In need of a Beta for this story. Please PM me if you are interested. Hope you enjoy this chapter :)
It has been week since the arrival of the Durmstrang and Beauxbaton schools. It has also been a week since the incident in the hall with Fleur and Harry. Currently, Harry was once again sleeping during class, but this time, it was during Transfiguration. Harry was at the back of the room with Neville, so McGonagall hasn't notice this blatant act of disrespect. Neville was trying furiously to transfigure a chair into a pin while Harry's chair sat unchanged.
"Harry," Neville whispered, turning his head to look at Harry. "I need some help." The only response he got was the gentle breathing of slumber. Neville frowned before he looked back at his chair. So far, his chair had the metallic properties of a pin, but still retained the shape and size of a chair.
"What did Professor Mcgonagall tell us again?" Neville thought to himself as he aimed his wand at the chair. "Create the image you want to transfigure in your head. Focus on it as you perform the wand movements to complete the spell." Neville took in a deep breath before aiming his wand at the chair.
"Here goes nothing," Neville muttered to himself before he waved his wand in a pattern, pouring all his magic into it. He smiled when he saw the chair start to shrink down in size.
"I did it," Neville congratulated himself before seeing the chair continue to shrink without any sign of stopping. Neville just looked distraught as it shrunk into oblivion.
"It seems you had another mishap, Mr. Longbottom," Neville heard a stern voice. He whipped his head up to see McGonagall looking at him with a hint of amusement in her eyes. Neville could immediately feel his face turn red when he heard McGonagall say that.
"No matter, you are at the same stage as everyone else in the room," McGonagall stated before she turned her head to look at the slumbering Harry. "Well, almost everyone." A look of pity flashed Neville's face as McGonagall walked over to the latter. Standing right next to Harry, she slammed her hand on the table. A resounding thud could be heard across the entire classroom, gaining the attention of every student in the class.
"What the fu~" Harry exclaimed, jerking awake.
"I would advise you to watch your language, Mr. Potter," McGonagall glared at a dazed Harry.
"Huh?" Harry dumbly replied, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Seeing that you have the gall to sleep through one of my classes, would you care to demonstrate a proper Transfiguration for your fellow classmates?" McGonagall commanded with a strained smile on her face.
"*Yawn* Whatever you say, you cranky, old lady," Harry lazily responded, pulling out his black wand. "What am I supposed to transfigure this thing into?"
"Originally, it was supposed to be a pin as everyone seems to be too distracted by the upcoming selection for the TriWizard Tournament, but now, I want you to transmute this chair into a bear," McGonagall ordered. Everyone held their breaths at McGonagall's words.
"Ok," Harry nonchalantly replied, earning the shock of the entire class while McGonagall just raised an eyebrow underneath her large hat. Harry closed his eyes for a moment. No one would dare break the silence that has settled inside the entire classroom. Everyone just watched as Harry slowly opened his eyes and aimed his wand at the chair. He flicked his wand, pouring a decent amount of magic into his movement.
"The amount of magic he's using is not enough to perform the Transfiguration," McGonagall thought to herself as she watched the chair. Then, the strangest thing happened: the chair started to grow fur. McGonagall couldn't believe her own eyes as the chair started grow and change shape. Soon, a large, brown grizzly bear loomed over both a bored Harry, a shocked McGonagall, and a petrified Neville.
"Here's your bear," Harry told McGonagall before he flicked his wand again. The bear then reverted back to a chair before it could do any damage. Silence and wide eyes were the only responses to this
"Was that up to your standard?" Harry drawled before he leaned back into his chair. "If you got nothing else to talk to me about, I will be taking a nap. *Yawn*" McGonagall quickly regained her composure.
"Come with me, Mr. Potter," McGonagall ordered before grabbing the boy by his arm and dragging him out of the room.
"OI," Harry shouted, but he was still dragged out. The class just stayed silent for a moment before chattering amongst themselves. Chaos soon enveloped the entire classroom.
*BANG*
The door was slammed open, making every student whip their heads to see an agitated Mad-Eye Moody glaring at them.
"SHUT UP, YOU BRATS," Mad-Eye Moody shouted, sounding slightly irritated. "JUST BECAUSE MCGONAGALL IS GONE, IT DOESN"T MEAN THAT YOU GET TO PLAY AROUND." Everyone was stunned silent at Mad-Eye Moody's outburst.
"Now then, I'm supposed to keep an eye on you while the Potter boy is taken to the Headmaster's office," Mad-Eye Moody stated. "I want you all of you to quietly do what you're supposed to do. If I hear a single peep out of this classroom, Madam Pomfrey will have a field day. Do you understand?" Everyone gulped in fear as they watched Mad-Eye Moody looked across the classroom before stomping out.
At the Headmaster's Office
Harry found himself, scowling, inside the Headmaster's Office with Dumbledore, sitting in front of him, and McGonagall next to him.
"What brings Mr. Potter here, Professor McGonagall?" Dumbledore asked, fiddling with the wrapper of a lemon drop. Harry could sense the hidden exasperation in Dumbledore's voice as McGonagall opened her mouth to explain why she is here.
"Albus, I don't believe that Mr. Potter belongs here," McGonagall stated, making both males look at her in surprise.
"How so?" Dumbledore inquired, hiding his surprise.
"Let me explain," McGonagall responded before looking at Harry. "When Mr. Potter first arrived, we assumed that he would lack basic magical knowledge. We even toyed with the idea that he should be placed with the first years. However, he has proven to us that he is able to keep up with the fourth year curriculum."
"I agree, but it does not explain why you believe that Mr. Potter shouldn't be here," Dumbledore responded while Harry scratched the back of his head.
"That's the problem, Albus. He's now farther than any of his peers in all of his subjects," McGonagall explained, the pitch of her voice rising a bit. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in response while Harry just looked away, glaring at the inactive Hat.
"All those damn lessons," Harry grumbled to himself.
"The other professors would agree with me that Mr. Potter does not belong in the fourth year curriculum," McGonagall stated.
"So what do you wish to do?" Dumbledore asked.
"I wish to have Mr. Potter take his OWLs this year," McGonagall answered.
"WHAT?!" Harry exclaimed, whipping his head around to look at McGonagall. Both adults looked at Harry in surprise.
"It is very rare for a professor to recommend you for OWLs," McGonagall explained to Harry. "You should consider it an honor to be recommended for the OWLs."
"Nah, I'm good," Harry responded, waving his hand. The adult just gawked at Harry's refusal.
"A-A-Are you sure about this, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall responded, flabbergasted. "You will be missing out on an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Yeah, I'm fine. It would be just a waste of time to make me do them," Harry confirmed.
"Why is that?" Dumbledore inquired. "To obtain any reasonable profession in the Wizarding world, you must pass your OWLs."
"I don't plan on staying in the Wizarding world for that long," Harry stated, smirking. McGonagall just looked at him confused while Dumbledore looked at Harry suspiciously.
"Would you care to clarify?" Dumbledore asked in a fake, kind tone.
"I mean that I won't be here next year," Harry answered before he stood up. "I will be off then. Surely, you must prepare for the selection of your champion for the tournament, don't you?" Harry then quickly exited the office to the astonishment of both adults. On the shelf, the Hat inwardly chuckled to itself as Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at each other.
"What do you plan to do about this, Albus?" McGonagall asked. "James and Lily will be devastated when they hear about this."
"Don't worry, Minerva," Dumbledore smiled at her. "Mr. Potter is still raw about coming here to Hogwarts. It doesn't help the way he has been treated in the first few days he was here. Hopefully, he will learn to forgive his family and enjoy his time in Hogwarts. The only thing we can do is ensure that nothing happens to him that will worsen the image of Hogwarts he has in his mind." McGonagall nodded her head in agreement. She failed to see the dark twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes when he said this, but the Hat did.
"I don't like the look on his face. I will have to warn Harry," the Hat thought as it watched McGonagall walk out of the office.
Later - At the Grand Hall
"What are you guys doing over the weekend?" Harry asked as he propped his head up with his arm on the Gryffindor table. Sitting next to him, there was Fleur, who was enjoying a relatively exquisite French cuisine while both Neville and Hermione had finiahed their meals.
"Homework," the two answered simultaneously, earning a deadpan look from Harry.
"Really? That's it?" Harry responded, slightly surprised. Neville and Hermione nodded their heads while Fleur swallowed her food.
"Why do you ask?" Hermione inquired. "I'm sure you have homework to do as well."
"And I'm not going to do it," Harry replied with a smirk on his face, earning a disapproving look from the two Hogwarts students and a glare from Fleur.
"You must do your homework," Fleur stated, pointing her fork at Harry. He raised an eyebrow in response, slightly amused by the serious expression on her face.
"But MOM. I don't want toooo," Harry whined in an uncharacteristically childish voice. Fleur just glared at a smirking Harry while Neville and Hermione just shook their heads at his antic.
"Just for that, I will be making sure that you do your homework over the weekend and more," Fleur stated before she went back to eating her meal.
"As if you could make me," Harry retorted, arrogantly. Fleur just ignored him as she calmly at her dish, slightly unnerving Harry. He leaned over to the table, motioning for Neville to lean over as well.
"She can't, right?" Harry whispered to Neville.
"I don't know," Neville whispered back. "I wouldn't test her if I were you."
"Why not?"
"Women just have a way of making men do things they don't want to do," Neville answered before noticing Hermione looking at them suspiciously. "Let's sit back down before Hermione asks us what we're talking about." Harry nodded his head in agreement before the two boys sat back down.
"Did you hear about the Weasley twins?" Neville asked Harry, trying to distract Hermione.
"Who?" Harry responded, slightly confused.
"The Weasley Twins," Neville answered. "You know the Gryffindor pranksters." A blank face was all Neville got from Harry.
"Nevermind," Neville continued, waving his hand. "Anyway, I heard that they tried to apply for the TriWizard Tournament by using an aging potion to make them seventeen." Harry and Fleur looked at Neville with interest while Hermione just shook her head in response.
"Did it work?"
"No. Apparently, they started to grow long white beards the minute they dropped their name into the goblet. From what I heard, it was quite hilarious."
"They were stupid," Hermione stated. "The ring around the goblet was designed to only allow those seventeen or above to participate to drop their names into the goblet. Anyone below the age of seventeen will be rejected and face severe punishment. It was stupid for the twins to think that they could fool the ring with a simple aging potion."
"Wait, the ring only allows people seventeen or older to enter the names into the tournament?" Harry responded, surprised.
"Yeah," Hermione confirmed, looking at Harry with a confused expression on her face.
"So what happens if someone puts someone else's name into the goblet?" Harry asked. Hermione looked at Harry in surprise.
"I-I-I don't know," Hermione stuttered, slightly unsure of herself. "I guess the goblet accepts it, but I don't see anyone doing such a thing. The ring only allows a person to drop their name into the goblet once."
"Who designed this ring?" Harry inquired even further, staring straight at Hermione.
"I guess the Headmaster," Hermione answered. "He was the one who told us all of the rules." Harry nodded his head before he looked at Fleur. He could see concern in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Harry could see her mouth. Harry then leaned closer to her ear.
"I have a bad feeling about this. If I know anything, it is that old man is cunning. The way the ring is designed is sketchy," Harry confessed before returning to his original position. Fleur just looked at Harry before she quickly ate the rest of her meal.
*GONG*
Immediately, everyone whipped their heads around to see Dumbledore standing next to the Goblet of Fire, which was situated between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables.
"The time you have all been waiting for has finally arrived," Dumbledore said, his voice magnified by the Sonorus charm. "In approximately thirty seconds, the Goblet of Fire will release the first Champion for the tournament. I hope everyone, who wished to participate, have put their names into the goblet. This is your last chance to do so." He smiled as he saw that everyone was still seated.
"Let us see who is the first Champion, shall we?" Dumbledore spoke, turning around to look at the goblet. Suddenly, the dull, blue fire within the goblet glowed before ejecting a small piece of paper. Dumbledore caught it before reading it.
"Representing Durmstrang Institute," Dumbledore said before looking up. "VIKTOR KRUM." Instantly, everyone clapped as a young man from the Slyhterin table stood up. He was donned in an all-black outfit, which consisted of a wooly sweatshirt, long pnats, and boots. His shaved head and strong, solid frame gave him an intimidating aura. Viktor walked over to Dumbledore, who shook his hand. He stood next to Dumbledore as the goblet glowed again, ejecting another piece of paper. Dumbledore repeated the process.
"Representing Beauxbatons Academy of Magic," Dumbledore announced. "FLEUR DELACOUR." Everyone clapped enthusiastically with Harry being the loudest as Fleur stood up before gracefully walking over to Dumbledore. She smiled as she nodded her heads to some of her fellow classmates while the males just drooled at her figure. Harry smiled as he watched Fleur shake hands with Dumbledore before standing next to Viktor. The goblet glowed once again, ejecting another piece of paper. Dumbledore grabbed it before reading it.
"Representing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Dumbledore spoke. "CEDRIC DIGGORY." Everyone clapped as Cedric stood up with a smile on his face. He quickly made his way to Dumbledore, shaking his hand and standing next to the other two Champions.
"Now, that the three Champions have been announced. I would like to state a few groun~" Dumbledore started to speak before seeing the goblet glow once more. Then, Harry felt something attach itself to his heart.
"Hnnn," Harry groaned as Dumbledore caught the piece of paper in the air. If Dumbledore was surprised, he didn't show it on his face as he looked up at everyone in the hall with a serious look.
"Our fourth Champion, Harry Potter," Dumbledore said in a monotonous voice. Silence filled the entire hall as everyone turned their faces to look at a visibly angry Harry.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Harry exclaimed, standing up and scaring almost every student. "I NEVER SIGNED UP FOR THIS SHI~"
"LANGUAGE, MR. POTTER," Dumbledore scolded Harry.
"Screw you, old man," Harry responded, flipping the bird. Everyone gasped at Harry's action.
"I bet you dumped my name into the goblet to force me to stay in this dump of a school," Harry continued, his anger getting the better of judgement. Dumbledore glared at Harry, crumbling the piece of paper in his hand.
"That's a very audacious accusation, Mr. Potter. I would advise you to refrain yourself from saying such things unless you wish to suffer the consequences," Dumbledore spoke in a threatening tone. "Whether you like it or not, you have been chosen to participate in the TriWizard Tournament."
"I'm not doing anything," Harry growled. "Nothing can make me join this stupid tournament." Suddenly, Harry felt something squeezing his heart.
"ARGH," Harry screamed, spitting out a wad of blood onto the table.
"HARRY?!" everyone, who knew him, screamed out in shock with Hermione and Neville standing up to move to help him.
"What's going on?" Harry groaned, glaring at Dumbledore.
"I told you," Dumbledore responded, unfazed by Harry's dilemma. "You are bound by magic to participate in the tournament. Whether you like or not, you are a contestant and you must fulfill your role as one or else suffer the consequences." Harry could still feel a strange force strangling his heart as he continued to glare at Dumbledore.
"That crafty bastard," Harry thought to himself, clenching his teeth in pain.
"Fine, I will join your stupid tournament," Harry growled to the shock of Neville, Hermione, and Fleur. Instantly, Harry felt the force disappear as he straightened himself up. Dumbledore smiled as Harry walked over to him. When he extended his hand for Harry to shake, the latter just ignored it. Instead, he spat out blood at Dumbledore's feet before looking defiantly at him. Viktor and Cedric looked at Harry with shocked expressions on their faces while Fleur just had a disappointment written all over hers. Losing his smile, Dumbledore just watched as Harry walked over next to the other Champions.
"Now, that our Champions have been chosen," Dumbledore spoke with a smile returning on his face. "I would like to state a few ground rules for them." Turning around to face the group of four, Dumbledore looked at all of them except for Harry.
"Each of you should be honored that you can represent your school. Just remember that each of you will be expected to behave properly ~ looks at Harry ~ and show respect to each other. Of course, you will be excused from your classes in order for you to focus on the tournament. I just hope that it will not disrupt your studies. Your first task, which will take place two months from now before the Winter break," Dumbledore told the group. "Do you understand?" Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur nodded their heads while Harry just ignored Dumbledore.
"Good," Dumbledore responded, moving his eyes to look at Harry. "You will learn more from the head of your schools after this, but now, celebrate with your friends. Someone will come to collect you soon." Immediately, the group of four departed to celebrate their selection with their friends. Viktor went to an excited Slytherin table and Cedric too with the Hufflepuff table. Fleur looked at a scowling Harry before walking over to her classmates to celebrate. Harry stomped back to Neville and Hermione, who had a look of concern on their faces.
"I'm going to kill that old man," Harry swore, sitting down before glaring at all of the people looking at him. The other students averted their gazes away while Hermione and Neville just looked at each other.
"Are you sure he did it?" Hermione asked Harry.
"He's the only suspect," Harry answered, still scowling.
"It could have been someone else," Hermione pointed out.
"Like who?" Harry questioned.
"What about all the enemies you made?" Neville suggested, earning a grateful look from Hermione.
"They think I'm dead," Harry stated, looking at Neville with a deadpan expression.
"Oh," Hermione and Neville responded. They stayed silent while Harry fumed. Then, he stood up.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked.
"To get a drink," Harry answered before he marched out of the hall. Immediately, Neville and Hermione chased after Harry. They found Harry in the prefect's room, pouring himself a glass of fire whiskey. They just watched as Harry downed the entire glass in one gulp.
"Aren't you over-reacting to what happened?" Neville meekly asked as Harry poured himself another glass.
"Nope," Harry answered, downing that glass in one gulp as well. "I think this is the perfect reaction for someone, who didn't even sign up for the stupid thing."
"Still, a brat like you shouldn't be drinking for a measly thing like this," a growly voice stated. The three of them turned around to see Mad-Eye Moody.
"Try and stop me," Harry dared as he started to pour himself another glass.
"Accio fire whiskey," Mad-Eye Moody chanted, making the fire whiskey fly into his free hand.
"Magic," Harry grumbled as he just looked at his empty hand. "What a pain."
"Quit your whining, kid," Mad-Eye Moody scolded Harry. "It's not the end of the world if you participate in this tournament."
"That's not it," Harry replied, looking at Mad-Eye Moody.
"Then, tell us," Hermione inquired, looking straight at Harry.
"There's something fishy going on. I'm pretty sure the tournament is a way for that old man to control me," Harry answered, glaring at Hermione. "I have spent my whole life trying to escape his grasp only to fall right back into it." Hermione, Neville, and Mad-Eye Moody just looked at Harry. It was silent in the room.
"So what do you plan to do?" Neville quietly asked, breaking the silence.
"What do I plan to do?" Harry responded, looking up at the ceiling. "I have no choice, but to participate." Hermione, Neville, and Mad-Eye Moody just looked at the expressionless Harry.
"Can you guys leave?" Harry requested. "I think I'm going to bed early."
"Are you sure, Harry? You still have that meeting later to go," Hermione pointed out.
"I'm not going," Harry stated. The others nodded their heads before leaving the room to let Harry be alone with his thoughts. Ensuring that everyone has gone, Harry slammed the table with his fist.
"DAMMIT," Harry shouted, waking up Helga.
"/ What's wrong? /" Helga lazily asked, yawning.
"/ Nothing /" Harry answered, keeping his voice neutral. "/ You can go back to sleep. /"
"/ Ok /" Helga replied before going back to sleep. Harry stayed silent for a moment.
"(What do you plan to do?)" Tom hissed.
"(I don't know)," Harry answered, clenching his teeth. "(There's only one thing I can talk to about this.)" Harry then apparated.
In the Headmaster's Office
Harry appeared inside the Headmaster's office much to the shock of the portraits of the other Headmasters.
"What are you doing here, boy?" one of them demanded to know.
"Keep quiet and don't tell anyone I was here or else I will make sure that this entire office will be blown to bits," Harry growled. The portraits silenced themselves, remembering the his earlier exploits, as Harry walked over to where the Hat was. Grabbing the Hat, he then apparated onto the rooftop.
"I need to talk to you," Harry stated, gently laying the Hat onto the rooftop. After a moment, Harry could feel magic gathering underneath the Hat, taking shape. Soon, the constructed body of the Hat stood in front of him.
"What's wrong?" the Hat asked.
"I have to participate in the tournament," Harry answered.
"What?!" the Hat exclaimed in shock. "That's impossible." Harry then explained what happened during the selection.
"That's strange," the Hat responded after hearing what Harry said. "Every TriWizard Tournament has only three Champions, each from the three schools. For there to be a fourth Champion, someone must have messed with the goblet's magic."
"Who's powerful enough to do that?" Harry asked.
"There's a select few, but the one you're probably thinking is Dumbledore. Am I right?" the Hat answered. Harry nodded his head.
"That's not a bad assumption especially basing on what I heard after you left earlier today," the Hat continued, putting a finger on its chin.
"Do you think it was him?" Harry asked.
"I can't say for certain, but all I know is that you are forced by the binding magic of the goblet to compete," the Hat answered.
"So, what you're saying is that I should destroy the goblet," Harry responded, grinning.
"That won't work," the Hat quickly rejected. "Once the goblet binds you with its magic, it cannot be undone until the tournament is over."
"Oh," Harry replied, losing his grin. "I thought I found a way out of Dumbledore's grip."
"Unfortunately, we can't do anything to fix this," the Hat stated. "The only thing we can do is up your training, so you will be ready for the tournament." Harry groaned in response while the Hat just shook its head.
"Since you brought me out here, we can start your new training," the Hat said.
"Fine," Harry replied before walking away. "Let's go." Off to the distance, something watched Harry and the Hat walk on the rooftops.
"He's not ready," it whispered before spreading its wings. It flew into the night sky, guided only by the light of the full moon.