Hermione saw Harry leave the common room as he came downstairs from his dorm. She was sitting right there and he didn't even look at her. As she watched him walk through the portrait door Ron's annoying chewing sound distracted her as he asked her what he was supposed to write next in his transfiguration essay.

She sighed as she looked at his barely readable handwriting which she had become very familiar to in the last three years. She looked for any mistakes, which, to be honest, were a lot but her mind was somewhere else. Finally she couldn't take it anymore as she looked up from Ron's essay to see him reading his Quidditch magazine.

For a moment she was very angry with him but then she calmed down as she had his attention. Ron looked at her from his magazine. "I talked to Harry yesterday," she said, now having Ron's complete attention as she didn't see his face turn red in anger. "He said your mother stole from…"

"Let me stop you right there, Hermione," Ron said in a surprisingly calm tone as she looked at him and saw his enraged face and realized what she'd done. "I want you to know that whatever he told you, it's a lie. Use your head and just think for a second why would my mother do something like that?"

"I know but he said that the Prophet also had an art…"

"And you believe that crap?" Ron said interrupting her. "Do you – Hermione Jean Granger – believe in a crappy piece of newspaper like the Prophet?"

Hermione looked at her lap, her hands together as she fiddled with them. Ron was right. Why would Mrs Weasely do something like that? She loved Harry like her own son. But then why would Harry blame her with something like thievery? She was confused when Ron nudged her and she looked at him. He was offering her favourite chocolate as a smile came on her lips.

"Although I am angry with him Harry is right that eating chocolate makes you feel better," Ron said handing her the brown piece as she took a bite out of it. "Better?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry, Ron," she said slowly.

"It's alright" Ron said. "Just remember that even with all the popularity and his celebrity status Harry can be wrong sometimes. It's very hard for me to believe how he could do something like that…blaming my sweet mom of theft when she never did it. If you must know…they never found any evidence against her. I think Harry bribed some of the goblins to make a move against her. You know how those little creatures are whenever it comes to gold."

While Hermione didn't completely agreed with his words she did feel like Ron was probably right. But she also wondered why Harry would do that as she once again looked at the portrait door of the Gryffindor common room.

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The great hall remained crowded for the rest of the day so Harry spent his day outside roaming around the school grounds, unknown than a pair of old eyes was constantly looking at him from the tall tower.

The copy of the balance record that Harry had mistakenly left with Ron was still on his table as Dumbledore wondered how Harry came across it. There was no way he could but seeing that Griphook had also been caught by the goblin nation for committing treason in the form of stealing from a vault meant that his eyes and ears inside Gringotts was gone.

Something had happened which Harry wasn't telling him and that worried Dumbledore, especially since his spies had informed me that the death eaters were up to something. Their raid at the final Quidditch match was for nothing. They wouldn't go out of their way, risking their tiny number to raid and kill tens of people during an international sports event. And with Harry becoming secretive with him Dumbledore knew it wasn't good news for him. He wondered how he could make Harry tell him what was happening in that boy's life.

His carefully laid out plan would be ruined if the boy decided to do anything out of his way. Harry needed to be looked after but his recent bout with Ron had put Dumbledore in a difficult position. He couldn't keep his eyes on Harry every minute of every day here at Hogwarts which is where Ron's part came into play but seeing that Ron, out of his stupidity had only been more enraged towards Harry had made things complicated. On top of all that was this blasted tournament. Being the headmaster of the school that was hosting this tournament Dumbledore was almost always busy in meetings, discussions and going through paperwork related to the tournament. He barely got any time in which he attended other businesses.

He would only make Ron understand things just once more. It was just for this year as starting next year Ron's role will be of least importance as Molly had promised him that Ginny would be ready to lure Harry with her charm.

He hoped things went well according to the plan but in the meantime his hands were somewhat tied as he could barely get out of the castle and investigate into this Gringotts' situation with Harry and Molly. He needed to know what else Harry had come to know.

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As the day came to an end the crowd around the goblet thinned as everyone impatiently waited for dinner time following which the champions would be selected.

As students started to fill the great hall for the final time of the day everyone was talking about who would be the champions from their respective schools. Harry and Neville sat together as he began to fill his plate.

"So who do you think would be from Hogwarts?" Neville asked.

"I don't know," Harry said, "and honestly I don't care. All I'm hoping for is a quiet year for myself without any 'adventures' if you know what I mean."

Neville smiled a little as he began to eat. About an hour later once everyone was done with their dinner and the plates and food had disappeared Dumbledore slowly stood up and walked over to the front as Filch brought out the burning goblet.

"The wait is over," Dumbledore said looking at the impatient faces of everyone in the hall. Even the faculty members were curious to see which three students will actually be chosen to take part in the tournament when suddenly the blue flame of the goblet turned red as it flared a bit wildly before spitting out a burning piece of paper.

Dumbledore caught it without effort in his hand as he looked at the name. "Our first champion, from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is…Ms Fleur Delacour!"

The girls all clapped gracefully as fleur stood up and walked over to Dumbledore who indicated her to go through the small door behind the head table. As she did the red fire in the goblet flared again and spit out another piece of paper.

"From Durmstrang the second champion is Mr Viktor Krum!"

Everyone clapped as Viktor was also signaled to go through the small gate. His selection wasn't surprising at all as everyone knew Karkaroff had told his students that no one but Viktor will put his name in the goblet. He wanted his star student to participate as it increased Durmstrang's chances of winning.

Now the hall was silent as the biggest body of students – the students of Hogwarts – waited with palpable anxiousness over who will be selected from their school when the fire turned red once again and spit out a burning piece of paper.

As Dumbledore caught it he paused deliberately once he'd read the name. "Oh, say it already!" someone from the Gryffindor table shouted as Dumbledore smirked before he slid his glasses back on his nose.

"And our third champion, from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is…Mr Cedric Diggory!"

The entire Hufflepuff table stood up clapping and cheering for their fellow house mat as Cedric slowly stood up receiving congratulatory pats on his back. Even some Gryffindors and Ravenclaws clapped for him.

He shook hands with Dumbledore as Pomona Sprout cheered for her star student before he was also told to go through the small door behind the head table. The cheering and congratulatory shouts subsided as Dumbledore got ready to end the night when the sound of flaring flames caught his attention.

Just like everyone else in the great hall his eyes followed the sound to see that the goblet was flaring in red flames once more. Dumbledore looked towards the head table and more accurately towards Barty Crouch Sr who was also looking confused when the goblet spit out a piece of paper that landed on the floor not far from Dumbledore.

He slowly picked it up as the great hall filled with an eerie silence. As he looked up towards the student body everyone followed his gaze and realized he was looking at the Gryffindor table.

Harry, too, followed Dumbledore's gaze and when he saw the headmaster looking towards the Gryffindor table an uneasy feeling began to grow inside him while his scar also hurt a little. He gasped mentally as he had three years of experience into this matter to even figure out what was going to happen next.

"Harry Potter?"

Dumbledore's tone was low but because the hall was so silent every single person in there clearly heard him as they all were now looking at Harry who was sitting there with an expressionless face and clenched fists.

When Daphne heard Dumbledore say Harry's name she didn't know what to make of it. Of course she was shocked like every other student in the great hall at that moment but her rational mind was already thinking why Harry would put his name in the goblet…and if he hadn't then who did?

"Harry Potter!"

This time Dumbledore's voice was loud and everyone, including Harry, flinched. He didn't know what to do. He didn't care that everyone's eyes was on him but he did care how his name had come out of the goblet when he had never even been in the great hall the entire day today until an hour ago. He cursed his fate. He cursed himself to stupidly hope for a normal year this time.

"Harry?" Neville nudged him as Harry jerked and slowly looked at him. The long-faced boy was looking at him with more concern rather than confusion unlike others.

'To hell with it!' Harry thought as he stood up and walked towards Dumbledore. Everyone's eyes followed him but Harry kept a straight face, his eyes boring towards Dumbledore who was also looking at him. Once he reached the podium Dumbledore leaned closer to him.

"Harry, did you do it?" Dumbledore asked.

His anger flared when he heard Dumbledore say those words. After all this time was Dumbledore questioning him? He knew no one would believe him if he said that he never put his name in the goblet. As he stood there making Dumbledore wait for an answer something clicked in his mind as he remembered the time when he'd first met Anna and Matthias.

He turned around, took out his wand and raised it up. Everyone looked at him with confusion and curiosity but when Harry started to speak everyone's eyes widened with shock realizing what he was doing.

When Daphne heard Harry taking the wizard's oath in front of everyone in the great hall she sort of felt a little respect towards him. She knew there was always something surrounding that boy every year. First year Harry and his little band of friends had become famous for breaking many rules. The second year brought the whole 'heir of the Slytherin' thing and harry was once again in the middle of it. His position didn't help though when he publicly spoke in parseltongue when Draco had conjured a snake during their duel set up by their then defense professor. She didn't even remember his name. Then last year there was the whole 'Sirius Black' issue. She now understood why Harry was how he was from what she'd seen him. Maybe this was why he liked to keep it to himself.

Dumbledore was quick enough to catch Harry's wand arm as he made the boy turn to look at him.

"Harry! What are you doing?" he asked his voice full of shock.

"What I should've done a long time ago," Harry said. "Standing up for myself."

Dumbledore had no response to that as he looked at the boy in front of him. What had happened to Harry? How did he change so much? Where was the Harry who remained quiet and took everything that came to him without complaining?

Dumbledore closed his eyes and took a long breath in, calming his mind as he nodded his head. "We'll talk about this later. For now why don't you join the others behind that door?"

Harry said nothing as he simply walked past Dumbledore and through the small gate as everyone watched him go. Crouch followed soon after Harry as Dumbledore dismissed everyone for the night. Surely it will be a long night for everyone.

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"What's the meaning of this Dumbledore?" Karkaroff said. Everything had been discussed among the people on the other side of the door a few minutes later as the selected champions were standing in one corner looking at the headmasters, headmistress, Crouch, Bagman and Harry who was standing in another corner away from everyone else. He had an expressionless look on his face as if he was not affected by the ongoing issue at all. A few minutes later moody joined in.

"I did what you asked," Moody said. "There seems to be no tempering with the age line."

"So you're conducting an investigation of your own as well,' Maxime said looking at Dumbledore.

The old man sighed. "The age line I drew around the goblet allowed only people who were of age seventeen and eighteen," he said. "This was to ensure that no underage student would be able to enter their name in the goblet either by themselves or through someone else. There were a total of one hundred and thirty seven entries in the goblet of fire, all from students aging seventeen and eighteen years. It was a very simple yet effective spell and its residue still lies in the great hall where the goblet was placed. If you want to check it for yourself then please do."

No one said anything until Bagman cleared his throat. "But…But what should we do now?" he asked.

"Only Mr Crouch can answer that question," Dumbledore said looking at the man wearing a black overcoat.

"Whether or not Mr Potter put his name in the goblet or had someone else do it…it's a different matter of discussion," Bart said, "but the rules of this tournament are absolute because it is bound by magic. The moment someone's name comes out of the goblet that person is bound by a magical contract." He then looked at Harry. "I'm afraid Mr Potter has no choice but to compete otherwise he'll lose his magic."

Everyone now looked at Harry who was standing there, his hands folded. He was looking at them and glaring at Bagman who was very well aware of it. He stood straighter and unfolded his hands. "You can never have a peaceful normal time here, Harry. Remember that," he said to himself as he walked over to where the adults were. "So what you mean to say is I have to take part in this tournament as I have no other choice?"

"Technically yes," Crouch said.

"Fine," Harry said. He then looked at Dumbledore. "I think I'll never be truly safe, right? You should've placed someone to look for anything fishy. Now see what happened."

"Surely you're not blaming the headmaster for this, Potter?" Moody said.

"Who else is in charge of hosting this event?" Harry said. He was angry and after knowing how Dumbledore had saved Molly from the prosecution…how me might've been involved into things that lead to Harry was where he was today…he was boiling over. "As headmaster of Hogwarts it comes under his responsibility to see for the safety of everyone whom he's hosting under this castle's roof."

"Harry…"

Ignoring Dumbledore Harry turned towards Barty Crouch. "Is there a legal way to challenge the contract?" he asked.

"There is but because you're not of age I am afraid you cannot challenge it on your own but only your magical guardian can," Barty said.

Harry took in a breath. Being an emancipated minor he could challenge the contract but Matt and Anna had told him not to reveal his emancipation unless absolutely necessary. "Fine," he said slowly. He then turned to look at Dumbledore. "If I die then it's on you and your incompetence." With that he left the room leaving everyone, especially Dumbledore shocked. He watched the boy go wondering when Harry had slipped out of his hand so much.

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Word of Harry being selected in the Tri Wizard Tournament travelled fast and it sure as hell did reach Matt and Anna as they sat in the hall wondering what and how it had happened. They had discussed it amongst themselves and they knew of Harry's situation through their daughter. Apparently he had distanced himself even from Hermione, his other best friend after the betrayal of the Weasely matriarch was brought to light.

It made sense that Harry was having trouble trusting people at the moment but he had to trust in someone if he had to get out of this situation…alive.

"Now I understand what you meant when you said that taking care of harry will be a handful," Matt said with a tired smile. "Do you think she'll agree to this?"

"Who else can he turn to if not her?" Anna said. "As for whether or not she will agree to help him, I think I have a plan for that."

Matt shook his head smiling. "She'll always get you for this," he said.

"She is an intelligent girl, Matt," Anna said. "She has more maturity and understanding of things than most adults who are sitting at top positions and running our country."

Matt couldn't argue with that.

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"Harry!" He stopped as he looked at Dean and Seamus who's called him as soon as he'd entered the great hall. "We just wanted to tell you that even if you hadn't taken the oath…we would've believed you."

He looked at their faces as he scoffed mentally. They never believed him once during their second year when everyone called him Slytherin's heir. "Good to know," he replied slowly before glancing towards Ron who was in the corner playing chess on his own. Harry didn't really care what that guy thought about him. He knew if he hadn't taken a stand to prove his innocence in the matter that took place tonight then the entire Hogwarts would be at his throat. He'd had enough.

He left the common room and towards the stairs which lead to his dorm as everyone watched him go. No one said anything because there was nothing to say. Gossips would take place starting tomorrow along with rumors but tonight Harry's oath had shaken everyone.

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Thanks for reading…