All Cassius could feel in that moment was horror. He didn't even remember getting up from the Slytherin table. He didn't remember running across the great hall. The only thing he knew was one minute he was watching in disbelief as Harry's name was called from the goblet of fire and the next he was on his knees next to Harry on the ground, holding him as he screamed and his body seized.
Cassius cradled Harry in his arms, holding him steady as his body shook with seizures. Around them, the Great Hall was in chaos - students were screaming, benches were overturned, and goblets and plates crashed to the floor. Professors hurried over, wands out, trying to restore order. But all Cassius could focus on was Harry.
"It's okay, I've got you," he murmured. Harry's eyes were glazed and distant, his small body rigid and shaking. Cassius wasn't sure if he could even hear him. Harry let out an anguished wail and Cassius clutched him tighter, tears pooling in his eyes. He had never felt so helpless.
Madam Pomfrey rushed over, magic swirling around her hands as she assessed Harry.
"What's happening to him?" Cassius shouted over the din, panic rising in his chest.
"Get him to the hospital wing, now!" she instructed Cassius urgently.
Cassius scooped Harry into his arms, holding him close as he ran from the Hall. Harry was limp and ghostly pale, but still breathing.
"You'll be alright, Harry," Cassius murmured. "I've got you."
He sprinted through the corridors, Harry's slight form feeling impossibly light and fragile. Bursting into the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey directed him to lay Harry on a bed and began casting diagnostic spells.
"His magical core has been strained from the violent expulsion of power," she explained tersely. "I need to stabilize it before it causes further damage."
She summoned various potions, tilting them down Harry's throat. The lines of pain on his face slowly relaxed as the potions took effect. Color returned to his cheeks and his breathing evened out. Cassius let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"Will he be okay?" Cassius asked anxiously.
"Thanks to your quick actions, Mr. Warrington, I believe he will make a full recovery," Madam Pomfrey said. "His core is stabilizing. He just needs rest now."
Cassius nodded, relief flooding through him. Gently, he brushed Harry's dark hair back from his forehead.
"Rest easy, little badger. I'm not going to leave your side."
Slowly, Harry's rigid muscles began to relax. His frantic gasps evened into shaky breaths. His eyes focused on Cassius' face hovering above him.
"Cass?" he whispered, green eyes exhausted and tear-stained.
Cassius let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Yeah, it's me. You're okay. You're okay Little Ray."
Tears welled in Harry's eyes. Cassius gathered him close, relief washing over him. He didn't know what was at play here, but he would protect Harry no matter what.
When Harry woke up next, he was a bit surprised.
It was early morning, the sun hadn't risen yet but the sky was just beginning to shake loose the darkness of late night. Harry's eyes took a little while to adjust to the dim light in the hospital wing, but when they did he saw he was surrounded.
Laying in the hospital bed next to him was Beatrice, she was asleep but her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying. By Harry and Beatrice's feet, sleeping sideways across the bed, was Cassius with dark circles under his eyes and his curly blonde hair was messy in a way Harry had never seen it before.
In chairs next to the hospital bed was a sleeping Professor Sprout and Sirius Black.
Harry had to blink several times to make sure he was actually seeing what he was seeing.
"You had everyone quite worried about you, young man." Madame Pomfrey said as she bustled over to stand by the bed and check Harry's vitals.
"What happened?" Harry's voice was hoarse and his throat was scratchy.
"What do you remember?" Madame Pomfrey asked kindly as she conjured a chair to sit in beside Harry's bed.
Harry frowned. Closing his eyes to think carefully through what had happened. "My name. It came out of the fire."
Madame Pomfrey nodded. "Your name did come out of the goblet of fire. It makes you the fourth champion in the tournament only meant for three."
"My fault?" Harry asked in a small voice.
"Of course it is not your fault Little Badger." Beatrice's sleepy voice said from his side, pulling him into a tight hug. "We are going to figure out why your name was selected because we all know you didn't put your name in."
Harry relaxed into Beatrice's warm comforting hug. "Why am I hurt?"
"Your magic tried to reject the magical contract from the Goblet. Unfortunately, it wasn't strong enough to overcome the ancient artifact. Several members of the ministry have been in and out last night to confirm that you have to compete in this competition, even if you were unwillingly selected." Madame Pomfrey said in a kind voice, but the frown on her face was prominent. A little boy shouldn't have to shoulder the burdens of the adult's incompetence to protect him.
"We will figure something out, Little Badger. We will not let you face this alone, and when I find whoever put your name into that goblet I am going to grind them down into mince to feed to the thestrals." Beatrice's words were rather bloodthirsty, and Harry could tell she meant every word, but they were comforting as well. He wasn't alone. He would never be alone again.
A couple hours later, after some breakfast, and one final check-up by Madame Pomfrey, found all of them up in the Headmaster's office along with the Minister of Magic, a goblin representative, and Bagman.
Harry sat in one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk, hands clenched tight around Cassius' and Beatrice's hands who stood on either side of him. Behind his chair, with his hands on Harry's shoulders stood Sirius looking every bit of the Lord Black title he had taken up after being pardoned.
"So you are saying that even though it is your fault, your inability to properly protect your students from being entered into this death tournament against their will, that Harry will still have to risk his life and limb? Unacceptable." Sirius said in a dark tone that made Minister Fudge fidget and sweat while Dumbledore just smiled at them all genially.
Sirius' dark words hung heavy in the air. Harry looked around at the stern faces surrounding him and felt very small.
"Now, see here, Black," Fudge blustered. "The Goblet constitutes a binding magical contract. There's nothing to be done but see it through, unfortunate as this situation may be."
Sirius' eyes flashed. "A contract requires consent, which Harry did not give. He will not compete." His tone brooked no argument.
"There must be another way," pleaded Beatrice. "He's just a boy. This tournament is meant for of-age wizards."
"Now, now, Sirius, let's not be hasty," said Dumbledore gently. "Harry must compete, or risk losing his magic."
Harry's heart dropped into his stomach. Lose his magic? The very thought was abhorrent. As much as he dreaded facing the dangerous tasks ahead, surely that would be better than becoming a muggle and having to lose everything he had gained in the short time he had been in the magical world.
Harry felt tears welling up in his eyes. He blinked them back furiously.
"Absolutely not!" Sirius slammed his fist on the desk, making Fudge jump. "He will take no part in this fiasco."
The argument raged back and forth. Voices were raised, and accusations flew. But Harry kept his eyes fixed on the silent goblin observer, thinking...
The goblins made the Goblet. They understand its magic best. Perhaps the solution lies not in angry words, but calm negotiation and appeal to reason.
As the meeting dissolved into chaos around him, Harry slipped from his chair and approached the goblin. Cassius stuck to his side like glue, quiet and seething but he was there for Harry, not for anyone else. "Please," he said quietly. "You know this magic. Help me."
The goblin peered at Harry, then nodded slowly. "You show wisdom beyond your years, Heir Potter. Let us discuss this matter."
Ignoring the ongoing shouting match behind them, Harry and the goblin put their heads together, speaking in low tones. And for the first time since this nightmare began, Harry felt a spark of hope.
The goblin representative, Bogrod, cleared his throat drawing everyone's attention to him and interrupting their arguments. "There is no counter-spell. The contract is magically binding." His tone brooked no argument. "However," continued Bogrod, "the contract says nothing about Heir Potter having to try particularly hard. As long as he shows up and makes a decent effort, his magic should remain intact. And as long as no one from either the Ministry, the judges' panel, or staff try to aide Heir Potter directly. He may receive help or tutoring from anyone else."
Cassius' head tilted to the side before speaking up for the first time all meeting. "We can work with that. He doesn't need to win or even do well. Just survive. We have enough resources between the houses to make sure Harry survives this. But the person who entered Harry's name still needs to be found. He was entered for a reason and this is an attack on the last Potter heir. Something I know the other Lords of the Wizengamot will find interesting."
A smirk lit up Sirius' face. This might be the only time Sirius could admit to admiring some Slytherin traits. "Oh yes, the Wizengamot will be very interested in learning that their heirs aren't safe here at Hogwarts."
That made both Bagman and Fudge turn white. The upheaval from the House of Lords would be astronomical. There was already discontent after learning that an innocent Heir and Lord-to-Be of the Black Family was imprisoned without trial for twelve years.
"The aurors are already investigating the matter!" Fudge squeaked out.
"Perhaps we need a more neutral party, to ensure that justice is actually carried out properly." Beatrice snapped out.
"I suggest we contact the ICW, to make sure whatever the outcome may be it will be fair," Cassius said with an oily smirk on his face.
"Very wise, Heir Warrington," Bogrod said with an approving nod, cutting off both Dumbledore and Fudge's protests.
Harry felt relieved as the meeting came to a close. Though still anxious about the tasks ahead, he took comfort in knowing he would not have to face them alone. With support from Sirius, Cassius, and the others, he felt certain he would come through this ordeal unscathed.
Leaving the headmaster's office with his allies, Harry's mind turned to who could have possibly entered his name in the Goblet. It had to have been someone powerful, to confuse such a magical artifact. And their motives were clearly nefarious. Whoever had done this meant him harm. He would have to be vigilant in the weeks and months ahead.
Sirius had left to go meet with his lawyers, the Wizengamot, and then the ICW. He would be very busy but he was already proving to both Cassius and Beatrice that he might be responsible enough to care for Harry in the long run, but they wouldn't give him their stamp of approval quite yet.
Cassius and Beatrice flanked Harry as they made their way down to the Hufflepuff common rooms. Beatrice refused to leave Hogwarts while the tournament was going on and Harry was in danger. Harry was her little brother, there was no way she would be leaving him alone now. To keep Dumbledore from kicking her out, Madame Pomfrey actually offered her a healing apprenticeship. Beatrice could be close at hand and while Harry was in classes could learn some healing spells that would probably come in handy later.
Cassius was worried, holding tight to Harry and refusing to let him go. "I'm going to keep you safe Little Ray," Cassius promised quietly so only Harry could hear him.
Harry smiled brightly at him, leaning up and kissing his cheek. "I know you will Cassy. I trust you."
Cassius fought off a blush that tried to turn his face and ears red. What could Cassius possibly say to that?