Harry Potter was contemplative. The Tri-Wizard tournament was just announced, and with the picks occurring on Halloween, he knew he was screwed.
Harry Potter was also something else. He wasn't stupid. James and Lily were both far above average in intelligence, and genes bred true. Harry, however, had to hide his intelligence for survival, and he had gotten quite good at it.
But that was neither here or there. He knew he was going to be screwed, and after several years of putting up with it, he was done.
If Harry was going to go down, he was going to bring everyone down with him. The Goblet of Fire gave him the answer. Contracts. Magical contracts did not need affirmation. It did not need a proper signature. It just needed a focus to target to an individual. It was empowered forever until the contract was either canceled, completed, or reneged on. Without exception.
And a valid target? That… that, Harry had in spades. If anyone was watching Harry at that very moment they would run for their lives. And with reason. Not that it would do them any good.
Harry stood up "Headmaster. I do not want to be in this contest. Are you going to ensure that anyone who does not want to compete will not need to compete?"
Albus twinkled his eyes like he normally did "Harry my boy, no need to worry, all the proper protections will be there."
Harry rose his eyebrow, thinking 'yea, which means none'. "Headmaster, may I ask what the protections will be?"
Snape snorted into his glass at the head table "Arrogant Potter. Think you can provide better protection? You're just trying to convince people you won't try for it, but you're just a toe-rag like your parents."
Harry blinked, looked up at the head table. McGonagall was sitting with a firm set on her lips, but stayed quiet. Flitwick was glaring at Snape, Pomona was wiping her lips after eating but trying to avoid anything as if she expected it. Albus was twinkling away in amusement. Yea, no help here.
Harry spoke up anyway "I'm sorry, but can I ask you not to insult me, my dead parents, or my livelihood and behave like the professional people say you are?"
Snape smirked "100 points from Gryffindor and 2 weeks detention. Shut your gob boy, or we'll double it."
Harry perked his eyebrows "Well headmaster?"
Albus spoke up "Harry, you should not talk back to a professor. They deserve respect, and if their words are hateful, it's your job as a student to behave in a way to make the teacher's job easier."
Harry just blinked.
The students all glared at Harry, as if it was his fault for the loss of points.
Ron was yelling at Harry to shut up.
Hermione just put her head in her hands and moaned, especially when Harry was heard muttering "You just fucked yourselves."
It was the day of choosing the champions. Hermione, blessed Hermione, was the only person who seemed to worry for Harry. Even the twins, jokers at heart, but a hidden cruel streak, mocked that Harry will likely be chosen and were taking bets on it.
Harry wouldn't forget that. He didn't forget anyone who fucked him. And that list was long. Even his return letter from the Queen of England when as a child he asked for help for the abuse and it was responded that institutions were in place to handle this and not to bother the monarchy.
However, Harry had one surprise. As he walked out of the Gryffindor dormitory, with Hermione worrying her lip between her teeth as she thought of how to avoid what was obviously going to happen, Luna Lovegood stepped in-front of them both.
Luna spoke up quickly "Harry. Please. Could you not include me or my father?"
Harry blinked.
Hermione looked between Luna and Harry.
Harry blinked.
Luna blinked.
Harry blinked.
Hermione was starting to get irritated.
Harry spoke up "Luna, what makes you think something is going to happen where I have to choose something?"
Luna sighs, for once a serious look on her face "Harry. I'm a seer. The world is fucked, and it's because of you. I want to avoid it if possible."
Harry smirked "You realize it won't matter anyway?"
Luna "I'd rather not take the risk. You won't be picking Hermione or her family either, right?"
Hermione looked down, and went red a bit.
Harry's expression got pinched and closed off "Hermione. However her parents deserve it like anyone else."
Luna blinked, stared at Hermione then paled suddenly "Oh my! I had no idea, Hermione. If I knew…"
Hermione shook her head violently, tears leaking out of her eyes "Stop."
Luna stopped, but the look on her face said it all. A mix of pity, anger, and a cold rage.
Harry sighed "Yea, anyway, we'll go forward with our plans, but yes Luna, you, Hermione and your father will be omitted."
Luna smiles sadly "Others will be affected who probably don't deserve it."
Harry shrugs "And they would have confused me with someone who cares. I had that beaten out of me at the age of 4. Hermione at the age of 6 and…"
Luna interrupted him "Me when I came to Hogwarts, by the majority of students, and some of the staff."
Hermione snorted out a choked laugh, still recovering from previous dark thoughts "You both do care, as do I, but only for those who have earned it and that directly impact our lives."
Luna smiles "I'm happy I have earned it." then leaned forward and kissed Harry's cheek.
Hermione mock glared, and while staring at Luna kissed the other cheek.
Harry just beamed. Luna smirked. Hermione snorted then shook her hair out of her eyes.
Hermione snorted "Honestly!"
Harry just shook his head, entwined his arms around Luna and Hermione, and walked toward the great hall to their destiny.
As they sat down, Harry grabbed everyone's attention as he stood up.
Harry cast a sonorous "Hello. I have a few things to say before the picking of champions."
Snape was about ready to shout again but Albus held up a hand "Very well my boy, have your say."
Harry bowed gently "Thank you headmaster. I just want to say this is a prestigious event, and I hope everyone who gets picked get what they deserve." He held up a scroll, sealed, and glowing with magic.
Albus stood up and started walking toward Harry, his hand outstretched, as if his very life depended on him reaching that scroll. If he knew what was about to happen, he'd have ran.
People started to look at each other in confusion. Snape glared. McGonagall glared. Flitwick and Pomona glanced at each other. Albus spoke up, still walking closer "Harry, maybe…"
Harry cut him off still speaking "So with that in mind, and in the spirit of magical contracts, I have this to say."
Albus was now worried, sped up his pace "Harry, perhaps if we.."
Harry cut him off again "I hear-by claim the single handed death of a class XXXXX creature, a 1000 year old basilisk, in my second year. A class XXXXX possession, Voldemort, in my first year. A defeat of a class XXXXX dark lord, Voldemort, as a newborn. The defeat of hundreds of class XXXX monsters, Dementors, to stop an end of the line of two Ancient and Noble families as well as the scions residing in Hogwarts and the potential of wide-spread death. With these claims, I declare the world owes me a life-debt, and call that debt due, to every single living being upon this planet. The payment is that in any contract that I am entered without my expressed permission, they shall be named as well and partake in the contract before me as my peers to protect me and my interests. So mote it be."
A giant flash spread out from Harry, encompassed the castle and seemed to go out in all directions. The after images were being blinked away. The scroll that Harry held in his hand that was based on the contract lit on fire and was consumed. Albus cringed. Yup, they were fucked.
Confusion was on everyone's face. Everyone but Albus. Albus looked on in horror, gaping like a fish. The goblet lit, and kicked out the first paper, it fell to the floor, Albus not even paying attention until the second came out 10 seconds later.
Albus walked back and bent, picked up the first paper as he caught the second.
In a near whisper, "Beauxbatons's champion is Fleur Delacour. Durmstrang's champion is Victor Krum."
Albus's hands were shaking now. Tears going down his cheeks as he realized just how screwed they were. How screwed everyone was. How monumentally screwed he was.
Albus was bound to the goblet to read the entries. It was his job as the host of the goblet. Tears were streaming down his face as he grabbed the next slip that was spit out 10 seconds later. 10 seconds. Each contestant took 10 seconds. The shake in his hands were pronounced now.
Albus cleared his throat "The Hogwarts's champion is Cedric Diggory."
Albus was openly weeping now, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
People started to look up at the headmaster in concern. A few of them were paling as they started to get the monumental amount of shit they were buried in. Hagrid looked on in worry. Snape's near sneer was questioned, as if he was trying to work out a difficult question that very precious few had figured out.
Flitwick suddenly gasped and whipped his head to stare at Harry, who looked on smugly. Flitwick turned his head and vomited on the floor clutching his chest as he, too, started to sob.
McGonagall was still looking at Albus in confusion, glancing back and forth between him and Harry Potter and glanced to Flitwick in worry.
Luna looked, vindictive. As if waiting for the world to catch on fire. She wasn't far off.
Hermione looked smug. Like she knew the answer to the universe. She also wasn't far off.
Harry, he just looked angry and glared right at Albus as the next parchment flew up. He lit the match. He knew exactly what he did.
Albus was openly crying in agony, he knew. Harry Potter knew. He knew how badly he underestimated Harry. How fucked they all were as he grabbed the paper.
Albus was quiet, the piece of paper crunched up in his closed hand.
Harry voice carried in the suddenly quiet hall "You should read the paper, Albus. But before you do..."
Harry held up his wand, and spoke almost sadly "I swear on my magic and life that I did not knowingly enter the tournament, I did not enter my name, I did not have anyone enter my name, and the only reason the slip of paper that the headmaster is currently holding likely has my name is someone wants to kill me. So mote it be."
Magic flashed. Harry cast the light spell, then cast Nox.
The great hall was so silent you could hear a pen drop. The crying started to echo across the room. The students were starting to catch on. Flitwick was sobbing on his knees, Pomada, pale as a sheet, finally got it. Hagrid stared at Harry, unable to believe what happened. Snape, he finally got it. He stared forward, not seeing anything, his cup slipping through numb fingers bouncing on the table.
Harry cleared his throat, asking tiredly, resigned, as if it was the solution to the universe. It truly was. "Well Albus?"
In between tears, people gasped at Harry's audacity, but no one corrected him of using the headmaster's name. The shock was rippling across the students, the absolute horror of what was done encompassing them.
Albus, still weeping, with a scratchy voice opened up the parchment, his lips quivering ".. Harry Potter."
A great flash spread out from Harry, all around him, everyone started to glow, everyone except Harry, Luna, and Hermione. And if people were at Luna's home, her father.
Nearly everyone was openly weeping. Some passed out in their own vomit. Others shaking in shock. The Weasley twins being two of the latter.
The glow spread across the globe, magical and mundanes alike lit up for a moment, then continued on as if nothing abnormal happened.
10 seconds later, the goblet threw out another name, Albus, out of tears but with a cracking voice opened it up "Victoria Aaba"…
Harry, Hermione, and Luna gently walked out out of the great hall, toward the exit, and out the door. Hermione and Luna both laughing harshly as they walked out of the castle with Harry. They wouldn't be stopped. They couldn't be stopped. They were free.
Hermione worked it out when Harry brought his idea up. Luna verified it with her Seer ability.
7 billion people were in the world. Not including non-human entities like Goblins, Centaurs, magical beats like Dragons, Centaurs, Merfolk, then you had the non-magical species like flies, ants, everything had a name. Because you didn't know it, didn't make it less true.
And everything alive, down to the smallest living creature, was being called forth by the Goblet to partake, due to the life-debt that Harry called.
quintillions upon quintillions of living creatures.
And it took the goblet 10 seconds to spit out each entry. And Albus Bloody Dumbledore had to read them all off. Every. Single. One. Without break. Without stopping. Without recourse. Such was how the contract of the Goblet required.
Fitting for one of the individuals who entered Harry into the contest. One who wanted Harry to die. One who thought of nothing but The Greater Good.
And from what they read about contracts, contracts could stop death until they were answered. While the contracts could kill people for breaking them, magic itself kept someone alive until the contract was either answered or rejected. Magic was good that way. Nice loophole.
And Albus had 3 billion years to look forward to in catching and reading names off slips of paper. Every 10 seconds. The moment Albus stopped, the contract of the Goblet would be reneged. Everyone entered would be safe.
And Harry, Hermione, and Luna would live those 3 billion years. Or until Albus caved.
Harry for being in the tournament and waiting for it to start.
Hermione and Luna for swearing their life and magic to help Harry during the tournament.
Yes. They thought ahead well, and they had a very long life ahead of them. Especially since per the contract Harry required everyone to perform before him, for his protection. The likelihood of the majority of people living through that was minimal if at all.
Yes. Harry loved contracts.