AN: Sorry this is so late. I've just recently had some very important exams at school. However, now that it's the Easter Break, I should be able to upload more chapters quicker. This chapter will be Liam-centric. The next chapter should be Fleur centric. I'm trying to limit the amount of Ares P.O.V. to give an enigmatic feel to the character, though he will get more P.O.V.s after Chapter 9.
Disclaimer: J.K Rowling owns Harry Potter.
(Liam P.O.V.)
Liam froze in horror and disbelief. He had gripped the table so hard that he had gotten splinters under his fingernails.
'No. It can't be!'
"Liam Potter," Dumbledore called out loudly again.
"Go on Liam," he heard Ron whisper next to him. Hermione roused Liam from his shock as he turned to face Hermione. She was near tears as she said, "Liam, you need to go up there."
Liam nodded dumbly as he stood up, shooting a quick glance at the student body. The Ravenclaws looked intrigued and the Slytherins sneered. The Durmstrang students were looking at him impassively and the Beauxbatons students, particularly the blonde-haired boy that always was by the Beauxbatons champion's side, studying him. But it was the reactions from the Hufflepuffs that stunned Liam the most. They were looking at him with such venom that he flinched involuntarily.
Liam felt his feet wobble slightly as he started walking to the door behind the High Table. He saw his mother looking at him, stunned. His father and Sirius, who were sat next to her, had similar expressions. He saw Professor McGonagall raise her eyebrow and Snape glaring at him with pure loathing. Drunkenly, he walked to the ministry official who opened the ornate door that led to the chamber. He was too dazed to even react to the jeers and boos that rained down from nearly every table as he staggered through the doorway to the Champions' chamber.
The chamber was a moderately-sized room with trophies in glass cases. Liam slowly lurched to the door that led to the room where the other champions were. As he moved his hand to the doorknob, he heard what sounded like Cedric say, "Maybe a fourth champion was announced."
Liam opened the door and stepped in slowly. He was still in a state of denial.
'How?'
He observed his surroundings. Krum was brooding in a corner, Cedric was sat down in a plush chair, the Veela sat down opposite him. He saw the Veela flick back her sheet of long, silvery hair elegantly as she turned to face him.
"Do they want us back in the main chamber?"
The door slowly closed behind Liam, but it was soon opened as Ludo Bagman, looking slightly dazed, strode into the room, taking Liam by the arm and led him forward.
"This is extraordinary, utterly incredible," Bagman said, "Lady and Gentlemen, I introduce to you, the fourth Triwizard champion."
Liam saw Cedric's expression morph into a stunned look. The Veela was looking at him, as though she was studying him. Krum turned around sharply, his gruff face darkening as he observed Liam.
Just as the Veela was about to say something, the door behind Liam opened again, as a large group of people entered the room. Liam turned around and saw his parents, Sirius, Snape, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Mr Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madam Maxime and Professor Dumbledore enter the room. He could hear the buzzing of the students from the Great Hall as the door opened.
"Madam Maxime," the Veela said as she strode over to her Headmistress, "How can they let this leetle boy compete? How can he have been chosen as the fourth champion? What is going on?"
Liam was still feeling numb, but still felt a surge of anger.
'Leetle boy! Doesn't she know who I am?'
"I would also like to know that as well Dumbledore!" What is the meaning of this?" Madam Maxime snapped.
"I'd also like to know that," Professor Karkaroff said, a steely smile adorning his face. He then sneered, "Two Hogwarts champions. I don't remember that being in the rules. Isn't this supposed to be a tournament of fair play?"
"Oui, this is very unjust," Madam Maxime followed. "Wasn't the Age Line set up to stop it?"
"Don't blame Dumbledore, blame Potter," Snape said softly, eyes full of loathing. "He's known to flout rules, thinking he owns the world.
Liam felt a surge of anger, his arm twitching slightly.
"How dare you accuse my son of such behaviour, Snivellus!" James bellowed.
Both Snape and James drew their wands and were about to cast spells, when Dumbledore flicked his wand. A loud bang permeated across the room. Both James and Snape jumped on the spot. James recovered quicker than Snape and was about to fire a spell before he was held back by Lily.
"Calm down now," Dumbledore said gently, as he turned to Liam, his eyes twinkling slightly as he had eye contact. After a second, he broke of the eye contact.
"I don't believe that Liam put his name into the Goblet of Fire," he said conclusively
"Mr Crouch... Mr Bagman..." Professor Karkaroff said, his steely smile still adorning his face, "You're in charge of the Tournament. Does the boy have to compete in the Tournament?"
"We must follow the rules set since the inception of the Triwizard Tournament. The rules clearly state that anybody who has had their name come out from the Goblet of Fire have an obligation to compete in the Tournament."
"Then I aver that we relight the Goblet of Fire and place names until all the schools have two champions. It's only fair."
The door once again opened as Professor Karkaroff finished his sentence. Liam could hear a gruff chuckle as Mad-Eye Moody walked into the room; his electric-blue eye rotating around.
"Bold words, coming from a coward like you, Karkaroff," he growled. "There's a binding contract. The champions have to compete, lest they lose their magic. From what I've seen, losing your magic is very painful. Convenient, eh?"
"Convenient?" Karkaroff questioned, his hands balled into fists in an act of anger. "What are you talking about Mad-Eye?"
"Don't you know, Karkaroff? These rules were set in case any imbeciles like you ended up as Headmaster or Headmistress to one of the competing schools."
Professor Karkaroff scowled as Moody turned to speak to Dumbledore.
"I've a bad feeling. I think that the person who put Liam Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire knew that rule, and placed Liam's name into the Goblet of Fire, knowing that he would have to compete in the tournament."
"Clearly someone wanted to give Hogwarts two chances to gain eternal glory," Madam Maxime said.
"I agree," Professor Karkaroff said. He looked like he was about to speak when Moody suddenly interjected.
"This all seems too suspicious, the boy's name suddenly coming out of the Goblet of Fire, a powerful magical artefact. I can tell that there was a powerful Confundus Charm used. The person who put Potter's name into the Goblet of Fire probably wants him dead."
A huge silence engulfed the room.
'Want... me dead.'
Liam turned around to his parents and Sirius. All of them were pale, shocked as much as he was.
"Alastor, now's not the time to speak of such things," Dumbledore said, looking at Moody with a gaze that conveyed a message. What message was conveyed; Liam didn't know.
Karkaroff suddenly let out a shrill laugh. Everyone in the room flinched.
"Ah Moody, it seems your stupid paranoia hasn't left you. Really, who would want the Boy-Who-Lived dead."
"There are those who turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody said warningly and menacingly as he drew his wand. "It's my job to fight against Dark Wizards Karkaroff. And as for who would want the boy dead, I can think of many people, like the Death Eaters who were let off after the end of the war. Like you. Tell me, why shouldn't I subdue you and interrogate you right now."
"Alastor," Dumbledore said warningly. Moody re-holstered his wand with a triumphant smile on his face, while Karkaroff was trembling with anger, his face red as a tomato.
"We don't know how this situation arose, but we still have to continue with the Triwizard Tournament. Therefore, Mr Potter will have to compete," Mr Crouch said decisively in a tone that warranted no further arguments, "Ludo, tell the champions their instructions."
"Ah, very well, Barty. The first task will challenge each of you and push yourselves to your limits. It will test your daring in the face of unknown adversity, so we won't tell you anything about the first task other than the date, the 24th of November. You will only be allowed to face the first task armed initially with a wand. The details of the second task will be given when the first is over. To compensate for the demands of the Triwizard Tournament, the champions are exempt from their end-of-year exams. For the champions who would be taking their NEWTs, you will have a license to take them during the summer holidays. Amazing, isn't it?"
Bagman turned to look at Dumbledore.
"I think that's it, isn't it?"
"I think so," Dumbledore replied.
"Excellent. I'll see you all soon. Have an appointment with the goblins soon. Bye."
Bagman rushed to the door in haste and left the room.
"I'll also take my leave," Mr Crouch said to Dumbledore.
"A drink, before you go."
"Sorry Dumbledore, but I have to go back to the Ministry. Lots of work to be done, with the announcement of the fourth champion and other affairs. I've left young Weatherby in charge... quite enthusiastic... though a little crazy if I'm being honest."
As Mr Crouch left the room, Liam snorted internally at the fact that Mr Crouch couldn't even remember Percy's name, even though Percy practically admired and hounded him.
"Madam Maxime, Professor Karkaroff, a nightcap?"
But Professor Karkaroff left the room quickly, Krum following him suit.
"Maybe another time," Madam Maxime said as she put her arm around Fleur's shoulder as they swiftly left the room, speaking rapidly in French.
"Liam, Cedric, I suggest you both go to bed," Dumbledore said, smiling at them.
Liam turned to his parents and Sirius, and gave a small nod, before leaving the room with Cedric.
The Great Hall was deserted now: the candles had burned low, giving the jagged smiles of the pumpkins an eerie, flickering quality.
"So," Cedric started with a small smile, breaking the silence, "We're playing against each other again.
"Indeed," Liam replied.
"Don't worry about the school's reaction. I believe that you didn't put your name into the Goblet of Fire. I'll do my best to convince the Puffs that you didn't enter your name into the Goblet. The Ravenclaws are a smart bunch, they should be able to tell that you're telling the truth. I'd be careful around those slimy snakes though."
"Thanks Cedric," Liam said in appreciation as they entered the Entrance Hall. It was good to know that he had the support of someone around his age that wasn't Hermione or the Weasleys. He knew Cedric a bit, though not too much.
"No problem Liam, I'll see you tomorrow," he said as he walked to a door which was to the right of the marble staircase. Liam stood listening to him going down the stone steps beyond it, then, gradually, he started to climb up the marble ones.
'Who would want to kill me? And why?'
(Fleur P.O.V.)
"How did it go?" Claire asked as soon as Fleur entered her room. Adrian, Audrey and Ares were also in her room. Adrian and Audrey were looking at her, excitement shining on their eyes like Claire. Ares, however, had his eyes closed, in deep thought, leaning on a wall.
"It was fine," Fleur said, "But I am still confused as to how the Boy-Who-Lived was chosen for the Triwizard Tournament."
It was true. She had balked at the idea of a fourth champion, considering the tournament was called the Triwizard Tournament, with three champions and three schools. It was an honour, a privilege to be chosen to compete for eternal glory. And yet, the Boy-Who-Lived stood there and denied that he wanted any part in it.
In her anger at the Boy-Who-Lived's sheer audacity and arrogance, she had snapped at him and dismissed him as a boy without any chance of being able to hold up against people several years older than him.
"It was quite the interesting scenario," Adrian said, "I doubt he expected to see his name come out of the Goblet of Fire. He looked shocked."
"Rightfully so," Audrey said, "He clearly didn't look like he wanted any part of the tournament.
"Ares, what's your insight," Fleur asked gently.
Ares quickly opened his eyes, a green inferno blazing behind his eyes.
"The boy didn't put his name in. He couldn't have passed the Age Line. Magic remembers how long it's been a part of a living thing and the Age Line would only need to touch a living thing's magical core to verify the lifetime of the magical core. No potion could deceive something so simple. Any spell used will still consider the caster's magic, considering that spells are an extension of one's magical core. The boy clearly couldn't have passed the Age Line, so the question is, who would have put his name into the Goblet of Fire, and why?"
"The Defence against the Dark Arts professor said something about Dark Wizards wanting to kill the Boy-Who-Lived," Fleur said.
"True," Ares replied, "He is quite the target, especially as Dark activities have been on the rise in Britain."
"But who would want to kill him?" Claire said.
"I'd wager the Death Eaters who got off in the first war," Ares said, "But we can never be sure That's why I intend on checking out the Goblet of Fire at midnight. It should be in the Champions' chamber right now."
"You intend on sneaking into Hogwarts?" Adrian questioned.
"Of course I intend on sneaking into Hogwarts. How else will I be able to check out the Goblet of Fire."
"But how will you be able to sneak into Hogwarts. The castle's supposed to be an impenetrable fortress."
"All castles have their secrets," Ares replied smoothly.
(Liam P.O.V.)
"Who's there," Liam said as he pointed his wand at the door.
A butter-blonde boy smoothly walked into the Champion's chamber, which was lighted up only by the flickering blue flames of the Goblet of Fire. He raised his left hand, and Liam felt his wand fly out of his as it landed into Ares' left hand, while being launched onto the stone floor. As he was doing that, he flicked his right wrist and a midnight-blue wand suddenly appeared on his right hand. As he caught Liam's wand, he twitched his right hand as Liam felt ropes binding him, squeezing his life away.
Soon, however, he felt the ropes vanish and saw his wand flying towards him, he got up from the floor and caught it.
"Sorry about that," the boy Liam knew to be called Ares said. It was hard to not know his name, considering the fact that practically every girl in Hogwarts talked about him.
"I have a thing where I act instantly whenever a wand is pointed at me in a threatening manner," he continued.
"S'alright," Liam said.
"So, what are you doing, snooping around in the middle of the night?"
"Why should I tell you," Ares said, his eyes narrowing.
"I have no right to ask. It's just that I'm quite paranoid, after... you know..."
"Yes. It's hard to feel safe after what happened. "
"You know, you look a bit like my brother, or at least, the pictures that I have of him."
"Your brother?" Ares said inquiringly.
"Yes. His name was Harry. I suppose you know the story."
"I know a bit, here and there. Not much though, only that he disappeared. He must have meant something... special to your... family."
Liam winced internally. The way Ares said those words twisted the knife in his heart that had pierced it since his brother vanished. Liam felt all the more guilty for his brother's fate, and the role he had played in it.
"Yeah, he was."
'If only we had realised that sooner,' he thought to himself.
"He was my older brother," Liam continued, "We were supposed to be closer than best friends. I already have Ron and Hermione, but Harry was supposed to be different. We were supposed to everything together. Play pranks on the teachers, talk about Quidditch, joke and laugh. But now, I won't ever get that chance. I feel empty at times. I've never felt the same ever since I learnt that Harry ran away.
"He was your brother. I heard a saying, a brother is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit."
"I wish I knew that before," Liam said. Ares' words hit home. He had a gift to the heart, and a friend to the spirit. A guardian who would have helped him in his time of need. And he threw all of that away.
He continued, "The way I acted towards him was unforgivable. I treated him like an enemy. I was a dickhead when we were young. Drunk with fame, thinking that I was always right. Blamed harry for everything that went wrong, and my parents always believed me. They always trusted me over Harry.
"Surely," Ares said slickly, "Things weren't that bad."
"Oh, it was worse at times."
Liam laughed bitterly. He didn't know why he was spilling his whole life to this stranger but felt like a burden was being lifted of his shoulders, like Hermione said occasionally.
"I'm the Boy-Who-Lived," he continued, "I was a saint to their eyes. Still am in some ways. I was a saint to everyone's eyes. I could literally do no wrong. Mum and Dad thought that Harry was merely jealous of my fame."
"That wasn't the only reason," Ares said, his sharp gaze piercing through Liam. He squirmed slightly under the gaze.
"It wasn't the only reason, but I think it still contributed. The people of magical Britain treated me as a saviour, and maybe I was a saviour to them. But while I was in the spotlight, Harry faded into the shadows. When I was five, Mum and Dad started parading me around to all of their friends. They showered me with attention. Looking back, I was stupid to not have helped Harry."
"Help him?"
"Yes. Mum and Dad always listened to me. I should have made them aware that they had another son who wanted to be cared for like me. But no, I instead acted like a prat and rubbed the fact that I was cared for and loved in his face."
"Harry must have grown up lonely," Ares commented.
"Yes, though not completely lonely. Dumbledore would visit Harry and speak to him whenever he visited, though he didn't visit that often. Sirius and Remus also visited him a lot when we were younger, though the visits decreased as harry got older. I guess it wasn't enough. After all, nothing can replace a parent's love."
"Too true," Ares replied, "Though I am curious, how do parents simply forget about one child, while lavishing praise upon another?"
"I honestly don't know. But we were washed up in all the fame that came from the incident at Halloween. I remember Harry trying to get their attention a few times, but they didn't even look at him. Eventually, he stopped trying. I remember seeing him in the library a few times. He really liked books. We assumed that he was being difficult, and that he was jealous. He stopped eating meals with us. He stopped playing Quidditch with us. He either stayed in his room or was in the library."
"Surely," Ares said slowly, "You must have done something to bring him from his shell."
"If only I knew..." Liam said in a pained voice.
"You didn't?" Ares said in shock, his eyes widening.
Liam sighed.
"We made stupid choices back then. Everything we did seemed right. We didn't know how bad it would get."
"So, what happened next? I was told by some students that Harry had run away, but they didn't tell me the exact reason. Is he... dead?"
Liam's face contorted into an expression of pure pain. The rumour mill at Hogwarts was considered even worse than the gossip column in the Daily Prophet.
'Maybe even worse than Skeeter's articles.'
"Well, I think that there were no single reasons, but instead, a variety of reasons. Neglect, us being stupid, my fame and maybe more reasons. I think in the end, Harry couldn't take anymore and left."
"So, you feel regret now," Ares asked sharply. Liam sighed and rumpled his hair, an action his father often does.
"It wasn't regret I felt, it was worse. It was like a part of me had just died."
"A little late, though."
Liam wanted to feel angry at what Ares had just said, but knew, deep down, that Ares was right. Liam was too late.
"Yeah, it was," Liam said painfully, "I vividly remember the day we realised that Harry had ran away."
"Do tell," Ares said.
"Well, I had just performed my first bout of accidental magic, not long after my seventh birthday, and Harry's tenth birthday. Accidentally levitated the cookie jar and dropped it when Mum said I couldn't have a cookie. She was angry at first before she started tearing up."
Liam couldn't help but chortle at Ares' disbelieving expression.
"As I said, I could do no wrong. Anyways, she got my dad to floo home, and he smothered me in embraces."
"I assume Harry never got the same kind of attention."
Liam nodded sadly as he said, "I don't remember Mum or Dad even acknowledging him that much, let alone showing him affection. They might have done before the whole incident with You-Know-Who. Well, they flooed Dumbledore, did the whole great wizard speech. Then, he asked where Harry was. Mum said that he might be in his room. Dumbledore went up. When he came back down again, I was terrified. His merry twinkle was gone, and his grandfatherly smile was also gone. When he looked at us, he looked at us with sheer disgust and anger. The whole old man act was gone, and the man who defeated Grindelwald stood in front of us. Mum and Dad, blinded by fame and the notion that I could do no bad, asked if Harry did something bad."
"Not very intelligent," Ares quipped.
"Undeniably stupid," Liam replied. "He looked at us as though we were the filth of the planet, and told us that Harry was gone, before flooing away to search for him. That was the moment that sobered us. We were drunk in fame, and it took Harry vanishing to sober us. I finally realised the harsh realities of life. I had all the attention in the world, Mum and Dad showered me with love and the wizarding world revered me. But practically nobody bothered to care about Harry."
The Gryffindor halted and shook his head in sadness.
"Thank you, for understanding. A lot of people aren't."
"Aren't?"
"Aren't as understanding," Liam frowned as memories surged. He remembered that Dumbledore was disappointed with them, Jack and Mia Bones distancing from the Potters. McGonagall refused to have anything to do with the Potters until Hogwarts. Even Sirius and Remus had stayed away, for a while.
"Sorry to make you listen to all of that," Liam said.
"It okay," Ares replied. "In fact, I would say that it was very enlightening, to hear another side of the story."
"Yeah, that's what 'Mione always tells me. Well, I better go now. Don't want to get caught by Filch. Nasty man, he is."
"Of course," Ares said with an understanding smile.
'He's not a bad kid,' Liam thought as he turned around, trudging back to the Gryffindor commons.
(Ares P.O.V.)
Ares scowled as Liam left the room.
'Magnificent show, dear brother,' he thought mockingly.
Once he was certain that the Boy-Who-Lived was gone, he walked up to the Goblet of Fire and raised his left hand, feeling the arcane magic that powered the wooden goblet. The art of feeling and sensing magic was a rare one, one so hard to master that it took many people decades to master it. But Ares had a natural affinity for feeling magic.
He felt an irregularity in the magic that powered the Goblet of Fire and frowned slightly. He flicked his right wrist, and his wand shot from the wand holster in Ares' wrist. He twirled it before doing a quick, yet elegant motion with his wand. A pearl-silver mist emitted slowly from the tip of the midnight-blue wand, gradually surrounding the Goblet of Fire. Ares then did another motion with his wand, and the mist turned pink
Ares frowned. He waved his hand over the Goblet of Fire. He felt the magic emanating from the Goblet of Fire, and he felt the traces of foreign magic lingering around the Goblet of Fire
'A Confundus Charm. Simple, yet effective. But certain Dark enchantments would be required to Confund a powerful, sentiment magical artefact like the Goblet of Fire.'
Ares left the room, knowing that he had completed part of his job for the night.
(? P.O.V.)
For the first time in many years, the doors of the Room of Hidden Things opened, as a cloaked person quickly stepped into the room.
'This place hasn't been used for many years.'
The cloaked figure treaded across the room, carefully moving around the piles of abandoned and lost objects. He wondered across the room, his eyes flickering around, searching for what he came to the room for.
'It's a good thing the House Elves were so co-operative, especially after I placed a spell on that bushy-haired fool that made her forget about her foolish elf liberation idea. The ghost was also quite helpful, giving me the description of what I'm seeking.'
He paused as he steeped past an ornate mahogany box in front of a marble bust of an old wizard. His eyes narrowed. The wooden lid opened slowly as a diadem was revealed. The diadem in question was made from pure silver, and had a blue sapphire shaped like an oval. Etched upon its surface was Rowena Ravenclaw's famous saying, wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.
'So, you've been hiding here all this time, you abomination to magic.'
The cloaked figure raised his wand, flames spitting out from the tip of the wand, forming the shape of a small Lethifold. The small Lethifold flame engulfed the box.
'So long,' the cloaked figure thought as he saw the diadem melt and the blackness within disintegrate.