Chapter 4
"Please come in," Dumbledore replies to the knock on his door.
He is currently in his office with the two heads of the foreign schools, Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch, as well as Hogwarts Heads of Houses. They were discussing the matters of last night and waiting for the Minister for Magic to arrive.
However, the new guests that had just entered were not from the ministry.
News had traveled quite fast.
"Good morning Headmaster Dumbledore and everyone else," came the voice of the leader of the new group.
"My name is Demetri Ermac and I come on behalf of the International Confederation of Wizards," he introduces himself while two intimidating females, who look to be his bodyguards, stand behind him.
"I was not informed the ICW’s own Swordsman had been sent out. Why wasn't I informed?" Dumbledore asked, knowing that the ‘Swordsman’ was meant to be both a watchdog and a powerful representative of the ICW. He was meant to ‘cut off’ unwanted members of the ICW who were behaving unethically, illegally, or even just doing things that were against the best interests of the whole ICW in general.
"There has been an emergency meeting. There was an over 90% agreement reached...As of this moment, you are dismissed from your title and position in the ICW until much further review," the man stated to the shock of the room.
"On what is this based on?" the Headmaster of Hogwarts asked in shock.
"You don't know? Well, matters must be worse than we had thought then," Demetri commented sarcastically as the two females behind him chuckled.
"The matter at hand has become slightly complicated, but we are on our way to fixing it," Dumbledore replied reassuringly.
"Slightly complicated!? You managed to cause an international incident last night! There is nothing simple about this situation. Quite frankly the setup of it all already had you under watch by us and it is a good thing we were watching because we noticed how you failed to notify us the instant that it happened," he lightly scolded.
"I am afraid I do not understand?" Dumbledore told them with a curious look.
"Oh, well then, let us explain this to you in simple terms so you understand. You decided to use an ancient relic that quite frankly was poorly guarded."
"We put up wards," Crouch interrupted.
"Yes, wards that have an age requirement on how old they needed to be, but not on the age that should be too old to enter. Bravo on that one. Also, I am not sure if you were just reckless or what, but why does the goblet have the power to rip out one's magic, and yet it does not have the power to reject names that, I can assume, were falsely put in? I am also curious as to why this ancient relic was used at all. It is powerful and easily manipulated, seeing as who it has picked as competitors,” the Swordsman of the ICW began.
“The competitors themselves are another reason why we are here. The students, Mr. Higgs, Miss Adama, and Miss Leroy, are all from influential families. Especially the Adamas, who as you know, have relations within most of our Magical United Nations. The Leroy's run in the circle of the members of France's Ministry of Magic even more so than the Higgs have influence in Great Britain. The many leaders of our world are concerned with their safety. Not only are they concerned with the choices of the students, but they are also concerned with the choices of you all,” he added.
"I beg your pardon?" Madam Maxine asked.
"You have a questionable and non-existent family history for example," Demetri answered.
"We can only guess this is because you tried to cover up your giant genes, although anyone who takes a look at you can tell. Regardless, this makes you suspect. That goes double for the former Death Eater, turned Headmaster. The same man who ratted out Mr. Crouch's son as a Death Eater. Then there is you, Dumbledore. We are trying to look past the fact that you were best friends with Gellert Grindelwald and have made a former, inner circle, Death Eater as a professor. But now with this year's events, plus the last three years... well, let's just say we are seriously questioning your efforts on ensuring your students' safety," he continues.
"With all that has been mentioned and much more that should be obvious, you have opened the gates to a cluster of horrible and earth-shattering outcomes. We will try to rectify your colossal screw-up and from this point on we will be taking over, with the approval of Cornelius Fudge,” he informed them next.
The room’s participants were about to protest when the man raised his hand for silence.
"It is out of your hands and is the decision of the United Magical Nations as well. The three tasks will go on as planned, seeing that we don't want anyone to lose their magic. I still can't see how you let that part happen, but moving on… We will be implementing a new tournament that will include all schools and take the limelight away from the Triwizard tournament. We will have a tournament that will make it reasonable for the other two schools to stay at Hogwarts," he further explained.
“What do you mean by, ‘reasonable’ for the other houses to stay here?" Igor asked.
"We understand that the champions will not be given any chances to practice where they will be competing?" he asked.
"That is correct, it is to test them on facing the unknown at first contact," Bagman answered.
"And Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are not having classes in the school?" he further inquired.
"That is also correct, we each brought our own quarters to live in and hold classes in. We also have the option to eat there if they don't wish to go to the Great Hall," Olympe answered.
"We also have our own space so no one can spy on the other," Karkaroff added.
"Well then, what is the point of being at Hogwarts at all, besides the day of the tasks themselves?" Demitri asked.
"Don't even try to say that this competition is about strengthening relations, because if a single champion finds themselves in a fatal predicament...Merlin help us as to what the blow-back would be. To take the attention off you all, you will hold tryouts for your students who are 4th year and above. There will be 15 positions per team with a set of backups making it 30 students per school. The details of the game will be brought in later this week, giving Beauxbatons and Durmstrang enough time to go back to recruit their students. Hopefully, the large number and our resources will take away from your screw-up," the Swordsman of the ICW began to end.
The room's inhabitants looked unnerved at this but did not object.
"In the meantime, this is what will happen," Demetri continued.
***
I sit back and smile as my roommates finish watching the discussions in the Headmaster's office with me.
"Merlin!" Draco exclaims in astonishment.
"Are you exclaiming about what is going to take place, or the fact that Harry hacked into the magical portrait network?" Blaise smirked as he took his eyes away from the picture frame next to my bed.
"Or both?" Theo laughs.
"All the above," Draco plays along.
I join them with a smile of my own.
Lord Halos works fast, no surprise there. I am glad things are going as fast as they are and am also glad I had the hindsight to kick Crabbe and Goyle out early.
Those two will serve their use soon, but I need enough time to make sure I can seal their thoughts before letting them see anything big.
"You have most, if not all, of the castle under watch from here, right?" Blaise asks me with an almost evil smile.
"Not just from here," I correct him and show him some other picture frames I have stashed away.
"So wicked," Theo grins like a kid.
I will eventually give them each one, but they still have a little ways to go before that time.
"So what are we going to do now?" Draco asks me as the others look in my direction as well.
I look at them before getting up to stretch as I yawn and enjoy the fact that they are waiting on my next words with bated breath.
"What other choice do we have?" I ask them and start to make my way to the loo before looking back at them.
"We compete," I tell them as my fellow Snakes hiss in excitement.
***
I know this was my idea, but I am rather bored as they explain the rules of the new tournament to the student body as I continue to wait for dinner.
They finally end and everyone starts up in a spiral of voices as discussions take place. I hear everyone from Durmstrang’s end telling Viktor that he must try out...like he needs anyone to tell him that.
He didn't become the best by just sitting back. He may even be a worthwhile opponent...who am I kidding, going against him is probably going to be the best thing I get out of coming here.
"You should definitely try out, Harry," Goyle tells me.
I don't acknowledgment him with a serious reply.
"I don't know Greg, do you really think so? I don't know if I should," I reply and watch as Draco, Blaise, and Theo try to keep from laughing.
"Why wouldn't you?" Tracey asks me before seeing my expression and then smiles and shakes her head at my antics.
"What do you think, Daphne? Should I go out for something so dangerous?" I ask her and she looks like she could not be more annoyed with me.
"I do not care, Potter," she replies coolly before thinking of a better reply. "If you do enter and get in, there may be a strong chance that you harm yourself… so on second thought, please do," she smiles.
"I got you. I get hurt and then you nurse me back to health. It will be a good cover story. Don't want the other ladies to get jealous," I reply quickly and give her a wink.
"Why you!..." she pauses before recollecting herself. "That is not what I meant, nowhere close to it. And anyone with a shred of intelligence would know you don’t stand a chance with me," she tells me.
Ha! Like that finished this discussion.
"Oh, I am well aware that no one would believe that we were a couple," I tell her and she looks at me like she finally got through.
"The thought that someone like you could score a boyfriend, let alone someone as great as me, is not remotely believable. Besides, I have a reputation to maintain. How am I supposed to get with Tracey if she thinks I will just get with anyone who fancies me?" I can tell Daphne is mad by my response, but the blush on Tracey's face is worth it.
"Daphne, I would only consent to your proposition of nursing me back to health if it left me in less pain, not more pain...I am not sure what you like, but I am not a masochist," I tell her with a serious look, although I am laughing inside.
Her facial expression of ice is cracking and I can feel the fire radiating from her cool eyes.
Everyone around us is waiting for it as well. However, before she can burst out at me Tracey openly starts laughing.
Tracey's reaction makes other students laugh as well, causing Daphne only to give me a cool glare before dropping her next comment.
After the laughter dies down, the discussion started right back to the new tournament.
It looks like I am having fun after all.
***
We had Council to go over who would be trying out for the Hogwarts team and I was selected without having to do anything.
Draco got elected as well when Nott nominated him. The other choices were not bad either. I go over them in my head as we are all lounging around the common room. That's when I got the message from my ‘uncles’ via Master Ronan.
Higgs is over at a table, so I get up quickly and inform him I need the room. My facial expression does not give any room for argument.
Luckily he nods his head in understanding.
"Curfew is now in effect! Everyone head to your dorms ASAP. The common room is closed for the rest of the night," he commands.
There is some grumbling until they see me standing next to him. Needless to say, the room clears pretty quickly and my roommates nod to me before heading out themselves.
"All yours," Tere tells me before he heads out as well.
Once the common room is empty, I take out my wand and tap it on the ground as a wave of magic encircles outwards and washes over the room, making it completely secure.
"Securitas Aperis," I cast at the fireplace as purple flames sprout up before two men walk out of it.
I smile at the sight of them.
"And how are my two favorite 'uncles' doing tonight?" I ask them as Sirius grins and Remus puts on a light smile.
"Pretty good seeing as the legacy child of the marauders has just initiated the greatest prank Hogwarts, if not the country, has ever seen," Remus replies.
"Great work, pup," Sirius tells me.
These two are the only people who I have not grown up with, that have the power to address me so informally as they both give me a hug.
"Thanks," I laugh before going into the matters at hand. "How have you old dogs'... projects... been coming along?" I ask with curiosity.
"The dog house is going a little better than planned," Remus informs me.
Sirius nods in agreement "Lady Esmerelda reached out to the vampires. You need to meet with them in person, but they said they were open to an agreement to stay out of our matters."
"They are not blind either. They know that we, the werewolves, are becoming more powerful and in control of our abilities. But as long as we are under your protection and keep out of trouble like we are, there should be no issues with an agreement. I think an alliance may even be possible further down the road...when the dust clears," Remus adds.
"Perfect, how is the rest of my family?" I ask them before filling them in on my plans.
"They have their plans set in motion and the ICW is reacting like we planned," Sirius reports on a positive note.
However, Remus's next report is a bit of a lower note.
"Cassie is worried about you. Don't be surprised if she becomes a bit...clingy," he tells me and I sigh.
"I knew that might happen...she has always been watching out for me. I'll reassure her that I am doing fine later. Right now, let's get down to the ‘fun stuff’, yeah?” I ask and receive grins from them as I start to fill them in on my plans for the year.