The Start
"Harry Potter"
With those words Harry's heart dropped and his body filled with dread. He could feel his breath quicken and his heart thumping in his chest. Why? Why couldn't he have one normal Samhain?
Harry could feel everybody looking at him, the hundred pairs of eyes seeming to weigh him down when he went up to Dumbledore, only to see him stare at Harry with what looked like disappointment. As he went through the door just behind the teachers' table, he could've sworn he saw Professor Snape staring at him with something akin to sadness.
As soon as he stepped through the door, the other champions' swivelled around and seemed to be confused as to why he was here, especially Cedric.
"Do zhey want us back in zhe hall?" Fleur asked with her heavy French accent and Harry shook his head, but before he could elaborate the door burst open and the three Headmasters plus the Minister and Bagman trotted in.
Dumbledore was the first to reach Harry and grabbed him by the front of his sweater. "Harry! Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire? Harry?" He shouted, but Harry only stared at him with utter horror. Dumbledore reminded Harry a bit of his uncle at the moment and thought that staying quiet might be the best option, as that always seemed to help the situation. However, Karkaroff took this completely the wrong way. "Look at that boy, Albus! He is looking guiltier than one of my students did after cursing a teacher!" He shouted. He stood close enough to Harry that the young wizard flinched and turned his head away, Dumbledore's hand still holding on to the boys sweater.
Then, McGonagall and Snape walked in. They both stared at the situation unfolding in front of them, before walzing over to the angry Headmasters. "What is going on here, Albus?" Minerva demanded while prying the old man's hands away from the visibly shaking younger boy.
Dumbledore took a step back while still holding Harry under a scrutinizing gaze. "I was just asking Harry here whether he put his name in the goblet and look at him! He's obvioulsy guilty and doesn't want to admit it, Minerva." He told the two professors, who frowned at the man. Minerva then realised that Harry was still there and still quite in shock, so she turned to the boy and forced him to meet her eyes. When she saw the panicked look on Harry's face she immediately softened and placed a hand on his pale cheek, caressing it slowly.
"I know you didn't do it, but I still have to ask, Harry. Did you put your name in the goblet, or did you make someone else do it for you, perhaps an older student?" She asked. Harry immediately shook his head.
"Potter. We need a verbal answer." Crouch demanded, which only seemed to scare Harry more.
Minerva glared at the minister before turning back to Harry once more. "Harry, dear, Mr.Crouch here won't leave until you actually speak to us. Can you explain to them that you didn't put your name in? After you do so, I do not think they'll mind if I bring you to the Tower to get some sleep." She said, the last part obviously meant towards the Minister.
Harry took in a shaky breath and Minerva patted him on the shoulder in a comforting matter as to encourage him. "I-I did not put my name in the goblet, nor did I ask or force a-another student to do it for me." Harry told them, his words laced with magic that almost everyone in the room could feel. Snape smirked from where he stood behind Harry and Minerva, clearly having felt the wave of magic falling over them.
Bagman seemed to want to open his mouth again and when Snape noticed this he quickly interrupted. "I think it will be smart if we escort the champions outside while the Headmasters settle this, seeing as it's obvious Mr. Potter didn't put his name in." He said and turned to the other three champions, who'd been watching the scene in either confusion, pity or with a frown. They quickly composed themselves when they processed the fact that they'd been dismissed and quickly left the room.
Minerva shook her head at the still fuming Dumbledore and steered Harry out of the room with her hands on his shoulder and with Snape a few steps behind them. Seeing the still distressed state of the teen, Minerva chose to take a different route that would take the three to her Private quarters without having to go through the Great Hall.
As they arrived in the room and the lock clicked shut, Harry seemed to deflate and almost collapse into himself, but both teachers grabbed him just before he fell and put him on a chair.
Minerva crouched in front of Harry and managed to make eye contact with Harry before speaking. "Do you want to go back to the Tower tonight, Harry? Do you think you can be there right now?" She inquired softly.
Harry sighed softly and Snape frowned as he saw the look on the boy's face. It seemed that he wanted to, but why did he sound sad?
Harry cleared his throat. "If I'm being honest with you Professor, I don't think I'd be welcome tonight. Ron, Dean and Seamus were really angry with me when my name was called. Neville was scared for me and comforted me as much as he could, but two people out of five isn't enough." He admitted and Minerva stared at Harry in shock. She clearly hadn't expected this answer.
But Harry wasn't done yet.
"The upper years also wouldn't want me back, I think. McLaggen sneered at me when I walked by and his friends weren't looking that happy either. Is there anywhere else I can sleep tonight?" He asked. What Snape found strange was that Harry was also looking at him.
McGonagall was gaping like a fish, trying hard to think of something, but Snape beat her to it. "I might have something for you, Potter. It's a permanent solution, if this issue hasn't been resloved by then, that is." Snape told Harry, who looked at him a bit too gleeful to Severus' liking.
Minerva raised at brow at the Potions Master. "What might this permanent solution entail?"
Snape smirked slightly. "It would mean that Mr. Potter is to sleep in the Slytherin dorms with one of my snakes, Theodore Nott. He was able to get a room to himself due to the odd number of Slytherin students we got when they were sorted. Nott keeps to himself and is one of my... nicer snakes, if you will."
Minerva contemplated the idea for a bit. "Mr. Nott is a fine student, Harry. I don't think it will be a problem if you stay with him for a while. I do wonder what your other snakes will think when they see Harry in their common room, no less, sleeping in their dorms."
Snape just waved her off. "That won't be a problem, Minerva. I will make sure that they will treat Potter as one of their own. That does mean that Potter shouldn't engage with other snakes and try to be assertive instead, since that tends to lead to less aggressive circumstances. Do you understand that, Mr Potter?" Harry nodded in understanding and Snape continued. "You should note that Mr. Nott has quite the reputation within my house, which means that if Potter is associated with him he is less likely to get hurt. You see, when someone makes Theodore angry, he tends to hurdle either knives or very embarassing hexes at them." Snape told the other two with his signature smirk on his lips, which only widened when the other two stared at him with wide eyes and open jaws.
Harry then broke out of his stupor, but his eyed still looked quite hesitant. "Are you sure he won't try and hurt me, then?"
Snape scoffed. "I believe not. Mr. Nott has always felt bad of how you've been treated in the past three years, especially your second year. However, if he does act agressive towards you, you are to report it immediately to one of us, preferably me as I am his Head of House, and if we aren't available one of the prefects shall suffice too. They will know who to go to." He explained, which calmed Harry's nerves slightly.
Harry was, of course, still quite nervous about staying in the 'snake pit'. It wasn't that he necessarily minded, but it was more because of the fact that staying there would mean that he'd be sleeping just one door away from people he has yet to see eye to eye with. However, Harry was sure he could manage for the time being. He would rather be with them than with his so-called 'friends' at the moment.
Minerva then clapped her hands, clearly happy with the result. "Alright, dear! I will make sure that your trunk ends up in young Nott's dormitory so that you don't have to retrieve it yourself. It wouldn't surprise me if there are already people waiting for you there, so I think it's better if I do it." Harry sent her a relieved smile, which she immediately returned. "Severus, would you mind giving Harry a tour of the dungeons and the common room? The Slytherins usually stay around much longer during dinner so I'm sure you'll have enough time to show him around before they arrive." She asked and Snape nodded before beckoning Harry to follow him. Harry flashed one last smile at Minerva before following the other out of the room.
Minerva then went to sit in her own chair and rubbed her temples. She opened one of her drawers, from which she grabbed a glass and a expensive bottle of scotch and poured herself a drink. She twirled the glass around a bit before tipping it back. She then stood up and straightened her robes. "I think it's time I have a talk with my lions." She muttered to herself before leaving her office and heading towards Gryffindor Tower.