Renouncing Magic's Child

As the next day was Saturday, ... they usually did on weekends.

The teachers all groaned. They usually loved Saturday mornings because the school was relatively quiet and they were able to catch up on their paperwork.

When they went down ... around it in every direction.

Everyone listened excitably to hear who would enter their name.

"Anyone put their name in yet?" ... "I would've if it had been me...

Sirius laughed. Harry was so different from James. James would have wanted everyone to know.

wouldn't have wanted ... right back out again?"

Everyone laughed at that idea.

Someone laughed behind Harry ... dung brains," said Fred.

Mrs Weasley tutted. That wasn't very kind.

"One drop each," ... if one of us wins," said Lee, grinning broadly.

Lee and George exchanged looks, remembering their beards.

"I'm not sure ... will have thought of this."

Albus nodded his head sagely. There was no way he'd have forgotten about aging potions.

Fred, George ... stepped over the line.

Most of the chamber seemed to be holding their breaths.

For a split second ... identical long white beards.

Laughter erupted all throughout the chamber.

The entrance hall ... Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff,

"See, it was obvious it wouldn't work," Hermione huffed.

"Hermione, no one wants to be told I told you so," Mrs Granger murmured quietly. "People have to learn from their own mistakes. But when they do, it really isn't necessary to rub those same mistakes in their faces."

Hermione blushed. That hadn't been her intention.

both of whom ... like as fine as yours."

"You did have exception beards," Lee said with a chuckle.

The twins exchanged a look, that would make an excellent prank.

Fred and George set off ... who looks like a sloth."

Warrington glared at Dean. "I do not look like a sloth, thank you."

Harry, who had played Quidditch ... a Slytherin champion!"

The Slytherins all rolled their eyes.

"And all the Hufflepuffs ... risk his good looks."

Cedric laughed good-naturedly at that.

"Listen!" ... "Well, I've done it! Just put my name in!"

The Gryffindors in the chamber all cheered for Angelina.

"You're kidding!" ... can't see a beard, can you?" said Ron.

Several people tried to imagine what Angelina would look like with a beard.

"I had my birthday ... you get it, Angelina!"

Hermione's parents smiled. This was the first time they'd seen Hermione interact with another girl in the books, now they thought about it.

"Thanks, ... scowl heavily at him.

"Mr Finnigan!" Minerva said automatically.

"Sorry professor," Seamus muttered.

"It's not me you should be apologising to," Minerva huffed.

"Sorry, Diggory," Seamus added.

"No worries," Cedric replied with a shrug.

"What're we going ... visit Hagrid yet," said Harry.

"I'm surprised you're willing to risk it with the skrewts," Remus said.

"Okay," ... get the badges?"

Hagrid rolled his eyes. He had more sense than to try and control the house elves.

"What is it with her?" ... watching eagerly.

Bill groaned. "Veela girl? Please tell me that was not what you called her."

"No," Ron said with a slight blush. "We just didn't know her name yet."

Madame Maxime entered the hall ... watch the tournament?"

"Of course, we would stay," Fleur said. "It was our duty to our school and champion."

"Dunno," ... staring after them.

"What's your obsession with knowing where everyone is sleeping?" Fred asked. "Do you regularly ask where the teachers and headmaster sleep?"

"No. I guess, they have their own quarters somewhere in the castle," Ron blustered.

A loud rattling noise ... across the lawn with Madame Maxime.

Bill was not enjoying this one bit. When he first learned of Ron's crush, he had thought it was funny, but now, it was just weird hearing so much about it.

As they neared Hagrid's cabin .... a makeshift paddock alongside it.

"It was magically enlarged to include a classroom, several bedrooms and a common area," Fleur said. "We could even have meals there as there was a kitchen but Madame Maxime told us we needed to eat in the castle with our hosts."

Harry knocked ... forgotten where I live!"

Hagrid grinned at the trio of friends.

"We've been really busy, Hag -" ... Hermione goggled at him,

Hagrid blushed. He thought he looked quite nice.

then, obviously deciding ... they've started killin' each other."

"How sad," Draco muttered to Theo.

"Oh no, really?" ... Hagrid missed the sarcasm.

Hagrid frowned at that. Had they really hated the skrewts that much?

Hagrid's cabin comprised ... ah, but I'm not supposed ter say."

Minerva sighed. Hagrid could not be trusted to keep a secret.

"Go on, Hagrid!" ... Triwizard Tournament played again!"

"For good reason," Remus muttered.

They ended up having lunch ... lost their appetites.

Several of the students looked rather green.

However, they enjoyed themselves ... she showed him her badges.

Everyone stayed quiet. They had, they hoped, made a good enough defense for the house elf bond.

"It'd be doin' 'em an unkindness, ... an' insutin' 'em if yeh tried ter pay 'em."

Hermione's parents sighed. Why hadn't Hermione listened to this advice? Then maybe she could have found out more about it. Preferably from house elves themselves.

"But Harry set Dobby free ... no, nothin' doin', Hermione."

Hermione sighed. She had finally accepted that she might have been wrong about house elves. She'd spoken to one of them this morning before defense and Mindee had made quite a few good points.

Hermione looked very cross ... cloak pocket.

"You can't force people to agree with you, dear," Mrs Granger said softly.

By half past five ... the school champions.

The children in the chamber grew restless with excitement. They were practically bouncing in their seats.

"I'll come with yeh," ... "Don' yeh like it?"

Hagrid frowned. He didn't think it smelled that bad. He quite liked the scent.

"Is that aftershave?" ... "I'll go take it off, hang on. . . "

No one said anything about this. They were all far too excited for the announcement of the champions.

He stumped out ... the baby dragon, Norbert.

Hagrid was blushing heavily now.

"He's going up to the castle ... waiting for us!"

Several people laughed. Hagrid had clearly forgotten all about them.

"Sorry," Hagrid muttered.

Without so much ... weigh about a ton."

"RONALD!" Mrs Weasley screeched.

"What? I was probably right. If they had a baby, it wouldn't be very small, would it?" Ron said crossly. "I mean they're both half giant."

"It's not polite to comment on that," Molly said.

"Well, in fairness to Ron," Hermione said, "he didn't realise that Hagrid was half giant at the time."

They let themselves out ... proceeded through them.

Krum sighed. Having fans was the worst part of his job. Why didn't they understand he just wanted to play quidditch?

When they entered the candlelit Great Hall ... their second feast in two days,

"That does seem excessive," Remus said.

"Not ideal for you, Mr Potter," Poppy said. "Your stomach would have done better without the rich food."

Harry didn't seem to fancy ... who had been selected as champions.

"Should we place bets?" Fred asked.

"I like that plan," George said.

"I don't think so!" young Mrs Weasley said.

"Isn't it obvious?" young Hermione asked.

The twins looked at her. "Hermione, we don't," George began.

"Care that it's," Fred said.

"Obvious," George continued.

"We care that it's," Fred added.

"Bet worthy," the twins finished together.

"But everyone knows it will be Krum and Fleur and Cedric," Hermione huffed.

"Do they?" the twins asked.

"They're the only students from the other schools that have been mentioned," Hermione said. "And Cedric... Well, I don't know why I think it will be him."

The twins sighed. She'd just ruined their fun.

At long last, ... winking at various students.

"You know that's kind of creepy," Hermione said.

Mr. Crouch, however, ... receiving their first instructions."

Looking around the chamber, Harry wondered if everyone had forgotten how to breathe.

He took out his wand ... two seats away from Harry.

The anticipation was building in the chamber. Sirius looked ready to hex the book with how long it was making them wait. He wanted to know how the teachers would react to what was going to happen.

The flames inside the goblet ... "will be Viktor Krum."

Young Hermione gave the twins a look that clearly said I told you so.

"No surprises there!" ... "Knew you had it in you!"

Krum rolled his eyes.

The clapping and chatting ... "is Fleur Delacour!"

Everyone smiled over at Fleur.

"It's her, Ron!" ... sobbing with their heads on their arms.

"Of course, they were disappointed," Fleur laughed. "We all wanted to compete."

When Fleur Delacour ... "is Cedric Diggory!"

Cedric blinked. He hadn't really expected that. Sure, he would have entered if given the chance but to actually compete? His dad would be proud, at least.

"No! " ... every ounce of support you can muster.

"They're going to need it," Sirius muttered angrily.

By cheering your champion on, ... another piece of parchment.

Everyone in the chamber sat forward. They knew what was coming. The book was about Harry Potter so of course his name was going to come out the goblet.

Automatically, it seemed, ... cleared his throat and read out -

There were sharp intakes of breath all throughout the chamber.

"Harry Potter."

Sirius glared at the headmaster and then the book. He needed to know what happened next. How did they resolve this? There had to be a way out of that contract. There just had to be.

"So much for personally guaranteeing that no underage students were entered," Severus said angrily.