I would like to blame my long absence on a number of things ranging from work to the messy state of the flat I moved into and have still to learn how to clean. In truth I have gone through a lot of crap in the last year, however this was a chapter that was not easy to write. I like Ron and Hermione, not as much as some people do I'll admit, but I do like them and this was not a comfortable chapter to write, but as I have said previously I have been negligent in terms of drama when it comes to this story. It is very easy to take the easy route out and skip over the angst, but I think the story will be better with this in it.

Warning, there are a few instances of strong language, including one very strong instance.

The Forbidden Secret

Harry was not able to say much at the beginning of the meeting. Though he and Emma were somewhat aware of the Triwizard Tournament they had their own stuff to worry about. They never imagined that they would have anything to do with it, especially since they were absent when the foreign students arrived and the champions were selected. But nonetheless they were now in the Hogwarts Trophy Room, with representatives from all three schools, other delegates involved in the tournament and Professor Marchbanks.

Although up until a few hours previously she had been an intimidating and daunting person whom the Potters did not think they could ever like, she was now viewed by them as the most supportive person in the room.

"Theese Leetal boy cannot enter the tournamen'." Said an older, albeit more than a little beautiful, teenage girl with a very strong French accent.

Emma took one look at her and decided this was not someone she was going to like. Harry for his part would probably have agreed if asked. While Victor Krum and Cedric Diggory were willing to keep any disdainful comments to themselves, Fleur Delacour did no such thing. But Harry also found that his mind was getting… irritable… around her. Only his Occlumency training from the Summer Holidays allowed him to keep the foreign presence from influencing his mind. It didn't feel like a mind attack in the same sense, but it was unwelcome in Harry's head and he was sure whatever it was, was coming from the French teenager.

"I agree." Barked Karkaroff. "Durmstrang will not stand for the inclusion of a fourth champion who weaselled his way in."

"My Brother did not weasel his way into anything." Snapped Emma.

"Says you." Sneered the headmaster.

Harry was not going to stand for that. "It's the truth, I did not sneak into the tournament, I only heard about the Goblet of Fire for the first time."

"Both Potters have been out of school for the duration of the selection process, Mr Potter could not have possibly have caused this evenings peculiarity." Said Marchbanks.

"What about getting another student to do it for him?" Countered Madam Maxime, the Beauxbatons Headmistress. "Or he left his name in the Goblet before it was lit and before he left."

"Olympe, I would have noticed Mr Potters name in the goblet when I set it up yesterday. It was not there." Said Dumbledore.

"In any case, the Goblet shouldn't have chosen a fourth person. Only by casting a very powerful Confundus Charm could anyone have convinced it to do that." Said Moody.

"Beyond the talents of any Fourth Year." Said McGonagall.

"But is this a mere Fourth Year." Sneered Karkaroff. "Has he not just been doing something to sit his qualifications early?"

"Defence qualifications." Said Marchbanks. "While Mr Potter has significant skills with Defence Against the Dark Arts he has not demonstrated any particularly advanced skill in Charms."

"Defence magic offers him ways to counteract the charms placed on the Goblet though." Said Karkaroff with paranoia.

"Again, I haven't been here while the Goblet has been lit." Said Harry, getting irritated. "Look if it makes you feel any better, I won't do anything in the tournament, I have enough to keep me occupied this year."

"Indeed." Said Professor Marchbanks, "Mr Potter should not be distracted by the pressures of this tournament. He has a lot of work to do over the next eight months."

"Damn straight you won't." Barked Karkaroff. "But don't think that will be enough to appease my anger and the anger of the Durmstrang Institute."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Said Dumbledore. "The Goblet of Fire has chosen Mr Potter as one of the Champions. If he does not fulfil the role of a Champion then the Goblet will exact a price from you."

Everyone turned to look at Dumbledore.

"What sort of price." Said Harry.

"I'm afraid the price is too terrible to speak of." Said Dumbledore.

"But Harry didn't even enter his name, he didn't enter the contract." Said Emma.

"I'm afraid that may not matter." Said Dumbledore. "It may be the case that the Goblet will not recognise you as a champion or it may be the case that the price is paid by whoever put your name in the Goblet. However there is no way of knowing that. In the entire history of the Triwizard Tournament this has never happened, no one has ever entered someone else's name before."

"What if ee did enter 'is name." Piped up Fleur. "I don't believe anyone else would. Why would anyone want to enter you in lettal boy?"

Harry and Emma turned to confront Fleur. As they did, Harry felt the irritation coming from her get a little stronger.

"Have you been listening, we haven't been here since yesterday morning." Said Emma. "Anyway we've got our exams to worry about and the other stuff Professor Marchbanks is going to lump onto us. We don't want to take part."

"You could be lying though. Besides why wouldn't you want to take part…"

"Mademoiselle Delacour." Said Madam Maxime trying to intercede on her student's temper, but the girl ignored her headmistress.

'"…you 'ave a chance to become champion, to get eternal glory."

As Fleur talked more and more, Harry's head became more and more irritated by the feeling. She was doing something, and it was having some kind of effect on his mind.

"Would you stop that!" Harry said all of a sudden.

Everyone looked at Harry for a moment, not sure what was happening. But the feeling kept on coming, so Harry drew his wand.

"I said stop that." He aimed at Fleur. Suddenly wands were drawn all around the room.

Maxine had hers out and facing Harry, Emma had hers out facing Maxine, and Fleur had hers also facing Harry.

"Alright, let's calm down everyone." Said Bagman.

"Mr Potter what is the meaning of this." Said McGonagall, her temper rising. "Put your wand away this instant."

"Not until she's stops that." Said Harry.

"What are you babbling about you ignorant little English-boy." Snapped Fleur, scorn more evident in her voice now than it had ever been.

"Mr Potter what's the matter?" Said Dumbledore.

"She's doing legilimency, I can feel her in my mind." Said Harry.

Emma immediately trained her wand on Fleur.

"What are you talking about?" Said Fleur. "What is this legility?"

"Mr Potter put your wand down, Miss Delacour is not purposely attacking your mind." Said Dumbledore.

"What do you mean purposely?" Said Harry.

"Put down your wand." Commanded Dumbledore.

Harry felt his entire body go stiff. He looked between Fleur and Dumbledore, he trusted the headmaster, but he didn't understand what was going on.

Fleur however didn't look as angered as before. She looked embarrassed. She lowered her wand and turned away from Harry. That was enough for him to put his wand down.

"Remember Harry." Said Dumbledore. "Discipline your mind, focus on what you sense and let it be no more."

Harry took two deep breaths and did as Dumbledore said. The feeling left, it was now outside him and it would not get back in.

"I apologise for the slight misunderstanding." Said Dumbledore. "I should have forewarned Mr and Miss Potter…"

"Let's just forget about it…" Said Maxime. "One problem at a time."

"We cannot do anymore just now." Said Dumbledore. "There is no way out of this, Mr Potter must compete in the Tournament."

Karkaroff made a motion as if to say something but Dumbledore cut him off.

"All four champions must compete, any who don't will face the consequences of the Goblet of Fire." Said Dumbledore.

"This is a travesty." Growled Karkaroff. "I will be raising this with your Ministry."

"That is your right." Said Dumbledore. "But it does not change the fact that there is nothing we can do."

"Maybe someone was counting on that." Said Moody. "Mr Potter has more than a few enemies and this tournament is very dangerous."

"That's nonsense." Said Bagman. "We have taken every precaution."

"Perhaps we should get on." Said Mr Crouch.

"But…" Began Karkaroff.

"If anyone has a feasible alternative I would be interested to hear it." Said Dumbledore.

Both Karkaroff and Maxime looked irritated and angry but they kept quiet.

"Ludovic." Said Crouch

"Yes." Said Bagman. "Uh right… uh well… congratulations on becoming one of the three… four champions in Triwizard Tournament. The first task is to test your daring, so we're not going to tell you what it is. The purpose is to test your courage and resourcefulness in an… unusual situation."

"During the course of the tournament you are not permitted to ask your teachers for help of any kind." Continued Mr Crouch. "You are also exempt from your end of year examinations, as the demands of this tournament will keep you more than occupied. We will not of course stop your from sitting your qualification should you wish Mr Potter. However the tournament shall not make allowances for you, regardless of your circumstances. Lastly, for the First Task you are only allowed to bring your wand. Nothing more."

"I think it would be best if we all retired for the evening." Said Dumbledore. "The addition of Harry means that adjustments will have to be made."

Those from the other two schools looked like they would like to have objected further, however there really was no way around this. Dumbledore said it was not possible, so Harry had to assume there was no way out of it.

He and his sister made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. However they also found that Cedric Diggory was taking a similar path back, so they had someone to talk to.

"Interesting evening." Said Diggory.

"We'll have to take your word for it." Said Harry. "I can't believe we missed out on a trip to the Research Library."

"You're thinking about that now?" Said Emma.

"Of course I'm thinking about it now, I don't want to think about the tournament." Said Harry. "Mopsus knows we're not going to hear the end of this in a hurry."

"Mopsus?" Said Cedric.

Harry and Emma looked at him.

"My Kneazle." Said Emma.

"Huh." Said Cedric.

For a few seconds there was complete silence with the exception of their walking feet.

"So how did you get your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Asked Cedric.

Needless to say that broke the silence. Emma stopped walking and rounded on the handsome older boy who was almost twice her height.

"Have you not been listening you pillock? My brother did not enter his name into the competition. We still don't know what a Goblet of Fire is." Growled Emma, advancing on Diggory.

It said something about Diggory that he only took two steps back before holding his ground. Regardless he looked more than a tad chastised.

"It's… what its name says suggests. A goblet that's on fire." Said Cedric.

"Well how lovely for it." Snapped Emma. "As for you, you leave my brother alone or I'll force-feed you with acid. Come on Harry, we have to sort this out." Emma then trotted off at pace.

Harry glanced almost but not quite apologetically at Cedric before running off after his sister.

The two of them stopped on the stairs half way between the fifth and sixth floors.

"Harry what are we going to do?" Said Emma.

"I don't know." Harry said. "I… I can't do this…"

Emma looked at her brother. He was normally so strong, but Harry had no idea what he was getting into. Only that it was bad.

"Let's just go forward from here." Said Emma. "Once this is over we can put everything behind us."

"Yeah." Said Harry, without any conviction.

After that evening, nothing was ever going to be the same again.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Near no one believed Harry. The general consensus was that he had cheated his way in by, as Ron had earlier suggested, hiding his name in the Goblet of Fire before he left for Birmingham, before the selection process had even begun.

The Weasley twins had managed to rouse everyone's spirits that night and throw a party in the Common Room. Emma was not amused. Not that anyone could tell. People were so busy congratulating her brother that they didn't notice how troubled the Potters were.

When Emma retreated to her dormitory, it was a bittersweet relief to find her room mates, four of her closest friends, were all on her side. But she knew Harry would not be so lucky.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

"It always has to be you." Snarled Ron. "You always have to get the limelight, you win the duels, you win the Quidditch Matches but there are no Quidditch matches so you had to…"

"Ron I'm telling you I had nothing to do with this." Said Harry.

"Oh come on, Harry no need to be modest." Said Seamus unhelpfully in a cheerful voice. "You're gonna kick ass."

"Yeah. The other champs aren't going to know what hit them." Said Dean.

"But I didn't put my name in." Said Harry. "I wasn't even here."

"We all know you put it in before you left." Sneered Ron.

"That's ridiculous." Said Neville. "How would Harry even know where to find the Goblet?"

Ron said nothing, he climbed into his bed and drew the curtains shut. Dean and Seamus started going on about how awesome they thought the tournament was going to be, while Neville looked sadly at Harry.

Harry barely acknowledged it. He grumpily nodded at Neville and climbed into his own bed.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

While her brother was brooding, Emma was already trying to figure out what to do now.

After everything he had done for them, Ginny and Demelza had complete trust in Harry. Vicky and Natalie too believed in him. All four girls were there for both him and Emma.

"What exactly happened while we were gone?" Asked Emma.

"Nothing I think that can help." Said Demelza. "Well the students from the other schools arrived, and that was pretty impressive. I don't know if you saw in the dark, but there is a massive carriage and an archaic sailing ship…"

"That can go underwater." Imputed Natalie.

"…docked in the lake." Demelza finished.

"After they arrived, we ate, they ate, Dumbledore brought out the Goblet of Fire, set it on fire. Then…" Commented Ginny

"He just left it." Said Vicky. "Well there was an age line, but that's all."

"Age line?" Asked Emma.

"It's a basic protection, keeps anyone under 17 from crossing without consequence." Said Ginny. "Fred and George managed to grow beards worthy of Dumbledore himself."

"So basically any adult in this castle could have put Harry's name in?" Said Emma.

"And any student over the age of 17." Said Demelza.

"Also I think some Ministry flunkies were also around for dinner with Dumbledore last night." Said Ginny.

"And Harper was also bragging that he entered his name by having his owl drop the parchment in from a great height." Said Vicky.

"No one believes him though." Said Natalie. "Except perhaps Rachael Avery, she's got the hots for him."

"So we have an endless list of suspects." Said Emma.

The girls looked at the floor.

"This isn't going to solve itself tonight is it?" Said Emma.

"I doubt it." Said Vicky, "It's only October. "It'll be at least the end of May before anything is wrapped up, even then we'll probably have to support Harry through a fight with Death Eaters."

Everyone turned to look at Vicky as if she was insane.

"What? We've had Dementors, a Basilisk, Acromantulae, rogue suits of armour, after that what's left?" Reasoned Vicky.

"Vampires." Said Demelza.

"Chimera." Said Natalie.

"REALITY!" Bellowed Emma, perhaps a little louder that intended.

"Emma, we're in a world of magic." Said Demelza. "That is reality."

Emma groaned. "This is supposed to be easier than Muggle life."

"It is." Said Demelza. "At least it's easier than mine. You know I can still feel my wrist, from when that knight…"

Demelza shuddered.

Emma looked at her Cornish friend. "You're with us right?"

"Do you really need to ask that?" Said Ginny, putting her hands on her hips. "You're the first friend I've had that wasn't Luna, who by the way will also always be with you."

"Colin will be with you as well." Said Demelza. "His mother would kill him, and me if he wasn't."

"Geoffrey will as well." Said Vicky. "I don't know why Ron and Hermione are…"

"I have my suspicions." Said Emma. "But…"

"Let's just get some shut-eye." Said Ginny. "This is going to be a hard time for you, but it's going to be hell for Harry."

ORACLE2PHOENIX

When Harry went to breakfast the next morning, he regretted getting out of bed. It seemed that no one outside the Guild believed he was being set up. The Gryffindors were naturally excited. Over the last few years, Harry had been very popular amongst his housemates, having won every single Quidditch match since becoming Seeker, playing key roles in winning the last three house cups and being at the centre of numerous life and death situations that excited those around him and gained him a certain respect.

That respect now expected him to be a Triwizard Champion. He told everyone he encountered that he had not entered his name into the cup. But the responses, from the Gryffindors that is, mostly consisted of:

"Sure you didn't."

"Don't be so modest Harry, no one's gonna punish you."

"Yeah I know 1,000 golden fellas that say you want them and you did it."

But at least those responses were friendly. With the exception of Luna, Harry doubted there was a single non-Gryffindor at Hogwarts on his side. Malfoy in particular seemed to revel in calling Harry out.

"Oh look its Potter." Sneered Malfoy from the Slytherin table. "Everyone get your autograph books out, I doubt he's going to last five minutes."

Harry chose to spend the rest of the weekend in the Room of Requirement, coming out only for meals.

On Sunday afternoon, Emma talked to him about a very immediate problem.

"You need to talk to Ron and Hermione." She said. "I don't know what they were thinking but, I'm sure they've calmed down."

ORACLE2PHOENIX

They hadn't.

"I've got nothing to say to you Harry." Snapped Hermione when he tried to talk to her and Ron in the Common Room. "You may have passed your O.W.L. but if you think the Triwizard Tournament is just another simple test then you better guess again."

"You know technically that's not saying nothing?" Said Neville.

"Hermione doesn't keep things to herself." Grumbled Ron. "If Harry had discussed this with us first, sure I'd support him. But he just snuck in without telling us."

"Guys you have to believe me, I didn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire." Pleaded Harry.

"If you're just going to lie to us Harry, I'm going to go." Said Hermione getting up and heading for the Girls Dormitory.

"Hey!" Snapped Emma. "After everything we've been through you're just going to turn your back on my brother? How can you just do that, I thought you were his friend."

Hermione turned on the spot and glared at Emma. "I bet you helped him do it as well, you probably both planned this little scheme together. Well the jokes on you, Harry will never last in this tournament and I'll be right there to say I told you so."

Hermione about turned leaving a stunned Emma where she was standing.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

The group retreated back to the Room of Requirement after that exchange.

"What a complete bitch." Growled Emma loudly. "After everything we've been through together, she says that of all things."

"I'm sure she didn't mean it." Said Neville trying to sound diplomatic.

"That isn't very helpful." Snapped Harry. "She's supposed to be my friend, Ron too."

"I'm sorry Harry." Said Ginny, who had followed the Potters and Neville back to the Room. "I've no idea why my idiot brother is acting like a… well an idiot…"

Harry actually snorted.

"Never mind your stupid brother." Said Emma. "Hermione practically said Harry is going to die and that she was going to laugh at him for it."

Neville and Ginny looked at each other, but said nothing.

"So what now?" Said Neville.

"Nothing." Snapped Harry. "This is my problem."

"Harry." Said Emma.

"My problem Emma, everything we've done has been centred on me. Riddle was after me, Sirius was my Godfather. I'll sort it out, now leave me alone." Snapped Harry.

Harry stormed off out of the room and to his dormitory, leaving Emma with Neville and Ginny.

"Harry." Said Emma softly.

"He doesn't mean it." Said Ginny. "He saved my life and your life, Sirius is also your Godfather. Going into the Forbidden Forest to see the Acromantulae was also for Hagrid."

"Harry didn't open the Chamber of Secrets, he was just the one who shut it." Said Neville. "But he is caught up in the middle all the time, and it's not fair."

"What am I going to do?" Croaked Emma, tears starting to come down her face.

"I don't know much about the Triwizard Tournament." Said Neville. "Only that it was dangerous and many people died. But I trust Harry and I trust Dumbledore. He wouldn't have devised any challenges that would likely kill someone, there will be fail-safes. Also, you were there when he fought the Basilisk. Ron and Hermione weren't. If Harry wasn't there, none of us would have survived."

"Not even Demelza?" Said Emma, trying to joke.

"Eh, she had a 50/50 chance." Neville responded. Everyone had a little chuckle.

"Keep supporting Harry." Said Ginny. "We'll do the same. I don't know what this tournament is going to throw at him, but he'll make it. But it's not going to be easy. He is going to need us. He is going to need us now, he is going to need us in the coming days, weeks and months, he is going to need us in the end."

Emma looked at her best friend and nodded. Ginny took her in a hug. The trials of the Triwizard Tournament had truly begun and Harry had to face hostility like no other champion in this competition.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

A week ago Harry would have said Neville was a close friend. Somehow he had become his only friend in Fourth Year.

In their first Arithmancy lesson of the week, Susan Bones had made her displeasure at Harry's existence very apparent. Arithmancy lessons almost exclusively involved working in pairs, filling in number grids that required dozens of calculations, some of which were complicated even for Harry and Hermione. They were supposed to work together in pairs in order to fill them in, Susan however wasn't even attempting to do any calculations, leaving Harry to do all the work.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" Demanded Harry, halfway through the class. There grid was nowhere near as complete as it should have been.

"Why don't you just copy the whole thing out of the textbook, that's what cheats do is it not?" Sneered the Hufflepuff.

Harry sighed and just proceeded to ignore her.

Professor Vector was not impressed by their work.

"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded.

"It's the best I can do." Said Harry.

Professor Vector took a glance at the work, it didn't take much analysis to see what was going on. "Miss Bones why haven't you done any work."

"I… I have…" She lied weakly.

"Fifty points from Hufflepuff, you can spend this evening filling out a fresh chart, from the beginning." Said Professor Vector.

The situation was entirely of Susan's creation. She had consciously chosen not to work alongside Harry. Yet Hufflepuffs all over the school blamed Harry for both showing up and causing Susan's punishment. Harry overheard some gossip that the Hufflepuffs' head prefect had requested Professor Sprout cancel the detention and rescind the point deductions. Professor Sprout had seemed a bit less happy with Harry lately, she was head of Hufflepuff after all, however to her credit she sided with Professor Vector and was overheard telling Susan that she would attend her detention or else a letter would be sent home.

In the Arithmancy class at the end of the week, Susan had 'accidentally' spilt all her ink over Harry's nearly completed grid, causing all the Hufflepuffs to laugh at him. However the scowls returned when Professor Vector passed her wand over his parchment and returned it to its former state.

"You've performed marvellously this week Mr Potter." She said happily at the end of the lesson. "Forty Points to Gryffindor. Miss Bones, I don't know what's gotten into you, but if you don't stop slacking off, your homework shall be doubled until I am sure you are achieving what I expect of you."

After over a year of teaching him, Harry had become Professor Vector's favourite student. She often expressed positive comments about his efforts. However in the current climate, this was seen as Harry doing wrong.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Malfoy in the meantime had begun spreading badges that alternated between saying:

SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY:

THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION

and what Emma took more personally than anyone else:

POTTERS ARE LIARS AND CHEATERS

She, Ginny and Demelza formed a pact the evening after these badges appeared. Precise details of it can be left to the imagination, however badge-wearers all over the school started turning up to the Hospital Wing, most commonly to get treated for Bat-Bogey Hexes, but there were a few others in the mix too.

Harry's main encounter with the badges was prior to the start of a Double Potions lesson.

"Like the badges Potter?" Malfoy sneered.

"Just ignore him." Said Neville.

But Malfoy wasn't about to give up. He still blamed Harry for what he'd gone through in Second Year.

"My Father and I have a bet. He doesn't think you'll last 10 minutes into the first task. I know what the task is, and I know you won't last five." Sneered Malfoy.

Crabbe and Goyle gave light chuckles, Pansy Parkinson was giving a full blown shriek of a laugh. Ordinarily Harry would have probably been able to ignore Malfoy, but Pansy's laughter was more than he could stand in his stressed out and angered state.

He drew his wand from his sleeve, it was not pointed at anyone, it was simply aimed at the floor. But Harry had thoughts of fire in his mind and his magic was reacting to it. Sparks and embers began crackling out the tip and a darker part at the back of Harry's mind took pleasure in seeing Malfoy and some of the Slytherins jumping back in shock.

He might have followed through, had Snape not intervened. A review of the Lawrence research that evening revealed that it was probably for the best, otherwise Lucius and Narcissa would be left without a son or a body to burry.

"Potter. Magic in the corridors, you should know better by now." Sneered the Potions Master. "Twenty points from Gryffindor."

"He… he was going to attack us!" Said Pansy in badly fake scared voice.

"In that case make it forty, and detention with me on Saturday night. Now get inside everyone." Snape sneered again.

Harry was not looking forward to Potions, he simply wanted to get away and do his research. Despite that though, he was not thrilled when Colin Creevey came in and told Snape that Harry had to go.

"Mr Bagman said that Harry has to go upstairs, along with the other Champions for a photo shoot." Said Colin, using his bright and cheery voice. It warmed Harry slightly to see Colin staring at Snape as if daring him to challenge him.

Snape however let Harry go.

"Do I really have to go to this stupid thing?" Harry asked Colin.

"Fraid so." Said Colin. "Mr Bagman was really adamant. Maybe it won't be so bad."

"Colin I know you like taking pictures of everyone, but that's just us. I don't like the idea of getting my picture splashed across the front page." Remarked Harry.

"Do you want me to find Emma?" Asked Colin.

"No. But if you can tell her I'll be back in the Room of Requirement after this." Said Harry.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Harry refused to go into a closet with Rita Skeeter. He knew very little about the gossip columnist, other than a few disgruntled remarks made by various adults and Percy Weasley. None of that was relevant, however he knew that Moody would roast him alive if he ever found out Harry had willingly went into a broom closet alone with someone he didn't know that well.

Colin had been on the verge of leaving when Rita propositioned Harry.

"Why don't you just have it in the corner?" Said Colin. "Or better still give Harry some written down questions and give him time to think about what he wants to say."

"My readers need this by tomorrow, when the picture gets published." Said Rita.

"Then you should have thought of that before." Said Harry unsympathetically.

"It would 'ave been polite…" Concurred Fleur.

"Indeed, you seem to 'ave a distinct lack of mannars." Said Krum.

"Also now that I think about it, don't you normally not bother with interviews?" Said Cedric. "What was it you said your style was? I hear things and I write them."

Rita looked irritated by that comment, but then Bagman came in and took over.

"Hello folks, for those of you who don't know this is Mr Ollivander." He introduced the wand-maker. "He will be carrying out inspections of your wands."

Harry immediately went first, in the hope that he could sneak away from Rita Skeeter who was eyeing him up like a pile of gold. Once his Holly and Phoenix feather was verified he began to reach for his sleeve but Ollivander hurriedly called Cedric over. He eyed Harry's arm carefully, it appeared that he didn't want anyone to know he had handed out a second wand.

Harry remembered how sensitive Ollivander was over the summer and how reluctant he was to give him the Oak and Willow with Unicorn hair. He did not protest and made for the exit.

"Mr Potter, don't forget the pictures." Said Rita in a sickly sweet voice.

"Do I have to?" Grumbled Harry.

"Of course." Said Bagman enthusiastically. "The world must be able to see you, you are a champion."

"I don't want to be a champion." Snapped Harry.

"I know. Just come and join us, I promise it won't be long." Said Bagman.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Harry would never trust a word Bagman said again. The photo-shoot lasted nearly two hours. Harry absolutely refused to let them do a personalised shot of him, thankfully Dumbledore took his side and he was allowed to go and find his sister.

Emma for her part sat down with Harry and let him talk to her about Winston Lawrence.

"I think I'm going to do my N.E.W.T. project on this. It would be perfect for my M.A.D.A.M. thesis as well." Said Harry.

"Good for you." Said Emma.

"What about you?" Asked Harry. "Are you going to do yours on Wolfsbane potion, you've been practicing that a lot lately?"

Emma sighed. "I'm not just practicing. I'm sending phials to Remus, I'm also trying to think of a way to supply people in Dùn Blaidyn."

"Couldn't you send them phials like you do Remus?" Asked Harry.

"Dùn Blaidyn is a village, not a person. That many phials would kill Hedwig, do you want that?" Asked Emma knowingly.

"Ah." Said Harry.

"Ideally they need their own supplier. I'm not sure I could teach this potion though and according to Remus there is no one in the village with the necessary skills." Said Emma.

"No one is any good at potions at all?" Said Harry.

"It's not just a question of being good at Potions." Said Emma. "I can assure you that I am brilliant at Potions, simply because I can make this. Less than a few dozen people in Britain can brew Wolfsbane. Even Madam Pomfrey can't do it."

"Sounds like a good N.E.W.T. project." Said Harry.

"It could be, but it's not exactly what I want to do. I want to work with these." Emma said holding up a plastic bag full of silver balls.

"Mana balls?" Said Harry.

"Yes." Said Emma. "I think Mana has the potential to unlock many secrets in magic. I want to devote my time to studying them."

"If you can do it, the do it." Said Harry.

"I will, you'll see." Said Emma. "How are you getting on with your Defence coursework?"

"Slower than I would like." Said Harry. "But it should still be handed in on time."

"Good."

ORACLE2PHONEIX

Harry had barely said more than a few words to Rita Skeeter. None of those words came up in the article, but lots of others did.

In the article Harry seemed to boast about how getting into the tournament as if it was something to be proud of. He also spoke of how proud he believed his parents were and how he still missed them and sometimes cried about them at night.

This gave people at Hogwarts new ammunition to use against him.

"Want a box of tissues Potter, never know when he's gonna burst out like a little baby." Came Malfoy's voice several times over the following days.

The cloud however did have one silver lining. Someone took pity on Harry and let him know she had his support. After chasing Sirius with a Blasting Curse Harry's mind had, understandably strayed elsewhere, but Cho Chang still existed and he was once more reminded how pretty she was.

"I just wanted to say… good luck for Tuesday." Said Cho.

It was lucky it was her, Harry was on the verge of saying something unpleasant.

"Th… thanks." Said Harry. "Wait what happens on Tuesday?"

"Um… The First Task?" Said Cho, looking at Harry with concern.

"Oh." Said Harry. Despite the Weighing of the Wands, the fallout with Ron, Hermione and most of the rest of the universe and snide comments in the corridors, Harry had not given the First Task much thought. If he knew what on Earth he was facing he might have thought about it a little more, but he had given it no thought.

"Are you ok Harry?" Asked Cho.

Harry was on the verge of saying yes, but in the end he opened his mouth and shut it again.

This didn't go unnoticed. "I suppose no one would really feel ok in your position would they? I'm such an idiot."

"No… it's fine." Said Harry. "I'll be ok."

As if to emphasise the current situation for Harry, Malfoy shouted from the other end of the corridor. "Oi Potter, you stink." Before flashing his badge and moving along with Crabbe and Goyle laughing.

Harry subconsciously growled.

Cho giggled. "You're cute when you're angry." Then caught herself.

Harry however found that funny and giggled.

"I don't know why you don't do something about Malfoy, you've never let him get away with being like that before." Said Cho.

"Huh?" Remarked Harry.

"Remember when he tried to sabotage the Quidditch match last year? You still beat me and you foiled him." Said Cho.

That was right. Harry had fired off a Patronus Charm of all things into Malfoy, before accidentally smacking him in the face with his Firebolt.

"In fairness I thought he was a Dementor." Said Harry. "He did look like one, from a broom."

"I know, I was there with you remember." Said Cho. "You've done a lot more than Quidditch though."

Harry blushed.

"Anyway I'll catch you later." Said Cho.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

By coincidence, naturally on the other side of the school, Emma too ended up conversing with an older someone of the opposite gender.

"Your brother's a liar and a cheat." Sneered Zacharias Smith. "Hey don't walk away from me you little cretin."

"Twenty point from Hufflepuff." Said Cedric, as he showed up suddenly from round a corner. "Emma I understand your feelings but I'd rather not sanction you for cursing this idiot."

Emma lowered her wand but glared at Zacharias Smith.

"I suggest you be on your way." Cedric said with distain in his voice.

Smith glared at the Hufflepuff prefect, but went on his way.

"Sorry about him." Said Cedric. "Smith is a whiner who complains about anything and everything in front of him, behind him or even nowhere near him."

Emma giggled. "What an idiot."

"You don't have to share a Common Room with him." Said Cedric disdainfully. "Nobody likes him, and it is entirely because he is an, if you'll excuse my language, arse."

"I'm friends with the Weasley family, arse is not a swear word." Said Emma.

"So how are you doing?" Asked Cedric.

"Me I'm fine." Said Emma. "It's Harry who's got it bad."

"I know, but I saw how tight the two of you were on Halloween. This has to be affecting you." Said Cedric.

"I've got my friends and I've got my research. I'm fine." Said Emma. "Harry… well he's got his research."

"Yeah I heard Weasley has been suggesting how Harry put his name in the Goblet." Said Cedric. "I have been trying to get people not to wear those badges but…"

"Don't apologise." Said Emma cutting him across. "You didn't ask for this any more than we did."

Cedric grinned. "I wish more people were like you Emma."

"Hmm?"

"I wish more people were able to take the world so positively. I think Harry's greatest strength just might be you." Said Cedric.

Emma blushed.

"I'll catch you later. Maybe at Hogsmeade." Said Cedric.

He then rushed off leaving Emma feeling a little flustered. Sooner or later she would need to get a boyfriend, or at least have a date.

"Maybe we should take Colin to a kilt shop on Sunday?" She pondered to herself. "Wait, why am I talking to myself in a corridor."

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Emma's year was really rather excited, not because of the Triwizard Tournament but because the first Hogsmeade weekend was finally arriving. True the First Task, whatever it was, was happening on the following Tuesday, but that was days away.

"I can't wait. I can't wait." Sang Colin excitedly. "I'm going to buy chocolate frogs and cockroach clusters and fizzy whizbees and sherbet lemon and liquorice wands and…"

"Don't you get Sherbet Lemon in the Muggle World?" Asked Demelza, while her foster brother of sorts continued ranting about sweets.

"It's not the same." Said Emma. "Don't ask me how, it's just not." She pointed at Colin.

"You are going to have to watch Colin's sweet tooth. You promised remember." Said Luna.

"Why don't you watch it?" Asked Emma.

"I would love to." Said Luna. "But I think Neville wants to buy me a scarf, to help keep the nargles away."

"…and cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties and fudge flies and jelly slugs and ice mice and…"

"COLIN!" Snapped Demelza. "Your mother will kill you if you get all that, and if you don't shut up, I'll help her."

"Oh come on!" Pouted Colin. "Oh look there's Ginny."

Ginny came trotting down. "Hi guys. Emma, this came in and crashed into Trelawney's hair. It's addressed to you and Harry."

Emma regarded the owl for a second. "Who's is that?"

"It's a Gringotts Owl." Said Ginny. "Bill used to send these all the time."

"That's a Pharaoh Owl." Supplied Luna.

"Hmm." Said Emma, taking the letter from Ginny. "Why did it come to you?"

"I've used him before." Said Ginny. "Bill used to send this guy from Egypt all the time. Did you miss me?"

The owl crooned as Ginny tickled it's feathers.

Emma meanwhile regarded the letter.

Mr and Miss Potter

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Wonder why Gringotts wants with us?" Pondered Emma. "Hey isn't that Errol… Ginny lookout!"

Ginny just moved out of the way as Errol crashed into a tapestry, fell down and somehow tangled itself up on the drapes. Colin and Demelza fished him out.

"Hey this is for the two of you as well." Said Colin.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

"Harry if you can tear yourself away from your research for two seconds." Said Emma diplomatically.

"WHY!" Snapped Harry. "Everyone thinks I'm the stupid…"

"You are stupid brother, you like chicken drumsticks, now shut up and listen." Snapped Emma.

She knew it wasn't his fault, but Harry's bad temper was really getting on her nerves. He had spent all of his free time in the Room of Requirement. He was often skipping lunch to be in there, all so he could do work on Lawrence's paper.

"We have mail, with both our names on it." Emma held up the letters.

Harry took the Gringotts one and opened it. As he read his anger dissipated and he became confused.

Dear Mr and Miss Potter

After a review of your accounts, we have found some suspiciously large payments over the last 3 months which are significantly out of character for your bank accounts. To be on the safe side your accounts have now been frozen and no further money will be allowed to leave either of your vaults.

To unfreeze your accounts we humbly request that you present yourself at the London branch of Gringotts where our customer service team will be most happy to help us reach an understanding to this unusual occurrence.

We have provided a statement of the last 12 months and request that you both review this in order to identify any out of the ordinary payments.

Yours

Gornuk

London Manager of Gringotts

The transaction statement showed very little activity. It showed the Potters withdrew money for school, leisure and that a number of debits (albeit high ones) had been made to the Carrow and Boot law firm.

"There's nothing wrong here?" Said Harry.

"Oh crud we'd better contact Mr Boot. He's not going to be too chuffed the Goblins stopped paying him." Said Emma. "The next debit is due on Monday."

Harry in the meantime ripped open the other letter. It was from Bill Weasley.

Dear Harry and Emma

I do not pretend to know about, never mind understand what you two do with your money, as far as I'm concerned it's none of my business. However I heard the Goblins want to freeze your accounts. When I asked why, I got a rather rude response that told me nothing. I have a lot of respect for the Goblin people, really I do, but a lot of their habits even escape me sometimes. They should have sent you a notification about this by now, along with a statement. If everything in it is fine and there is nothing in your accounts to worry about, then feel free to fill out the forms I've attached to this letter.

Despite what the Goblins may or may not have said in their letter, the forms I've sent you are confirmation statements. If you sign them and put your finger print in the correct box and send them to the bank, the Goblins will have to unfreeze your accounts (unless you've broken a Goblin Law which is impossible since you haven't been to any Goblin territories other than the bank) they will have to reactivate your accounts, to do otherwise would be against their own laws.

Let me know if you need any help.

Yours

Bill Weasley.

"Well that's lucky." Said Emma.

"Yeah." Grinned Harry. "Gotta love the Weasleys, we'd be lost in this world without them."

There was a moment's silence, Emma and Harry looked at each other. They decided not to mention the current situation regarding the fore mentioned family.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Harry and Emma sent Hedwig off to Gringotts with the forms filled in. As far as they were concerned that was the matter closed, so they focused on more important stuff, namely their research. After Hedwig left, Emma gave up trying to drag Harry away and stayed with him until dinner time.

After a week of lessons, most of the school was happy and content enough to leave Harry to his current friends, though Malfoy and his goons still couldn't stop talking about Harry's death next Tuesday.

That evening, the Potters continued their research in the Common Rooms. Harry settled in one of the larger more comfortable armchairs and propped an arithmatic grid alongside a book detailing elemental runes and there arithmatic properties. He was working furiously through his calculations.

Emma meanwhile was talking with Demelza and Ginny about Hogsmeade. The first ever visit for the current Third Years was the following day and they were trying to make plans that would ensure they had fun whilst limiting the amount of time Colin would spend in Honeydukes.

"Harry will show us around." Said Emma. "I'm sure he can lead us away from Honeydukes, right Harry?"

"Not now Emma, I'm close so close… Invert the 6 here and differentiate here and here… then link to here." Harry muttered to himself.

The three girls looked at each other and giggled.

"He is so cute when he's working." Said Ginny. "It's a bit like watching Mopsus chase his toy bird."

"Or like Colin after he got that new camera last year." Said Emma.

"Should we bother going to the Shrieking Shack?" Asked Demelza. "It seems kind of pointless now that Lupin has told us everything about it. Pity no ghosts actually haunt the place."

"Ghosts haunt Hogwarts." Said Emma. "I don't know why the villagers thought it was ghosts in there, I've never know a ghost to roar like a werewolf."

"Never mind." Remarked Ginny. "We can skip the Shrieking Shack. I would quite like to visit the robe shop or Zonkos."

"Ooh. Clothes, we can take Colin inside and dress him up." Said Emma excitedly.

The girls continued to talk for a while. Colin had joined them for all of two minutes before he retreated to the room. Evidently his plans for Hogsmeade and that of his friends conflicted widely, and he would say scarily.

Harry in the meantime was scribbling furiously. He had finally cracked the formula. He had done what Winston Lawrence had failed to do.

"Huh?" Said Harry under his breath. "Let's see… no that can't be right… no it is but then if that is applied there then why is that also…FUCK!"

The entire Common Room jumped as Harry suddenly cursed at the top of his voice.

But when they turned to look at him, his eyes were fixed upon the sheet of paper on his lap.

"Harry?" Said Emma at last. She was quite amused, but stopped when she saw the look on his face. "Harry?"

Harry's quill hand was hovering above the paper, he was completely still for a few seconds, but his hand, the one used to write the discovery, was the first part of him to visibly react. The thumb and the forefinger began to rotate oh so very slightly, before his hand, then his entire arm began shaking.

Some people in the Common Room began chuckling lightly.

"A bit of pretournament nerves Harry?" Called out Lee Jordon. By the end of the night all but those closest to Harry would put what happened next down to that.

"Harry?" Repeated Emma nervously.

She got up and walked towards him but Harry reacted before she reached him.

"Oh no." Said Harry quietly and timidly.

With desperate effort, Harry gathered up every piece of parchment around him, including the paper written by Winston Lawrence, and threw it all on the fireplace.

"Incendio!"

Harry incanted fire on top of the parchment, but it wouldn't burn fast enough.

"Incendio! Incendio!" He incanted again.

"Harry what are you… is that the Lawrence paper, are you insane." Said Emma incredulously. "You've worked so hard on that… I think I can save…"

"NO!" Roared Harry.

If anyone in the Common Room could take amusement from Harry's action at that time, they wouldn't have because what happened next scared many Gryffindors. He turned his wand on the papers, or rather the blacken charred remains of them, but it wasn't an Incendio that came our of Harry's wand.

"COMBURET!"

A jet of fire erupted from Harry's wand as he incanted the Flagrance Curse and completely engulfed the furnace, and much of the surrounding stone wall and floor.

"Comburet Totalem!" Incanted Harry urgently.

The flame thrower increased in density, becoming a thicker shade of orange. The air in the Common Room became harder and harder to breath, a few people had to sit down with dizziness.

"Harry?" Called out Emma. "Harry stop. HARRY STOP!"

She grabbed his hands and squeezed/

"STOP!"

Harry appeared lost in his own world, nevertheless, he seemed to react to his sister's words, because curse died down quickly before stopping.

Emma quick marched her brother out of the Common Room.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Harry was forced into the Room of Requirement by his sister, where she forced him into a magically will-conjured couch.

"What the hell, you just destroyed your entire research, not to mention Lawrence's? You've been going on about him for ages now, you said that his theory could revolutionise and change magic as the world knows it. I believed you, now what in the name of our mother and father have you done." Roared Emma incandescently.

Harry merely looked at his hands as they shook uncontrollably.

"Oh no, not this time." Snapped Emma. "I have been with you through Dursleys, the Chamber of Secrets, Sirius Black and the world's worst school testing regime. I have healed you through your stupid dangerous experiments. Now tell me why did you destroy that paper and the work you've obsessed over for the last year?"

Harry looked up, when Emma saw the look in his eyes, she felt her anger replaced with something else. A very deep concern. Harry looked terrified, more terrified than she had ever seen him before.

"Em'… what have I done?" Said Harry.

"You tell me Harry?" Emma replied calmly.

So he did.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

Within minutes of the Potters exiting the Common Room, McGonagall had been called up by the prefects, where she examined the result of Harry's fire spells. The damage to the Common Room was easily repairable with magic, but that was hardly the point. The fireplace, a device designed to hold a fire had been scorched beyond belief. The entire damage zone was black, the bricks seemed to have lost some of their attachment to each other and the metal grill designed to hold the firewood had been melted down into a very smelly oil.

"Explain." Demanded the deputy-headmistress, glaring at Ginny and Demelza. In the absence of Harry and Emma, they were receiving the complete and unwanted attention of their head of house.

"It was Harry." Said Ginny.

"He just…" Demelza stopped herself from saying.

"He went nuts." Said Angus Matlock. "He just fried that entire area."

"Where is Mr Potter now? And Miss Potter?" Demanded McGonagall.

"No idea." Lied Ginny. Emma would only take Harry to one place after something like that, but she was not telling McGonagall the Guild's secret.

"Professor." Said Demelza diplomatically. "I'm sure Harry…

"I'm sure you still have a high opinion of Mr Potter Miss Robins and I commend you for it, but I need to address Mr Potter's obvious deteriorating mental health. This confounded tournament has obviously taken its toll on the young man. I think many at this school have a lot to be ashamed of…"

At that moment the portrait hole opened, and Emma came in. She did not look well.

"Miss Potter." Said McGonagall. "I am concerned for your brother, you will take me to him…"

The Gryffindor Head however stopped talking as not only was Emma disregarding her words, she walked right past her head of house, her friends and every other person in the Common Room and straight for bed.

"Miss Potter." Said McGonagall. "Miss Potter?"

Demelza and Ginny ran after their friend. Something was wrong, that was beyond obvious at this point.

ORACLE2PHOENIX

"Emma?" Asked Ginny.

"Talk to us?" Demanded Demelza.

Emma looked to them. "I can't. No one… must ever know… oh Harry."

She collapsed on her bed and cried.

The secret was discovered. It was now on Harry's shoulders to ensure it never got out. The dark and terrible secret of the Patronus Charm, it could only be discovered through the work of Winston Lawrence and Harry Potter. The secret would have to die with Harry, for it to pass to anyone else would usher in a new form of dark magic.

So Harry has learnt the terrible secret. What is it? Terrible, that's what.

I don't know whether I've mentioned it before or not, but the next chapter is probably the most important chapter or the second most important chapter of the entire story. Certain things will start making sense, but I may as well give you this spoiler (if you can call it that) I am not revealing the secret. I'm just giving it a different designation.

I'd ask for reviews, but I don't want to get greedy. Seriously, 59 reviews for the last chapter? If I'd known it was that easy to get tons of reviews I would have gone on hiatus more often. Seriously thanks for all the messages. I know I didn't really reply to any of the messages asking when the next chapter was. The reason for that is I don't have a set timetable for when I write stuff, I upload when I've finished and done what I call proof reading (I admit my own imperfections in regards to that for the record). So just so you know I will not answer messages or reviews that ask when I'm going to update, because I cannot be bothered justifying myself to every person that asks, I have a job now and children who love me (I'm not a dad or anything, I just work with 3 and 4-year-olds).

Anyway please review (I really do like reviews).