POTTER RESURGENCE
Chapter 18
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling.
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'THE POTTER TWINS, MOST POWERFUL OF THEIR AGE!'
Hermione Granger was a smart girl. From a young age, she had known this fact and gotten used to it. Without any friends, she had immersed herself in books, sharpening and improving her mind as much as she could.
Many hated her because she was smarter than them, some tried to get close to her so they may benefit from her bright mind. They didn't stay for long but for that time, she felt that she was more than just brains. She felt useful, appreciated. And enjoyed those moments for as long as they lasted.
As she grew older, she resigned herself to never having a friend or being with someone she could relate to. Someone that didn't just want to use her for her brains and then go by their business like they had never met in their life. That was before she discovered magic and came to Hogwarts.
Now she had friends. People she knew would always have her back no matter what happens, people that can help her navigate this new world she had found herself in. People she had clearly not been putting to use if what she was reading in the article before was an indication.
Hermione realized that the article was talking about the very thing Daphne had been telling her on the train but she had not wanted to believe. It went ahead however, it talked of things the Potter twins were capable of archiving with their power. It also talked about their political potential and how they could end up being Minister or Chief Warlock from only what they had archived so far.
The article explained the kind of doors open to her two friends just because they were born in the magical world and were magically powerful. As if to emphasize their point, there was a photo accompanying the article. On one side was Hardwin as he emerged from the smoke during his duel with Malfoy.
And on the other side was Harry at the Quidditch world cup. Hermione had to admit that the photos, cropped together as they were sure drove the point of the twins' magical power home. One thing the article did drive home in Hermione's mind was how her non-magical heritage affected her and what her place was in the magical world.
She needed to change it and fast. And her means had just sat down in front of her.
"Hello, Ms. Granger." Harry greeted. "You're quite early today."
They were in the Room of Requirements as it had become their meeting point for their weekly meetings. Ever since Harry and Hardwin had discovered it, if anyone in their not so little group of friends wanted to meet, it was here.
This was also where Harry taught everyone, their meetings happening every two days after supper untill the time for curfew. When Harry had agreed to teach everyone in their compartment on the train, Hermione had feared that he would stop their weekly meetings to teach all of them together.
Not willing to lose the meetings she heard learned a lot from, she asked him to exclude her from the group lessons so he may continue teaching her privately. Harry had looked at her like she was insane before telling her that he wasn't about to give up on his little 'project' after all the time he had invested in it.
She was a little offended that he considered her just as a project but then again, that was how he seemed to see everything around him. But she was fine with that. The things she learned from Harry, she was sure no one other than Hardwin and probably Luna could do them.
And so it was for this reason that she had decided to do this. Harry was right, he had invested a lot in her when he didn't need to, she couldn't ask any more from him.
"I need to ask you for a favor." Hermione said and Harry raised an eyebrow before he glanced at the newspaper on the table and he shook his head.
"You really don't."
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask!"
"I can guess going by what you've been reading." Harry said. "You believe your future is bleak in the magical world and want me to help you to change that, right?"
"Basically, yeah." Hermione nodded. "Will you help me?"
"First of all, the price for something like that will be a bit too high than you're capable of repaying." Harry started and continued as she opened her mouth. "And secondly, do you really want to stay in the magical world?"
"I...what do you mean?" Hermione frowned. "I'm a witch of course I have to stay in the magical world."
"For a muggoeborn, once you complete your NEWTs, you're free to do anything you want so long as it doesn't endanger the secrecy of the magical world." Harry replied. "Quite frankly, I believe you would be wasting your potential if you stayed."
"Why do you say that?"
"You're a very bright girl, Ms. Granger, unfortunately because of your heritage, a lot if opportunities which would have been available for you are closed off." He explained. "I'm sure you have been told a couple of times how similar you are to my mom when she was your age."
Hermione nodded.
"Lily was a bright girl, she joined the magical world full of life and ideas but they were all suffocated by the conditions in our world." Harry said. "As much as I hate to say this, my mom wouldn't have amounted to anything noteworthy if she hadn't married James Potter. That is how the magical world operates and I would hate for you to go through the same."
"Oh." Hermione stared.
"Ultimately, it is your choice but I personally think you would do better in the muggle world." Harry said.
"So all this, would have been for nothing?" Hermione asked and Harry gave her his favorite look which usually made her feel like a five-year-old.
"I'm going to sit here and pretend you did not just say that knowledge can be useless." Hermione blushed and mumbled an apology. "Living in the muggle world doesn't mean you'll be giving up magic. You'll certainly need it for the job I want you to do in my company."
"You want me to work in your company?" Hermione asked with wide eyes. According to her dad, with the rate the company was growing, it was likely to be the most successful in Britain in three years or two.
"You're the first person I thought of when I first had the idea of having a company." Harry answered. "Now before you start getting an inflated head, that was before I met your father and realized he was leagues smarter than you."
"Oh."
"Yes. Oh." Harry deadpanned. "Anyway, that doesn't mean I don't want you. Having someone as bright as you with a magical background and understanding will benefit the company largely so everything I teach you_"
"Is ultimately for your benefit, I understand." Hermione finished with a roll of her eyes.
"No, you don't." Harry shook his head. "Everything I teach you is likely to be of use to you in the future when you're running the company."
"Oh."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Say that one more time and I'll begin reconsidering."
Hermione wanted to say it one more time just to see his reaction but thought better of it. She gave up long ago trying to understand Harry or why he did anything. Only Hardwin seemed to and after what she had just learned, she decided it was better for her mental health to not try.
"What are we learning today?" She asked instead and Harry placed a not so large tome on the table and when she saw the title, she wished she hadn't asked.
"Tell me, Ms. Granger." Harry grinned. "How much do you know about Dark magic?"
"Dark magic?" Harry nodded. "How could Dark magic possibly be of use in running a company."
Harry stared at her and she knew she had said something wrong.
"I told you of my plans because I thought you would be smart enough to not have a one-track mind." Harry said. "Clearly I was wrong."
"No." Hermione hurried to reply. "I just don't see why I would need to learn about Dark magic given that I would never use it, not if I don't want to end in Azkaban."
"If you can't see the use of having knowledge of Dark Magic even when you don't use it personally, then I was more wrong about you than I had initially thought."
And with that, Harry walked out of the room leaving her gaping after him in confusion.
The next Friday, classes were cancelled in the afternoon so the students may prepare for the arrival of the other schools, as they were always free on Friday afternoon, Hermione just went back to the room of requirements for her weekly meeting with Harry.
She sat there and patiently waited for Harry but he didn't show up. Over an hour later, she realized that Harry wasn't coming and she knew exactly why. Harry had given up on her.
Her lack of enthusiasm at learning Dark Magic had made the boy decide she wasn't worth his time. She had lost something invaluable with Harry. Not only did she lose a chance at a guaranteed job in the furture, she lost a well of knowledge she wasn't likely to find anywhere else.
Hermione knew that if she simply went to Harry and agreed to learn whatever he wanted to teach her, he would take her back. However, if the price meant learning Dark Magic, then that was not a price she was willing to pay. Even with her choice made, it didn't stop her from feeling dejected.
She slowly put her books back in the backpack and left the room. She almost ran into Luna who had been about to open the door. Hermione wasn't overly familiar with the quirky blonde, they exchanged the occasional greeting if they ran into each other and of course sat together on the Express but that was as much contact as they had with each other.
"Hermione Granger." The girl greeted her. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Luna." She looked over the small blonde and raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so... filthy?"
The younger girl was covered in grime and dirt. Her robes were torn and her hair was covered in slime.
"I've been in the forest with Harry, helping him to get acromantula venom." She answered easily.
"What? Why would you need acromantula venom?" Hermione asked. "And how did you end up looking like this?"
"I asked one acromantula politely to give us a sample and instead it tried to eat me." Luna said, shaking her head at the giant insect's stupidity. "Harry killed it, as well as all the others that came after us."
Hermione stared at her, waiting for more but instead the girl just stared right back.
"Are you okay, Hermione Granger?" She asked, peering at her.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"You're completely covered in wrackspurts!" Luna suddenly exclaimed jumping back. She grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her through the door that had just reappeared behind her. "Hurry, we need to get them off."
"Wait! What are you talking about?" Hermione was pulled along by the small but surprisingly strong girl into the room and she was hit by a blast of warm air. "Luna, what are you doing?!"
"Saving your life, Hermione."
Hermione gasped as her clothes suddenly disappeared and screamed when Luna pushed her forward and she fell. Her scream was cut off when she hit the water and she struggled to get her head above the warm water. She took a deep breath and was just about to start screaming at the Ravenclaw when there was a splash as Luna also jumped into the water.
She had barely settled herself when Luna dived at her and she swam away from the small girl. The next two minutes were spent dodging the ridiculously fast girl and Hermione found herself laughing along with Luna.
By the time Luna stopped persuing her, Hermione was breathing heavily and had even forgotten about her earlier sadness. Lounging on the other side of the hot tub, Luna was smiling at her.
"I see most of the wrackspurts are gone." She observed, cocking her head to the side. "But there are some still around your head."
Luna got her wand from behind her ear which had managed to stay there even as they played. She flicked her wand in Hermione's direction and Hermione's eyes widened as he limbs snapped together and her body stiffened.
Her wand was away from her on top of a pile of her clothes. But thanks to Harry, she didn't need a wand to free herself.
Finite
When there was no effect. She tried to do the spell again and even whispered as she couldn't fully move her lips.
"It will not work." Luna said as she waddled through the water towards Hermione. "I can feel you use the magic for the basic dispelling spell_wait, has Harry taught you how to feel for magic?"
Hermione glared at her and she nodded to herself.
"If he hasn't, you should ask him to teach you if he decides to teach you again." Luna said. "Can you imagine being able to feel magic! If you hone the skill better, you can even find anything you want! Harry says that with my progress, I'll even be able to find a Crumple-Horned Snorkack!"
Hermione just glared harder and Luna blinked, as if suddenly remembering where she was.
"The spell I used on you is a Dark version of the full-body-bind and can only be countered by a special spell." The girl lectured. "That is what makes Dark Magic very dangerous. Unless you know which spell you have been hit with, you will have no way of of countering it."
Luna paused and frowned.
"Now I'm sounding like Harry." She mock glared at Hermione like the older girl was responsible before she smiled and hugged the frozen brunette. "This was fun, Hermione. We should do it again sometime, and I'm happy to see that the wrackspurts are disappearing. Bye!"
And without any care that she was naked, Luna got up and left the hot tub as she hummed to herself. She slipped on her clean clothes and skipped out of the room without another glance at Hermione. In the ensuing silence, it took Hermione half a minute before she realized that Luna's spell had been taken off long ago.
Sitting in the hot tub, naked and unable to move had been a scary experience. She had felt exposed and helpless. Despite all that Harry had taught her, she hadn't been in any position to help herself. Luna could have been anyone else and they could have done to her anything they wanted.
And through it all, she would have just been there, unable to move a single muscle or even to scream. Utterly and completely helpless and Hermione realized she never wanted to be in that position ever again. She needed to get strong, it didn't matter the price, but she was never going to be in such a position ever again.
-PRPRPRPRPR-
"Well, that is not something you come across every day." Harry noted dryly and Hardwin snorted to himself.
What Harry was referring to was a large woman, as large and probably even taller than Hagrid that had exited the huge carriage. Unlike her male counterpart, the woman somehow managed to look graceful as she walked towards Dumbledore.
"Do you think she is related to that oaf, Hagrid?" Draco asked from Harry's left and Hardwin glared at him.
"Do no call him an oaf, Malfoy." He warned. "He is probably two times smarter than you and your bookends combined."
Draco scoffed and was about to answer before he whistled appreciatively. "Merlin, is that a veela?"
Hardwin, whose attention had been focused completely upon Madame Maxime, now noticed that about a dozen boys and girls, all, by the look of them, in their late teens, had emerged from the carriage and were now standing behind the giant woman.
He easily spotted who had caught the Slytherin's attention. Standing at the front of the group was a breathtakingly beautiful girl. Her silvery blonde hair was swaying slightly in the cold wind and her blue eyes were swiveling around as if seeking for something or someone.
The moment her eyes landed on Harry and Hardwin, her whole face lit up with a bright smile and she waved at them. Hardwin waved back before he realized that so did every boy standing around them.
"She wasn't waving at you lot." Hardwin said and everyone glared at him.
"Shut up, Potter."
Harry rolled his eyes and waved back at Fleur. The older girl then turned back to follow her headmistress into the castle leaving the boys to whisper among themselves.
"Hey, wasn't that Fleur Delacour?" Neville asked from down the line.
"Oh, yeah." Hardwin said in realization. "She and her sister were with us when the Aurors attacked us at the world cup."
"Delacour?" Malfoy asked. "That's the French Director of International Relations. I didn't know he was married to a veela."
Before the conversation could go any further, it was interrupted by the dramatic arrival of the Durmstrang delegates. Hardwin wondered how they had managed to pull it off.
"Teleportation using water as a medium." Harry whispered, looking very impressed. "Something like that hasn't been used in years."
"It is Durmstrang, of course something like that can't be that hard for a school like that." Draco drawled. "As a matter of fact, if things go as planned, I'll be joining their ranks after I complete my OWLs."
"Keep dreaming, Malfoy." Hardwin scoffed. "Durmstrang only takes the very best there is and you wouldn't stand a chance."
"Speak for yourself you filthy half-blood." Draco sneered. "Just the mention of my name will be enough to get me there. I can't say the same for you."
"Are you forgetting that this filthy half-blood disarmed your ass into unconsciousness?" Hardwin asked. "Perhaps you'd like a repeat performance?"
"A fluke and we both know it." Draco replied without missing a beat. "Why don't you draw_"
"Children, behave." Harry snapped. "We have guests."
Hardwin and Draco rolled their eyes at him. The two were so alike that Harry wondered how they managed not to get along. Ever since their duel, the two had been meeting more often than usual as Draco now openly associated with Harry. Whenever they weren't in class, the blonde was usually by Harry's side as was now believed to be his right-hand man.
Whenever Hardwin wished to speak to his brother, it meant that he would be running into him almost every single time and every time they met, Harry barely kept them from drawing their wands.
With Draco, came Pansy as well as Crabbe and Goyle and along with Tracey, Daphne, Blaise and usually Nott, Harry was usually surrounded by an entrouge as he walked through the halls at Hogwarts. He however always managed to disappear on them if he wished for some privacy.
-PRPRPRPRPR-
"Viktor Krum." The famous young man introduced himself with a thick accent as he took a seat opposite Harry. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Harry Potter." Harry shook his hand. "You were quite exceptional at the world cup. I have to say however that you have nothing on my brother, he was practically born to be in the air."
Draco scoffed. "Potter can barely tell which end of the broom he is supposed to face."
When Krum looked at him, he introduced himself. "Malfoy. Draco Malfoy, I'm sure you have heard of my father, he and your Headmaster are old friends."
"Pleasure." Krum nodded at him before he turned to Harry. "Your brother, he is the boy-who-lived?"
"Among other things, yes." Harry replied. "Quite powerful too as I'm sure Draco can attest and a potential dueling champion."
"Not Tri-Wizard champion?"
"No." Harry said. "That would be me."
At that point, Dumbledore who had been talking the entire time sat down and food appeared before them. The Slytherins as was the norm stopped their conversations and concentrated on their meal, and as it so happened, the Durmstrang students were similar to them this way.
When the meal was finished and the plates had disappeared, Dumbledore stood up and everyone looked up at him. He introduced Mr. Crouch and Ludo Bagman, the ministry appointed representatives.
"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "and they will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime on the panel that will judge the champions' efforts."
Dumbledore went on to explain a little about the tournament and when he was finished, everyone's attention was on him. He gestured for Filch who brought forward a large wooden chest which he placed before Dumbledore with a loud thud.
"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore went on calmly, "one from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire."
Dumbledore reached into the chest and removed the wooden Goblet, filled to the brim with blue white flames. He went ahead to explain the process through which the selection would take place but Harry wasn't listening, his attention was fixed on the Goblet.
He let his senses free, concentrating only on the Goblet. According to Abraham Potter's journal, the Goblet would recognize a Potter by their magic and sure enough, Harry felt something within the Goblet almost calling to him, welcoming him as it recognized him.
And just like that, Harry knew he was going to be the Hogwarts champion. The Goblet would always select a Potter so long as they submitted their name no matter how worthy he was compared to the others. That was how Abraham made it and no one else knew of it.
Now all Harry had to do is get past Dumbledore's age line, place his name in the Goblet and wait for the champions selection.
-PRPRPRPRPR-
October 31st 1994
Hogwarts Grounds.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen to the finals of the Hogwarts dueling championship!"
As Lee Jordan went ahead to introduce the duelists and wow the crowd with what they had done so far, Harry turned to Draco who was seated on his right in the stands.
"Today, you're about to witness what difference magical power makes in a fight." Harry told the blonde. "You're going to see just what I meant when I said you would never have lasted for more than a second against my brother."
"You have a lot of faith in your brother." Viktor Krum observed in his accented English, seated not far from them with his friends.
"That's because I'm confident in his abilities." Harry replied. "As will you too by the time this duel comes to an end."
Harry then turned to Draco and lectured. "Luna is completely unpredictable, you can't guess her dueling stay, you never know what effect the spell she casts will have on you or around you. What would be the best way win against someone like that?"
"To not be hit?" Draco asked and before Harry could say anything, Krum spoke up.
"Don't let her cast."
"Exactly." Harry nodded at the him. "If you're to win against someone you can't guess anything about, your best chance at winning is to not give them a chance to cast."
The two duelists had gotten in position and were waiting for Flitwick to set then off. When he did, the two started moving in unison. Luna cast a stream of spells one after the other towards Hardwin summoned a shimmering shield. Even as the spells came after him, he flicked his wand and the shield flew forward towards Luna.
It blocked the spells from Luna as it came closer untill it reached her. She leaped to the side to avoid being hit by the shield and was about to cast again when she suddenly ducked as a ridiculously powered stunner flew at her. She dodged again as two others came at her and even as she tried to counter, a disarming charm slammed to the platform right next to her.
She was pushed to the side from the sheer force of the impact. Luna cast a shield to deflect another of Hardwin's spells and stumbled back from the impact, barely managing to dodge the follow up spells in time. The next few seconds were spent trying to avoid being hit and thankfully, Hardwin wasn't using area effect spells.
"He is not playing around, is he?" Draco commented as they watched the girl struggle to keep up. Hardwin's spells were growing progressively stronger and on more than one occasion, Luna was sent flying across the platform but she recovered fast enough to dodge the follow up spells. "It is only a matter of time now before she succumbs to the pressure."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Krum commented gesturing to the sky. "The small girl seems to be working on something."
"When you have your opponent cornered, it is better if you finish it fast and Hardwin knows this." Harry told Draco. "Unfortunately for my brother, Luna is stubbornly refusing to let him and this has him concentrating on her completely not to allow her to try something desperate."
Unfortunately, Luna seemed to have expected this and had started on working on something the moment the duel started. Clouds had been gathering slowly above the platform, everyone had been concentrating on the duel below to notice and so when it suddenly started raining, everyone was caught off-guard.
Well, everyone except for Luna. Hardwin stopped casting and looked at the sky incredulously as he was soaked and that was his undoing. A blast of wind from Luna's wand had him flying across the platform where he fell and rolled, barely stopping himself from falling over. His eyes widened and he scrambled away as a bolt of lightning flew from the sky and slammed into his former position.
He dived and dodged, occasionally shielding himself as a bolt of lightning flew at him from the clouds from time to time. And with Hardwin now on the defensive, everyone knew that he was finished. Luna's signature chaos ensured and Hardwin struggled to keep up.
"He is finished!" Draco laughed as Hardwin slipped on the wet platform and fell. He was promptly showered with a klaidescope of spells. "He couldn't even beat a third-year!"
"No, Draco." Harry shook his head. "This is the part where you see what a wizard with power is capable of."
Luna stopped casting and fell on her knees breathing heavily. She may be more powerful than an average thirteen-year-old but she was still just thirteen and casting that much magic was sure going to take its toll. She looked like she would collapse if she tried to cast another spell.
Hardwin on the other hand looked worse. His robes had been transfigured into a frilly pink dress, his legs were melded together and he had a fish tail for feet. His hands had been turned into rubber and had wrapped around his torso over and over. His hair was yellow and fell up to his legs.
Everyone waited with baited breath to see what would happen. Luna slowly pushed to her knees and crawled towards Hardwin's wand where it was lying. She had just started stretching her hand towards the wand when Hardwin's eye snapped open.
"Oh." Everyone heard Luna's flat voice before she was blasted and sent flying straight off the platform until she fell and she rolled on the ground like a rag doll.
"Finite." Hardwin said clearly and as if time had been turned back, everything on his body started reversing.
His amrs unwound while his hair became shorter. The frilly dress transformed back into the dueling robes and turn tail disappeared. All the destruction around him disappeared, the clouds swiftly disappeared and it stopped raining. By the time Hardwin stood back up, the platform looked like it had before the duel, only Luna was missing.
She was lying at the base of the platform unconscious and Hardwin walked over to her and pulled the wand from her unresisting hands. He hopped back onto the platform and looked at the crowd expectantly. Lily stood up from among the staff and started clapping. She was joined by McGonagall and soon everyone was clapping and applauding.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Lee Jordan boomed. "I present to you the Hogwarts dueling champion! The boy-who-lived, Hardwin Potter!"
"One spell, Draco." Harry said smugly as clapped along with everyone else. "All it took was one spell to undo all she had done. That is what I mean when he talk about magical power."
"I agree." Krum added, sounding impressed. "That is not normal. Not at his age."
"Didn't you hear? He is the boy-who-lived." If Harry looked any more smug, his face was going to fall off. "Normal doesn't exactly come in the job description."
"And what about you, Harry Potter?"
"Me, I'm the brother to the boy-who-lived!"
"And what can you do?"
Harry looked at the older boy. "Just wait for the tournament and you'll find out."
-PRPRPRPRPR-
That night
After the Halloween feast
Great Hall, Hogwarts.
"So, did you actually manage to put your name?" Tracey asked excitedly from where she was seated across Harry.
"Of course, I did." Harry replied. "I said I would enter, didn't I?"
"Yeah, but I thought you had given up when Dumbledore mentioned the age line." She shook her head. "How did you even get past it."
"The age line is basically a ward and I know a thing or two about those." He answered. "Any wizard with the least bit of knowledge about wards would have easily bypassed it. Which was why it was made to keep out underage wizards and witches as they're not expected to have such knowledge."
"Shut up, Potter, it's happening." Draco said as the candles dimmed in the great Hall.
Everyone was waiting and the anticipation could be seen on the people's faces, illuminated by the bright blueish flames of the Goblet. The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it - the whole room gasped.
Dumbledore caught the parchment and turned it so he could read by the light from the Goblet. Everyone seemed to hold their breath as they waited.
"The champion for Durmstrang," he read, in a strong, clear voice, "will be Viktor Krum."
Immediately, the hall erupted in applause from all tables. Krum stood up, accepting congratulations from his friends before stoically marching his way to the antechamber.
The clapping and chatting died down. Now everyone's attention was focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more. A second piece of parchment shot out of it, propelled by the flames.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour!"
The great hall once again erupted in applause. Only this time it was mixed with wolf whistles and hoots from the boys. Harry nodded at her in congratulations when she sought him out with her eyes before she tossed her hair behind her back and almost glided across the hall towards the antechamber.
When Fleur Delacour too had vanished into the side chamber, silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion next...
And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out of it; the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment. Harry watched with satisfaction as his 'heir' ring transformed into the 'Head of house' ring.
He looked at his brother at the Gryffindor table who was looking back at him with wide eyes and knew immediately that the heir ring was now on his finger.
"The Hogwarts champion is..." he called, squinting at the parchment like he couldn't believe his eyes. "...is Harry Potter."
There was a moment of silence as everyone seemed to absorb what Dumbledore had just said and it was only broken by a thud as Lily's head hit the table. "Oh, Harry!"
And then the hall erupted in applause. Every table seemed to be trying to out do the other as everyone cheered for him. Despite being only a fourth year, Harry was well loved by nearly every student in the school and they all knew a thing or two of what he was capable of. They couldn't have wished for a better person to represent them.
Walking into the chamber, he was met by the other two champions. Fleur smiled brightly at him.
"You made it?" She asked in French and Harry nodded. "Well, congratulations I guess."
"Thanks, Fleur." Harry replied in perfect French. "You must know, however that I won't be holding back on you just because we're friends."
"If you ask me nicely..." Fleur said as she tossed back her hair haughtily. "I may consider going easy on you."
"No one is going to hold back." Viktor said in his accented English. "We entered the tournament to show the world what we're capable of and I would be insulted if any of you didn't give your all."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Harry replied with a smile. Before the others could say anything else, the door to the chamber opened again and Hardwin entered. "Brother?"
"Hi guys." Hardwin greeted the others before he turned to Harry. "My name came out of the Goblet."
"What?"
"Going by your surprise, I take it you didn't put it there along with yours?"
"No, I would never put you in something like that without your permission." Harry shook his head. "Who could possibly have any reason to put you in a life-threatening tournament where you are likely to end up dead?"
Hardwin just gave him a flat stare. It always felt good when he turned the tables on his brother.
"Right." Harry said. "How did I not see this coming."
"Children." Lily's hard voice interrupted them. "Explain."
"I didn't put my name in the Goblet, mom." Hardwin said immediately after Harry had thrown up a privacy charm. " Harry didn't put it there either."
Lily frowned and looked at Harry who nodded in confirmation. "And yours?"
Instead of answering, he just showed her his ring. Her eyes widened as she came closer to examine it. "Is that_"
"The head of house ring?" Harry finished for her. "Yes, mom. It is, and now we have a Lord Potter."
Before either could say any more, the door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Right behind them was Sirius and Tonks who both were grinning at them.
The group headed straight to where the Potters were standing and Lily put herself in front of her sons. "Harry put his name in the Goblet but Hardwin didn't."
"And did you put your brother's name as well, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked, ignoring the exclamations of disbelief from Karkaroff and Maxime.
"No he didn't." Hardwin answered for him. "And it doesn't matter because I will not be competing."
"You don't know what you're talking about, boy." Crouch scoffed. "Once your name comes out of the Goblet, you have to compete or else you lose your magic."
"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust."
Karkaroff nodded and added his own protests. Something about Hogwarts wanting another piece at the cake and cheating to enter. McGonagall predictably defended her school and soon they were all arguing, only Dumbledore, Sirius and Tonks were not involved.
"That's enough!" Dumbledore said and they all kept quiet. "How did you get past the age line, Harry?"
"I dispelled it, put my name in the Goblet and put it back after." Harry said with a shrug eliciting scoffs of disbelief.
"Of course 'e iz lying!" Madame Maxime exclaimed. "There iz no way a little boy like you 'an do that!"
Harry glared at her. "How old are you, Madam Maxime?"
Everyone stared at him in confusion wondering what he was doing.
"You know what, nevermind." He flicked his wrist and his wand appeared. Before either of the others could react, he waved it in Maxime's genera direction. "Seventy-eight it is."
He started drawing runes with his wand in the air, similar to the ones Dumbledore had drawn. As the others watched in silence, the others watched the runes fly one by one towards and got in place around Maxime and Fleur. When they had formed a circle, Harry stopped and looked at Fleur.
"Ms. Delacour, could you please come over here." Fleur looked at her headmistress before carefully stepping over the line and walking towards Harry. "That line is supposed to contain someone above seventy, why don't you try and get out, Madam Maxime?"
"Mr. Potter, what are you doing?" Dumbledore asked.
"Showing the lady that this little boy is very much capable of dealing with something as simple as an age line." Harry replied no taking his eyes off the big woman. "Madame, if you will."
"That will not be necessary." Dumbledore drew his wand and waved it, dispelling the runes. "It doesn't matter how you got in, as the Goblet selected you, you will have to compete. Underage or not."
"What about him?" Karkaroff asked pointing at Hardwin.
"He will have to compete too as the rules still apply." Crouch concluded.
"No, I will not." Hardwin replied firmly glaring at the pale man. "Like I've already said, I didn't enter my name, so I have no obligation to compete."
"But the contract_"
"Does not exist." Harry interrupted the man. "I happen to know my contracts very well and I know that a contract is only made when two people willingly agree to something. When one puts his name in the Goblet, they're offering a contract and it activates when their name comes out. As Hardwin didn't put his name, he was never part of the contract and his name coming out means the Goblet is the one offering the contract."
He had all their attention and when he was finished with his little monologue, he surveyed their faces before turning back to Crouch.
"Seeing that he is underage, my brother is in no position to agree or reject a contract which falls to me." He stood straighter, staring at the man imperiously. "I, Harry James Potter, Lord of the Noble and Ancient house of Potter forbid my ward, Hardwin Charlus Potter from competiting in the Tri-Wizard tournament."
Hardwin was grinning widely as he leaned on his brother. "Any questions?"
-PRPRPRPRPR-
AN: Things are about to get interesting here and little bit more...mature. Next chapter, some questions will be answered, like who put Hardwin's name in the Goblet, why are Sirius and Tonks at Hogwarts and what Voldy has been up to all this time.
For those who are wondering, Hardwin won't be in the tournament.
Tell me what you think.
