eh Mighty Mouse? Magical Games and Sports, wasn't it? And here they said Bagman had that title all sewn up."

Dorcas offered a tolerant smile to Xander. As a muggleborn, Dorcas was well aware of who Mighty Mouse was and believed she understood why he called her that. The simple fact was that Dorcas was small and quiet until you got her excited or miffed and then heaven help you. "Yes, I'm the new department head, Xander. That's why I'm here. Bagman didn't get the job after some heavy politicking by Barty."

Xander nodded. "Makes sense. Crouch probably figures that a department head should be a competent manager and not just a public face. In all fairness, he's probably right. If it was any other department but the DMGS, he probably wouldn't have had to do so much politicking to keep Bagman out. DMGS is the only department where he could likely do minimal damage."

"Quite right, Mr. Harris. But then I pointed out that the Tri-Wizard Tournament was coming up and that the international embarrassment could be overwhelming if the tasks were not planned properly. Fudge saw reason rather quickly after that."

Dorcas grinned broadly and let Xander loose, motioning to the aging department head at her side. "Bartemius Crouch, Director of International Magical Cooperation, might I introduce Alexander Harris, Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts and noted hunter."

Crouch offered a faint hint of smile. "I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Harris. I'm certainly glad to have you on hand for this spectacle. Lots of potential security concerns."

Xander nodded amiably. "I'll keep my eyes open."

Crouch inclined his head faintly. "I'm sure you will." And with that he went to take his seat next to Headmaster Karkaroff.

Xander turned to Dorcas, a faint grin crossing his lips. "Warm guy."

Dorcas rolled her eyes. "You have no idea, Lex."

Great Hall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
October 31st 1994

Albus Dumbledore glanced about the great hall with the appearance of a king who was surveying his kingdom. He had Headmaster Karkaroff and Headmistress Maxime at his sides and Directors Barty Crouch and Dorcas Meadowes flanking them. The other Hogwarts teachers were spread out across the head table.

Dumbledore fired a quelling glance at Dorcas. While many, including Xander, found the woman's zest and effervescence to be quite enjoyable, Albus felt her enthusiasm was more then a bit tiresome. Still, she was a vast improvement over Ludo Bagman. At least Meadowes was honest and competent.

The headmaster stood up and raised his voice to be heard over the mild din. "The Goblet of Fire has completed its selection process and will soon offer up the names of the champions of each school. Eternal glory. That is what awaits the victor of the Tri-Wizard Tournament."

A popping sensation was heard as a small slip of paper popped out of the goblet's flames. Albus reached out and caught it in a smooth gesture. He glanced at the paper briefly. "The champion for the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is… Fleur Delacour!"

Wild applause was heard from the Beauxbatons contingent, as well as most of the males of Hogwarts and Durmstrang. Only the non-Beauxbatons women and a few selected men were able to keep their enthusiasm fairly low-key.

Another popping sensation heralded the arrival of another small slip of paper from the goblet's depths. Albus reached out and caught this one as well. A quick glance followed. "The champion for the Durmstrang Institute is… Viktor Krum!"

Even wilder applause greeted Krum, who was a very popular Quidditch player, after all. Some, including Ronald Weasley, were going so far as to give the man a standing ovation.

The final expected popping sensation foretold the arrival of the third small slip of paper from the goblet. Albus smoothly caught the note and glanced at with a distinct aura of curiosity. The old man showed faint surprise, but nodded agreeably. "The champion for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is… Cedric Diggory!"

The applause for Diggory was somewhat stunted after the very popular Quidditch player and the highly attractive Veela, but Hufflepuff house in particular clapped very vigorously. It wasn't often they were offered the chance to shine and they welcomed it with open arms.

Dumbledore smiled broadly as Cedric joined his fellow champions in the antechamber. "Now…"

Another popping noise interrupted whatever Albus was going to say as a fourth slip of paper shot out of the goblet. Only Minerva noted Xander's eyes narrowing in suspicion. Dumbledore snatched the paper urgently out of the air, scanning it and then scanning it again. Finally he broke his silence. "Harry Potter." A long silence followed as the entire student body, Harry included, froze in shock.

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore's voice was louder this time and shook many out of their shock. Hermione push a still-gobsmacked Harry out of his seat and he headed towards the antechamber walking like he was drunk. Xander stood rapidly and followed the lad, putting a supportive hand on the boy's shoulder.

Antechamber off of the Great Hall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
October 31st 1994

Xander led Harry into the antechamber, a firm grip on the lad's shoulder.

Harry turned desperately to the grim-faced DADA professor. "I didn't do it, Professor. I honestly didn't."

A half-smile crossed Xander's face. "I know that, Potter. Just tell them what you know and I'll do my best for you." And with that, Xander walked over to the edge of the room and seemed almost blend into the stonework. He wasn't invisible by any stretch, but he was so still that you likely wouldn't notice him if you weren't looking for him.

Xander's steady gaze was locked onto the three heads of the various schools, the two ministry officials, his wife and Severus.

Karkaroff and Maxime were both complaining about Hogwarts having two champions and demanding that they get a second one too, something that was never going to happen.

Finally the moment happened that Xander had been waiting for. Severus was opening his big mouth. "Don't blame Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break the rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here."

"An interesting theory, Severus. Especially when you know it is patently false. It is utterly impossible that Harry could have been responsible for this incident."

Snape snorted in disgust. "Typical. Like all the other teachers at this school, you fall into the boy's accursed legend. Potter can do no wrong."

"On the contrary, Severus. I am sure that Potter has and will commit wrongs over most of his life. There is no one who does not do so. I merely say that it is impossible for Potter to have committed this particular wrong."

Snape's glare could have melted concrete. "You truly believe Potter could not have found a way around the age line? Even you cannot be that much of an idiot, Harris."

"On the contrary, Severus. I can think of six or seven ways to spoof the age line, however well Albus drew it. I would ask, however, if your immense education includes the ability to count?"

Maxime's face displayed confusion. "What does ze ability to count have to do with zis incident?"

Xander smirked at the large woman. "How may champions are there supposed to be in the Tri-Wizard Tournament?"

And most of those present understood at that point. It was actually Diggory who answered the question. "Only three. But somehow there are four champions."

Xander nodded to the Hufflepuff. "Mr. Diggory gets my point. If Harry's name had come out instead of Cedric's, then it would be easy enough to point the finger of blame at Potter. The appearance of Harry as the fourth champion, however, implies an act of far greater skill and finesse then a fourth year, or any school child for that matter, could have managed. It tells us that Harry's entry was not a mistake, nor an arrogant child's whim, nor even a simple prank. It was a plot that likely took a great deal of planning and skill to pull off."

"To vhat end?" The belligerent voice of Karkaroff broke in.

Xander's lips curled in a sneer but he restrained himself from acting against the hated Karkaroff. "There are limited options. The most likely, though it is a rather haphazard strategy, is that someone wants Potter dead."

Harry turned white at the proclamation. "Dead?"

Xander nodded solemnly. "Luckily for you, Mr. Potter, I will assist you in this endeavour."

Barty Crouch spoke up for the first time. "Actually, Mr. Harris, teachers are not allowed to assist any of the champions in the tournament."

Xander's face adopted a dark look as he glared at the officious twit. "You will find, if you reexamine the rule book, that it only applies to teachers involved directly in the tournament. This includes judges, like yourselves, or those who assist in setting up the various tasks. I have been approached for neither and hereby serve notice that I refuse to be approached for this sort of thing over the course of the year.

"Also, I will point out that I have no interest in helping Potter win the tournament. I am here to keep him alive. If you people have a problem with that, then you can find a new holster for your wands. I don't much care."

Barty was switching rapidly from white to red and back again as he sputtered incoherently, before he finally managed to regain his equilibrium. "Yes well. The first task will be on November 24th. This will be call the test of tenacity. Each champion will bring only their wand and their broom. The rest will be explained on the day in question. Dismissed."

Defence Against the Dark Arts Office
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
October 31st 1994

As the champions dispersed, Xander grabbed Harry and dragged the young man along until they reached his office, tossing the lad in ahead of him.

Harry fumbled for his wand, only to have it slapped out of his hand by the far more experienced adult.

"Calm yourself, Potter. I brought you here to give you some solid advice. Watch your arse this year."

Harry shook his head in exasperation. "As if I didn't know that much."

"What you don't seem to understand is that you are bound to compete by magical contract. Do you understand the full implications of that fact?"

"I've got to compete in the tournament. I have no choice."

Xander shook his head in exasperation, hoping he wasn't such a thick-headed brat as a teenager. If he had been then he owed the G-man an apology. "I didn't want to draw attention to the fact that I knew, Potter, but there is much more to it then that."

"Oh?"

"Yes, Harry. There's more. Do you know who can enter you into a contract in the muggle world?"

"Well, I can…"

"No you can't. Barring a few exceptions, you cannot enter into a contract as a minor."

Harry nodded, acknowledging the point. "Aunt Petunia, then?"

Xander nodded. "Basically its your parent or guardian. And it's the same in the magical world, do you understand that?"

Harry's expression was priceless. "You're saying Aunt Petunia was the one who entered me in the tournament?"

Xander snorted loudly in amusement. "No, Harry, your Aunt Petunia is the least likely candidate, though it's possible. Not bloody likely, but possible."

Harry considered for a long moment. "Then who else?"

Xander's face took on a grim look. "There are only three others that could enter you successfully. Dumbledore, Minerva and Sirius Black."

Harry's jaw dropped at that list. "But… but how?"

Xander smirked slightly. "Minerva and Albus are responsible for you, here. They act in loco parentis whilst you are at school. Their power to enter you into contracts is limited to things like school activities, but the Tournament is one of those."

As Harry digested that point, Xander added fuel to the fire. "Black, meanwhile, is still technically your legal guardian. Since he was never granted a trial he was never officially divested of his various legal entitlements, including your legal guardianship."

Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "How do you know all this?"

Xander's face was truly Slytherin smugness. "Sirius Black's legal status was discovered in '92 when my daughter-in-law attempted to claim the family title. Unfortunately, with her dear cousin's legal status being in limbo, so was the title. She was attempting to gain him a trial to clear things up when the idiot went and escaped."

Harry's mind was boggling at the things this man knew. "Then you know Sirius is innocent."

Xander shrugged. "I know no such thing. I know he was illegally denied trial and that it's been fouling up succession in the House of Black and apparently Potter as well. Do I think Black is guilty? I really don't know much about it. It certainly seems he's guilty, but without a trial its hard to say for sure."

Harry was strongly considering telling the professor about Wormtail, but without any proof it was debatable whether the other man would be convinced. "What now?"

Xander thought for a long moment. "We meet once a week, after classes. I'm going to teach you some tricks geared to survival. In the meanwhile, watch yourself around Dumbledore and keep a firm lookout in case it was Black."

Harry smirked faintly. "Not going to tell me to watch myself around your wife?"

Xander answered with a smirk of his own. "If you don't fear Minerva already, then it only proves you lions have no sense of self-preservation."

Dorcas: Dorcas Meadowes is an example of Xander flapping his wings and causing hurricanes in Scotland...
- Xander saves Dorcas from Voldemonkey
- Therefore: Dorcas lives to become Director of Magical Games and Sports
- Therefore: Dorcas plans the tasks for the Tri-Wizard Tournament
- Therefore: I don't have to used the way overused same three tasks that we've all seen done umpteen times or so!

Jasper