Tragedy avoided

Harri was moved away from Ron and Hermione to sit between Remus and Sirius. She thought it was strange but went anyway even if she wasn't Remus' biggest fan right now. The room summoned a bucket of small bean bags that sat on the ground in front of her. She eyed it curiously. What were those for?

Harri sat there, aware that every head in the Great Hall had turned to look at her. She was stunned. She felt numb. She was surely dreaming. She had not heard correctly.

“Nope,” Harri said sadly. “Unfortunately we heard correctly.”

She wished she could tell her counterpart everything would work out. They were learning about the danger now so it would never happen. If they could find out how her name was entered she wouldn’t ever have to compete.

There was no applause. A buzzing, as though of angry bees, was starting to fill the Hall; some students were standing up to get a better look at Harri as she sat, frozen, in her seat.

Harri didn’t like the sound of that. Were the students going to turn on her again? At least she would have Ron and Hermione by her side. It didn’t matter if everyone else abandoned her over and over again, she could face anything with her best friends.

"I didn't put my name in," Harri said blankly. "You know I didn't."

“You know we know you didn’t do it,” Ron snorted. He was sure they would just chalk it up to another weird thing that just happened to their best friend. Harri’s life was constantly filled with strange happenings. He and Hermione were used to it by now. 

"Harriet Potter!" he called again. "Harriet! Up here, if you please!"

"Go on," Hermione whispered, giving Harri a slight push.

“Traitor,” Harri cried, sending a betrayed look at Hermione.

“What was I supposed to do? Dumbledore was waiting for you and you were frozen!”

“Set the table on fire so I could escape.” Harri suggested irritably even though she knew Hermione was right. She had to go up. Her name was pulled and there was no way for her to back out of the tournament.

"Well...through the door, Harri," said Dumbledore. He wasn't smiling.

“You aren’t really going to make her compete right?” Sirius asked hopefully, though already knowing the answer.

“It’s out of my counterpart’s hands,” Dumbledore sighed tiredly. “There’s nothing I can do to cancel the magical contract.”

She thought she had come to deliver a message. Harri didn't know how to explain what had just happened. She just stood there, looking at the three champions. It struck her how very tall all of them were.

“Twice as tall as you,” Fleur noted, looking over at her fellow competitors. Harri was by far the smallest.

“I’m three years younger and still growing,” Harri defended, not liking the fact everyone was so much taller than she was.

“You’ll always still be growing,” Fred snickered, dodging the bean bag Harri tossed at him.

"Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing Harri's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen...lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the fourth Triwizard champion?"

“At least someone is happy about it,” Harri grumbled. She was glad she could at least make someone's day with the situations she found herself in.

Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harri. Cedric looked nonplussed.

Cedric was sure his counterpart had thought something like this could happen. He himself had thought Harri would be Hogwarts Champion. His counterpart probably had similar thoughts. It wasn’t a far stretch with all the rumors that circled around Harri.

Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned. Harri looked at Cedric nervously. He must hate her. He had told her about not thinking he was good enough to enter the tournament and when his name was called she stole the spotlight from him. This should have been all about him.

“I'm sure I was in shock but I don’t think I’d hate you Harri. I know you wouldn’t do this,” Cedric assured her again. He really didn’t think his counterpart would blame Harri.

“You might, but does your counterpart?” Harri argued, just as uncertain as she was in the book. “How well do we really know each other in these books? You know I didn’t do it because of this book, but your counterpart only knows my name was called after he confided in me.”

“Have a little faith in me,” Cedric grinned at her. “I know me and I very much doubt I could ever hate you. We’re friends in these books too, you know. I’m sure I’ll hear you out.”

"Well...it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harri. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as her name's come out of the goblet...I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage....It's down in the rules, you're obliged...Harri will just have to do the best she -"

“Wonderful,” Harri snarked spitefully. How could anyone be happy she was being forced into this? Do her best? She was barely a fourth year. Her best was going to be pitiful compared to the others.

"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little girl is to compete also!"

“Hey!” Harri cried.

“I haven’t said it,” Fleur placated, a little upset with herself. She had been nothing but judgemental so far in this book. She had scoffed at Hogwarts and now was insulting Harrri. Though Harri was just a child. She shouldn’t be competing at all due to her age.

"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust."

“Would happily bow out if I was allowed. Cedric can be the only champion!” Harri voiced not liking how everyone seemed to be just assuming she had cheated her way in. If anything was unjust it was her being forced into this.

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."

Snape was sure Dumbledore had made all the precautions necessary to keep all the little brats too big for their britches from entering the tournament, but there was never enough preparation for Potter. They could lock the girl in a padded room and she’d still manage to find herself in the middle of danger, seeking attention no doubt. 

“Snape was such a git. He was never going to see her for her,”  Potter’s words echoed in the back of his head again. Snape sneered at the blasted voice to leave him alone.

“Snape was such a git. He was never going to see her for her,” Lily’s voice joined the Voice in mocking him.

Severus drowned them both out. He saw the girl. He just wasn’t impressed with anything he had seen.

"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff," said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. She has been crossing lines ever since she arrived here -"

“Of course you'd blame me without even knowing if I did it or not,” Harri scoffed, setting a hand on Sirius' arm when he looked ready to fight on her behalf. This was her fight.

“It is always you,” Snape rolled his eyes, still ignoring the voice in his head. “You helped a convicted felon escape the previous year…”

“I helped an innocent man…” Harri cut him off only to be cut off in return.

“You snuck off of Hogwarts grounds that same year knowing precautions were made to protect you, you stole a flying car, snuck off into the Forbidden Forest, and then down into the Chamber of Secrets the year before. The year before that you ignored several warnings to leave the forbidden corridor alone and helped smuggle a dragon.”

“I had a reason to do all of that for the last time,” Harri insisted angrily. “This tournament is all about money and fame, I have no reason to enter. If you actually bothered to see me as a person instead of my father’s ghost you’d see that I don’t go around breaking rules for the hell of it. I hardly ever do anything for myself. When I break the rules it’s almost never because I’m being selfish. All I ever try to do is help. Why is that such a crime to you?”

“You’re never punished for breaking any of the rules,” Snape spat his voice full of contempt for Potter, or the Voice he didn’t know anymore. “You’re allowed to galavant around Hogwarts doing as you please because you can fly a broom just like your father.”

“Except I don’t,” Harri shouted, annoyed she was getting nowhere. “When have I ever flaunted the fact I was a Quidditch player? When have I been given special treatment for being Gryffindors Seeker? Something might I remind you I never asked for. I was put on the team without a single person asking me if that’s what I wanted. My choice was to be a Seeker or get punished for standing up to a student from YOUR house. Who might I add was also never punished for that. You’re such a hypocrite. You let the Slytherins get away with murder but if I’m allowed out of trouble for literally saving lives you call favoritism?”

Snape sneered at a loss for words. He wasn’t going to defend protecting his House the only way he could. He knew the other teachers weren’t fair to the Slytherins. He was merely evening the score.  He also couldn’t bring a single memory of Potter flaunting the fact she played Quidditch in everyone’s faces the way her father had. He had never even heard her attempt to get out of something for “practice” the way Sirius Black and James Potter would. 

Snape was such a git. He was never going to see her for her.

"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harri?" he asked calmly.

"No," said Harri. She was very aware of everybody watching her closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.

Harri shot Snape another dirty look. Of course he wasn’t going to believe her. He was never going to believe the best of her.

"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape.

Fred and George looked at each other. Was it really that easy? They knew a couple of students they could talk into placing their names into the Goblet.

"She could not have crossed the Age Line," said Professor McGonagall sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that -"

“At least someone’s on my side,” Harri grumbled, appreciating McGonagall. She hadn’t asked her if she did it or not, just stuck up for her.

"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" said Professor McGonagall angrily. "Really, what nonsense! Harri could not have crossed the line herself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that she did not persuade an older student to do it for her, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!"

Harri sent a thankful smile towards McGonagall, the only person who seemed to be fighting for her so far. Dumbledore wasn’t doing much to help her. 

"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."

"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front," said Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed.

“I hate my life,” Harri groaned as the small hope they could get her out of this mess was crushed. 

"Empty threat, Karkaroff," growled a voice from near the door. "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?"

“Can I just sit on the side lines?” Harri asked hopefully. Her counterpart could still be in the competition and stay safe that way.

“It doesn’t work that way I’m afraid. Whoever put your name in the Cup would know that.” Dumbledore informed her sadly. “You must try your hand at each task.”

"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" said Madame Maxime.

"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Karkaroff, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards -"

“I’m three years younger than everyone else and not even the best student. I shouldn't even be considered competition!” Harri voiced, angry at the way her involvement in this tournament was being treated. As if she could possibly even compete with the rest of them. Would they have cared so much if she was a random fourteen year old who’s name was called or did they think she was so much better than she was because she was Harriet Potter?

"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter," growled Moody, "but...funny thing...I don't hear her saying a word..."

“Two people on my side. Things are looking up,” Harri said sarcastically. She doubted it would have mattered if she complained. Everyone thought she had done it.

"Why should 'e complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. "'E 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money - zis is a chance many would die for!"

“I don’t need or want the money and no offense to Hogwarts, but why would I care about bringing it honor?” Harri pointed out crossing her arms.

“I did not know you in this book. I would not say such a thing now nor have I said it yet even,” Fleur reasoned, paying the pests their knut before they could demand it. She could understand why her counterpart was upset though. Harriet Potter was known world wide. Her story was told to the young. She doubted she would have liked being forced to compete against the person who had defeated the Dark Lord.

"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it," said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl.

Harri could think of several people who would like to see her die in this tournament. It wasn’t a fact that brought her any peace.

Moody thoughts were brought back to the intruder. Had they followed him to Hogwarts? Were they hiding among its grounds? Were these two things tied together?

"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime," said Karkaroff loudly. "Apparently he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons.

Sirius let himself hope for a second Moody was in fact just being paranoid, but he knew better. Knew in his bones someone was trying to have Harri killed by forcing her into this tournament.

"Imagining things, am I?" growled Moody. "Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the girl’s name in that goblet..."

"Ah, what evidence is zere of zat?" said Madame Maxime, throwing up her huge hands.

"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!" said Moody. "It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament....I'm guessing they submitted Potter's name under a fourth school, to make sure she was the only one in her category...."

“You can do that?” Fred asked, trying to look as innocent as possible.

“Don't you even think about it,” Molly warned, looking at both the twins sternly.

“I assure you I shall fix the ways around the age line,” Dumbledore promised. “Maybe have someone watch the Goblet around the clock.”

Harri shot Snape a smug look because they both knew she couldn’t do that. He would be the first to admit she wasn’t a gifted student. 

"You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody," said Karkaroff coldly, "and a very ingenious theory it is - though of course, I heard you recently got it into your head that one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised basilisk egg, and smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So you'll understand if we don't take you entirely seriously...."

Moody wanted to know how he came up with the theory. What did his counterpart know he didn’t? Also why had Karkaroff kept up with his life? Karkaroff had left Britain and become the Headmaster of another school. Why would he care what happened in Britain?

"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody retorted in a menacing voice. "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff - as you ought to remember…

Viktor wanted to know the story behind his Headmaster and Moody. Why did they hate each other? Why was Moody mentioning Dark Wizards now?

"The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harri, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard...very important....

“We don’t even get to know what we’re supposed to do,” Harri cried in outrage. How was she supposed to survive if she didn’t know what she was going to face?

“I’m sure we’ll all be fine,” Cedric assured her. “The book is pretty thick after all.”

"The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges.

"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind

No help? How was she going to survive without Hermione and Ron helping her??

 from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."

Harri sighed relieved it was just from teachers, who never helped anyway. She could still count on her friends and that was what mattered. Hermione and Ron would help her through this just like every other major life threatening event. 

"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," said Mr. Crouch. "It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment....I've left young Weatherby in charge....Very enthusiastic...a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told..."

Percy frowned. While he didn’t exactly want Crouch’s approval it stung that he didn’t have it. What was wrong with being enthusiastic about one's work? They were doing important work. Why was it bad to love his job?

"So," said Cedric, with a slight smile. "We're playing against each other again!"

"I s'pose," said Harri. she really couldn't think of anything to say. The inside of her head seemed to be in complete disarray, as though her brain had been ransacked.

"So...tell me..." said Cedric as they reached the entrance hall, which was now lit only by torches in the absence of the Goblet of Fire. "How did you get your name in?"

“So much for you not thinking I did it,” Harri sulked in her seat.

"I didn't," said Harri, staring up at him. "I didn't put it in. I was telling the truth."

"Ah...okay," said Cedric. Harri could tell Cedric didn't believe her. "Well...see you, then." 

Harri picked up a bean bag and tossed it hard at Cedric. While she had been the one who said they might not know each other well and there was a possibility that he wouldn’t believe her in these books, she had hoped their friendship meant more to him than some tournament. That he would have believed her.

“What was that for?” Cedric cried rubbing his shoulder where he had been hit.

“You clearly don’t believe me,” Harri sniffed, crossing her arms. “I’m throwing them at anyone who thinks I’m a lair.”

“But I do believe you and this conversation hasn’t even happened,” Cedric tried to reason.

“Don’t care. This book is clearly showing you wouldn’t have. And you should have. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything to make you believe I’m a liar or a cheat.”

Cedric was at a loss for words. He really hadn’t thought his counterpart would react like this. He didn’t know if there was any reasoning with Harri right now either.

“Well see you?” Harri exploded, “That’s all you have to say?”

“What do you want me to say Harri? You’ve entered the tournament and now won’t even admit to doing it.”

“Because I. Didn’t. Enter,” Harri growled. “I never wanted to be in this stupid tournament. Why would I?”

“Oh, come off it,” Cedric spat back as he turned to leave, “I can’t believe I ever trusted you. I thought I knew you.”

Harri wanted to shout she hadn’t done it. That it made no sense for her to ever try to compete against people three years older than she was, but she stopped herself. If Ced… Diggory didn’t want to believe her fine. Maybe he was nothing more than a Pretty face if he didn’t know she would never have done this to him; they were friends, or at least she thought they were friends. He was right he didn’t know her at all.

Harri threw another bag at Cedric, annoyed with his counterpart. She stood by her earlier statement. She didn’t care if none of it had happened. It never should have happened. She had never shown herself to be a liar or a cheat. It was second year all over again. How could Cedric think his counterpart could fancy her at all if he was so willing to believe the worst of her?

Cedric winced, wondering how badly this would ruin his friendship with Harri. It was already in uncertain territory and now his counterpart was making it worse. He would apologize again if he thought Harri would listen, but he didn’t. She was currently fuming in her seat and he didn’t want her to hit him again. She had one hell of an arm and her aim was spectacular. He just hoped he didn’t do anything else in this book to upset her. He would try to talk to her again when she had cooled down.

Was anyone except Ron and Hermione going to believe her

“It doesn’t matter if anyone else believes you,” Ron shrugged as he sent Diggory a glare for hurting his friend. “We’ll believe you just like last time.”

“At least I can count on you two.”

, or would they all think she’d put herself in for the tournament? Yet how could anyone think that, when she was facing competitors who'd had three years' more magical education than she had - when she was now facing tasks that not only sounded very dangerous, but which were to be performed in front of hundreds of people? Yes, she’d thought about it...she’d fantasized about it...but it had been a joke, really, an idle sort of dream...she’d never really, seriously considered entering....

Harri felt bad for her counterpart. None of this sounded ideal and they had just had someone who was supposed to be a friend tell them they didn’t believe her. It must have hurt, and made everything worse. How was anyone who didn’t know her going to believe she didn’t do it when Cedric did know her and didn’t believe a word she had to say?

Snape was surprised to hear Potter’s counterpart repeat what the Potter of this room had said. He figured Potter had only said those things because this book had made her realize what a stupid idea ever wanting to enter was. He figured her counterpart would be over the moon they would get to bypass all the rules set in place and allow her to compete. Figured she would enjoy all the attention it would bring her.

“Snape was such a git. He was never going to see her for her,” repeated louder than ever before in the back of his mind.

To see her make a fool of herself? Well, they were likely to get their wish....

But to get her killed?

“They’re going to have to try harder than that,” Harri snarled, in a foul mood since she had learned Cedric wouldn’t have listened to her. If this was another one of Voldemort's plans she was going to ruin it. She didn’t know how yet, but she would. If he got to ruin her life it was only fair she ruined any of his plots. He would never accomplish anything as long as she lived.

Yet in that dream she had had, just before she had awoken with her scar hurting, Voldemort had not been alone...he had been talking to Wormtail...plotting Harri's murder....

“Well, if it’s Voldemort who did it I’m definitely not dying in it,” Harri stated firmly, eyes daring anyone to argue with her. “He’s terrible at actually killing me. I’m sure I’ll make the score four for four in my favor.”

Narcissa thought the girl was being a bit cocky, but after hearing how the Dark Lord had failed to kill her three times already she’d give Potter this. 

"You should've told us you'd entered!" bellowed Fred; he looked half annoyed, half deeply impressed.

"How did you do it without getting a beard? Brilliant!" roared George.

Harri beaned both Fred and George with a bean bag.

“Hey what was that for!”

“For believing I did it without even asking me if I did! You both should know me better than that.”

"I didn't," Harri said. "I don't know how -"

But Angelina had now swooped down upon her; "Oh if it couldn't be me, at least it's a Gryffindor -"

"You'll be able to pay back Diggory for that last Quidditch match, Harri!" shrieked Katie Bell, another of the Gryffindor Chasers.

Harri threw bags at Katie and Angelina too. She wouldn’t have robbed Cedric or anyone of being Hogwarts champion over Quidditch. Her teammates didn’t know her at all if they thought she was capable of being that petty. She still honestly hoped Cedric won the whole thing, even if she thought he was a prat for not listening to her when she told him she didn’t do it.

But nobody wanted to hear that she wasn't hungry; nobody wanted to hear that she hadn't put her name in the goblet;

Harri threw bean bags at everyone of her housemates. How could they? Why couldn’t any of them just listen. Why were they so happy her life was endangered again? Did they just assume she would do well because she was Harriet Potter?

"I didn't," she said, over and over again, "I don't know how it happened."

But for all the notice anyone took, she might just as well not have answered at all.

“You all suck,” Harri announced, glaring at them all. She was tempted to throw more bean bags at them. The room filled the bucket everytime she tossed a bag. She’d never run out. 

The Gryffindors looked down in shame. They had once again hurt Harri. First over the points she had lost and now this. While they were showing Harri their support in this chapter, they were doing it for themselves, not her.

“We haven’t done it,” several Gryffindors said and a pile of knuts found itself in front of Fred and George.

“We’re sorry, really.”

“We’ll listen to you better from now on, promise.”

She wanted more than anything to find Ron and Hermione. Harri headed up to Ron’s room first hoping he was still up.

Hermione couldn’t lie and say it didn’t hurt knowing Harri would seek Ron out first.

"Where've you been?" Harri said.

“Yeah, why weren’t you guys waiting for me?” Harri wondered out loud. They should have been in the common room waiting for her so she didn’t have to deal with all that alone.

“I don’t know. It is weird we didn’t find you right away.”

"So," he said, when Harri had finally removed the banner and thrown it into a corner. "Congratulations."

"What d'you mean, congratulations?" said Harri, staring at Ron. There was definitely something wrong with the way Ron was smiling: It was more like a grimace.

“You think I did it!,” Harri cried, as pain took over her features. 

“I’m sure I don’t!” Ron denied it, willing his bookself to set Harri straight. 

That friend of the Fat Lady's, that Violet, she's already told us all Dumbledore's letting you enter. A thousand Galleons prize money, eh? And you don't have to do end-of-year tests either...."

Cassandra thought it was interesting money and no tests was what Ron had picked out of this whole thing. Not the danger, not the fame but those two things.

"Yeah, okay," said Ron, in exactly the same sceptical tone as Cedric. "Only you said this morning you'd have done it last night, and no one would've seen you....I'm not stupid, you know."

"You're doing a really good impression of it," Harri snapped.

“How could you think I did it?” Harri snapped, throwing bean bags as fast and hard as she could at Ron. 

“Those hurt,” Ron yelled as he tried to protect himself. “You only threw one at everyone else and I haven't done it yet.”

“You shouldn’t have done it at all,” Harri snarled, not relenting as she grabbed another projectile to pelt him with. “You're supposed to be my best mate. You're supposed to stand by me no matter what. Who cares if none else believes me, I was supposed to have YOU. You're who I trust, you’re who I'd want by my side if Voldemort was standing three feet from me. YOU’RE supposed to believe me when I tell you I didn’t do something.”

He wrenched the hangings shut around his four-poster, leaving Harri standing there by the door, staring at the dark red velvet curtains, now hiding one of the few people she had been sure would believe her.

Harri glared at Ron, unwilling to let this go.

Ron didn’t understand why his counterpart hadn’t believed Harri. It didn’t make any sense. And now Harri was mad at him over something he hadn’t done and never would do now. How was he going to fix this?