Madam Bones' secretary brought everyone tea and coffee as the night turned into morning and the Ministry of Magic began to pick up. From the window in the woman's office, Sirius could see down into the ministry's atrium. Early arrivers with Floo privileges were coming through and he could see those who came through the . . . Muggle entrance as it were, entering from the corridor they arrived in. A brief thought passed through his mind at how glad he was that he had Floo privileges.

"Unfortunately," Axel's voice pulled Sirius back to the matter at hand, "the contract is explicit. Those who are chosen are meant to compete. It seems when Crouch or whomever decided to make it seventeen and up only, they did not change the age restrictions in the contract itself. It's an old contract, I don't think there's been much amendment to it since the tournament was first founded."

"No one probably thought amending the contract was necessary," Remus said with a sigh. "It would've taken some powerful magical adjustment to do so, and with an age line set up by Dumbledore, no one thought something like this could happen. Especially in regard to a fourth champion."

"What a fucking mess!" Sirius barked. "Harry's fourteen! He spent all last year thinking a mad Dark Lord supporter was after him and the year before that being accused of being the heir of Slytherin and the year before that he was kidnapped by Voldemort himself! The kid needs a break!"

"I hear you, Sirius," Madam Bones said tiredly, rubbing the sides of her head. "Unfortunately, this also means that Harry can also not receive additional help from professors, per the rules of the tournament."

"Well," Remus said, trying to lighten the mood, "good thing he's friends with Aria and Hermione."

A hurried knock came at the door and Madam Bones' secretary poked her head in.

"Lord Weasley wants to speak to you immediately," she said. "I told him who you were meeting with, and he said that what he's got to say concerns them as well."

Madam Bones sighed.

"Let him in," she ordered. The secretary opened the door and Lord Weasley strolled in, clearly having just arrived, and having hurriedly left his home. He was impeccably dressed as always, but the people in the office could tell that he was just a little out of breath. He also clutched a Daily Prophet in one hand.

"Madam Bones," he said, "I have just come from trying to find Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman, but they are nowhere to be found. Seeing as you were mentioned in the article, perhaps you could explain what is happening with this damn tournament?" He slapped the paper down and everyone peered at the front page. A picture of Aria and Harry stumbling past the gathered students, stuck together, was on full display. The headline read: A CHEATER IN OUR MIDST?

"How is it that Rita Skeeter has the byline?" Remus asked. "She was not there last night."

"A very good question," Axel murmured. "But unfortunately, not the question to ask at the moment. This is quite a disparaging article against a minor."

"I'll leave you to take that little blonde chit down a peg or two," Lord Weasley said. "What I want to know is how a fourth champion was selected and a minor at that!"

"We are looking into that," Madam Bones answered. "I left two of my best aurors with Alastair Moody studying the Goblet last night."

"Moody? Isn't he retired?"

"Yes, and now teaching DADA at Hogwarts."

"Well. That's good. Certainly, though, Mr. Potter won't be able to compete."

"Unfortunately, he is," Axel said. "According to the contract, the rules were never amended to officially change the ages to seventeen and older. It seems, and this is something that Crouch and Bagman will have to answer to, that it was decided that Dumbledore's age line would be enough to keep underage wixen from entering their names."

"As I am certain it was," Weasley said. "It does not, however, answer why the Goblet chose a fourth champion."

"Hopefully, my aurors will be able to answer that question," Bones said, taking a long gulp of coffee. "As for where Crouch and Bagman have skulked off to, your guess is as good as mine."

"I swear they do nothing but make everyone else's jobs difficult," Weasley growled. "I would like to spend my time as ICW representative not having to clean up messes."

"Well, good luck at that," Bones answered. "Thankfully, you're getting a new partner in crime to the ICW this summer, aren't you?"

"Merlin knows who the Wizengamot will choose," Weasley muttered. "With my luck it'll be someone like . . . Ogden or something." He turned to Sirius and Remus who were angrily reading the Prophet article. "I don't think I need to tell you how to handle Skeeter?"

"No," Axel answered. "She and I go way back. All the way to Hogwarts even. I think she just loves to have letters from me. I know her editor does."

Sirius knocked back his coffee and rose.

"I'm going to head back over to Hogwarts," he said, "give Harry the news myself. Remus, are you coming with me?"

"Absolutely." Remus rose, popping his back as he did so. He glanced at his watch. "I think we've got time to go home and change clothes first. Don't want you looking like the escaped prisoner you are."

Sirius stuck his tongue out at him which gained several eye rolls from those present before they bid their good-byes and left the office.

When Aria arrived in the common room in the morning, she immediately received instructions from the prefects about who her "buddies" were on the off chance the school decided to come after Slytherins like they had two years ago during the Chamber of Secrets debacle. She also discovered that, now that she was considered an "older student" in Slytherin, she had the responsibility of making sure a group of first or second years got to class without incident during her free periods.

"Cedric knows that Harry didn't put his name in the goblet," Aria said to her friends as they waited for Harry to come down. Theo and Blaise had already gone back to their dorm room to see what was taking him so long. "Hopefully that'll mitigate some problems."

"I like how optimistic you can be," Daphne said.

"It'll go a long way if we can convince Susan and Ernie," Tracey added. "Especially amongst our year."

"I anticipate that most of the Gryffindors will think Harry's some kind of rebel," Aria predicted. "And I don't need my tarot cards or a teacup for that. Not sure about the Ravenclaws though."

"Padma will most likely do whatever her sister does," Daphne answered as Blaise and Theo dragged Harry into the common room. "They're usually of the same mind."

Blaise and Theo deposited Harry in the midst of the fourth years.

"He was just going to hide behind his bed curtains until the end of the tournament," Theo said.

"Bit of a coward's way out, isn't it?" Pansy half-sneered.

"I wasn't put in Gryffindor for a reason," Harry snapped. "And I just don't want people staring. Or taking shots at me."

For a brief moment the fourth years stood awkwardly in the common room, none of them wanting to be the first to head up to the Great Hall. Eventually, Harry huffed and grabbed Aria, dragging her towards the portrait hole.

"We might as well get going," he muttered, frustration clear in his voice. The other fourth years and other Slytherins hurried to catch up with them.

Aria hoped that they could make it to the Great Hall without meeting anyone from another house, but luck was not on their side. As they passed through the turnoff for the kitchens and Hufflepuff common room, they met Susan, Hannah, Ernie, and Justin. Hannah and Ernie scowled at Harry and would've marched off without a "hello" if it weren't for Susan stepping up to Harry.

"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" she demanded, never one to sugar coat her words when it mattered. Aria recalled that Susan and Cedric were cousins as well. Not first cousins, she didn't think, but maybe second cousins?

"No," Harry stated. Hannah scoffed. Harry glared at the girl. "Why would I?"

"For attention?" Hannah cried. "Eternal glory and all that rot!"

"Since when does Harry go out of his way to get attention?" Justin asked, ever sensible. Ernie huffed, but Hannah was not deterred.

"Do you swear that you did not put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Susan asked again. "Cedric said he believes you, and I'm inclined to believe the both of you, but a lot of people are upset."

"Harry made a Wizard's Oath last night that he didn't put his name in the Goblet," Tracey cried.

"I'm upset," Harry countered grumpily over Tracey. "It's my life that could end. People died in this thing!"

"If you didn't put your name in the Goblet," Ernie finally said, "then surely they cannot expect you to compete?"

"Well, Crouch and that Bagman guy seemed to think Harry is magically bound to do so," Aria answered. "Harry's name was ripped off his potions homework."

"So, you're the reason why Snape's been so inane about how our homework scrolls look when we turn them in!" Susan cried. "I thought maybe Ron had turned in his homework with food all over it or something."

"Anyway, since Harry's name was written by Harry, they believe it's binding, even though he's underage," Aria finished.

"But that doesn't explain why the Goblet spat out a fourth name," Blaise countered.

"No, it doesn't. Professor McGonagall called the aurors and Madam Bones—,"

"Auntie was here?" Susan cried.

"She was. She left two aurors with Professor Moody and they were gonna take a look at the Goblet. If Sirius has his way, Harry won't be competing."

"I'm hoping he gets his way," Harry said.

A beat of silence.

"Did you really swear a Wizard's Oath?" Hannah asked.

"I did," Harry answered. The Slytherins nodded in agreement. The girl looked thoughtful for a few seconds before giving a solid nod.

"All right then," she said. "I believe you."

"All four of us," Susan added. Justin and Ernie were quick to agree. Harry relaxed marginally as the Hufflepuffs joined their troupe as they finished making their way to breakfast.

Those who were already there fell silent as Harry appeared in the doorway. Aria dragged him over to the Slytherin table even as whispers began circulating. The four Hufflepuffs joined them at the Slytherin table, earning a few hisses from the Hufflepuff table. Those stopped once Cedric entered with his girlfriend, Cho Chang, and immediately came to sit with Harry. Most Hufflepuffs settled for pouting.

"I already had a talk with them last night," Cedric said as he poured Cho a cup of tea. "Zacharias Smith is intent on stirring dissent."

"He's a little bitch anyway," Aria declared, vividly remembering how he had knocked Ron down the stairs of the entrance hall back when they were second years. Smith had only been a first year but had already begun to have a reputation. He had not done anything in the intervening year to make Aria forgive him for hurting Ron.

"If he gives you trouble, Harry, I'll take care of him!" Ginny declared.

"Or we could just get Percy back long enough to beat him up," Millicent suggested. The table laughed, remembering how the normally stuffy and rule abiding Weasley had attempted to attack Smith in defense of his brother.

Hermione popped up at that moment followed by the other fourth years minus Fay and Sophie. Everyone made room for them, greeting each other politely, but Aria immediately sensed there was a bit of tension in the group, specifically around Ron who sat a bit sulkily on Hermione's other side, just diagonal from Harry.

"Harry!" Hermione cried, doing her best to keep her voice low even as she was clearly gearing up for some sort of lecture. "Are you all right? What happened? Did you actually put your name in the Goblet? If you did, what were you thinking? If you didn't, what's going on?"

"Breathe, Granger," Blaise ordered. "Your hair's gonna spark."

Hermione immediately began patting her hair down.

"I didn't put my name in," Harry answered. "Madam Bones is investigating."

"They got the DMLE involved?" Lavender cried.

"They're looking to see what might've confused the Goblet to spit out a fourth champion," Harry explained. "And they're going to look at the contract to see if I'm even obligated to compete."

"It's a binding magical contract then?" Parvati questioned. Harry nodded.

"But if you didn't put your name in," Ron finally said, voice clearly tight, Aria noted Harry give Ron a wary glance, "then it can't be binding since you didn't write your name down."

"Someone tore it off my potions homework," Harry answered.

"You're the reason Snape went bonkers and gave us all a lecture on turning in homework that didn't look like it had been thrown about the Quidditch pitch?" Dean accused.

Aria barely managed to save Harry's oatmeal as he banged his head against the table.

"So, you're saying that someone ripped up your homework to steal your signature to put in the Goblet?" Ron questioned.

"As crazy as it sounds, yes."

Ron and Harry glared at each other. Everyone held their breath. Aria caught Ginny toying with her wand.

Ron broke his gaze first.

"Fine," he muttered, spearing a large sausage with his fork. Harry nodded and took back his oatmeal from Aria. The rest of the table relaxed marginally. An uneasy truce was better than Ron and Harry fighting. Aria could tell that Ron was not 100% behind Harry, but his 'fine' was better than nothing.

The Daily Prophet arrived as the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students entered for breakfast. Daphne, Tracey, Pansy, and Millicent all gathered around Daphne's copy of the paper.

"How did Rita Skeeter get a hold of the story?" Daphne cried. "I didn't see her last night."

"Who's Rita Skeeter?" Justin asked.

"A gossip columnist posing as a journalist," Draco bit out. "She's taken her poison quill at our families at least once."

"Skeeter tends to sensationalize everything," Tracey explained to Justin. "Or downright lie." Justin frowned.

"I'm pretty sure Muggles have laws against that sort of thing," he said. "Not the sensationalizing . . . that's what tabloids are for. But lying and stuff."

"Father's been after her for years," Theo said. "So far, The Daily Prophet doesn't seem to mind the angry letters and such. Her editions always sell quickly."

"But she wasn't here!" Daphne cried. "So why did she get the byline?"

"What's she look like?" Dean asked.

"She's got fake blond hair and wears ridiculous glasses," Pansy answered. "They make her eyes look like a cat's. And far too much makeup for a decent witch."

"So . . . she's a girl version of Draco with glasses?" Seamus questioned. Draco choked on his pumpkin juice even as his classmates cackles with laughter.

"I'd be a better journalist than she," Draco muttered indignantly. "I'd print factual articles."

Their banter was interrupted by the arrival of the Professor Snape.

"Potter," he almost barked, "Lord Black and Mr. Lupin are here to see you in my office."

"Hopefully there's good news," Aria said as Harry rose to follow their Head of House.

"Quickly, Potter!" Snape snapped. "I don't wish to have either of them contaminating my office longer than necessary."

Harry waved to his friends as they wished him good luck.

"Do you think Lord Black was able to get him out of it?" Pansy asked Aria.

"I certainly hope so," she answered. "I certainly hope so."

Harry missed their first two lessons of the day. Immediately upon the end of her second class, Aria raced back to the common room, only to discover Harry wasn't there. He also wasn't in the boy's dormitory. Worried, Aria tried to open Harry's trunk to find the Marauder's Map, but the trunk wouldn't open for her, telling her that sometime over the summer Remus must've put anti-theft charms on it. With a huff she went back to her own dorm and dumped her school things on her bed. After her free period was lunch, so she did not need any of it for a while.

Racking her brain for where Harry might be, it took her longer than necessary to determine that he might have gone down to Hagrid's. Grabbing her newest winter cloak, one of several Gloria Keetering had sent with her dress ("you'll look stunning in them" was the woman's excuse) and hurried out of the castle.

The sun shone as she walked towards Hagrid's hut, smoke curling slowly from the chimney. Aria was glad for the warmth of the cloak as the temperatures had recently dropped as if greeting the winter months in the Scottish highlands.

At the top of the hill leading down to the hut, Aria cast her gaze towards the animal paddocks where Care of Magical Creatures had classes. Hagrid was busily teaching what appeared to be a group of sixth years. So, if Harry were at Hagrid's, he was probably keeping Fang company as Aria could not see the cowardly dog loping about as he usually did.

Reaching the hut, Aria gave a knock to the door before opening the door wide enough for her to poke her head in. If Harry wasn't there, she didn't want to just barge into Hagrid's home.

"Harry?" she called.

There was a shuffling and sniffling, and then Harry's head poked up from under a pile of blankets on the far side of the hut on Hagrid's bed. She immediately slipped into the hut, firmly shutting the door behind her, and hurried over to where Harry had clearly been taking a nap. His eyes were red rimmed and there were clear tear tracks down his cheeks.

"Oh, Harry!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. Harry clung to her, bursting into a fresh wave of tears.

"I've got to compete," he sobbed. "The contract . . . the dumb contract . . . they . . . Sirius couldn't . . ."

Aria gently shushed him, running a hand through his hair, making it stick up further. Harry all but collapsed against her, head settling in her lap as he cried.

"I'm going to die!" Harry cried. "Why'd someone enter me if that wasn't the goal?"

"You're not going to die," Aria insisted. "I won't let you. Neither will Hermione or Ron."

"Ron doesn't believe me," Harry retorted with a sniff. "You saw him this morning."

"He'll come around," Aria assured him. "Take deep breaths. You're gonna make yourself sick if you keep crying like this." Harry struggled for several minutes, but eventually his breathing evened and his sobs stopped. His shoulder hitched a few times, but otherwise, Aria no longer feared that he was going to be sick.

"I have to compete," Harry murmured. "They never changed the wording of the contract, even though the made the age rule and everything. Apparently, they didn't think they'd have to change the wording."

"We'll figure something out," Aria said. "I'll help you. You're not alone, okay? Just remember that."

Harry grabbed her hand and the two stared in silence at the crackling fire in Hagrid's fireplace, the flames dancing too merrily for such a somber moment.