Harry continued to practically streak through the corridors. His temper was well beyond a breaking point. His worry about Sirius had somehow managed to multiply in the last few minutes. He knew that it was irrational but he couldn't help it. The unfairness of it all was just glaring in his face and right he just wished that he could kick something or even 'someone'. Harry reached the corridor outside the common-room to find Ginny waiting for him. She came towards him and gave him a hug. Harry hugged her tightly and soon he felt his temper ebb away a bit.
"Are you going to be all-right?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah." Harry replied. "But it sucks you know."
"It does." Ginny replied in a tone that left no room for doubts about her feelings about the entire thing.
"I think I will go bed now." Harry said. "Too many things are going on and I need to concentrate on beating Malfoy on a bloody Firebolt."
Harry reached the common-room to find it packed with excited students. Luckily no-one except those around him had noticed the exchange and they were not to ask anything before the match for sure. So within minutes of reaching the common-room, Harry found himself in his bed waiting for sleep to overcome him.
But sleep was hard to come by as he thought over the few minutes after dinner. He was still irritated and angry and annoyed and what not at Professor Dumbledore but he couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Harry knew for a fact that no other person except Professor Dumbledore would have taken his word and believed about Sirius' innocence just—like—that. Not many would give a werewolf a chance to attend school. Yeah he was simply directing his own frustrations at Professor Dumbledore. That could not possibly be healthy. Pyrrhic or not it did give Harry some satisfaction.
Harry woke up at the crack of dawn the following day and to his surprise Ron was not present in the dormitory. After showering and collecting his Quidditch apparatus he made his way to the common-room. The entire team was already assembled and by silent consent they made their way to the Great Hall. By 7:00am all the Professors had arrived and they all looked rather tense. Snape arrived with his Slytherin scarf planted around his neck.
"Ah, Potter." He began sneering. "I hope you do play competitively today. After-all Mr. Malfoy will be on a Firebolt as well. Your only advantage has been eroded away. Not to mention that Mr. Krum did consent to give a few tips to Mr. Malfoy as well. Please try and fly competitively. Hogwarts would like to show some resemblance of a fight to our guests." Snape announced pompously. Harry could not believe that this was a Professor of the school. Harry was about to reply when the rest of the team actually burst into outright laughter. Harry looked away from Snape and his team-mates who were laughing quite sincerely.
"Salazar Slytherin would be rolling in disgust in his grave right now, Sir." Harry said and everyone looked at him surprise. "The Head of his house hasn't shown even as ounce of shrewdness and astuteness in handling a simple matter of a teeny tiny Quidditch match." Harry said rather bravely.
"What are you talking about Potter?" Snape sneered out.
"If I had a brand new Firebolt and my opponents didn't know about it; I would have ensured that not a single person outside the team would be in the know about the Firebolt. That way when it was revealed a few seconds before the match that I was on a Firebolt it would have had a telling effect on the confidence of the opposition. But you allowed Malfoy's ego to take precedence and thus threw away a tactical advantage down the drain. And top of it you probably never ever realized it either." Harry replied calmly and in an even tone.
Snape it seemed did not have a reply for that and actually looked stumped. He simply sneered though the sneer was more comical than anything and then proceeded towards the High Table.
"And you wonder why we call you 'Snape-tamer'." The twins exclaimed and the team burst into laughter.
As the time went on the Great Hall started filling-up. The excitement in the air was palpable. Many things were happening around but neither Harry nor the rest of the team noticed it too much. It looked like the Durmstrang and the Beauxbaton contingents submitted their names to the goblet and Harry noticed a few students in Hogwarts robes submit their names too. Finally at 9:00am Angelina had them move to the Quidditch pitch. As they started making their way out many of the Gryffindors cheered and so did a few Hufflepuffs. The Slytherins meanwhile booed out.
"All the best, Harry." Ginny wished him mentally. "Don't let Malfoy get to you."
Finally at 10:00am and a brief but intense pep-up talk from Angelina later Harry found himself on the pitch standing opposite a smirking Malfoy who was holding out his Firebolt. To his and everyone's surprise it was Ludo Bagman and not Lee Jordan who was doing the commentary. Harry tuned out of it pretty quickly.
"You don't have an advantage now, Potter." Malfoy drawled out. "I am on a Firebolt too."
"Money can buy you a Firebolt but not the skill and the expertise needed to really put it through its paces and extract the maximum out of it." Harry retorted. "It's no better than a Nimbus 2001 for you." Harry said as he heard Madame Hooch ask the two captains to play fairly and then blew her whistle.
In an instant Harry had shot into the air was fastest among everyone. He reached a comfortable altitude and then began circling around the pitch. A few minutes later Malfoy flew right next to him and began cutting across Harry's path.
"Stop being childish, Malfoy." Harry said as he easily avoided Malfoy for the nth time.
"You are not going to win today, Potter." Malfoy cried out.
And he wasn't completely wrong. The Slytherin beaters were playing brutally. While Fred and George were quite good they couldn't cover everyone all the time and the Slytherin beaters were on faster brooms. Ron was holding up quite well though he had let through a couple of goals. The score after an intense twenty minutes was 30-40 in favour of Slytherin.
That was when Harry decided that he needed to disturb the Slytherin chaser plays and that was exactly what he did. Now with Harry flying expertly around them the Slytherin chasers were distracted and were thus easy preys to the Gryffindor girls who were now impeccable. Ron too pulled of a couple of good saves when the Slytherin chasers did manage to get through Harry. Harry also kept an eye peeled out for the snitch but it hadn't made an appearance so far. About an hour into the game the score was now 110-50 in favour of Gryffindors and the Slytherins were becoming more and more physical.
Suddenly out of the corner of his eyes, Harry saw Malfoy starting to dive towards the ground an expression of concentration on his face. An instant later Harry was streaking off towards Malfoy and a few seconds later Harry caught up with him and went into the dive himself. And that was when the alarm-bells started ringing in his head. There was no-way that he could have caught up so easily considering that Malfoy was on a Firebolt too. Harry peeled out his eyes and he could see no snitch either. Malfoy was feinting.
Almost instantly Harry pulled out of the dive and then threw himself flat on the broom and began flying towards the stand that was the farthest from his starting point. It took a moment for Malfoy to realize that Harry had pulled out of the dive. He too did the same and then began chasing Harry. Instead of slowing down Harry increased his speed. Having no other option Malfoy increased his speed too and was now flying in a straight-line at the fastest speed that the Firebolt could offer.
Harry allowed Malfoy to pull-up alongside and then went up to maximum speed himself even as he tried to cut across Malfoy. As a result instead of concentrating on the flight-path Malfoy was now concentrating on avoiding Harry. Harry heard Bagman mention something about the snitch and he could almost feel Malfoy tense that much more. He was literally subconsciously following Harry.
Harry turned slightly towards the Slytherin stands where he could see Snape and even the Durmstrang students looking at the two fascinated. He kept on trying to cut across Malfoy and then about five seconds before he would hit the banisters on the Slytherin stands he tried to maximize the speed and then shot like a bullet towards the stand. Malfoy did the same and now they were both hurtling towards the Slytherin stand at breakneck speed. The fastest speed that any broom in the world could offer.
A second before he would have crashed into the wooden-banisters Harry jerked his broom-handle upwards and was clear of the stands. Malfoy however was nowhere that alert. A moment after Harry had pulled out of that breakneck horizontal hurtle Malfoy crashed with a dull thud into the wooden banister. Malfoy broke cleanly through it and just like Alvin back in the First year, found himself almost cleanly crashing through and breaking portions of the wooden stands. A few seconds later Malfoy was as good as embedded in the wooden stands rather whatever was left of the small section of the stands.
The Slytherins in the stands had tried to jump out of the way at the last instant and most had been successful though some did have minor injuries. Malfoy however was truly and surely out of the match and probably into the Hospital Wing. For a moment Harry felt bad about injuring him but then he had no problems squashing those feelings. Meanwhile Harry saw Snape trying to extract Malfoy and his broomstick from the wooden mess. Harry had a feeling that the Firebolt would need a lot of servicing before it got back into a 'flyable' condition.
In the meantime the roar that had begun in the stadium after Malfoy's crash was still resounding in the stadium. Harry could hear Bagman's excited voice over the roar.
"Merlin! Can the boy fly!" Bagman repeated that at-least three times. "Are you watching this Mr. Krum? If you thought that the chaser interrupts were good what would you call that Wronksi Feint? It is…." Harry tuned out again and began looking for the snitch.
It was as if the snitch too sensed that there was to be only one winner as five minutes later and with Malfoy's broom still in the mess Harry saw the golden snitch fluttering above one of Gryffindor's goal-posts. He streaked after it and a few seconds later caught the snitch to a thunderous applause from the crowd. Gryffindor won 260 to 50.
Harry was soon engulfed by a teary-eyes Angelina who hugged him and then the twins followed into the big mid-air hug. Ron, Alicia and Katie followed suit and more than a few sobs and screams of elation later they all flew towards the staff-stand where Professor Dumbledore was holding the giant Inter-house Quidditch Trophy which he gladly handed over to Angelina who took it teary-eyed and then passed the Trophy around before it came to Harry's hand. He held it high as the Gryffindors gave another mighty roar and then beckoned Professor McGonagall to fly over the centre of the Gryffindor crowd. This time Professor McGonagall hitched a ride on George's broom and then gladly accepted the trophy from Harry.
"All-right everyone. PARTY in the tower RIGHT NOW!" Fred cried out as Harry landed on the ground and began receiving congratulatory back-slaps almost immediately.
Hermione and Ginny finally caught up with Harry and Ron and the four started making their way towards the castle. Ron was absolutely ecstatic about the victory and could hardly stop talking about Malfoy smashing into the Slytherin stands. Harry simply smiled as he listened to Ron describing Bagman's commentary as Malfoy flew behind Harry literally enchanted. They entered the Great Hall and for the first time that day Harry noticed the decorations in the Hall. A cloud of live bats was fluttering around the enchanted ceiling, while hundreds of carved pumpkins leered from every corner.
It was Halloween and the day's connotation registered to Harry for the first time since the morning and Harry's physical and mental disposition plummeted to literal misery. Ron didn't notice it and went on talking about Quidditch but Ginny certainly did and not surprisingly the shift in Harry's mood wasn't missed by Hermione's sharp eyes either.
"Harry?" Ginny said as Harry stopped in his tracks.
"I—I will just be around." Harry replied as he turned around and walked out of the Great Hall.
"I just want to be alone Gin." Harry mentally pleaded.
"I am going to follow you Potter." Ginny replied back firmly with a hint of irritation.
"Give me an hour, Gin. Only an hour." Harry pleaded. "Then you can…"
Ginny agreed to that so Harry continued on his way towards the lake. He found a shady spot that he had seen many times during his morning runs and then settled down with his back to the tree. He couldn't believe it. For the third straight year he had absolutely forgotten about Halloween and it's significance until well the fact that it was Halloween was glaring right at his face. His parents had died for him today and he did not even have the courtesy to remember that day.
"All right that's more than ENOUGH POTTER." Ginny practically screamed out as she stood in front of Harry with her hands on her hips. Harry could almost see traces of Mrs. Weasley in that stance.
"Will you please stop going down that path of self-pity for Merlin's sake." Ginny half pleaded half ordered. "This is the second year in a row that you are going down that very line. It is unreasonable and borders on ludicrous and comical.
"But I forgot…." Harry began again but Ginny spoke out mentally and forced Harry to stop.
"C'mon Harry." Ginny said firmly but tempered down her tone as she sat down next to him. "Please let this Halloween be different. Your parents would not have wanted to go down this path of self-pity and guilt. Do you honestly think that every Halloween they would have wanted you to wallow around in misery as a way to show them your respect? Besides what better way to pay obeisance to your parents then winning the Quidditch Cup." Ginny tried to encourage him.
"My mother would not have enjoyed it too much I guess." Harry replied with a wry smile. He certainly couldn't ignore Ginny's argument. "But I guess my dad wouldn't mind it too much."
"Actually the way Professor Lupin painted, your dad he would rather have you play a prank on the school or something instead of wallowing away in gloomy misery." Ginny said with a smile.
"Yeah I suppose." Harry replied. "But I can't help feeling guilty that I don't remember them so much…I mean…they gave up their lives for me and I am not even grateful about it. I barely remember that they are dead unless someone mentions Halloween. It's like I have learnt to live without them and I wonder whether I should be……"
"STOP being a fool, Potter." Ginny said rather forcefully. "They did not give up their lives so that you wallow in some weird kind of guilt. They would have wanted you to be happy and grow up to be a good person. That's what my parents used to tell me when I was a kid. Mum used to tell me that no matter what I should grow up to be a good person. That is what all parents want. Your parents would not have wanted you to constantly remember them and feel sad about them not being present. You are being ridiculous. You were fifteen months old when they passed away, you can't possibly remember anything about them. It is bloody tragic but the bloody truth. But it does not mean that you have forgotten them. The first thing that you asked Remus Lupin was about your parents. Now cheer-up. You are being ridiculous." Ginny finished rather firmly and Harry couldn't help but get out of the gloomy funk that he had got himself into. He still was sad but wasn't depressed anymore.
"You know, I haven't even visited their graves yet." Harry mentioned casually. He wasn't miserable anymore but he couldn't help but think about his parents.
"I didn't know it but I did suspect it." Ginny replied and then answered the question that Harry was bound to ask. "Knowing your relatives I doubt that they would be too eager to take you to a wizarding cemetery."
"Yeah. Wish I could visit it sometime though." Harry said.
"Maybe you could ask dad to take there during the Christmas vacation." Ginny suggested.
"Maybe. But I don't want to be any bigger burden than I already am." Harry replied quite honestly.
"Merlin! Are you in a funk today or what?" Ginny said partly irritated partly amused. "My parents love you. Mum considers you to be a seventh son and as the twins point out her favourite one already. They would never think of you as a burden."
"Maybe they would have a different opinion after they learn a few things that I have done last year." Harry said.
"Naah." Ginny replied pretty confidently. "Dad might be working for the ministry but he is well aware of its shortcomings. Neither of my parents is like Percy. She might not say so openly but frankly if anything mum would probably be even more impressed with you. Freeing Sirius is the kind of that thing that her younger brothers Fabian and Gideon Prewett would have done. Foolish but brave and stupid but the right thing to do."
"Your mother has brothers?" Harry asked surprised. "How come I have never heard about them?"
"Had brothers." Ginny simply answered. "They were killed by death-eaters. Mum never talks about them but Bill once told us about them. They were only auror trainees but yet went down to fight when a family was attacked. They apparently even managed to distract the death-eaters and allowed the family that was attacked to escape but paid with their lives when more death-eaters arrived. Mum was rather devastated. She was really—really attached to her kid-brothers."
"I—I never knew." Harry replied. "Is that why Fred and George have names that begin with F and G?" Harry asked after a few moments.
"No idea." Ginny replied. "None of us have had the guts to actually ask mum or even dad about it." After that Harry and Ginny fell into a comfortable silence. As the afternoon wore on the Sun disappeared behind some clouds and soon Harry snoozed off and was joined by Ginny a few minutes later.
Harry was woken up a few hours later by water drops falling on his eyes. He woke up and realized that it was raining rather drizzling gently. Ginny was asleep too only she was using Harry's lap as a pillow and for some reason that warmed his heart. She looked very peaceful sleeping and Harry could probably see her sleeping for a long time but they needed to get back into the castle. The Sun had almost gone down and Harry could see the lights from the castle in the distance. He supposed that the Halloween feast was already underway. 'Great' he thought another feast that he was going to miss. Actually he wasn't feeling that sorry. He wasn't in a mood to sit through a feast. Someone could tell him the champions any other time.
"Wake up, Gin." Harry gently said and Ginny stirred a little. A couple of minutes and a few mental nudges later Ginny was finally awake.
"Do all you Weasleys sleep so deeply and heavily in the afternoons?" Harry joked.
"Hey! You fell asleep before me and I followed you only because I couldn't leave you all alone asleep here by the lake." Ginny replied indignantly.
"Whatever…But we need to get going." Harry said with a smile. "The feast is probably already underway though I really don't want to go to the feast. We can eat in the kitchens though."
"Sure but how?" Ginny asked. "We would have to go through the Great Hall."
"Not if we ride the broom and enter the castle from the first floor window and then use the storeroom entrance." Harry suggested as he began mounting his broom.
"Sure." Ginny replied. "As long as you don't crash the broom." She joked.
Harry didn't reply but simply raised his eyebrows as he mounted his Firebolt and signaled Ginny to mount it as well. Five minutes later they were seated around a table in the kitchen with the over excited and overzealous Dobby rushing around to feed them as much as possible. Chucky did look on disapprovingly but did not try and stop Dobby. Harry was eating through his third treacle tart and laughing at Dobby's antics when the kitchen portrait was thrown open and in stepped a clearly fuming but surprisingly stricken Professor McGonagall.
"HARRY!" She exclaimed as she started walking towards him. "WHAT are you doing here and why were you not at the feast and why are you still in your Quidditch robes?"
"Err…" Harry began eloquently as usual.
"Harry realized that it was Halloween only after the match was over and well he really wasn't up to a celebration or anything." Ginny replied in Harry's stead. Harry saw the anger in Professor McGonagall's eyes abate a little but the stricken almost panicked look on her face was still visible.
"Err…is anything wrong Ma'am?" Harry asked. "Did Sirius Black break into the castle again?" Harry tried to joke but realized that it certainly wasn't a good time to joke.
"Kindly follow me, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall's professional tone was back. "Miss Weasley I would appreciate if you made your way straight to the common room." She said briskly before turning around and heading out of the portal.
"What the hell is going on now?" Harry asked.
"No idea. You might want to follow her. I wouldn't want to test her temper." Ginny said as Harry picked up his broom and made his way out of the portal himself. Professor McGonagall was waiting for him outside the door and as soon as she saw him started making her way towards the Great Hall.
"Maybe Malfoy complained about the Wronksi Feint." Harry theorized.
"At least come up with a rational reason." Ginny shot back.
"Well that is the only thing that I can think of right now." Harry replied.
"You could ask her you know." Ginny suggested.
"Err…Ma'am what has happened and how did you find me?" Harry asked remembering the look on her face as she came into the kitchens. She knew for sure that Harry was in there. The only sure shot way of knowing was by the use of Marauder's Map and it was currently locked in his trunk.
"Considering that you were not at the feast there was a very good chance that you would be in the kitchens." She replied.
"But why were you searching for me?" Harry asked again.
"I believe that there are persons more qualified than me to answer that." She replied.
"Eh?" Harry replied confusedly. "This isn't about err 'him' err last year's him is it?" Harry asked dreading the worst.
"This has absolutely nothing to do with your godfather." Professor McGonagall replied as she walked past the High Table and stood in front of a door. "Please answer all the questions you are asked honestly. I only hope that you have kept your promise." She said mysteriously before opening the doors and entering the room.
Harry had barely started pondering over her last comment when he entered the room and noticed about fifteen-odd persons all staring intently at him. Practically the entire Hogwarts' staff was there in addition to the towering Madame Maxime and Karkaroff. Standing to a side apparently in the middle of a discussion were Ludo Bagman and Bartemius Crouch. To complete the 'jamboree' Harry could also see Krum, the veela-girl and Cedric Diggory standing near the fireplace.
"HOW did you do it, Potter?" Snape sneered out even as Harry was processing all the visuals from around the room.
"Do what?" Harry asked back.
"Stop your nonsense and tell us how you did it." Snape ordered.
"Severus." Professor Dumbledore addressed Snape. His tone was laced with a mild warning. "Harry do you know why you are here?"
"Ginny?" Harry asked desperately even as he couldn't think of anything.
"The entire TriWizard team is there, Harry. With the three champions." Ginny replied.
"Yes that means that all the three champion's slots have been taken." Harry replied.
"Err…none at all Sir." Harry replied quickly as he realized that he hadn't replied for quite sometime. Almost immediately Harry could hear laughs and scoffs around the room.
"Ginny I think that…" Harry began but was cut off by Professor Dumbledore.
"Harry, your name came out of the Goblet of Fire." He said.
"Eh?" Harry exclaimed confused. "How could my name come out? I never entered." Harry tried to make sense of the happenings around him.
"Harry! That means that you are a champion." Ginny exclaimed in alarm.
"Oh please, Potter!" Snape exclaimed. "You didn't enter on your own. Then you must have asked someone else to do it for you. YOU have always considered rules beneath you."
"What!" Harry practically screamed out. "I never entered it. Nor was I….." Harry tapered off as he realized that Cedric was probably standing there as a Hogwarts' champion.
"Err…how did my name come out?" Harry asked Professor Dumbledore. "Isn't Cedric the Hogwarts' champion?"
"Your name came out fourth in order after the expected three names." Professor Dumbledore replied.
"How is that possible?" Harry asked.
"That is exactly what we would like to know, boy." Karkaroff spat out.
"I have absolutely NO IDEA." Harry replied truthfully. "How would I know?"
"Because YOUR name came out from the goblet, Potter." Snape screamed out.
"I didn't do it." Harry insisted. "How could I even know what to do? And why in the world would I want to enter the TriWizard tournament? I face enough difficult, dangerous and life threatening tasks in my everyday life as it is. I don't need a bloody tournament to prove myself. And just as I told Snape back in first year I am already bloody rich and bloody famous! Give me one good reason for trying to get into the damn competition." Harry yelled out.
Nobody spoke for a few seconds and then the veela-girl took a shot. "Z'est honor for our schools and us. Z'est a chance to earn glory for our school."
Harry simply shot a look at her which would have made Snape proud. It clearly said that Harry thought that she was a wholesome idiot. Madame Maxime and the girl were looking at Harry more surprised than anything else. In fact the girl looked completely shocked and exchanged surprised looks with her Headmistress. Harry looked around and realized that no one was actually saying anything. Harry spotted Crouch and surprisingly he was completely silent.
"But it did, Harry." Came Ginny's frantic voice. "So someone did enter you but why?"
"But he 'as to be lying." Madame Maxime burst out. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling.
"No I am not." Harry replied irritably. He was finding it more and more difficult to control his rising temper. "How could I have even the crossed the age-line or how could I have arranged for my name to come out as the fourth champion?"
"You are the only one who stands to gain from it, boy." Karkaroff retorted angrily. "You would have known how to do it. So stop playing dumb."
That pushed Harry over the edge.
"You of all the persons, Mr.—Professor Karkaroff should be the last person to give me that advice." Harry spat out rather coldly. "Me playing dumb is rather essential for your continued….."
"Mr. POTTER!" Professor McGonagall was fuming. Karkaroff meanwhile had recoiled as he understood the implications of the statement and Harry saw almost everyone in the room besides the three champions suck in a breath. Everyone knew exactly what Harry was implying.
"I liked you the moment I saw you, Potter." Harry heard Professor Moody's voice and he jumped. He hadn't spotted Professor Moody who was lounging in the shadows. "Potter has very little to gain from it. But my theory about someone…."
"Enough of your paranoid conspiracy theories, Moody." Karkaroff who seemed to have gained his voice back spat out.
"What conspiracy theory?" Harry asked confused.
"Nothing to worry about Harry." Ludo Bagman spoke up for the first time. "Old Moody seems to think that someone entered your name as the only participant from a fourth school and fooled the Goblet into choosing you hoping that you would perhaps be injured in the process. But that is just paranoid old Moody…."
Bagman continued talking but Harry wasn't listening anymore. He looked at Professor Dumbledore who was looking at him. Professor Dumbledore's face didn't betray any emotions but it was clear that he was serious and worried. Harry flicked his eyebrows in question and received a gentle shrug of the shoulders which didn't confirm Moody's theory but neither was it discounted.
"Moody could be right you know." Ginny said. "Sure he is paranoid and all but he is the best in the business."
"He could be right." Harry said. "This wouldn't be the first time that someone is out to injure me or frankly get me killed."
Harry focused his attention on the room again and realized that Madame Maxime and Karkaroff were arguing about something with Professor McGonagall.
"I won't participate." Harry said loudly and everyone turned their attention to him.
"Are you completely STUPID, Potter?" Snape sneered out. "Where were you when the Headmaster mentioned the binding magical contract part?"
"Give me some credit, Sir. I do after all top your class regularly." Harry replied irritably. "I didn't enter my name so how does the binding contract apply to me?" Harry asked and it was clear that no one had really thought about that aspect. There was silence in the room for a few moments someone spoke up.
"That is not how it works, Potter." It was Bartemius Crouch who spoke in a brisk businesslike tone. "Until the late 1500s it was common practice to have all the students from each school to apply. Naturally it was found logistically impossible to arrange for each student from the three schools to enter their names individually. So the Heads of the three schools submitted the roster of their respective charges and I can assure you that the binding contract certainly applied then as well." Crouch explained and the small glimmer of hope that Harry had begun to feel disappeared pretty quickly.
"You will have to participate, Harry." Professor Dumbledore spoke up. "There seems to be no way around it."
The days after his name came out of the Goblet of fire were quite interesting and had it not been for the support shown by his friends and the Gryffindor house he would have found them very difficult to survive. The Gryffindors refused to believe that he wasn't responsible for it. All the Weasleys and Hermione did but even the twins were rather happy that a Gryffindor had a chance rather than 'pretty-boy' Cedric. The Slytherins of course wasted no time in throwing insults left right and centre but Harry found them more childish than anything else. He hadn't expected anything else from the Slytherins. The only reaction which hurt him the most however were from the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws who seemed to believe that Harry was being nothing more than a glory-seeker.
In view of everything and the fact that his presence in the Great Hall invariably led to a spat between the Gryffindors and the rest of the houses Harry had started taking meals in the kitchens and was now moving around in his invisibility cloak. Hermione and surprisingly the twins were adamant that now that Harry was going to have to participate he might as well try and win it. So they were helping him all out to prepare for the first task which was to be held on the twenty fourth. Since they didn't know what Harry was exactly going to face for now they were simply practicing charms that might help him.
Ginny and Hermione had both panicked at first after taking in Moody's theory but channeled that panic into trying to figure out who might be responsible. So far the only suspects that the six had managed to come up with was Karkaroff. He was the only one who had anything to gain from Harry's death.
The worst part was however Hermione insisted that Harry write to Sirius about being entered into the Tournament. Harry hated doing it and knew that Sirius would probably blow a gasket with worry.
Funnily it was the first double potions after Halloween that Harry was dreading. Knowing the new-found Gryffindor attitude of not allowing Snape to throw shit at them Harry had a feeling that at the end of the double-potions someone was probably going to end-up dead.
When the trio arrived at Snape's dungeon after lunch, they found the Slytherins waiting outside, each and every one of them wearing a large badge on the front of his or her robes. He saw that they all bore the same message, in luminous red letters that burnt brightly in the dimly lit underground passage:
SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY-- THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION!
"Like them, Potter?" said Malfoy loudly as Harry approached. "And this isn't all they do - look!" He pressed his badge into his chest, and the message upon it vanished, to be replaced by another one, which glowed green:
POTTER STINKS!
The Slytherins howled with laughter. Each of them pressed their badges too, untilthe message POTTER STINKS was shining brightly all around Harry. He felt the heatrise in his face and neck.
"Oh very funny," Hermione said sarcastically to Pansy Parkinson and her gang of Slytherin girls, who were laughing harder than anyone, "really witty."
"Want one, Granger?" said Malfoy, holding out a badge to Hermione. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see; don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."
Some of the anger Harry had been feeling for days and days seemed to burst through a dam in his chest. He had reached for his wand before he'd thought what he was doing. People all around them scrambled out of the way, backing down the corridor.
"Apologize to her, Malfoy or I swear you will regret it." Harry said coldly.
"Harry what is going on?" Came Ginny worried voice but Harry ignored her.
"Harry!" Hermione and Ron both said warningly.
"Go on, then, Potter," Malfoy said quietly, drawing out his own wand. "If you have the balls." Malfoy baited Harry.
"Don't do it Harry." Ginny said.
Harry looked at Malfoy in the eye but to everyone's utter surprise lowered his wand. "You have five seconds Malfoy. If you haven't apologized till then, I assure you that I will make your life in Hogwarts a living hell." Harry said evenly but clearly Malfoy wasn't impressed.
"What is going on here?" It was Professor Snape who had arrived before Malfoy could reply. But surprisingly nobody answered nor did anyone take their eyes off Harry and Malfoy.
"I will not apologize, Potter." Malfoy replied. Harry did not reply but simply smiled and unexpectedly so did the Gryffindors. No one had forgotten what had happened to Lockhart and Harry had known Lockhart only for a single day. Five minutes later and twenty points from Gryffindor for not answering the class was seated.
"Antidotes!" said Snape, looking around at them all, his cold black eyes glittering unpleasantly. "You should all have prepared your recipes now. I want you to brew them carefully, and then, we will be selecting someone on whom to test one. . ."
Snape's eyes met Harry's, and Harry knew what was coming. Snape was going to poison him. Harry couldn't help but smile a bit. The last time his potion was incorrect was back in the first year. Ten minutes into the Potion making Harry realized that he had the first opportunity to stick to his promise. Harry had so far used 'nettles', 'lovage' and 'scurvy-grass' in the Potion. He knew it for a fact that if 'hellebore was added to this mixture it would react badly and explode. Ten seconds later after making sure that Snape's attention wasn't on him Harry banished a small amount of hellebore right towards Malfoy's cauldron. Harry's aim was true. It took the ingredients couple of moments to react and then: BOOM!
The cauldron exploded and since Malfoy liked to surround himself with all the Slytherins, they were the only ones drenched in the liquid and almost instantly they all started to sport boils on the spots where the liquid had struck them. Not surprisingly they started screaming out in panic and the Gryffindors who were shocked for a few moments burst into laughter. Snape tried unsuccessfully to bring the class under control but since the Slytherins were now rushing out of the class he had no option to go after them and make sure that they did make it safely to the Hospital Wing. He did give the Gryffindors a deadly glare before leaving but that was all he could do as the screams somehow seemed to increase in volume as the echoes started building up.
Finally after a few minutes the laughing subsided and almost as one everyone turned to look at Harry. Ron and the others had large smiles plastered on their faces but Hermione was frowning.
"That was rather mean, Potter." Ginny admonished Harry but he could feel a bit of amusement in her voice as well.
"I don't ever roll back on my promises." Harry simply said as he swung his bag over his shoulders and started walking out of the class and started heading towards the Gryffindor tower. He made it to the couch and since he had over two hours before the next class he decided to take a nap.
"Lucky dog!" Ginny who was sweating out in Herbology remarked. Harry simply laughed and settled onto the couch.
His nap however was interrupted by an irate Professor McGonagall.
"Mr. Potter would you kindly explain why you aren't at lunch or why you had left Potions and hour early than the scheduled time." She asked in a furious tone.
Harry blinked a few times as the fog in his mind lifted and he noticed the infuriated looks on Professor McGonagall's face for the first time.
"Potions got cancelled as some Slytherin blew a Potion and so I decided to come here and take a nap." Harry ended with a barely stifled yawn. "But why were you searching for me now?" He asked as he sat up straight on the couch. "I promise you I haven't done anything. Snape is…."
"This has got nothing to do with whatever you are clearly responsible for but would never be held responsible for." Professor McGonagall said with an actual smile. "You are supposed to be with the other champions at the 'wand-weighing' ceremony. So please make your way to the ante-room off the charms corridor."
"Wand-weighing?" Harry asked confusedly.
"It is a method of making sure that your wand is in perfect working order." Professor McGonagall said as she headed towards the portrait hole. "Now, head to the charms corridor without any further delay."
"How about if I have a quick lunch?" Harry asked hopefully as he felt his stomach rumble in hunger.
"Charms Corridor, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall said that firmly.
Harry started heading towards the charms corridor but only half-heartedly. His thoughts were still focused on the lunch that Ginny was enjoying.
"You got to sleep, Potter." Ginny said reading his thoughts. "Don't grumble about food. You can't have everything."
"Hey! I could die of hunger you know." Harry shot back and Ginny did not reply but laughed at the hyperbole. Harry finally reached the ant-room, knocked and entered the room.
A long table draped in black was the first thing that Harry saw. There were five chairs behind it with Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, Bagman and Mr. Crouch seated behind it and talking with a witch dressed in magenta robes that Harry has never seen before. Professor Dumbledore was standing by a window talking to an old man whom Harry couldn't quite place while Krum, Fleur and Cedric were conversing rather Fleur and Cedric seemed to be conversing and Krum was listening. It took a few moments for them to realize that Harry had shown up.
"Ah, here he is! Champion number four! In you come, Harry, in you come…nothing to worry about; it's just the wand weighing ceremony." Bagman had spotted Harry and bounded towards him. Behind him Harry noticed the witch staring at him with great interest.
"Nice of you to show-up an hour late, boy." Karkaroff snarled.
"The next time you have an event associated with the TriWizard tournament please do notify me in advance." Harry replied calmly. "It is rather tricky to be punctual for an event which you have no prior intimation of."
Harry reply was greeted by a silence. He had a feeling that most expected him to lose his temper once again.
"My word, Harry. What happened to the revenge-seeker?" Ginny asked.
"I got to maintain an image. After all I didn't become a Snape-tamer by losing my temper." Harry replied mentally.
"Let us get the proceedings underway, now that we have all the champions here." Professor Dumbledore said as he took his seat behind the long table. "May I introduce Mr. Ollivander? He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the tournament."
Harry hooked around, and with a jolt of surprise saw an old wizard with large, pale eyes standing quietly by the window. Harry had met Mr. Ollivander before - he was the wand maker from whom Harry had bought his own wand over three years ago in Diagon Alley.
The ceremony began with Fleur being the first one up. The most interesting part was that she was indeed a part-veela. Cedric went up next and Harry tried to tune out as he began plotting pranking Malfoy again.
"Concentrate on the ceremony, Harry." Ginny admonished him. "I want to hear it. Maybe Krum might turn out to be a part leprechaun or part centaur."
"Part-centaur?Aren't Centaurs already part human?" He said.
"Well he slouches around on two feet. It is like he was meant to have four feet but somewhere down the line they disappeared." Ginny joked and Harry had to control himself from bursting into laughter.
"Good," said Mr. Ollivander, handing Krum back his wand. "Which leaves…Mr. Potter?" Harry got to his feet and walked past Krum to Mr. Ollivander. He handed over his wand.
"Aaaah, yes." said Mr. Ollivander, his pale eyes suddenly gleaming. "Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember."
Harry could remember that very well too. What was it that Mr. Ollivander has told him… 'Think with your mind and then let your heart decide if it is right and then you will never go wrong'…
"You think he might say out loud that your wand is Voldemort's brother wand?" Ginny asked.
"That would probably be bigger than the fourth champion thing." Harry replied. "He would never want people to know that Voldemort's wand was made by him. It would be bad for business. Besides he seems to be a good person."
Mr. Ollivander spent a long time examining Harry's wand. At more than a few occasions he glanced up at Harry. Finally he made wine shoot out of it and declaring it to be in perfect working order handed it back to Harry.
"Thank you all," said Dumbledore, standing up at the judges' table. "You may go back to your lessons now - or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end…"
"Photographs!" Bagman exclaimed enthusiastically and Harry groaned. He had a feeling that the photography session was going to be a tedious one and he was probably going to miss out on a meal again.
"You can always have it in the kitchens. Stop being so grumpy." Ginny told him as the reporter whom Harry knew was called Rita Skeeter directed around everyone. She seemed to have a strange fascination to have Harry in the centre of the picture while the photographer seemed to want Fleur. Personally Harry completely supported the photographer. She was much more photogenic than he could ever be. Finally it was time to go and Harry couldn't wait to head towards the door but it seemed that the evening was to only get longer.
"Ah Harry would you mind answering a few question?" Rita Skeeter asked Harry.
"Not unless I am getting house-points for them." Harry quipped.
"Ah that's good enough." Skeeter said. "So how do you feel being the youngest champion?"
"Absolutely fantastic. Can't wait to put my life in danger and get into the list of the dead TriWizard champions." Harry replied irritably. "Ciao!"
Harry said as he started making his way towards the door where the other champions seemed to have been observing his exchange.
"Hunger makes me irritable." Harry said with a smile. "And we have missed dinner as well."
"That we haff." Krum gruffed out a reply.
"I hope someone saved something for me otherwise it will be only chocolate-frogs tonight." Cedric said.
"Eh?" Harry asked surprisingly. "Don't you know where the kitchens are?"
"No." Cedric replied. "Do you?"
"Yeah of course." Harry replied with a smile. "You all interested in going for a quick meal in the kitchens?" Harry asked Krum and Fleur as well. Krum nodded almost immediately while Fleur looked on skeptically but finally agreed.
"Well follow me then." Harry said as he started heading towards the Great Hall which had emptied by this time. He made his way towards the portrait of the giant fruit-bowl and tickled the pear and a moment later the kitchen portal opened.
"Welcome to the Hogwarts kitchens." Harry said as he motioned the other three to follow him into the kitchen. They made it in and Harry had barely turned around after closing the portal when he tackled at the knees and surprisingly to the floor by an over-excited Dobby.
"The great Harry Potter comes again." Dobby exclaimed in his high squeaky voice. "And he had got new friends with him. Dobby is so happy to be serving them. Dobby is so…"
"THAT'S great Dobby." Harry interrupted loudly. "Do you have to do this 'routine' everytime I come to the kitchens?"
"But Dobby is not being here the last time the great Harry Potter visited…."
"Okay—okay just can we have some dinner please?" Harry said.
"Of course, Sir." Dobby said as he popped away even as a few other elves went about setting the table.
"Do Scarhead and the masters and mistress wish for something extra?" It was Chucky who was rather disapprovingly watching the proceedings.
"Err…" Harry began eloquently. His skills as the host-apparent were non-existent. But it seemed that Chucky recognized his discomfort and took control of it herself.
"Mistress would like something special?" She asked turning towards Fleur.
"Non, ze regular course will suffice." Fleur replied. Chucky in turned towards Krum and Cedric both of whom declined. Krum was actually staring around at the kitchen in wonder. A few minutes later the four sat around the table that the elves had set –up and started eating in a bit of uncomfortable silence. About halfway through the meal it was Krum who actually broke the silence.
"You fly vary well." Krum said addressing Harry. "You should try for the England team."
It took about a moment for that to sink in and then Harry groaned out loudly and buried his head into the table and Cedric surprisingly broke into raucous laughter and actually slipped off his chair prompting Fleur to glance disapprovingly at the two Hogwarts' students while Krum looked on confusedly wondering why a compliment should have brought about such odd and extreme reactions from the two. But after that the four slipped into a comfortable conversation and surprisingly even Fleur deigned to join in.
It was well past the curfew when Harry finally started making his way towards the Gryffindor common-room where the only thing he wanted to do was to slip into his bed and sleep.
"Don't count on it." Came Ginny's voice. "Sirius' reply is here. He wants to talk to you via the fire in the Gryffindor common-room on the night of the 22nd."