AN: Hope everyone's ready for the next chapter. I've been looking forward to this one for a while because I throw some curveballs in this chapter to introduce some changes I'm making both to Year 4 and to the story as a whole.
soumisezita - Thanks for the review and the kind words! I'm glad you're enjoyingt he story. Some of your curiosity will be sated, and some will go unfilled for this chapter, and hopefully I'll fill you with some new questions to keep your interest in this story!
deltarunner66 - Thanks! He will be with both of them at the same time, and they will be dating each other as well when we get there. Hopefully that clears up some of the confusion.
Nightwing2013 - Thanks! It's been a while since I've heard from you. Glad to know you're still sticking with the story and enjoying it. I don't plant to have Fleur negatively affect the friendship between Ron and Harry. Astra is a rascal, and I love writing her into the story.
Jet22345 - Thanks!
Guest - Thanks! Hopefully some of your curiosity is sated this next chapter. Info on the Yule Ball will have to wait until a future chapter! Got to keep you coming back for more.
GreengrassRebel - Thanks for your many reviews in your journey to catch up. Not sure if you saw my PM, but I answered most of your reviews. You certainly have given me some ideas to possibly run with, some laughs, and one great edit. I do agree that it seems a shame that it's such a small contingent visiting, but since it's limited to people of age, it kind of makes sense. I am playing with another fic that starts fourth year, with aged up characters (Hogwarts starts at 13) where more people are able to enter their names, but I'm not doing that for this fic. Glad you have hopes for Fleur, I enjoy her too, and as I'm sure many have seen with this story, I like involving many of the background characters from the canon that were underused in my opinion. While I used to/still somewhat favor Harry/Ginny, I can say that I have found a real appreciation for Harry with Katie, Alicia, Angelina, Fleur, and Tonks. Hopefully you'll enjoy my development of Ginny and Katie to make it more interesting for both.
Mewpagano - Thanks!
scrappy8 - Thanks!
Mando-Vet - Thanks for all your reviews! To answer them in order, you are correct, Harry does not do small. Glad you enjoyed Umbridge being put down. Absolutely despise her, but she is a great villain to use and fun to destroy. Glad you enjoyed the dementor fight, and you are right, Pettigrew has the luck of the Devil.
Quill will 1981 - Thanks! I've enjoyed keeping everyone guessing on the whole Moody thing.
Chapter 28
Dora sighed in relief as she apparated back home, eager to be done for the day. It had been a rather trying day, them having followed several leads towards a set of illegal potion distributors only to have every lead dead end and their one witness from earlier in the week had clearly been threatened, and was now unwilling to speak to them.
She made her way into the house, expecting to see Sirius in the kitchen, since he'd left a bit earlier in the day, and since Remus had found a job at a bookstore and was now working afternoons and evenings, but she found the main common areas empty.
Curious, she wandered around until she found Sirius, who hadn't noticed her and was engrossed in a set of books, clearly ones that had come from Grimmauld Place.
"Sirius?" she said, and he nearly jumped at the sound of her voice, before he turned and stared at her with a hint of apprehension. "What are you doing?"
He paused, and she saw him lick his lips nervously before he sighed and responded. "Reading the Black family books, specifically my father's journal and the Head of House Grimoire, but also a few other of our darker or rarer tomes."
Dora frowned.
"Why?"
Sirius sighed. "At first, I just wanted to maybe find out some answers and then I was going to see how much, if any, of the Black Family Magic could be publicized."
Dora frowned curiously. "I'd always heard that some of the old families still had their own family magic, but I'd never had it confirmed, nor have I ever seen it."
Sirius shrugged. "It is rare, and obviously a large point of family magic is not revealing it to others. That's one of the reasons why there isn't much family magic anymore. It's impossible to get an estimate on just how much magic might be out there, jealously hidden by certain families, but at one point, it was known that nearly every Ancient House and most Noble Houses had magic that wasn't revealed outside of the family. Some of the Ancient Houses and Noble Houses even became Ancient and Noble by revealing magic that had never been seen before."
Dora nodded in understanding.
"But, overtime, certain magics would be revealed and other brilliant witches and wizards would manage to figure out how to do it, causing many families to just decide to reveal everything. Others revealed their family magic because it was right and moral or just, and some, frankly, because their magic was so advanced and powerful and they figured not many would be able to learn it anyway, so what did it hurt? They wanted to prove they were the biggest and strongest even if their opponents had their spells."
It made sense to Dora. It certainly stood to reason that if someone saw a witch or wizard cast a lightning bolt, for instance, they might be able to eventually recreate the spell or something of that matter, and then would likely publish it just to spite the family hiding the magic.
"There are still families that have guarded magic, some because it's dark or powerful and frankly doesn't need to be in the world, and others just to hold their superiority, but it's estimated to be not many. I was going to go public with the Black Family Magic to spite my family and to follow in the Potters' footsteps."
"Ok," Dora said with a shrug. "Makes sense to me, and it's certainly your choice, but what about the journal?"
"This journal belongs to the Head of the Black Family, and it records all actions that the Head makes in regards to the family. All marriage and family contracts, all business deals, all properties and locations, and this is for not only the main family, which was my parents, but also the side branches, that being your parents and grandparents, and other aunts and uncles."
"Okay," Dora said, not seeing where Sirius was going with this. He hated his family, just like her mum did. Dora didn't see why Sirius would care about his dad's shady and bigoted deals.
Sirius sighed again.
"What do you know of the Black Family?"
Dora shrugged.
"Not much. Mum was kicked out for marrying dad, and was only too happy to leave, and she never really spoke about them again. I know she was a bit hurt about her sisters, but she expected no less."
Sirius grimaced.
"That's partially true, but not all true."
Dora frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"My parents were vile, and they always were, but they didn't really get over the top abusive until I went off to Hogwarts and became a disgrace to the family," Sirius said. "Your grandparents weren't much better, but they were a bit. They didn't necessarily have the final say in what happened to their daughters, but they were just as set on making sure they married pureblooded men of good families as anyone, and thus weren't going to oppose whomever my dear father decided."
Dora sat down, listening as Sirius unleashed the family history.
"You know that Andy, your mother, was my favorite cousin, right?"
Dora nodded.
"What if I told you that that wasn't always true, and that I used to be quite friendly and very close to all of my cousins, your mother and both aunts?"
Dora frowned slightly.
"I mean, when you were kids, I guess it would make sense."
"Not just when we were kids," Sirius said with a shake of his head, "but all through Hogwarts as well."
"But how?" Dora said. "Narcissa and Bellatrix were both staunch pure bloodists and obviously both were loyal to the family and to Voldemort."
"Not - not always," Sirius croaked out and closed his eyes. "In a way, our parents did us a favor while also being some of the worst people to live. Sure, your mother and your aunts grew up being taught to be the matron of the house, running a pureblood home and all that entails, dealing with social functions, charities, gossip, blackmail, and other political intrigue, while even being successfully versed in financial affairs. They were taught that muggles and muggleborns were scum and halfbloods were generally scum, but at the same time, we were all taught that the Blacks were greatest pureblood house in existence, that the Ancient House of Black was supremely powerful and that we had no true equals, and certainly no betters."
Dora continued to listen in silence.
"This meant that when we got off to Hogwarts, we had all but been engrained to be independent thinkers, arrogant sure, but still people who could judge for themselves who was worthy of being in their presence, people who would take nobody's words at face value, for we were smarter, stronger, and more powerful, and thus needed to form our own opinions on who among the purebloods was worthy of knowing. Our parents certainly wanted smart, cunning Slytherins, but I don't think they fully intended for us to be so . . . so independent," Sirius said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Obviously, once we all went off to Hogwarts, we formed our own opinions of half bloods, muggleborns, and other pureblood families, the ones that we hadn't been introduced to growing up."
Dora frowned.
"But didn't Bellatrix and Narcissa agree with my grandparents and your parents?"
Sirius grimaced and shook his head.
"Not really, no," he admitted, to Dora's shock. "Sure, we found the approved of purebloods like Lucius Malfoy, Antonin Dolohov, the Lestrange brothers, ones who our parents loved that were powerful and worthy of our notice, but there were also purebloods that our parents considered scum whose strength, intelligence, and abilities earned and deserved our respect. People like James Potter, Frank Longbottom, Edgar Bones. In addition, there were a great many pureblooded witches and wizards from families our parents claimed were great that weren't worthy of any notice. The Goyles, Crabbes, and others. Some that were powerful, like the Mulcibers, had strength but no brains, power but no finesse. In contrast, there were muggleborns like Lily Evans and half-bloods like Marlene Mckinnon and Remus Lupin that were not only powerful, but brilliant in more ways than one."
Sirius shook his head.
"Narcissa was in the year below me, Bellatrix a year older than me, my brother Regulus was two years below me, and Andromeda was obviously the oldest, being six years ahead of me. Honestly, she paved the way for us being different at Hogwarts, since she was older and established. Bellatrix and I were the strongest, and most skilled, but I certainly would have been wary of messing with Lily, James, and Remus had I stayed with the pureblood mindset. My cousins were no different. Each sister had their own view, and it more or less aligned with their goals in life, what they valued instead of any of our parents values."
"Andy hated growing up in such a controlling home. She and I were the two most adventurous in the family, which arguably goes with the family history. Andy loved exploring new things, especially things that her parents hated, so she learned all she could about the muggle world, befriended anyone she wanted, and eventually fell in love with your father. She didn't care about money or prestige, she cared about life, fun, and love. Sometimes I think it's because she was the oldest and felt like she had to prove herself in the world, especially for her younger sisters."
Dora smiled. That had been her mother. A sometimes serious woman, but often sweet, friendly, protective, and loving.
"Narcissa - Cissy - cared more for comfort and status. She always did enjoy going to the fancy balls, having the best things, knowing the most powerful people, knowing all the secrets, and she did buy into the blood supremacy to an extent, though I don't know if she ever fully believed in the magical power and abilities part of that lie. At first, I think it was just because that was the circle that was most likely to keep her in her life of comfort, and it certainly kept her in good standing with our family, though I'm not sure if she really believed. Nowadays? I'm sure some of her does believe in it, just because she has had to espouse it for twenty years. Truthfully, I was the least close to her, but still closer to her than my younger brother, who did everything he could to live up to the family values and beliefs. All three cousins were more like sisters to me than cousins."
"So that means Bellatrix was your favorite cousin?!" Dora nearly exclaimed, thinking of the woman who had been a devout Death Eater, and had been one of the group to torture the Longbottoms into insanity. They'd studied her case in Auror Training, especially since she'd been linked to several other incidents from during the war after she had been apprehended.
"She was," Sirius confirmed with a firm nod. "Bella or Trixie, she liked either name, was so much different than the woman she became. Obviously we were very close in age, which helped, only being a year apart in school, but not even a four months apart in age. She honestly was a bit like your mother, with a higher sense of duty, but still friendly, loving to family and friends, and loyal and protective. She did have a vindictive streak, if crossed, but it was generally only used on those who hurt those she cared about. She was very powerful, and that was the thing that attracted her the most. Not political power, but magical power, magical skill, or real inner strength. She liked intelligence and was a very critical thinking witch, which balanced out her desire for a powerhouse."
Sirius chuckled.
"She used to say she didn't want someone that was all cock and no foreplay."
Dora smirked at that.
"That type of attraction meant she certainly noticed that there are plenty of halfbloods and muggleborns who are just as magically powerful, talented, and knowledgeable as any pureblood and there are plenty who are more powerful, talented, and skilled," Sirius continued. "Truthfully, though to her Slytherin friends she'd talk down the relationship, she was, for quite some time, a very, very good friend of Lily's."
Dora's eyes widened.
"Really?!" Dora asked in shock, not believing it of the devout Death Eater.
"Oh yes," Sirius said with a nod. "For a while there, especially with her shooting down James so much, I honestly thought Lils might have been batting for the other team . . . and I thought it might have been with Bella."
"NO WAY!" Dora exclaimed.
"Way," Sirius said with a chuckle. "They used to tease each other so much, and there were few that could challenge Bella like Lily could. Lily was powerful, frighteningly intelligent, stubborn, determined, and beautiful. She was certainly someone that I could see attracting my cousin. Though, if anything ever happened, I never learned of it, from Bella, Lily, or James. Their friendship also became strained after Bella left Hogwarts ahead of us . . . though she was at the wedding. She was actually the maid of honor," Sirius said, causing Dora's jaw to drop, not remembering any of this from her childhood. "Still, the friendship didn't survive Bella joining Voldemort and marrying Rodolphus."
"So, is that why she joined Voldemort?" Dora asked. "The power he possessed? His skill and terrifying strength? Did that possibly interest her? Was she just pressured by yours and her parents?"
"I thought so, perhaps to all of it," Sirius admitted. "The two Lestrange brothers are certainly both skilled and powerful, so Rodolphus was certainly someone that could have attracted Bella, but I didn't think Bella would join Voldemort because she was smart enough to see that Voldemort was only going to bring about destruction for purebloods as well as halfbloods and muggleborns. You can't kill two thirds of the population, especially when they are just as strong or stronger than you. Then again, truthfully, back in that time, many of us wondered how much Voldemort actually cared about the pureblood agenda that he seemed to espouse."
"But that's why the purebloods love him so much," Dora said with a frown. "He is a huge proponent of the purist ideology."
"Is it? Is he?" Sirius said with a shrug. "I think they loved that he had power and was willing to let them do anything they wanted, regardless of what they had been taught. How many pureblood families went extinct due to the actions of the Death Eaters and even deaths of Death Eaters? How many are nearly extinct or will be extinct or at least extant due to the Death Eaters? In the next hundred years, there is a possibility that nearly a quarter or more of the remaining Ancient Houses will disappear, either due to the only remaining Heirs not marrying or having children or because the only remaining living members are old men and women or young women who might marry and take their husband's name."
"Before Voldemort, people like the Weasleys were looked down on, but the whole Blood Traitor thing wasn't as big as it became. Voldemort stoked the fires that led to a deep hatred for Blood Traitors, and that meant that prominent pureblood families could be murdered for disagreeing with him. Pureblooded men and women were raped and murdered by those who'd desired them, even though they were purebloods and in theory were above that. At the same time, Voldemort certainly welcomed halfbloods into his Death Eaters. Voldemort liked power no matter where it came from. Devout purebloods gave him a ready source of power, wealth, and knowledge that were all too eager to follow him, and that is why I believe he espouses their ideals, not because he actually cares one way or another. If that was true, then I thought maybe Bella saw a bit of a kindred spirit in Voldemort. Someone who seems to be pro pureblood, but in fact only cares for power and knowledge.
Sirius shook his head with a snort at the stupidity of Voldemort's movement.
"Anyway, I thought I was right in that Bella was too smart to join Voldemort. Bella had come to me, wanting my help to get her out of the marriage to Rodolphus. Of course, I was going to help her, but after we had set up all the details, and gotten her a way out, she never showed up to our arranged meeting. I later received a letter from Narcissa saying that Bella changed her mind, and decided to marry Lestrange. Not long after, it was confirmed that she was a Death Eater, though that was through unofficial channels. I always just assumed that the lure of power through the Death Eaters, and the chance to learn forbidden or dark obscure magics was just too much for her."
Sirius frowned sadly.
"You have doubts now?" Dora said.
"Well, I just wanted to read some notes," Sirius said quietly, "see if I could make sense of my parents and my aunt and uncle, make sense of my family. Now though, I know that Bella didn't make her choice willingly. It was forced on her, and not just the marriage, but service to Voldemort, and nearly her entire personality as it became was due to Black Family Magic."
"Wait, what?!" Dora exclaimed, and Sirius nodded grimly.
"Her parents and my parents noticed Bella's defiance, her close friendship to Lily, her lack of interest in marrying any of the suitors my parents and aunt and uncle cared about, and by this time, Andy and I were long gone, so I don't think they wanted to take the risk of losing another Black of the younger generation. So, they used a ritual that the Blacks invented to keep her in line, by basically forcing a desired personality on her. It's part of the reason she started seeming so mad. Our parents pulled out the traits of her that they liked, the desire for power, the drive to be the best, the arrogance, and added some of their own traits from themselves and created Bellatrix Lestrange as she's known today."
"Oh my gods," Dora said horrified, and Sirius grimaced. "She had her life stolen, and now she's rotting in prison for something she never wanted to do! That's magic on par or even arguably worse than the Imperius Curse!"
Sirius nodded grimly again.
"That's what started me on this journey through the Black journal, Black Grimoire, and through some of the more obscure or rarer texts. I'm trying to see if there's any way to undo what has been done to her."
Dora's hands pulled at her hair, a bit overwhelmed by all the information that had been revealed.
"Sirius, what happens if you do find a spell that could possibly reverse what has been done to her?" Dora asked.
Sirius shrugged uncomfortably.
"I don't know," he responded with a slight look of panic. "On one hand, I'd have to reveal, at minimum, the existence of this magic to the world, magic that is best left lost. Also, she'd certainly be able to get out of Azkaban, being that she had been forced to act against her will, but what would it do to her, putting the cousin I knew and loved back into her body? Would she have the memories of what her controlled self had done and likely had been done to her by others within the Death Eater organization? How would that affect her? Could she handle it? If she does or doesn't remember, how will others forgive or deal with her? I'm sure the Longbottoms will be hard pressed to forgive and forget, regardless of her situation. How will she feel about losing fifteen years of her life? On the other hand though, if I can help give her some semblance of a life, don't I owe it to her? Shouldn't she get to live the life she wants?"
Sirius shrugged ruefully.
"I don't know the answers. All I know is that I'll keep searching, and if I have to, I'll try and create a counter to the ritual. Once I have the answer of if I can help her, and I have some idea of what kind of repercussions the counter spell might have, then I can hopefully have a better idea of whether I should."
Dora nodded slowly and thought of it. She'd never heard good things about Bellatrix Lestrange, but maybe it had just been too painful for her mother. Maybe this was a chance to get to know the sister that her mother had loved, a chance to get another member of her family back, a chance to get to know a different piece of what had made her mother the way that she had been. Maybe this was a chance to not meet Bellatrix Lestrange, but to meet Bellatrix Black.
"I hope you find an answer, Uncle Sirius," Dora said finally, going back to his old title. "Let me know if you need any help."
Sirius smiled grimly and nodded.
"I will, Little Nymph."
**HP**
Wotcher Dora,
Well, the tournament's about to start. Everyone's hoping that Dumbledore will give us more information tonight. Some rumors are going around that this Tournament won't be like the ones before. Sirius will be happy to know those language absorption rituals have already been used. I spoke a little bit of French to one of the Beauxbatons students and she agreed to help me with my accent throughout the year, so I guess I made a kind of new friend, though I should really give the credit to Astra.
Bloody dog popped up right in the middle of them just arriving and somehow managed to amuse Dumbledore enough that he asked her to escort the Beauxbatons' people inside. McGonagall still chewed me out afterwards and gave me detention.
I guess that impartial judge is the Goblet of Fire. Somehow it determines who will be worthy or not. Haven't heard too much about who might enter, but today I did get to see Fred and George try an aging potion. The Goblet launched their sorry asses out of the Age Line Dumbledore drew and gave them large white beards. It was hilarious. The only others I know or saw enter their names were Cedric Diggory, Warrington (Gods I hope not him) and I know Angelina did. I'll be rooting for her to be our champion. It would be really great to root for a friend through all this and I'm sure Angelina would do very well!
Ron's obsessed with my new friend. Thinks she's a Veela, and while Hermione thinks that's hogwash, I have to admit she turns head like the Veela did at the game. I'm not sure if she's pure Veela, but I could see her being part Veela or something. Still, her name's Fleur and she's pretty nice, at least once you get past her walls. Astra did that work for me, so to me she's nice. To others . . . well less so. Hermione's not a huge fan of her. Thinks she's full of herself. Still, I think you'd like her. Obsessed with charms and magical creatures, and thinks Hogwarts is nothing compared to Beauxbatons. I think it's going to be fun ruffling her feathers all year and trying to show her how much better Hogwarts is, especially since my "uncultured" self has never been to her school and doesn't know better.
Hagrid's absolutely obsessed with the Beauxbatons headmistress. Granted, she's the tallest woman I've ever seen. There can't be a half inch difference in height between the two of them. Whatever caused Hagrid to be that big clearly happened to her too. She seems rather imperious and uptight for Hagrid though, but what do I know? Hagrid's not in Hermione's good books right now. Not only did he abandon us to talk to Maxime, but he also refused to join SPEW. Said it would be cruel to the House Elves. It was interesting seeing him disagree with her and having decent points too. She still hasn't even talked to a House Elf and still uses Dobby as an example of why they should be freed. Should I just take her to the kitchens and hope this thing will end? Any ideas?
I don't want to worry you, but I did get a message from both Hades and Athena last night. They told me to "Brace yourself" which admittedly has me worried. I also had some weird dreams . . . almost like visions. Kind of like my dreams about Voldemort, but yet different. They kept shifting between different witches and wizards, who were all battling various foes. I really don't know what to make of it. Do you?
Well, I need to get down to the feast. Should figure out the Goblet's decision soon. I'll write you another letter tomorrow. Just thought you'd like to hear about the stuff that has happened in only a day.
Say hi to everyone back home.
Love,
Harry.
**HP**
"Boujour, 'arry," Fleur greeted with a smile, as Harry sat down next to her at the Gryffindor table.
"Bonjour, Fleur," Harry responded.
Everyone was gathered in the Great Hall for the meal before the Goblet would finally make its decision. Everyone was quite eager to see the results.
The Halloween feast seemed to take much longer than usual. Perhaps because it was their second feast in two days, Harry didn't seem to fancy the extravagantly prepared food as much as he would have normally. Like everyone else in the Hall, judging by the constantly craning necks, the impatient expressions on every face, the fidgeting, and the standing up to see whether Dumbledore had finished eating yet, Harry simply wanted the plates to clear, and to hear who had been selected as champions.
At long last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state; there was a sharp upswing in the level of noise within the Hall, which died away almost instantly as Dumbledore got to his feet. On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Ludo Bagman was beaming and winking at various students. Mr. Crouch, however, looked quite uninterested, almost bored.
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber" - he indicated the door behind the staff table - "where they will be receiving their first instructions."
He took out his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it; at once, all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging them into a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting . . . A few people kept checking their watches . . .
"Any second," Lee Jordan whispered, two seats away from Harry.
The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red again. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it - the whole room gasped.
Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white.
"The champion for Durmstrang," he read, in a strong, clear voice, "will be Viktor Krum."
"No surprises there!" yelled Ron as a storm of applause and cheering swept the Hall. Harry saw Viktor Krum rise from the Slytherin table and slouch up toward Dumbledore; he turned right, walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the next chamber.
"Bravo, Viktor!" boomed Karkaroff, so loudly that everyone could hear him, even over all the applause. "Knew you had it in you!"
The clapping and chatting died down. Now everyone's attention was focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more. A second piece of parchment shot out of it, propelled by the flames.
Harry felt Fleur tense next to him.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour!"
Harry started clapping loudly, excited for his friend who shot him a nervous smile before her face resorted to the cool haughty disposition she favored and she swept up between the tables.
When Fleur Delacour too had vanished into the side chamber, silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion next . . .
And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out of it; the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment.
"The Hogwarts champion," he called, "is Cedric Diggory!"
"No! " said Ron loudly, but nobody heard him except Harry; the uproar from the next table was too great. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to his or her feet, screaming and stamping, as Cedric made his way past them, grinning broadly, and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers' table. Indeed, the applause for Cedric went on so long that it was some time before Dumbledore could make himself heard again.
Harry turned to look only a couple seats down the table, and shot a sympathetic smile towards Angelina who had slumped, looking rather disappointed to have been beaten by Diggory again, and she shot him an appreciative nod.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore called happily as at last the tumult died down. "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. This edition of the Triwizard will involve a greater number of tasks than those of the past and -"
But Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking, and it was apparent to everybody what had distracted him. The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were flying out of it. A long flame shot suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment.
Automatically, it seemed, Dumbledore reached out a long hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it. There was a long pause, during which Dumbledore stared at the slip in his hands, and everyone in the room stared at Dumbledore. And then Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out -
"Harry Potter."
Harry sat there, aware that every head in the Great Hall had turned to look at him. He was stunned. He felt numb. He was surely dreaming. He had not heard correctly. He just sat there in crushing shock, thinking on the words his patrons had said to him last night, "Brace yourself." This must have been what they meant, but if they knew this would happen, couldn't they have told him how to prevent it?
Now though, he felt the crushing disappointment of not avoiding another odd year, of worrying Dora, and knowing that this could only be the work of Voldemort, which meant that he was making his move, whatever it was.
Soon, Harry was pushed to his feet by Hermione, and was walking down towards the professors, Astra dutifully on his side, and he could feel her worry through their bond. He passed the professors, none of whom were smiling, Mad-Eye looking almost enraged, and then he walked through the doors in the back where the other champions had gone.
Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire. They looked strangely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum, hunched-up and brooding, was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the other two. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur looked around when Harry walked in and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair.
"What is it, 'arry?" Fleur asked with a confused frown. "Do zey want us back out zhere?"
Harry sighed, finally trying to get his feet under him, and shot her a slightly sad look and she frowned in further confusion with a hint of concern. He wondered how'd she take this? Would he still have a new friend after this or not? It's not like they had any history.
There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Harry by the arm and led him forward.
"Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing Harry's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen . . . lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the fourth Triwizard champion?"
Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to Harry and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur glanced back at Harry, and again noted his sad face and then she frowned. Astra growled at Bagman, who's smile faded slightly as he glanced at her warily.
"I don't understand, Meester Bagman. 'arry cannot have entered. 'e is too young," she said.
"Well, miraculously, Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire."
Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned.
"But 'ow is zhat fair? 'e did not want to compete and 'e is two or three academic years younger zhen zhe rest of us."
"Well . . . it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name's come out of the goblet . . . I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage . . . It's down in the rules, you're obliged . . . Harry will just have to do the best he -"
The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Mad-Eye, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door.
"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime, who moved around to be next to Fleur. "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust. "
"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."
"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff," said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here -"
"Watch who you blame, Snape," Mad-Eye said coldly. "Harry could not have entered his name, and he wouldn't have done so."
"A likely story," Snape said, his eyes glinting malevolently.
Professor Dumbledore approached Harry.
"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" he asked calmly.
"No," said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching him closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape.
"No," said Harry vehemently.
"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling. Astra started growling at both of them.
"Madame Maxime!" Fleur started to protest, but Harry cut her and everyone else off.
"I'm not lying!" Harry said, angrily. "I'll admit I thought about it at first, but really, I have enough going on already!"
"Ah, but of course!" Karkaroff spat. "This is Hogwarts making sure that they got Dumbledore's protege into the tournament!"
"While I am quite fond of Harry," Dumbledore said, causing Harry to blush slightly, "I can say he is not nor has he ever been my protege. As Headmaster and Professor, I have given him no special instruction in any branch of magic."
"Yet, you expect us to believe that this young boy did everything that your Ministry and press has claimed he has done? You had no part to play in his success at your Dueling Circuit?" Karkaroff said skeptically.
"He is an accomplished wizard in his own right," Dumbledore said firmly.
"Besides," Mad-Eye said gruffly. "If he's anyone's protege, it would be mine, and I know that while he's magically powerful enough to have gotten past the Cup, he is not magically knowledgeable enough to have done so."
Harry shot Mad-Eye an appreciative look and the older man for his support and his open claiming of him.
Karkaroff glanced at Mad-Eye warily before he turned to the two Ministry personnel, one who looked a bit excited, while the other seemed irritated.
"Master Crouch . . . Mr. Bagman," said Karkaroff, his voice unctuous once more, "you are our - er - objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"
Bagman wiped his round, boyish face with his handkerchief and looked at Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden in shadow.
"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament," Crouch said in his normal curt voice.
"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front," said Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed.
"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," said Karkaroff. He had dropped his unctuous tone and his smile now. His face wore a very ugly look indeed. "You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore."
"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that," said Bagman. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out - it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament -"
"- in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" exploded Karkaroff. "After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"
"Empty threat, Karkaroff," Mad-Eye growled. "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. You all seem so upset that Potter's involved, yet you all seem to ignore the fact a fourteen year old is now contractually obligated to compete, even though he did not enter himself."
"Because we don't believe that he had no say in this!" Karkaroff responded angrily.
"As a vassal of Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, and Athena, the Lady of Wisdom, I swear on my life that I did not enter, nor have any influence on my being entered into this tournament," Harry ground out angrily, and he watched as Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall all winced, while Maxime and Karkaroff balked. Mad-Eye smirked.
"I believe that solves that," Mad-Eye said with a vicious glare. "Rather than complain about fairness, we should be focused on who put Harry's name into the Goblet and why."
"Obviously, 'e was entered in by someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" said Madame Maxime.
"It must have been somebody who knew that Potter has been studying under you, Mad-Eye!" Karkaroff accused. "Hell, it could have been you! Eager to get your secret apprentice the honor and glory and a thousand galleons in prize money! People would die for this."
"Perhaps someone's hoping he will die for it," Mad-Eye responded darkly.
"We've read the newspapers," Karkaroff responded with a sneer. "That boy has survived a great many things, and fought off fully trained witches and wizards! Surely one of you realized that he was your best bet to win, and with the age restriction, entered him without his knowing so that he could not incriminate himself!"
"If you think we would enter a boy's name without his consent, then you are a fool!" McGonagall responded angrily, her face set in a fierce scowl. "I don't care how magically advanced he is!"
"You also forget that I was the one who most strongly argued for the age restriction," Dumbledore said coolly. "If I truly wanted Harry to compete, then why did I propose the age restriction?"
"If you feel so strongly about Potter being another Hogwarts champion, then let's have him not be a Hogwarts champion," Mad-Eye said, and Harry glanced at him in surprise. "He was probably entered under a fourth school's name, which would explain the fourth champion, so we can leave it that way."
"And let you coach him?" Karkaroff said with a glare, while Maxime's eyes narrowed. "I think not. If I can't coach my own contestant, you cannot coach yours."
"Like you're not going to coach or cheat for your student," Mad-Eye said with a scoff, and Karkaroff's hand twitched towards his wand, and Mad-Eye grinned viciously. "Go for it, scum," Mad-Eye hissed. "Let's see if you've improved since the last time."
"Alastor, enough!" Dumbledore said sharply. "Igor, you as well! How this situation arose, we do not know," said Dumbledore, speaking to everyone gathered in the room, and ending the debate. "It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do . . ."
"Ah, but Dumbly-dorr -"
"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it."
Dumbledore waited, but Madame Maxime did not speak, she merely glared. She wasn't the only one either. Snape looked furious; Karkaroff livid; Bagman, however, looked rather excited. Mad-Eye and McGonagall didn't look very happy either, though Harry was sure they were as angry at Maxime and Karkaroff as they were at the situation.
"Well, shall we crack on, then?" he said, rubbing his hands together and smiling around the room. "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?"
"Yes," he said, with a courteous nod, though Harry thought he saw a tenseness in the man's bearing. "The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard. The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges."
"Now, what has not yet been briefed, which Albus was going to announce in the Great Hall earlier, and inform you of in here is that the Triwizard Tournament will have more than the traditional three tasks. One of the chief complaints of past tournaments was the major disruption to a whole year's schooling only for three events to take place. Therefore, this year there will be seven tasks, which we feel will further test the champions skills and resilience. One task will be held each month from November through the end of the school year in June, with December being the one exception."
"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete any of the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task and third task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."
Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore.
"Did I miss anything, Albus?" Crouch asked, turning to Dumbledore.
"I think so," said Dumbledore, who was looking at Crouch with mild concern. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"
"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," said Mr. Crouch. "It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment . . . I've left young Weatherby in charge . . . Very enthusiastic . . . a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told . . ."
Harry's focus was diverted as he felt someone tap on his shoulder and he glanced over to see a concerned looking Fleur.
"Will you be okay?" Fleur asked softly, and he smiled at her and nodded with a sigh.
"I'm sure that being in this tournament will not end well, but I will survive," he said confidently.
Fleur nodded. "Very well. We are still friends, no?" she asked hesitantly.
"Oui," Harry confirmed as Madame Maxime put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and the two left, speaking quietly in French, only snippets of which Harry caught, though he could at least feel a bit warm knowing Fleur was defending him, while Maxime was furious.
"Harry, Cedric, I suggest you go up to bed," said Dumbledore, smiling kindly at both of them. "I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise."
"I'm going to walk with Potter," Mad-Eye said firmly. "Perhaps one of you can help Diggory deal with the shock of tonight."
With that, Harry felt Mad-Eye put a gnarled hand on his shoulder and he turned him and guided him out of the room, with Astra on Harry's other side. Neither said anything until they were out of the Great Hall and into the Entranceway, heading towards the stairs.
"Are you okay, lad?" Mad-Eye asked.
"No, I don't think so," Harry said after a moment. "I just wanted one normal year . . . and I feel a bit betrayed. Both of my patrons clearly knew this was coming, but did nothing to stop it."
"Wanting a normal year is not a crime, but you of all people should know that life isn't fair," Mad-Eye said, not unkindly. "Be angry. Rage if you need to, but accept that it has happened, and you can't change it. Your family will support you, and you can do this. Someone's playing with your life, and I'm sure you and I both have a good idea on who, but you'll show them why that was a mistake."
Astra yipped in agreement.
"What about my patrons?" Harry asked.
Mad-Eye laughed bitterly. "Lad, gods and goddesses are beyond us and they aren't always looking out for our best interests, or maybe they are, but that doesn't mean the way forward is pleasant or easy. It doesn't mean that sacrifices won't be made. Hades and Athena both seem to be interested in your well being. Perhaps what is to happen needs to happen in order to get to where you need to be. Maybe this is a test? I don't know. I've been a vassal of Athena for over forty years, and I've had many times that I've wanted to and have cursed her name, but when times are tight, she helps. She and Hades obviously warned you in some way, since you're bringing this up. Whether this is a test or not, you need them, but you're allowed to feel uncharitable towards them. Don't forget that, as long as you're polite when next you speak to them."
Harry nodded, feeling a bit better, but he wasn't completely there yet, but like Mad-Eye said, that was okay. It was a start to know that he could at least admit that he wasn't alright.