Previously:
"Now, your Champions will need your support…"
"Albus…" Amos Diggory hissed. Dumbledore turned in time to see a single piece of parchment fly out of the Goblet. It landed in his hands, he read the names and knew something was amiss. He also knew this could cause the end of his career.
After a deep breath he read out the names. "Harry and Ginny Potter."
Chapter 13: Contracts and Plans
Harry and Ginny solemnly stood in the deathly quiet of the Great Hall. They walked hand in hand passed Dumbledore, glaring at him the whole way. Sirius slapped the tabletop loudly as he stood, making the entire Great Hall jump. He stormed up to Dumbledore, glaring. Sirius looked the old man straight in the eye.
"You had better have a good explanation for this!" Sirius growled at the Headmaster, making Dumbledore retreat a step. Sirius huffed angrily and stormed off after Harry and Ginny.
Harry and Ginny entered the chamber to find the other Champions talking quietly by the fireplace. The French girls looked annoyed, the Durmstrang boys looked surly, Cedric looked confused.
"Potter?" sneered Davies. "What's going on out there?"
"Some bloody git put our names into the ruddy Cup and it spit them out," growled Ginny. Harry could tell, she was close to hexing someone, and it would not be pretty.
"Oh, bloody hell!" Cedric cursed. "It's the World Cup all over again!"
"You got that right, Diggory!" Sirius said as he entered.
Dumbledore, the other Heads, and the judges, along with Snape, Moody, and McGonagall, entered before anyone else could comment.
"But surely there is something we can do?" asked McGonagall.
"The Cup was obviously bewitched," Moody said, as Barty Crouch came into the chamber. Amos Diggory pulled him aside to tell him what had happened. Crouch nodded, as Amos stepped away.
Amos Diggory looked at his son, then at Dumbledore. He glanced at Sirius, before heaving a great breath.
"I'm afraid I must recuse myself as a judge in the Tournament, Albus." Amos turned to his Undersecretary. "Barty, it falls to you."
"There's nothing we can do," Crouch said, his voice sounded hollow. "The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding Magical Contract. They must compete."
Sirius eyed Crouch. Despite his dislike of the man, there was something off about how he was acting. The other Heads started voicing their negative opinions loudly. To their credit, Harry and Ginny remained quiet, but Sirius could tell they were seething. He really didn't want Ginny to go off here. Or Harry for that matter. He had seen both of them angry, and they were very close to letting these supposed adults have some very harsh words. Suddenly, it was quiet, and Dumbledore turned to Harry.
"Harry, Ginny, did you put your names in the Cup?" Dumbledore asked. Harry and Ginny both felt the pressure of his mental probe.
"No!" Harry said through gritted teeth.
"No, we did not!" Ginny spat angrily. "And I'll thank you to stay out of my mind, Headmaster!"
"Albus!" Sirius warned. Dumbledore turned away from the couple, looking innocent. Sirius knew better. He made a decision that was a long time coming since his release from Azkaban.
"Very well. I believe them," Dumbledore said.
"Zhiz eez ridicule!" Madame Maxime shouted.
"I do not believe dem!" Karkaroff spat. "Do you hoove an alibi for vhere you vere last night?"
"Why even ask them, Igor?" sneered Snape. "They will just lie for each other."
"Severus, enough," warned Dumbledore.
"It's just another attempt for him to garner attention, just like…" Snape began.
The lights started to flicker, the room started to shake, and a breeze started blowing out of nowhere. Sparks started forming and flying off Ginny. "Harry hates the attention! Maybe if you opened your eyes and actually look…" Harry laid a calming hand on her shoulder. Sirius stepped between her and Snape.
"Ginny, stop," Sirius said calmly. "He's baiting you."
"Fine!" Ginny huffed. "If you must know Harry was with me last night, ALL NIGHT!"
"And Hermione slept on our sofa last night, because we were up late doing our Potions homework until half past eleven!" Harry added.
"Zhat do vous mean? And vhy do vous 'ave a sofa of votre own? Do you not live en zhe dorms?" Madame Maxime asked confused.
"Harry and I are married," Ginny stated.
"What? How?" asked a flabbergasted Ludo Bagman.
"The Wizarding Law of 1652," Harry answered simply, not giving specifics.
"It also makes them adults," Dumbledore stated sadly.
"Then there is no question," Crouch stated. "They must compete. Our hands are tied."
"Well, if that is ruddy well settled," Moody said, a flash of a smile crossed his lips. Sirius caught it. "Let's get on with it!"
Sirius looked at Moody. Something was off about him, but Sirius couldn't quite figure it out. He knew he would have to look into it more, but right now was not the time. Bagman was droning on about the first task being about courage and a single member event. As soon as he was finished, he dismissed everyone.
"Sirius, may I speak with you and the Potters in my office?" Asked Dumbledore quietly. Harry and Ginny both nodded curtly at him.
"Yes," Sirius spat venomously. He had a few things he needed to tell the Headmaster, and now was the perfect time.
They walked silently up the stairs and down the corridors following the Headmaster. Sirius was burning holes in the old man's back with his glare. Harry and Ginny stopped for a moment. Sirius looked back at them. Dobby appeared. Ginny whispered something to him and he disappeared again. They caught up with Sirius, who gave them a questioning look. Ginny shook her head. Sirius was about to ask, verbally, but Dobby appeared again, handing something to Ginny and was gone again.
"Trump card," Ginny smirked at Sirius. He looked confused, but had no time to ask as they came to the gargoyle in front of the Headmaster's office. They rode the stairs up and entered the office behind Dumbledore. He sat down behind his desk, looking sad and old. Finally, he looked up at Sirius, Harry, and Ginny.
"We must plan this out. I am afraid the time is near that Voldemort will return," Dumbledore said gravely. "And return he must, before he can be defeated for good. We must destroy every piece of him."
"I'm already hunting his horcruxes, Dumbledore!" Sirius growled.
"Yes, I know," he sighed. "I have some more information for you. But first I need to tell the three of you a prophecy that was given to me before you were born, Harry."
"Oh?" Ginny said, reaching into her robes. She pulled a folded piece of parchment out and tossed it on the desk. "You mean the one that says my husband and I are the ones that can and will take Tom down for good?" she sneered. Dumbledore picked up the parchment and read it. He turned very pale as he did. "Yeah, we already know!"
"And whatever scheme you have in mind, forget it," Harry snarled. "We will be doing the planning. With or without you!"
Dumbledore paled further at Harry's words. "But, surely you must…?"
"No. Here is what we are going to do, Albus," Sirius started. "Remus and I, and a few trusted friends, will train these two to get them through this asinine tournament! During which, we will think up a fake prophecy and switch it at the Ministry as soon as possible."
"Agreed," Dumbledore said, still looking pale.
"Any arguments from you will fall on deaf ears! You are support, not the one in charge, if even that, after what you've done. Or should I say what you haven't done?" snarled Ginny.
"And just so we are clear," Harry said. "We are adults because of our bond. You will treat us as such!" growled Harry. "No more withholding information!"
"Agreed," gulped Dumbledore as he felt the power in the room build.
"Harry, Ginny, please wait for me in the hall. I would like a private word with the Headmaster," Sirius said. Harry and Ginny nodded, and left. Sirius watched as they closed the door and waited a few seconds before rounding on the Headmaster. "I only have one thing to say. I am taking my seat on the Wizengamot and the Board of Governors." Sirius stood and leaned over the desk, very close to Dumbledore's face. "I'll only say this once. Start packing, start planning your down time! Because at the end of this year, you, Albus, are retiring from your many positions of power, one way or another! And that is not a threat, it is a promise. Am. I. Clear?"
"As crystal," Dumbledore said in a shaky voice.
Ron paced in front of the Portrait Hole to Gryffindor Tower. He saw Harry and Ginny walking up the stairs finally. As they walked up, Ron stepped in front of Harry with a scowl on his face.
"Just what are you playing at, Potter?" growled Ron. "First you take my sister away from our family, then you enter this stupid tournament? For what? More fame? More money? Or is it so you can get her killed and move on to someone else?"
Harry didn't have time to answer, as Ron went flying into the wall. He hit solidly, knocking the breath out of his lungs. Ginny stood eye to eye with him, a glare that would make even her mother back down.
"You listen, and you listen well, Ronald!" she shouted in his face. Her voice then dropped to a very dangerous snarl. "Harry and I are married, whether you like it or not! We did not enter this asinine tournament! We do not have a choice in whether we compete or not! And if you ever accuse Harry or I of not caring about the other, again, I will personally introduce your face to your own arse with my bare hands! Got it?" Ron nodded weakly as Harry gently pulled Ginny away from him.
"You might want to think before you speak to us again, Ronald," Harry said over his shoulder. He turned back to Ginny and broke into a wide smile. "You know your beautiful when you're angry?"
"Is that right, Mr. Potter?" Ginny asked with a sweet tone. Ron's mouth dropped at how fast she had calmed down, by just being held by Harry.
"Yes, it is, Mrs. Potter," he smiled. He leaned down giving her a quick kiss. "Unless it's directed at me, of course," he joked. Ginny giggled, and swatted his arm. Without a second look at Ron, they left to go to their own quarters.
A/N: Sorry this one is so short, but as the TWT continues...well, let's just say things are going to get intense. Expect the unexpected, and question what you think will happen. You may be right, you may be wrong. You'll just have to wait and see! As always, thanks for the R/Rs.