This idea came more from the fact that its always the Goblins that give Harry a better option for fourth year. Not that I'm completly against it some writers have made some truly amazing uses of that method. Robst being one of the best user of the trope in my opinion. I thought that it might be interesting if there were wizards that were willing to help and how they would slip in.
hrOliver Wood scowled, as he stormed his way down the familiar and well beaten pathway to the Gryffindor Quidditch Pitch locker room. He had graduated from Hogwarts just last year and had thought that it would be several more years before he had the excuse to come back here. Not the half a year that it actually had been. He had been out enjoying a victory party with the other members of his new team, when Assistant Headmistress McGonagall of all people had entered the bar where the Puddlemere United frequented. She had marched through the pub come on to him sending scolding looks towards various former students doing things that she disapproved of.
She had taken him to the side and explained a situation to him. One that had him worried. Harry Potter had somehow been entered into the Triwizard tournament. A majority of the Gryffindor House had voted his seeker as a liar and a cheat. Despite the fact that he was one of the most honorable people that Oliver had ever known. His Quidditch team and some of their closest friends had allied themselves with Harry, and had found themselves all exiled from Gryffindor as well. The group had holed up in the locker room for the moment.
His former teacher had wanted him to come and talk some sort of sense into the heads of the exiles, and to give into whatever demands that the rest of the house wanted. Personally he was unsure as to what it was that McGonagall thought was going to happen. His team had played for the honor of Gryffindor, and now when a member and by extension the rest of the team had become inconvenient, they had repaid them with banishment. He had seen the list of demands that they were asking, and knew that they were insane. To add salt to the wound, McGonagall and Dumbledore had signed off on the demands. Harry had to get down on his hands and knees and beg forgiveness. The idea of one of his players having to do that made his blood boil. Knowing Harry, he might do it if he thought that it would help his friends. That was the reason that he had gotten up so early in the morning to deal with this situation. If he could stop him, he wouldn't let Harry buckle under the pressure.
Reaching the door, he waved his wand forcing the doors open. "What the bloody hell is going on here?" He demanded, his voice booming out into the small locker room. He was slightly amused at seeing the twins roll off the benches and hit the floor. Lee was too busy trying to get out of the way. He was also impressed, as he saw Harry roll out from a corner that he had been sleeping in and drew his wand. He heard a few choice curse words, and soon he saw Hermione Angelina, Alicia, and Katie coming from around a corner.
"Oliver? Wood?" Several people mumbled in surprise, once they recognized the figure that was standing in the doorway.
"I want all of you to suit up and be on the pitch ready to run drills in ten minutes." He barked at the group. "I mean all of you." He added glancing at the non team members rather pointedly. Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Katie intercepted her by pulling her away.
Oliver glanced at the bushy haired girl. "Granger, you and Angelina office now." He ordered, pointing towards a small room located at the back of the lockers. He then led the way to the small room. He pushed the door open and grinned a bit as he breathed in the familiar smell of brooms and leather. He leaned against the desk while the other two found seats in the two crappy chairs. "Explain." He ordered, while looking at them. He listened quietly, as Hermione explained the entire situation to him and how angry housemates had spurred everyone else into exiling her friend and what the rest of them had done.
Oliver was impressed at all the information that she managed to give him. He knew she was smart, but he had no idea that she was this smart. Once they were done he sent them out to train while he summoned the next two. Not that Granger didn't try to argue against that. Not that it had helped her much. He had each pair give their version of the events. The fact that the stories were all nearly identical made him believe things were the way that they said. It also made him want to go up to the tower and curse Ron Weasley, Cormac McLaggan, and several other Gryffindors to bits. After an hour of listening to the stories, he had the exhausted teens gather back in the locker room. He noticed that Granger was leaning against Harry. For some crazy reason the brunette didn't fly much. A shame really when you considered that she had the right body for a decent flyer. One of his warmup drills was a bit much for the girl though it seemed.
"Granger." He called out to the witch, who blushed as she sat up. "We need to talk." He told her, and then explained his plan that he had been thinking up to her. Something that had been cooking up in his head since McGonagall had told him of this situation. Once he was finished the twins were cackling in glee and rubbing their hands in anticipation of the prank that Oliver had come up with. Granger on the other hand was looking thoughtful and asking questions and answers to the more in depth parts of the plan. Once the strategy was set he slipped out of the locker to make arrangements with orders for the others to stay in the lockers. Not even to check the library for more information or to get food from the kitchens.
Once he got to Puddlemere offices, he quickly explained the situation and the plan that they had come up with. The man in the office had at first humored him, but the more Oliver talked and was able to answer various questions the more the man became intrigued. Soon owls were being sent off, the floo was being used and forms were either being drawn up or signed. The plan was a good one, but for it to work they needed to move on it quickly. The window of opportunity they had was likely a small one.
hr
It was the next morning and the group were getting worried as it was nearly time to head for breakfast and get class schedules. With their banishment, there was no telling what would happen, or where they would sit or go to class with. It was with some relief that they finally got a summons to Dumbledore's office. The twins made a point of escorting all of the members that hadn't ever been to the office before. They also congratulated Harry on having already been to the office.
When the group finally entered the room they were all a bit surprised even if they were hoping for the sight before them. There was all three of the headmasters, Crouch, Bagman, McGonagall, Oliver, and a man that none of them had met before. The Quidditch lovers of the group recognized Philbert Deverill the manager of Puddlemere United.
"So glad that you could find us." Dumbledore greeted the group of teens. "It would appear that when Mr. Wood was here yesterday that you somehow managed to draw him and by extension his team into Hogwarts matters." The group noticed that McGonagall was red faced and glaring darkly at Oliver who was shifting uneasily, but still standing strong under her gaze. "I am sure that this was all a misunderstanding though and that all that is needed to clear things up is you."
"I don't think so professor." Angelina cut in for the younger members drawing the attention and ire of the Hogwarts professors to her.
"Would you care to explain your reasoning girl?" Crouch demanded coldly.
Angelina took a calming breath even as she nodded at the man. "Yes sir, it was the only way that we could figure that things could remain fair. With the team acting as sponsors and the team owner, captain, or coach acting as a fourth judge then the point earnings are more even."
"I take it then that you intend to then have all of your comrades join you as well then Harry?" Dumbledore demanded of the boy while giving him a disappointed look.
"Indeed professor." Alicia agreed. "As a Tri Wizard Champion it is within his rights."
"Not to mention, we're not the fair weather friends that the others are." Fred added fiercely.
"All too true brother dearest." George agreed.
"Thank you dear brother."
McGonagall bristled at that and looked like she would like nothing more than to have the pair of them under her wand.
"Come and sign the paperwork Harry." Oliver ordered. "We have a lot of work to do. Training schedules to work out and classes that we'll have to prepare you for. Also going to have to get Katie set to take her O.W.L's." He added looking towards the youngest member of the Chaser Trio. The group all swallowed nervously as they recognized the gleam in his eyes as that of when he was preparing to take them through a large amount of training. The idea that this fanaticism was being channeled into something other than Quidditch was scary. The fact that they were going to be the ones it was directed out was yet another reason to be worried. We'll set up a training camp away from the quarters of the other members. Oliver added.
Philbert nodded his head in agreement. "That's good. The tents we use for training camps are already on their way from Coach Harris. We will also have tutors on the way as well. If you know any qualified teachers that might be looking for employment be sure to inform us." He told the assembled people.0
"Remus Lupin." Hermione cut in before any other names could be offered. "He was the best DADA teacher that we had." The others all nodded their heads or made agreeable sounds.
"His classes may not be as entertaining as Moody's, but he knows his stuff." One of the twins offered.
"Oliver?"
"Man was the best that I can remember having." The Keeper admitted after a moment.
"Unfortunately Professor Lupin had to be released due to health reasons. He may not be at a point in life where he can teach again." Dumbledore cut in.
"Won't know till we ask the man."
"I still don't know why you are doing this." Crouch grumbled. "We were handling this situation."
"You may have been dealing with it on the political and governmental side, but the headmaster was showing he had lost control of the situation with the children." Philbert returned to him. "Hiring a few teachers to coach them through this year and possible till the end of their education is hardly an expensive undertaking though when you consider that we'll get some rather good publicity for this. I'm also interested in seeing what young Olier can do as a trainer."