To be a Champion

Harry entered a small room. It did not appeared to be in regular use. There was no furniture inside, besides three cushy chairs, arranged in a semicircle, facing the door. The three older Triwizard Champions sat in them.

They looked up with startled expressions.

"'Ave zhey called for us, leetle boy?" Fleur asked.

"No." Harry didn't bother to explain further. He waited until the judges would come in. The three Champions shrugged their shoulders.

They did not have to wait long. Just seconds after Harry had entered, the five judges and Deputy-Headmistress McGonagall as well as his Head of House, Snape, entered. There were different concerns present.

Headmistress Maxime of Beauxbatons and Headmaster Karkaroff of Durmstrang were concerned that their schools had been shortchanged, that Hogwarts had the numeric advantage in the Tournament.

Headmaster Dumbledore and Deputy-Headmistress McGonagall were concerned for the safety of their pupil.

Director Crouch was concerned how Harry had gotten past the age line.

And Director Bagman was not really concerned but rather exhilarated that the Triwizard Tournament had added Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, to the line up. In his mind he could see the ratings explode.

Snape almost disappeared into a corner and simply observed what was going on.

Harry loudly protested his innocence and exclaimed his desire to not participate in the competition.

The three original Champions were silent and exchanged looks of raised eyebrows.

"Potter has to participate in the tournament, the ratings will go through the roof." Bagman exclaimed.

"Zhat ees outrageous. Eef 'Ogwarts 'as two Champions zhen Beauxbatons demands two as well."

"He can not be allowed to enter the tournament. The rules are clear, he us under age." the Deputy-Headmistress chimed in.

"I agree." Karkaroff said, "the boy is doubly infracting on the rules of this noble tournament. He is too young and he is cheating the other two schools."

"It is unfortunate then, he will lose his magic if he does not compete, I remember my great uncle once did not read the fine print…" Dumbledore somehow still had a serene smile. It looked like he didn't see have a problem either way.

"You are saying that Harry is forced to participate, no mater what ?" Karkaroff frown grew twice as dark.

"The cup indeed establishes a magical contract with each name it emits. Disregard of said contract ends with the normal penalties of breaching such contracts." Director Crouch pontificated.

Professor Snape stepped out of the shadow of the corner, as Harry clarified: "The 'normal penalties of breaching such contracts' is …?"

"Death, Potter," said Snape, "death. You will have to defend your life and your magic in this spectacle. Even the ministry accepts the right you have to do defend yourself."

"That is correct, we uphold the right of self-defense. Harry Potter has to participate in the Triwizard Tournament." said Director Bagman, with glee, he turned to the two visiting Headmasters, "I am sure our departments and your schools will be able to find a way of balancing this out, after all, this trip must have cost a little something, am I right?"

The two look at each other. The not so subtle hint of a monetary settlement was something unexpected. Schools are notoriously underfunded. While the premier schools of the Magical world could not be described as poor, additional funds would always be welcome. Both would only be too happy to 'cover traveling expenses.'

"Bien," said Maxime.

"I'm sure we can come to an agreement." Karkaroff had Galleons in his eyes.

Director Crouch breathed out in relief. "Now that this has been sorted out, let me conclude by explaining some things. Director Bagman and myself have prepared the three challenges with safety as our primary objective. The tasks should be doable for you, with some preparation. We decided that, to ensure that you are really ready, each one of you can have one and only one tutor. Please inform your respective Headmaster as to your choice, by Monday morning. The first challenge will be a surprise. It will take place on November twenty-ninth. Good luck to you all."

With that they were sent back to their respective housing.

HPU

Harry and Snape walked to the Dungeon in silence. Inside Harry turmoil reigned. He, a fourth year, was going to compete in a deadly international competition, against adults. Moody had been right. Death was always playing with him.

Inside the Dungeon, the mood was hard to gauge. Practically the entire house was congregated in the common room. Snape send the prefects to make sure all snakes were indeed present. For several minutes they waited as more Slytherins filed in.

Whispers droned throughout the room. Some groupings were visibly exited that a Slytherin would be representing them in the Tournament. Other groups had more grim visages.

In one corner Zabini was already collecting and paying out the wagers that he had arranged. Judging by the smirk on his face, he had made a cauldron full of galleons.

Harry did not know what to do with himself. He wanted to disappear. He wished he could use his cloak. Mafalda and Isolde as well as some other first years crowded around him, some staring at him with big eyes, others shyly avoiding to look at him. Isolde and Mafalda congratulated him. They chattered incessantly wondering and speculating what the tasks where. They were beaming and proud to be associated with the Slytherin Champion. Harry remained quiet.

Snape continuously scanned the room. When he was satisfied that all snakes were present, he shot a small firework spell towards the ceiling. Instantly the room was quiet.

"There are several old traditions that the other houses will probably forget, unless they pick it up from us." Several snickers were heard at that. "I will research this a little more, but from what I have found, there is the custom of referring to any of the Champions, for the duration of the Tournament, as Champion and their respective last name. Thus it will be Champion Potter, Champion Johnson and so on. I don't think it is necessary to stick to this at all times, but if it is a formal situation, then absolutely. I don't want to hear of 'Mr.' Potter for the rest of the year. For the winner, this custom is often extended to the entirety of their schooling, as part of the 'eternal glory' that they will earn.

"Another custom that I will follow, is that the Champion gets a prefect's room. As with the title Champion, this also gets extended in the case of the winner.

"An internal Slytherin custom is to give the Champion first right at the dueling arena, so that he can prepare. Honor duels still trump anyone. Champion Potter has the second right to the arena, before even the DADA NEWT and OWL students. The practice room is big so it should not commonly be a problem. If Champion Potter deems it necessary, however, to practice, lets say multi-person battle, and needs the whole room, he will get it.

"There are some more traditions that get observed around the time of the tasks. I will research them in more detail, and inform all when the time is necessary.

"Before all go to bed, I want to make a final clarification. I don't think I should have to say this, but:

"Harry Potter is your Champion."

Snape paused and stared at specific people in the room.

"Knowing current house relations, with two Champions from Hogwarts, the great majority of Hogwarts will be rooting for the Gryffindor Champion, Angelina Johnson. Many will accuse Champion Potter of stealing the spot, and of pushing Champion Johnson aside. This will make him unofficially only our own.

"I don't want to force you to accept him as such, when you are in the Dungeons, you may, apart from the traditions I mentioned, interact with Champion Potter as you wish. In the rest of the castle, however, you will use formal speech with him. You will show the rest of the castle that we stand by our champion. We will close rank behind our champion, as it is proper for Slytherins to do. Am I understood?"

There were general sounds of agreements heard throughout the room. Certain snakes were rather silent.

"All right, now I expect you to celebrate that we have a champion, but don't miss curfew."

The snakes now started partying. Several poker tables were seen to form. Drinks of questionable origin appeared. Snape ignored these and turned towards Harry, "Champion Potter, please collect your personal items and meet me here in ten minutes, so that I can show you your new room."

HPU

The common room of the Dungeon was actually the top of the entire Slytherin complex. Truth be told, no one knew precisely how far the Dungeon spread. This was probably the main reason that rumors of the Chamber of Secrets never ceased in Slytherin's house. All of them knew that there where countless corridors, passages and shafts that tunneled far below the castle. Even after centuries of Slytherin exploration, no single snake had seen it all, perhaps since Salazar Slytherin himself. Every year, at a minimum, three first years would get lost within in the Dungeon. Just during the first week.

The deep tunneling had the nice effect of keeping the Dungeon warm. Unlike the rest of the castle, it was always comfortably warm in the empire of the snakes. The air was heated in the deep, and was circulated by runes. This also prevented stale air from building up.

The regular dorm rooms were all fairly close to the surface. The dueling arena was further down. The potions laboratory further still. Real dungeons even lower, and then countless rooms of various purpose. Or many with no apparent purpose.

The prefects' rooms, however, were strewn all around. They really was no set design of a 'prefect room.' There were just various single bed rooms spread around liberally, some close to the common room others way down. Some were simple and spartan, while others were downright luxurious. Each prefect had the choice of occupying any one of these rooms, as long as it was unoccupied. If they had the means they even could convert one of the unused rooms into a new prefect room. This practice meant that the supply of prefect rooms was ever increasing.

Harry chose a simple room close to the dueling arena.

HPU

The following Monday, Harry and Moody sat in the, still empty, office of the DADA teacher.

"Dumbledore told the staff that each champion would be asking one instructor as a tutor. Have you thought about who you will chose?"

Harry thought for a moment. "I have been studying privately with both you and Professor Snape. I was thinking Snape would be most appropriate, since he is my Head of House. Also, Professor Dumbledore asked me to continue with Snape."

"What are the reasons you would choose either?"

"Both of you are accomplished fighters. I don't really know who is better in that regard. Maybe you two could duel?"

"In your dreams, Potter. You know that we are not identical, so what makes you chose Snape? And don't tell me Dumbly is your only reason."

"He did ask me, but there are things I can't talk about, that …"

"THEN DON'T TALK ABOUT IT." Moody interrupted him. "CONSTANT VIGILANCE! If you need something to remain secret, you can't just tell anyone who digs for your motivation, that you have a secret. But, please don't tell me that you are influenced by anything but you getting the best help you need, to win this."

Harry paused for a moment. Moody was trying to push him to think on his own. But was he not also trying to argue that he should be the tutor? He seemed to try to lead Harry just the same, but the others were at least more open about it.

"I do think Snape will make a good tutor, he knows his stuff, and one on one he is even a decent instructor." Harry had learned this the last month, in Occlumency training. It was strange to voice this fact out loud to anyone.

Moody let out a sigh.

"All right, if that is what you want, this will be our final meeting outside of class. Be alert, don't trust anyone, CONSTANT VIGILANCE. And I will try to give you the hints I can. For the first task that would be to make sure you know the accio, and to be able to summon your broom into the arena from outside it. I can't say more than that, but that should give you something. But don't stop learning and training! Keep on fighting, with CONSTANT VIGILANCE "

HPU

On the way to lunch, Theodore Nott appeared to the right of Harry.

At first Harry eyed him with suspicion. Up until now, Nott had not made it a habit of spending time with Harry. He was not part of Malfoy's clique, but was well liked by everyone, especially the purebloods. He was heir to a noble house after all. His primary connections seemed to be Greengrass and Davis, maybe Zabini. While he was popular enough he seemed more of a loner than anything.

This morning in Charms, he had suddenly appeared at the side of Harry. Harry had to admit, his help had been valuable, they learned the charms much quicker than usual.

Now Nott tagged along to lunch. Harry didn't know how to take it.

Was Nott fishing for association with the Slytherin Champion? That seemed to be the most logical explanation. But it was out of character? It didn't seem like Nott had ever cared to get to know anyone, let alone someone in the limelight. Harry had not seen him reach out to anyone, Davis and Zabini had initiated those associations. Greengrass had just tagged along with Davis, sort of. Moody's advice rung in Harry's head: 'don't trust anyone.'

"Champion Potter," Nott said, "I was thinking you could use a sparring partner. I would be honored to help you with this?"

Harry thought. 'He is right, I could use a sparring partner. I only meet Snape twice a week. It would be great to have other people to train against the rest of the week. We'll see how helpful he is with that…' Harry was not sold on him, but Slytherin associations had been build on far less useful foundations.

"That would be helpful. Do you have time tomorrow at seven?" This would allow Harry to finish his morning runs in solitude.

"It's a little early, but you set the schedule."

"Come to think of it, do you know the accio spell? It could be useful to know."

"Very useful, if you know it well, you have to never get up again, just to get something. It's fairly easy, I'll show you, tomorrow."

They were now approaching the gate to the Main Hall. As they were about to head to lunch, one of the Weasley twins interrupted them.

"Hi, Potter do you know where Mafalda is? We were going to meet her, but she never showed up. We've been looking for her."

"Sorry, I haven't seen her today. The last I have seen her was last night in the Dungeons. I haven't seen Isolde today either, the two are always together. I'm sure there up to something."

"Not to worry, I'm sure we'll find her in time, see you around little champion." The twin laughed and disappeared towards the Gryffindor table.

A.N. Is the French accent over the top? Or just bad? I never know, when I read them, the 'French' accents amuse me, but I'm not entirely sure about me writing them.

I have been reading Unatoned by SeriousScribble. It is a different kind of Harry Potter fanfic. VERY dark. A kind of dark mystery, sort of twisted H/DG. Give it a shot if that peaks your interest.