Chapter 36 – – A speech and the goblet
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Kat, Hermione and I popped out of the fireplace on level VIII of the Ministry of Magic at the appointed time. A contingency of Aurors surrounded us and directed us to the Ministry Maintenance office door where a platform had been erected in that corner of the atrium. As the four of us walked to the platform Madam Bones persuaded me, in a loud voice, to say a few words to the gathering public. Of course my public appearance followed the suggested guidelines that Madam Bones had made but then I started to ad lib…
"Albus Dumbledore has forced through the Harry Potter protection act and has taken it upon himself to ensure my safety. I must say I am grateful to Albus Dumbledore in ensuring my safety as the tri-wizard tournament is being held this coming year at Hogwarts. I will assure everyone here that I have no intentions of entering enter that tournament and I am sure that my protector Albus Dumbledore will ensure that age lines are erected so only qualified wizards can enter. In fact I wish to invite the members of the press to monitor the entire tri-wizard tournament from the arrival of the other schools to the selection of the champions. I have enough on my plate in that I have been prophesied to be the only person capable of ridding the magical world of your half blood Dark Lord, He-who-shall-not-be-named...yes his father was a muggle!"
From out of the crowd in the atrium came the shout, "LIAR!"
"Come forward challenger of the word of Lord Gryffindor." Things started happening as the sea of spectators parted to allow the Challenger to stand clear of the crowd and facing me.
"Everybody knows that the Dark Lord is a pure blood and the heir of Slytherin." He shouted.
"Yes he is good at fabricating lies from thin air, however, if you take his real name, Tom Marvolo Riddle, that he obtained from his Muggle father, you will find that is nothing but an anagram when he calls himself 'I am Lord Voldemort'. When the gasps and shrieks settle down I continued, "So you may challenge me to a duel or you may apologize and leave." The crowd parted even further.
"I think that the Dailey profit is correct, you're an insane little child and I accept your offer of a duel to the death."
"Accepted, you have state your terms." I really was beyond caring anymore.
"EXPULSO!" He yelled the curse causing most people on the platform to dive anywhere but around me but I again the use my shield to direct it back at the idiot. Maintenance would be picking up the pieces for days. This of course ended our little presentation.
/Scene Break/
The newspapers, magazines, and WWW radio went on a Harry Potter, our hero and Savior, tirade.
It was only a few more days before we were to return to Hogwarts. If it wasn't for Hermione's schooling I would've told them stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Nothing but bad things were due to happen once I returned to Hogwarts. I was also contemplating a very large decision as it seems the entire world rotated around Harry Potter.
/Scene Break/
September the 1st was a real zoo. Tonks applied glamour charms to Hermione and entered the platform and the train first. I knew I had to face the reporters and possibly more so I entered the platform a few minutes after Hermione had boarded the train. I was right about the reporters all wanting interviews but I was surprised the number of Aurors on the platform. I just shook my head at the slow witted thinking in the magical community, there were no Aurors on the Muggle side of the platform's entrance.
I ensured that I presented a pleasant and enthusiastic face at returning to Hogwarts. I didn't take the Aurors long to force the reporters away from me so that I could board the train. The speech at the Ministry left many unanswered questions and I would have liked to mention how safe I would be under Dumbledore's thumb.
/Scene Break/
"Harry I feel weird with Tonks following me around everywhere and sitting next to me in class is liable to drive me spare when we get back to Hogwarts."
"Hermione I'm tired of all of this but I won't risk your safety because I'm not allowed to sit next to you in the potions class. With both Snape and Malfoy in the same room with you, I guarantee you are not safe with either of them. With Snape, he will just hate you because he hates me or if he really is a Death Eater it presents even more danger to you. Merlin only knows what Voldemort might order. Malfoy would be happy to get even with me by killing you and believe me he is that warped."
Dumbledore's welcoming speech didn't seem to contain the pizzazz that he normally presented. Dumbledore did his grand Marshal introduction of the Tri-wizard tournament. What was normal in the past the phony MadEye Moody entered with grand and subtle flair of intimidation and the feast began.
"Okay Harry, your description has so far been accurate, what are the highlights of what's to come?" Hermione did a bit of snuggling as she whispered in my ear.
"Are you interested in knowing that this tournament will bring a Veela to this school which Ron Weasley will be drooling over for the majority of the year?"
"Come on Harry spill."
"You know that Moody is probably a phony but we can't be sure for awhile. Krum should be madly in love with you but so am I.."
"So no major action until the Goblet of Fire lights up and pulls your name out unexpectedly?"
"I was hoping for some major action in our bedroom but pretty much so, until the first task. I have warned you before some of these streets I walk have some weird consequences so just about anything can happen."
"Well I'm not a streetwalker but I could use major action." Kat added to the whispering conversation in my other ear.
"Oh! This sounds like it could be quite an interesting evening." I gave my girls the eye brow wiggle hoping it to infer a sexual meaning.
"Mister Potter please report to my office after you finish your meal."
"Shit! Does that old goat always interrupt everything that's pleasurable to me?" I growled.
"If you don't invite the old goat this evening we can still make it a threesome." Kat said in such a sexy whisper that I was about ready to tell the old goat jump in the lake while I dragged the girl's back to our room.
Back in the headmaster's office, with my girls and Professor McGonagall, we found Albus Dumbledore was in a tirade over me disobeying him and leaving Hogwarts and being in violation of the Harry Potter protection act. I was irresponsible and stupid for mentioning the prophecy and for breathing loudly in the hallways. I told him I was on vacation and to tell it to the goblins. He was not happy.
/Scene Break/
All in all I finally decided that I and someone needed to chat while everyone was waited for the other two schools arrived at was tending class as usual and terrorizing the professors with her book knowledge.
"Hay Merlin! Being that you and I hung out in the old days, did you ever pick up any offensive spells that you never showed me?
"As great as I am! Of course I have a huge repertoire!"
I chatted with Merlin over some of the newer spells and curses which were probably about 1000 years old, but they were still something that I had never heard of or seen in any books. Now all I had to do was see if they worked, I did remember my time with him very well.
One of the many weird things in my life was Kat. It seemed that 90% of the time I didn't even realize that Kat was around. We had a private time which was turning quite intense but as we wandered the halls of Hogwarts it was like I was all alone. Of course whoever said that I was normal?
Finally the other two schools arrived and things unfolded like they had many times before in my life. It was now the night the Goblet of Fire which would make its selections and I my decision. Newspaper people had taken me literally and force their way into Hogwarts over the objection of the headmaster. Everything was being observed and photographed. Once again it had finally arrived and tonight the goblet would choose the champions. However during the mid-day meal...
"Mister Potter report to my office after you finished eating." The headmaster was at it again.
"I wonder what the old goats up to now?" I mumbled.
"Language Mister Potter." Professor McGonagall was like Hermione it was an automatic response.
The gargoyle again moves away without a password from anyone as I approached. Just before we could knock the door swung open to find Dumbledore with his grandfather twinkle at full brightness.
"AH! Harry my boy, Ladies I just wanted a few words with you Harry about your attendance in Professor Moody's classes and how you fell about the tournament. You do know what a great honor accompanies winning this tournament!"
As far as I was concerned the old goat knew that my name was going to come out I goblet. I had to give Hermione's hand a squeeze to keep her from jumping in the middle of this conversation and maybe his face.
"Indeed headmaster, however, it is irrelevant because of your age line, but if my name was to come out, I would not participate in this stupid tournament."
"But Harry my boy, the rules state that it is a binding magical contract and you would have to participate or lose your magic. With the prophecy and all that I know of you, you would never ever consider losing your magic should your name be drawn from the goblet."
If Hermione squeezed my hand any harder she would probably break some bones and I could almost feel an electrical charge coming from Kat. It appeared only the headmaster consider us stupid enough not to understand what was going on with this little meeting.
"Off you go, I'm sure there are classes you need to attend like Professor Moody's."
I had to literally drag the girls from the headmaster's office and a bit further down one of the halls and into an empty classroom.
"Who in the hell does he think he is manipulating?" Hermione screeched.
"How can anybody that old be that stupid and think we are that ignorant?" Kat growled as a bolt of lightning destroyed the desk in the room.
"Relax my loves as I have explained", whether Dumbledore has scheduled this himself or he knows someone else who has scheduled this farce, my name comes out of the goblet."
"I wish I could get hold of father and strangled the idiot. As Fawkes stated, he is only one of the Ancients involved in this stupidity but it would still be great to show them the shocking truth."
"Hermione spun to face me and demanded, "What are you planning on doing Harry?"
"Ragnot and I are still working on it, but right now I don't have an easy choice."
/Scene Break/
The time had arrived and the Great Hall was arranged in bleachers that formed a great semi circle around Dumbledore and the Goblet of Fire. As in times past the lights dimmed, as the goblins began to glow. With Sparks and a red flame the goblet belched up a piece of parchment which Dumbledore snatched from the air. causing a collective gasp across the hall. Viktor Krum of Durmstrang was followed by Fluer Delacore from Beauxbatons and finally...Draco Malfoy? This caused a collective gasp across the hall.
Even I sat there with my mouth hanging open. Draco Malfoy Hogwarts champion? But then the goblet flared again and a piece of paper belched out into the air. Dumbledore snatched the paper and stated, "The fourth champion is Harry Potter".
That was it, enough was enough, I really wished that I had found that motorway to start with and stepped in front of a Lorry and ended this before it started. I stood up as Dumbledore was directing me to follow the other champions. Instead of heading toward Dumbledore's intended destination I stated in the loud voice,
"I Harry James Potter do swear upon my magic that I did not enter myself in this tournament nor will I participate in this tournament, so mote be it."
If one was looking at Dumbledore one would think that the ancient wizard was about ready to have a coronary. But that only started the fun.
The hall had become deathly quiet, Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey was attending to an apparently stricken headmaster. Before the normal whispers could start once again a booming voice fill the great Hall, "NO!" at which time the goblet of fire exploded into splinters.
"Crap Harry! I think you have upset at least one of the Ancients." Kat exclaimed with a bit of fear obvious in her voice.
I couldn't help it, I started laughing! What was he the Ancient going to do, send me back to being a kid again? If I was extremely lucky I would get to meet my parents. That's when the thunder and lightning started around the castle, this actually shook the castle.
"Harry I think that there are a number of Ancients out there that are extremely unhappy..."That's when Fawkes flashed into the hall and settled on my knee.
"Hatchling you definitely know how to impress, we have an appointment with the mediator!
"I found myself back in the white room of so long ago. This time there was a table and two chairs. The moment I sat down tea and scones appeared. I thought, why not!
The moment I had my mouth full of blueberry scones, and was preparing to wash the chewy delight down with some tea, the Lady in white with the staff walked in the door. I chuckled to myself that she probably waited until this precise moment, so I gave her a blueberry stained smile.
"I guess I can't call you little man anymore. I must admit Harry that you have indeed upset some very powerful people."
"I assume these people are intelligent and passed using torture to obtain their goals? If that is indeed the case it leaves me in a position to say no to their plans of manipulating me to their goals. The proverbial ball is in your court."
"You have indeed grown from the scared little child into something that challenges three Ancient beings. Are you that sure of yourself that you want to continue standing against such power?"
"It is not that I stand against their power which most likely could squash me like a bug. My stand in this is my refusing to be manipulated any further. Let them tell me what they want or send me to my parents."
"We sense there is more than what you're saying, is this not true?"
"You are somewhat correct but its still comes down to being manipulated. Have the ancients been so far removed from feelings? You may put a name on these feelings whether it is friendship or love but some of that has been taken from me. After I left you I found wives for which I had feelings for and suddenly they were taken from me. So again I start relationships and again the ancients took them away from me. To lose what I have now makes me say enough, I quit, do your worst."
"Enjoy your scones and tea as I must go and discuss what you have said with my superiors." The lady with the staff disappeared.
I did indeed enjoy the scones as they were freshly made and would not make it until tomorrow sitting there in my presents. I was wondering if I could make it until tomorrow. I then chuckled thinking that maybe tomorrow I would be one of the spiders in the cupboard under the stairs of a new boy who lived.
/Scene Break/
As usual I was left in the dark void of the unknown. I had just finish the scones and was popped back into my quarters in Hogwarts without a by your leave.
"Well?" Was demanded of me by Kat seconds after I had returned.
"Sorry your guess is as good as mine. All of my questions apparently had no answers that they were willing to provide to us lowly humans. At least I'm not back in my cupboard under the stairs."
/Scene Break/
Well if nothing else the vow I took in the Great Hall apparently stopped the headmaster calling me to his office every other second. For some reason I suddenly realized that I was his blunted weapon now that I was about ready to lose my magic.
/Scene Break/
Meanwhile Dumbledore was pacing in his office at the realization that he lost his weapon. With Harry losing his magic, did that mean that Voldemort was now unstoppable? No, the only translation of the prophecy before was that one of the two had to die, so it was paramount to keep Harry alive. Dumbledore felt confident that this could be done for the next seven years because of the Harry Potter Protection Act he had the foresight to pass. But Harry had already proven that he could get out of the castle during the last break. No Potter would have to be put under guard at Grimmauld Place after this tournament was over, assuming that his loss of magic didn't instantly kill Potter. Dumbledore headed to his personal library to see what wards he could establish at Grimmauld Place to ensure that Harry didn't leave.
/Scene Break/
"I'm telling you the kid has had enough of you people manipulating his life. The Phoenix on-site has reported that the kid is ready to commit suicide." Ereshkigal directed a nasty look to those assembled in the room.
"He dare not oppose my will!" Ancient number one stated. His toga flowed over a frame that showed a powerful and well-built deity even though he sported white hair and a long white beard.
"What are you going to do send him back to his cupboard?" Ancient number two laughed. His muscular frame was covered by an ancient metal breast plate and a large sword hung from his waist.
"No I think I'm finished with that approach. Are you planning to send another one of your daughter's down to influence the boy?" Ancient number one rebutted.
"Well if you two don't figure out something the boys going to lose his magic and sooner or later he will end up dead along with your grand plan for him. I doubt that outcome will suit either of your whims." Ereshkigal looked like she wished to smack both of them with her staff.
Herodotus was called in for consultation by Ereshkigal.
"So that's what we will do, agreed?" Ancient number one asked.
"I don't see any other choice." Ancient number two replied.