After the Goblet of Fire
Summary: What happened after Harry's name came out of the Goblet of Fire.
AN: Contains information from the book and the movie.
Sirius never heard the Great Hall so quiet when it was full of students. Feasts, especially, the Halloween feast was the loudest of them of all. But this one was different. The world was spinning around him. He felt like the floor had been flown out from under his feet. He hoped to Merlin he was dreaming.
Did Harry's name just come out of the Goblet of Fire? Did Dumbledore just announce that his godson was a fourth champion?
He watched helplessly as Harry followed the other champions to the trophy room. Sirius glanced at Professor McGonagall before he bolted to the room that Harry had just entered.
Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire in the trophy room. They looked impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from Cedric and Fleur. Cedric, meanwhile, was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur looked around when Harry walked in and threw back her silvery long hair.
Sirius heard her ask Harry, "What is it? Do they want us back in the hall?"
Sirius noticed that Harry didn't know how to explain what had just happened. He didn't think that Harry could explain. Sirius watched his godson from a distance. He just stood there, looking at the three champions. The difference between Harry's height and the others were very different. Harry could be easily hidden.
Footsteps behind him brought Sirius's attention to the others with Ludo Bagman in the lead. Before Ludo Bagman could reach him, Sirius reached Harry first and pulled him closer to him.
"Gentlemen and lady," Bagman addressed the other three and approaching the fireside. "May I introduce the fourth Triwizard champion?!"
Immediately Viktor Krum straightened up, his face darkening as he surveyed Harry. In the shadow, Harry had backed up against Sirius. He felt Sirius's hand tightening on his shoulder. Fleur smiled and tossed her hair back.
"Is this a joke Mr. Bagman?" She asked.
"A joke?" Bagman repeated. He was bewildered. "No, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"
Fleur frowned, Cedric looked bewildered, and Viktor's eyebrows contracted slightly.
"But this has to be a mistake!" Fleur exclaimed. "He cannot compete. He is too young."
Harry leaned back against Sirius, wishing that this was a dream.
Bagman started rattling off information regarding the age restriction. Sirius felt his blood boil when he realized that Harry would have to compete in this competition.
"I didn't put my name in the cup, Sirius," Harry whispered.
Sirius squeezed Harry's shoulders gently. "I believe you."
The door that they had come in the trophy room opened again and a large group of people entered. Professor Dumbledore entered first, followed closely by Barty Crouch, Igor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of other students until Professor McGonagall closed the door behind her.
Fleur strode over to her headmistress. "Madame Maxime! They are saying that this little boy is complete!"
Harry and Sirius both stared at her, Sirius tightened his grip on Harry's shoulder. Little boy? If Sirius's blood wasn't boiling, it was now.
Madame Maxime drew herself up to her full height, making Harry back up further into Sirius.
"What is the meaning of this, Dumbledore?" she asked, imperiously.
"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," Karkaroff. He was smiling steely and his eyes were like ice, staring daggers at Harry and then turning back to Dumbledore. "Two Hogwarts champions?! I don't remember anyone telling me that the host school is allowed two champions. Did I not read the rules carefully?"
"This is impossible!" Madame Maxime exclaimed, her large hand resting on Fleur's shoulder. "Hogwarts can't have two champions."
An argument broke out over the Age Line, which Harry tried to drown out, but he was too frightened to say anything.
Harry didn't catch what Professor Snape said, but Sirius had brought him back to the present when he said something, coming to Harry's defense.
"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said firmly. He turned his attention to Harry, who was looking right back at him. "Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?"
Harry shook his head. "No, sir."
"Ask an older student to do it for you?"
"No, sir," Harry repeated.
"He is lying!" Madam Maxime cried.
"My godson is not a liar!" Sirius shouted.
Another discussion over the Age Line broke out, this time it was calmer.
"Mr. Crouch. Mr. Bagman," Karkaroff stated. "You are our judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"
Bagman glanced at Barty. "Barty, you know the rule book better than I do."
Barty turned to the group and said, "We must follow the rules, which are stated clearly that those people who come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."
"So, you're saying that Harry has no choice, but to compete?" Sirius asked.
Barty glanced at Bagman, hoping he'd take over. But the man just nodded to him, motioning to him to tell the shaggy-headed man that his godson would have to compete in the tournament.
"Yes, Mr. Black. Mr. Potter has no choice. He is, after tonight, a Tri-Wizard champion."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
In the confines of his personal quarters, Sirius stared into the fire. He could still hear Moody's words ringing in his head.
"Someone put Potter's name in that goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out. Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it."
Moody went on to explain that someone had hoodwinked, the Goblet of Fire, a very powerful magical object. It was bamboozled by a Confundus charm, making the Goblet think there were four schools, instead of three, compete in the competition. Then whoever hoodwinked the Goblet of Fire, also submitted Potter's name under the fourth school, to make sure he was the only one in his category.
If it wasn't for the fact the contract was a magical binding, Sirius would have pulled Harry from Hogwarts. But he didn't have a choice.
He listened to the instructions regarding the first task, knowing that Harry's head must be spinning.
"Sirius?" a voice called from the floo.
Sirius shook his head and looked into the fire. Remus's head was in the flames.
"I'm going to step through," he warned. In a minute, Remus stepped through and immediately sat down beside Sirius.
"Where's Harry?" Remus asked.
"In his dorm," Sirius replied. "He's going to come down here if things aren't smooth."
Remus nodded, hoping that Harry would be okay.
"What are we going to do?" Remus inquired.
"I don't know. Professors can't help the champions, but Dumbledore did say that it didn't mention parents."
Remus thought over the information, realizing what Sirius had said. They could help Harry, quietly. But the fact that Harry's name came out of the goblet was more concerning.
"I'm going to make us some tea," Remus said, breaking the silence that ascended on the room.
"Put some Firewhiskey in it," Sirius requested, scrubbing his hands over his face.
Remus chuckled. It was going to be a long year for all of them.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
If Harry was surprised to see Ron and Hermione in the fourth year boys' dorm, he didn't show it.
"Please tell me that you two believe me when I say that I didn't put my name in that cup?" Harry begged.
"We do," Hermione answered. Ron nodded beside her.
"Really?" Harry asked, relieved and shocked.
"I would admit that I was jealous at first," Ron admitted. "But then I realized that if you did, you would have talked to me about it and then look at what happened to Fred and George."
The memory of Fred and George with beards and gray hair flashed in their heads. Harry and Ron smirked before they roared with laughter.
"So, you both, believe me?" Harry asked, one more time.
"Yes!" Ron and Hermione said in unison.
Harry released the breath he had been holding. His best friends believed him. Why did he doubt them?
He walked over to the window, sitting down in the small dormer. He was small enough to still fit in here, barely.
Ron and Hermione crawled in beside him, wrapping an arm around him.
Without prompting Harry began to tell them what Moody said, pausing to give them a chance to ingest everything. They sat in silence once Harry finished, letting the information sank in.
Ron knew that Harry had said that he didn't want to enter his name in the Goblet of Fire. He didn't need any more things to make himself in the spotlight. Ron knew that Harry hated the fame that came with his name. He had even admitted to Ron that he would trade everything if he could have his parents back once.
But he hadn't mentioned it since Sirius came into Harry's life.
"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked.
"Truthfully?" Hermione nodded. "I'm scared."
Ron hid his surprise, by squeezing Harry's shoulder.
"It will be okay, Harry," Hermione whispered.
The only thing wrong with that sentence, no one knew the events that would follow.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Harry, come on wake up," Ron said, shaking Harry's shoulder. "We're going to miss breakfast."
"I'm not going. I'm staying right here." Harry's voice was muffled from where it was hidden under the blanket.
"Harry, come on, it's not going to be that bad," Ron assured him, hoping that would get Harry to move.
Harry didn't budge.
"Fine, but you made me do it," he said. He pulled the blanket off of Harry and then wrapped both arms around Harry's waist. The advantage Ron had was Harry was twenty pounds lighter than him and he used all his strength to get Harry out of bed and into the bathroom.
"Ron!" Harry yelped as he was pushed into a cold shower.
"Shower, shirt, shoes, and let's shove off," Ron called as he walked out to the dorm and collected a change of clothes for himself and Harry.
Grumbling Harry slipped off his now soggy pajamas and boxers, tossing them over the rail with the shower curtain and turned the water to warm. Despite the fact he wanted to stay in bed and hide all day, he knew he couldn't. Sirius would find him and drag him out of bed. The only way he would get away with it was if he was sick.
"Harry, are you trying to drown yourself?" Ron called from the next stall.
"No," Harry groaned.
"It will be okay, mate," Ron said, hoping he sounded assuring to his best friend. He knew that Harry would have a rough couple of days. He and Hermione had gotten a glance at some of the other houses' reactions to the news that Harry's name came out of the goblet of fire and some of them didn't look happy.
Harry didn't ask for this, nothing of it.
Harry finished up with the shower and headed to the dorm to get dressed. He had just slipped his shirt on when Neville picked in the dorm.
"Hey Harry," he greeted.
"Hey Neville," Harry returned, getting out his hoodie from the drawer and pulling it over his head.
"Just so you know," Neville began, making Harry pause. "I believe you."
"Thanks, Neville." 'Well, that makes three people who believe me,' he thought.
Ron stepped out of the bathroom and dressed in the clothes he had laid out. He glanced over at Harry as he slipped on his socks and trainers.
"Are you okay mate?" He asked.
Even though Harry didn't know the true answer to that question, he nodded.
Despite the brave face, Harry put on, Ron saw through it and seen the fear in Harry's eyes. He knew if there was a moment that Harry needed his friend's support, this was the time he needed it most.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
A week had passed since Harry's name came out the goblet of fire. By this point, Harry had been shunned by almost the entire school. Only his housemates and a few friends he had outside of Gryffindor tower were talking to him. Ron and Neville had been dragging him out of bed every morning.
Only Sirius's birthday did he get out of bed on his own and go on with his day. He wanted to make Sirius's first birthday outside of Azkaban special. But after Sirius's birthday, Harry wanted to find a way to escape for a little bit. It had provided an outlet to get Harry's mind off what was going on outside Sirius's quarters.
If there was one thing Harry was grateful for during this time, it was that Sirius was here at Hogwarts and he could go to him when he needed him. He was filling in for Professor Sinistra who was gone on a stargazing trip and research sabbatical.
The current weather also matched Harry's mood, gloomy. The rain splattered messily against the smooth, cloudy pane of the window in the sitting room, drowning out the sharp crackles from the small fire that burned in the hearth.
Sirius came into the sitting room from his bedroom where he had been putting up some things Remus had sent him. He should have been better prepared for the cold weather that Scotland was known for. He had sent a letter to Remus, asking him to send him some of his warmer clothes by owl and it had come in that morning.
He found Harry lying on his stomach across the couch. His face was neutral, but Sirius knew that Harry was feeling down about what was going on and the fact he had no choice but to compete in a tournament that he was really too young to compete in.
"Are you ever going to smile again, Prongslet? Am I going to see you smile again? Or are we doomed for a lifetime of depression?" Sirius joked in his very gentle way in hopes of getting a reaction from Harry.
He got nothing.
"Depression for life it is," Sirius murmured.
Sirius was expecting a sarcastic remark or a laugh from Harry, but instead, Harry remained quiet.
He never felt as helpless as he did at that moment. He wished there was something he could do to make Harry smile again.
He sat down on the floor in front of Harry's head, reaching up and pushing the hair back away from Harry's face. Harry had talked Sirius into letting his hair grow out, only giving it a light trim when it became shaggy looking or got in Harry's face too much. The one thing that they had found out in this experiment was that Harry's hair wasn't as messy as it was when it was shorter.
Harry claimed he had brushed his hair, but Sirius wasn't so sure. He knew he washed it because he had seen Harry exit the bathroom with wet hair and it smelled like the shampoo Harry used. The only thing Harry still dealt with was tangles in his hair. Sirius had brought him a sturdier hairbrush, among other things which included better shampoo and shower gel
Remus had included a package with Sirius's clothes that held a month's worth of hair care products for Sirius and enough shampoo and shower gel for both Sirius and Harry to last them until Christmas.
"Harry, are you feeling alright?" Sirius asked, feeling his forehead.
"I'm fine, Sirius," Harry replied, softly.
Sirius wondered just how much truth was behind the statement. He wanted to fix this situation and make it better, but the reality was he couldn't.
Ron and Hermione had stopped by earlier to check on Harry. They were worried when he didn't come back to the common room and had come to check with Sirius to see if he had seen Harry. Not even seeing his friends made the smile return to his face.
Sirius was trying to cheer Harry up and return the smile to his face.
He knew one thing that might return the smile to Harry's face. The only question he had was whether or not it would work.
"You know I was wondering something the other day," Sirius began.
"What?" Harry asked, trying to get out of Sirius's grip.
"Whether or not you're still ticklish?"
Harry froze. He knew he was still ticklish. During a game of truth and dare with Ron and Hermione last year, Harry was asked if he was still ticklish. He lied and said no. Ron didn't believe him and attacked him, tickling his neck and his underarms. Hermione attacked his sock-clad feet. They figured out Harry's most ticklish spot and started tickling his stomach.
Harry's laughter echoed off the walls of the common room.
"No," Harry answered.
"Are you sure? Sirius asked, sneaking his hand under Harry's shirt brushing the skin around his belly button, the most sensitive spot on his stomach.
Harry jerked but managed to not make a sound.
Sirius noticed, smirking and his hand away for a second before returning it to Harry's abdomen.
Harry tried to get away from Sirius's tickling fingers, but he had rolled into the floor. Sirius, unfortunately, followed him, straddling his hips and using his one hand to pull Harry's arms above his head.
"I think you're lying, Pup," Sirius said. He pulled up Harry's shirt and began to tick Harry's stomach mercilessly. Then, he moved his hand to Harry's side.
Harry was struggling to get his breath. He should have admitted he was ticklish and Sirius would have probably let it go. He felt Sirius's hand move to his side. He arched his back as his sides were also sensitive. He tried to roll away, but Sirius's weight was keeping him put.
"Sirius, come on," he cackled. He tried to scrunch up his shoulder when Sirius went for his neck.
"What?" Sirius asked, innocently, moving his other hand back down to Harry's still bare stomach and tickle the area around his belly button before moving both hands back to Harry's belly.
"No," Harry panted, trying to toll to get away from Sirius's hands.
"But you're laughing!"
Sirius then remembered something from when Harry was a baby. He smiled down at Harry and the pinned his hands above his hands again.
"Sirius, what are you doing?" Harry asked. He soon got his answer. Sirius lowered his head to Harry's stomach and soon pressed his lips to the middle of his abdomen and blew.
"Sirius!" Harry shrieked.
Sirius moved his head over to the next spot and blew. His hands joined his mouth and danced across his skin, leaving a trail of torturous tickling in their wake.
Suddenly, Harry felt Sirius's lips above his belly button and Sirius blew again. Sirius circled the belly button, blowing as he went. Then his lips were directly on top of his belly button and he blew.
Shrieking with laughter, Harry couldn't find the energy to get Sirius to stop. But before he said anything, Sirius's face hovered over own.
"Had enough?" Sirius asked.
Harry nodded, trying to catch his breath.
"I can't believe you are still ticklish after all these years. I used to do that when you were a baby."
"You used to do what, when I was a baby?" Harry asked.
" I used to Blow on your belly. You laughed when I did that. One time you walked up to me and raised your shirt for me to blow raspberries on your stomach. Apparently, it is still your most ticklish spot."
There was a moment of silence before Sirius said, "You're ticklish, just your father. He was very ticklish. I used to tickle him all the time."
That made Harry smile and led to Sirius telling stories of the many tickle fights he and James would get into. Sirius was happy to see the smile back on Harry's face and hoped it stayed there for a while.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Sirius entered the room where they would be doing the Weighing of the Wands. He had arranged a library assignment for his class so he could attend the weighing of the wands. He wanted to be there to support Harry and when he heard a reporter from the Daily Prophet was going to be there, he wanted to make sure the interview went well and because Harry was underage, he wanted to be present to make sure nothing happened.
He was running a little late and he had walked in as they were doing a group photo. He nodded at Professor Dumbledore, who was standing in the corner with Mr. Bagman.
Sirius looked over and recognized Rita Skeeter, a reporter from the Daily Prophet. She was known for writing things that weren't true. Sirius made a mental note to send an owl to Barnabas Cuffe.
She approached Mr. Bagman and said, "I wonder if I could have a little word with Harry before we start. An interview? The youngest champion, you know to add a bit of color?"
"Certainly" cried, Bagman. "That is if Harry has no objection?"
"Um….." Harry trailed off.
"Lovely," said Rita Skeeter, and in a second, her long fingers had Harry's upper arm in a surprisingly strong grip.
"Excuse me," Sirius called. "He is underage and therefore as his godfather and guardian I need to be present."
He glanced at Bagman, almost daring him to object.
"Of course," Rita said.
"And I ask that you would kindly let go of my godson," Sirius requested, trying to sound as polite as he could.
Rita releases her grip on Harry's arm and told them to follow her to another room. Harry glanced at Sirius and mouthed "Thank you."
Sirius ruffled his hair, making Harry duck away from his hand and attempt to fix his hair.
The interview went smoothly due to Sirius's presence. He had even requested to read over the article before she published it, letting her know he plans to owl the editor. Sirius didn't use his name for anything but to protect himself, Remus, or now, Harry. She nodded, visibly shaking slightly and agreed.
Dumbledore came to get for the weighing of the wands, as Ollivander began with Fleur.
"Yes," he said quietly, "nine and a half inches... inflexible... rosewood... and containing...dear me..."
"A hair from the head of a veela," said Fleur. "One of my grandmothers."
"What is a veela?" Harry whispered to Sirius.
"A Veela is a race of semi-human, semi-magical humanoids reminiscent of the Vila in Slavic folklore. Little is known about their biology; they appear to be young, beautiful humans. Their looks and especially their dance is magically seductive to almost all male beings and some female beings, which causes such people to perform strange actions in order to get nearer to the Veela," Sirius explained.
"That explains why Ron and the other boys stare at them," Harry murmured.
"You don't?" Sirius asked.
"No," Harry answered. Sirius knew, though there was one girl Harry had his eye on, but he might be wrong. He didn't want to bring that up right now.
He quickly went through Cedric and Viktor's wands and then soon he was at Harry's
Ollivander spent much longer examining Harry's wand than anyone else's. Eventually, however, he made a fountain of wine shoot out of it, and handed it back to Harry, announcing that it was still in perfect condition.
"Thank you all," said Dumbledore, standing up at the judges' table. "You may go back to your lessons now or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end…"
Harry didn't catch the rest of it, as he was gathering his things to leave. The other champions left and Harry headed to the Great Hall.
He entered the Great Hall and met Ron at the Gryffindor table. He looked up as Sirius approached the head table, then Professor Snape stop to talk to him, mostly to tell him what happened in potions that day. Sirius glance at Harry and Ron then turned to Professor Snape. Whatever he said to him, it was heated as Sirius didn't look happy when he left the head table and headed to the Gryffindor table.
"How's Hermione?" He asked.
"We don't know," Ron admitted.
"We were just talking about whether or not to go and check on her or eat and then go check on her."
Sirius glanced up at the head table where Professor McGonagall was talking with Professor Snape. Apparently, she heard about what happened and she wasn't happy that the potions master wasn't concerned when Hermione's teeth started to grow. She looked up at Sirius and nodded her head.
"Go on and see Hermione. Stop by my quarters and call for Dobby to get the three of you dinner. I'll meet you there after I finish here and you can tell me what happened."
Ron and Harry glanced at each other before getting up and leaving the great hall. When they were somewhere that they wouldn't be overheard, Harry told Ron what Sirius had told him about Veelas.
They entered the hospital wing where Hermione was getting ready to leave. She smiled at seeing the boys.
"Wow, Hermione," Ron said upon seeing her smile. "Your teeth are fixed."
"I had her shrunk them down a little more," Hermione explained.
"Come on, we'll go to Sirius's quarters and call Dobby to bring us dinner."
Hermione was about to say something, but because Harry had said Dobby, she didn't bother. She like Dobby.
Harry told her what happened when Sirius found out what happened and how angry Professor McGonagall was.
Hermione smiled, glad that someone cared about her well being.
Harry let them in Sirius's quarters and called Dobby to bring them dinner. Dobby popped in a little bit other with Winky and sat the plates down on the table. Harry, Ron, and Hermione thanked them and then they began to eat, making small talk as they fixed plates. Ron reminded them of the time that Fred and George were turned into old men when they attempted to put their names in the Goblet of Fire.
They looked at each other for a moment before they burst out laughing.
"Did your Mum ever find out?" Hermione breathed.
"If she did Hermione, she would have sent them a howler," Harry reminded her.
Ron and Hermione then told Harry, what's been happening in Gryffindor that Harry had missed.
They didn't notice when Sirius entered his quarters. He listened to the sound of the three of them talking and laughing, finally glad to see the smile return to Harry's face, even if for a moment.
He just hoped that things would get better. Oh, how wrong he would be.
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"...and now Hagrid's just shown me what's coming in the first task, and it's dragons, Sirius, and I'm a goner," he finished desperately.
Sirius looked at him, eyes full of concern, eyes that had not yet lost the look that Azkaban had given them - that deadened, haunted look. Harry just came back from Hagrid's where he had taken him into the Forbidden Forest and show him the dragons that were brought in for the first task. Sirius wished, not for the last time that he had gone with Harry. He couldn't because he had to supervise a detention with three of the third year Hufflepuffs.
"Dragons we can deal with, Harry," He assured him. "I don't know how."
"Sirius," Harry whispered.
"What is it, Pup?"
"I'm scared."
Sirius approached the raven headed teen and embraced him in a loving fatherly hug. He felt his heart stop for a second when Harry said it was dragons that he would be facing come Tuesday. If there was a time that Sirius felt all the more helpless, it was now.
"It will be okay, Harry. It will be okay."
"What am I going to do, Sirius. I'm only allowed to have my wand."
"I know."
AN: The first task will be in Part 2.