...GOoHS...

Chapter 9

The Fourth Champion's Predicament

Harry's stomach plummeted when he heard his name.

All eyes suddenly turned to him and he felt his chest constrict. All of a sudden, he was taken back to the time when his parents had taken him to uncomfortable social situations when he was younger. His social anxiety flared up like the goblet's flames, and he felt himself start to shake.

He heard Dumbledore call his name again, harsher this time. Harry refused to acknowledge it. They made a mistake. There was no way that someone like him was chosen. He had wanted no part in this since the beginning. He curled into himself, trying to shield his face from the stares, but then he felt someone nudge him. Harry obstinately shook his head.

"Harry, you need to get up."

When he looked up, he saw those nearest to him watch him as if he had betrayed them. Harry felt tears spring to his eyes and he quickly looked down again. 'I didn't do anything. Stop staring,' Harry thought and he tried to push away his malicious thoughts as his mind made everyone around him seem as if they were giving him scornful, disdainful looks.

"Harry… I can't believe you!" Hermione hissed at his side. "You actually did it?!"

'No, I would never. I would never put my name in the goblet.'

Dumbledore called his name for the third time, and this time, Harry could definitely hear his anger. He heard a chair scrape and then felt hands grip his arms. Harry, horrified, struggled against them as they hauled him up from his seat. It was Ron and the Weasley twins, but they looked more shocked than betrayed. If anything, they just forced him up lest they incur Dumbledore's wrath.

They pushed Harry towards the front, where Dumbledore waited for him with a fierce look on his face. It was an expression that he never thought he would see on the normally kind old man. His blue eyes seemed like it was twinkling with rage. Harry's eyes glued themselves to the floor again, wishing it would open up and swallow him whole.

"He's a cheat!" yelled a voice from the Slytherin table.

"He's not even of age!" yelled another one from the Ravenclaws.

Harry did his best to block them out. He stopped timidly in front of Dumbledore, eyes still focused on the floor. He only saw the headmaster's long robes and his hand giving him the piece of parchment that held his name. Harry hesitantly took it, not knowing what he should do right after. Dumbledore didn't say anything and his hands gestured for him to go forward, towards the trophy room.

Slowly and as if he had been put under the full body bind spell, he stiffly made his way to Professor McGonagall. Harry didn't dare look up and see the looks his teachers were giving him along the way.

"Potter…" he heard Professor McGonagall's voice say.

Harry stiffened when he heard her. He stopped in front of her and he looked up hesitantly and then Harry immediately wished that he hadn't. Unlike the others' looks of outrage, Professor McGonagall looked genuinely scared at what he had gotten himself into. She feared for his life, Harry realized. She looked a lot like that time she had caught him and Ron after they knocked out a troll in their first year.

She gave him a shaky nod and guided him gently towards the door. Harry began to tremble and looked pleadingly her.

"P-Professor… y-you know that I wouldn't—"

Professor McGonagall placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's out of my hands, Potter."

Harry slumped, resigning himself to his fate. 'Just one Halloween… just let me enjoy one fucking Halloween in peace.'

When Harry arrived in the Gryffindor common room later in the evening, the reception he received wasn't better than the outrage the teachers and committee expressed back in the trophy room. Harry shrunk into himself again, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.

As much as he (and probably everyone else in the castle) wanted to make his apparent status as a TriWizard Champion revoked, Mr. Crouch told them it was impossible. He had already entered into a binding magical contract with the goblet of fire but Harry thought that whatever penalty he would get from breaking that contract would seem insignificant next to his parents' rage when they find out.

No one was happy to see him get called as the fourth champion, as was evident in the face of every Gryffindor he passed as he walked through the common room. He could feel their hostility coming off in waves. It was as if the Gryffindor common room had turned into a literal lion's den.

He quickly made his way to the stairs that led to his dorm room but somebody caught his arm and spun him around. Harry instinctively wrenched his arm away but the other person held firm.

"Please, let go." Harry said softly, not wanting the entire common room to hear. It was particularly difficult since no one dared say anything, too focused on what he had to say about the events during the Halloween feast.

"No," a familiar voiced reached Harry's ears and his head rose sharply to meet the person's gaze.

It was Lucas. He was the one who grabbed him. His face gave nothing away but Harry could tell that he was furious. His hazel eyes bore onto his, as if challenging him to try and get away again. Harry slumped his shoulders and stopped struggling.

Everyone in the common room was looking at them as if they expected them to start trading blows but Lucas didn't say anything else to Harry. He just dragged him away from everyone's accusing stares and took him up to their dorm room. He must have told Ron and the others not to interfere because no one followed them up.

Lucas pushed Harry in and closed the door behind them. He then turned around wordlessly and dragged Harry towards his bed, sitting them both down on it. He glanced at him tiredly then looked away, twiddling his thumbs, looking like he wasn't sure how to start the conversation. He was still very much cross with Harry.

Finally, he straightened up and slowly said, "Did you—"

Harry immediately shook his head, green eyes growing wide. "No! No! You know I would never!"

Lucas gave him that tired look again and sighed. "Harry, if you're lying right now—"

"I swear on my life Lucas," Harry said solemnly, placing a hand over his heart. "I swear on my life that I never put my name in the goblet and I would never even think of doing so. Please believe me."

Lucas looked pained, as if he wanted to believe Harry but couldn't. Not until he had all the facts, at least. They had been in this situation too many times before. Danger always followed Harry around and as always, Lucas would have to fish him out of it as best as he could lest his parents direct their anger at him too. But this time, the mess Harry had gotten himself into was far out of Lucas' reach. There was no getting him out this time.

Lucas stared at Harry intently, which made Harry squirm. He never did like being under someone's scrutiny because he was subjected to it a lot by the healers. They never said anything good to him afterwards too so it had become his habit to put up a guard instantly. This probably made him look more suspicious to Lucas, unfortunately.

"Hermione's told me that you had several ideas on how to bypass the age line easily." Lucas said, daring him to contradict him this time.

Harry's heart plummeted at that. He mentally berated himself for being a cocky know-it-all. But then again, he didn't expect his name to pop out of the blasted goblet tonight. He had landed himself in a very sticky situation, indeed.

"Lucas, you know that I know a lot of things in theory. I wouldn't go around putting it into practice, especially with something as dangerous as the TriWizard Tournament. You have to believe me." Harry hoped Lucas would listen to his points.

"Then how do you explain what happened tonight?" Lucas asked him. "Because honestly, Harry, I don't know what to believe in anymore. I want to write to mum and dad immediately but I know it wouldn't be fair if I didn't get an explanation from you first."

"You don't have to worry about writing them," said Harry, bitterness lacing his tone. "I expect either Dumbledore or McGonagall have already sent word."

Lucas looked surprise at that and then pulled a face, as if realizing he was stupid not to expect their teachers to inform their parents at once.

"I really didn't put my name in, Lucas. Dumbledore and Moody have asked me that the entire time I was there at the trophy room." Harry told him, pulling his knees up to his chest. "Moody says he'll be looking into it. In the meantime, I have to compete."

"What?!" Lucas squawked, standing up in his surprise.

Harry nodded glumly and muttered, "…stupid binding magical contract."

Lucas was still very much alarmed. He ran his fingers through his hair stressfully and then he started pacing. Harry hated it when he started to pace. It made him look like their father whenever he was stressed out and that was something Harry never liked seeing on the usually fun-loving man.

"Lucas, sit down, there's nothing we can do about it…" Harry said, laying down on the bed now. He was emotionally drained. He just wanted the night to end and deal with everything tomorrow. He would go to the library first thing in the morning and find ways to break the bloody contract.

Lucas looked incredulously at him. "Why are you so calm? You bloody got yourself into this thing!"

Harry propped himself up on his elbows and glared at him. "I told you I didn't put my name in!"

"Yeah, and I suppose the fact that you recklessly rush head first into life-threatening situations since our first year also weren't your conscious decisions!"

Harry glared at him even more, temper starting to get the better of him. "I didn't ask to be put in those situations! I just did what I thought was right!"

"Face it, Harry! You bloody like to put yourself in danger, as if we don't worry enough about your sickly arse!"

"What's your problem, Lucas?! How many times do I have to tell you that I didn't put my name in?!"

"You don't exactly have a good track record, do you, Harry?"

"Alright," Harry growled, standing up. "then explain to me then, how you think I did it? Explain to me why you're so adamant that I willingly signed up for a dangerous tournament when even the healers at St. Mungo's have been telling me not to put unnecessary risk on myself? Explain how I, the terminally ill wonder, went scrambling to put a noose over my neck?!"

Lucas' anger vanished from his face at Harry's outburst. He had seemed to realize how insensitive he had been.

'Good, bloody git,' Harry thought, still seething with rage at the fact that his brother refused to believe him.

They were both silent for a moment, the two of them trying to compose themselves. Lucas then turned to Harry again, signifying that it was time to continue their discussion.

"So what does Dumbledore think happened? Has he got any ideas?" Lucas asked.

Harry mentally cheered at the first sensible questions his brother asked.

"He thinks someone else put my name in. They don't know who yet. Moody also thinks a powerful Confundus Charm may have hoodwinked it. That would explain why there are four champions instead of three."

"What do you mean? It was planned? It isn't a—"

"No… it isn't a mistake."

The next day found Harry in the library, as he had promised to himself the night before. He woke up before everyone else and rushed to the library. He didn't want to be subjected to everyone's stares again.

He scoured the library for all the books relating to magical contracts and piled as many as he could carry to a hidden corner. For the entire early morning, he read everything he could. It was only until the chimes from the clock tower alerted him that he was almost late for his first class that he stopped. Bleary-eyed and with no progress made, Harry shut the book he had been reading. The books he had gotten didn't reveal anything useful to him.

Harry ruefully made his way to Transfiguration, too tired to even retort to the student body's unkind remarks and rude stares. He didn't want to risk exerting his body even more so he walked at a slower rate than he would have liked. He didn't like missing classes but then he also wasn't looking forward to more of the accusing stares he received from his fellow Gryffindors last night. He'd rather get detention from being late.

He didn't get much sleep the night before, owing to the fact that Ron and Lucas had argued well into the night regarding Harry's status as a TriWizard champion. Harry was glad he had convinced Lucas that he didn't put his name in. He was a bit bitter though, that he had to mention Dumbledore's name to have any validity to his claims.

Ron still wasn't convinced when his and Lucas' argument ended but Harry hoped Lucas didn't give up and tried to convince him and Hermione. Harry didn't hold out hope that he did though. They way they looked at him last night kept jumping to the forefront of his mind.

When Harry reached the classroom, his classmates were in the middle of copying words off the blackboard and Professor McGonagall was on her desk, grading essays. Harry quietly slipped into the only empty table which was near the front, painfully aware of the stares he was getting. Even Professor McGonagall looked up at his entrance.

"Oh, good of you to join us Mr. Potter. Though, I don't appreciate your tardiness. That's five points from Gryffindor," she said, lips spread into a thin line in her disapproval. The Gryffindors in the room groaned.

Harry apologized as he started taking out his notebooks and quill. Professor McGonagall's face softened when she saw his pale face and the dark circles under his eyes. She then made a mental note to have the boy checked over by Poppy.

"The great and wise fourth champion graces us with his presence at last," whispered a voice behind him and a series of muffled laughter followed. They were quickly silenced with a glare from Professor McGonagall.

Harry looked behind him to see who had said it and his eyes caught Ron's. He had an unreadable look on his face. Beside him sat Lucas, who gave Harry a sympathetic look. A few tables from them was Hermione, who saw him look at her briefly before pointedly ignoring him.

Harry's heart sank. His two best friends acted so distantly towards him. Did they believe everyone else in the school? He threw a desperate look at Lucas again and he mouthed, "Later…" at him and then continued writing. Harry felt even worse. He couldn't believe that the two people he trusted the most had turned his back on him just like that.

He spent the rest of the lesson in a daze, making several mistakes when it came to practical lessons. Professor McGonagall's concerned looks didn't help either. In the end, he only managed to turn his hedgehog into a passable pin cushion but a few of the hedgehog's quills were still embedded in it. McGonagall gave it a disappointed hum before moving onto other students.

As soon as class was dismissed, Harry rushed to Lucas so he could hear how his friends had taken his pleas of innocence. Hermione huffed angrily when she saw him and rushed off with Padma Patil. Ron looked between Harry and her and his body jerked towards the door's direction, as if he meant to follow Hermione before he stopped himself. He followed Lucas instead as he met Harry halfway.

"Don't mind her. She's not angry." Lucas said, referring to Hermione's exit.

Harry raised an eyebrow at that. Hermione was obviously angry.

"She's just upset."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

Lucas laughed. "No, she's not angry with you anymore. I think she believes Dumbledore and Moody but she's upset that you ran away this morning and didn't even try to explain yourself. She really believed what you said, you know. The thing you said before the goblet…"

"Spit out my name, yeah…" Harry finished for him, cursing himself again. He looked at the door longingly, wanting more than anything to chase her down and explain everything to her. Lucas clasped his shoulder and held him down though.

"You'll get your chance to tell her later. Let her cool off for now," he said.

Harry nodded and then he turned to Ron. "A-And you…?"

Ron shifted awkwardly. "I believe you now. Lucas had to knock it into me this morning though."

Harry's brows furrowed in concern. "Why? What happened?"

Lucas coughed awkwardly. "We… kind of got into blows at the dorm room this morning. Then again, if I didn't literally knock some sense into him, he would still be sulking around and glaring at you."

"Hey! I said I was sorry!" Ron said huffily.

Lucas smirked. "Not to Harry, you didn't."

Ron rolled his eyes but he went to Harry nonetheless.

"I'm very sorry for not believing you, Harry. I was a nasty, jealous git last night," Ron said seriously. Harry could tell he really was regretting the way he had acted last night. Truthfully, Harry was just glad he didn't lose his best friend like he thought. He was glad Ron saw sense quickly, even if it was by way of a very swift blow to the head courtesy of Lucas.

"Thank you, Ron. For a while there, I thought I had lost my best friend."

Lucas cleared his throat and grinned proudly at them. "As long as you have me, your amazing brother, you won't lose your friends. Honestly, I'm such a saint, risking my good reputation like that."

Ron and Harry rolled their eyes at Lucas' theatrics. They pushed past him and started walking to their next class. Lucas, very offended, chased after them, only to be stopped by Dean and Seamus who looked like they wanted to confront him on the fourth champion issue. Lucas had been very vocal of his support to Harry after all.

Harry turned back to help him but Lucas held out his hand to stop him and told him to go ahead. Seamus and Dean didn't look at Harry as hostilely as the rest of the school but they did share the same apprehension at having to accept him as the fourth champion.

"I'll sort this out, Harry. You just go. You were already late for one class today," Lucas said gently, urging Ron to get Harry to class.

Ron understood and steered Harry around, whispering, "He'll be fine. If anyone can charm anyone to believe him, it's bloody Lucas Fleamont Potter. He's like Mr. Potter that way."

A/N: Yeah… I went there. I didn't like Ron behaving how he did in the Goblet of Fire and like… what's the use of having someone as influencial as the Boy-Who-Lived for a brother if he can't change anyone's minds? Harry didn't have anyone in canon so I hoped Lucas would help out in making his friends see sense.

Hermione's still a bit grumpy, btw but she always was the patient and understanding one of the group in canon so she knows Harry wouldn't dare join something as dangerous as the tournament with his health being… well, that bitch. lol