Chapter 36: The Choosing.
I apologize for the lateness of this chapter; however, I still have writer's block on it. This chapter came to me and I'm hoping it leads to more. That and if you've read any of my newer stories, you'll know that I am having issues with my hands. I don't let it stop me, but it does slow me down a lot.
Anyway, here you go.
HP-BTVS-HP-BTVS
Harry never stopped his spying with his metamorph abilities. He was getting the gossip on the Triwizard Tournament. Many people, over the last month, thought that he would somehow be selected, but Harry had no interest in participating. He made sure to let everyone know this. He didn't want anyone to think he was trying to get attention.
He knew Joyce was watching everyone and she would prevent any underage students from having their name put in the cup. He just hoped that was enough. He really wanted a quiet year. He made sure to stay as far away from the area as possible. If his name did come out, then he had an alibi. Neville, Luna, and Hermione spent every waking second with him. Spike and Moody were on patrol around the nighttime, and they too knew where he was. It was part of their schedule to do a bed check. Just in case.
Not that anyone would listen, but he had also hung out around Slinky, Norberta, and Fluffy. The dragon and the snake did express how they missed seeing him as much as they used to. He made a mental note to go and spend more time with them in his dragon form.
Right now, while he waited for the tournament to begin, he was going to go see Black. He had seen him over the summer, and he didn't think the man was all that stable. However, he'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Xander said the man was okay, and that was good enough for him. The man was his godfather, and he had requested to speak to him.
Sirius had told him that he wanted a private talk, so he was going to let him have his say. That was something they hadn't done yet. But if he badmouthed Xander he was going to retaliate. No one talked bad about Xander to him. It was a given that he would strike out if they did.
He made it to the 'house' and saw that Sirius was watching something on the tv. He didn't recognize it, so it wasn't one of Spike's or Sal's shows. Thank Merlin. How two grown men could watch that shite, boggled his mind. McGonagall, and Joyce hated those shows.
"Hey, Sirius," he said, getting the man's attention. He moved to the couch and sat down. Not next to Sirius, but on the other side. He was still leery of people he didn't know. He was getting better, but…
"Harry," Sirius said, looking like he got caught doing something wrong.
"What are you watching?" the teen asked, keeping his hands in his lap.
"I have no idea," Sirius confessed. He took up the remote and found the power button. "How have you been?" he asked, turning to see Harry's face. Like he was measuring the response.
"Great," Harry enthused, with a big smile.
"Xander treats you okay?" he asked, worry etched his face.
"Yeah, better than the Dursleys ever did," the teen said, not sure where this was going. He knew that Xander and Joyce had sat Sirius down and told him about his childhood and what they had done to get back at the Dursleys. Last he heard, Dudley was doing better. Xander kept an eye on him for Harry's sake.
"When your dad, James, made me godfather, he wanted me to take care of you if anything happened to him and your mum," Sirius said, still examining Harry's face trying to see how that affected him.
"Well, I guess that's not going to happen," Harry said, warily. He didn't like this line of conversation. He hoped it wasn't going where he thought it was. There was no way he'd ever abandon Xander.
"I guess," the other man said, slumping down. "I mean, I understand. You know, I know that I messed up by going after Peter. I can't tell you how many times I've beat myself up for it. It wasn't a good memory, so the dementors couldn't take it from me. They plagued me with it daily. Every single day, I lived that mistake. I just hope you can forgive me one day for what I did," he said, his tone heavy with regret.
"I have forgiven you. However, I'm not leaving Xander. No matter what my parents would have wanted. He saved me from the Dursleys. He didn't know me from Jack, and he saved me anyway," Harry said, scooching over a bit and putting his hand on Sirius's arm. Sure, he wanted to rage, but the man had just gotten out of the worst prison in the world. "He, Joyce, and Minerva are my family. Along with Luna, Hermione, and Neville."
"I get that. It's just…" the sad man trailed off, knowing that he was reaping what he sowed.
"That doesn't mean you can't be a part of my life. I've always wanted to have an uncle that I didn't hate. Well, you'll have to share that position with Sal, and Rick," Harry said, giving him a winning smile. "There's always room for more. Xander told you this," he added to emphasize that Xander was the head of this family.
"Uncle? I can get used to that," Sirius said with his own smile.
"Are you staying for the selecting?" Harry asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was getting late, and he wanted to be there. Even if it was to make sure he wasn't picked.
"Yeah, Xander said I could sit with you kids," the man said, also looking at the time. His face showed that he was thinking the same as Harry.
"We'd better get going then, or we'll miss it." He got up and headed to the door.
"Yeah," the still saddened man said, getting up and following his godson out of the 'house'.
They made their way to the Great Hall, where they met up with Remus and Harry's friends. They all took a seat at the Gryffindor table. There were other parents there as well. Harry could see many of them had worried faces. Like they knew the tournament was dangerous, but their kids had signed up for it anyway.
Xander stalked up to the front of the teacher's table. the look on his face showed everyone that he was unhappy with life in general, but the tournament most of all. He had made that loud and clear to all of Hogwarts.
He went to the goblet, which was aflame with red fire. It danced in the air with a great deal of agitation, like it was impatient. The yellow-eyed man just glared at it.
"The Triwizard Tournament starts now. The Goblet of Fire will be picking the names that were submitted and those chosen will be told what's next. Now to get started," Xander said, not one for making grand speeches. He tapped the goblet, and it spewed out the first name. "Viktor Krum," Xander said very loudly.
Everyone clapped, the teen being a star and all everyone knew him. And knew him to be a great athlete.
A surly looking young man from Durmstrang got up from the Slytherin table and slouched to the door Xander indicated. He looked around like it had been a forgone conclusion that he would be picked. And judging from his fellow schoolmates, it was.
The goblet spit out another piece of parchment. "Fleur Delacour," Xander said, looking to the Ravenclaw table, where a beautiful blonde French girl got up and snubbed those around her. There was a smirk on her face, which Harry thought was haughty. There wasn't as much of an applause for her, and he figured she didn't have many friends. Not even the Beauxbatons' students clapped for her.
Harry sat at the edge of his seat. They had taken all the precautions. The cup hadn't been left alone for a moment. He saw the next parchment be ejected.
"Cedric Diggory," Xander said, and there was relief in his voice. He looked to the Hufflepuff table where Cedric and his father were standing.
This time the applause raised the roof. Cedric was well liked by everyone.
The goblet looked like the was going to spit out another name, but Xander just waved his hand, and the fire went out.
"Now that the champions are chosen, let's eat," Xander said, waving his hands again, and a feast appeared. It had pretty much the same food as yesterday, so they were able to try new foods from France, and Russia.
Hpbtvshpbtvs
"Harris," came a voice from the head table, making almost everyone look up. It wasn't often anyone talked to Xander that way. Not if they wanted to live. "Why did you snuff out the goblet?" the person asked, like Xander had committed a great sin.
"Because, Barty, the champions had been chosen. I just said that. Didn't you listen?" Xander said, giving the man the evil eye. He wondered why the man was being pushy about it.
"But the fire is supposed to extinguish itself," the officious man protested, looking at the goblet like it had let him down. There was a wariness about him, like he was going to be punished for something. It was well hidden, but Xander saw it.
"I decided it was done," Xander said, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know why you are complaining. All the schools have a chosen champion," he added, glaring at the man for arguing.
"But…" was all Crouch could say.
"Shall we go see our students," Madam Maxime said, getting up from her chair.
"Good idea, then they can come and enjoy the feast," Xander said, heading towards the door.
"Da," Karkaroff agreed, also rising.
"Yes, well," Dumbledore stated, moving along with the other three. McGonagall followed. Joyce decided to stay with Sal. They were not needed, at least not yet. Hopefully it would stay that way.
Crouch was still sputtering but followed Bagman into the antechamber.
"Congratulations," Bagman said, entering the room and seeing the champions talking amongst themselves. They all turned to the heads of the schools and the government officials. "You've all been chosen as the best in your school."
"So," Cedric started, there was a small quiver to his voice, "what is the first task?" he asked, his hands shaking a bit. His father put a hand on his shoulder in support.
All the champions were nervous, though they showed it in different ways. Fleur kept flipping her hair, and Viktor was sniffing a lot, like there was something stuck in his nose.
"Your first task will test your daring," Bagman said, holding up a sheet of parchment that listed the dates. "It will be on November 24th," he added, looking to Crouch to tell them the rules.
"The rules," the angry man started, shuffling some parchment he carried, "are that you may not get any help from the staff of your school. You will be allowed only your wands for each task." He shoved the papers under his arm indicating his was finished.
"Zat's is et?" Fleur asked, looking to her Headmistress with disbelief.
"What else do you need to know?" the confused Bagman asked, looking for all the world like a lost puppy.
"Aren't you going to at least tell us what we need to study?" Cedric asked, looking to McGonagall and Xander. He snubbed Dumbledore, though his father looked in the old man's direction.
"Creatures," Xander said before anyone could stop him. "Study magical creatures," he stated, glaring at the officials.
"Dammit, Harris, they weren't supposed to know that," Crouch said, brandishing the parchments at him, like it stated such.
"I'm not going to have their deaths on my conscience, just so you get a good show. Bugger off, as you all say," Xander said, standing up to his full height. "You guys go enjoy the feast," he said to the kids. Who looked thankfully at him. They filed out, with Mr. Diggory. As soon as the door closed, Crouch started in on Xander, who stood firm.
"Harris," came the threatening voice of Bartemius.
"No, you listen to me. If I had it my way this contest would not be here," Xander said, towering over the little man. "It's only because Joyce said it was okay that I okayed it. Now that we know the tasks, we are not pleased," he snarled at the smaller man. "This is supposed to be a simple contest of students, and you've made it into Gladiator games. Those were outlawed for a reason," he added, almost stomping his foot. Instead, he slashed his hand in an angry manner.
Crouch was no slouch, he stood hard and had his righteous indignation on his side. Well, that and the ministry. "There are rules," Bartemius said, growling right back at the larger man.
"And I didn't break them," Xander said, just as fiercely. "I didn't tell them the task, only what they had to study. And in case you've forgotten, I am not staff. I own this joint," he said, poking a finger in the man's chest.
"I'll see you kicked out," Bartemius stated, like he knew something that Xander didn't.
"You can't, you moron," Harris said, standing back to look at the man like something was off about him. "I own the castle. I choose to let you be here, I can kick you out with the snap of my fingers. Go ahead, make my day," he said in a low threatening voice.
"Come now, gentlemen," Bagman said, taking Bartemius's arm and guiding him away from the muscular man. "Barty, he didn't break the rules," he said, trying to defuse the situation. "Come on, let's go back to the ministry," he added, moving to leave the room. The tension was just too thick.
Xander, McGonagall, Dumbledore and the two Heads watched them leave. "Must you infuriate everyone you meet?" Albus asked in a gentle tone.
"Only those that piss me off, like you," Xander said, glaring at the man. He didn't want him here, but Joyce and Minerva overruled him.
"Vot has Dumbledore done to you?" Karkaroff asked, not sure if he should. The man seemed volatile. He looked at Dumbledore in a new light. It wasn't often you found someone to go against the ex-headmaster.
"He was a bad headmaster," was all that Xander said. It wasn't his job to air dirty laundry, nor was it his job to prevent it.
"We had a difference of opinion," Albus said, making calming gestures with his hands. "Young Xander is more free thinking than I am. As I am sure you noticed with the electricity in the castle," he pointed out.
"I'll take free thinking over closeminded, like you," Xander said with a shrug. "Electricity helps the kids see better. Thereby making it easier for them to study. We are now a progressive school."
"Now that's not nice, calling Albus closeminded," McGonagall said, hiding a snicker. No matter how upset she was with Albus, he did deserve some respect. Though after Snape, her respect for the man was at an all-time low.
"I call them like I see them," the yellow-eyed man said with another shrug. "You should know this by now," he added with a wink.
"We have gotten widely off the topic," Albus said, stroking his beard. "I would ask that you not make the ministry officials unhappy with you. They can make life at Hogwarts harder for you," he added with a knowing twinkle.
"It is my castle," Xander reiterated, like it needed to be repeated for an especially slow child. "I can kick everyone out and start over again. The only reason I don't is because Joyce worked so hard to make this school happen."
It was then that Sal, Nicholas, and Sirius came in. They all looked at Xander like he might need rescuing.
"What's up, guys?" the owner of Hogwarts asked, looking at them like they were being silly. He could take care of himself.
"The crowd is getting restless," Sirius said, jerking his finger at the door. "You might want to get back out there," he added, nodding to the others in the room. "Albus," he said in greeting.
"Sirius, it has been a long time," the old man said in a jovial tone. "I hope you are recovering well," he said with something lacing his voice. Like he was trying to relay a message without doing it out loud.
"Xander, here, has been a lot of help," Sirius said, completely missing the unheard message. He clapped the yellow-eyed man on the shoulder, to show how much he appreciated that support. "If it weren't for him, I'd still be on the run," he added, making it clear that he owed the man a life debt.
"And Harry?" the ex-headmaster tried a different tactic. "Is he doing well?" he asked, cutting a look to the group of people that were keeping him from the Boy-Who-Lived.
"That is none of your business," Xander said, turning and heading to the door. "Now that the tournament business is over, we should join the kids," he said, yanking open the door and going to his seat at the teacher's table. "I see the dinner part of the feast is done. Now dessert," he said, waving his hand and pudding appeared.
Everyone retook their seat, bar Crouch and Bagman, who left, and the feast went on without them. They weren't missed at all, unless your name was Dumbledore. He wanted to talk to Barty, but alas the man was gone.
Hpbtvshpbtvs
Harry was as happy as a person could be. He didn't get picked. It had been on his, and everyone who knew him, mind. They had all been on tenterhooks, and now they can sigh a huge sigh of relief.
He looked to the head table, and he saw Xander wink at him and he knew that it was all going to be okay. Xander had already talked to him about training the champions in the other magic. They were just undecided as to how much to teach them.