Renouncing Magic's Child

The next morning absolutely no one complained about their training exercises with Moody and Bones. Even Ron felt like he was finally getting the hang of it. Although, Harry suspected the two aurors were going to be taking it up a notch now that everyone was finding it relatively easy. They all wandered through from breakfast, bright eyed and ready for the next chapter. Harry didn't feel anywhere near as excited as the others and he noticed that his younger self seemed to be apprehensive too. Harry had told him bits and pieces about his time at Hogwarts and he knew all about the tournament.

Young Harry was one person that Harry felt deserved to know as much as possible before reading it in the books.

Of course, many of the others probably deserved to know too. But he didn't feel quite the same sense of responsibility for them. Sirius had made a point of reminding him that he wasn't responsible for his welfare but rather the other way around. So, Harry was trying to follow that advice even if it was just in small little ways.

Harry had noticed that Sirius and Severus were behaving differently at breakfast. For several days now, they had sat together at meals but Harry suspected they were holding hands under the table. Considering one of them used to be a spy, they weren't very good at hiding things. It was strange to imagine them together. In the previous timeline, they'd absolutely loathed each other. But he had to admit they sort of worked together. Sirius could make Severus smile, which seemed actually sort of miraculous and Severus reined Sirius in when he was getting worked up.

I don't believe it!" ... "Krum, Harry! Viktor Krum!"

Ron blushed heavily because now Viktor Krum knew just how big a fan he was.

"For heaven's sake, ... player," said Hermione.

Krum barked a laugh at that.

"Only a Quidditch ... still at school!"

"My parents insisted," Krum said. "They wanted to make sure I had options for when my professional career ended. Can't play forever."

As they recrossed ... their pockets as they walked -

Krum rolled his eyes.

"Oh I don't believe it, ... sign my hat in lipstick?"

Several people laughed.

"Really," ... now squabbling over the lipstick.

Hermione's parents both chuckled. Their daughter really wasn't like most girls.

"Lockhart," Ron coughed.

"I'm getting his autograph if I can," ... where they should sit.

"Why not add additional tables?" Remus asked. "Or at least make sure they knew where to sit?"

Minerva frowned. She's been so busy with preparations that she hadn't actually thought of where they would sit at the feast.

The students from Beauxbatons ... shawls around their heads.

"We were freezing," Fleur said. "Our uniform is not designed to be worn in a drafty castle in Scotland."

"It's not that cold," ... "Why didn't they bring cloaks?"

"Hermione!" Mrs Granger said. "That was uncalled for."

Hermione grimaced.

"We were instructed to wear our school's most formal uniform for our arrival," Fleur explained. "Our uniform is not designed to keep us warm. Not only is our school in the south of France but it is also under strong climate control wards. Most days, it is as warm as it is on the equator, so neither our formal uniform or day to day uniform are suitable for Hogwarts. But especially the formal. It is made from the finest Acromantula silk."

"Sorry, Fleur," Hermione said but the older witch just brushed it off.

"It is no problem," she said.

"Why doesn't Hogwarts have a formal uniform?" Harry asked.

"it was believed to be an unnecessary expense," Minerva answered.

"When would it be worn?" Harry asked.

"Traditionally, it was worn to all feasts and any school balls. Not to mention graduation," Minerva said. "And potentially any ceremonial events that might arise if you were lets say given Special Awards for Services to the School."

"But we got those awards and there wasn't a ceremony," Ron blustered.

"Those ceremonies were also seen as an unnecessary expense," Minerva muttered.

"Well, now that the school funding issue is being dealt with," Harry said, "maybe we can bring that all back."

The teachers all nodded eagerly. They'd quite liked their formal robes in their school days. The kids however were looking at Harry like they thought he was mad.

"Over here! ... make a space -"

The twins both laughed at their brother's expense.

"What?" ... speak to Krum.

Draco smirked. Yes, he had enjoyed lording that over Potter.

"Yeah, that's right, ... fawning over him all the time...

"You wanted to do the same thing!" Hermione huffed.

Ron went slightly pink around the ears. "Well... Yeah. I guess."

He didn't like being compared to Malfoy.

Where d'you reckon ... I could kip on a camp bed."

Harry just rolled his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if this was what Ron had been like before becoming his friend. Had Harry just been another famous person he wanted to meet?

Hermione snorted ... apparently impressed.

"We do not eat off of gold plates at Durmstrang," Viktor said. "I presume it is to help the House elves since their magic resonates with the gold, making the magic more sustainable across the distance from the kitchen to the hall."

"Quite right, Mr Krum!" Filius said with delight.

Up at the staff table, Filch, the caretaker, was adding chairs.

"Seems a bit last minute to be adding extra chairs," Sirius said as he glanced towards Severus, biting his lip slightly. He still couldn't believe they spent well over an hour last night making out like teenagers on the sofa.

"Some things were clearly forgotten," Minerva huffed. She didn't like being reminded that she hadn't thought of everything.

"It's a small thing," Narcissa said, "but it does make our guests seem less welcome."

Minerva looked ready to hex her but Narcissa wasn't finished.

"It's unreasonable to expect Professor McGonagall to remember everything. She is the deputy headmistress, head of Gryffindor and the sole teacher for a core class. Honestly, I find it astounding more hasn't been... forgotten."

"I... Well, I do what I must," Minerva said, slightly mollified.

"And I commend you for it," Narcissa said with a smile, "I only wish that it had not been necessary. I hope it can be avoided in the future. Better to do one or two jobs outstandingly, than do three satisfactory."

Minerva sighed. The woman was right. "When we aim for acceptable," she muttered to herself, "we risk getting a dreadful."

He was wearing his moldy old tailcoat ... who else is coming?"

"The other judges I suspect," Sirius said.

"Eh?" said Ron vaguely ... leapt to their feet.

"At Beauxbaton we are taught to show our teachers respect," Fleur said.

A few of the Hogwarts ... Dumbledore's left-hand side.

"Such lovely manners," Narcissa commented.

Dumbledore remained standing ... comfortable and enjoyable."

Fleur and Viktor shared a look. They weren't sure that was how they would describe their stay.

One of the Beauxbatons girls ... bristling at her.

Mrs Granger tutted. What did Hermione have against the students from Beauxbaton?

"The tournament will be officially ... engage him in conversation.

The aurors exchanged looks. They didn't like the idea of Karkaroff being there.

The plates in front of them ... several that were definitely foreign.

"It's a shame we don't have more variety the rest of the time," Blaise said. "I really miss Italian food when I come to school."

"Oh, we could have a monthly dinner where we experience food from a specific country," young Harry said. "They did that at my primary school. I liked it when they did Italy and we got to eat pizza for lunch."

"What's that?" ... "Bless you," said Ron.

Everyone laughed.

"It's French," ... helping himself to black pudding.

Everyone looked at Ron in confusion. He wouldn't try shellfish but he'd happily eat black pudding?

The Great Hall seemed somehow ... wearing robes of a deep bloodred.

"It's a shame we could not bring more," Fleur said. "I know Madame Maxime wanted to bring twenty, but Hogwarts refused."

"It is especially unfair when you think that only ten students from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang had the opportunity to enter," Krum said. "But almost two whole year groups of Hogwarts students had the same chance."

The adults murmured their agreement. That did not seem fair.

Hagrid sidled into the Hall ... "Thrivin'," Hagrid called back happily.

At least a handful of people rolled their eyes.

"Yeah, I'll just bet they are," ... Hagrid's fingers."

Sirius chuckled at that.

At that moment, ... except a faint gurgling noise.

Fleur blushed. She hadn't realised that it had been her that they'd heard laugh.

"Yeah, have it," ... "Yeah, it was excellent."

Bill laughed. He knew his youngest brother had had a bit of a crush on his wife. But he wasn't sure he wanted to read about it.

The girl picked up the dish ... "She's a veela!" he said hoarsely to Harry.

"I'm impressed you picked up my heritage so quickly," Fleur said with a small smile.

Her grandmother shook her head. "It might have something to do with you using your allure to get what you want, dearest."

Fleur gave a small laugh. "Most likely."

"Of course she isn't!" ... gaping at her like an idiot!"

"Hermione!" Mrs Granger said crossly. "I really don't know where this attitude is coming from."

Hermione grimaced. She didn't want to admit in front of the entire chamber that she was jealous because of her stupid crush on Ron. Looking back over their time at school she was beginning to reconsider that crush. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life bickering with her husband.

But she wasn't entirely right ... just like Ron.

Isabeau glared at her granddaughter. She knew better than to let her allure run wild like that. It was dangerous. Especially because Fleur had less defenses as she was not a full blooded Veela.

"I'm telling you, ... like that at Hogwarts!"

The girls in the chamber all looked deeply offended.

"They make them okay at Hogwarts," ... girl with the silvery hair.

Someone wolf whistled. It looked like Harry's crush on the Ravenclaw seeker was still going strong.

"When you've both ... to be here to see it start."

Barty struggled to keep his cool. He didn't like hearing about his father. At Tom's urging - and wasn't that weird, calling the Dark Lord Tom - he had been having almost daily sessions with one of the mind healers. He wasn't sure if it was helping or not.

When the second course arrived ... did not come over to get it.

Bill frowned. Yes, he definitely didn't want to hear about his brother's crush.

Once the golden plates ... great concentration.

Mrs Weasley grimaced at that. She didn't want to even imagine how terrifying it would have been if one of her boys was entered. It had been bad enough having Harry compete. But the twins especially... Didn't they realise that it would separate them? It was one of the few reasons, Molly was relieved they were going back, not only would they be able to prevent Fred's death, something she personally was deeply grateful for, but it would save George from living without him.

They had a magical bond that few would ever understand. It was why they had a dual lordship. While somethings might be separate for them, the majority of their lives would always be combined. She hadn't told them about the lordship growing up because she wanted them to mature a little first, live like children, but now she wondered if she'd done them a disservice. Their inventions really were ingenious.

"The moment has come," ... we bring in the casket -"

"Casket?" Mr Granger asked. "It sounds more like a funeral than a competition."

"The what?" ... he looked so much more likable.

Barty worked through the coping mechanisms that the mind healers had been teaching him.

He acknowledged it ... judge the champions' efforts."

Sirius grimaced. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what happened during the tournament.

At the mention of the word "champions," ... his head hardly rose above anyone else's.

The younger kids all sat forward, anticipating clear in their expressions.

"The instructions for the tasks ... their ability to cope with danger."

Sirius huffed. "These tasks better be safer."

He noticed that the teachers all shuffled slightly in their chairs, not able to meet his eye. Clearly that was a no.

At this last word, ... the Goblet of Fire."

Harry felt slightly sick. His younger self took his hand and smiled sadly up at him.

Dumbledore now took out his wand ... dancing blue-white flames.

"Wow," young Ron murmured.

Dumbledore closed the casket ... all those wishing to compete.

Both Fleur and Viktor shook their heads at that. Freely accessible to Hogwarts students more like. More than a few of their friends had wanted to come to Hogwarts for the tournament too but had been refused.

"To ensure that no underage student ... will be able to cross this line.

The aurors sat forward. At least there would be some security but they all had a sneaky suspicion that Potter's name would end up coming out of the goblet regardless.

"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you ... constitutes a binding, magical contract.

"That should have been changed," Minerva said crossly. She'd argued against using the goblet. But everyone thought she was overreacting until a fourth year ended up being forced to compete.

There can be no change of heart ... Good night to you all."

"What would happen if you broke the contract?" George asked.

"It depends," Sirius said. "It really depends what is written into the contract. It could be anything from a temporary loss of magic to a loss of a family gift or worse still, a complete loss of magic, or even your life."

"WHAT?" several of the children cried out.

"Why would you do that to school kids?" young Charlie asked. "I mean, sure, they're of age, but they're still at school. That's..."

"Not ethical," Mr Granger said sternly.

"I fully agree," Minerva said tersely. "I argued against using the goblet but was outvoted as it is tradition."

"An Age Line!" ... Aging Potion, shouldn't it?

Albus's eyes twinkled. No. His age line would not be fooled by an aging potion.

And once your name's ... "we just haven't learned enough... "

George sighed deeply. "Hermione, Fred and I were only a few months away from turning seventeen. We were in the same year as Cedric. Sometimes, it feels like you forget that we're actually older than you and have learned more than you."

"But you don't study!" Hermione huffed.

"Of course, we do," George countered. "We just don't broadcast it."

"Speak for yourself," ... won't you, Harry?"

"Of course, he won't!" Young Hermione said. "It's against the rules."

Harry thought briefly ... find a way to get over the Age Line.

"I believe I would be more disappointed than angry," Albus said. "After all, I was trying to protect the students."

"Where is he?" ... mulled wine from the kitchens?"

Viktor rolled his eyes at the special treatment.

Harry saw Krum shake his head ... disgusting boy -"

Viktor glared at the book. He really didn't like the headmaster.

Karkaroff turned ... And then Karkaroff froze.

The chamber grew tense as they waited to see how Karkaroff would react to meeting Harry Potter.

He turned his head back to Harry ... pointed openly at Harry's forehead.

"This was the first time I realised I was famous outside of Britain," Harry admitted.

"Yeah, that's Harry Potter," ... mingled fury and fear came over him.

Moody grinned. That man might not be him, but it was still nice to know that the sight of him could still inspire terror in a death eater.

"You!" ... You're blocking the doorway."

Everyone was silent, waiting to see what would happen. The younger ones were wondering why Moody didn't seem to like Karkaroff.

It was true; ... intense dislike upon his mutilated face.

Moody wondered at that. He was trying to piece together who was impersonating him and every little clue mattered.