Chapter 1
Harry sat beside me as we watched in anticipation the champion selections for the Goblet of Fire. The lights were dimmed and the golden blue hue of the fire painted everyone and everything a new shade.
Harry kept glancing at me. He could tell something was off, but my reassuring smiles and cheek kisses, had quickly settled his worries.
In reality, an overwhelming sense of dread had filled my entire being and spun in a mass of anxiety. Harry’s touch was like a life line. A reminder that I was in the present and here with him.
A reminder that he is still here with a look of anticipation and his name hasn’t been announced, yet. Everything will go as planned and he will have a better year and hopefully things will be better. They will be better. They have to be better…
As Cedric’s name was called and the great hall cheered. I met Harry’s excited eyes and let his joy fill me. I matched his smile and screamed with the school. High fives were exchanged so vibrantly that my hands tingled.
It was when Dumblewhore spoke again that the cheers subsided. It was when he caught the unexpected and shocking fourth piece of paper that the cheers died and silence reigned.
Tension filled the hall. Gasps were heard at the call of Harry’s names, and within a second, everyone’s stare focused on one person. Harry’s face quickly morphed into horror and confusion. He looked so shocked. I felt him stiffen in my hand and his jaw drop.
Beside him, opposite of me, he met Ron’s twisted face. Confused, Harry looked towards me.
I could only stare blankly into his face.
Now’s the time. I have to act. I have to do what I planned. I have to-
I kept telling myself I have to, that I should do this, but should I? I can’t see the definitive future. I can’t see if I will die or not. There’s a chance that I won’t make it. I know Harry will be fine in the end. He’ll survive all the challenges and meet the same ending, even if I were to join in the tournament instead…
But the moment that his hand let go of mine, reluctantly- by the assistance of Hermione- and I watched as he zombie walked towards Dumbly-Whore, my body had finally moved.
Just because I should, doesn’t mean I have to, but I could. It’s because I could that I can.
I stood up. Quickly, before anyone could even think to stop me, I had ran and grabbed Harry’s hand. He wasn’t even that far away, but I was moving so fast that when I pulled him towards me, I dragged him a little.
With my hand on his, I stopped his tracks.
His zombie like state that was disassociating in this spiral of a mess was quickly shaken off at my presence.
Before he could speak, I pulled him close behind me and stepped in-front of him. I faced Dumbledore. His expression, one I couldn’t read, stared back at me. I spoke aloud to the Great Hall, but addressed Dumbledore.
”Harry didn’t put his name in the Goblet of Fire.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe, but my words were steady as everyone stared and Dumbly-Whore met me eye to eye.
He started to speak, but I was quick to interrupt.
”Mis-“
”Only an inconsiderate idiot who doesn’t know Harry personally would believe that he could’ve put his name in the Goblet of Fire.”
”Miss-“ The Headmasters and teachers started to move towards us. I interrupted Dumbledore again as he tried to speak.
”Dumbledore.” I addressed. He closed his mouth as his name came off my tongue. My serious and stern voice rattled off the hall in an echo. I said his name more scornfully than I meant to, but inside I meant even more so.
”This tournament has killed over hundreds of students. Someone has purposely put Harry’s name in. He shouldn’t have to compete.”
I didn’t look at Harry’s face. I didn’t want to see what expression he wore. Meanwhile, Dumblebitch, was quick to put a soothing smile in response to my declaration.
“Ah, Miss Heartfilia. Of course, I believe that Harry didn’t put his name in the Goblet of Fire.” His words were condescending to my ears. Putting on a show of benevolence.
”I think it would be best to discuss this with Harry and our fellow Professors out with the Champions.”
He was trying to move away from the crowd, but I knew that having all these eyes on us is better than letting him talk his way through a group.
“I think it would be best to establish that Harry will not be competing, before we have any other discussion.” I stated, unmoving, daring the walking beard to say something.
StupidDore’s face never cracked. His wiseman facade never breaking, not even with the “reassuring” smile he gave. It was everything, but genuine. Trying so hard to provide some form of some fake acceptance to what I was saying.
“I’m sure that since he’s not seventeen and didn’t put his name-“
”Wait! Dumbledore!” He was quickly interrupted from his false acceptances, by Ludo Bagman.
Everyone turned to stare at the short, pudgy, man who was quick to move towards Dumbledore’s side.
“This is Harry Potter.” He said emphasizing Harry’s name as he turned his greedy gaze to the boy himself.
I stood firmly in-front of Harry and glared at the disgusting filth. He quickly blanched, and stepped back a bit.
“W-What I meant is that- even if he didn’t put his name-“ Bagman glanced at me, cowardly, “we should at least ask the boy if he would like to compete? He is a Champion.”
Mr.Couch was quick to move forward as well, but before he could speak, Harry spoke out.
My grip on his wrist, holding him in place behind me, but he moved his head beside my shoulder and yelled out, staring at the crowd of Professors.
”I don’t want to compete. I didn’t even put my name in!”
Mr.Couch was the one who answered the loud chaos that followed in the Great Hall. As the students’ murmurs got louder, the other Headmasters moved to confront Dumbledore. Ron and Hermione made to stand beside Harry. Flanking his sides.
Mr.Couch’s usual curt voice cut through the Hall, addressing Harry.
“Even if you didn’t put your name in the Goblet, Mr.Potter.” He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance.
”We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."
The Hall grew quiet once more.
"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front," said Bagman, beaming and turning to face Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed.
"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," said Karkaroff. He had dropped his unctuous tone and his smile now. His face wore a very ugly look indeed. "You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore."
"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that," said Bagman.
"The Goblet of Fire's just gone out — it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament-"
"— in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" exploded Karkaroff. "After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"
”Then why don’t you!” I shout at him in annoyance. Everyone once again stared at me. McGonagall was quick to admonition me, but I talked over her before she could continue. Hermione looked aghast.
“I pity your champion and students who have such a thoughtless Headmaster.” My glare piercing through his spineless self so much that he shivered and took a step away.
The Hall gobsmacked as I continued. “Mr.Couch, you say we must follow the rules, but the rule was no one under the age of 17 can enter and compete. How can you say that 14 year old has to compete against older students who are more magically trained and prepared? Students, whom might I add, entered the tournament because they wanted to!”
Everyone looked at Mr.Crouch. Awaiting his answer, invested, like the nosey Nancy’s they all are.
”Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is, Mr.Potter’s name came out of the goblet. He has to compete, lest he loses his magic.”
Everyone’s face turned grave. Losing magic, no matter what form it comes is a serious matter. Magic is sacred, no magical being would wish that on their worst enemy.
I knew Mr.Crouch would say that, but it didn’t stop my anger.
”Then what of the supposed precautions the ministry were said to have taken? You all had planned this dumb event and emphasized safety. Surely you must’ve changed something. More than hundreds of students have died from this ridiculous tournament!?”
The Headmasters looked amoung them selves and everyone stared gobsmacked as Bagman and Crouch said nothing. Their forms wilting under my heavy glare. Even, Professor McGongall had stopped trying to admonish me, and stood shorter.
“Are you saying, that a rule book that enabled two hundred twenty one deaths remains the same! That the Ministry has done nothing-”
”Now understand young lady! This outcome was never the intention of the Ministry-“
”But it is this outcome! A 14 year old boy will have to compete due to the incompetence of the Ministry.”
”For all we know the boy could be lying! He could have-“
“Silenco!” My accent caressing every syllable of the spell. An uproar of exclamations once again rippled throughout the Hall.
Mr.Crouch, couldn’t speak, and for a matter of fact, neither could any of the teachers.
I, of course hadn’t realized it, but I knew it all the same.
“You are an incompetent idiot, Mr.Crouch. You know nothing about Harry Potter.” I snarled.
The teachers had pulled out their wands, except for Dumbledore and Bagman, but they didn’t do anything. Even if they tried, without knowing nonverbal magic, it’ll be useless against me.
Mr.Crouch stared back at me in fear. For a second, I allowed myself to revel in his fear, then I took a breath. I needed to calm down.
With another second, I had collected my expression into a stern face.
“You’re so moronic, that you rather blame a young boy for yours and the Ministry’s fault.” I said scornfully in a statement.
The hall watched in awe and rapture, at the spectacle.
“Shame on you for trying to blame, the Boy-Who-Lived for your mistakes, while someone else with the worst intentions has clearly put his name in that blasted Goblet!”
Said goblet was closed and unlit. I briefly glared at the atrocious cup, but my focus remained.
I had one goal in mind and I was going to show everyone. With another breath, I allowed my full belief in Harry to shape my every word.
“There are many reasons why Harry wouldn’t want or even need to compete, but none of those reasons matter when faced with what kind of person Harry is. I have no doubt in mind that Harry didn’t put his name in the Goblet of Fire.”
I believe in Harry with my whole being. I know he didn’t do it, but I knew that even if I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have any doubt in him.
“You don’t know him, not an ounce, Barty Crouch Senior.”
The crowd watched with dropped jaws.
Though, it was one mousy brown haired boy that stood up from his house table, that really silenced Mr.Crouch and everyone else.
In a show of true house representation, Dennis Creevey’s small form appeared above the heads of his peers.
”Harry Potter wouldn’t put his name in!”
I could just feel Harry’s surprise at the loud statement from the small boy.
“This is only my first year, but since before I came to Hogwarts, I’ve been hearing about what kind of person Harry is from my older brother.” Every gaze and ear was on the small brave boy. Including the previously roomed three Champions. They had heard the commotion and made their way from the hideaway room into the chaos.
”The Harry I’ve now met, the ounce I know of him, is exactly as my brother described. He wouldn’t put his name in the Goblet of Fire.”
This time a taller mousy brown haired boy, with similar looks to his younger brother, stood up.
“Dennis is right! Harry would never put his name in the Goblet of Fire!”
Then like a domino effect, shouts of agreements followed.
It was Hermione, “That’s right. Harry doesn’t even want fame! He doesn’t need fortunes!”
It was Ron, “Harry would never in Merlin’s beard put his name in!”
Then it was Neville, Gred and Forge, then Ginny, Lee, Oliver, Angelina, Dean, Seamus, Lily, and then all of the House Gryffindor.
Luna in Ravenclaw chanted from her house. Blaise, Theodore, Astoria, and Daphne chanted from Slytherin. Susan and Hannah even chanted from Hufflepuff.
Then soon, almost the entire hall was chanting in belief of Harry’s innocence.
It was only during this moment that I had the courage to look at Harry’s face.
His head moved around the Hall. His eyes taking in everyone. It was when our eyes met, that I could not only see the relief but feel it from him. A hopeful feeling welling up in him.
Then by Dumbledore’s booming clap, the entire Hall was silenced and Harry was no longer looking at me.
I knew Dumbles was going to speak. Admin the chaos of the Hall, he had released the “Silencos” and was gearing to move us towards the hideaway room.
I called out to Mr.Crouch before he could get a word in. Interrupting him once again as I turned my head to face the old bag.
”What will you do Mr.Crouch? Is there really no way to remove Harry from competing?”
Anticipation buzzed. Everyone, waiting for an answer.
It was Mr.Crouch’s annoyed expression that told everyone the answer before he did.
“No. There is no way to remove Mr.Potter from the tournament. His magic is bound in contract with the Goblet of Fire-“
”Oh!” Hermione exclaimed! “Wait! What about the 74th Triwizard Tournament!”
It was very hard to hide the smirk that wanted to revel on my lips, but somehow I managed. I knew all our hard work studying past tournaments would pay off in this moment.
I was quick to respond and nod along in agreement. “Hermione! You’re a genius!”
“What about the 74th Tournament?” Harry and Ron said in sync. They met each other’s eyes, then looked back at us. I was no longer holding Harry’s wrist, but instead his hand. Our fingers intertwined.
It was, surprisingly, Mad-Eye who answered the question. “In the 74th Triwizard Tournament, the winner, Katniss Everdeen had originally volunteered in place of their younger sister who was selected as the Drumstrings Champion. Unfortunately for you Mr.Potter, this had only worked because the girls were family and both students.”
There was more to why the Goblet had allowed Katniss to compete in her sister’s stead. Though, Barty Crouch Jr. got it down to its bases for the crowd.
With another reminder of having no parents or siblings, Harry quickly looked kicked.
Fighting the urge to kiss his fingertips, I instead squeezed his hand reassuringly. Providing as much comfort as I could through my hand.
”So Harry wouldn’t have to compete if a family member were to volunteer and they were a student?” I said glancing at the Goblet.
Before anyone could answer me, I had pulled out my wand and nonverbally conjured a piece of paper with my name on it.
The paper had appeared over the Goblet, hovering by my wand, but it was only Dumber who noticed.
He pulled out his wand in a flash.
If I hadn’t known he was going to pull his wand out, I wouldn’t have reacted in time.
”Expelliarmus!”
”Ah!” He shouted in surprise.
I had released the flight charm, and fired at Dumbledore. His wand shot out of his hand and into mine. Among the chaos, the piece of paper I previously spelled had dropped into the Goblet of Fire.
“Wait-“ Dumbledore shouted, but once again- again, I had interrupted.
”I volunteer! I volunteer as Champion!” A pink flame immediately lit.
The Great Hall, Jungshook, and speechless. Though, none more so than Harry.
”Alma…” He said breathlessly.
*BOOM*
An explosion rumbled the ground. The goblet, like a time turner, was breaking and collapsing in on itself.
Purple flames and broken pieces of the cup swirled and surrounded the stem, with sand like texture twirling around in a figure eight, tightening around itself.
Creating a vortex that warped the space it took. Capsizing with another loud-
*BOOM*
The goblet exploded! A violent rumble rolled through the Hall.
*POP*
In a blink- a once great explosive anomaly- the Goblet reverted to its original form. Not a single imperfection in place. Only the blue flame of the Goblet relit and blazing.
Dumbledore- who still held the paper with Harry’s name on it- exclaimed! A red flame surrounded the piece of paper and he was quick dropped the burning heat.
Nothing but ash was left of the paper as it hit the floor.
Everyone pale as a ghost, even Alma, and especially fake Mad-Eye.
Then as the Goblet had done so previously, spat a piece of paper into the air, alike to a shooting star. Caught by none other than Barty Crouch Senior.
“Alma Heartfilia…” He loudly whispered the written name.
There were many shocking things to be said about throughout the Hall, but it Harry who everyone listened for as he quickly yanked my hand to face him.
I knew this would happen, but yet…
I have no regrets. Not even as I saw first hand the amount of untold emotions on Harry’s face. So many emotions that he couldn’t express. Merlin! I knew he couldn’t understand half of them.
”Why-…” He asked, lost for words, trying to understand everything that had just happened.
I didn’t know what to say. No vision or conjured mental conversation had really prepared me for this- nor would it have…
It wasn’t the time to tell Harry every possible reason why I had done this. Honestly, I don’t know when that time would be.
But, before I could even think of anything, my brain had latched onto the sound of my heart. It’s beating so fast and loudly, that I wanted to take a deep breath to make it stop. I couldn’t. My body wouldn’t let me. My heart’s trying to move its way through my throat. It wants to speak. It wants to be part of the conversation.
“Because-…”
My eyes were watering. I know I shouldn’t be crying. I don’t even understand why my eyes are watering as I look at Harry. Maybe it’s my time of the month, but I knew it wasn’t.
Just the misogynist thoughts telling me I was being ridiculous for being “emotional”. I wasn’t being ridiculous- and I wasn’t crying either- but I couldn’t help my eyes from glossing over.
To tell the truth. I’m scared, not only for myself, and my heart longs for Harry to know.
“…knowing your luck, you’ll probably end up kidnapped or actually hurt during this ridiculous tournament.”
Harry looked so confused and overwhelmed.
With strength I didn’t feel, I grabbed his other hand and pulled him closer with our fingers intertwined.
I whispered to him, but I knew with how silent the echoing Hall was, everyone would hear me. Still, Harry was my focus. My eyes only on him.
”You’re too good of a person, Harry. If I didn’t volunteer right now, you wouldn’t have let anyone do it for you.”
Harry could only stare at me.
Looking into his eyes, I only wished I knew what he was thinking.
“How did you do it?! Why did it work?” Fake Mad-Eye interrupted us. Asking the question everyone wanted answered.
I was so lost in thought over My Harry in front of me that I didn’t even process what Fake Mad-Eye said.
He must’ve thought me getting lost staring at Harry was me not understanding the question, because he clarified.
”You’re not related to Potter. How could’ve the Goblet accept you as a volunteer?”
Though Harry was looking at me, the gruff voice of fake Moody had gotten through to him.
He whispered, “How?”
His words- getting through to me- had prompted me to answer.
“It’s as the Professor said… only family and a student.”
My gaze softened as it stayed on Harry. A warm, barely there, smile grew on my face at the thought of the Goblet accepting my volunteering. “To me, Harry, you are family.”
It was Harry’s turn to almost cry. His eyes watered and he looked at me so touched, that I couldn’t help but lean in and kiss his nose.
Oh Harry. My love, you are just too cute.
His cheeks flushed and I brought his hands to my lips. Kissing both his knuckles and then placing them in a hold against my heart.
I will protect you. I promise.