Chapter 7: Champion Selection

I'm just finishing up with the Ward Stone when Dumbledore enters with my parents, they see me and Dumbledore gets a vaguely surprised look before asking, "Miss Potter, what are you doing here, shouldn't you be in class?"

"I had a free period so I decided to strengthen the wards. Basic math tells me that Loki's forces will be here in a matter of months, I decided to add a few wards that I learned from the books in the Chamber of Secrets." I tell him with a small scowl. "I was almost done when you entered; they're set to only activate when I give a signal, which I will do when Loki's forces arrive due to the nature of the wards I'm using."

"Ah, I see, thank you for your concern." Dumbledore says in his usual grandfatherly tone.

"Wait, there are books in the Chamber of Secrets?" Lily asks, her eyes sparkling with a want to learn and read.

"Yes. The Chamber contains both Salazar's personal study and library. There are several books down there that were thought to have been completely destroyed as well as several that I believe the headmaster would find absolutely thrilling to read." I say as I add the final rune, "I mean, who wouldn't want to read the books written by Merlin and Morgana that I found."

That statement makes all of their eyes go wide before Dumbledore, with a much brighter twinkle in his eyes then before, shakily asks, "You have read the works of Merlin?"

"Some of them." I say with a small shrug. "Its such a large collection of knowledge that in the two years I've been going down there I have yet to make even a small dent in it. However I have read quite a few written, as stated, by Merlin, as well as ones written by Morgana, Mordred, and the founders."

"All four founders?" Lily asks, practically drooling at the prospect of that much knowledge.

"Yes." I say simply.

"Even Godric Gryffindor?" James asks eagerly.

"Yes." I say again. "That's not even the best part, in my opinion."

"What's the best part then?" James asks and I smirk.

"By defeating the spirit in the chamber, the most complete portion of Voldemort's soul, I gained the ability to claim right of conquest, which I did. That action caused the wards and ownership of the Chamber to transfer to me. That means that I own everything in there. But aside from that, the wards I am currently writing into the ward stone were created by Rowena Ravenclaw."

Dumbledore gets an even brighter gleam in his eyes before saying, "I don't suppose you could bring these books up for us to read?"

"No chance in hell." I say in a cheerful tone, "The books can't actually exit the chamber and I am not letting anyone I don't trust with my life down there."

"You don't trust us?" Lily asks sadly. "We're your parents."

"Last I checked, most parents don't send one kid to hell when the other one becomes famous." I sneer at her. "I have scars, both mental and physical, from how Vernon treated me. So sorry mother if my lack of trust in you upsets you, but I wouldn't trust you with a matchbox, let alone my life."

I then walk out and head to my next class. The rest of the day goes normally and now it's time for the headmaster to announce the Triwizard Champions. I watch as Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, and Cedric Diggory get selected.

I clap for them before something weird happens and another small piece of paper comes from the goblet. The headmaster catches it before looking at it and saying, "Iris Potter." I freeze up and, after a moment, he calls in a louder tone, "Iris Potter!"

I stand up and announce, "I swear on my life and magic that I had absolutely nothing to do with my name being entered into the Goblet of Fire."

I then walk down and grab the piece of paper before going to the room they sent the other champions too. When they see me enter they frown a bit before Fleur Delacour asks, "Did they send you to get us?"

"Nope." I say with a small shrug before holding up my paper, "Someone apparently thought it was funny to put my name into the goblet." the teachers choose that moment to come rushing in, scrambling to get to me. I turn and say, "Hello professors."

"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Iris?" Dumbledore asks calmly.

"I already swore that I didn't." I say blankly. "Considering the fact that I am still presently among the living population I think it is safe to say that this wasn't my doing."

Dumbledore sighs before turning to Barty Crouch Sr. and saying, "We'll leave this to you, Barty."

Barty remains silent a moment before saying in a rather grave tone, "The rules are absolute. The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract. Miss Potter has no choice. She is, as of tonight, a Triwizard champion."

They all turn to look at me and I tilt my head before asking, "Are you sure?"

"I'm afraid so, girl." Barty says.

"Alright then. I guess I represent Uagadu then because Hogwarts can't have two champions, it's unfair to the other schools. I will contact their headmaster and explain the situation to them. Have a pleasant night and I will see my fellow champions at the Weighing of the Wands ceremony." I say before walking out and heading for my dorm. As I'm walking I find myself surrounded by Ronald Weasley and a few other Gryffindors. "Move. I'm in no mood to deal with you Gryffindor fools."

"Think you're better than us? Just because your a champion doesn't mean you can boss us around, freak." Ronald says.

I kick him below the belt and he drops to the ground, I then take all of his friends down, leaving them groaning on the ground before grabbing Ronald by the throat and slamming him into the wall as the other Champions walk out of the room and see me, I take a shaky breath before saying, "If you call me a freak again I'm going to carry you by the throat up to the Astronomy Tower and throw you from it. I react poorly to the word and I don't care about your opinions of me."

I slam him into the wall again and he passes out. I drop him and storm away from the group of injured Gryffindors. I go to my dorm, send a letter to Uagadou, and lay on my bed. The next morning I walk out of the wards and down the path, casting privacy charms around me as I lean against a tree. A moment of silence passes before Hella and Loki appear in front of me, Hella immediately moves to stand next to me and puts an arm around me.

Loki tilts his head and says, "You have news, young seer?"

"Yes, Lord Loki, the good news is that I'm going to become officially emancipated on the thirteenth of this month. The bad news is that I am being forced to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. On the other side of things I have managed to recruit nine others to your cause, three of which are among the staff of the school. I have also input runes into the castles Ward Stone that will cause the wards to fall when I give the signal." I tell him. "I also request that if either of you need to send me a package to avoid suspicion tell the delivery bird to give the package to Hadrian Potter, my twin, because I hardly ever receive packages."

"They are making you compete?" Hella demands. "When is the first task? Why did they not contact me about this?"

"No idea. But the first task is the twenty-fourth of this month, however the first event is on the thirteenth which is why the emancipation will be made official then." I say.

"Are you not worried for your life?" Loki asks.

"To be honest, not really. The third task is almost always the most dangerous task and if you keep up your current pace you'll get here just before or just after said task." I tell him as I idly trace where the scar from the basilisk bite is. "Either way I know I can do this and have knowledge most would consider lost to time on my side."

"Like what?" Hella asks curiously.

"Books written by Merlin, Morgana, Mordred, and all of the founders of Hogwarts, as well as several different books that were thought to have been completely destroyed years ago." I say. "I've read about and practiced a lot of these things since two years ago after I fought and killed a basilisk that sadly went insane due to a thousand years of only small rodents to eat."

"You killed a thousand year old basilisk?" Loki asks, sounding impressed, "How large was it?"

"Seventy five feet long, blinded by a phoenix, and using a sword presented to me by the sorting hat which belonged to Godric Gryffindor. I would have died if the phoenix that blinded it hadn't cried on the wound from the fang that went through my arm." I say, "That's what gave me the one scar that wasn't from Uncle Vernon."

"Seventy five feet long?" Loki asks to confirm.

"Yes, but I had help." I say.

"Still, that is an impressive feat, you said this was two years ago?" he asks and I nod. "I'm sure you will have no problem with the tasks and I now see that I made the right choice in accepting your offer of help. Now tell me, Seer, what is the First Task?"

I tilt my head and loosen my mental shields just enough that my mind can unfocus. I watch the first task play out and once it ends I throw my shields back up, lean on Hella for support and say, "The first task is Dragons. To be more specific, its mother dragons. I recognize the one I will most likely go against, I fixed her wing when I was seven. Hopefully she'll recognize me and decide not to fry me; right now that's a fifty fifty shot."

"If she does not, I trust in your skills." Hella tells me and I smile at her.

"Thanks." I say before checking the time, "I need to go to breakfast. See you soon." I bow to Loki, kiss Hella on the cheek, and rush back to the castle, going to the great hall. When I get there I am immediately approached by James and Lily. I tilt my head a bit and say, "Good morning, Professors, did you have a pleasant night?"

"Hello Iris, last night was fine, though we had troubles getting into bed due to the fact that it was floating five feet in the air." Lily says with a slightly pointed look directed at me.

"That's odd...I wonder how many others had that happen to them." I say, tilting my head.

"Iris, can we talk?" Lily asks gently.

"I was just about to enjoy breakfast. Would you like to sit with me to have our discussion?" I ask and she nods. I walk over and sit at my usual spot, they sit across from me and I tilt my head. "May I ask what this is about?"

"We wanted to ask you to move back in with us. I know you haven't lived in the same house as us since you were a baby, but we really would love to have you." Lily says.

"I am perfectly happy with my current living conditions." I tell her before adding, "Perhaps, if you ask, Aunt Petunia will allow you to come over and have a small Christmas gathering. I understand that I am needed here for the night, however I can still floo home for the day to celebrate with them. I will not be moving back in with you."

Lily gets an offended look on her face and she asks, "You don't want to live with your family?"

"I wouldn't mind living with Harry, however I wouldn't trade living with Aunt Petunia and Dudley for living with two people who willingly sent me to hell for the first fourteen years of my life." I tell her blankly before looking at my food, "Have a good day."

They nod before leaving me to eat. Once I get done I head for the exit, my friends all joining me, and subtly cast a spell in the doorway.