Chapter 3
Severus watched Igor and Maxime arguing loudly, with Minerva interjecting every once in a while, defending her lion.
Severus knew, of course, that Potter couldn't have put his name in the Goblet, given it was an incredibly ancient magical object. It would have taken an extreme amount of power to hoodwink the Goblet into thinking there was a fourth school. But he wasn't going to say anything, as Potter would have tried to get into the Tournament anyway.
Maxime moved out of his way, revealing the four champions. Krum's expression was unreadable, but Delacour and Diggory looked confused. Potter was outraged and horrified.
"Harry," said Dumbledore calmly, stopping the argument between Igor, Minerva, and Maxime, "did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?"
"No I bloody well did not!" Potter snarled, making everyone in the room except Dumbledore and Severus jump in surprise. "I'm fourteen years old, and the Goblet is an incredibly powerful, incredibly ancient object that is arguably sentient. It would take a lot of power to make it think there was a fourth school. I have made it clear since Headmaster Dumbledore announced that the Tournament was coming back that I was against the whole bloody thing. Why? CHILDREN HAVE FUCKING DIED IN THE TOURNAMENT. If they didn't die, they were injured horribly and sometimes permanently! Who the fuck decided this was a good idea?!"
"Language, Mr. Potter!" Minerva exclaimed.
"I think I'm justified in swearing, Professor," Potter said in a slightly more respectful tone, but the boy was still furious.
"Potter," Severus scoffed, "do not tell me you disliked the idea of the Tournament returning. You have been throwing yourself into dangerous situations since you arrived here-"
"Oh, you mean when You-Know-Who was trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone and none of the teachers were doing anything and didn't believe me when I warned them?" Potter snapped. "You mean when Ginny was taken into the Chamber of Secrets and the staff sent Lockhart? You mean when a giant black dog stole Ron last year? I only 'throw myself into dangerous situations' if there's no other choice and if someone is in danger."
"And yet you are on the Quidditch team," Severus sneered.
"Severus," Dumbledore warned.
"Because I was consulted before being put on the team," Potter said sarcastically, and Minerva looked startled, then slightly embarrassed. "Because I enjoy having my broomstick cursed, almost swallowing the Snitch, being attacked by rogue Bludgers, and -- the piece de resistance! -- falling hundreds of feet off of my broom because the Dementors were hungry. I never asked to be on the team, and Professor McGonagall never asked me if I wanted to be on the team. I haven't tried leaving the team because I'm expected to be Gryffindor's Seeker, and the last time I did something that was against Gryffindor's vision of me, I was shunned and called 'Voldemort's Bastard.'"
Everyone in the room winced, jumped, or cursed except Dumbledore. Severus conceded that that was actually a good point.
"When-?" Minerva began in alarm, then paused. "Second year? When you were outed as a Parselmouth?"
Igor blanched, Krum gave Potter an interested look, and the French women looked surprised.
"Yes, ma'am," Potter said sourly. "Is there a way for me to get out of the tournament, since I don't bloody well want to be in it and never entered?"
"No," came Crouch Senior's voice. Severus twitched; he hadn't seen the man. He was standing on the other side of Dumbledore, expression blank. "Regardless of whether you entered yourself or not, your name came out of the Goblet, and you are contracted to participate in the Tournament. If you do try to get out of it, you will lose your magic. The only way to not participate without losing your magic is to be disqualified, and that requires a grievous injury."
"What. The. FUCK," Potter said in outrage. "Who's idea was this?! Taking a CHILD'S magic away just because they don't want to do something stupid and dangerous?!"
The French wixen were looking uncomfortable, while Krum was thoughtful. Minerva was pale and surprised.
"It's not as bad as that now, Harry," Dumbledore said gently. "There will be Aurors on hand to stop any deaths. And this is why we raised the age requirement in the first place."
"Yes, seventeen, that definitely makes it okay," Potter said with biting sarcasm. "Losing yourmagic obviously stops being bloody painful after you come of age, and being an adult automatically makes it so you're safe from deadly, permanent injuries."
"That is enough, Harry," Dumbledore said firmly. "The four of you will be perfectly safe, as long as you follow the rules. Now, I believe Barty and Ludo had some instructions for you?"
Severus narrowed his eyes at the old man as Ludo began explaining the rules for the first task, sounding slightly less cheerful than he had upon arriving. Potter had had some legitimate concerns, and Dumbledore had tossed them away like they were nothing. Regardless of how he felt about the boy -- whom he hated slightly less due to this conversation -- and even if Potter's concerns hadn't been a legitimate issue, that was not how you responded to a child's fears.
Harry stormed away from the chamber and through the now-empty Great Hall, fuming. He wanted to know if the people who invented this bloody Tournament were still alive, or at least had a portrait, because he wanted to send them a Molly-Weasley-style Howler.
"Potter," said a cold, sour voice. Harry blanched and turned to Snape.
Instead of the usual loathing scowl, Snape's expression was unreadable. "You should not be wandering around alone at night," Snape said coolly. "I will walk you to your common room."
Harry held back a retort -- regardless of how angry and terrified he was of this man, he was right -- and followed him down the hall. After a pause, he said quietly, "You know I didn't put my name in. Sir."
"Obviously. You are a child. Even if you did not have mediocre grades, you would still not have enough power or intelligence to pull this off."
He rolled his eyes inwardly. Snape found a way to insult him even when defending him. "My House is going to be soooo happy about this development," he said sarcastically.
Snape snorted. "Half will celebrate you, and the other half will be furious that you used a 'Slytherin' way of entering."
"I don't really care what they think about this," Harry admitted, "as long as my friends know that I didn't do this."
Snape glanced back at him, expression still unreadable but a strong emotion in the black eyes that Harry didn't recognize. "Weasley and Granger are so annoyingly loyal to you that I doubt they will leave you," he drawled. "However, if they do, you deserve better friends."
Harry gaped at him.
"Close your mouth, Potter," Snape snapped. Harry quickly slammed his mouth shut, wincing at the noise of his teeth clacking together. "Every child deserves loyal and kind friends."
"But you hate me," Harry blurted, then added quickly, "Professor."
"That does not mean you do not deserve good friends, Potter," Snape growled. Which made Harry feel simultaneously worse and better at the same time. "Now be quiet."
Stifling slightly hysterical laughter, Harry obeyed.
Harry heard sobbing coming from the bathroom. He looked inside and blinked when he saw Draco Malfoy, staring at himself in the mirror.
He looked horrible. His face was stained with tears; he looked like he hadn't slept properly in months; and his hair was no longer sleek and well-brushed, but looked more like Harry's messy rat's nest. Malfoy was also skinnier than usual, and Harry remembered that the boy hadn't eaten much at any meal since the school year had started.
Malfoy saw him looking and spun around, pulling out his wand.
"I come in peace," Harry insisted, holding up his hands. Malfoy stared at him. "I'm not going to hex you while you're like this, Malfoy."
"Bloody Gryffindors," Malfoy growled. "Go away."
In response, Harry pulled an apple out of his bag. "Only if you eat something."
"How do I know you haven't poisoned that, Potter?" Malfoy rasped.
"Yes, because I have access to poisons," Harry deadpanned, earning a snort. "I would swear on my magic, but I don't know if the elves poisoned it."
Malfoy rolled his eyes, but Harry could see he was caving. It was Malfoy's second-favorite type of apple, a Granny Smith. "Fine. Give it here, Potter."
Harry approached slowly and carefully, making sure Malfoy could see both his hands. The Slytherin still had his wand out. When he was close enough, he handed Malfoy the green apple and leaned against one of the sinks.
Malfoy flicked his wand over the apple. When nothing happened, Malfoy bit into it.
"What was that spell?" Harry asked curiously.
Malfoy chewed and swallowed before replying. "It's to make sure there's no poison or spells on the food."
"Cool," Harry remarked. Malfoy stared at him. "I'd ask you to teach me it, but I'm well aware you don't like or trust me."
"Why would you need that spell?" Malfoy scoffed. "You're Harry Potter."
"And The-Boy-Who-Wouldn't-Die," Harry reminded him. "You-Know-Who is very set on killing me."
Malfoy paled even more and shuddered. "All right, Potter, I ate something. Now go away."
"I didn't say I would leave immediately after you ate something," Harry said sleekly, earning a half-admiring glare from the blond. "I'll leave when you finish that apple. You haven't eaten properly since the start of the school year."
"How do you know that?" Malfoy asked, trying to sound outraged but ending up sounding exhausted.
"Since you started bullying me back in first year-" Harry ignored Malfoy's bristling "-I decided I needed to keep a closer eye on you, because I already had enough to deal with, and I didn't need the emotional turmoil you caused. Also I was kind of terrified of you." Malfoy looked half smug, half alarmed. "I've been watching you as closely as I can without stalking you since the almost-Duel incident."
Malfoy snorted, also remembering that night.
"When I was watching you," Harry continued, "I realized there was more to you than a petty, spoiled brat." Malfoy made a noise of outrage. "You were also very clever, pretty good at potions, were obsessed with dragons, and loved eating apples. But you were also still terrifying, and you still reminded me of my cousin, especially when you were with Crabbe and Goyle."
"What?" Malfoy frowned.
"My cousin and his friends took great pleasure in beating up anyone who tried to be my friend," Harry said flatly, and Malfoy stared at him. "They also enjoyed beating me, and created a game just for that purpose called 'Harry Hunting.' I wasn't allowed to be smarter than my cousin, who constantly got the Muggle equivalent of P's and D's. My cousin was always told he was special and perfect by his parents."
Malfoy blinked. "I thought you were raised by Purebloods."
"I'd rather have been raised by You-Know-Who, even with him still trying to kill me," Harry said bluntly, earning a look of horror from the blond. "Eat your apple."
Malfoy took another bite.
"It's a lot better now, given that I have conveniently forgotten to tell them that my godfather is innocent," Harry added cheerfully, "and they're absolutely terrified that a mass-murderer will swoop down on them if they so much as touch me wrong."
The boy coughed out a laugh. "That's pretty Slytherin of you, Potter."
"I was supposed to be in Slytherin," Harry revealed, relishing the look of indignant shock on Malfoy's face. "I didn't want to be in the same dorm room as you, Crabbe, or Goyle, so I begged the Hat to put me anywhere else."
A slightly guilty look passed over the blond's face. "I didn't want you to be scared of me," Malfoy grumbled. "I don't know what I wanted or want from you, actually. I was upset that you rejected my friendship, but I can see why you did that now."
"So you can be mature," Harry said brightly, earning a mock glare. "That's good to know."
"Why aren't you trying to comfort or help me?" Malfoy asked bluntly. "You're a bloody Gryffindor."
"If you're upset for the reason I think you're upset," Harry said, "I can't really do anything. The best I can do is distraction."
"What are you talking about?" Malfoy asked cautiously.
"If I talk about it, you'll get in trouble with someone much more dangerous than Dumbledore," Harry replied, and Malfoy blanched. "Eat the apple, Malfoy."
"Fuck off," Malfoy grumbled, but he obviously wasn't serious.
Harry stared as Dumbledore fell from the tower.
He wasn't sure how to feel. He trusted Dumbledore to an extent, but the man had forced him to go back to an abusive home. At some point, he had thought of the Headmaster as a grandfather, but that stopped when he realized Dumbledore could have given Sirius a trial before the end of his fifth year, when his godfather had almost died. He was expected to love the man like a grandfather, so he acted like he did. He still didn't know what he thought of the man.
Snape was also confusing. Harry didn't know whether to be angry or shocked or even grateful, because now he wouldn't be forced to go back to the Dursleys. He had always been scared of the man, and the feelings accompanying that fear were usually anger, frustration, pain, and desperation.
Malfoy was still standing there with the other Death Eaters, looking like he was having a panic attack. Bellabitch was screeching in glee, while the others gloated.
Harry realized the spell keeping him frozen had vanished, meaning that Dumbledore was actually dead. He didn't move, though, waiting to see what would happen.
"Come," Snape barked at the other Death Eaters, swooping past them. He snatched Malfoy's arm as he passed, and the boy quickly followed.
Harry snuck after the group, wand at the ready.
There were still several Order members at the bottom of the stairs. Harry heard them yelling about a barrier that would only let marked Death Eaters through. Snape threw down the barrier and shot a spell at one of the Order members.
The Death Eaters didn't stay to battle, though, just rushed past them. Harry kept on their heels.
The group burst out of the castle, Bellabitch squealing in joy. Malfoy flinched away from her. The woman pointed her wand at Hagrid's cabin, and Harry immediately shot a Disarming Charm at her.
At the last second, Malfoy stepped in front of the spell, and his wand flew out of his hands. "Someone's here!" he squawked, diving for his weapon.
Harry threw another Disarming Charm at Bellabitch, but had to dodge a curse from Amycus Carrow and missed again. He threw off his Cloak, because it was getting in the way. Then he used a spell he remembered from fourth year that drew a rock from the ground, putting something between him and the group of Death Eaters.
"Go, we don't have time for this!" Snape snapped, and Harry saw him discreetly cast a spell at Hagrid's burning hut. The flames turned green for a split second.
Pouting, Bellabitch flounced towards the gates, followed by the Carrow twins, but Greyback stayed behind, his yellow eyes on Malfoy.
"Oh no, you don't," Harry hissed, and shot a Parsel Stunning Spell at the wolf.
Harry had discovered that spells cast in Parseltongue were a lot stealthier and stronger than the original. A Stunning Spell cast in snake language didn't have a color, and was quick and silent.
Greyback caught the spell and immediately keeled over, inches from Malfoy. Malfoy jumped away, panicked, and Snape stared in the direction of the boulder.
Levicorpus! Harry thought, flicking his wand in the direction of Snape.
Snape flicked his own wand, looking outraged, and the spell halted. "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter?" he snarled.
Harry blinked. "Yeah, that's stupid, you'd have counter-curses," he said slowly, then immediately shot out a Parsel Stunner again.
The man dodged, looking astounded as well as angry now. "Where did you learn to fight like a Slytherin?!" he exclaimed.
"After learning that fighting like a Gryffindor was going to kill me," Harry deadpanned, earning a strangled laugh from Malfoy.
"Get to the others," Snape ordered Malfoy. "I'll bring the stupid wolf."
Malfoy ran off, having found his wand. Harry tried to cast another spell while Snape was distracted, but missed again.
"Enough, Potter," the Potions Professor sneered. "You'll never beat me."
"I'm not trying to," Harry retorted. "I'm stalling."
He could hear the Order running towards them, with Sirius shouting, "GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY GODSON YOU BITCH!"
Snape hissed, then fled, leaving the unconscious wolf to the Order's mercy. Harry vanished the rock.
"Harry, are you okay?" Sirius demanded, pulling Harry into a tight hug.
"I have no idea," Harry admitted, hugging him back. "Remus, I got a present for you," he drawled sarcastically, pointing at the body on the ground.
"It's Greyback!" Bill exclaimed, and Remus' eyes turned gold.
"Where's Dumbledore, Harry?" Tonks asked.
"He's dead," Harry said bluntly. "He's on the ground underneath the Astronomy Tower."
Gasps and denial.
"You-Know-Who ordered Draco Malfoy to kill Dumbledore, to punish Lucius Malfoy," Harry continued. "He threatened to kill Draco Malfoy's parents if he didn't." More gasps. "His mother was panicked, and she forced Snape to make an Unbreakable Vow to help her son with his task, even to complete the task himself if Malfoy couldn't do it."
"Snape killed Dumbledore?" Sirius exclaimed in outrage, as the rest of the Order looked horrified and angry. Bill rushed off towards Dumbledore's body.
"He didn't have a choice!" Harry snapped at him. "If he broke the Vow, he would have died! I don't know who he's loyal to, but regardless, Snape's not stupid enough to attack someone as powerful as Dumbledore!"
"He's right, Pads," Remus said flatly, still glaring at Greyback. "We don't know who Severus is loyal to. But just in case, we need to believe he isn't loyal to Dumbledore. Not because it's Severus," he added when Sirius looked triumphant. "I would have said the same thing regardless of which member of the Order it was."
Sirius scowled.
"I think he made it so the fire on Hagrid's hut didn't hurt," Harry said. "Look, it's not even spreading."
Hagrid had rushed into the hut a moment earlier to save Fang, but when he emerged, both dog and half-giant were completely unharmed. Fang was still howling in fear, though, and Hagrid was coughing. Clearly, while the fire didn't burn, it still caused smoke inhalation.
Tonks and Mrs. Weasley ran over to put out the fire, and Sirius swooped Harry into his arms.
"I'm taking you to the hospital wing," he said firmly. "Remus can get your Cloak."
Harry didn't protest, he was exhausted. "I need the locket that Dumbledore has," Harry said tiredly. "That's what we went to get tonight. It's important."
"I'll bring that to you later," Remus called after them. "Don't move from the hospital wing, cub."