Chapter 75: …Ready for It?
Daphne crossed her arms and looked at the Goblet of Fire with such intensity that it looked like she was trying to burn the object into nonexistence.
Since her conversation with Nott, she had been working out everything he said, wondering just who his cohorts were and what the larger plan was. When Dumbledore unveiled the Goblet, she watched him. As the golden goblet lowered into place, he smiled almost imperceptibly. When he did, she looked at Harry looking at the item with a foreboding look. That was when all the pieces clicked into place.
So they're going to enter Potter, the Slytherin wheels whirled in her head. He'll have to face possible death in the tournament. In doing so, he becomes the biggest target for everyone.
Daphne rose early to think. She knew Harry was about to be tested. The tasks themselves did not worry her as much as everything else. She spent enough time around him to know he wasn't at as much of a disadvantage as he would appear. It was everything else coming his way, things he will have no knowledge or experience how to deal with. She also worried about Astoria. The thought of spying never occurred to her but she needed to have a way to protect her sister.
"I don't know if I've ever seen you so deep in thought," Daphne startled when Astoria spoke, not realizing her sister standing next to her. "What's bothering you?"
"What makes you think something is bothering me?" Daphne looked down at her sister.
"You mean aside from the fact you won't answer my question?" Astoria cocked her eyebrow. "You've been distant and every time you look at me, you're concerned. I remember dad's lessons; I know some people won't like our alliance with Potter and, as the smallest, they'll go after me."
"Excellent reasoning," Daphne smirked at her sister. "Yes. Nott threatened you a few weeks back and I'm not sure what to do with it."
'Well," Astoria tapped her chin. "First thing you can do is to train me in the D.A. Give me all the tools to defend myself. Second, I'm not as helpless as I appear."
Astoria punctuated her statement by withdrawing the knife she was hiding up her sleeve.
"Next, you should talk to Potter at your earliest convenience. I've barely spent any time with him and even I know he's got a protective streak. Trust in him; he won't let you down."
Astoria gave Daphne a side-armed hug and walked by her. At that moment, Daphne knew what she needed to do. Turning on her heel, she strode toward the library. If he was going to be entered, she was going to learn what exactly that meant and what was required.
As Daphne walked toward the library, Hermione dragged Harry down the steps.
"Honestly," Hermione rolled her eyes as Harry stumbled at the bottom of the stairs. "You need to eat Harry."
"I need to sleep," Harry moaned. He laid up half the night, staring at the wall next to his bed and picked at the blanket on top of his mattress. He didn't know when he finally dropped off to sleep but it was past dawn when Hermione came in to wake him.
"Food. Now," Hermione's bossy demeanor took over. "Then we can walk around the lake while the weather is still nice. How's that sound?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders and ambled his way into the Great Hall. When he sat, Dobby popped in with a Pepper-Up Potion.
"After your meal," Dobby tapped Harry on the arm with the vial. "You should take this."
"You both are bound and determined to keep me out of bed, huh?" Harry grumbled.
"Yes," Hermione said, primly, as she buttered a piece of toast. "You can be grumpy all you want, you're still not going back to bed. And look, Dobby even brought you your favorite breakfast."
"Dobby knows when his master is worried," Dobby pushed the breakfast sandwich closer to Harry, encouraging him to eat. "He feels it in your magic. Worrying does you no good and only prevents you from being productive. It happened to mistress 'Cissa all the time; I won't let it happen to you, Harry."
Harry smiled in spite of himself, feeling like he was taking them for granted.
"Thank you," he addressed each in turn. "You are both so good to me and I'm being a prat."
"Yes you are," Hermione said. "But I've been bitchy to you plenty of times when I have been stressing about a test or a project or just been in a bad mood and you've been patient with me. It is only fair I return the favor."
"I know you won't punish me," Dobby said. "So I don't have to worry about speaking up when it will help you be a better wizard."
After breakfast, Hermione hugged Harry's arm to lead him toward the courtyard. When they arrived at the entrance hall, Viktor was at the head of the Durmstrang contingent submitting their names to the Goblet of Fire. After nodding to the older boy, Harry and Hermione walked out of the doors and into the courtyard. As they crossed the threshold, they heard two sniggers.
"Fred, George," Harry addressed the two redheads who were on either side of the doors. "What have you done."
"Nothing," George tried and failed to look innocent.
"Yet," Fred finished with a vicious smile. "Little Ronnikins told us he was going to enter. Said something about 'it's my time to earn some fame,' if we heard him right. So we miiight have placed an aging potion on his bedside table and he miiight have just drank it. Oh look, here he is!"
An older-looking Ron sauntered into the Entry Hall. His pants were closer to his knees than his ankles and his sweater made him look like he had absorbed a lot of gamma radiation and he wasn't happy about it. With Seamus tagging along, Ron stepped across the line and dropped his name in. He turned to the crowd and bowed, expecting applause when the goblet shot his name back out, burning a hole in his trousers and sending him flying. When Ron righted himself, he looked middle-aged with an impressive beard.
"Give 'er another go," Seamus gave him another piece of parchment. "Just throw 'er in from behind the line."
Ron balled up the paper and tossed it toward the cup. The parchment flew true and headed toward the goblet but when it was about to enter, a tendril of flame swatted it back away, hitting Ron in the face, turning his hair white and growing his beard to the length of his navel.
"Last try," Ron wheezed. He sprinted back around the corner and came flying out on a broom. Where he found the broom, Harry did not know. He sped by the Goblet of Fire, dropping his name in as he flew over. Once again, the goblet rejected his name, sending a flaming piece of parchment chasing the snow-white manchild out the doors and onto the grounds.
"I'll give him credit for persistence," Fred said through wheezing laughs as George, Harry, and Hermione bent double in laughter. The parchment finally caught up to Ron and the group of students heard him curse as he was hit. He dropped from the sky into the Black Lake where the Giant Squid picked up the boy and deposited him on the bank.
"Rather entertaining attempt," Harry startled when he heard Dumbledore's voice. That was when Dumbledore dropped his disillusionment and gazed out on the grounds in a barely-concealed look of mirth. "Much better than Mr. McLaggen's and far more persistent than Miss Edgegrass. Mr. Finnegan if you would please guide Mr. Weasley to the Hospital Wing. I'm afraid Madam Pomfrey is rather busy this morning."
"Foolish boy," Fleur scoffed. She watched the entire display with disdain. "I am glad I won't be competing against 'im if I am picked."
"Good morning, Fleur," Hermione called.
"Good morning, 'Ermione," Fleur brightened. "Come to see my beautiful self enter my name?"
Fleur laughed at her attempt of humor, though Hermione played it off nonchalantly.
"We were just about to take a walk on the grounds, actually," Hermione pointed to Harry. "Grumpy here needs some fresh air. We just stopped to watch the entertainment. Best of luck in the tournament, whoever is selected."
The bright blue-clad students murmured thank you, Harry gave the twins a last high-five and followed Hermione back down toward the lake. Harry waved at Neville who was dressed in a grey tunic and grimy pants as he entered one of the Greenhouses. At the lake, the squid was having fun, using a tentacle to play with the anchor on the Durmstrang ship.
"Thanks for the rescue," Harry felt like calling out. Turns out the squid knew English and was amused at being thanked. For the next few minutes, Harry was taught the squid's apparent special handshake that involved many bumps and grabs. Hermione conjured a blanket and smiled as the Giant Squid used three of its tentacles to help Harry learn. A half-hour later, a very sticky but very happy Harry Potter walked away.
"Cute," Hermione pulled her wand and cleaned Harry off. "Now you'll just need to remember every move."
"Next we just have to teach it to the Blast-Ended Skrewts," Harry smiled as Hermione's smile fled faster than the Care class fled the creatures they were supposed to be studying.
"Don't even joke about that," Hermione glared.
In better spirits, Harry let Hermione walk them toward the back of the castle where the Hagrid housed some of the animals. As they walked by the paddocks, Buckbeak galloped up, flapping his wings excitedly as he spotted them.
"How are you doing?" Harry laughed at the birdhorse's antics and scratched his neck the way Buckbeak liked it.
Buckbeak answered Harry's question by turning. Just beyond the fence sat a chestnut-colored Hippogriff sitting on an overly large nest.
"Congratulations," Harry laughed at the Hippogriff preening with pride.
"I was about to tell yeh," Hagrid's booming voice said as Harry and Hermione continued to pet Buckbaek. "Just found out last week. Beaky's gonna be a dad! I think I'll have to name him after you, Harry, considering the shine he's taken to yeh!"
"As long as Buckbeak here approves," Harry smiled. "So happy for you, Beaky."
Buckbeak leaned his head down onto Harry's shoulder in the Hippogriff's approximation of a hug. With a farewell to Hagrid and Buckbeak, they departed the Hippogriff paddock. They walked toward the forest where the unicorn they rescued approached them to give their yearly hello. Once at their spot, Harry finally allowed himself to relax.
"Are you feeling better?" Hermione leaned into him as they sat, looking out at the Black Lake below.
"I am," Harry pulled her in even closer. "Sorry for being testy with you earlier. I didn't sleep well."
"Worried about the tournament?" Harry nodded to Hermione's question.
"Every year there's something," Harry said. "This tournament, Malfoy and Wormtail on the run, Death Eaters at the World Cup and what Trelawney said to us last year…"
"I know," Hermione rubbed her hand over the back of Harry's in soothing circles. "Something is coming. Just remember you're not in this alone. If you're chosen, as we both fear, I'll be with you every step of the way."
"You know you don't have to do that," Harry pulled away to look her in the eye. "You've got your studies, other friends and now the apprenticeship."
"Listen here, Harry Potter," Hermione scowled at him. "I would give up the apprenticeship, fail every class if it means I can keep you safe and alive."
"You'd do that?" Harry's eyes widened. "You'd fail classes to help me."
"In a heartbeat," Hermione said. "You're the most important thing in my life; something I would sorely miss if you were taken from me."
"Feeling is mutual," Harry said. "However, I don't want you to put me first and forget about yourself. Just as you won't let me die, I won't let you compromise your future in your efforts to help me."
"Harry…" Hermione's eyes shone with wetness. "You are my future."
"Yet you cannot, should not and will not spend every moment with me," Harry said. "I want you to have your own dreams and aspirations. I want you to have a life where you'll come home to me every night and tell me about all the exciting things that happened in your day. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Hermione kissed him deeply. Even as he was concerned about the tournament, he was still putting her needs and wants first. How did I get so lucky? She thought as they looked out over the picturesque scene in front of them.
That night, Harry sat in the Great Hall with Hermione on his right and Neville on his left. He spotted the Durmstrang students eating at the Slytherin table, Krum apparently taking Hermione up on her suggestion to sit with each house, even though the Beauxbatons students sat with the Ravenclaws again. Everyone in the hall ate with one eye on the Goblet of Fire, willing it to choose the champions. As the feast wound down and the desserts vanished from the plates, Dumbledore stood just as the goblet turned cherry red.
"It seems the Goblet is ready to render its decision," Dumbledore announced as everyone in the hall stood up straighter. The goblet made a sound like it was inhaling before shining a brighter red and ejecting a smoking piece of parchment.
"The Durmstrang champion is…" Dumbledore snatched the parchment out of the air. "Viktor Krum."
Krum stood up to a deafening ovation, the loudest coming from his headmaster. He plodded his way to Dumbledore and took the parchment from Dumbledore before walking toward the antechamber behind the head table. Once the door clicked shut, the goblet shot out another parchment.
"The Beauxbatons champion is…" Dumbledore paused for theatricality. "Fleur Delacour."
Compared to the ovation for Krum, the applause was reserved. Her own schoolmates clapped politely, though it was clear they were disappointed. The males in the hall hooped and hollered but they clearly were more interested in how she looked than any magical skills she might possess. Meanwhile, Hermione and Harry led the Gryffindors in cheering as loud as possible, receiving a smile in return from the ethereal beauty. As Fleur exited, Hermione grabbed Harry's hand, squeezing it with all her might. She even managed to squeeze tighter when the goblet shot out another name.
"The Hogwarts champion is…" Harry held his breath as Dumbledore spoke. "Cedric Diggory!"
Harry's shoulders slumped in relief and Hermione released his hand and hugged his arm. Harry relaxed and joined the rest of the student body in applauding his friend for being chosen. Cedric took the parchment and waved at the students, giving them all his winning smile. He left the Great Hall through the same door and Dumbledore addressed the remaining students.
"With that, the Triwizard Tournament has commenced. The first task will be," Dumbledore paused as the Goblet of Fire inhaled yet again. A fourth piece of parchment spit out and Dumbledore deftly snatched it out of the air. His shoulders slumped and his entire face sagged. Hermione held tighter to Harry, cutting off circulation to his hand, and Harry dropped his head, resigned to his fate.
"Harry Potter," Dumbledore called his name, sounding morose with each syllable. When Harry didn't move, he repeated the name louder. "Harry Potter!"
"It'll be okay," Harry and Hermione said to one another at the same time. Harry kissed her, stood up and walked toward the head table. The hall was filled with the sound of angry bees, though Harry felt like his senses dimmed. He only heard parts of what they were saying.
"Too young," "Cheat," were prominent though a few French-accented "That's him?" also cut through. After what felt like eons, Harry arrived in front of Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Through the door. You'll get instructions for the first task and the tournament as a whole."
Hermione was numb. She watched Harry exit through the door, wishing mightily she could follow him. Dumbledore broke through the chaotic conversations to send everyone back up to bed. The students all sounded either angry or confused but Hermione couldn't focus on any of them. Her every last worry was with Harry. Even knowing this would probably happen, she worried for his safety and the true purpose of his entry to this tournament. Students bumped her as she vapidly walked up the stairs. She didn't pay anyone any mind until someone grabbed her elbow. Hermione yelped as the person steered her into a room quick enough that no one noticed.
Inside the antechamber, Harry's feet carried him to the other three champions.
"'Arry?" Fleur asked. "Is zer a problem?"
"You could say that," Harry held the parchment with his name on it up for them to say.
"Your name came out of the Goblet of Fire," Cedric said. There was no question in his voice. "Of course it did."
"Did you enter yourself?" Viktor asked.
"No," Harry said. "This tournament has far too much risk for me to willingly be involved. I'm too young, I don't know enough."
"I'm sure you'll hold your own," Krum said. "After vat I saw you and your girlfriend did at the cup."
"Ze world cup?" Fleur cut across. "Zhat was you? You fought ze Death Eaters who threatened ze Veela?"
"Yes," Harry sheepishly said. "Hermione and I; we stopped them from raping those women."
Of all the things Harry expected, a hug was not one of them.
"You 'elped protect my aunt," Fleur said. "Zank you."
Before Harry could respond, the door banged open and Madam Maxime lead the coterie into the small antechamber. Before Harry could register everyone filing in, he was slammed up against the wall.
"Insolent boy!" the mustachioed man shouted at him. "Thought you'd get clever and enter yourself, huh? How did you do it? How did you cheat your way into the tournament? What? Thought you'd earn yourself a bit more fame?"
Harry was more preoccupied with getting the man off him than answering his onslaught of questions. Harry fruitlessly fought back against the man with all his might until the man was yanked backward.
"Next time you touch my ward, I will have your bollocks for breakfast," McGonagall transfigured the stones around the fireplace to grab the Durmstrang headmaster and restrain him.
"Honestly," Professor McGonagall huffed as she went to check on Harry, sparing Karkaroff a glance as she did. "Are you okay, Potter?"
"Yes," Harry took a few deep breaths to calm himself. "I am fine. To answer your questions: no, I did not enter myself, nor would I ask anyone else to do so. I don't need the money and I am not interested in the fame."
"You lie!" Karkaroff said. "At least have the honor to take responsibility for your actions. Own what you have done, you dishonorable little-"
"-Stop," Krum cut across Karkaroff. "I know Potter; he fought vith me against your old friends at the World Cup. He risked injury and legal trouble to stand for vhat vas right against those who vould harm another. Do not disparage his character in my presence."
Karkaroff backed off but still looked murderous.
"Harry," Dumbledore's was soft and quiet. "You're saying you did not enter yourself."
"No, sir," Harry looked him dead in the eye. He felt Dumbledore prod at his mind, almost as if he was knocking. Harry relaxed his barriers and heard Dumbledore's voice in his head. My office tomorrow, it said. I think you know what this means but I want to make sure we're clear. Feel free to bring Miss Granger along with you. Harry nodded subtly and Dumbledore pulled out. "Would an older student be able to enter my name?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "That would have worked, though getting your name to come out as a fourth participant from a fourth school requires a measure of magic beyond any student's capability, I'm afraid."
"Sounds like a good way to kill someone," Harry said under his breath.
"I like this one," Moody's gruff voice called everyone's attention to him. "Mind works the right way."
"Preposterous," Crouch said. "Who would want to kill a 14-year-old boy?"
"Would you like the list alphabetically or chronologically?" Harry asked, sarcastically, to the scoffs of Maxime, Karkaroff and Crouch.
"In any case," Bagman spoke for the first time to move the conversation on. Harry couldn't help but notice he looked a little too happy at this turn of events. "As you have been chosen, you have entered into a magical contract-"
"-What!?" Harry interrupted. "How can I enter into a magical contract without my consent."
"That paper," Crouch indicated the parchment in Harry's hand. "It is in your handwriting, yes?"
"Looks like it," Harry examined the parchment. "Looks like it is from an old assignment."
"Then that is sufficient for the Goblet," Crouch said.
"Sounds like a design flaw," Harry said but was not heard because of three more voices.
"So we've signed a magical contract with an inanimate object," Cedric glared at the organizers.
"Vhy did you not tell us this at the start?" Krum asked.
"Eef I 'ad known eet was a magical contract," Fleur's blue irises turned red. "I would never have entered. Eef I lose my magic, I die."
"That won't happen so long as you compete in each event," Crouch said.
"Yeah so as long as we don't die, we won't lose our magic which, being magical, would kill us," Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. He could see the solemn nod from the Hogwarts teachers present. "Why did you not tell everyone this at your opening speech?"
"Same wish I had," Dumbledore groaned. "I suggested it in our discussions but others determined it unnecessary."
"Thank you for deciding what was necessary," Cedric glared at Crouch and Bagman.
"In any case, the first task won't be until November 24 so you have plenty of time to prepare," Crouch nonchalantly flicked dirt off his collar as he spoke. "It will be held on the Hogwarts grounds and you will find out what it is at that time. It is a task designed to test your daring and your ingenuity."
"As a part of the contract, you may not ask, nor will you receive, any help from your teachers for these tasks," Bagman said. "You will be granted unlimited access to the Hogwarts library's restricted section, though you will not receive any staff help."
"So not only are we entered," Harry read it back, trying to understand. "We won't get any help from the teachers."
"Not true," Flitwick spoke from the doorway. "You will still have my assistance, Apprentice Potter."
"You can't help him," Crouch said. "The rules are clear."
"Page 37, section 3, paragraph 2," Flitwick flicked his wand to open the rules to the proper page. "Any contestant who is currently accepted as an apprentice may still consult with the person helping them earn their mastery, so long as the master does not directly help the apprentice work out any clues or the development of any strategies with regards to the tasks themselves. The master can help his or her apprentice work on spells to help them carry out their strategy, however. So long as they were an apprentice at the time the tournament begins, the apprentice can still seek the help of the master."
"And I suppose Potter just so happens to be yours," Karkaroff spat, still fighting against McGonagall's stone man.
"Yes," Flitwick said. "He and another student have both shown a particular proclivity for Charms, enough that I have been giving them private lessons since their first year. They just completed their N.E.W.T. in Charms and I have taken them on as apprentices."
"And what field iz 'e an apprentice in?" Maxime asked.
"Dueling," Flitwick smiled. "By the time Potter graduates, I am sure he will be the youngest dueling champion in history."
"As if," Karkaroff scoffed.
"Would you like to test that?" Flitwick's olive cheeks darkened. "Or perhaps you think my dueling skills have diminished and I am unable to teach?"
"No… that's not," Karkaroff backpedaled, remembering the stories of his pals fighting Flitwick in the war.
"Then put your Galleons where your wand is," Flitwick said. "The first task isn't until November. How about we give the media something to whet their appetite. How about a friendly dueling tournament? Assuming every champion agrees, of course."
Harry saw Flitwick trying mightily to help him out and nodded quickly.
"Another chance to duel Harry?" Cedric spoke first. "I am in."
"Zis would be a good opportunity to show our skills," Fleur was next to answer. "I agree."
"I haff seen Potter duel," Krum said. "I vould be honored to duel him and my other champions. I agree."
"That settles it," Flitwick said. "How about October 29 and 30? Weekend of Halloween?"
"Fine, fine," Karkaroff still looked furious. McGonagall released him, he grabbed Krum and ushered him out of the door. Maxime followed close behind with Fleur with Bagman, Crouch and Moody following them out.
"Mr. Diggory," Flitwick said. "I am afraid I cannot help you in the same way I can help Mr. Potter. However, know that my goal is not for Mr. Potter to win this but simply to survive. He is talented but he is still at a terrible disadvantage. You are most certainly worthy of being Hogwarts champion. Just remember to play to your strengths."
"Indeed," McGonagall spoke next. "You are among the finest transfiguration students I have come across. Remember to use all your skills in the tasks."
"And remember to always be true and loyal," Professor Sprout, quiet to this point, said. "I think I ought to be angry at you, Mr. Potter, but this is certainly not of your doing. Best of luck to you both."
"Well said," Dumbledore said while Snape gave Harry an odd look. Harry was astonished as it was unlike Snape to be silent. "Now I am sure your respective houses are waiting to celebrate. We won't keep you any longer."
As the teachers walked away, Harry grabbed Cedric's arm to hold him back.
"I'm sorry," Harry said. "This was supposed to be your big moment; your time to shine."
"Oh, I'll shine," Cedric replied with a smirk. "Once I mop the floor with you and the others, no one will be talking a lick about you, Mr. Boy-Who-Lived."
Cedric smacked Harry on the shoulder but then his smile dipped.
"Honestly," the Hufflepuff said. "I'm upset they didn't tell us about a magical contract. I would not have been so eager. Do me a favor: be safe."
"You too. And if you need anything, I'll be here, assuming asking fellow students or champions for advice isn't against the rules. I'll have to ask Flitwick since he seems to know the rules."
Harry walked away from Cedric, worry filling his entire body. He either had to compete and possibly die, not compete and lose his magic- which would kill him- or third, compete and find out what game Voldemort was playing. None of those scenarios inspired peace within him.
He walked up toward the common room, wondering who would believe his story. He knew Hermione would and was pretty sure Neville would. Anyone else, he was not sure. He broke out of his thoughts when he spotted a familiar face, leaning on the banister at the top of the stairs.
"Good evening, Harry," Daphne's face was unreadable. "Come on. We have lots to talk about."
(A/N: The tournament has begun and Flitwick's strategy to help is revealed.
The handshake that the squid teaches Harry I picture the one Peter and Ned do in the Spiderman Home Trilogy.
Karkaroff manhandling Harry is a little nod toward movie Dumbledore's "DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE" which is still ridiculous to this day. But it also gave an opportunity for McGonagall to be protective and show her transfiguration skills. I initially thought of making Cedric pissed but, with their time spent together and their bond, Cedric would believe Harry. Instead, you've got all the anger at those organizing it, namely Crouch and Bagman.
Happy one-year anniversary to the first chapter posting. It's been a fun journey for me and I thank all of you for your follows, favorites and especially your comments. You all keep me going.