A fanfiction could also explore a betrayal by a teacher. Perhaps Professor Moody (actually Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise) could be made to have a more elaborate plan of betrayal. He could have been secretly feeding false information to Harry all year long, making Harry believe he was being helped when in fact he was being set up for a much more sinister purpose. This would be an interesting take on the fourth - year events in the Harry Potter universe.
In a fanfiction about Harry Potter's fourth - year betrayal, it could center around Ron. Maybe Ron gets jealous of Harry's newfound fame during the Triwizard Tournament. He starts to act cold towards Harry, which Harry sees as a betrayal. This could lead to a rift in their friendship until they both face a common danger that makes them realize the importance of their bond again.
One possible betrayal in Harry Potter's fourth year could be when some students believed the false rumors about Harry being a cheater in the Triwizard Tournament. In fanfiction, this could be explored further. For example, Hermione might initially doubt Harry due to the overwhelming rumors, creating a sense of betrayal for Harry. However, as the story progresses, she realizes the truth and they reconcile.
A plot idea could be that Neville is forced by some dark magic to betray Harry. Neville has always been a bit of an outcast and maybe some dark wizard finds a way to use his insecurities against him. He could leak some of Harry's plans regarding the Triwizard Tournament tasks, which would put Harry in great danger.
I'm not sure specifically as there could be many different interpretations of a 'Harry Potter fourth year retribution' fanfiction. It might be about seeking revenge or justice for something that happened in Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts in the fanfic author's vision.
A really engaging one is 'Year Four Revelations'. In this fanfic, the author explores the relationships between the characters during Harry's fourth year. It shows a different side of how the students interact and deal with the events of that year. There are some great character - building moments and it's very immersive.
There might be a fanfiction where in their fourth year, Harry and Hermione go on a secret adventure related to the Dark Arts that they suspect is connected to Voldemort's return. Along the way, they face many challenges and have to rely on each other's strengths. Hermione's knowledge of spells and Harry's courage are put to the test, and this experience brings them closer together as friends and perhaps something more.
Romance is also a common theme. Harry's growing feelings for Cho Chang, and other potential romantic relationships among the characters are often explored in fourth year fanfiction. It adds an extra layer of complexity to the story as the characters are also dealing with the high - stakes events of the Triwizard Tournament.
Snape is a likely candidate. In the original series, his loyalties were always a bit of a mystery at first. In fanfiction, he could be further explored in terms of false betrayals or real ones. Another one could be Draco Malfoy. He was on the verge of becoming a full - blown Death Eater in the original, so in fanfiction, he could either truly betray his Hogwarts classmates or be wrongly accused of betrayal.
It could be a fanfiction where the author creates a new plotline centered around an act of betrayal that sets off a series of events. For example, it might be about a wizard who betrays the Order of Phoenix to Voldemort, leading to new challenges for Harry and his friends. The 'Flames' part could symbolize the intensity and the destructive nature of this betrayal, like how a flame can quickly spread and cause chaos.
Harry Potter himself would most likely be one of the main characters, as it's about his fourth year and retribution. Hermione and Ron would probably also be important, as they are his closest friends and often involved in his adventures.
Dobby the house - elf can be a popular character in these fanfictions. Writers might have Dobby helping Harry in more creative ways during the Triwizard Tournament. Professor McGonagall is also a favorite, as her strict but fair nature can be explored in different situations during the fourth year. And of course, Sirius Black might make appearances in fanfictions, adding a layer of mystery and family connection to Harry's fourth year.
One interesting plotline could be a deeper exploration of the relationship between Harry and Cedric Diggory before the Triwizard Tournament. Maybe they become unexpected friends and help each other with the tasks in ways not shown in the original book. Another could be a different take on how the other schools' students interact with Hogwarts students. For example, a Durmstrang student might have a secret mission related to the tournament that involves Harry.