Eventually, Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all came to an agreement that they would return to Hogwarts at 7 P. M. on the day before the new semester began and confront the organizers and judges then.
Amos purposely went to bed super early that evening to avoid having to say goodbye to guests he hadn't approved of in the first place.
Amanda, on the other hand, made sure to let Harry, Viktor, and Fleur know how much of a pleasure it had been to have them as houseguests over Christmas Vacation.
As the champions' hour of departure drew nearer, an emotional Amanda addressed her son.
"Cedric," said Amanda in a proud voice with her eyes watering, "I want you to know how proud I am of you for reaching out to the other champions and cultivating very healthy friendships with them."
"And thank you mom for how warm and welcoming you were towards Harry, Viktor, and Fleur while they were here. Building these bonds is what this tournament is all about for me."
"Good luck, Cedric, I'll miss you' " finished Amanda.
"I'll still write often, mom, " promised Cedric.
"I know you will," smiled Amanda confidently.
"With Christmas and New Year's in the rear view mirror, " said Harry honestly, "I'm looking forward to getting back to Hogwarts. But, Amanda, saying goodbye to you is hard. I feel like Karen when she had to say goodbye to Frosty at the end of Frosty the Snowman."
"Well," remembered Amanda, "Frosty did return at Christmas every year just as Santa promised he would. You will see me again before too long. I promise."
Harry, knowing this promise was sincere, gave Amanda a hug and they now both smiled at each other.
"Amanda, your hospitality here was really comforting, " said Viktor gratefully, "From the nanosecond, we arrived here you made us feel wanted and welcome."
"I'm glad you found your stay here a positive experience," beamed Amanda.
"I look forward to seeing you again, Amanda, " said Fleur warmly, "It has been my pleasure getting to know you these few weeks."
"This was one of the most enjoyable Christmas Vacation periods I've had in years," cooed Amanda glowingly.
Amanda now retrieved an empty Calming Draught bottle from a kitchen cupboard. She then retrieved her wand from her right hand pocket with her right hand.
Amanda pointed her wand directly at the empty Calming Draught bottle and cried "Portus!"
"I have turned this empty Calming Draught bottle into a portkey keyed to Hogwarts, but it will go off in a minute. Hurry!"
Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur each placed a hand upon the portkey and almost as soon as they had the portkey activated and took them back to Hogwarts.
When Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur landed safely on the sloping lawns, Harry immediately called "Dobby!"
A nanosecond later, Dobby appeared on the sloping lawns next to Harry.
"Did Harry Potter just call for Dobby?" squeaked Dobby.
"I sure did," confirmed Harry, "Dobby, there is a favor I am going to ask of you."
'Name it, Harry Potter, sir, and Dobby will do it!" declared Dobby cheerfully.
"So," began Harry, "As an employee of Hogwarts, Dumbledore is your master, right?"
"Yes, Harry Potter, " confirmed Dobby.
"So, you are bound to tell the truth if he asks you a question and he knows this?"
"Indeed," replied Dobby.
"Cedric, Viktor, Fleur, and I are about to go confront the organizers and judges of the Triwizard Tournament," explained Harry, "We are going to tell them what you discovered in your research about the ancient history of the Triwizard Tournament and how our magical contracts will be automatically magically terminated if the organizers or judges break any wizarding laws and how we know kidnapping is against wizarding law. Dumbledore will ask you to confirm or deny this because he knows you cannot lie to him. After that, the organizers and judges will know that they are cornered and will have to change the contents of the Second Task to keep the Triwizard Tournament going."
'Let's go then," said Dobby happily.
So, Harry, Cedric, Viktor, Fleur, and Dobby marched up to Dumbledore's office where Dumbledore, Bagman, Crouch, Fudge, Karkaroff, and Maxime had all just entered the office. Maxime, who had entered the room last, was about to close the door behind her when she saw the Four Champions and Dobby and held the door open long enough for them to enter.
"Well," piped up a smiling Maxime, who approved of the champions attempts to get the Second Task changed, "It looks like the Triwizard Champions wish to speak with us. Though I am not sure why they have brought a house elf with them."
"Dobby is going to help us because Dumbledore knows Dobby cannot lie to him," explained Harry.
"Very useful indeed," smiled Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Dobby has been researching the ancient history of the Triwizard Tournament," piped up Dobby, "Under ancient laws that govern all Triwizard Tournaments, if the organizers or judges of the tournament break any wizarding laws, then the champions' magical contracts are all automatically magically terminated. Dobby should remind you that kidnapping is against wizarding law."
Dumbledore, Fudge, and Karkaroff all suddenly had startled looks on their faces and Crouch's face showed surprise. Maxime smiled and Bagman didn't show much reaction at all.
'Dobby?" asked Dumbledore urgently, "Does this mean that if hostages are taken for the Second Task that Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur will be able to retire as Triwizard Champions without losing their magic?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, sir," confirmed Dobby.
Firing his one last bullet, Dumbledore asked Dobby, "Can exceptions to wizarding law be made for the specific purpose of conducting the Triwizard Tournament?"
"No," answered Dobby, "The law is clear that no exceptions to the law can be made for the purpose of conducting the Triwizard Tournament."
At that, Dumbledore, Fudge, Karkaroff, and Crouch all had looks of defeat come across their faces. Bagman remained stoic and Maxime looked very pleased.
"Well, " said Dumbledore wearily in a defeated voice, "We're cornered."
Harry took an immense amount of savage pleasure at the defeat he saw on Dumbledore's face and in the defeat he heard in Dumbledore's voice.
Crouch tilted his head downward.
"We've been outwitted by four teenagers," lamented Crouch in an embarrassed voice.
"We're a laughingstock, " rued Fudge, "We should have made sure the champions stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas."
"We should have made sure they all spent Christmas vacation in different places," added Dumbledore, shaking his head.
"Well, " said Karkaroff, "As long as Viktor wins."
"I LOVE the fact that we have to change the Second Task," smirked Maxime, "The champions were right all along about their take on hostages being used."
"The Second Task is going to be pretty boring now," lamented Fudge, 'Regardless of whether we go with the fastest method or the most method the Second Task doesn't seem as interesting now."
At this, Harry lost it and shouted at the organizers and judges.
"YOU LOT DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF THE CHAMPIONS AT ALL!" shouted Harry, mostly looking between Fudge and Dumbledore, "AS LONG AS HOGWARTS CAN HOST AN ENTERTAINING TOURAMENT OUR LIVES MEAN NOTHING TO YOU LOT! YOU LOT DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF WE ARE ALL KILLED IN THE PROCESS AS LONG AS THE TOURAMENT IS EXCITING!"
To Harry's satisfaction, Dumbledore, Fudge, Crouch, and Karkaroff all took several steps back.
"HE'S RIGHT! "yelled Cedric, "IT'S NOT LIKE ANYONE HERE GAVE A DAMN THAT I GOT BURNED BY A GODDAMN DRAGON IN THE FIRST TASK! ALL OF YOU SEE US AS DISPOSBALE COMMODITIES AND NOT AS THE HUMAN BEINGS THAT WE ARE!'
Viktor looked Karkaroff eye to eye and screamed, "YOU WOULDN'T GIVE A SHIT IF I DIED DURING THE THIRD TASK IF IT ENDED WITH ME BRINGING A FUCKING CUP BACK TO DURMSTRANG!"
"Viktor, I love you," said Karkaroff, kissing up to Viktor in a patronizing way.
'NO," insisted Viktor, 'YOU ONLY LOVE HOW YOU CAN USE ME! AND HOW MY SUCCES CAN IMPROVE YOUR SCHOOL'S REPUTATION!"
Fleur, who raised her voice about as often as Crabbe and Goyle got the best grades in Hogwarts, let her pent up frustration out.
'YOU HAVE MADE GAMES AND SPORTS OUT OF LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS!" Fleur ripped into the organizers and judges, 'HAVING US FACE DRAGONS WAS PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH OUR LIVES! AND YOU WERE PLANNING TO FUCK WITH OUR FAMILES NEXT! YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE MY SISTER AS MY HOSTAGE FOR THE SECOND TASK! DON'T DENY IT!"
Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Fudge, Crouch, Bagman, and Maxime all stood there with their mouths half open in a startled silence. They were frozen still and in obvious shock at how the champions had all laid down the hammer on them.
"We will continue as Triwizard Champions," explained Harry finally, "Not for you lot, but for ourselves. We want to compete against each other in a friendly manner in humane events. They don't have to be boring though. How about instead of just searching for gold in the Second Task, the champions have to search for different types of items. The items could come from different categories such as light, heavy, hard, soft, thick, thin, dense, not dense, light, dark, hot, cold, wet, dry, loud, quiet etc. The champions would earn points for each item they found, and each category's items would be worth a certain number of points. A bonus would be awarded to any champion who found at least one item in every category. The Second Task should still be an underwater task in the Black Lake and each champion will still have to come up with his or her own method of breathing underwater for an hour."
"There should also be chairs placed around the Black Lake so the spectators can actually see the task well," added Cedric.
"Now," interjected Maxime, "Let's vote on it. If you agree to the new Second Task, then please raise your hand."
Knowing their defeat, the organizers and judges all agreed to this new Second Task and every hand went up.
While Dumbledore, Fudge, Karkaroff, and Crouch all angrily filled out looking obviously pissed off and Bagman walked away still stoic, Maxime stayed behind.
"Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur, " piped up Maxime, "You've all done the right thing in taking a stand. It is blatantly obvious now that Dumbledore, Fudge, Bagman, and Crouch were all lying when they said that the tournament would be safer this time. Karkaroff wouldn't care about these lies as long as Durmstrang got a shot at some glory. I'm very proud of you all. I'm also proud of the friendships that the four of you have established with each other."
"Well, " smiled Harry, "We've taken advantage of our opportunities."
"Why don't the four of you spend a few hours together tonight before bed?" suggested Maxime.
"We will, " chorused Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur as they left the office and returned to the sloping lawns with Dobby.
"Dobby?" asked Harry, "Do you feel up to doing us one more favor tonight?"
"Dobby does, Harry Potter!" smiled Dobby.
"Dobby, could you please bring four lawn chairs and four lawn tables out to the sloping lawns and then fetch some vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles for the four of us?"
"It will be Dobby's pleasure, Harry Potter!" exclaimed Dobby.
"Thank you, Dobby," said Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur in unison.
Dobby disapparated and apparated back four minutes and four nanoseconds later with four lawn chairs, four lawn tables, four bowls of vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, and four spoons.
"Dobby will go get some sleep now," said Dobby simply.
"You've earned it, Dobby," said Harry matter of factly.
Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur all sat quietly and ate the ice cream quietly and slowly.
Quietly enjoying some ice cream and each other's company was the perfect way to end the last day before the new semester started.
A shout out to the following members who have added Harry Potter and the Champions Closer Ties to their favorites and/or follows lists since the last update:
Aiden Red 8
Anusha7
Blackhawk5789
chrisemmit
dfcghyjuiokp
dtndT-90
gsferal
Hope2311
icemandfr
isetta
johnsteed
LeseratteNRW
LoveYouself
Monchele1357
Nostalgic memories
PotterUta89
Sarah1981
scubatrex
TorchwoodNeedsADoctor
Tuckersdad
Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all-Michael. :)