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Balance Factor Chapter 21

Year Four

Champion

A/N: I can't do accents, if you haven't noticed… Sorry!

Thanks to those who read and review!

Harry paused as the Goblet shot out more sparks, ready to choose the second champion. He blinked as Dumbledore grabbed the slip of paper and announced, "The Champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"

Harry clapped with his housemates, watching the girl walk up to the front table, shake their hands and disappear into the tent.

Smiling, Harry yawned as the Goblet sparked to life again, spitting out another thread of flame. He closed his eyes, pleasantly basking in the warmth of the candles and the smell of food on his…

"Champion of Hogwarts: Harry Potter!"

Harry fell out of his seat.

"WHAT?!"

But it didn't stop there. The Goblet spit out more sparks and another thread of fire. Dumbledore grabbed it and raised an eyebrow at the name on the slip. "Harry Potter!" He repeated.

To say that Harry was angry was putting it lightly. He was absolutely livid, sweeping past most of the teachers and stopping in front of Dumbledore.

"You must be mistaken. I cannot be the Champion because I did not put my name in the Goblet. Also, I can't be Champion twice!" Harry said, his emerald eyes gleaming. Dumbledore shook his head.

"Harry, my boy, come. I will explain," Dumbledore said. Harry stalked angrily to the tent and swept in, looking rather grumpy as he sat down. He knew that Dumbledore wasn't at fault, knew logically that it wasn't anyone's fault except for the person who had entered his name. But he was still very much angry. And when he was angry, things usually got set on fire.

"Ah, our Hogwarts Champion!" Bagman said. "Famous Harry Potter!"

"Mr. Bagman, I suggest you do not test my temper tonight. It is very short," Harry warned, his eyes flashing. Fleur gave a small start.

"Surely… not. This boy is much too young!" she exclaimed.

"Mr. Potter, did you have another student enter your name for you?" McGonagall asked.

"No! I never wanted to compete in the Triwizard Tournament in the first place!" Harry said, his eyes flashing to her. "I have other things to do. Classes and tests to run. Also, how in the world can I be chosen twice?! That's ridiculous!"

"Perhaps someone entered Potter into a fourth, unspecified school hoping he wouldn't survive the tasks," Moody growled, his magical eye swiveling. "Though considering you were chosen as the Hogwarts Champion, this hardly matters."

Harry shot him a dirty look. The desk ignited and Harry slammed his hand on it, putting out the fire with a hiss. "Professor Dumbledore, is there any way I can withdraw myself from this?"

"Alas, Harry, I'm afraid not," Dumbledore said quietly. "You were chosen."

"Yes, but for which school? This fourth school, or for Hogwarts? If I enter as Hogwarts champion, I will be breaking the magical binding for the fourth school! If I enter for the fourth school, then I will be breaking my magical binding for Hogwarts!" Harry said, scowling. Dumbledore nodded slowly.

"Since there are other names in the Goblet, we are able to select a replacement for you in Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. It was met with immediate protest.

"Dumbledore, you cannot be serious!" Karkaroff said, looking indignant. "I understand Potter losing his magic would be a tragic thing, but-"

"If you do not have a better solution, I suggest you keep your mouth shut!" Harry growled, cutting smoothly into Karkaroff's statement. "I am not willing to sacrifice my magic for a stupid tournament that decided it would be funny to choose my name twice."

"What did you just say you me you little brat-?!" Karkaroff snarled, his eyes turning to Harry's.

Harry gave him a nasty look. "Hard at hearing, are you? How about you compete then, instead of Victor Krum?"

"Then we should all select second champions," Madame Maxime said, looking angry as well. She was staring at Dumbledore instead of him though.

"Alas, we can only replace people's names," Dumbledore said. "We cannot draw out more. Harry's name did come out of the Goblet, so he is magically bound to participate, whether we want him to or not." He left the tent. There was a pause and then Dumbledore came back in.

"The Goblet of Fire has spoken," McGonagall said, "The Hogwarts Champion is Cedric Diggory."

"Done!" Harry said, slamming his hand on the table, standing up. "I am not the Hogwarts Champion. I am this fourth school's champion." He looked at McGonagall. "Can I name it? The school, I mean."

McGonagall nodded slowly. Harry looked pleased and he pulled up another chair, tapping it with his wand. A white and a black dragon coiled around the armrests and Harry sat in it, smirking. "From this point on, the school I am representing is Monochrome University."

Diggory stepped in the tent looking pleased, but stopped short as the words "Monochrome University" appeared on the back of Harry's chair. Harry gestured to the Hogwarts chair and leaned back, taking deep breaths.

"Uh… Potter?" Diggory started.

"No questions," Harry stated. "We are to be told of the first task, correct?"

Bagman launched into an explanation of the first task, as well as the benefits for the Champions. Harry barely paid attention, but was working on calming his rather intense emotions.

The first task was on November 24th. Good. That left plenty of time for him to practice.

As they were dismissed, Cedric looked at Harry. "Hey, Harry?" he asked. "Why did you withdraw your position as the Hogwarts Champion?"

"Diggory, I had no choice. It was either withdraw one or lose my magic," Harry said, looking at him. He was finally calm. "And I wasn't willing to lose my magic. No one else was entered into Monochrome University, but me. So, I am the Champion of Monochrome University."

"Why Monochrome University though?" Cedric asked, stopping as they were to split to go to each common room. "I mean, it's… a strange name. Kind of muggle."

Harry smiled. "It's an inside joke."

When Harry entered the common room, everything exploded around him. Harry gave a small jolt as he stared, looking at the gold and red banners. People he didn't know came up to him and shook his hands, promoting their congratulations. Harry shook them off.

"Excuse me!" He called loudly. The room hushed. "I wanted to let you know that I am not representing Hogwarts! I am representing Monochrome University!" He looked around. "So this is rather insulting to my school. If you wish to celebrate my Chamption status, please get it right, at least." He stalked up the stairs, walking towards the boy's dorms. Ron was sitting on his bed, waiting for him.

"You could have told me you entered," Ron said quietly.

"Ron, you were with me since we were on the train," Harry reminded gently, his voice not betraying any emotion. "When would I have time? I did tell you I didn't want to enter. Truthfully it's because I had arranged lessons with Professor Snape."

"You have lessons with Snape?!" Ron asked, now looking a little ashamed. "Bummer."

"Yes, Ron. Some upperclassman must have entered me as a joke or something," Harry said, shaking his head.

"I heard some higher level Slytherins did," Draco's voice said. Harry pulled out the two way mirror, looking at Draco's face. "They apparently wanted you dead and thought this would be the best way. Also, they thought you blowing up the school would be a good prospect."

"Gee… Thanks… Remind me to blow it up with them standing right under it," Harry said nastily. Draco grinned. "What about the fourth school entry though. I'm pretty sure they couldn't have entered me there. Only someone really powerful could have done that."

Draco shook his head. "I don't know… But you renamed the school, didn't you? I saw that new banners had appeared in the Great Hall before I left. A black and a white dragon, hm? What's the school called?"

"Monochrome University," Harry replied. Draco snorted in laughter.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione had apparently been searching for him in the party but had come up when she didn't see him. "We believe you didn't enter yourself. Right Ron?"

Ron hesitated, but then nodded. "Harry… I don't think you entered yourself… but I think… that someone might be after you."

Harry snorted. "What else is new, I suppose. Who, do you think, would be after me this year? Quirrell's dead, the basilisk's dead, Sirius is my godfather… You think it might be Moody this year, or Voldemort?"

"The Dark Lord has yet to do anything this year, so I'm betting on him," Draco said.

"You'll be alright though, won't you, Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Probably," Harry said, combing out his hair with a comb he had purchased. "If I'm not, I promise to visit when I'm dead."

Ron punched his shoulder.

-0-

Harry studied the large bug like Rita Skeeter. She had dragged him away from the weighing of the wands for an exclusive interview.

Most of his items, robes, and trunk had changed appearance. Harry suspected it was the House Elves, as he was representing Monochrome University. His scarf and tie had become a checkered pattern; his robes now bore the twin dragons and an M overlapping a U.

The other three houses somehow had erased the sensible part of their brain. They seemed to think that Harry had cheated his way in the tournament and were now wearing rather insulting badges. Harry had given up pointing out that his name came up twice, once as the Hogwarts Champion and once more as an unnamed school. Even if his name came up only once as the Hogwarts Champion, it would still mean he's a Champion.

"So, Harry," the women said. Harry tiled his head at her, not particularly wanting to answer any questions. She seemed to ignore his look. "How did you manage to enter the tournament?"

Harry blinked. "Someone entered me without my knowledge, I assume." He didn't show any emotion about it, glancing down at the quill in front of himself. He wondered how it would burn.

"Speaking of your parents, if they were alive, how do you think they would feel? Proud?" Rita asked.

With that, Harry concluded that he didn't like Rita Skeeter very much. His face remained blank as he spoke again. "Do you enjoy making fools out of people, Rita Skeeter?" He reached forward, grabbing the quill off the parchment and set it on fire. Rita shrieked in horror, backing away from Harry. Harry smiled pleasantly. "How would your mummy and daddy feel if they saw you now? Slandering people the way you do, destroying people's lives." Harry was immensely glad she had dragged him into a broomshed. "Does it give you a thrill, Ms. Skeeter? Like it gave Lockhart a thrill? I would be careful though. If you anger the wrong people, things might turn out badly for you. Especially since you do not know which side is winning." He stood up, handing the ashes of the quill to her and moving towards the door.

"Please do contact me if you wish to publish a truthful and unbiased article about me though. You are quite popular, as you may know. Good day, Ms. Skeeter," Harry said pleasantly, smiling as he turned the knob and vanished back to the weighing.

Harry approached Mr. Olivander, holding out his wand. Olivander's hand trembled a little when he touched Harry's wand, picking it up out of Harry's hand.

"Mr. Potter… Yes, I remember this wand quite well… Eleven inches, holly, phoenix feather core… It has been used quite a bit, but the quality seems to have only gotten sharper," Olivander inhaled sharply as he spoke. "A powerful wand indeed." He whispered something and a golden stream of water shot out from the tip. He handed it back to Harry, pleased.

"Wonderful," Olivander said, nodding. "Take good care of it."

"I will. Thank you, Mr. Olivander," Harry said quietly.

Harry was stopped by Hagrid as he went back to the tower. Hagrid looked a little nervous.

"'Arry? I got something to show you," he said. "Can you come to my cabin at midnight?"

Harry paused, nodding slowly. "Alright."

-0-

Harry gazed at Rita's new article in some amusement. Apparently he was a terrifying powerful wizard who had intentions on becoming the next Dark Lord. Harry almost laughed. Almost.

He pulled out Kou's mirror, looking into its reflective surface. Kou hadn't contacted him. But that probably meant Kou was busy. Harry wasn't going to be the one to bother him. Especially not if Kou was with Shirogane.

Sirius had contacted him by floo two days before the First Task. Hagrid's surprise had been a bit of a shock. The First Task was dragons.

Harry was sure the other headmasters had told the two about the First Task, so he let it slip to Cedric that dragons were the First Task. Cedric's shocked face was quite satisfying.

"Harry…?" Ron said, looking at the article. "Er, have you seen this?"

"Yes, Ron, I have," Harry said. "Amusing isn't it?" He took a cheerful bite of his eggs and glanced at the students who were between finding it a joke and taking it seriously. He seemed quite pleased with himself.

"Potter's armed and dangerous. Behind the charming smile and all that fame, he hides a darker side…" Draco looked up from reading the article, "Really, Potter? Really?! You have a darker side?"

"Yes, Draco, I do. Secretly, I wish to murder everyone," Harry deadpanned. Draco snorted, putting the article down.

"Absolute rubbish. And anyone who believes this is stupid as hell," Draco announced. He dropped the paper on the table and stalked back to the Slytherin table. Some of the students were looking nervously at Draco and then at Harry. Harry laughed.

"So, Harry, have you thought up of any ways to get past a dragon?" Hermione asked. Ron looked up from stuffing his face with bacon. Harry looked thoughtful.

"Um… Let's see… Can't I just cut off its head?" Harry asked, exasperatedly. Hermione groaned.

"No. I don't think so. How will you explain summoning a spear like that?" Hermione asked. Harry shook his head and grunted. Ron snorted.

"Why not find something in the library? You practically live there anyway," Ron said. Harry grinned at Ron.

"Why not join us? We're all friends anyway," Harry said. "What a great idea, Ron. Let's go!"

"What?! Wait… I…"

Harry and Hermione dragged Ron out of the Great Hall. They searched through books, even asking Madam Pince for her opinion.

"Dragons?" she said, looking bewildered. "Why are you looking to face something that dangerous?"

"Well," Harry said, "I thought that dangerous might be in the tournament at one point. If people have died, after all, it isn't from the tasks, but the obstacles in the tasks, I assume."

She sniffed but handed him a book about how to tame a dragon, as well as more about dragon's weaknesses. Harry looked through them, judging most of them useless as they all needed some time beforehand to prepare. Stunners would work, but only with many powerful wizards.

"Harry? Why don't you just summon your spear with a summoning charm?" Ron asked suddenly, looking at a book. Harry paused and peeked over his shoulder.

"Good idea," Hermione said. Harry frowned a little.

"I can try… but I usually don't leave my spear sitting in the dorms... It's hard to keep materialized when it leaves my hand so… I haven't really tried keeping it out." Harry looked slightly apprehensive.

Hermione, however, insisted that he try. Harry agreed.

-0-

Ron had to duck the flying spear. It crashed into the wall behind Harry and Harry winced a little.

"Sorry!" Harry said, looking at the weapon that he had attempted to summon with the spell. "Ron, are you okay?"

"Maybe we should practice with less lethal things before we try your spear," Hermione looked just as nervous as Ron, who was on the floor, shaking in fear. Harry nodded a little.

"Ron, can you hold my spear?" Harry asked, offering the spear to Ron. Ron nodded and bucked a little at the weight of the weapon.

"Wow, Harry, this is heavy… I'm surprised you can carry this and swing it around," Ron said, surprised. He paused as the door opened and Draco walked in.

"So here you three are…" Draco said, looking a little put out at being left out. He raised an eyebrow at the hole left by the spear behind Harry and then the spear in Ron's hands. "What's going on?"

"I'm going to be summoning my spear from the Gryffindor dorms. And would rather like not getting my head lopped off in the process," Harry informed. "You can help Ron hold my spear. It is a little heavy."

Draco blinked, walking over and touching the dragons that were on the spear. The spear gleamed in the firelight, its blade deadly and sharp. He picked it up, having to strain with the weight. Ron grinned a little.

"It's heavy, isn't it?" Ron asked, looking at Draco. Draco nodded and looked at Harry summoning books from across the room. Then he looked back at Ron.

"I wonder why Potter keeps that sash on it," Draco said, touching the soft silky material. "And where it was made… It's a beautiful weapon, really." He sat down next to Ron, looking back at Harry.

"Didn't he say it was made by his Fathers in our First year?" Ron asked, looking at Draco.

"His Fathers had to have it made it somewhere," Draco said. "But… I guess they are entities. So… Maybe they made it like they made him?"

"Making existences must be harder than making weapons… I wonder if they made him any other weapons," Ron said. "You know, sometimes I'm jealous of him. Harry, I mean."

Draco looked at Ron, one eyebrow raised.

"Well, wouldn't you be? I mean, look at him. He's a level above everyone, an entity," Ron said, pointing. "Plus, he's rich, and immortal, to an extent. Anyone would be jealous of that." Ron didn't really look spiteful though, so Draco didn't protest.

"I kind of feel the same way, actually," Draco said. "Disregarding the money, anyway." Ron looked at Draco in surprise, but Draco was watching Harry practice the Summoning Charm. "He gets to make his own path. Walk it. Turn back if he wants to." Draco turned to Ron. "You know, my father wants me to be a Death Eater when the Dark Lord returns. I don't really want to, but I don't think I have much of a choice."

"That's terrible," Ron said quietly. Draco smiled sadly.

"Yeah. Other Slytherins are the same. They don't want to be Death Eaters. I mean, who wants to go around purging the world free of mudbloods and muggles?" Draco sighed. "I don't. Too much effort. Plus, you can never be sure you got them all. Harry's side is the winning side, so that's what I want to stay on."

"Meaning you're using Harry to make sure you survive?" Ron asked, his eyes a little narrowed. Draco laughed.

"It's more than that. Harry's an important friend to me," Draco said. "I never thought I'd say this about Potter, but he's a good friend. Someone you can depend on when you're in trouble."

"…We're friends like that too…" Ron said, looking at Draco. "I can try to help you. Just let me know, okay? If you ever want to run away from your dad… I can ask my mum about it. I doubt they'd think about looking for you at my place."

"Thanks Weasley," Draco said, shaking his head. "But I kind of wanted to ask Harry about what I should do."

Ron nodded, a little more relaxed. They turned to watch Harry just as Harry summoned a dictionary from across the room and get hit in the face with it.