Chapter 16
Harry woke up and blinked at the familiar roof of the living quarters within the case. It took a moment for the haze of a spelled sleep to fade and to remember how he ended up asleep there.
It was with no fair amount of relief that he realized the pain he’d felt earlier was completely gone.
Gingerly, he stood from the cot, making his way towards the ladder. He knew Newt wasn’t there - in the same way he could always tell who was in a room with him - and climbed to knock carefully on the inside of the case.
It opened to blue skies and Newt’s face, who examined him with a glance before helping him out.
The moment he stepped onto the grass Harry knew where he was - he would recognize the Hogwarts grounds anywhere.
He saw the Hulk first and moved towards him, not at all alarmed when a large green palm swept him off his feet.
Then he looked at everyone else present, at the teachers and people he didn't recognize.
“What’s going on?”
It took a moment or two for it all to be explained, though Harry had already had his suspicions. After all, he did remember what Newt had said before he’d been put to sleep.
Even as he had the thought, he looked at the magizoologist, and knew the man understood his unspoken thoughts.
He’d told him he was worried about what would happen without him present, and that had been answered, very succinctly, by this bloody tournament and his unwilling bid for participation.
“So, as you can see, Mr. Potter, you are bound to participate in the tournament as a champion of Hogwarts.”
Harry smoothed a hand along the Hulk’s arm, soothing him even as he looked at the official man who’d spoken with no small amount of disdain. It was a look he’d perfected from uncle Tony.
“That’s quite impossible. I’m not a student of Hogwarts anymore.”
He revelled, for a moment, at the look of absolute shock on everyone’s face but Newt. All until he realized his family looked just as shocked.
He felt a tug of guilt, but pressed on.
“I’m not a student of Hogwarts.” He repeated. “I’m enrolled in an outreach program through Ilvermory, since I’m an American citizen, and they agreed to support a year of self-study under the tutelage of a renowned scholar.”
He sees Newt blush under his aunts baleful look and only just manages to keep his expression passive. They hadn’t meant to forget to tell them.
“So zis is why you vere able to be entered.” Madame Maxime comments, “A fourth champion, because you are from a fourth academy.”
“But I didn’t enter.” He knew he must sound frustrated because the Hulk grumbled, and he fought to settle himself.
“A contract made in ill faith is still a contract. Magically binding.” The threat was implied, and Harry struggled to remember what he knew about magical contracts. When it clicked that they mean death, he tapped at the Hulk’s arm, waiting until he was set down to storm towards the wards, and because he was a student, of Hogwarts or not, because they are meant to protect him, he passed through them without so much as a hint of resistance.
“Are you threatening me?” He demanded, face pale and chin up. There was a strength in his voice, a show of the man he was going to become, and Natasha felt the swell of pride even as she wanted to pull him back and away from those who would harm him.
McGonagall stepped forward then, putting an arm around his shoulders.
“Nobody is doing any such thing.” She snapped, but it was as threatening as Harry’s tone as she faced down the ministry men with him.
The problem was, they all knew, in that moment, that her words weren’t true. Somebody was threatening him. Somebody at Hogwarts.
They all hear the cry from above, a trill that cut through the silence fraught with tension.
All eyes turned to the sky, watched the swoosh of flames through the air, and it wasn't until it landed on Harry’s shoulder that those present realize it was a phoenix. It turned to regard Newt, and everyone watched in awe as it bowed to him.
Newt bowed in return.
"Fawkes." There's an answering trill, but it doesn't change the grim atmosphere.
Natasha, also watching the ex-auror, watches his flinch at the bird.
Harry doesn’t so much as shift, but it was clear he’d made a decision.
“I’ll compete, because I don’t want to die.” Then he drew himself up. “But you made me your chosen one. You’ve pit me against your greatest evil because you need me.”
“There is no evil, Mr. Potter.” Crouch tried to argue, but Harry scoffed, suddenly years older than his own 14.
“Isn’t there?”