A/N: The interesting thing about the original story was that Harry was an unwitting participant. He got to be involved in these dangerous tasks while everyone wondered who was behind it. It's almost a given that everyone who is reading this did read the book.
Also, in the last chapter, I mentioned that I was getting to the chapters that were fun to write. And this is one of them. Draco is not duped into the contest. He is jumping in with both feet. And he is adding his own touch to the proceedings. There is no scared Harry and worried Dumbledore. Instead there is a grinning Draco with his alibi all prepared.
Enjoy.
Chapter 12: The Goblet of Fire
Draco Malfoy entered the Great Hall and quickly looked for Hermione. Leaving Sirius Black no chance to catch up to him, he seated himself. Hermione gave him a bemused look and asked if he were having fun. Draco smiled in response, then said hello to Ron and Dean who were sitting across from them. After that, he decided to stare at the front of the room. The Goblet of Fire had been moved to the spot where the Sorting Hat usually sat on the first day. It looked more imposing than when it was in the main hall.
"You know they're all going to hate you," Hermione whispered.
"Most of them hate me already. I'm only giving them an excuse to express themselves."
"Excuse us," Fred and George said as they leaned over on either side of Draco. "You owe us," George whispered as he pushed a small package into the robe pocket.
"Half, when I win," Draco promised, impulsively. And it was a promise he would keep. They were giving him the last piece he needed when he had to make his excuses. But for them, he would have to reveal the truth.
George grinned while Fred whispered that he would believe it when he saw it. That was when Ron asked what was up. Fred grinned and said that Draco had a plan to get them free advertising for their joke shop, once they graduated.
Finally able to relax, Draco began to look around the hall. He noticed what he had missed the day before. At the Ravenclaw table sat a large group of students wearing blue robes. Hermione told him they were the delegation from Beaubatons, the French school. The tall woman sitting next to Hagrid was their headmistress. Then she pointed out the Durmstrang delegation, wearing red robes. They were sitting with the Slytherins. It was no surprise that their headmaster was sitting next to Severus Snape.
As he looked, one of the Durmstrang students stood up. Gregory Goyle stood up next to him. Greg was scanning the tables. When his eyes passed over where he was sitting, Draco decided to wave. Greg gave a wide smile, then pointed at him.
Draco's surprised thought was that Greg was looking for him. "Hermione?" The Durmstrang student had finished thanking Greg and was now making his way to the end of the Slytherin table.
"He's coming over here," Hermione said, stating the obvious.
"Who?" Ron Weasley asked as he turned to se what Hermione was looking at. "That's Viktor Krum!" What followed were several statements about what a great Quidditch player he was. "But why is he coming over here?"
"To meet Draco, of course. You heard what he did during the match against Greece."
Ron was excited. "Yeah, the Bulgarian Drop. He made that move famous."
"And Draco Malfoy," Viktor Krum said from behind Hermione, "vas the von who first tried it."
Draco felt the need to stand up. Viktor was telling him how grateful he was for the chance to express his thanks. Draco was shaking his head and trying to say something witty or clever or polite. It wasn't only because Ron and Dean, both rabid Quidditch fans, had told him numerous times how great Krum was, once they found out that their dorm mate knew nothing of him. It was also because Hermione, Fred and George had also talked about him, having seen him at the World Cup. Lastly, it was because he never expected to meet the man, much less find out the man was still a student.
After several false starts, Draco tried honesty. He admitted he had no idea what to say. Viktor gave a polite laugh and told him not to be nervous. Then he asked if he could ask a question. How long had Draco practiced that move before he tried it in a match?
The nervousness was gone. Not because Krum asked the question but because Hermione coughed to cover her laugh. Draco had to smile. He admitted he never practiced that move. He didn't have time. He was desperate and it was the only thing he could think of. And he was lucky it worked.
Viktor Krum was impressed that a boy of fourteen would think of something so daring on the spur of the moment. When Hermione pointed out that he was thirteen at the time, Viktor smiled. He held out his hand. He told Draco how proud he was to meet a fellow Seeker who also knew to take risks when they were needed. They shook hands, Viktor promising they would get together to talk. Then the Durmstrang student went back to his seat.
Draco sat down, feeling terrible. He knew that what he was doing would anger many of the people here. Now he was afraid it would anger a new friend.
For a few brief minutes, Draco was a celebrity. He was officially the friend of the Hero of Bulgaria, who saved the match for his team. Draco remembered Ron describing it in detail. How Bulgaria was getting creamed. But when all looked hopeless, Krum shot out of the skies into the middle of the playing field, catching the snitch. Bulgaria won, 150 to 140. And, because of Draco Malfoy, everyone had to chance to see him up close. He had come over to talk to one of their own, one of the Gryffindors.
But this Gryffindor was thinking his own thoughts. The fact that Krum had come over to talk to him made his housemates think of him in a positive way. When his name came out of the Goblet of Fire, they were sure to give him their support. He was guaranteeing that one of their own, a Gryffindor, would be in the contest. When Draco began smiling, it was an honest smile, change that, a sincere smile. There was nothing honest about what Draco was planning.
The desserts had disappeared just in time. Draco was becoming anxious simply because of the wait. Finally, the headmaster stood up. It was time for the spectacle to begin. And Dumbledore did not disappoint. He said very little. It was Minister Crouch who did. Disappoint.
It was a speech. He touched upon the spirit of friendship between the various schools. How they would reforge it by this contest. That the spirits of Strength and Valor would guide the champions. He used every catch word he could. Honour. Fame. Honesty. Integrity. Etcetera. Etcetera. Etcetera.
As the man continued to talk, Draco looked around. His godfather, Rudolphus Lestrange had his usual spot at one end. He was too busy yawning to pay attention to the speech. Next to him was the Junior Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. The Minister's own son, Bartemius Crouch, Junior. Professor Crouch was not yawning. He was checking his timepiece. Professor McGonagall had the best reaction of any of the teachers, in Draco's humble opinion. She was staring up at the ceiling as though looking at the night sky was infinitely more appealing than listening to the Minister's speech on the virtues of competition.
Draco happened to look at Fred and George. They were having their own conversation while the students around them were doing their best not to laugh. Then he looked over at the Hufflepuff table. Justin was taking notes. Later, that Friday when they were having tea at Hagrid's Hut, he would point out to everyone that the Minister used the word, Glory, eight times.
There were other people there, all patiently waiting. Ludo Bagman, who tried to look anywhere but at the Gryffindor table. Sirius Black was sitting with Professor Lupin. He wasn't looking anywhere except the Gryffindor table. Draco found it interesting that Professor Lupin seemed amused by his friend's attitude.
Behind the men, near to a door, stood Rita Skeeter and Murray. Murray was in an excellent position for his camera.
Dumbledore rose again after the Minister finished. He simply said the cup was getting ready to make its decisions. The champions were to come up and pass the table to the wait in the room off to the right. He then waved his wand to dim the sconces. Only the glowing pumpkins were left to shed their light.
The Goblet of Fire now shone brighter than anything else in the hall. The green flame cast everything around it in an eerie glow. Suddenly, the flames turned red. As sparks shot up, a charred piece of paper soared upward from the goblet, then floated slowly down until Dumbledore snatched it from the air. The Minister stepped forward and received the parchment. He opened it and smiled as he read.
"This is no surprise. The champion for Durmstrang is VIKTOR KRUM."
The applause was greater than it had been for the Minister, and more sincere, but the man didn't to care. His precious tournament was off to a great start.
Viktor stood up and made his way behind the teacher's table. There was a flash from Murray's camera. By the time everyone's eyes cleared, Viktor was gone.
The flames turned red a second time. The parchment came out. Dumbledore caught it and handed it to the Minister.
"The Champion for Beaubatons is FLEUR DELACOUR."
Again came the applause. As the young lady stood up, Draco said, "Wow".
"She's part Veela," Hermione whispered angrily. "She only looks pretty."
"That's the point," Dean said in a louder whisper as he and Ron laughed.
Hermione grumbled. Shortly there was another camera flash. Everyone's eyes cleared. And the flames turned red a third time. This was the moment everyone, almost everyone, was waiting for. The Hogwarts champion. Wishes of luck could be heard amongst the tables from friends of the entrants. There was a collective hush as the Minister read the parchment. He turned toward the Gryffindor table.
"The Hogwarts champion is ANGELINA JOHNSON."
Gryffindor were on their feet at once. Even Draco. When he could see, Angelina was giving Fred a hug. The applause from their house, and the others, followed her all the way to the waiting room.
The Minister was happily trying to ask the students to calm down. Probably to give another speech, Draco thought. As the applause began to die, and the Minister to begin talking again, the flames of the Goblet of Fire turned red a fourth time. Draco's smile froze. He made a mistake. The Gryffindors wouldn't cheer for him. They'd hate him even more than everyone else. He was stealing the glory from their rightful champion.
As he watched his doom approach, Dumbledore picked the parchment out of the air. The Minister just as quickly snatched it from him. He didn't care. Something, Someone, had just ruined his pretty pageant. If Draco wasn't worried about how his house would react to the news, he probably would have laughed. Minister Crouch was so angry that he could not even speak.
Draco watched as Dumbeldore tried to take the parchment. The curious thing was the view of the situation. He could clearly see them in profile as Crouch looked at the headmaster. One angry, one wanting to know why he should be. In the space between them, Draco could see the teachers' table, where a very surprised Remus Lupin was sitting next to a smiling Sirius Black. Then Dumbledore took the parchment and stepped forward, blocking the view. He turned toward the Gryffindor table. And he spoke in a low tone that still carried throughout the hall.
"Draco Malfoy, you will come with me."
Draco was no longer worried about what his own house thought of him. Dumbledore's controlled anger was apparent to anyone who looked at him. And he knew why Sirius Black was smiling. Dumbledore was going to give Draco exactly what he deserved.
No one applauded. No one said anything as Draco walked up to the headmaster. No sound was made by any student as Dumbledore grabbed Draco's arm and led him directly to the waiting room. Nor did he get his picture taken. But then, Murray had already taken his picture.
The door opened as they approached the room. Draco entered first, at the headmaster's insistence. He smiled at the other three champions. Curiously, Angelina Johnson smirked.
Two of the three champions were eyeing him carefully. Angelina Johnson's smile faded as quickly as it had come. They were all now looking past him. A man's voice was heard, with an accent similar to Viktor Krum's. He was demanding to know why Dumbledore played such a dastardly trick. The Minister replied that it wasn't the headmaster's doing. This was clearly a concerted effort by Dark Wizards to create an embarrassment.
Draco was released at this point. His first act was to turn around and see who else had followed him into the room. The Minister, standing next to Professor McGonagall, had a gloating look. He addressed the foreign man who had spoken as Professor Karkaroff. He then nodded toward the tall woman, incredibly tall, taller than Hagrid, calling her Madam Maxime. He then turned back to Draco.
"These wizards made a serious mistake, I assure you. This boy will now tell us the names of everyone involved in this plot." He didn't take his eyes off of Draco. "Professor Snape, please bring us veritaserum. I don't trust the boy to be honest, otherwise."
"Good," Karkaroff said, and smiled. The tall lady asked, in a French accent, if the boy was too young. She nodded with satisfaction when she was told it would do no harm, except to the boy's pride.
"Is that true?" Draco asked, in his best innocent voice. "It won't hurt me?"
Dumbledore put a warning hand on his shoulder as the Minister said, "I would remain quiet if I were you."
Draco deliberately looked around at everyone in the room. First, he looked at the three champions behind him. All looked concerned. He glanced at Dumbledore's angry face, the Minister's almost gleeful expression. Professor McGonagall looked both angry at him and sorry for him. Behind them flanked by to two foreigners were Bagman and Crouch, junior. Bagman looked worried while the Minister's son looked amused. Lastly, standing near the door was Professor Snape. Draco watched as the man put his hand on the doorknob.
"UNCLE SEVERUS. IS THE MINISTER TELLING THE TRUTH?"
Dumbledore's hand firmed its grip on Draco's shoulder. The Minister was ordering Draco to be quiet. And, most important, Severus Snape had paused, looking back. He said clearly and distinctly that he would make sure it was administered properly.
"NO YOU WON'T," Draco shouted. Now he was angry. And he believed he had good cause. The Minister ordered him to be quiet. Draco sneered. He chose his target. The French lady. "I was sick. Badly sick." The next words were shouted as the Minister began shouting at him. Draco never took his eyes off the lady. "He fired the man that cured me. Because he cured-"
That was as far as Draco got. Albus Dumbledore had released Draco and stepped between him and the Minister. The Minister's son came from behind and tried to stop his father from charging forward. He was telling, almost shouting at his father that the boy was doing it deliberately.
As the Minister calmed down, barely, Draco decided to speak again. He had plenty of practice antagonizing people. They could ask Potter or Black if they had any doubts. His first words were low and filled with anger.
"I will speak. You can delay me but you can't stop me." He paused as the Minister almost lost his temper, again. "Everyone wants to know the truth, and if anything happens to me, you may get more than you want. You fired Sirius Black, your best Auror, because he cured me. You wanted me harmless, that's why you refused to let anyone cure me."
"Iz zat true?" the tall lady asked.
The Minister never took his eyes off of Draco. "I wanted the brat sent to Saint Mungo's hospital." He managed a cruel laugh. "I demanded no one do anything until he could be looked at by a specialist. That was why the 'best' Auror in the Ministry was fired. Because he risked the boy's safety."
Dumbledore spoke softly, almost hesitantly. "I can verify that the Minister did talk to me about having Draco sent to Saint Mungo's."
Draco never showed how he felt, now that his story was shot down so easily. The Minister was lying, Draco knew. But it was the best kind of lie. It was almost completely true. The Minister did plan on him going to a hospital. A wager of even money said that Draco would never have left.
But now his plan to tell his story was gone. If he were Hermione or Justin, he would have said something noble or intelligent and they would have listened without hesitation. But they were dealing with Draco Malfoy. And everyone knew that Draco Malfoy was a liar. There was even a prophecy that he would lie. Which was as surprising as a prophecy that a hungry man would eat a loaf of bread. How could he be angry when he had no cause?
"CRISP IT," Draco shouted, then managed to look abashed. "I - I'm sorry, Minister. I had it backwards. I had it all backwards. And no I mucked it up good."
It was the tall lady, Madame Maxime, who took the bait. She asked what the boy meant when he said he had it backwards. Draco wasn't looking at her. He was too busy trying to look small and ashamed. He even muttered in an almost crying tone, how he 'buggered it all'.
"Language, young man," Minister Crouch said, sternly, almost soothingly, then caught himself. He knew whom he was dealing with. "We need to question you anyway. What did you have backwards?"
"Sirius Black, Minister." His voice was appropriately sad. "He never liked me. I know he hated my parents." Before anyone could make the obvious comment, he added, "most people did. He kept wanting to change me."
The Minister tried to sound compassionate. "That was the reason I put him in charge."
Draco admitted that he didn't know why his legal guardian disobeyed the Minster. He didn't think it was to hurt anyone. Maybe he wanted to give Draco an excuse to trust him, to respect him. And it did work. That was why he decided to put his plan into action when he heard Black was fired.
"Plan?"
This was from Ludo Bagman. The man's voice was filled with curiosity. That was when Draco understood that Bagman had no idea what was going on.
"It was partly your fault, Sir." Draco paused for effect, trying to hide his glee. Somehow, the reversal worked. No one was hating him at the moment, because he admitted that what he had done was wrong and stupid. And he explained, without much prompting, the reason he acted that way. Everyone was now listening to him, to find out what the clever but foolish boy had done. Almost everyone. A glance upward showed Albus Dumbledore with both anger and amusement. He started his supposed explanation with a question.
"What gave me away?"
"Your accent?" Dumbledore said evenly.
"Albus?" the Minister asked, "What accent?"
"Minister, that is the accent. For Draco. When he becomes emotional, he loses his accent and speaks in his normal voice. Excuse my crudeness but he said, very emotionally and tearfully, 'I've buggered it all'."
"Crisp it," Draco cursed. "Shoulda said I buggered i' tall."
"It would have helped if you had used a different phrase entirely." Albus was now smiling.
"Minister," Severus Snape suggested. He was now standing to one side of the man. "I know Draco very well from having close contact with him for the past few years. While he has a tendency to 'stretch the truth', he also has a tendency to brag."
"I'd rather veritaserum."
Draco was silent. Something was going on. And the only indication was that Uncle Severus was looking at Albus Dumbledore the entire time he was talking to Bartemius Crouch. He was explaining that 'Malfoy' had a problem which resulted in the need to teach him occlumency, surely the Minister remembered.
Both foreign headmasters had stepped close to the Minister to hear the explanation. Ludo Bagman, in the meantime, was explaining to the other champions what had happened. Angelina Johnson actually laughed. Draco stop listening to the conversation in front of him and tried to listen to the one behind him. Angelina was saying something about braggart and warned but that was all he could make out. Bagman said, a little too loud, "Everyone knew?"
The very next moment, The Minister shouted, "IMMUNE? You Helped Him Develop An Immunity To Veritaserum?"
As all eyes were now on the Minister, he was quickly saying he understood. It simply made the task much more difficult. He did understand the need for security.
Ludo Bagman was now informing the Minister that Draco's attempt to enter the contest was well know, at least in his own house. Professor Snape had been right about the boy being a braggart. He told practically everyone that he was going to put his name in. He added, sotto voce, that Draco was not the only one to try. Fortunately, he was the only one to succeed, and did not share his method.
"Only one loophole," Draco said, feeling the need to say something.
"You see," Severus Snape added. "He couldn't resist opening his mouth."
"Yet he is keeping your secrets?" the Minister asked.
"Because I asked him to," Snape said calmly. "Believe it or not, the boy has a very strong code of honour. However, he has a very unique definition of the word."
The Minister laughed. "Draco Malfoy? An honourable man?"
"We are all Honourable men," Draco said clearly and distinctly.
"Perhaps," Dumbledore said, "We should let Draco . . ." Someone was knocking at the door. "Severus, please let whoever it is know that we are not to be interrupted."
Everyone waited as Professor Snape went to the door and opened it. Fierce whispering was heard. After a minute or so, Snape stepped aside to let two people enter the room. Sirius Black and Cedric Diggory. The potions professor escorted them to the Minister.
"I apologize, Minister. Mister Diggory has information on how Draco put his name into the Goblet of Fire."
"And why is that man here."
Sirius Black answered for himself. He managed to look and sound angry. "When you fired me, you forgot to remove me as his legal guardian. I have to be here."
Draco's explanation was delayed as Cedric gave one of his own. He also looked and sounded angry. How Draco ran into him, claiming he was late for breakfast. A member of his house, Justin Finch-Fletchley, was a mate of Draco. Justin had told him, and other member of his house, that one of Draco's special skills is that of a pick pocket.
"It's obvious, Minister, that he used his skills to switch the parchment in my pocket with his own. Unwittingly, I was the one to put his name in."
Draco felt Dumbledore squeeze his shoulder as he asked, "Is that true?"
"Um," Draco said. Then he shrugged. It was an easy lie. "Um." Lying was much more difficult when you were lying to someone you thought of as a friend. Especially since the lie would make sure they were no longer your friend. "Yeah."
"Impossible," the Minister said. "Even if it were true, the goblet would still choose the best qualified person from Hogwarts. And it chose Miss Johnson."
"Don't represent Hogwarts," Draco said evenly. "Tol' you. An' it's Bagman's fault. Not that he'd know to tell."
The Minister eyed Draco curiously. "Albus, his accent does change ." He was now smiling. "I suppose Mister Diggory deserves to hear the rest of the story. And please try to control your emotions. All of us want to understand what you say."
"Whot you mean . . ." Draco said angrily, then stopped. He had made the man very happy by letting himself be goaded into losing his temper. It was not fun to be on the receiving end.
"I have a couple of mates in my house who have a reputation, well deserved, as practical jokers. They even have the intelligence and skills to prove they deserve that reputation." Hermione would have been proud to hear Draco say that. It made him sound like he was smart. He reached into his pocket and pulled out what George had given him. "It's called an Extendible Ear." He smiled politely. "Permit me to demonstrate, Uncle Severus, could you take Professor McGonagall over to the door and whisper something to her?"
As they waited, Draco pointed the ear toward the door at the far end of the room. As Professor Snape whispered, his voice was heard clearly coming from the device Draco was holding. "I told you the Weasleys were involved in this, somehow."
Draco was smiling at the reactions he received. Everyone was impressed. Black forgot himself and said the device could prove useful. The Minister was nodding as well. Ludo Bagman, however, was becoming nervous. He interrupted to ask how all of this was his fault.
Draco told everyone how Fred and George asked him to test their device for them. As he was slinking around, looking for suitable candidates, he heard Bagman talking to someone. When the Minister asked who, Draco said he didn't know. He didn't recognize the voice, and he never saw either man. He merely heard them talking and pointed the ear in their general direction. Sirius Black interrupted again to ask if that meant that you did not need a line of sight to listen in on a conversation. Draco scowled.
"Talk to Fred and George. They're the ones who made. I'm trying to explain myself."
"You know that's impossible. You're just trying to make up an excuse."
Draco smiled. "Everything I say can be verified. Cedric already told you how I put my name in. Don't you want to know how I made sure I was chosen?"
"Talk to them after we're done here," the Minister told Black.
Severus Snape coughed. "I'm sorry, Minister, but I thought you fired him."
The Minister hemmed and hawed a bit, then he had a few private words with Dumbledore, deliberately taking the Extendable Ear with him. The they came back to the group around Draco, the Minister cleared his throat, then said he had merely relieved Black of his duties as an Auror. Sirius Black was to take charge of security for the Tri-Wizard Tournament in view of what his legal ward had managed to do in his absence. The Minister concluded his statement by telling Draco to continue.
The conversation was a technical one, about how the spell on the Goblet of Fire was made. Draco admitted he did not understand most of it but what he did understand was this. That the spell was designed to include other schools. The spell did not contain the names of all the schools that could compete. In fact, it contained the list of all schools of magic that could not enter. The loophole that Draco discovered was that the list was updated to include all school established since the year after the last tournament. The previous update was from the year before the tournament. That left a gap of some twenty months. It was a long shot, but he had managed to discover one school that was established between those two dates.
The young Gryffindor couldn't help but grin. "As I was the only student to enter for the Salem Witches Institute, in the United States, I was the one who was chosen."
Ludo Bagman admitted to the conversation when asked. Bartemius Crouch, Junior also acknowledged that he was the other person in the conversation. He admitted that he also did not understand most of it but he had completely missed the gap that Draco had noticed. He also pointed out that the conversation was being held in private with the knowledge that they would not be overheard. Then he added, "by ordinary means. Father, this was something I had no idea to expect."
Minister Crouch assured his son there was no need for concern. The matter was now clarified. They would correct the error, making the American school ineligible. Thus, Draco would no longer be a champion. Professor Karkaroff was already congratulating the Minister when Ludo Bagman made everyone angry again.
"But he's already been chosen. He has to compete. It's a binding magical contract."
Words were exchanged. Mostly to make sure Bagman was correct. Then to determine if there might be another loophole. One that the Minister could use. Convinced there was no other choice, Draco was recognized as the fourth champion.
The small period of silence was broken by Dumbledore.
"Professor McGonagall, please contact the Salem Witches Institute and let them know what has occurred. We will need their approval, now that we know they are involved."
The headmaster was smiling. "Minister, as Draco Malfoy is no longer as student at Hogwarts, we will be keeping him here until the headmaster at his new school informs us of how they wish to handle the situation."
"Whot?"
The Minister gave a genuine smile. "I will leave it in your capable hands, Albus." He told Bagman to take over the proceedings. Then he turned to leave, pausing to look at Cedric Diggory. He turned back. "Oh, Malfoy, it might be a nice gesture, should you win, to offer half the prize to Mister Diggory. That is not a request." He told Cedric it was a small consolation, but there really wasn't much they could. They had no way of knowing if he would have been chosen. They only knew he was deprived of the chance.
As the Minister left, Draco's only thought was that Bagman had better have made a hefty bet if he was going to get anything out of this.
