A Game of Round Robin

In the week after Harry Potter's name came out of the Goblet of Fire, all of Hogwarts turns against the Boy-Who-Lived (again). Draco Malfoy in the library after DADA class, Draco Malfoy finds an ancient spell hidden in an obscure book of magical shields. With the support of Professor Snape, Malfoy convinces the headmaster to allow him to cast the spell on Harry Potter, expecting to force him to tell the truth how he entered his name in the Triwizard Tournament.

I am not certain how long this new story will be. It began taking form on notepads on Friday night and then on the keyboard yesterday and today. The muse has returned after sleeping for several months.

Disclaimer: This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy. No ships. Liberal bashing all around everyone.

Round Robin: A round-robin tournament is a competition in which each contestant meets every other participant, usually in turn. This is just a single, small event a few nights after the selection of names (including Harry Potter's name), not the entire tournament.

&&}{&& Scene Change: A Plan in Motion

During the evening of 6 November 1994, Severus Snape did not have any detentions to supervise and planned to retire early after grading a pile of essays from the worthy students in his NEWTS potions class. The stacks of essays from the other years were merely graded with Trolls for Gryffindors, Acceptables for Ravens and Puffs, and Exceeds Expectations for his Slytherin students.

'There's no reason to waste time on the dunderheads,' Snape reminded himself when his contemplation was interrupted by a persistent knock on his office door.

Frowning dangerously, the potions master dropped his quill before calling out, "Come!"

The door opened to reveal the grinning face of his godson, Draco Malfoy. The fourth-year wizard immediately declared, "Professor, I've found it! The perfect spell to drive Scarhead from the castle!"

Sighing, Severus motioned for the boy to step closer to his desk. With a wave of his hand, the office door slammed in the face of Draco's two guards who followed the Malfoy boy around like faithful dogs. Then taking the old parchment, Snape read the Latin incantation aloud, "Vi magus loqui verum semel."

"I translated it as 'Compel him to tell the truth once.' Is that correct?" asked Draco.

"No. You must study your Latin more, Draco," Severus replied. "The spell translates as 'force wizard to speak truth once.' This would not work on a muggle or a creature."

The blonde boy frowned and said, "I did not try casting it on anyone. I remember what happened last time."

Snape frowned at the memory of Draco casting a memory spell on a first-year muggleborn witch in Hufflepuff. The girl lost her mind and disappeared from the infirmary without question after Lucius Malfoy made a large contribution to Dumbledore's discretionary fund. The headmaster's fanciful robes were expensive.

Setting the parchment on his desk, Snape asked, "What is your plan to embarrass Potter?"

"This afternoon, Professor Moody recommended a book for shields that no one knows or uses. Naturally, I got to the book first after class and found the parchment in the back," Draco explained. "I remembered your lessons about planning and guile so I didn't approach Scarhead in class or at supper."

Snape remained silent as Draco explained his scheme, "I will ask the headmaster to allow me to cast the spell on Scarhead after supper tomorrow night. If I involve the old wizard, no one can come to Potter's defense later. They hate him today but they might love him again tomorrow."

"At last, you're using your knowledge of the ups and downs for the boy-who-lived," the older wizard said. He continued, "Dumbledore may very well approve casting the spell on the boy…he hopes we can find the truth of the matter to exonerate Potter."

Frowning with his eyes flashing, Draco stated, "Of course Potter did it! And I got the weasel to help me."

Snape sneered, "Weasley? Help how? Why in Merlin's name would you do that?"

"The weasel hates Potter. Since Halloween, he shouts in the halls between classes about being betrayed…that Potter wants all the glory and the thousand galleons for himself," Draco said. "I told the red-head that I could make the mudblood reveal the truth but needed his help to convince the headmaster."

"How is Weasley helping you?"

Draco sneered, "I told him to call Potter 'mudblood' tomorrow night when I propose using the spell. The headmaster will want to use the event to reform his Gryffindorks and support the mudbloods again."

&&}{&& Scene Change: Gryffindor Common Room Before Supper

As the students gathered in the common room of the Gryffindor Tower, before heading to supper, several vocal individuals threatened Neville and Hermione to remain silent and not support Potter with any comments during supper.

"We're going to drive that lying coward out of Gryffindor! If you want to go with him and live in the hallways for the next three and half years, be our guest!" Fred Weasley told the last friends of Harry Potter before they were escorted down the stairs to the Great Hall, surrounded by the other Lions. George and Fred had been insulted that Potter managed to defeat the age line around the Goblet of Fire, something they failed to do after multiple attempts – and the infuriating half blood refused to tell them how he did it!

Just as the pride of lions arrived outside the doors of the hall, Harry Potter appeared magically with a loud pop and flash of magic. The crowd of Gryffindors huddled together in a moment of fear. The dark-haired wizard sneered at his fellow house mates and said, "Go ahead. I'll come in last and sssit at the end of the table…alone!"

Every Gryffindor student felt a shiver run down their spine hearing the undertones of hisses in the angry wizard's words.

Finding some Gryffindor courage inside his lack of common sense, Ron Weasley taunted the other fourth year. "Yeah! Sit alone! Like every liar before they are expelled from the tower and forced to sleep in the halls."

The meal had been served – Harry's plate with food and cup with drink appeared only after everyone else had been served. Ignoring sneers and quiet comments from the other Gryffindors and nearby Hufflepuffs, Harry announced, "Thanksss, Dobby."

&&}{&& Scene Change: Supper in the Great Hall, 7 November 1994

The meal was almost complete when the level of conversation dropped to some whispers as everyone watched Draco Malfoy and Professor Severus Snape approach the head table as the evening's entertainment began.

The Slytherin pair nodded their heads toward Headmaster Dumbledore who smiled genially and asked, "How can I help you this evening, gentlemen?"

With a nod from Snape, Draco said, "Harry Potter refuses to admit he cheated to enter the Triwizard Tournament. He offends the quiet of the classrooms by insisting that someone entered his name in an attempt to kill him. Everyone in Hogwarts is tired of hearing the mud…half-blood complain after just one week. Now, magic has provided a solution!"

"Indeed?" asked Dumbledore.

Draco smiled and continued, "I found a spell in the library that will reveal how Potter came to be entered into the Triwizard Tournament. Headmaster, I know you want to allow the truth to come out."

Severus added, "Headmaster Dumbledore, I reviewed the spell and confirmed that Mr Malfoy's spell will not cause harm to Potter. It will simply compel him to tell the truth to a single question from Mr Malfoy."

Surprisingly, Ron Weasley stood up and declared, "Yeah, let Malfoy cast a spell on Potter. It'll prove the mudblood bastard put his name in the Goblet of Flames and is a dirty liar."

Hermione Granger frowned while she watched Harry Potter – her friend's face never changed when Draco and Professor Snape began their announcement in front of the head table. Then Ron stood and made his disparaging comments, and she'd seen a momentary frown that was followed by hissing for a moment by the dark-haired teenager.

Seeing that almost every eye in the Great Hall was watching, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore rose from his throne-like chair and descended to the floor where the two Slytherins stood. He asked for the parchment to review the spell and then used his wand to cast a spell. The magic erected a powerful privacy bubble around the trio and Albus asked probing questions that no one else could hear.

Unfortunately, someone cast another spell that pierced the privacy spell and magnified the conversation so that everyone in the hall heard them. Looking closely at his potions professor, Dumbledore asked, "Severus, where did you find this 'Speak the Truth' spell?"

"I didn't find it. Draco brought it to me and suggested he cast it on the brat to reveal the truth about how he entered his name into the contest."

Turning his full attention on the Slytherin fourth year wizard, Albus asked, "Young Mr Malfoy, where did you find this parchment?"

Smiling brightly, Draco explained, "It was in a book in the library. Professor Moody recommended the particular title because it is full of seldom-used shields."

Reading the parchment again, Dumbledore muttered, "Vi magus loqui verum semel…"

No one spoke while the headmaster was lost in thought as he searched his memory for any previous knowledge of this spell in his more than 100 years of magical casting. Everyone in the Great Hall heard him translate the spell, "Force wizard to speak truth once."

"Yes, headmaster," Snape replied. "It will force the boy to confess his lie about entering the contest."

"Have you tested this spell on anyone?" Dumbledore asked Draco and Snape, alluding to the embarrassing situation during Draco's first year.

The young wizard replied, "No, headmaster."

"Why?" asked Snape. "It is a simple spell that will force the wizard to speak the truth."

"Severus, we must protect every student!" admonished the headmaster.

"Won't the truth protect Potter?" asked the potions professor. "You always say that we must tell the students to confess their transgressions."

Dumbledore's mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons of allowing Snape and the Malfoy boy to question Harry. 'No one but the fake Moody and I know how the boy's name came out of the goblet. This will embarrass Severus and Draco when the boy-who-lived tells the truth.'

With the wave of his funny wand, Dumbledore released the privacy spell and he failed to notice that everyone in the Great Hall was silent; they had all been listening carefully to the private conversation in front of the head table.

"Mr Malfoy came across a spell that will help Harry Potter to explain how his name came out of the Goblet of Fire on Halloween. I believe this will resolve the mystery that has divided the school since that night."

Professor Sprout's face was very sour as she spoke up, "Nonsense! The four houses have united against that upstart mud…boy trying to steal Cedric's moment of glory!"

There were murmurs among the students from Hogwarts in overwhelming agreement with the head of Hufflepuff House. The students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were more reserved with their comments as were their leaders.

The headmaster waved off the protests and said, "Regardless of anyone's opinion, we must test this spell before proceeding. Does anyone volunteer to the test subject?"

"I will!" shouted Ron Weasley. "Test the spell on me but let someone from the Puffs cast the spell; not Malfoy."

Professor McGonagall frowned but nodded her agreement and Professor Sprout declared, "Cedric Diggory – the true Hogwarts Champion will cast the spell on Mr Weasley."

The two wizards were summoned forward and Cedric practiced the words three times before he pointed his wand toward Ron Weasley and cast the spell. "Vi magusss loqui verum sssemel."

A blue light flew out of Diggory's wand and hit Ron in the chest. A small ball of blue light appeared above each young wizard's head and Headmaster Dumbledore motioned for Cedric to ask his question. Attempting to make light of the situation, the seventh year Puff grinned and asked, "Ron Weasley, how is it you always win every chess match?"

Everyone stared as Weasley's face turned red as he tried not to answer the question. Finally, the pain of the spell pressing on his magic forced Ron to blurt, "My chess set is enchanted so that only I can win. The pieces move themselves and even hide from the people who play against me."

Unable to remain silent, Draco Malfoy chortled aloud and earned a scowl from his godfather. Along the table of Slytherin students, a few of his housemates raised an eyebrow or blinked as the blonde boy once again proved he should never have been sorted into their house. Claws and Puffs all smirked as more than one Gryffindor Lion frowned hearing their Chess Master was a fake.

Embarrassed, Ron turned on Cedric and demanded, "Why did you ask me that question?"

Without any hesitation, the Puff replied, "I knew you played chess all the time and won every game. I thought it would be an easy question for you. I didn't mean any harm by the question."

While everyone watched the opening act, Dobby removed Harry's plate, cup, and cutlery after Harry drank the last of the milk and hissed, {Invoke Round Robin when 'Vi magusss loqui verum sssemel' is next cassst.}

No one heard the parseltongue magic being cast. Even if they heard and understood it was a spell, no one in the Great Hall knew a wizard didn't have to use his wand to cast parseltongue spells.

&&}{&& Scene Change: Draco Casts the Spell

"Harry, if you will join us here at the front of the table, please," Dumbledore asked in a kindly tone. Rising without saying anything, the Boy-Who-Lived walked the length of the Gryffindor table. A personal shield cast with parseltongue protected Harry and threw a dozen jinxes back on the casters, stomped on two boots thrust out to trip him, and stung three tongues when they were stuck out.

At the head table, under the judgmental eyes of McGonagall and Sprout, and the curious eyes of Flitwick, Hagrid, and the other adults, Harry waited while Dumbledore explained again about the spell. "Now, Mr Malfoy will cast the spell and only he will ask you a question about entering your name in the Triwizard Tournament. Now, I have already cast a silence spell on the rest of the students in the Great Hall. They can hear everything said but can't interrupt us."

"Thank you, headmaster," Harry said. "But what's the spell that Malfoy found?"

Snape sneered and replied, "Vi magus loqui verum semel."

"Is that Latin?" Harry asked, appearing as if he couldn't translate the spell.

Dumbledore smiled at the boy who never seemed to excel with any spells except DADA, and explained, "It means to force a wizard to tell a truth once."

Potter smiled – and the look on the teenager's face caused concern in the three of the wizards facing him. "Great! If Draco casts the spell and asks his question, then nobody can claim my answer is not truthful."

Without hesitating, Harry sniffed (to disperse his personal shield without using his wand) and then said, "Go ahead."

Not waiting for either Snape or Dumbledore to give him any command, Draco raised his wand and cast, "Vi magus loqui verum semel."

A wide blue light emerged from Draco's spell to cross the short distance to Harry Potter, but unexpectedly, just before it hit Potter, the light split into three other spells that raced back to enter Draco, Severus Snape, and Albus Dumbledore. Each wizard glowed blue for a moment and then above their heads, three small lights began burning.

At the head table, Professor Filius Flitwick stared for a moment before realizing that the spell appeared to mimic a goblin spell that wizards did not have. The charms professor climbed up on the table and declared, "It is a round robin! Draco Malfoy's spell has created a round robin!"

Albus Dumbledore frowned and tried to remember if he'd ever heard of this spell. Severus Snape growled and wished he'd never opened his office door the previous night. Draco frowned and asked himself, 'What is a round robin? Is Potter going to get out of this?'

While Dumbledore remained silent, Snape looked up at Filius Flitwick on the table. In a moment of true Slytherin approach to the problem, the dour man politely asked, "Professor Flitwick, have you seen his spell before? What is a round robin? How can it be in this spell?"

"Of course, Professor Snape," the half-goblin replied. "There must be hidden components in Vi magus loqui verum semel to invoke a round robin. Hiding parts of a spell are a lost art in modern world."

Snape's growl was louder and Flitwick continued, "Remember, Mr Diggory asked Mr Weasley one question and then Mr Weasley asked Mr Diggory one question – a round robin."

While Diggory and Weasley had not truly been under a round robin charm, Cedric's honest reply to Ron's question made it appear that the charm had been in place. After a moment, the head of Ravenclaw continued, "That means each of you hit by the blue light must ask one question of each of the other persons affected by the charm. And you must answer fully and truthfully. Mr Weasley didn't want to answer but magic forced him to answer. And you cannot use a half-truth or dissemble your answer."

"Well, now, there's no reason to expose Harry or Mr Malfoy to other questions," Dumbledore said quickly trying to find a way out of the situation. He hated the very idea of answering certain questions truthfully and fully.

"But Headmaster, I am glad to answer a question from each of you," Harry replied. "I'm not going to hide anything."

"No, I think…" Dumbledore began to say but then fell silent when he felt magical spell tighten around him.

Flitwick added, "The charm is binding on your magic, Headmaster. Once the round robin takes hold, it is as binding as the contract you forced on Mr Potter at Halloween. And just like that contract, if you refuse to participate, your magic is forfeit. All four of you will have your magic removed."

"But I didn't agree to a contract!" protested Draco. "You can't force me into a contract without my consent!"

Harry kept his faciale expression under control except for one twitch of his mouth when he caught the headmaster's gaze for a moment. Looking away, Albus said, "Well, I suppose we should continue."

Flitwick interrupted the headmaster and said, "Wait! Albus, the round robin will dictate who asks their question first. The ball of light above your head will move over in front of the person you should ask whatever question you want. They will answer fully and honestly or the light will grow larger and begin to take their magic."

All around the Great Hall, everyone's attention focused on the four wizards standing in front of the staff table, with Professor Flitwick standing on the table, his wand in his hand. At Gryffindor and Slytherin tables, many students climbed up on the table to have a better view of the forthcoming questions and answers.

The wizard thought to be Alastor Moody leaned forward while he wondered, 'What the bloody hell now? If Snape flubs this badly, I'll take him to the Dark Lord in a basket! And Lucius Malfoy's son is no more a Slytherin than the half breed giant or thing that is part goblin.'

&&}{&& Scene Change: End of Chapter

SPELL: "Vi magus loqui verum semel…" "Force wizard to speak truth once."