"Hello, Hari," the headmaster greeted her.
"Hello," she replied with little energy.
"The elves have been having quite a word with me," he chuckled.
"Wh- what?" Hari stammered.
"Apparently they're quite unhappy about this tournament being forced on you. They assured me that you were safe but absolutely refused to disclose your whereabouts," he let out a jovial laugh before getting a little more serious, "I've spoken with the ministry officials, but…"
"I have to compete," she guessed.
"If you want to keep your magic, then yes."
"I know what I said, back in that room, but I do want to keep my magic," she admitted. "And… I'm sorry."
"I think we should speak about what else you said back in that room," Dumbledore replied sadly.
Hari looked between the headmaster and her head of house as tears formed in her eyes.
"You've spoken to me before about your dislike for your relatives, but I now believe there is more to the story," Dumbledore transfigured the simple office chairs in front of his desk into a cozy love seat, and gestured for Hari and McGonagall to take a seat. "I've paid a visit to your Aunt, Hari."
Hari felt the blood rush to her cheeks as she looked down at her hands. Suddenly the headmaster was a lot more serious. The energy in the room shifted and Hari looked up to meet his gaze.
"I, Albus Dumbledore, swear on my life and magic that I didn't not know the extent of what was going on in that house, and that I will never let you go back there. I am deeply sorry for ever placing you with them, and I will spend the rest of my days making up for it."
Magic swirled around them as the vow was accepted, and Hari found herself breathless. "Really?" she asked, not quite believing him.
"Really," he promised.
McGonagall placed a tentative hand on her shoulder and spoke only when Hari turned to face her. "I'm sorry too, Hari. I should have noticed…" she looked away, obviously ashamed of herself. "The staff of Hogwarts has failed you, but we won't anymore."
"Do you know how I was entered?" she asked.
"The Goblet was confunded to think there were four schools participating, and yours was the only name entered under that school," Dumbledore explained.
"What school?" Hari asked.
"Ilvermorny, in the Americas," McGonagall supplied.
"Has anyone told them?" Hari asked.
"Whatever do you mean?" the headmaster asked.
"Well, if I'm representing them, they probably have a right to know about it," she reasoned.
Dumbledore chuckled and promised to send a letter with Fawkes to explain the situation.
Hari nodded and smiled. "Where will I go for the summer?"
"I believe the Weasley's would be more than happy to welcome you into their home, and we'll have the place warded for your protection, of course," Dumbledore said. "For now, I believe you are expected in the infirmary. Though, I would like to speak with you more about this, Hari. But only when you're ready."
Hari gave him a nod and let McGonagall lead her to the hospital wing, feeling a little bit better with every step she took. She wouldn't ever be going back to that house.
The infirmary ended up being a nightmare. Hari thought it was because of whatever her Aunt had told Dumbledore, she thought they were just going to check her out but all the other champions were there too. The headmasters of the other school were present, but McGonagall was standing in for Dumbledore. She got some curious looks as she entered the hospital wing, some less friendly than others.
"Hey, Potter. Heard you got a little lost this weekend," Cedric joked.
Hari's face lit up immediately, "Yeah," she smirked, "I got a bit turned around. You'd think I would know my way around the castle by now."
Madam Pomfrey was not looking amused, and quickly went about performing the diagnostic scan on Fleur.
"Are you alright?" Cedric asked quietly.
"Yeah," she whispered back. "What exactly will the scan show?"
"I'm not really sure," he admitted.
"The scan will give me a list of past and current injuries. Broken bones and the like, ever since your birth," Pomfrey explained, tapping Krum's head with the tip of her wand now. "It will also give me a general overview of your health."
"I'm screwed," Hari whispered with a resigned laugh. She was mostly talking to herself but Cedric must have heard because he gave her an encouraging smile. By this point all she could feel about the situation was numb. It was out, there was no hiding it anymore. She'd face it head on.
"You do seem to have a knack for finding trouble, Miss Potter," Pomfrey scolded, though there was a bit of mischief in her eyes. "Just like your father," she said wistfully as she moved onto Cedric. All Hari could think was that poor Madam Pomfrey didn't have any idea what was about to happen.
A piece of parchment and a pen had appeared just after the spell was performed on each champion. Fleur's quill had stopped writing shortly after it began, leaving a parchment that was only a few inches long. Krum's was longer, almost a foot and a half, and Cedric's was somewhere in the middle when it stopped.
Hari's quill kept going though. It hit two feet and everyone was looking at her while Hari was focused on not meeting anyone's eyes. She was chewing on her bottom lip and trying to focus on anything else. Madam Pomfrey's face had paled as it hit three feet, and McGonagall dismissed the onlookers before it hit four feet. By the time her quill stopped writing, at a whopping seven feet of parchment, there were only three people in the room and both the adults were crying.
"Oh, Hari," McGonagall said.
Madam Pomfrey seemed to be ignoring her own tears as she led Hari to her usual bed and instructed her to change into a hospital gown. "We'll fix you up, Potter. Don't you worry," she said as she drew the curtains.
A fourth person had entered the hospital wing while Hari sat on her usual bed. It was the one closest to the bathroom, and Hari had a sneaking suspicious that Pomfrey added charms to make it extra soft just for her. While the adults were having a whispered argument, Hari thought about the elves. She knew she was an honorary one, and that all the elves really liked her, but the thought of any of them scolding Dumbledore made her smirk.
When the curtains were draw apart, she was met with her least favorite professor: Snape.
"Miss Potter, we have put together a strict potions schedule for you. I will be brewing everything you require and you will take them without complaint. Is that clear?" his voice was stern, but Hari could tell he was trying not to look her in the eyes. His gaze was fixed on her forehead instead.
"Yes, sir," she replied.
"Tonight, we will be rebreaking some of your bones so they can heal properly."
Hari swallowed nervously and looked to Madam Pomfrey.
"You won't feel a thing dear, we'll have you take a Dreamless Sleep beforehand," she encouraged. "And when you wake up, your eyesight will be fixed as well. We assumed you got James' eyesight, but the true culprit appears to be some scar tissue on your brain."
Hari nodded, remembering the day she woke up and everything was blurry. Aunt Petunia had hit her with a frying pan for burning something. She looked back to Snape, who was still avoiding her eyes.
"For now, you will take a nutrient potion, as well as an appetite enhancer. You will take the nutrient potion daily with your breakfast, and the enhancer at every meal until I say otherwise, is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," Hari said again.
"No skipping meals," he said harshly. "We'll be watching. And you will have monthly medical checks."
"Yes, sir."
Snape left abruptly, his robes billowing behind him as they always did. Pomfrey handed her the potions, which she downed quickly, and a meal was brought up for her. She ate it all, even though she'd already eaten.
Cedric was beyond happy to see Hari walk into the infirmary alive. He'd been worried when word got around that she hadn't returned to her common room after the they'd been announced as champions. He'd tried to find that room again, but was unsuccessful. He'd even gone as far as asking Professor McGonagall about her, but all he was told was that the situation was being handled. So when she walked in without any noticeable injuries, he'd had to contain a smile.
Then her quill started writing, and it didn't stop. It went on and on until everyone else was kicked out. Cedric had waited near the entrance for Hari to come out, but instead, Snape had gone in.
"Professor!" Cedric called out as Snape left the infirmary.
"Yes, Mr. Diggory?" the potions master drawled.
"Hari… is she okay?"
"Miss Potter is perfectly well. However, she will be remaining here until tomorrow. I suggest getting back to your common room."
"Yes, sir," Cedric replied, shooting one last glance at the door before leaving.