I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out but what with the holidays and being told that I'm teaching 3 tutorials this upcoming semester, I haven't had the time to write that I imagined I would. Thanks again to everyone who reads and reviews, and I hope I can get Year 4 part 2 out much quicker than it took for part 1.
The world seemed to fall away as Harry stared at a crack in the floor between his feet, hoping desperately that he could disappear, slip into the crack, fade away and forget this nightmare come alive. The Triwizard Tournament was supposed to be something that would shift all the attention away from him, off him, not refocus on him to nth degree. Why couldn't life ever be simple? Harry vaguely noticed all the eyes in the Great Hall turn to focus on him as Dumbledore read out the name of Hogwarts' Champion in the tournament.
"… Harry Potter…"
"This is not good."
"Statement of century there, Tom." Muttered Harry darkly as he tried to force himself to stand up, acutely aware at the lack of clapping that he was receiving compared to the Beauxbatons' Champion, Fleur Delacour.
"Harry get up. Go. We'll figure it out after." Said Draco quietly as he clasped his friend on the back, uttering words of quiet reassurance.
"Draco's right. Find us when you're done. Everything will be okay. I'll send an owl to Sirius for you." Said Hermione with a worried look in her warm chocolate eyes, willing Harry to stand up.
Each step towards Dumbledore and the head table felt heavy with the weight of life. Each step seemed an eternity, a slow, endless walk towards execution. He could feel the narrowed stares of the Slytherins, the looks of confusion and appraisals from the Ravenclaws, concern and confusion from the Hufflepuffs, and open astonishment from his fellow Gryffindors. Dumbledore silently motioned for him to continue on through to door that Fleur had pass through only minutes ago, blue eyes inscrutable, face unreadable.
"Tom I never put my name in."
"I know."
"Someone else did this."
"Someone is trying to kill you."
Before Harry could open the door he heard Dumbledore call out the identity of the Durmstrang Champion and he froze.
"The Champion for Durmstrang is… Delphini Riddle."
Wide‑eyed, Harry spun around and made eye contact with his friends. Hermione's hands flew to cover her mouth, Draco's silver eyes darkened with an emotion that Harry could not decipher, Ron's face turned a rather impressive magenta. He glanced up and felt his stomach drop at the fact that even Dumbledore seemed surprised by the name. Snape's eyes narrowed as his mouth twitched either up in a smirk or down in a slight frown Harry could not determine which.
"You have a daughter?"
"Err…."
"You have a daughter that's our age and you didn't tell me?"
"It's a long story."
Before Harry could respond with a biting quip a loud peal of laughter echoed from the table the Durmstrang students were sharing with the Slytherins. Still shaking with laughter Harry's mouth opened slightly as the woman he assumed was Delphini Riddle stood up, motioning for the surrounding students to unclasp her cloak, as well as present her wand to her.
Harry was still standing by the door when Delphini had walked, no glided, over from the Slytherin table. She stopped to give Harry a quick glance over. A caught breath, emerald green eyes met piercing turquoise. A flowery scent, an orchid? Or perhaps a king protea? A soft caress, fingers trailed down Harry's cheek. A twinkle in twin azure pools, curiosity, intelligence, hunger, … desire?
"Harry Potter. The‑Boy‑Who‑Lived. A pleasure to finally meet you." Said Delphini in light and silky tone, as she gently drew her hand back from Harry's face. "Do be a gentleman and hold the door, won't you?"
"R-right," stammered a quickly reddening Harry as he hastily held the door open for Delphini before following her in. He was sure that he was the only one that noticed the corner of Delphini's mouth twitch upward at his blush. He hoped.
"She's trouble," intoned Draco casually as he dug into his beef wellington.
"Because she's his daughter?" asked Hermione with a disapproving tone.
"Because it's been all of a minute and she's got Harry wrapped around her finger so tightly he can hardly string two words together," drawled Draco as he motioned towards Harry with a lazy flick of his fork.
Hermione and Ron turned to look at the interaction between Harry and Delphini while Draco simply focused on his food. Three years with Harry had taught him that his friend was a magnet for trouble and that sometimes, no matter what precautions Draco took, there was simply nothing left to do but sit back and hope for the best.
"Is… Is she caressing his cheek?" choked Hermione with her mouth slightly ajar.
"I don't think he's complaining." Snorted Ron as he shoveled down a near mythical amount of food.
"Ron you're going to choke if you don't slow down," snapped Hermione. Ron merely shrugged as Draco and Hermione shared a glance. While it was clear that Ron would never possess the table manners that Draco had instilled into him at birth, the two of them had hoped that they would be able to get him to behave better than 'cave man'. So far… they had not been successful.
"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" he asked calmly.
"No," said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching him closely. Fleur was watching the scene unfold with growing interest whereas Delphini seemed content to observe with an inscrutable poker face.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore.
"No," said Harry vehemently.
"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxime.
"I'm fourteen. Why on earth would I try to enter a tournament that wizards and witches much older than I am have died in? Do I have a death wish? Hardly." Exploded Harry in annoyance at the Beauxbatons Headmistress. Continuing, Harry spat, "Why on earth would I enter? For more fame? I'm 'The‑Boy‑Who‑Lived', I'll never be able to have a normal life as it is. For gold? I have enough galleons to last me a lifetime. There is no reason for me to willingly enter this deathtrap of a tournament!"
Harry breathed deeply as the rest of the room seemed to be stunned into silence on the basis of his outburst. Dumbledore seemed caught between laughter while trying to maintain the severity of the situation, whereas Madame Maxine looked positively affronted that a student, even one not of hers, would ever dare speak to her this way.
"Let's all calm down," said Professor McGonagall as she shot Harry a look warning him to be quiet. "Mr. Crouch, Mr. Bagman… you are, running the show, as they say. What is to be done about this situation?"
Bagman and Crouched looked at each other. The pair seemed to communicate wordlessly for several tense moments before Crouch sighed and cast his gaze of the rest of the room, finally landing on Harry.
"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."
"He's a child! This will completely delegitimize the tournament. What chance does he have against champions with years more teaching and experience? Might as well call it the 'Duowizard Tournament'," muttered Karkaroff darkly.
"Never knew you to be one so hung up on fairness Karkaroff," growled Moody as his false eye spun wildly around.
"I am supremely confident that my champion, Ms. Riddle, will be victorious. I simply wish for everything to be above suspicion. I will not have Hogwarts lacking a proper champion just so doubt can be cast when Ms. Riddle eventually wins," said Karkaroff haughtily even as Fleur and Harry bristled at the slight.
"I know I just said that I would never enter this insane tournament, but now I find myself wanting nothing more than to win," stated Harry bluntly as he glowered at Karkaroff. "No offense, Ms. Riddle, Ms. Delacour," he added as he turned to give them both apologetic glances.
"None taken." Said Delphini lightly, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards in a smile.
"I completely understand ze sentiment," said Fleur, her dark blue eyes glinting dangerously at the Durmstrang headmaster.
Noticing the tension in the room was headed in a dangerous direction, Dumbledore stepped forward to offer an olive branch.
"In the interest of fairness, and accounting for Harry's younger age, might I make a suggestion?" said Dumbledore as both Madame Maxine and Karkaroff nodded for him to continue. "Why don't we give Harry a 48-hour advance notification of the first task? It will give him some small advantage over the other Champions to make up for the age and knowledge differential while still being small enough to be fair and not put either of the other champions at an actual disadvantage."
Both the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang heads were forced to concede that this was indeed a fair way to uphold the sanctity of the tournament after Crouch had confirmed that such an amendment would be allowed under the rules of the tournament. In agreement, Mr. Crouch moved forward and cleared his throat, "The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry, Fleur, and Delphini, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard… very important." He stopped to look at the three champions before continuing.
"The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. Mr. Potter, as agreed you will receive a notification on the twenty-second of what the task entails. This is your one advantage in this tournament. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."
Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore.
"I think that's all, is it, Albus?"
"I think so," said Dumbledore, who was looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"
"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," said Mr. Crouch. "It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment... I've left young Weatherby in charge… Very enthusiastic… a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told…"
"You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?" said Dumbledore.
"Come on, Barry, I'm staying!" said Bagman brightly. "It's all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting here than at the office!"
"I think not, Ludo," said Crouch with a touch of his old impatience.
"Professor Karkaroff - Madame Maxime - a nightcap?" said Dumbledore. But both Maxime and Karkaroff were in the process of trying to lead off their Champions when Delphini spoke.
"Professor Dumbledore, Madame Maxine, Professor Karkaroff, I was wondering if you would not be opposed to vacating the room so that the Champions might speak privately? After all, the whole point of this tournament is in the spirit of international cooperation. It would be a shame if I never got to know my fellow champions outside of the actual tasks." Said Delphini in a smooth tone. Dumbledore seemed to narrow his eyes, but they regained their normal twinkle so quickly that Harry wondered if it had even happened.
"An excellent suggestion Ms. Riddle. I have no objections, unless either of you do…?" said Dumbledore drifting off while he looked towards both Karkaroff and Maxine. Both simply told their champions to be return to their respective lodgings as soon as possible before swiftly exiting.
"I am sure the kitchens won't miss just a bit of butterbeer or Ogden's," said Dumbledore as he waved his hands, and a couple bottles of butterbeer and firewhiskey appeared on the desk before he bowed slightly to the three champions before departing as well.
The moment Dumbledore left, Delphini had her wand out, casting spell after spell on the room. Homenum Revelio. Silencio. Cave Inimicum. Protego Totalum. Salvio Hexia.Anti‑Intruder Jinxs. Room‑Sealing spell. Anti‑Unlocking Charms.
"That's my daughter." Said Tom smugly while Harry had to agree, privately, that Delphini Riddle was indeed an impressive witch.
"Well. None of that will stop Dumbledore from getting in if he wanted, but we should have privacy for awhile from everyone else at least." Said Delphini as she tucked her wand away and turned to view Harry and Fleur. Nodding at Harry, Delphini turned her attention to Fleur who she engaged rapidly in French which seemed to set the Beauxbatons champion much at ease.
"Would you prefer Ms. Riddle, or should I call you Delphini?" inquired Harry during a lull in Delphini and Fleur's conversation. Delphini let out a rare peal of laughter.
"Please. Never call me Ms. Riddle in private. It makes me feel old. Delphini is fine."
"So, what did you want to talk about Delphini? I assume it is something more than simply 'getting to know the other champions.'"
Delphini nodded.
"I was wondering if the three of you would be interested in an… alliance, of sorts?"
"What zort of alliance?" asked Fleur suspiciously.
"Well the whole point of the Triwizard Tournament is to build cooperation and trust between wizards and witches of different countries, right? Well I propose that all three of us assist each other through the tournament and if possible, we try to conclude it in a draw. That way we can showcase the intended spirit of the tournament while negating any bad blood between our schools," said Delphini casually.
"That sounds nice and all… but what do you get out of this?" asked Harry.
"I didn't enter for money, or fame, or anything of that nature. I simply wish to begin to distinguish myself as Delphini, instead of Riddle. I wish to make my own mark upon the world. Whatever that may be, and if it begins in the spirit of cooperation than so much the better."
"What about you Fleur?"
"I am one-quarter Veela. I wish to show the world that those of us who are related to or magical creatures ourselves are just as capable as human witch and wizards, just as much people, just as much deserving of the same rights, privileges, and respect." Said Fleur is a soft but firm tone, eyes flashing fiercely, daring, no challenging, either Harry or Delphini to contradict her.
"Harry?" asked Delphini.
"Well like I said, I didn't enter. I wouldn't have entered. Fame, wealth, I don't want any of that. I just want to live, be a good person, have good friends, fall in love somewhere along the way, and die after I've had a good life. That would be enough," said Harry in a quiet voice as he took a sip of his firewhiskey while staring into the fire.
"So, are we in agreement? We'll assist each other and make sure we all survive this tournament. Fleur gets to prove her point, I get to step out from my father's shadow, Harry gets to live his life," asked Delphini after giving both Fleur and Harry a respectable amount of time to ruminate on the events of the night.
"How about we seal the agreement with an Unbreakable Vow? It would make trusting each other much easier as well. Like you said, none of us know each other very well just yet, this would allow us to be freer around each other and actually get to know each other," suggested Fleur as she took a swig of butterbeer.
"I'll agree to that," said Harry almost immediately earning him raised eyebrows from both Fleur and Delphini. "I can count on one hand the number of people I trust. If this works out… maybe I can add a couple others to this list."
"Then we are agreed. Let's not dawdle," said Delphini. "We should make bonds with each other and have the third person be the bonder for the pair."
"What should the exact phrasing of the bond be?" asked Fleur.
"How about, 'I swear to do my best to ensure the safety of the other champion throughout the Triwizard Tournament.' We can also include, 'I swear not to betray the confidence or secrets of the other champion that they confided in me.'" Offered Harry. Both Fleur and Delphini nodded in assent.
And so, vows were made. Pacts were sealed. As the three champions left the room with promises to meet up the next day all of them couldn't but help to think that the decision, they had made that night would have consequences far beyond on the end of the tournament. They had done the unthinkable, they had circumvented the competitive decree of the tournament.
As he rounded the corner to the Gryffindor common room Harry sighed in relief as he saw his friends waiting for him. Ron talking animatedly with Astoria Greengrass about something or another. Hermione pacing worriedly in a circle muttering about some obscure Triwizard Tournament fact or another while Draco merely leaned against the wall, smirking and nodding as he made eye contact with Harry. Ginny laughing at a joke that Blaise had made, Theo and Daphne both trying to calm down Hermione. As he moved closer the group looked at him. Their eyes said everything: acceptance, understanding, worry, most importantly, friendship.
"If I'd have known you were this intent on dying Potter, I would've just let that troll have you in first year," drawled Draco with a mischievous smirk even as Hermione cuffed him on the head. "Ouch! Merlin stop that Hermione." Hermione merely gave him a disdainful stare and a haughty sniff.
"If you stopped being a tosser Malfoy, I wouldn't have too." Everyone snickered as Draco glowered.
"Everything alright mate?" asked Ron as he clasped a hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looked around at his surrounding friends and relaxed for the first time that night since his name had come out of the Goblet of Fire. He smiled.
"Everything's fine now."
Harry decided that he hated being a Triwizard champion. The amount of attention he was getting was mental. First-years asking for autographs, journalists attempting to sneak past the wards, a full-page biography in the Prophet, it was all too much. How could anyone enjoy this, let alone live like this? It wasn't even time for lunch yet and his friends had taken to with him everywhere he went like an entourage of bodyguards to prevent yet another paparazzi ambush. Harry was about to crack when another student pestered him about how he had gotten across Dumbledore's age line when Draco clasp him by the shoulder and marched him into a deserted corridor.
"Calm down Harry. I know it's annoying, but you can't just explode at random people. All it'll do is draw more attention on you. It's not what you want to hear, but just grit your teeth, bear it, and keep your head down. It'll get better after a few days." Said Draco calmly as he soothed Harry's frayed nerves.
"Merlin, blast it all!" muttered Harry darkly as he clenched his hands into shaking fists before dropping them powerlessly. "I hate it. Why can't they just leave well enough alone."
"Because they have boring lives. They don't see you Harry, they see someone they can live through vicariously," intoned Draco in a neutral voice.
"They can bloody well have my life if they want it, let's see how they handle it," sighed Harry as he felt his calm returning. "Thanks Draco."
"Don't mention it."
The sun was setting as the Harry and the others gathered on the far side of the black lake. Golden rays shifted lazily across the rippling surface. A gentle breeze, rustling leaves, the hum of insects, scraping of parchment, idyllic bliss. Or it would have been. None of this would last. Life was fleeting. Happiness was an illusion. Voldemort had ensured that.
"Harry, you're fourteen… I admit I didn't have the happiest of lives myself, but you shouldn't give up on it," said Tom in slow and melancholic voice.
"Others might, and I hope it happens for them. But ours is a fate of doom. You know that Tom." Said Harry as he absentmindedly tossed the remains of a croissant into the lake. He smiled as a tentacle slowly pulled the bread underwater.
"Iz he always this sullen?" asked Fleur in a heavy French accent as she and Delphini glided over to join them.
"Might I present Fleur Delacour and Delphini Riddle, Beauxbatons and Durmstrangs Champions?" said Harry in a stiff, formal tone as he waved his arms out dramatically. Hermione rolled her eyes as the boys chuckled at Harry's antics while Fleur and Delphini merely deadpanned.
"Fleur and I simply wished to inquire about you schedule. What time tonight can you meet?" asked Delphini.
"Right after dinner works for me," said Harry with a smile.
"The three of you are meeting up? Isn't that… a bit out of the ordinary?" asked Hermione with a raised brow.
"The whole point of the tournament is to foster inter-school relationships and cooperation, right? Well, it seems a bit daft if the champions don't even get to know each other. So, we thought we'd give it a go," answered Harry.
"That's very mature of you Harry, I'm impressed," said Hermione with a genuine smile.
"Well now Fleur and I know who keeps you in check. We'll check in with miss…?" said Delphini with a smirk, trailing off as she appraised Hermione.
"Granger. Hermione Granger," said Hermione as she offered a hand.
"Call me Delphini, it's a pleasure to make you acquaintance," answered Delphini as she grasped the other woman's hand. "We'll check in with Ms. Granger her if we ever need to reach you."
Ron, Theo, and Blaise roared with laughter while Draco mock patted Harry on the back, flashing his trademark smirk.
"Traitors. I hate all of you," growled Harry in false anger.
"You love us," teased Blaise with a laugh as he dodged the quill Harry chucked at his head.
"I don't mean to interrupt ze fun, so I shall go," began Fleur gracefully turning to leave before Hermione called out.
"Wait, Fleur, if you are meeting with Harry and Delphini later to get to know each other, you might as well stick around and get to know us," offered Hermione, quickly adding at the look on Fleur's face, "We might be English, but we don't bite."
"If you are sure…?" asked Fleur hesitantly as the rest of the group added their assent.
"Of course, if Harry says he wants to get to know you two, we do as well. He's our friend, and we stick together," said Blaise with a smile. Ginny who was sitting next to Blaise nodded in agreement.
"We've got Slytherins and Gryffindors here, we're supposed to hate each other but we make it work. As long as you two are alright, there's no problems," said Ginny as she looked around the group, daring someone to contradict her.
"Draco Malfoy, A pleasure Miss Delacour, Miss Riddle," said Draco as he stood up and bowed before the two ladies, bringing each of their knuckles to his lips as he planted a grazing kiss. Hermione snorted as she raised a brow.
"You're never like this with me." She stated matter‑of‑factly. Draco turned and gave her an incredulous look.
"Would you prefer I be like this with you?" he asked doubtfully.
"Of course not, it was merely an observation."
"Hermione, I know you hate being put on a pedestal. It's why I don't do it. Give me a little credit," said Draco with a mock pout as the rest of the group watched them with increasing interest.
"Will the two of you just get a room already?" teased Theo rolling his eyes causing Hermione to flush scarlet, the Greengrass sisters laughing all the while.
"We're good friends here. No one will treat you wrong," said Harry to Fleur and Delphini as he motioned to the gentle‑natured ribbing going on.
Harry smiled as he watched Fleur engage in an animated discussion with Daphne and Astoria on the recent developments in haute couture and the nuances between British and French high fashion. Draco, Hermione, and Delphini were deep in conversation about the theoretical backing behind an advance charm that Harry could barely follow. Blaise, Theo, Ron, and Ginny had summoned their brooms and were lazily practicing aerial maneuvers over the lake. The world seemed less cold all of a sudden. Twinkling azure eyes caught soft emerald ones and smiles were exchanged.
"So what's this about?" Harry asked Delphini and Fleur as the trio had shut themselves in an abandoned classroom on the third-floor.
"Karkaroff told me what the First Task is," said Delphini as she sat down gracefully on one of the desks.
"Already?" asked Fleur in surprise.
"From what I know, he's invested quite a bit of his social cache in talking up my skills and wants to make sure I show off as much as possible," said Delphini in a bored tone.
"What iz ze task?" asked Fleur.
"Dragons. We each face off against a single dragon, and we need to get a special egg from their nest." Said Delphini.
"They're barking mad. Sending students against dragons, do they want to kill us?" muttered Harry shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well according to that ex‑auror professor of yours, that's exactly what seems to be going on with you." Said Delphini as she eyed the younger champion.
"Dragons won't be too difficult if you want my help Harry. I know quite a few spells to deal with them. Not all of them Dark either."
"I expect you won't have too much trouble Fleur? After all, you could always lull it to sleep with your Veela abilities," said Delphini, looking towards the Beauxbatons champion for an answer.
"Zat will be my backup. I wish to show zat I am more zen just a Veela. Zo I will not rely on zat unless I have to," said Fleur confidently. Delphini nodded.
"Right. No offense to you Harry but since you are the youngest one here, I assume you don't really have much knowledge in the way of dealing with dragons."
"I'm pretty sure only Seventh Years at Hogwarts have any idea of what to do if they are confronted with a dragon," admitted Harry as he thought long and hard about whether any of his lessons would come in handy.
"Would Glacius be of use in combatting dragonfire? I assume they'll ward the egg against summoning, but I wonder what else they'll have done," said Harry thoughtfully, impressing both Fleur and Delphini. Noticing the looks on both their faces, Harry rolled his eyes and continued, "I might not be the smartest, but I do find not dying a good reason to think hard."
"Glacius would probably be a good short‑term solution. I don't know how long you'd be able to keep it up against dragonfire. I think we should all use different methods of dealing with the dragons. That way we can keep the fact that we're all working together a secret for as long as possible."
"I agree with Delphini. I will try to use some zort of sleeping charm, I zink." Said Fleur. Delphini and Harry nodded at Fleur.
"Harry why don't you just outfly it? Your Firebolt should definitely be fast enough and you're a talented enough flyer that the odds are in your favor. Besides I can always step in if it becomes an issue."
"I'll probably summon my Firebolt. I might not know as many spells as either of you, but I'm pretty confident that I can outfly it." Said Harry.
"Harry are you sure…? This is a dragon we're talking about." Said Delphini hesitantly, not wanting to offend him.
"I am. This is definitely my best chance." Responded Harry in a firm tone, that brooked no arguments.
"In that case I'll work on using some sort of ice or fire spell to meet the dragon head on. Karkaroff said flashy so… "said Delphini trailing off, the mention of her headmaster causing her to wrinkle her nose in distaste. "We're agreed then? If either of you need help with your solutions let me know." Fleur and Harry nodded at Delphini.
"Excellent. Let's meet up again in a week or two, just ze three of us and we can update each other on our progress." Said Fleur.