Albus Dumbledore had given up hope that they would ever find Harry. It had been four years since the first years showed up with no Boy Who Lived in tow. Four years of frantic searching that had piddled out into sorrowful sweeps as the populace lost hope of their savior being alive. Dumbledore himself even got a hefty fine for leaving such a wizarding icon in unsuitable hands.
When Harry didn't show up to Hogwarts Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall went to Little Whinging and knocked on the Dursleys door. Petunia took one look at them and slammed the door in their faces. What followed was a horrifying interrogation in which Petunia admitted to dropping Harry into a Fairy Ring in the Berkshire Downs the very morning she got him. Snape yelling at Petunia for being an imbecile, and Dumbledore for ever thinking Petunia would be a good guardian for a magical child. McGonagall frostily claiming that she told him they were the worst sort of Muggles.
What followed was four years of searching in hopes that Harry wasn't taken to the Fairy Realm and attempts at contacting the Realm to see if they could find him there. All with no success. Voldemort was resurrected in the end of what would have been Harrys first year with the philosophers stone and was fighting the war in a political manner rather than the outright carnage he had deployed previously. In fact most people didn't believe that Tom Riddle was Voldemort at all, instead of the suave politician he claimed himself to be. So Dumbledore was further discredited, and his cause made harder to achieve.
This year the Ministries had decided to bring back the Tri-Wizard tournament, and when Harrys name came out of the Goblet at first Albus was shocked, then he began to feel hope, for if Harry was not alive, his name would not have come out, he called the name out again, stronger this time. It was then that a black cloud of smoke sprinkled with lights that looked almost like galaxies amassed next to him on the stage.
From the smoke strode a man, hair as black as night curling all the way down to his thighs, skin as pale as snow, lips like magnolia blossoms, barefoot, and with a cloak of black mist rolling from his shoulders. Upon his head was a crown of bones, emeralds, and Yew. The scepter in his hands was topped with a large perfectly round, shining piece of obsidian.
His verdant eyes snapped over to the goblet, then up to Albus and scowl marred those perfect lips. The sound that came from them sounded almost like bells, and it took Albus a moment to decipher their words.
"Who dares to summon the King of the Unseelie? For what is your purpose?"
Albus felt faint as the words cemented in his brain. King of the Unseelie?! He has lost the war. Face paling, and mouth dry he has to make sure. "H-Harry?" he choked out. "Harry James Potter?" He called for the third time.
The dark creature in front of him cocked his head and furrowed his brows. He brought one hand up to pinch his chin before a look of realization came across his face.
"Yes," He smiled, and that smile looked so sweat it could sway a lamb to the slaughter, "That was my name once, long ago, I almost forgot." He stepped closer to Albus, bare feet making naught a sound upon the stone, and reached out to snatch the goblet from his hands. "Why have you summoned me with this? I feel that I am bound, but not for what I am bound to do. Very clever to invoke my name and tie me prior to any bargaining. Very stupid too." He looked into Albus's eyes, and the smile turned sinister, in those green eyes a promise of death.
The students were whispering to each other like mad, confused about who this man was and how he could be connected with the missing hero. Albus felt ice settle into the pit of his stomach, the shock and despair beginning to settle on his brain as he realized the evil he was dealing with. "Ah," he cleared his throat, "Well you have been chosen by the goblet of fire to participate in the Tri-Wizard tournament my dear boy. I did not enter your name, but as your name was called the goblet will bind you. You must participate or risk loosing your magic. Why don't you come with me to meet the other champions, then come up to my office to discuss the logistics of your stay here. We have been searching for you for a long time my dear boy, and I am shocked to say the least to see you here now."
Harry can sense lies, and in the old mans words detected none, so he nodded and gestured for the old man to lead the way. Before he followed him into the chamber where the champions were waiting, Harry called out to the masses with his chiming voice, back turned to them, "When I find out who put my name in that cup, you're dead. Better run, cuz you can't hide." He laughed joyfully as he followed Ablus into the side room, chilling the students and staff to their bones.
People were arguing when Harry walked into the room, whining about what was taking so long, that something must have gone wrong. Bagman rounded on Dumbledore when he came through, but the words died on his tongue as he spotted the figure stepping in the shadows behind him leaving his mouth hanging open unattractively.
"Mon word Dumbly-door, what iz ze meaning of zis?" Madame Maxime snapped, agitated that they had waited so long to begin the debriefing of the champions.
"There seems to be a fourth champion my dear, and what was intended to be a friendly school rivalry has now become a very delicate situation." Dumbledore said gravely and indicated the man to his left. "Harry Potters name came out of the Goblet of Fire and this man appeared from a mist, claiming to be said boy."
"But 'ow iz it pozzible? 'Arry Potter iz a boy, and zat man iz much to old to be 'im." Fleur Delacour questioned. The rest of the crew nodded along, not able to comprehend the ethereal man before them and their expectations of Harry Potter to be a fourteen year old boy.
"It's simple pretty bird, I was once Harry Potter before I was given to the Fae. This name is still tied to my soul, so when it came out of your goblet, it bound me to do it's bidding or loose my magic. I am still waiting to hear just exactly what it is we are so bound to do. I am a very busy man, so I would appreciate it if you all could explain this to me now."
This caused an uproar of voices, everyone trying to speak over one another and get their points and questions heard. Dumbledore had to use a sonorous charm on himself to silence them.
"Silence!" he boomed resonantly, when the speaking stopped he cancelled the c harm and turned toward Harry. "I am sorry for the commotion sir. You are a very important figure in our world, and it has been fourteen years since anyone has seen you. Forgive us for our insensitivity." He bowed.
Harry down at him and gave a large sigh. He swirled his hand in the air and conjured a black, gothic, highbacked chair and took a seat. "Apology accepted Dumbly-door. Now if we could get into the details of the contract now that would be lovely."
Albus was stumped before it dawned on him that he hadn't introduced himself yet, and the only name Harry had for him was from when Madame Maxime had called him earlier. "First I think introductions are in order. My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, and I am the Headmaster of this lovely school we are standing in called Hogwarts. Next to me is Headmistress Olympe Maxime of Beauxbatons and her Champion Fleur Delacour, Headmaster Igor Karacoff, and his Champion Victor Krum from Drumstang. The Hogwarts champion Cedric Diggory, our Minister of Magic here in the UK Cornelius Fudge, the head of Games and Sports Ludo Bagman and our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Alastor Moody."
Harry listened carefully, as there is much power in a name, and nodded to show he understood everyone's names and positions. "That's good to know. You all can call me 'King Harry,' 'My Liege," or my favorite, 'My Lord'. Now you talk of champions and I can see the other three also have a connection to this goblet of yours, so what is it exactly that we are supposed to be competing for?"
"School superiority, now obviously you don't go to any wizarding school here, but you are still bound to compete. So I say you can compete but your score won't count for the purpose of our school tournament. The winner gets eternal glory and 1,000 Galleons, but I say even if you win, whoever comes in first for our schools is the winner of the tournament between our schools. I don't think it's quite fair to put a King of Fae who is obviously an adult against school children. What do you say my boy?" Dumbledore explained.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "I do believe I have informed you of the proper form of address for someone of my station Headmaster Dumbledore. I will give you this one free pass, but the next time you disrespect me so I will take something you will surely miss. I do agree to these terms and I will win your little competition and bring glory to the Fae once more."
Moody had been looking increasingly uncomfortable as more and more information came out about the one known as Harry Potter, but he became angry at the expected form of address as there was only one person whom he would ever call his Lord. "Now look here young man, I don't know who put your name in that goblet, but you are no Lord of mine so I will not give you such a title."
Harry's eyebrows rose, he detected the lie from the two-faced one and that was most interesting indeed. He tapped his scepter on the ground and Moodys shadow swallowed him. It happened in a blink of an eye and a moment later when they realized he was gone they started to scream.
"Hush now," Harry said, and everyone was silenced, "The two-faced one and I have business to attend to. I'll bring him back alive but I can't promise it will be all in one piece." He grinned, "How many of these competitions are there and what dates are they set to be? I will make sure to attend, will there be space for the Fae to observe?" He cocked his head to the side, as calm as if he hadn't just spirited away a whole human just moments before.
Hair was raised upon the arms off all the occupants that bore witness to the power of the Fae King. It has been hundreds of years since wizarding kind had any serious dealings with the Fae, and many more than that since they had to engage with royalty.
Dumbledore again was the only one brave enough to speak to the powerful entity in front of him, heart heavy with defeat. "There are three tasks, King Harry, the first one is in a month from now in November on the twenty fourth. I would still like to speak with you in my office about the past if you are willing."
"I don't think we have anything more to talk about Headmaster. I will arrive on the twenty fourth of November promptly to complete this task you have set for me. I look forward to a challenge." Harry stood and vanished his chair, he called up two calendars to hover in front of his face and marked the date on one, and it showed up in red on the other. He nodded his head and vanished the calendars before sweeping his eyes around those gathered and smiling like an angel. "No need to look so scared little lambs, I don't bite. Much."
Harry looked into the Obsidian orb and called into it, "Juniper."
A short woman with dark green hair, pointed ears, and a soft draping cloth dress appeared in front of Harry and dropped to her knees. "You called for me my Lord?"
"Yes Juniper. You are to stay here and consult with these humans about a tournament that I will be participating in this year, I want you to make sure there is space for at least the royal court, and a broadcasting to the Fae in the wild realms and beyond. This is the most entertainment we've had in years. I don't want the hellions to miss out because the humans don't know how to properly set things up. Get in touch with Kamut and Merigold as well to set up a celebratory party. I'm sure it will be one to remember."
"Yes, my Lord! Thank you, my Lord!" Juniper stayed in that low bow until her King shadowed away back to the realm of Fae. When she rose from her bow, she turned to face the freaked out crowed with mischief in her eyes and asked, "So, who's in charge of seating?"