Oof I almost forgot to upload this! Apologies for the delay - I've had such a busy week

Just a disclaimer that I did take one line from the film just because I really liked that bit (I think you'll know which one)

Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter. Reviews would make my day :)

31 October 1994

Back in Albus' office, Minerva Severus, Alastor, Ludo, and Albus himself were in the midst of discussing what had happened earlier that evening. Namely, the way Harry Potter's name had flown out of the cup, making the boy one of the Triwizard Tournament competitors.

"So, quite an interesting tournament this is going to be this year. A fourth-year participating too. I don't think anybody can wait to see—"

"Mr Bagman," Minerva interrupted, her nostrils flaring. Ludo stopped in his tracks and for a moment he looked like a student who had just been snapped at by their teacher; like Minerva had been during his school years. "I would like to remind you that this is not entertainment that we are talking about," she continued. "We are discussing why a 14-year-old boy has been chosen to participate in a tournament designed for witches and wizards that are much older than him. "

He nodded sheepishly. "'Of course, Pro—Minerva," he said, looking at his feet.

Minerva pressed her lips together then turned her attention to Albus who still seemed deep in thought. "Albus, this is lunacy. Potter is a boy, not a piece of meat. You must see that the competition cannot proceed."

"Perhaps allowing Potter to participate may help shed light on how this has happened," interjected Severus.

Minerva rounded on him instantly. "That should not the priority in this situation, Severus. We are teachers, first and foremost, not detectives. Potter is in our care - that means it is our responsibility as teachers to ensure his safety. Why should we ask Potter to gamble his life? Albus," she implored, turning to the last person in the room who she thought would agree with her.

Albus hesitated slightly. "I agree with Severus and Alastor," he said finally. Minerva gaped at him. "Besides, if what Ludo is saying is true, there is nothing that can be done."

Ludo nodded from the sidelines. When he noticed all eyes were on him now, he cleared his throat. "That's—that's right," he stammered. "It is a magically binding contract."

There was silence in the room for what felt like an hour. Finally, it was Minerva who broke this.

"What is the first task?" she asked, in a dangerously low voice.

"I'm afraid I can't—" Bagman stopped when he received a deathly glare from Minerva. "This information cannot leave this office," he said quickly. "If Crouch found out he wouldn't be best pleased with me."

"I do not believe pleasing Mr Crouch is the highest of priorities tonight," Snape said silkily. "What does the first task involve?"

"Erm—from what I recall," stumbled Ludo uncomfortably. "Erm—ah—dragons."

Minerva's eyes widened, as did Snape's.

"They will need to fight a dragon?" said Dumbledore, as though for clarification. Minerva noticed the touch of concern in his voice. Even Albus was worried now, she thought.

Alastor moved his stick so that it thudded gently on the stone slabs. "Potter is a smart boy," he said, speaking for the first time since they had come upstairs. "He has the brains to deal with these problems."

"I think experience in this situation is far more useful than intelligence," Minerva said, holding up her hand to stop Alastor from arguing. "There is no denying that Potter has the intellectual capacities to tackle certain problems. However, he has never fought a dragon and he is also unaware that he needs to fight a dragon," she said. "Despite Potter's competency in most spellwork, improvisation is difficult and he lacks the 3 years of experience that his fellow contestants have."

"What do you propose, Minerva?" asked Albus, looking up at her from his clasped hands.

"I propose that the rules be changed for this competition," she said. "It may be that Potter is bound by law to participate in this tournament," she added. "However, we have control over how it is organised, and how the challenges will be run. Why not tell the competitors exactly what it is that they will be asked to face?"

"Because that removes the fun, Minerva," Ludo said loudly, instantly reddening when everyone turned to look at him again. "It's just not the way we do things," he added hurriedly.

"Not even when a student's life is in danger?" Snape commented.

Ludo was silent for a moment. "We are bound not to say anything to the competitors," he said. "Not directly, anyway."

"How so?" Alastor interjected interestingly.

"By telling you, your names have appeared in the contract to secrecy," Ludo explained. "That is you cannot directly tell a competitor about a task unless they already know about it."

"A competitor in particular?" Alastor asked. "Or can we not tell anybody?"

"That is of no importance, Alastor," Albus said, standing up. "The problem regarding why Mr Potter has been selected however is of greatest importance."

"As well as his safety, Albus," Minerva reminded him sharply. Severus nodded beside her, and Minerva was grateful that at least one person agreed with her now.

Albus looked at them both thoughtfully before turning to Ludo. "I believe Barty will be requiring you at the Ministry, Ludo," he said.

"Yes, I expect so," Ludo said, clapping his hands. "Goodnight all," he added, stepping into the grate and then disappearing in a whoosh of green flames.

"Minerva," said Albus immediately after Ludo had disappeared. He hesitated slightly then continued, "I expect Madame Maxime and Igor are keen to finish our discussions of this evening's events. Would you tell them that I shall be ready to talk to them tomorrow morning?"

Minerva's eyes flicked between Albus, then Alastor and Severus, until they landed back onto Albus. They held their gaze for a moment before Minerva finally nodded; despite knowing that she was being sent away so that the men could talk undisturbed. "Very well, Headmaster," she said stiffly.