Chapter 17
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," Dumbledore said brightly. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champion's names are called, I would ask them, please, to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber, where they will be receiving their first instructions." He gestured to the door behind the staff table, then pulled out his wand. With a great sweeping wave of his arm, all the candles except those in the jack-o'-lanterns were extinguished, making the glowing goblet more mysterious than usual.
For a long moment, there was silence. Harrison sighed irritably, earning snickers from most of his friends.
Finally, the flames in the goblet roared red and shot a piece of paper from its mouth. Dumbledore reached up and snatched the paper as it fell.
"The champion for Durmstrang," Dumbledore called, "will be Viktor Krum."
The Great Hall filled with cheers and yells as Viktor stood up and slouched out of the room. Harrison and his friends were the loudest.
Silence fell a moment later. The goblet shot out another name.
"The champion for Beauxbatons will be Fleur Delacour!"
Harrison and the others applauded her. She smiled at them, ignoring when several Ravenclaw boys fainted. Fleur stood up and joined Viktor in the next room.
The goblet lit up again, and Dumbledore caught the last name.
"The Hogwarts champion is-" he paused for dramatic effect "-Cedric Diggory!"
Harrison cheered, not noticing Draco's jealous look. Cedric smiled at Harrison and joined the other two champions.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore beamed. "We now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champions, you will contribute in a very real-"
He stopped, as the fire in the goblet had turned red again. Harrison and his friends exchanged grimaces.
Dumbledore took the piece of paper when the fire spat it out. The old man stared at it for several long minutes. Finally, in a very quiet voice, which was heard by the silent Hall, he said, "Harrison Potter."
Harrison blinked at the old man. After a long pause, he said, "F*ck."
Angry whispers started up. Harrison sighed and stood up.
"I swear on my magic that I did not put my name in the goblet of fire, nor did I ask an older student to put it in. So mote it be." His magic flared around the room. "I have no idea how my name got into the goblet, and I intent to do everything I can to get out of this tournament." Harrison marched up to the staff table. "Remus, Sirius, come on."
Viktor, Fleur, and Cedric were chatting by the fire. The three of them were an impromptu part of Harrison's friend group, although they didn't know about the newspaper or Luna's prophecy.
"Harrison?" Cedric said in surprise. "What-"
They saw Harrison's angry and resigned expression, and the other champions looked worried.
"Some idiot put my name in the goblet," Harrison snarled. "I'm the f*cking forth champion."
"Extraordinary!" Bagman, who was one of the Ministry judges, came bouncing into the room. "Absolutely extraordinary!"
"Why are you so happy that a child is being forced to participate in dangerous trials that grown adults have died in?!" Harrison yelled at the man, who looked taken aback.
Barty Crouch, the other Ministry representative, followed Bagman inside. Behind him were the three heads, two of which were yelling at Dumbledore about 'cheating' and 'unfair advantage.' McGonagall, Snape, Remus and Sirius were behind them. Remus' eyes were gold with fury.
"Headmaster Karkaroff, Headmistress Maxime," Harrison said stiffly. They both glared at him. "If you have a problem with Hogwarts having two champions, then I won't represent Hogwarts."
"Harry-" Dumbledore began with a frown.
Harrison ignored him. "The past several years, Hogwarts has never supported me. They've supported the Boy-Who-Lived, the savior of the Light. If I ever did anything Dark, like when people found out I was a Parselmouth, they abandoned me and called me names. But by the end of the year, I was Saint Potter again.
"Not only was I never supported, but I was also consistently put in dangerous situations. In my first year, the f*cking Dark Lord was possessing our Defense professor and tried to kill me. There was a baby dragon, a troll, a Cerberus, and a giant chess set. Last year, the Ministry put soul sucking Dementors outside the school to 'protect' us. I almost had the Kiss performed on me twice.
"The only people who helped me were my friends, Severus Snape of all people, and Remus Lupin. The teachers did nothing. The headmaster did nothing. Professor McGonagall even ignored me the first two times I asked for help.
"So, I'm not going to represent Hogwarts," Harrison finished scathingly.
"Who are you going to represent, then?" Bagman asked, still looking far too excited. McGonagall was sputtering in angry protest, Snape had gone green, Karkaroff and Maxime were pale, and Dumbledore looked disappointed.
Harrison opened his mouth to speak and paused.
There was a group he could represent.
"The Marauders Junior," Harrison said with a grin.
Snape groaned and buried his face in his hands. Sirius lit up in glee, and Remus sighed.
"What's the Marauders Junior?" Cedric asked with interest.
"The Marauders' apprentices," Harrison told them. "That's Moony, and that's Padfoot. They teach kids who have an Animagus form better ways to prank. They don't bully anymore," he added to Snape. The man just looked resigned.
"Do you have your Animagus form yet, pup?" Sirius asked.
"I know what it is, but I haven't had time to work on it yet," Harrison replied.
"Then young Harrison represents the Marauders Junior," Bagman said brightly, clapping his hands together.
"Wait," Harrison said. "Is there any way for me to get out of the Tournament? I didn't put my name in, and I don't want to compete."
"Barty knows the rule book back to front," Bagman said, turning to the man.
"We must follow the rules," said Barty dully, "and the rules clearly state that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."
"Even if I didn't put my name in?" Harrison questioned.
Barty shook his head in response.
Moody limped into the room at that moment. "You all right, Mr. Potter?" he asked.
"F*ck no," Harrison responded irritably.
"Language!" McGonagall exclaimed.
Harrison ignored her.
"Mr. Potter!"
"Harry, I understand that you are upset-" Dumbledore began.
"Headmaster," Harrison said icily, "I never gave you permission to call me by that name. Or Mr. Bagman. Secondly, my head of House has ignored me multiple times and gotten angry at me for things I didn't do. The other day she tried to take points from Gryffindor because I was wearing the girl's uniform. It's not against the rules." He took a breath. "I want a resort."
"What!" McGonagall screeched.
"I want to have a head of House that listens to and supports me, and that's not Professor McGonagall," Harrison declared.
"How do I get a resort?" Harrison asked.
"You need to get permission from three of the heads of Houses," Sirius piped up.
"He has mine," Snape said firmly. When half of the room stared at him, he said, "All students deserve to be listened to and supported."
"I'll talk to Professors Flitwick and Sprout after this meeting," Harrison decided. He turned to Bagman and Crouch.
Crouch blinked. "The first task," he said quietly, "is designed to test your daring, 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....
"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 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."
"Can we ask for help from our friends?" Harrison asked, not telling them that the four champions considered themselves so.
"There's nothing in the rules," Crouch said slowly.
"And what about Remus and Sirius? They're my magical guardians," Harrison told him.
"They are also your teachers," the man declined.
"D*mn," Harrison lamented, making Cedric and Viktor snicker and Fleur laugh daintily. "Well, if that's all, I need to talk to Professors Flitwick and Sprout. Vik, Ced, could you tell the rest of my friends where I am?"
"Sure," Cedric responded, as Viktor nodded. Fleur gave Harrison a soft hug, and the four left.
"Are the three other champions part of Marauders Junior?" Moody asked shrewdly.
Harrison grinned, making Karkaroff and Maxime frown. "No, but they can join if they have a creature or Animagus form."
Moody snorted. "I'd like to tag along, if you don't mind. I'm curious to see what your new House is."
Harrison smirked, then snatched his guardians' hands and dragged them outside.
The Hall was mostly empty, as the students had gone. The rest of the teachers were huddled by the staff table, whispering in worry.
"Ha- Mr. Potter!" Professor Babbling exclaimed in worry, hurrying over. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Professor," Harrison smiled at her tightly. "Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter?" Flitwick squeaked.
"I'd like a resort," Harrison said bluntly, then explained about McGonagall.
Flitwick looked outraged, and Sprout was frowning. "Maybe being Head of House, deputy headmistress, and Transfiguration Professor is a bit too much for her," Sprout decided with a sigh. "You have my permission, Mr. Potter."
"And mine," Flitwick said stiffly.
"Pog!" Harrison grinned, earning laughter from Remus and Professor Burbage.
"Are you sure, Harry, my boy?" Dumbledore asked. Harrison turned and glared at him.
"For the last time, you don't have permission to call me anything but Mr. Potter!" Harrison snapped. "And I am b***dy f*cking sure!"
Babbling choked, hiding a laugh.
Dumbledore sighed. "Very well... come with me."
"C'mon, Moony, Pads," Harrison insisted, dragging them after Dumbledore.
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"SLYTHERIN!"
"What?!"
"Padfoot? Shut up."