Chapter 1
Harry had always been an intelligent child. Genius you could call him if he tried. And he loved it too. Hogwarts came, and the wizarding world was confused as he sorted him into Ravenclaw. At first he was bothered but they quickly learned to leave him alone, he’d tutor students of course, but never really interact. No one really bothered the boy who lived after all they were ravens. His sharp words and threats scared them off.
He was silent, he had no friends. But was notoriously fond of luna lovegood, she was odd eccentric and burst his little bubble. No one dared bully her, for while silent, the boy had sharp claws, or perhaps talons was more accurate for the house he was sorted into.
Harry was known yet not, everyone liked him, he’d help on homework, give help in class, but after that no one really knew where he went. It was in third year he grew obsessive with projects. An invisibility bracelet for Luna. he spent a week without eating before he finished it. Madam Pomfrey grew accustomed to his visits and was fond of the raven. He skipped classes yet his homework always found its way onto their desks so they didn’t mind.
The professor he was closest to was Madam Pince, their love of books and knowledge made them close. He was one of the few students she trusted in the restricted section without a teacher's slip. And she’d slide him mints to help him focus. But he fell into the background and was easily forgotten.
Until the Goblet of Fire called out his name loud and clear. People's heads swiveled searching for the illusive ravenclaw. “Harry Potter?” Dumbledore called again.
“He’s not here,” a ravenclaw called “he never goes to the feasts he normally eats in the kitchens.” So the search began. He wasn’t in the kitchens, but found curled up in the library reading through his stacks of books. He didn;t look up as they approached merely scratching on the parchment his brow furrowed, notebooks and loose notes surrounded him several open and he flitted from book to book scribbling things down frowning.
“Harry?” The boy's head snapped up and the other champions stared at the boy, his skin was pale, almost translucent, his eyes were feverish and bloodshot, he had massive eye bags, and hair was tousled falling into his eyes.
“Yes Madam Pince, is it curfew already?” the boy sounded utterly befuddled, his eyes already flitting back to his books. “Headmaster?” he suddenly asks looking back up.
“Harry my boy, your name has been selected by the goblet of fire, i must ask did you enter your name?” Dumbldore said calmly.
“That can’t be right”, Harry cocked his head, his neck cracking loudly, it almost sounded like the bone was breaking. “It was banned in 1792 after all three champions died to the heavy injuries. The death that prompted it was Percival Amreli as the last heir of the line went extinct and there was an uproar.” Harry stared at them, “Though the Goblet of Fire's runes are supposedly untranslatable,” his eyes gleamed hungrily, “Could I see it?”
“Harry my boy you are aware it was reinstated right?” Dumbldore asked with a furrowed brow.
“It was?” Harry asks, stunned. “Huh guess my research got ahead of me, what's the date?” Harry did a mental tally of when he started. “October fifteenth right?”
“October 31 Harry, are you alright?” Dumbdore asked, stunned.
“Yeah, huh that explains why it felt like I had more time,” Harry nods, his eyes flitting back to his parchments.
“Regardless Mr. Potter is now required to participate in the tournament,” professor Mcgonagall states primly.
“What?” Harry squawks, “What of my research, do you understand how close i am to figuring out how to create a rune that makes me intangible! It can get rid of pain too, if my theories are right,” Harry says, flipping through his sheets. “I will not stop because some lunatic entered me, research comes first!” Harry declared glaring at the head of Gryffindor with narrowed eyes.
“You’ll lose your magic if you don’t compete, my boy,” Dumbldore said calmly and was immediately glared at by the short boy.
“I’ll what?” Harry demanded, “My magic? There has better be an investigation headmaster or you will regret it,” he spits out the title mockingly. “And fine i’ll compete,” Harry waves his hand and his things pack themselves up. “What's the first task?” Harry asks.
“That's the mystery,”Ludo Bagman announces, sounding excited. “You don't know!” He smiles at harry.
“When is it?” Harry asks, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He’ll finish in the common room.
“November 24th” Dumbledore says and Harry is gone within a second hurrying to the common room. He enters and no one comments. They know him far too well to know he didn’t enter, they weren’t stupid he never knew the damn date or any current news. Always too engrossed in his projects to read a newspaper, unless it was an academic achievement then he knew instantly.
Harry frowns at the owl with a piece of soft blue paper. He open the envelope in in simple loopy writing it reads,
We know you didn’t do it
The Claws
Harry knew they did it for their injured quidditch players, or to show support. But he hadn’t expected it, for him of all people, his mouth twitched into a smile and he tucked it into his book.