Harry Potter and the Goblin of Fire Ants
Chapter Eight
What if Dumbledore revealed the first trial immediately?
By
Jason Richard
Harry getting selected by the goblet of fire proved to be quite controversial. The other schools were angry that Hogwarts got two champions, the other students were angry that he got in being younger than seventeen, and Harry was angry that he got chosen at all.
Worst of all was Ron, who thought Harry must have tricked his way into the tournament to gain eternal glory.
Ron: "Come on, Harry, tell me."
Harry: "For the one thousand, one hundred and twenty-sixth time, I didn't put my name in that goblet."
Ron: "Wait, you counted?"
Harry: "Yes, I counted. I'm so annoyed with all of this I'm holding a grudge against anyone mad at me for something I didn't do, so yes. I counted."
Ron: "Oh."
Pause.
Ron: "So how'd you do it?"
Harry: "For the one thousand, one hundred and twenty-seventh time…"
Of course, the Ministry official overseeing the Tri-Wizard Tournament was not much help.
In Dumbledore's office, the headmasters of each school, Crouch, and Alastor Moody gathered to discuss Harry's fate.
"The goblet of fire represents a binding magical contract," said Crouch. "Harry Potter has no choice. He must compete."
Harry: "What does binding magical contract even mean?"
Crouch: "It means if you don't fulfill the terms of the contract, you burst into flames."
Harry: "Okay…well, I suppose there are worse things than being in a tournament where the prize is eternal glory. What can we expect from this tournament?"
Moody: "The first challenge is dragons I believe."
Crouch: "That's supposed to be a secret!"
Moody: "Oh dang it, and I'm usually so…trustworthy."
And he winked at Harry.
Harry: "So let me get this straight. If I don't compete, I'll burst into flames because of a magic contract. If I do compete, then there's a good chance I'll burst into flames…because of dragons?"
Dumbledore: "Sounds about right."
Harry's eye twitched.
…
In Snape's office.
Severus Snape: "A month of detention, Mr. Potter. How on earth did that happen?"
Harry: "I said things to Dumbledore that McGonagall didn't care for. Unkind things…Things I've been forbidden to repeat under pain of eternal curse."
Poor Harry, thought Snape. This must all be very confusing for him. I can imagine the son of James Potter breaking the rules so brazenly as to put his name in the goblet before he's old enough, but the son of Lily? Impossible. I can't blame him for mouthing off."
He sighed silently enough so Harry couldn't hear.
Oh well, thought Snape, time to act like a jerk so that Harry doesn't suspect my true loyalties.
Snape: "Alright Potter, get to work scrubbing those trophies. I want them so shiny they can blind a man on a cloudy day!"
"Yes, professor," Harry grumbled.
…
So Harry went down to Hagrid's for a lesson, hoping Hagrid wouldn't be angry with him. As he strolled down to the hut he passed Hagrid's pets. The dragon Norbert, a new hippogriff, and the basilisk from the chamber of secrets sporting a blindfold.
"Is that Harry?" said the basilisk in parseltongue. "I remember you. You made me belch up slugs."
Harry: "I didn't want to get eaten."
Basilisk: "Yes, I suppose that makes sense. It's fine. The nice half-giant man feeds me giant mice, so I'm happy. He feeds me a lot actually. I like him."
Harry: "Well, I'm glad it worked out. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a class with the man where he'll probably introduce me to yet another creature that wants to eat me.
…
Hagrid: "May I introduce, the blast ended skrewts!"
It was a bunch of giant crabs with no discernible head and flames shooting out of a limb…somewhere.
Hagrid: "Aren't they beautiful?"
Harry: "Ron, wanna skip class?"
Ron: "Only if you tell me how you got your name in the goblet.
Harry: "For the one thousand, one hundred and twenty-eight time..."
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Sorry this chapter took so long, I was sick with a virus that put blisters on my hands and made them unusable for a week. :( I'm fine now, and back writing. Anyway, as always, thanks for reading.
Jason.