What Harry Potter needs

Harry Potter had never expected to meet a relative whose existence he had never known at the Triwizard Tournament. An older, clever, and sharp Beauxbatons student turned out to be his second cousin. Harry, the unvolunteered Champion, recognised what he most needed through interaction with her.

DISCLAMER: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 1

On the thirtieth of October, students from Beauxbatons in France and Durmstrang in Bulgaria came to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. Among the Beauxbatons students, the most striking one was the dazzling beauty, Fleur Delacour. However, there was another student who caught Harry's attention, a girl with strikingly familiar green eyes and red-blond hair. He couldn't take his eyes off her. The raven-haired boy only watched Durmstrang students when Ron cried Victor Krum's name. Harry and the green-eyed Beauxbatons girl occasionally locked eyes during the feast.

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The next day was Hollowe'en. When Harry finished breakfast and left the Great Hall with Ron and Hermione, the Beauxbatons student with green eyes approached him.

"Excuse me, I am Isabelle Laurent. May I talk to you briefly? In private?" Her English was perfect.

Harry nodded to her impulsively and led her to an unused classroom on the first floor. He tried his best to conceal his embarrassment and the suddenness of the situation. Behind them, Ron and Hermione glared at them with curiosity and bewilderment.

As soon as they entered the classroom, the Beauxbatons girl showed Harry an old Bible.

"This is my mum's bible. She got it from her mother when she married my dad. Look at this!"

The raven-haired boy examined the family tree written inside the cover and saw two names that matched those on her fingertip: Petunia and Lily. In addition, she showed Harry an old photo of several girls. He could see his mum, who seemed to be 7 or 8 years old, and a teenage girl with the same green eyes as the Beauxbatons student.

"How, how do you have this photo? How do you know my mum and Aunt Petunia?" Harry's voice was shaky. Meanwhile, the red-blond-haired girl beamed at him.

"So, you can recognise Aunt Lily and Aunt Petunia! This is my mum's photo. Mum and Aunt Lily are cousins."

"Cousins? My mum and your mum?"

"Yes, and it means that, uh, we are second cousins."

Unlike the smiling girl, Harry stared at a family tree and the photo for a while. Finally, he acknowledged his second cousin, whom he hadn't known existed till now.

"Nice to meet you, cousin. Call me Izzy." She looked at the boy's identical green eyes and extended her hand for a handshake.

Harry happily shook hands with her. He had never thought that he had a witch or wizard cousin, particularly on his mother's side. It felt like he found a sibling whom he never knew he had.

Izzy told him about her family. Her mum, Jane Brown, had worked as a teacher in London and fell in love with her French father, Jean Laurent. They got married and moved to France. However, Jane vaguely remembered a cousin named "Lily Evans" with the same green eyes as her, since Lily was 9 years younger. Izzy said that she was the only witch in her family and that she had searched for any wizard or witch among her father's relatives or ancestors after entering Beauxbatons but had found no one. She came to Britain hoping there might be a Hogwarts student among her mother's relatives. And when she saw Harry's green eyes the previous night, she became convinced. Then she asked about Harry's life.

Harry didn't want to introduce himself as the Boy Who Lived to his magical world relatives whom he was meeting for the first time. He simply said that his parents had fought against Voldemort and lost their lives when he was 15 months old. Then he had grown up with his Aunt Petunia until he received his Hogwarts acceptance letter. He mentioned that he hadn't known he was a wizard before that.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about the death of Aunt Lily and Uncle James! I can't imagine living without my mum and dad."

The red-blond-haired girl couldn't hide her embarrassment and pity for her newly found cousin. The raven-haired boy also felt awkward. However, he couldn't bring himself to say he was alright, as his cousin continued talking.

"It's a really regrettable situation that we couldn't have met sooner. Even though my mum and Auntie Petunia were cousins, they were not very close. And after she moved to France, they barely kept in touch. She even forgot about Auntie Lily!"

Harry also realised that he had missed a chance to grow up in the home of another relative who didn't hate magic and might have cared for him. But he didn't want to dwell on his miserable life with the Dursleys before Hogwarts. So, he asked about his cousin's life. She answered eagerly.

For hours, Harry and Izzy spent time together, sharing stories about their lives. Izzy was in her sixth year but had turned seventeen the previous night, making her eligible to put her name in the Goblet of Fire. She also planned to enroll in a military academy after graduation since she was influenced by her general grandfather. Harry learned for the first time that wizards and witches could also have jobs in the Muggle world.

After lunch, Harry introduced his distant cousin Izzy to Ron and Hermione. Izzy then introduced Harry to her Beauxbatons friends.

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In the evening, after Harry became the fourth champion, he insisted that he had never intended to participate, but Dumbledore said that everyone must participate. Only Moody told Harry that someone powerful must have put a strong Confundus Charm on the Goblet of Fire to make him a fourth champion and said it seemed like someone wanted to kill him.

After the gathering ended, Harry met Izzy waiting in the corridor. Izzy's face was full of anxiety, worry, and concern.

"What happened? Did headmasters find out who put your name in the Goblet?"

Harry was overwhelmed that his newly met cousin immediately believed in his innocence. He couldn't answer right away because his throat was choked up with relief.

"Unfortunately, no. At first, they asked me whether I put my name in the Goblet with the help of older students. When I said I didn't, headmasters didn't seem to believe me. Only Professor Moody helped by explaining that the Goblet couldn't be fooled by a fourth-year student. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang headmasters opposed my being the fourth Champion, but Dumbledore accepted me, just like Cedric," he finally answered.

"What? Accepting you as the fourth Champion? Is Dumbledore crazy?" Izzy's shriek filled the empty corridor. Before Harry could try to calm the French cousin down, she said seriously.

"Listen Harry. What you need to do now is take the Wizard's Oath. It's the best way to prove your innocence," she said, her voice determined. She looked at him fiercely.

The raven-haired boy had no idea what the Wizard's Oath was, and his embarrassment must have shown on his face. Izzy's eyebrow lifted slightly.

"Erm… Izzy… What is the Wizard's Oath? How can it prove my innocence? Do you believe I should do it?" he asked cautiously.

Izzy's jaw dropped for a few seconds, then she shook her head several times. Now her cheeks flushed hot pink.

"First of all, yes! You should declare your innocence immediately! I've observed that most students, including those from my school and Durmstrang, thought that you cheated to be a Champion."

Harry could feel his face turning white, however, his cousin didn't stop.

"Moreover, you already had been accused of being a culprit in the attack on students two years ago. A Ravenclaw girl told me how easily Hogwarts students had believed you were the Heir of your Founder. At that time, you hadn't done anything and your inaction only strengthened their accusation. You must not repeat that mistake this time!"

He couldn't avoid his worst guess becoming true: that the whole school, except for Ron and Hermione, would consider him a cheater. The nightmare didn't stop; it was just beginning.

"Harry, you must proclaim your innocence like traditional wizards. They have taken the Wizard's Oath for millenniums to clear their conscience. Yes, I know it can't change everyone's opinion, but, some people from old magical families could reconsider. It's the beginning of clearing the suspicion," Izzy's tone was laced with passion and concern.

Harry was deeply touched by Izzy's passion to help him, someone she had just met that morning. He nodded and asked how to take the Wizard's Oath. The red-blond-haired girl explained calmly.

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As Harry entered the Gryffindor common room, he saw a party celebrating him as the Fourth Champion. Even the Weasley twins asked how he had managed to put his name in the Goblet.

Harry realised that Izzy was right and immediately pointed the tip of his wand at his neck and shouted "Sonorus!" The thunderous shout silenced all noise in the common room at once. Thankfully, he had just learned the Sonorus charm just a few minutes earlier from Izzy. Before any Gryffindor could speak, he roared the words of the Wizard's Oath.

"I solemnly swear on my life and magic that I did not put my name in the Goblet of Fire! I also haven't asked anyone else to do it, and have no intention of participating in the tournament! I shall never show mercy to anyone who undermines or denounces me!"

Everyone was speechless at their Champion's unexpected vow of innocence. Some students looked at Harry blankly while others seemed bewildered. The raven-haired boy continued his words soon after.

"Cedric Diggory is the real Hogwarts Champion! All of us must support him!"

The atmosphere in the common room remained filled with disbelief and embarrassment. Disheartened, Harry hurriedly went to his dormitory.

When he entered the dorm room, he saw Ron lying on his bed. He really wanted to talk with his friend, however, Ron's face looked strange and his voice was laced with false cheer.

"Hey, mate. When did you put your name in the Goblet? Your French cousin did it? Why didn't you tell me your plan early?"

Harry's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he just heard.

"Didn't you hear my oath? I had no intention of participating in the tournament."

"Oh, yes, your oath. Did your cousin also teach you how to make the Wizard's Oath? I thought she was not interested in the old-fashioned magical society's tradition. You know, she's a Muggle-born," the red-haired boy tilted his head.

"Yes, Izzy taught me it because she knew the whole school didn't believe in my innocence. She knew I didn't do anything to be that bloody Champion," Harry tried hard to press his anger.

"Come on Harry. You can tell me the truth. When did your cousin put her name and your name together? Just before the dinner?"

Harry couldn't bear it anymore! Nobody but Ron suspected his innocence.

"No, Izzy put her name last night. We talked this morning and I just wished she became the Champion. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT STUPID TOURNAMENT! NEVER EVER!" He couldn't help shouting in the end.

Ron's facade was broken and his face turned scarlet red with rage.

"Stupid? How could you say the Triwizard Tournament is stupid? It brings the winner eternal glory and a thousand Galleons!"

"Did you forget I am the Boy Bloody Who Lived? I don't need another fame and money. Nothing is more important than my life. It's a suicide that I, mere a fourteen-year boy, attend the extremely dangerous and meaningless tournament that only adults could do!" Harry countered sarcastically.

Now Ron stood up and glared at the raven-haired boy. His face seemed inflamed like a torch.

"You always get everything you want! Dumbledore helps you every time!"

Harry looked at his friend with disappointment and felt betrayed. It was the worst nightmare.

"You are a helpless fool, Ron," He murmured and directed to his four-poster bed. He couldn't bear to hear anything more.

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A/N: I decided to write this fanfiction in detail. It won't be too long. I hope you enjoy the difference between Canon and my story.