AN: A couple of people wrote that they were confused about my skipping Harry's 2nd and 3rd years at Hogwarts. Each time I have moved forward in time, I have placed the date at the beginning so that you would be aware of how much time has passed. I skipped the 2nd and 3rd years at Hogwarts because (since Tom Riddle's diary is hidden in the Realm of El and Sirius is not escaping Azkaban) there will be no Chamber of Secrets or Prisoner of Azkaban. Those are just two normal years for Harry. I am skipping to year 4 because something important will happen here. Since my little story includes more years than JK Rowlings 7 books, there is no way that I can show every single year. I am sorry if this has confused you. If you have a suggestion on how I can make this less confusing, please let me know. Also, what little romance there will be in this story will be Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione. As I stated in my profile, this will be true for all my stories because I like the canon couples. It won't be a big part of the story, but I have been asked many times if this is a Harry/Ginny. Thanks for making me aware of the confusion; and thanks to all who have reviewed and made comments. MS

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September 1, 1994 (Harry's 4th year at Hogwarts)

Chapter 16

Three things marred Harry's trip back to school on the Hogwarts Express. First, Ron had told him that the Death Eater Harry had captured, Barty Crouch, Jr., had escaped from his cell at the ministry before he could be sent back to Azkaban. Second, because Harry was the one who had captured him, not to mention shot him in the thigh with an arrow, the ministry believed that he would come after Harry. Therefore, the train was filled with aurors and teachers, all watching to make sure that Harry Potter arrived safely at Hogwarts.

If that was not bad enough, he had left his mother in tears that morning. She had been having dreams for the past week that something horrible was going to happen to Harry at school, but she could not explain what it was. For the past week, she had begged his father to keep him home this year. "Sirius or Remus can teach him all he needs to know," she said. "He does not have to go to Hogwarts to learn to be a Wizard."

His father had approached Harry to talk with him about his mother's request. "You have lived 14 summers," he said. "The choice is yours, Seth, but your methara is sick with worry."

Harry had been miserable. He did not want his mother to worry, but he wanted to return to Hogwarts and go to school with his friends. At last, he sat down to talk with his mother.

"Metha," he said. "I know that you are worried about me. However, I wish to return to school this year. If, however, I sense danger, I will go to Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus and have them escort me to the portal in the Forbidden Forest. I will not stay if I am in danger. I swear it."

"But, my son, danger approaches most often without warning."

"But Professor Dumbledore has said that Hogwarts is the safest place in the Wizarding World."

"And, yet, Professor Quirrell brought the Dark Wizard into the school your first year, Sethrael. Hogwarts may be the safest place in the Wizarding World, but it is not as safe as the Elven Realm."

"I know, Metha, but I will be careful. I swear to you that I will not take any risks. And my godfathers will both be there to protect me."

She nodded thoughtfully. "I will consent if you will agree to two things: Move into the apartment with your godfathers and allow one of them to go with you whenever you leave their rooms."

Harry looked at her in horror. "Metha! I can't believe you would ask me to do such a thing! You are treating me like a baby! I can't be watched over every minute of the day! I have reached 14 full seasons! I am a hunter for our people!"

"That is the only way I will agree to let you go."

He frowned. "Daka said it was my choice, and now you are telling me that it's not!"

"Only agree to do those two things, Sethrael, and I will say no more."

Harry glanced out over the lake, refusing to look at her. He had never so felt angry with her before, but at that moment, he was shaking with rage and his breathing was heavy. He felt tears sting his eyes, and to his horror, one escaped and rolled down his cheek. In utter humiliation, he got up and ran into the forest.

Harry sat high in the branches of Eldartha, tears streaming down his face, begging the ancient tree to give him the answers he was looking for. "I know I am still young," he whispered to her, leaning his forehead against her trunk. "But it will be humiliating for me to be treated like a small child who needs a minder. I want to go to school, Great Eldartha, but I can't face the others if I concede to Metha's request."

"Sethrael!"

Harry hurriedly wiped his face with his sleeve and began to climb down the tree.

"Sethrael, answer me!"

"I-I'm here, Daka!" he called, jumping from the lowest branch. He stood waiting for his father, unaware that his face still showed signs of his tears.

"Seth," his father said, appearing in the clearing. He stopped suddenly, gazing at his son's tear-streaked face. "What were you doing?" he asked gently.

"I was just talking with Eldartha," he said, then sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

His father came to him and wrapped his arms around him. "You have had a very hard day, my son," he said, holding him tightly. "I am sorry for that."

Harry nodded, unable to speak without his voice breaking.

"Your methara is very emotional. Part of it is because she carries a child. Women can sometimes seem unreasonable when they are pregnant."

Harry cleared his throat. "After the baby is born, will she go back to the way she was?" he asked. "Or will she be unreasonable forever?"

Mithrael chuckled. "She will go back to the way she was," he said. "But do not let her hear you call her unreasonable."

Harry nodded. "I don't know what to do, Daka," he whispered. "I can't accept her terms without feeling shame. I am too old to be treated this way. I would not be able to face my friends. Yet, I want to go back to school. Why is she making this so difficult for me? Does she not understand?"

"How can a woman understand what it is to be a man, Seth? It is like you and me trying to understand what it is to be a woman. We do not understand her dreams, her emotions, or her worry, and yet they are very real to her. So real that she is afraid of losing you. Can you blame her for doing everything in her power to keep you safe? You are her son. If anything happened to you, she would never recover."

"I understand that, Daka, but am I to be sheltered for the rest of my life? I don't want to live that way. Would you?"

"No, I would not. Seth, let us go back and talk with your methara together. We will reach an agreement that will be satisfactory to you both."

With Mithrael acting as mediator, he and his mother reached an agreement. He would be allowed to stay in Gryffindor Tower, but he would not walk the halls without an escort. However, his friends would be counted as those who could escort him.

And so he was on the Hogwarts Express, and yet his mother had cried when he left. He hoped that she would not find out about the escaped Death Eater or that the ministry thought that he would come after Harry.

At the welcoming feast that evening, Harry received another blow to add to his bad mood. There would be no Quidditch this year. Instead, there would be a tournament between three schools. One student from each school would participate, and Harry was too young to enter the tournament.

Unused to depression, he sat picking at his food, wondering if he would ever be happy again, while the others chatted excitedly around him.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Ginny, who was sitting beside him, asked softly.

He shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "I think I'm just in a very bad mood."

"Has anything happened?"

He looked at her. "Well, I've had a guard since I got on the train because they think a Death Eater is trying to kill me. My mother cried when I left because she didn't want me to return to school. She's been having dreams that something bad is going to happen to me this year. I had to promise her that I wouldn't walk the halls alone. And, now, I'm not even going to get to play Quidditch." He sighed. "It'll be okay. It's just that everything has hit me at once, and I'm not used to it."

She nodded, then took his hand and squeezed it. "If you need anyone to talk to, Harry, I'm here."

He smiled at her. "I know," he said. "Thanks, Ginny."

As Harry fell into the usual routine at school, his mood improved. Although there would be no formal Quidditch games, he was still able to play for fun with friends on free afternoons and weekends. Maybe it wasn't so bad not playing Quidditch this year. It would give him a whole year to perfect the Wronski Feint.

But on Halloween night, everything changed.

Students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons had arrived the week before. For the next week, students who were at least 17 were able to enter the contest by placing their names in the Goblet of Fire, which was located in the Great Hall. On Halloween, Professor Dumbledore called out the names of those whom the cup had chosen.

To represent Durmstrang, Victor Krum, the seeker who had played for Bulgaria at the World Cup was selected. Beauxbatons was represented by a very beautiful girl name Fleur Delacour. It was said that she was part Veela, but as Harry had found out at the World Cup, Veelas did not have an effect on Elves, so he couldn't be sure. Cedric Diggory, a 7th year Hufflepuff was selected to represent Hogwarts. When the names were called, they left to a round of applause to go into the trophy room to receive their instructions.

But then, the Goblet spat out a 4th name. As everyone waited in confused silence, Dumbledore read the slip of parchment in his hand.

"Harry Potter," he said.

Harry looked around at his friends in confusion.

"Harry Potter," Dumbledore called again.

"Go!" Hermione whispered, trying to push him out of his seat.

Slowly, Harry stood. "Yes, Sir?" he asked.

Dumbledore looked at him over his glasses. "The Goblet has selected your name, Harry. Did you enter your name in the cup?"

"No, Sir," he said. "A mistake has been made."

"The Goblet does not make mistakes, Mr. Potter," Barty Crouch, Sr. said. "It cannot select a name that was not entered."

Harry took a deep breath. "That may be so, Sir, but I did not enter my name, and I do not wish to participate."

Sirius and Remus stood. "Harry is too young to enter this tournament," Sirius said. "And as his legal guardians, Remus and I forbid him to do so."

Harry sat down, relieved. His guardians had spoken, and that was the end of it.

"I'm afraid it is not that easy," Mr. Crouch said. "This is a legally binding contract. Once his name has been selected, he must participate."

"I have never heard of a legally binding contract that did not have some sort of loophole," Remus said. "You must find it, because Harry will not be participating in this tournament."

Mr. Crouch started to argue, but Dumbledore placed a hand on his arm to silence him. "I will check for a loophole," he said to them. "In the meantime, you may return to your common rooms while we speak with those who have been selected." He and Mr. Crouch followed the participants into the trophy room.

Before Harry could leave the Great Hall, Sirius and Remus approached him. Sirius took his arm and led him to a corner where they could speak privately. "Harry, did you put your name in the cup?" he asked softly.

"No, sir, I didn't. I swear it."

"We believe you, Harry," Remus said. "But we had to ask. We'll do everything we can to keep you out of this tournament so don't worry about it. All right?"

"You will be able to find a way, won't you? I won't have to participate, will I?" Harry asked.

Sirius patted him on the shoulder. "We'll do our best, Harry."

Harry smiled and started out of the Great Hall. Noticing that the halls were empty, he turned back to his godfathers. "Um . . . I promised Metha I wouldn't walk the halls alone," he said with some embarrassment. "Would you mind walking me to Gryffindor Tower?"

"Not at all," Remus said simply, as if he was not surprised by the request. He and Sirius walked with Harry to the door of his common room.