A/N - trigger for swearing and mild homophobic language
Remus was reading a book quietly when his fireplace suddenly glowed green. He couldn't figure out who would be calling him at this time, he instantly thought of the worst scenarios. He went over and answered the call – it was Minerva McGonagall. "Minerva, what's wrong? Is Harry ok?" he asked quickly.
"Harry is fine. But there's something that has happened that you will need to know about. I'm sure you've heard about the Triwizard tournament this year at Hogwarts. Well, tonight the Goblet of Fire decided on the champions and for Hogwarts there were two champions – Harry was one of them."
"But I thought there was an age restriction?" asked Remus still taking in the information.
"There is," replied Minerva.
"Remus, the rule is that Harry will have to compete. There are three tasks which are challenging and dangerous. I am concerned about Harry's safety."
"Take him out of it – he won't compete. It's against the rules." Implored Remus.
"I'm afraid we can't."
"How did Harry get around the age restriction?" asked Remus.
"We don't know. Albus asked him if he'd put his name in the Goblet and the boy denied it. Moody seems to think it's a plot to hurt the child, but Alastor, quite frankly, is paranoid."
Remus ran his hands through his hair. "What are we going to do?" asked Remus.
"I don't know, but I want you to keep supporting the boy each week. I think that'll be most important. You can't help him with the tasks, but you can continue to teach him general skills."
"Ok. Ok. Minerva, could you please do me a favour? I want to talk to Harry."
"Harry is in bed. It's passed curfew, Remus." She replied to him.
"Ok. Yes. Of course. Can I come tomorrow after dinner to see him? In the Transfiguration classroom?"
"I don't see why not."
"Thanks. Could you please let him know?"
"I'll tell him tomorrow during Transfiguration," she replied, before adding "Try not to worry about this, Remus. I can see you're stressed out already."
Remus gave a little smile before bidding her goodnight. Once he had got up off his knees, he went over to the two-way mirror which he had with Sirius. He needed to tell Sirius ASAP. He tried calling for Sirius over the mirror, but he didn't respond. So, Remus started to busy himself with his books, looking for what sort of spells would help Harry most while doing dangerous stunts. Every five minutes or so he would try to contact Sirius on the two-way mirror. Eventually after about an hour of this, he managed to get an answer "Moons, what's wrong?"
"Hogwarts just Flooed me. You know the Triwizard tournament? Harry is the Hogwarts champion."
"Oh, good on him," replied Sirius sleepily.
"No, not good on him. Padfoot, the competition is only for wizards who are of age. Harry is a fourteen-year-old boy. He shouldn't be allowed to compete."
"Then tell Dumbles to withdraw him."
"I told McGonagall to withdraw him, but she said it was impossible. Pads, I'm really worried. The Goblet that chooses the students is supposed to have a number of wards on it to ensure that it only chooses one student, who is of age, from each school. Someone has used dark magic to confound the cup to accept Harry as well."
"Oh"
"I have a really bad feeling about this. First Harry's scar hurts, and now he's in the tournament. I'm seeing Harry tomorrow."
"I'll come with you," offered Sirius
"Like hell you'll come with me, Sirius." Remus retorted.
"I can be in Hogsmeade by sundown. I'll come as Padfoot."
"No. It's way too risky. Plus, I'll be flooing in. Let me talk to Harry then I'll chat to you after."
"There's no point in me being close to Harry if I'm not allowed to see the boy."
"And there's no point being near him if you get caught. He's already worried about you getting caught coming back to Scotland. He wants you safe. I want you safe."
"You'll two way me as soon as you finish with him?"
"The moment I get home."
"Pads, I'm so worried about him. I don't want to lose him."
"He'll be ok. It'll be a bit of fun for him. Don't worry, Moons. He's a big boy, and you will help him where you can."
"He's just a baby, Sirius."
"Moony. Think back to your fourth year. What were we doing then? I was trying to study how to become an animagus for you. We were sneaking into Hogsmeade at every chance we got. This is just Harry's version of that."
"I guess. If anything happens to him, I don't think I could bear it."
"Me neither."
They bid each other goodnight then left the mirrors. Remus just wanted Sirius in his cottage to hug him.
The next day, Remus Flooed to the Transfiguration classroom after dinner. Harry wasn't there, so Remus headed out to try and find Minerva, or Harry. He ran into one of his ex-students, Dean Thomas. Dean came running over "Professor Lupin, you're back!" before giving Remus a forceful hug, nearly knocking Remus off his feet. "Dean, it has been a while."
"Professor, please tell us you're back to teach us again. We all miss you so much! Moody is cool and all, but he's odd."
"Ah, Dean, I'm here to find Harry. Do you know where he is?"
"He got pulled out of class to do something for the Triwizard Tournament."
"Ah, thank you. I'll go and find Professor McGonagall then."
Dean hugged Remus before he saw Seamus come around the corner "Professor Lupin!" exclaimed Seamus, "Back to teach Defence again?"
"No, no I was just explaining to Dean here that I'm here to see Harry about the Triwizard tournament." The two boys finally let Remus leave, when Remus was sure he heard Seamus tell Dean "You've so got a crush on him. It's so fucking obvious Deano." Remus pretended that the boys were out of earshot and kept walking towards Minerva's office.
He knocked on Minerva's door. She indicated he could enter. "Ah, Remus. Are you not with Harry?"
Remus shook his head. "Harry wasn't there. I bumped into Dean Thomas in the corridor who said Harry had been pulled out of class to attend a Triwizard Tournament event. Minerva, what on earth am I going to do with the boy?"
"Be a friend. He and Weasley aren't talking."
Remus gave a long sigh. "Let me see what I can do. Do you know where Harry will be?"
"Probably at dinner. Why don't you go down and join him?"
"Ok, I'll head down."
Remus headed down to the Great Hall and stopped to talk on the way to what felt like every student he had taught last year. With lots of hugs and 'please come back'. He finally got down to the nearly empty Great Hall and found Harry sat by himself eating dinner. Remus quietly snuck up behind Harry and sat down next to him "Well, well, there's my school champion."
Harry jumped out of his skin before turning to Remus with a mouth full of food saying, "You're not supposed to be here tonight!"
Remus started to help himself to a few sausages and some vegetables as he said "Harry, I don't know what your aunt and uncle say about eating with your mouth full, but it's not a good habit to have. Anyway, I was informed last night that you were now the school champion, so I asked Professor McGonagall to tell you that I'll see you tonight instead."
"Oh" Harry replied, like he'd only just remembered.
"Never mind. Eat." They sat there eating until both were full and the platters of food had disappeared. Remus was shocked by just how much food Harry could eat before he was full. Then Remus took Harry to the Transfiguration classroom. Harry was muttering the whole time about how he 'hadn't finished his homework'. Remus turned to Harry and said he was more interested in a chat to see how Harry was. Harry relaxed a little, before asking Remus if he could help him with summoning spells.
"Ah, summoning spells. Helps if the stakes are high."
"What?" Harry replied.
"Dung bombs are ideal for summoning spells. You want to ensure you do it right, or you'll set them off."
Harry gave him a quizzical look. "That was always your godfather's trick. Personally, I preferred chocolate." Harry just laughed.
"Harry, before we start summoning spells. Sit down, let's chat."
They pulled out two chairs opposite one another and Remus asked Harry "How are you feeling today?"
"I just want to wake up from this nightmare."
"I take it you didn't put your name in the goblet then?" Remus asked, looking intensely at Harry.
"No". And with that, Remus knew Harry hadn't done it.
"Right. Well, Professor McGonagall has reiterated I can't help you with the clues, but I can keep helping you with general abilities, which will no doubt help you with this too."
Harry nodded. "Right," said Remus, "summoning charms." He grabbed some chocolate from his coat pocket and broke it into squares, before placing each square on a different desk, then explained to Harry how to cast a summoning spell. By the end of the night, Harry had managed to make the chocolate move and could get the chocolate close to him to move across the desk at him. Remus bid Harry goodnight before fourth-year curfew and Flooed back home to chat with Sirius over the two-way mirror and tell him all about what had happened.