Harry Does Different CCCLXXII
Stick Your 0
"Zank vous variement!" Fleur Delacour threw herself into the arms of the youngest Champion "My seester was not even your 'ostage!"
He patted her uneasily on the back and whispered quiet nonsense for a minute then "Oh look, they're putting up scores. Turn around!"
"A 25" she groaned disgusted with herself "I deeserv a naught. Caught by grindlows."
Ron was all agog over being near the veela and still shivering from the cold, but managed to say "Look Harry! You're tied with Krum!"
"A ZERO!" Harry wasn't focused on the totals, just on one part. The glowing number above the head of the Headmaster of Durmstrang was indeed "A BIG FAT ZERO! YO! YOU DIRTBAG DEATH EATER! WHAT RAT CRAWLED UP YOUR ARSE AND DIED?!"
The Bulgarian lashed out angrily "Idiot boy! You know not what you speak! Now be silent or I take all points!"
"I saw it at the Yule Ball." Countered Harry, pulling out all the stops "Him and Snape talking about their master! That nasty THING on their arms! BOTH OF THEM!"
Dumbledore intervened "Harry …everyone… both Headmaster Karkaroff and Professor Snape worked for The Light when it finally counted. Those of you old enough to remember- - -"
"And what has either of them done for me… or rather TOOOO me… lately?" the Champion interrupted "Not a day goes by DE #1 doesn't insult me, my friends, or my parents in class. DE #2 there, sitting mighty on his throne, just curious how he would've done against a dragon? Or against a whole village of mermen? Never mind the giant squid? But never mind that, I'd say rescuing not one but TWO hostages is worth about a 13 instead of a 0!"
Karkaroff snarled in righteous outrage "It is a good thing, then that judges are not required to justify themselves to attention seeking nakhalniks [Bulgarian for brat] like you!"
"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" retorted Harry though he didn't know what the word meant.
Dumbledore had to restrain his fellow Headmaster from pulling his wand. The struggle was brief as he grunted "Away …put your wand… Harry! My friend …Igor… made his amends."
"Once a Death Eater always a Death Eater!" Harry shouted back, half-obeying his Headmaster by dropping his wand to his side "All responsible for my parents' murders!" He'd never read any rulebook on the Tournament, but his brain kicked into overdrive "Mr. Crouch! Ahhhh…yeah, can't a participant appeal a judge's score? It's in the rules ….err…. somewhere."
The British leader nodded "There is indeed. It would require convening an emergency session of the Confederation High Council. They would then appoint neutral judges from uninvolved nations."
"Harry I urge you" Dumbledore attempted to de-escalate the situation "Such a course would assuredly create an international incident. Do not ask for this." He leaned in closer whispering "I beg you."
He backed away from his Headmaster "Mr. Crouch I don't ask for an investigation; I DEMAND it. Karkaroff has discriminated against not only me, but Miss Delacour and Mr. Diggory. His scoring for all of us has been undeservedly low, while giving his student high marks on both occasions thus far. Beside that, how can I expect a fair shake from a murderer?"
"…" to the majority of onlookers Headmaster Karkaroff's response was gibberish, though not to his students, they all backed away.
Harry's wand flashed "Petrificus Totalis! Professor Moody, even if you're not an active Auror, I assume you can have someone here to arrest Karkaroff for attempted assault?"
"Not bad, boy, not too bad at all." The DADA Professor chortled.
