Answering the Call of the Goblet

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Isdh

121

"Harry Potter!"

Harry's head hit the table. "Why me?"

The 'Sky" above Albus flashed, as a storm of Massive Measure Moved in. Three times the 'Sky Storm' struck the burning brazier, before striking the floor six feet in front of Albus, just before all lights went out. A count of three, caused a Full Moon to pierce through and spotlit the form crouched before the Headmaster.

The form moved, as it 'stood', it's raggedy cloak shaking out, as the weapons and armor made themself known to the viewers. The 'guy' stood at about 5'8", leaning on a short staff; twisted, carved, and spliced with multiple woods. His head was half bald, the only hair on his head was pulled into a tail off the crown of his head. A muzzle of peppered grey surrounded his mouth, as his right eye had a Patch bolted in place. The butt of a Six-shooter, glinted off his left hip. His clothes were stained, shredded, but telling that they were of some sort of uniform. The big noticeable was that his right leg was missing midway between his hip and knee.

Turning to look about him, the Hall relit, revealing where he was. He shook his shiney head. "Oh, Old Man, you so screwed the salamander on this one." turning to look Albus in the face, "You better hope that I finish this Shit-show before my wives come looking for me."

"And Who Are you, My Boy?" the Headmaster fell back into old habits.

The newcomer drew himself up, "My Bad, Let me introduce myself." He swept into Court-Jester's bow before the old bearded fool. "I am Leget-Liquidator, Harrison James Potter. Battle Master of the Forth Horde. Lord and Master of Houses Potter, Black, Slythern, and O'Malley. Khan and Champion of the Black Pearl Clans." He stood before the old man, "My friends call me Harry, and my prey knows me as 'Oh Fuck Me'."

Hermione could not help herself, even though she was sitting next to her Harry, "Harry, Language!"

The effect was curious, as the hardened warrior spun about, a look of fear on his face, "Sorry Empress!" A quick bow toward where the fourth year witch sat. Afterward he stood shaking, watching the bushing haired girl.

"Mr Potter?" McGonagall stepped past Albus…

"Leget-Liquidator, or at least Leget, please HeadMistress." He turned back to the front of the Hall, "In this Hall only Seven have earned the Right to call me by Name, not including my little self. Five are my wives, and while I won't name them, you probably can figure who they are by how I act around your students."

"Albus, as the Headmaster of the Host School has the option of declaring this 'Choosing' 'Null and Void'. He has until midnight, or I join the other Champions, whichever comes first. You can relight the cup tomorrow night, and re-enter your contenders." LL Potter shifted his staff to his shoulder, as he reached over a firstie Ravenclaw to grab a chicken leg.

"Leget Potter," McGonagall stepped closer, "Are you refusing to join the others?"

Chewing quickly, and swallowing, LL Potter grinned at his former head of house, "No, not refusing. Albus, are you calling this drawing Void?"

"Not if I don't have to." the old man sounded all of his 114 years.

"Headmistress Maxime, Do you challenge the Headmaster?" LL Potter bobbed his head in a bow to the large witch.

"Non."

"HeadMas-"

"Yes! Albus, getting two bites at the Apple!" the Fur Wrapped Wizard snarled.

The one eyed wizard tilted his as he looked at the Kasock, "Not good enough, I don't serve Hogwarts in this competition. Diggory is the only Hogwarts Champion. Bagman, as the more senior member of the Ministry, do you Have a Challenge for Headmaster Dumbledore?"

"N-n-no, none whatsoever." the balding Wizard in yellow and green robes.

"Then I will join the others. Potter, Longbottom, Await my return." the scarred wizard hobbled to the antichamber, leaning on his staff.

121

Diggory was a bit nervous in the 'small' room. The witch, between her beauty and her 'perfume', He was feeling a bit primal. To make things worse, the best seeker in the world; Victor Krum, was just over there, and he was torn between asking to shake his hand, and punching him out over the French Witch.

Then the door was forced open as a semi bald male in rags thumped into the room. A white lightning bolt scar over a bolted eyepatch, was Cedric's first clue as to who this guy was. Only one person would have that scar, be entered into this contest, and look like that.

"Merlin's sweaty codpiece, Potter!" the Seventh year Badger barked, "What on Gaia's green ass, happened to you?"

"Diggory!" the short man hobbled to the larger englishman, grabbing his hand in a handshake, before switching it up, clasping hands, before releasing to bump fists. "This is no Snitch-Grab, but then, these days you might be able to finally beat me to a snitch." Both Wizards shared a dark chuckle.

"Madamselle Delecore, Judging from the looks in their eyes, you're slipping a bit." He took her hand and kissed the knuckles. "I also know a wizard that should meet with your approval. A cursebreaker with the Bank. Not a must, just a tempting carrot."

Turning to the last chosen contender. "Krum. Among the red and gold out there, a scrawny wizard with glasses. The best seeker at this school, and a damn good duelist if given a reason to dance."

"Oi!" Diggory challenged the best seeker comment.

Just then the adults entered the room. Karkaroff moved quickly to collect Krum, as Maxime 'mother henned' Fluer.

Albus just smiled his addled Grandfather smile. Bagman in his Wasp's robes buzzed about the room. Crouch just sneered over his trimmed lipwig. Sprout truttled over to Cedric, and began fussing. McGonagall was as regal as ever… and Snape was looming in the Shadows. Moody clunked in and leaned on his staff.

Potter rotated on his right leg to face the door. "Okay, Albus is the Host, and Minnie is needed to keep him in check. Moody is the DADA Prof and Master of Arms for the School." the bald wizard sighed. "But there is no need for the Potion Master slash mind rapist."

"Snape has my complete trust." Albus twinkled his eyes…

Potter twitched… and was pointing a .45 colt long barrel 'Peacemaker' pistol, in his left hand, directly at the Dungeon Bat, "How nice for you, and that might mean something if you had my Trust, old man. But I know the Prophecy. Tom was not the only Dark Lord referenced within." the hammer was thumbed back, "three."

"Just like your Father…" Snape sounded off.

"No, not completely." L-L Potter smiled, "I will never hang a man in the air by his ankles and expose his pants to the public. Everything I demand, I have earned one way or another. The only thing that was handed to me was my Wives.

I was never even given the option, just one night when I went to bed, there She was. The next night, the next One was there and instructed me in my duties. And so on." the smile fell from his face, "two."

Snape's eyes flickered between the gun, Albus, and Potter, before, with a flourish, he swept from the room.

"Damn! I have tried for years to match that." The Leget eased the hammer home, before dropping the gun into the hip holster. "Two things I respect that man for, his skills over a cauldron and the way he can enter and exit a room." Turning to look at the Ministry Duo, "You have something to say?"

"Yes." Bagman brightened up. "In three weeks, we are having a weighting of the wands, and the week after is the first task. The only Clues I can give you is Fire and Air. It is suppose to be a test of Facing the Unknown."

"Another clue; without ruining the surprise." Potter scratched his chromic dome, "Research the past tournaments, these follow a formula by tradition."

"Potter!" Albus snapped.

"Odds are all but Cedric will know 72 hours before the first connon fires. So I will announce it at dinner two nights before we are called to the field. I know, because I won this Blood-sport once already. It cost me a friend. It allowed a great Evil to slither from a tombstone." L-L Harry Potter's face twisted into a mask of Anger and Hate as he glared at the Headmaster, "Because of your games, your policies, your Greater Good! We lost good people, before we could get our feet under us to stand against the Storm."

Albus 'probed' the scared soldier's mind… only to see the image of a bolt striking his chest, throwing the oldman from his private astrometry tower. Shaking his head to clear it, he tried again… and again. But all he got was his Death.

"My Competitors, best of luck. Headmasters, Suck It! Headmistress Maxime, please, give the oaf a chance, his heart is in the right place, even if his Brain is a little loose." Potter Shot her a smile, turning to the other adult Witch, "Headmistress, with your permission, I will take the Headboys suite. If I remember, the Heads this year are in Ravenclaw. In Fact Ravenclaw holds the HeadGirl until Hermione takes it in '98-99. No one really counts '97-98 year." He Glares at Moody, "We will talk later, oldman. Away from prying eyes and eve dropping ears." He stomped out.

121

Returning to the Great Hall, the Leget Liquidator was not surprised to see three, fourth year 'lions' waiting at the tables. "Longbottom, Potter. Thank-you for waiting for me. Granger, it pleases me to see you at his side. For many years, when ever someone saw Potter, be it shopping, politics, or War, Granger and Longbottom were never far from his side." the old warrior grinned at the teens. Looking his younger self in the eye, "Word of advice; beware of those who see you with eyes of green."

Draping his left arm over Neville's shoulder, "Tell me laddie, are 'Malfoy'ing?"

"What?" Longbottom sputtered.

"Malfoying. Pulling 'a Malfoy'." the scared man looked at the lad who was as tall as he was, but bigger in the chest. "In other words, Waving Daddy's wand?" he twisted a lop-sided grin, "you know, 'When my Father hears about this…'"

The three teens blinked, before they snorted in laughter. Hermione just rolled her eyes.

The adult tugged in the direction of the stairs, and the group began the long, slow climb to the Gryphon's Eyrie.

Longbottom blushed, as he fidgeted with 'his' wand. "Yes, it is my Dad's."

"That there is your problem. That wand is not yours, and is fighting you every step of the way. Now, had your Father truly died, there is a ten percent chance that it would accept you. Had your Father passed to you, an eighty percent chance. Your Mother's had a better chance of bond to you then your Father's on you Natures alone. Your Father's Wand was a Good Auror's wand. Great in battle, and would answer only to his call. This weekend, when I go see Olivander, I am taking you and Potter with me."

They finished the climb in silence.