Disclaimer: Part two of Shamrock in chapter 31.

Blackthorn

"Wait, there's another name coming out . . .Harry Potter."

The hall erupted upon hearing the name of the boy who'd disappeared, the boy who'd turned his back on his native land in favor of another.

"What are we going to do Albus?" Minerva asked in shock.

"I think the Minister is going to have to have a long conversation with his Irish counterpart," Dumbledore said happily. Elated at the chance to bring Harry home. "And I suspect that I am going to have to do the same thing."

IIIIIIIIII

Harry was called out of his classes and into the Ardmháistir's office and waved towards an empty chair.

"What's this about then?" Harry demanded. "We were just getting to learn something interesting."

"I thought yew'd be studying anatomy in the back of the room with Ms. O'Connell again," a woman's voice said dryly.

"Aingeal," Harry said in delight, "I didn't see you there. When'd you get back?"

"Just now," she said dryly, "well?"

"Like I said," Harry said with an impish grin, "something interesting. We're both at the top of the class anyway so it's not like we'd be learning anything if we weren't preoccupied . . . ah . . ."

"With your independent studies?"

"Exactly," Harry agreed.

"Afraid my business wasn't all that pleasant," Aingeal said with a look of regret. "Seems the bloody English saw fit to enter you into a little contest."

"Ah, then be good enough to convey my regrets that while I'm honored to receive the invitation . . . uh . . . what's a polite way of telling the lot of 'em to bugger off and never bother me again?"

"Afraid it's not that simple," the Ardmháistir spoke up, "your attendance is required. Magic itself will enforce the contract if you don't participate."

"A binding agreement that I did not voluntarily enter?" Harry asked mildly. His cheek twitched, the only outward sign of his annoyance.

"The English are rather fond of their ancient artifacts," he agreed with a sigh, "I am sorry Harry."

"Well then, I suppose I'll just have to give a poor performance then."

"You will not do less then your very best," Aingeal snapped, "even if it is against your will. Once you start giving shoddy work for one thing then it's very easy to fall into the habit of cutting corners in everything else."

"Then I suppose I have no choice but to win the bloody contest then," Harry said cheerfully, "but not in the way they expect. Which one of you was it that taught me to take every advantage in a situation like this?"

"Better," she said with an approving smile, "just because you have to compete and just because you should do your best that does not mean that you must play by their rules. In fact, piss on their rules. You didn't sign up for this bloody contest."

IIIIIIIIII

"Well?" Minerva asked.

"I've spoken to the Irish and they've agreed that Harry will participate," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "They assure me that he'll be here in time for the first event."

"It'll be good to see the child again," Minerva mused, "make sure he's eating right and all that."

"Yes it will," Dumbledore agreed. This was his chance, once Harry had a chance to see what he was missing by choosing a second rate provincial school over the finest academy of magic in the world. "Yes it will."

The months passed and several strong requests for Harry's presence and even more requests for an interview were ignored. Harry and his guardian finally arrived at Hogwarts a few minutes after the other contestants had gathered in the tent to wait for the first task.

"We're here for the contest," Aingeal announced as she walked through the gates with Harry, "now were's bloody challenge so we can get this over and done with?"

"Right this way," Dumbledore said with an oily smile, "I'm afraid that since you arrived here late that we're going to have to . . ."

"None of that," Aingeal snapped, "he's bound to complete three tasks in this bloody contest and he is not going to do an iota more."

"Fine," Dumbledore agreed, "if you'll wait in the tent?"

"As you wish," Harry agreed. Harry entered the tent and ignored the other contestants until his name was called. He was there because the bloody Brits had forced his participation, not to make friends with a lot of easily led morons.

"You're up Harry," the official announced.

"What do I need to do?"

"Just get the egg."

"Right." Harry walked out of the tent and was momentarily blinded by the change in light. The crowd, upon catching their first glimpse of 'the-boy-who-lived,' went wild in their efforts to deafen him with their cheering. After his eyes adjusted to the change in light, Harry looked up at his opponent. "Aren't you a big one?" Harry admired. He walked around and examined the beast for several seconds. "A very grand creature." He reached down and tapped the tip of his shoe.

"Problem?" A little man in a green suit that hadn't been there a second before asked.

"Opportunity," Harry said with a smile. "I'd like to make a bargain with you."

"What?" The little man asked suspiciously.

"I have no need for your gold," Harry said quickly.

"Another pair of shoes then?"

"See that egg over there?"

"What about it?"

"Gold isn't it?"

"So?"

"My task is to retrieve it," Harry explained. "Aid me and the egg is yours."

"Deal." The Leprechaun snapped his fingers and the egg appeared in his hands. "Here you are young sir."

"And now that I've completed my task," Harry said loudly. "Here is the egg to complete our bargain."

"A pleasure," the Leprechaun said with a bow. "Call me when you need another pair of shoes," the litt'e man's said as he began to fade away.

"I will," Harry promised. He turned back to the judges table with a smirk. "Looks like I've completed your task, good day."

"Wait," Dumbledore yelled.

"Yes?"

"You'll need that egg to complete the next task."

"Oh?" Harry said with a grin. "Guess I'll have to withdraw then, pity."

"I'm afraid not," Dumbledore sighed, "we'll just have to work something out. In the mean time, I'll have a student show you back to your assigned quarters."

"What quarters?"

"I've arranged a place for you to stay while you compete in the contest," Dumbledore explained, "you'll be bunking with the Gryffindors and . . ."

"Piss on that," Harry growled, "I'm going back to Eire. I'm forced to compete in your bloody contest, I'll be damned if I have to attend your cursed school as well."

"Nicely said," Aingeal said in approval, "come along Harry. It's time to go home."

"Yes Aingeal," Harry agreed.

"You're going to need to show up early to the next contest," Dumbledore called after them, "and to bring a friend."

"Trouble in paradise?" Maxime asked with a grin.

"Not now Olympe," Dumbledore said sourly.

Harry's hands were shaking with rage as they walked the path back to their homeland. "Who's that bloody bastard think he is trying to run my life like that?"

"Apparently being the Headmaster of a school allows one to do such things in that backward place," Aingeal mused, "pity they aren't enlightened like we are isn't it?"

"Guess the poor bastards couldn't work past the handicap of not being Irish," Harry laughed. A bit of his cheer returning. "Why'd you think he wanted me to bring a friend?"

"Who knows," she replied, "but I assure you it won't happen unless they satisfy us that Ms. O'Connell will be safe."

"Thank you," Harry said softly.

"Can't let anything happen to my boy's best friend can I?"

Time past and Harry again found himself in the place he least wanted to be, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Not very well kept is it?" Colleen whispered as they walked through the front gates.

"Wait till you see the idiot they put in charge of this dump," Harry replied loudly, "not surprising the idiot let's it go to seed like this."

"Ahem," Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Speak of the devil," Harry laughed, "we were just talking about you."

"Is this your friend Harry?" Dumbledore chose to ignore the slight to him and the school as he bent down to inspect the girl.

"Eww, your breath smells like cheap whiskey," Colleen said loudly enough for the everyone to hear. She was not at all fond of the man that was trying to steal her best friend.

"Charming," he said with a frown. "Now if you'll just come this way . . ." Dumbledore took her hand and tried to lead her away.

"No thanks," she said, digging in her heels.

"It's vital for the contest that you come with me," Dumbledore said through clenched teeth.

"It's not enough that you force one of our citizens into your vile contest?" Aingeal demanded. "Very well, go with the old tosser."

"Yes Aingeal," she agreed sweetly. She turned back to Dumbledore with a frown. "If you try to touch me I'll scream you perverted old bastard."

Harry sat down and pulled a book out of his pocket to pass the time while he waited for the blasted event to begin.

"Hi Harry," a red head with a stupid look on his face said, "can I see your scar?"

"I wouldn't know," Harry replied, "I don't presume to know the abilities of those beneath me."

"Huh?"

"What do you want?" Harry asked impatiently.

"You gonna come to Hogwarts now?" Ron asked. "It'd be bloody brilliant if you did."

"And why?" Harry asked with as much distain as he could load into his voice. "Would I want to go to a third rate school? Especially one in this . . ." His lip curled. "Country?"

"Hogwarts is the best school in the world," Ron prattled mindlessly, "we've got Quidditch and . . . course there are the Slytherins which I bet your school doesn't have but your school doesn't have Gryffindors either so . . . and Professor Dumbledore says . . . and we could be mates and have adventures and . . . my sister thinks you're . . ."

Harry couldn't understand why the red headed simpleton in front of him couldn't catch the hint that he wasn't wanted. Perhaps it's more evidence that centuries of inbreeding have taken their toll? Harry mused to himself. Or maybe he was dropped on his head a lot as a child?

"Look at the time," Harry said blandly, "it's time for my next task." Without waiting for a response, Harry walked away from the school idiot and towards the lake where the other champions had already gathered. He tuned out the speeches, just a bunch of self important bastards listening to the sound of their own voice in his opinion, and only brought his attention back to the world when the other three champions dove into the lake.

Harry frowned in annoyance when he realized the likely location of his best fried in the world and shot an annoyed glare at the Judge's table. With a sigh, he walked over to the lake and cast a short spell that created a small bubble on the end of his wand. Taking the time to make a short statement into the bubble, he flicked it off his wand and into the lake.

"Um . . . don't you think you should go in there?" One of the spectators asked nervously.

"I believe that one should mind their own business," Harry said sharply. "I believe that it is rude to pull someone out of their native land just to have them compete in a silly little contest. I believe that when I am finished with this silly little contest that I will go back to Eire and with luck, I don't believe I will ever find the need to return to this . . . place. I do not believe that I will have to go into that lake to get my friend," Harry said as two mermen emerged with his missing friend. "Since I know that her cousins are polite enough to bring her to me." Harry took position of the groggy girl and said something unintelligible to the mermen. "Good day to you all." He finished as he staggered away under the weight of his friend.

Harry waited until he got back to Ireland before he stopped to inspect his friend to make sure that she hadn't been injured . . . well that and because he was a teenaged boy and she was his girlfriend, it wasn't the kind of opportunity that he was willing to pass up.

"Wouldn't you prefer me awake when you do that?" She purred.

"I'd have preferred you were awake to walk back yourself," he said absently, "you've gotten heavy."

"I have," she growled.

"Probably cause of all the wet clothes," he covered smoothly, "why don't we get you out of them?"

"Why don't we not," she stood up, "let's get back to the castle."

"I don't suppose saying that I'm sorry would put you in a better mood?"

"I don't know," she said. She made a show of thinking it over. "Why don't you try in a couple of weeks."

"Well . . ." he watched her walk away. "Damn."

It wasn't long before Harry was back in Hogwarts for the final task of the bloody tournament that they'd forced him to compete in and he sincerely hoped that it was for the last time.

"Hope I never see this god forsaken place ever again," Harry muttered to himself. He listened to Dumbledore blather on about the contest until the pertinent details of the last task had been covered and then promptly tuned the old bastard out. "Maybe Colleen'll have cooled down by the time I get back," he mused. "Who knew she was so sensitive about her weight?"

"You may start Harry," Dumbledore announced.

"Let's get this over with then," Harry said. Ignoring the entrance, he walked up to a section of the maze. "Would you please let me pass? I really don't wish to be in this contest but they've forced me to compete and because of that I don't think it would be cheating if you gave me a hand." The audience and judges watched in shock as the maze reconfigured itself to form a clear path from Harry to the center of the maze. "Thank you very much," Harry said politely. With a last withering look at the people who had forced him into the bloody contest, Harry strolled up the path and grabbed the trophy.

IIIIIIIIII

The crowd gasped as their hero disappeared. Unnoticed by most,several undercover Garda Síochána loosened their wands and took positions that would allow them to neutralize the Aurors in the crowd. The few Aurors that did notice took care to stand very still with their hands at their sides, they were professionals after all and they knew not to bet against loaded dice.

"Mind sharing what this is about?" Amelia didn't take her eyes off the scene at the Judge's table. She'd taken the time off to see what rabbits the Irish contestant would pull out of his hat. Shame she had to run into something like this on her day off.

"The boy 's arrs," a voice replied, "we canna allow 'im ta be taken by you bastards."

"From what I've seen he's happy with you," Amelia said calmly, "I have no objections to him staying with you and I have no knowledge of what just happened to the child."

"Does yer government feel the same way then?" The voice demanded. "Or th' bloody bastard you have in charge here?"

"My Aurors will not participate in such an act," Amelia growled, "tell them green fifteen if anything happens. It's this week's code to stand down."

"Thankee kindly."

"If you get any info that one of my people . . . if anyone in my country is complicit in the child's kidnapping then pass it along to me," Amelia replied, "and we'll call it even."

"Will do."

"And if you find out where he is and need help in the retrieval then ask for it and it shall be yours. I don't like kidnappers."

IIIIIIIIII

"It figured it couldn't be simple," Harry sighed as he looked around. "No matter." Harry turned away from the grave yard and began walking.

"He's . . . he disappeared master," Wormtail said nervously. "I don't understand . . . the wards?"

"Curses," Voldemort squealed.

The world blurred around Harry as he strolled down what appeared to be a rough cobble road. Let the others use their flashy transport, they hadn't forgotten the old ways in Eire. They also hadn't forgotten to ward for it like the lazy wizards that seemed to inhabit every other country in Europe. Harry finished his stroll at the Hogwarts gates and tapped his shoe.

"What is it now?" A voice demanded from behind.

"Got this nice golden trophy," Harry said. "Left it behind and I thought you might be interested."

"Oh, aye. Thank you again lad."

"There's also a golden cup back at Hogwarts," Harry mused, "doubt it's being guarded."

"I'll look into it after I secure that trophy of yours," the little man promised as he began walking down the path.

"Be careful," Harry called after the leprechaun. "The Trophy's a portkey and god knows what kind of magic they've got on the cup.."

"I'll take care of it lad," the little man called back. "Don't worry."

After disposing of the Trophy, Harry walked through the gates through the crowds.

"Harry," Colleen squealed. "You're back.

"I'm back," Harry agreed. "When did you get here?"

"Aingeal brought me here after you went missing," she replied, "I wanted to be the first one to greet you when you got back."

"Does this mean you're not angry with me anymore?"

"Means we can go back to 'studying' when we get home," Colleen whispered into his ear, "we're going to have to put in a lot of work to make up for all the time we lost cause you were an insensitive bastard."

"So all I gotta do to make you forgive me is get kidnapped?" Harry laughed. "Good to know."

"Care to explain where you were Harry?" Dumbledore interrupted the conversation with a twinkle in his eye. "Or how you got back."

"Not really," Harry replied. Turning away from the Headmaster. Harry addressed his friends, "let's go home. I've had enough of this god forsaken place."

"Where is the Trophy Harry," Dumbledore demanded.

"None of my business," Harry replied over his shoulder. "I never wanted to compete in the first place, remember?"

"Harry, the trophy is connected to the cup. We can't hold another contest without both."

"Seems you have a problem then," Harry said with an unconcerned shrug.

"We're going to need the Trophy back before we can give you your gold Harry," Dumbledore tried again.

"Then I suggest you start chasing rainbows," Harry said as the Irish walked away. Harry couldn't say that his visit to Hogwarts had been pleasant. He'd been forced into a contest, belittled, had to endure the bloody Brits, not to mention the fact that his best friend had been kidnapped, and the murder attempts. Despite all that, it had been a productive year the trophy was gone and they'd never be able to wrest it away from its new protectors to force another child into a life threatening ordeal.

AN: You may be wondering what happened in the years between Shamrock and this fic. Sirius escaped and was granted asylum, that's about it. Harry had a happy life in Ireland before he was disturbed and now he's going back to it. Mini Epilogue: Harry completed his schooling and married his first friend and constant companion Colleen O'Connell shortly after they completed their education. They probably had children and if they did Harry always told them the story of how he was rescued from prison and taken home to Eire by an Angel. Without Harry's blood, Voldemort was never able to resurrect himself and he lived a half life until finally running out of energy and fading away.

Omake by meteoricshipyards

"Headmaster, who's that with the Potter boy?"

"Him? That's our grounds keeper, Darby O'Gill. Unfortunately he retired a few years ago and didn't see fit to tell me."

IIIIIIIIII

"And I follered that blasted horse all the way to the ol' ruins on yon hill. And that's when I met ol' King Brian Connor 'imself, King of the Good People. It turns out that weren't no horse, but a pooka, sent to lead me away."

"And that was when you asked for the crock of gold?"

"Weel, not quite then. We sort of had a conversation first. But eventually, he offered me three wishes, and I asked for the crock of gold."

"And what did you do with it?"

"Well I ne'er got it, is what I did wi' it. Always remember, wee Harry, that when one of the Little people offer you three wishes, they'll try to get you to take another. And if you take the fourth, you lose them all. Which is what 'appened to me. An' me an edicated man, too!"

"Wow!"

IIIIIIIIII

"Top of the eve'ning to ya, Mr. Potter."

"I know you! You're King Brian!"

"Indeed I am. You've no doubt been talkin' to me friend Darby. He's a fiyne one to spend an' relaxin' time sittin', talkin', and drinkin', but always take his stories wi' a grain of salt, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, your Majesty."

"You're a right polite boy, Harry Potter. And I saw what you did to save that wee lass from the bull. I'd like to give you three wishes as a reward."

"That's very kind of you, your Majesty, but I don't need them."

"What do you mean you don't need them. Are you implyin' that the wishes of the Good People are nae good?"

"Oh, no, your Majesty. But my wishes have already come true. Someone came and rescued me, and brought me to where I really belong! I never have to go back to the cupboard again! I have all the food I need and clothes that fit. All my wishes have come true."

"An' you'd pass up the crock o'gold, even?"

"I don't have any use for it."

"So you have nae more wishes?"

"Well, there is one thing. . . ."

"And what be that?"

"I never had any friends until I came here, and Miss O'Cleary said you can never have too many friends, and friends are worth more than gold, begging your pardon, your Majesty. So, if it's all the same, I'd wish you to be a friend."

"You're a wise one, Harry Potter, and a well spoke, brave lad. I'll grant ye my friendship, and the friendship of the Good Folk. Now, you better be running along back to your school, before Miss O'Cleary starts to worry abou' you."

"Thank you, your Majesty! The top of the evening to you!"

"And the rest of the night, to you, Harry Potter, friend of the Fae."

Omake by Michael Bennett

"What do you MEAN half of our school student body are transferring to a better school? We are the FINEST OF THEM ALL!" shouts Dumbledore.

"There is worse news to come, Headmaster. Our school average drops from an EE, to a D if just a handful of them transfers. Sad to say, but it seems Mr. Weasley will be one of our top students if all those students succeed in transferring. Even that D is being disputed after the school board was tipped off that Severus was allowing the Slytherins to cheat on their Potions, and thats the only thing keeping

us from a T."