October 31, 1994

Harry stepped through the door, and found himself facing quite a sight. The room itself was decently decorated, with paintings of witches and wizards lining the walls. On the other side, there was a fire going, and the champions were grouped around it, all looking impressive. These were, arguably, the three best of all the witches and wizards the schools of Europe had to offer. As he approached, Fleur noticed him and called out a greeting.

"Hello Harry, do they want us back in the hall?"

Cedric had his back turned, facing the fire, but upon hearing Fleur, turned around. Cedric seemed to catch on that something was off. While Harry was a model student, most teachers would not default to him to send a message. 'Granger would be more likely, being ever so eager to please.'

There was a sound of scuffling, and soon Bagman emerged from the door. It seemed that he was the first of the organizers to make his way from the great hall. The teachers were probably either recovering from shock or trying to calm the students down.

"Extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary." Bagman was muttering and grabbed Harry's arm while passing by, heading to the other three. "Gentlemen, lady, may I introduce to you, incredulous through it may seem, the fourth Triwizard Champion? Should the name be changed?" Bagman's thoughts wandered as he trailed off.

At this, all three champions' backs straightened. Victor's eyes were boring into Harry's, judging him, for what, Harry couldn't know. Victor seemed to relax after a moment. Cedric just looked shocked. If anything, Thomas would've been the one Cedric would have betted on getting mixed up in all this. The whole school would have bet on that. Fleur seemed shocked, to the point of disbelief. She looked at Harry, and her eyes screamed betrayal. At what Harry couldn't presume. I didn't enter myself into this, and it's not like I made a promise to her not to anyway. She doesn't even know me that well.'

"Very funny joke Mister Bagman." Fleur started, but was cut off.

"Oh, it's no joke. As he can tell you himself, Harry's name came out of the Goblet."

"But he is too young! He cannot compete."

"Well, the Goblet chose, so-"

Bagman was interrupted by the sound of the doors opening, and a mass of footsteps as many professors came in. Harry could see Dumbledore leading them, along with the other Heads of the schools, McGonagall, Moody, Snape, and Crouch.

"Madame Maxine!" Fleur sought out her Headmistress. "They are saying that this little boy is to compete as well!"

Before Madame Maxine could even get a word in, Harry interjected, "I am not, a little boy," his emerald eyes sparkling with anger. Fleur took a step back.

"Th- I didn't mean."

"What is the meaning of this, Dumbly-Dorr?"

Harry just tuned everyone else out at this point. He could hear all of the professors arguing with each other. Snape was pointedly quiet, something that was noticed by both Harry and Dumbledore. Had it been Thomas, Snape would have been glowing with the chance to revile the younger Potter. 'I respect his work, but his personality, even if his malevolence is directed towards Thomas, is quite terrible.'

He sat back thinking. 'Who put my name in? To what purpose? Is it to draw me out? Did someone witness my battle? But why wouldn't they just oust me? Why go through this trouble? Is it Pettigrew? But again, why target me?' All these thoughts swirled around in Harry's head. Finally, one thought appeared. 'Something has changed. The status quo has shifted without me realizing it. What could it be?'

"Enough." An icy chill spread, despite the fire roaring beside them, and several people unconsciously shivered, all of them thinking it was due to Harry's tone of voice. Bagman's giddy smile dropped, and Moody and Crouch's frowns just deepened, if that was possible.

Harry turned to Crouch. "Is there no way out?"

Crouch shook his head. "The Goblet judges people based on the magic in the ink. Everyone has a magical signature, and that normally bleeds out slightly. Normally, that wouldn't be enough to enforce a magical contract and a Blood Quill would be required, but with an artifact as powerful as the Goblet of Fire…" he trailed off.

"Accio." Harry summoned the piece of paper from Dumbledore's hand and examined the writing. "This is definitely my handwriting. Dumbledore, could you inspect this to see if my magical signature matches later?"

"Of course."

"This doesn't erase the fact that Hogwarts now has two champions!" Karkaroff interjected, his voice booming with anger.

"Yes, two bites at the apple if you will!" Maxine was just as outraged.

"I don't see why you two are angry, Mr. Potter is really the only one that is rightfully complaining." Moody chipped in, and that just brought more outrage.

"Why should he be angry, he has the chance of a lifetime, finally his chance to outshine his brother," Fleur shouted.

That did it. There were a few things that really ticked him off, and this girl managed to do both within 15 minutes. 'I had hoped I could be friends with her too.' He pointed his wand at her, causing some panic and a scrambling for wands. "Don't you dare. Thomas is not my brother."

Fleur just gasped, both at the statement, and at the fact that unbeknownst to Harry, his eyes had flashed blue for just a moment. They were instantly green again.

"Why should I be angry, or complaining? Maybe it's because this tournament has a history of its contestants leaving in pieces, if they are lucky enough to leave at all? Maybe because there is an age limit due to the dangers involved, and I am clearly not of that age"

"Aye," Moody chipped in. "Being magically bound to compete is very convenient, isn't it?"

"I fail to see how this is convenient for anyone other than Hogwarts," Karkaroff snorted in disbelief.

"It's convenient for anyone who may want Potter dead. After all, he is now obligated to compete in a potentially deadly tournament."

Silence fell at the statement. After a moment, Harry spoke up. "But why me? Wouldn't my brother be a more likely target?"

"Yes, that is the question. Maybe they want to do away with you, seeing you as a lessor threat?" Moody postulated.

'If that's what they're riding on, then they're going to be in for a surprise.'

"There he is. Professor Moody, who sees a conspiracy theory in the type of wood his desk uses. Why in the world would anybody try to kill Potter?"

"Yes, why couldn't he just have entered himself?" Maxine added.

"Besides the Age Line, no older student would have entered Potter because that would have lowered their own chance of success. In addition, it would have taken an exceptionally powerful Confundus Charm in order to trick the Goblet into thinking that there are four schools competing instead of three. The easiest way to get Potter in the tournament was to enter Potter's name under a fourth school as the only entrant to ensure his selection."

"You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Mad-Eye. But you've also been rumored to have been senile."

"Just because I am getting old, does not mean I am any less right. It was once my job to think as Dark Wizards do, or don't you remember, Karkaroff."

"Alastor that is enough!" Dumbledore cut in, but Karkaroff was livid and glaring at Moody. "While Alastor's analysis may be correct, there is no way of knowing, and as it is, Harry and Cedric were both chosen by the Goblet to compete." Maxine looked like she wanted to put in her own two cents, but Dumbledore cut her off. "I know you may not like this at all, so if you have an alternative, please, I would love to hear it."

Both Karkaroff and Maxine looked livid but after a moment of silence, Professor Dumbledore said, "Then Mr. Potter is bound to compete."

No one, except Bagman, really looked happy with that.

Harry sighed. "You seem to doubt me still. Fine." He stepped forward and pulled his wand out. A couple of people reflexively started to go for their wands, but stopped when Harry merely held his wand upright. "I swear on my Magic that I did not enter myself in the Triwizard Tournament, nor did I ask someone else to enter my name or take any measures to try to be selected. So mote it be." When he started the oath, there was still some commotion, but by the end, there was dead silence. There was a small flash of light indicating that the oath was genuine.

"Lumos." The small ball of light appeared, verifying Harry's words. "Does this prove anything to you? I don't expect much from the Death Eater, but…"

"You inso-"

"Igor! Please restrain yourself!" Dumbledore practically shouted.

Karkaroff relented, but glared at Harry.

"Harry, please come to my office tomorrow at 8 to discuss your behavior."

Harry shrugged, unremorseful

"Ludo, Crouch, if you will."

"Ah, certainly Dumbledore. Crouch, would you?"

Bagman seemed like a little schoolboy. 'I suppose playing professional Quidditch means never growing up.'

Crouch stepped forward, and Harry noticed bags under his eyes. "The first task is meant to test your daring, and as such, we will not be telling you what the actual task is until the day of. Your only job is to be prepared to face, or do, anything, in the face of danger. The first task will be on the twenty-fourth of November."

"To keep things fair and make sure everyone is performing at their own capabilities, no help is to be given to the champions from their teachers. The champions themselves will be armed with only their wands for the First Task. Information about the Second Task will be given upon completion of the First. Congratulations on being chosen by the Goblet, and good luck to you all."

Harry instantly started to leave, and Cedric started following after him. Once they were away a bit, he called out, "Harry!"

Harry turned around, and saw the Hufflepuff had a look of concern on his face.

"A-Are you okay?"

Harry's eyes relaxed. "I'm fine, I just. I'll do my best. But this is unexpected. When I first stepped into the hall and a piece of paper came out, I heard that three champions had already been chosen. So I expected my Thomas to be the one getting mixed up in this." Harry gave a dark laugh. 'Will I need to use my powers? No, probably not. But, there's still the matter of me even being chosen.'

"Haha, yea. Remember second year?" Harry fingered his wand, ready in his holster.

"Yea, very well. People kept saying Thomas was the Heir of Slytherin, and then that spread to me!" Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of silver hair and saw Fleur and Maxine coming. "Anyway Cedric, good luck. I would have been rooting for you, but well now…" He shrugged his shoulders. "Tell Hannah and Susan that I'll talk to them in the morning."

"Will do Harry, try not to get yourself killed."

Harry turned back around. He resignedly made his way to Ravenclaw Tower. Once he reached the eagle knocker, it came to life.

"It's so essential to magic, that they might be one and the same. What is it?"

"Intent."

For once, the door did not open for Harry. The first thing Harry learned that magic was all about intent. Intent shaped magic, gave it form and purpose. It gave it-

"Life."

"Correct, well thought out."

Magic always existed, will always exist. But without life, something to use it, what use would it be? Life itself could be considered magic, especially to wizardkind.

As he stepped inside, there was silence. In Gryffindor, there would undoubtedly be cheers, same with Hufflepuff. Slytherin, there would probably admiration, but just as in here, there might also be resentment.

"What?"

Roger Davies was the first to speak up. "How did you do it?"

Harry just sighed. "I didn't Davies."

"Bollocks, how else would you have been chosen? And why didn't you tell any of us?" Michael Corner spoke up.

"Because I didn't enter. Moody reckons that someone Confounded the Goblet into thinking there was a fourth school and entered my name. Dumbledore seems to agree."

"Well, Dumbledore's probably just covering for you, same as your brother."

A lot of people had been around Harry, but suddenly, there was a mountain of space. Looking around, it was mostly the Fourth Years and up that had gathered around. Instantly, Harry had his wand in his hand, pointed at Michael's nose.

"Say that again, will you?" Harry said while smiling. Michael for his part just gulped as he stared down the wand.

"Did you never wonder why no one ever asked me that? Why your friends told me not to? Because while you were busy trying to kiss Thomas's ass and become his friend, most everyone here figured out that I am not Thomas's brother. Depulso."

Michael flew backwards, landing on one of the armchairs and flipping it over. Harry turned around, and the crowd parted for him, no one wanting to get in his way. As he reached the staircases, he saw Luna smiling at him. He smiled back, knowing someone believed him. He turned back around, and could still see some doubtful faces. "I don't care who you support, me, Cedric, or even one of the foreign champions. Cedric after all would have been chosen originally as the rightful Hogwarts champion. But, I really would not like to be doubted by my own house. Evidence is everything, right? I already did this for the professors. Again, he recited his oath, and the flash of light indicating the authenticity oath was once again accompanied by silence. The ball of light with a "Lumos" just put people into silence.

Badly hushed whispers started as he turned back around and went up to his room. He lay down on his bed, exhausted. 'What will I do tomorrow?'

Fleur's mind was racing. There were a million things running through her mind. She was glad she would finally be able to prove herself. 'Hell, even getting selected by the Goblet proves something to my classmates. No way I can seduce a magical object. Although, if that grizzly professor is correct, one might be able to confound one."

Harry confused her. He also intimidated her. His attitude had totally changed from the afternoon. He was hostile, testy, but most of all impressive. His presence and attitude seemed to be able to demand attention when wanted.

There were two things that Fleur was stuck up on. One was her own stupidity. In her anger and outrage, she let something slip from her mouth. Honestly, in that moment, she was as judgmental as the very girls she hated. She should have known something was up when he referred to his own father by first name. But, her comment about his brother, while she regretted it, also revealed a lot. It led to the second thing she was pondering.

'I still don't know if it was a trick of the light. But, I could have sworn that his eyes were actually blue for a moment. And then, there was also that chill I felt. It could still have been just goosebumps, but I need to make sure.'

She started to right to her father.

"Papa, there is someone I want you to investigate if you have the time. He might be connected to the person at the World Cup. His name is Harry Potter, brother to Thomas Potter. Be careful of going to family though. I have a feeling that they may not be on the best of terms. Love, Fleur."

Right as she finished writing the letter and sent it off with her owl Napoleon – her father seemed to find humor in having Napoleon be their messenger – her friend Aimee came in.

"Fleur! You're the champion! I'm so proud of you!"

Fleur smiled despite herself. Aimee was her friend from before Beauxbatons, and she was one of the few that stood by her, regardless of her heritage.

Aimee made herself at home, kicking off her shoes and sitting down on Fleur's bed.

"But man, when the fourth slip of paper came fluttering down, we were all shocked. And then that young boy went forth. It's astounding that the host school would cheat! Did Madame Maxine force him to tell how he entered? What about that grouchy looking man from the English Ministry?"

Fleur had to take a moment to compose herself before answering the bombardment of questions. "He didn't enter himself Aimee"

"Oh come off it, who would have then? Who doesn't want a chance for the Triwizard Cup? Don't tell me you believed him because he was good looking, because, I will admit, those green eyes… A bit too young for my tastes though."

"Maybe he didn't enter because he didn't want to die."

"Is that what he told you? He probably knows the teachers would save him."

"Aimee, he swore an oath."

"So wh-"

"A magical oath."

That silenced Aimee. No one quite knew how it worked. Sure, people worked on magical theory, but often times, those were more on applications of magic, like theories on potion making or wand movements. No one quite completely figured out magic completely, what it was. But, oaths made on one's Magic were no joke. Unbreakable Vows could cost you your life while Magical Oaths, well they could cost you your Magic, which many might consider a worse fate.

"We'll talk tomorrow, okay? It's been a long day."

"Okay Fleur."

Aimee left the room, leaving Fleur to her thoughts. She thought about the day's events while getting ready for bed. As she started to fall asleep, she hoped that her father would be able to answer her questions soon, and decided to try to apologize to Harry when she next saw him.