Bitter Goblet

"Hey, Son. What's with that badge? Spew?" Draco Malfoy's goons exploded into laughter.

Gohan scratched his head and chuckled. "Actually, it's S.P.E.W. The Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare."

Malfoy raised a brow. "Elvish Welfare? This was Granger's Idea, wasn't it?"

"Some. We worked on it together. Want to buy a badge?"

Malfoy grinned evilly. "How much are they?"

"Two Sickles."

"We'll take three." Crabbe and Goyle gaped stupidly at the pale boy.

Draco donned his badge. "Yeah! Spew! Spew! Spew! Spew!

Hermione approached to speak with Gohan, but her jaw dropped as she saw the three wearing the badges and chanting, "Spew! Spew! Spew!"

"Hey, Granger! Like the new look?"

Hermione stared in disbelief. "You can't turn this into fashion! And it's S.P.E.W."

Draco waved her away dismissively. "Whatever, Granger. Hey, Son got any more?"

"Sure," Gohan fished out a box.

"Cool. We'll take the lot."

"Gohan, don't sell them to them. Malfoy's going to—"

But he had already grabbed the box and pushed a bag of Galleons toward the half Saiyan, yelling at the Slytherin table, "Hey! Who wants a Mudblood spew badge?"

...

Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, blushing angrily as the entire Slytherin table chanted variations of "spew" and "Granger."

"Sorry," Gohan said miserably.

Ron grumbled through his mouth of food. "I hate to say I told you so…"

Hermione glared at him. "Well, I guess we're going to have to start on our pamphlets and posters. Maybe we can undo some of the damage, and who knows, maybe this will work in our favor," she said, unsuccessfully trying to sound unconcerned.

Then, Hedwig had arrived amid the morning post, landing by Harry. Harry removed a small parchment from her and began reading. "Sirius is back in the country," Harry said quietly. "He didn't buy that story I fed him."

Hermione snorted. "Of course not. How can someone imagine that their curse scar is hurting?"

Harry shrugged.

Gohan was too excited to listen to the exchanges as the delegates from the respective schools arrived. The group from Beauxbatons arrived in a giant carriage pulled by enormous horses.

"WOW! THEY'RE HUGE!" Gohan said in increased excitability. Hermione smiled at her exuberant Saiyan friend. Gohan hopped on his toes, eager to approach the monstrosities.

The students from Beauxbatons were accompanied by an extremely tall woman.

Gohan grinned up at Vegeta and Piccolo, who were, for once, wide eyed and extremely speechless. The boy giggled at their expressions.

The students from Durmstrang arrived by ship with their Headmaster, who was as tall and thin as Dumbledore.

…

The Beauxbatons sat with the Ravenclaws, and the Durmstrang sat with the Slytherins. As the students ate the unusual variety of foods, Ron was still gushing over some boy named Viktor Krum as Gohan filled his twenty-sixth plate.

Suddenly, a Beauxbaton girl with silvery-blond hair walked up to the table. Ron's fork dropped to his plate with a clang. The girl smiled at Gohan. "Excuse me, are you finished wiz ze bouillaise?"

Gohan sat his chopsticks to the side with a small smile. "Certainly, miss." He lifted the dish toward the girl, who giggled.

"You are a polite one," she gushed in her dainty accent as she strode away with the dish, still giggling.

Blink. Blink. "Golly, how strange."

Ron spluttered at him. "Blimey. How did you do that?"

"Huh? What did I do?"

Hermione rolled her eyes for Ron's benefit.

"She has to be veela," Ron said breathlessly as he continued to stare.

Hermione snorted. "Boys."

"She's sitting next to Cho," Harry said with a sigh as he and Ron continued to stare.

Gohan looked worriedly at his friends. "What's wrong with them?"

Hermione smirked knowingly. "They've got a case of the stares," she said ominously.

Gohan gasped as he looked from Hermione to the other girls. "What? But they don't even know them!"

Hermione smiled at the half-Saiyan. Gohan blushed and looked at his shuffling feet, squirming in his chair.

Gohan picked up his chopsticks and continued eating. After everyone had finished, the food vanished, and Dumbledore had stood. He introduced Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman to them. Then, Filch brought out a great wooden box encrusted with jewels. Dumbledore tapped the coffer three times. The lid slid aside. Dumbledore lifted an ancient-looking roughly-hewn wooden goblet from the casket. Blue-white flames erupted from the brim as soon as it was upright.

"Anyone who wishes to submit their name write their name and school clearly upon a parchment and place it into the flame. Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours to submit themselves. Tomorrow night on Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it believes are most worthy to compete. The Goblet of Fire will be standing in the Great Hall, accessible to all who wish to enter. I will be drawing an age line to ensure that no under-seventeens will be able to submit their names.

"I must also impress upon you the seriousness of your decision. If your name is selected, there is no turning back. As of this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun."

...

"Age line," George said dismissively as they pulled away from the table. "Well, all we have to do is to fool that."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think anyone under seventeen stands a chance."

Fred grinned. "We would. Especially after spending the summer with Piccolo. Any one of us could do it easily. All we have to do is get over that age line. Then, one of us would be a shoo-in. Thinking of entering, Harry?"

Harry frowned thoughtfully. "I better not."

"How 'bout you, Son?"

Gohan shook his head. "Nah. Not much of a challenge for me. Besides, Professor Dumbledore would probably get angry."

"I'll have a go," Ron said absently as he watched Viktor Krum.

"Me, too," a quiet, female voice piped in. It was Videl.

The twins grinned evilly at her. She blushed.

They had made it to the door at the same time as the Durmstrang Headmaster Karkaroff. Harry respectfully stood aside to permit the visitor to go first. "Thank you," he said absently before giving Harry a double take. Suddenly, the entire Durmstrang lot was staring, Karkaroff at Harry's scar.

"Yeah, that's Harry Potter," a familiar voice growled.

Karkaroff whirled. "You!" A mixture of alarm and dislike etched on his face.

Moody smirked. "Me. And unless you've got something to say to Potter, I suggest you move. You're blocking the doorway."

Everyone was up early that Saturday. They watched as people strode to the Goblet of Fire, including Cedric Diggory, Angelina Johnson, and Legolas Malfoy. After the twins failed attempt, the Unity group sat rather quietly. Suddenly, Hermione felt someone sit rather huffily in the vacated spot next to her.

She sputtered. "Mill?"

Millicent Bulstrode was scowling. "Don't ask!" She said tersely. Harry and Ron exchanged incredulous glances.

Gohan patted her shoulder gently. "Do you want me to talk to them?"

"No!" She snapped, wincing before changing her tone. "No, Son. Thanks, though."

Ron shrugged. "I heard Warrington put his name in, the useless sloth."

Harry shook his head in disgust. "We can't have a Slytherin champion!"

Millicent glared at him.

"Sorry," Harry said, having momentarily forgotten she was there.

Gohan nodded. "I wouldn't mind if Legolas gets it. He's nice."

Ron and Harry shook their heads in disbelief. They hadn't believed Gohan and Hermione when they had spoken about him.

Ron wrinkled his nose. "I'd rather see pretty boy Diggory get it than a Slytherin," he said viciously.

Millicent shot him a scathing look before she left the table.

Hermione scowled at him. "Nice job, Ron! Way to promote inter-house unity! Honestly!"

The evening Halloween was spectacular. Treats from Britain, France, Bulgaria, and China filled the tables. Vegeta was at the staff table, helping himself to the large array of candies and pastries. Piccolo leaned against the pillar with a smirk. He scowled as Vegeta 'innocently' offered him a mug of hot chocolate. Gohan, who didn't want to make himself sick from all of the overpowering carbs, settled for only seven plates of goodies.

After everyone had been thoroughly treated, Dumbledore rose from his seat. "Well, the goblet is ready to make its decision! I estimate it will take one more minute. When the champion's name is called, that person will please come to the front of the hall and go into the next chamber," he indicated the door behind the staff table, "where they will receive their first instructions."

The room was completely silent. The fire in the Goblet suddenly expanded and became a bright red. A small bit of parchment escaped from its licking flames. Dumbledore snatched it from the air.

"The champion for Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum." The Hall burst out into enthusiastic applause as the duck-footed young man strode around the table and disappeared behind the door.

The flame reddened once more. "The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour." Applause filled the Grand Hall as the willowy girl with silvery hair exited behind the door. Some of the girls from Beauxbatons were sobbing disappointedly.

The flames reddened again. "The Hogwarts champion will be Legolas Malfoy." A small smattering of applause echoed through the chamber as Gohan, Hermione, and various others applauded their support of the Slytherin Head Boy.

Dumbledore extended his arms. "Excellent! We have our three champions! I am sure I can count on all of you to give your full support to the champion from your school. By cheering your champion, you will contribute in a very—" But Dumbledore had stopped as the red flame came to life once more. A small bit of paper exited the flame. Dumbledore took it. Upon reading it, he started in shock.

He cleared his throat and read aloud. "Harry Potter…"

Harry's eyes widened in shock. Gohan gasped and looked at his friend. Hermione shook her head fearfully. Whispers filled the room as Harry sat there, completely shaken.

Hermione gave him a push from his chair. "Go on, Harry," she whispered. Harry stood there, staring in disbelief. "Harry, for goodness sake," she nudged him forward.

Harry took a few steps. "But…I didn't put my name in," he said in a wondrous tone. He stumbled numbly toward the front, toward the Headmaster. He reached for the bit of paper, hoping to see it himself. Dumbledore pulled his hand back.

"Through the door, Harry."

Harry shook his head. "Professor, I…didn't—"

Dumbledore motioned with his head. "Through the door, if you would."

Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. Piccolo nodded reassuringly at him. Harry gulped and strode into the room, Piccolo and Vegeta following behind quietly.

As soon as Harry had made it through, Vegeta grabbed Harry by the collar. The other champions stared with various mixtures of alarm.

"What do you mean by it, boy? Aren't you supposed to be keeping a low profile?" Vegeta growled, his face livid.

Piccolo sighed. "Calm down, Vegeta. Harry didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire."

Vegeta bared his teeth. "Oh, really, Namek? 'Cause I could have just sworn that I heard his name called in the hall by that infernal old geezer!"

Harry stared at Piccolo. "You believe me? That I didn't put my name in?"

Piccolo snorted derisively. "I can sense ki, Harry. I have tracked your movements since the unveiling of the cup. I would have noticed if your ki vanished…or if you had snuck from the Gryffindor common room. Besides, I doubt you would be so…reckless, especially after what happened last year?"

Vegeta scoffed dismissively. He'd never admit that he had grown rather attached to the boy.

Piccolo frowned thoughtfully. I should have kept a closer eye on the old one-eyed clunker, though.

Fluer Delacour spoke up. "You mean zees boy's name came from ze Goblet of Fire? But 'e cannot compete! 'E's just a boy!"

Harry glared at her.

The Great Hall was filled with the students' talking.

"Mister Son, if you would?" Dumbledore said, beckoning toward the boy. Gohan wasted no time. He flashed beside the professor in an instant, earning some cries of alarm and stares from the newcomers. Dumbledore nodded Gohan through the door, muttering, "Don't let him out of your sight for a moment."

Gohan nodded firmly as he walked toward the door.

...

Ron scowled at the retreating Saiyan's form. "I wonder how he did it?"

Hermione raised a brow. "Did what?

"Put his name in. If he figured out a way, he should have let me try and enter, too."

Videl glared at Ron. "What are you talking about? It's completely obvious to anyone with a brain that Harry didn't enter himself."

Ron scowled back. "Whatever, Satan! Harry had to have entered, right, Hermione?"

Hermione sighed. "Honestly, Ronald! Did you see the look on Harry's face? There's no way he submitted his name."

Videl bit her lip nervously. "If he didn't, then who did?"

Hermione knit her brow. Moody had warned Gohan about Legolas Malfoy. It was strange that both Malfoy and Harry were in the tournament together now. Was Moody right about Malfoy? She shook her head. She didn't want to think that Legolas had done something to ensure that Harry was in the tournament. He had seemed so pleasant, for a Slytherin. But on the other hand, she didn't trust Moody, either. He was way too curious about her and Gohan. He also seemed rather interested in Harry in a standoff-ish way. And his weird ki texture. So the question remained: who was the guilty party?

"Gohan!" Harry said in relief. "It wasn't me! I didn't put my name in that cup!"

Gohan nodded firmly. "I know. I believe you, Harry."

Harry stopped short. "Oh. Thanks."

"So, who put your name in? That's what I'd like to know," Vegeta growled in agitation.

Gohan's lips curled slightly at the Saiyan Prince. Vegeta clearly cared for Harry as much as he did for his own son; although, he'd never admit it.

"As would I," a familiar, serene voice said as Dumbledore approached the two groups.

"Come off it! We both know that Harry entered it. How else would he—"

Hermione glared at Ron again, who fell silent. "Ron! Why would Harry enter the tournament? He hates the spotlight , and you know it! Why do you think he never shows off his strength? Even if he's no match for Gohan, he'd still get plenty of attention, being considerably stronger than an average human!"

Ron grumbled angrily to himself.

Videl scoffed. "What is wrong with you?"

...

The other two headmasters examined Dumbledore with contempt. "Really, Dumblydore, I inseest for a redraw! Eet izn't fair zat your school geets two shampions!"

Karkaroff nodded vigorously. "I agree. We reset the Goblet, and continue to add names until each school has two champions! It's only fair!"

"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that! The Goblet's flame is out. It won't reignite until the start of the next tournament—" Bagman stammered.

"Zeen deesqualify Potter!" Madam Maxime said angrily.

Mr. Crouch shook his curtly. "No. It is impossible for Potter to withdraw. The Goblet of Fire institutes a binding magical contract. Mr Potter has no choice. As of this moment, Mr Potter is a Triwizard champion."

Harry stared in disbelief. "But sir, that's not fair! I didn't even put my name in!" He protested. Vegeta glared at the other wizards, believing they were being difficult on purpose.

Crouch frowned. "I am sorry, boy."

Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid Barty's right, Harry."

Professor McGonagall glared at Dumbledore. "Honestly, Dumbledore! Surely you don't mean…Potter's a boy…he shouldn't have to compete if he didn't put his name in!"

"Assuming that he didn't," Karkaroff said with a reedy voice, smirking.

Moody snorted. "And how, exactly do you believe Potter managed to put his name in? Even if Potter got past the age line, how were there two names for Hogwarts…instead of one? Fool! The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful magical object! Only an exceptionally powerful Confundus charm could have hoodwinked it…magic way beyond the talents of a fourth year!" He spat.

Dumbledore frowned thoughtfully. "Two names…but how?"

Moody nodded. "My theory is that whoever submitted Potter's name Confunded the Goblet into thinking there were four schools, rather than three, submitting Potter's name under the fourth school, making him the only student in his category to choose."

Piccolo and Snape exchanged significant glances and Karkaroff spoke. "You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Mad-Eye!"

Moody smirked. "It was once my job to think as Dark Wizards do, Karkaroff. Perhaps you remember."

Karkaroff snarled.

"This doesn't help, Alastor!" Dumbledore said tersely as he strode between the two. He sighed, suddenly looking the old man he was. "We have no choice but to accept this. Both Legolas and Harry will be competing."

"Ah, but Dumblydore—"

"My dear Madam Maxime, if you have a better alternative, I'd be delighted to hear it."

The extremely tall woman fell silent.

"Congratulations, Mr Potter," Legolas said calmly as Gohan, Harry, and he strode away from the Hall.

"Thanks, I think. I'm not feeling all that enthusiastic, really," Harry said.

Legolas stopped. "You mean, you really didn't put your name in the Goblet?"

Harry sighed in exasperation. "I don't understand why that's so hard to believe!"

Legolas chuckled. "All right. I'll try harder to believe you. But just so you know, I don't believe everyone else is going to work so hard at it."

Harry nodded sarcastically. "Thanks. That makes me feel loads better."

Legolas grinned, and Gohan giggled. "Come on, gentlemen. I'll escort you to your tower. I'd be strangely amiss if I neglected my Head Boy duties, despite the excitement of the evening."

"Ugh! Please guys! I just want to go to bed!" Harry said in agitation as his fellow Gryffindors partied around him. Gohan had to practically protect him from the celebrating masses. He and Harry stalked up the stairs.

"Um, Harry?" Gohan began rather shyly. "Maybe we should talk some more about this tomorrow…with Unity."

Harry nodded reluctantly. To be honest, he wished he never had to talk about it ever again. Although he had daydreamed of winning the Triwizard Cup, he had actually never intended on entering.

They entered the room together. Ron was grinning strangely at Harry. "So, er, congratulations."

Harry noticed with a flush that a Gryffindor banner was still knotted around his shoulders from the raucous downstairs. He worked at the knot hopelessly before giving up and ripping it off his back, casting a repairing charm and flinging it onto a nearby trunk. He sighed. "What do you mean, congratulations?" he said after a long silence.

"Well, no one else got over the age line. Not even Fred or George. Did you use the Invisibility cloak?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "An Invisibility Cloak would never get me across that line, Ron."

"Oh, right. I thought that if you found out a way, you might have let me enter, too."

"Ron! I didn't put my name in the Goblet! Someone else must have done it."

Ron raised his brows. "Why would someone do something like that?"

Gohan looked from Ron to Harry and back.

"I donno. To kill me?"

"You can tell me the truth, Harry. If you don't want to tell anyone else, that's fine, but you could at least tell your friends. I don't know why you're bothering to lie though; you obviously didn't get into any trouble. The Fat Lady's friend told us that Dumbledore's letting you compete. A thousand Galleon prize and not having to do exams—"

"I didn't put my name in that goblet, Ron!" Harry said hotly.

"Yeah, okay," Ron said skeptically. "You didn't sound all too convincing when you told Fred you weren't planning on entering. You even said that if you were to enter, you would've done it last night and nobody would've seen you—"

"Nobody except Piccolo or Vegeta?" Harry said, his voice raising. "You know how light a sleeper Piccolo is, Ron, and even if I suppressed my ki Piccolo and Vegeta would have been suspicious and investigated!

"Stop making excuses, Harry! We all know you entered!"

"No, we don't," Gohan said suddenly. "In fact, I'm rather sure Harry didn't enter."

Ron snorted. "Oh? And why is that?"

"Because Harry and Videl were in the ZU all night, training. Hermione and I were there, too! He didn't disappear once! Between myself, Vegeta, and Piccolo, Harry didn't have one moment of time that is unaccounted for!" Gohan explained calmly.

Ron glared at him. "Harry doesn't need you to lie for him, Son! So Sod off!"

The rest of the dorm mates had walked in.

Harry lost his temper. "GOHAN ISN'T LYING! How could you even accuse him of it! You know Gohan hates to lie! Stop being so…stupid!"

"Yeah, that's me. Ron Weasley…Harry Potter's stupid friend! Piss off, the both of you!"

Ron yanked the curtains closed on his bed. Harry repeated the gesture, leaving Gohan standing alone with his confused feelings.

Gohan strode over to the window, closing his eyes in concentration.

Looking for me, kid?

Gohan whipped around. Piccolo! How did you get in?

The Namekian had been suppressing his ki. Your headmaster thought it would be a good idea for me to stay in the Tower as a precaution.

I'm worried, Piccolo. What does this all mean?

Listen, Gohan. I want you, Harry, and Hermione to avoid Professor Moody whenever you can. Understand?

You mean, you sense it? His ki?

Piccolo's eyes met his. I have a feeling that Moody isn't what he seems. Sadly, I can't seem to convince Dumbledore that something is wrong with him. I don't understand it. I've never had difficulties convincing him of something before. I guess it's due to the history that Dumbledore's had with Alastor Moody, but I tried to tell him that this Moody isn't the same. Heh. The old codger actually had the nerve of telling me that I was allowing Snape's opinions to cloud my judgment. Teh. Even Goku's not that naïve.

Gohan shook his head sadly. It's weird, isn't it? Maybe because I'm only half human that I see how humans have the tendency to not believe things that they don't want to believe.

Annoying, isn't it? Lucky you have such a logically-minded friend like Hermione. Come to think of it, there's another person at this school whose friendship you'd benefit from, Gohan. That Luna child.

Luna Lovegood? The other students think she's weird.

What do you think, Gohan?

That she's weird, but not for the same reasons others think she's weird. She actually knows the names of some Namekian creatures, Piccolo. Nargles?

Piccolo chuckled. I had almost forgotten about those annoying things. They come in handy, though, especially in detecting dark energies.

Gohan yawned. My bed is big. You can sit at the foot of it, if you'd feel more comfortable.

Thanks kid, but I think I'd prefer a window seat.

Okay, goodnight, Piccolo.

Goodnight, Gohan.