The Fourth Champion

Chapter 26: The Fourth Champion

Harry smiled softly as Astoria and Iris walked out of the great hall for their quidditch training, both girls were hoping to play for the Hogwarts team in the upcoming Quidditch competition. His smile though dimmed slightly, knowing that at best, Astoria would only become a reserve player for the Hogwarts team in the tournament. Unfortunately for her, the Gryffindor Chasers were far better chasers than her even if he wished otherwise. Iris on the other hand would easily get in the team as a seeker, after all she was the best seeker he had ever seen at Hogwarts. She was the sole reason why the Slytherin team was able to win the final match against the Gryffindor team last year. He remembered how depressing it was to see the three beautiful chasers of Gryffindor totally dominating the game, making the Slytherin chasers look like amateurs. Astoria had tried to do her best but their teamwork was dull compared to the spectacular display shown by the Gryffindor Chasers.

Harry shook his head, trying to forget that amusing game. It was fun seeing Iris act like a queen after single-handedly winning the final match. He turned to his left where Daphne and Tracey were murmuring amongst themselves, seemingly having a serious conversation. 

Harry turned his gaze to see what else others were doing during the breakfast. Hermione and Jasmine were whispering to each other and occasionally glancing at him. When Harry caught their gaze, Hermione waved at him friendly though her smile was strained while Jasmine just nodded at him. 

'That was odd.' Harry thought but didn't spend much time thinking about it as his eyes stopped on the French Veela, who was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, eating silently, not partaking in conversations happening around her. She moved her head towards the Slytherin table as if sensing his gaze. Sea blue eyes met curious emerald green eyes. Her lips curved into a soft smile and she gave him a respective nod before going back to eating her breakfast. Harry was a bit surprised by the gesture as he hadn't seen her smile before. To be honest, it was a very pretty smile, he hoped she would smile more. Daphne shook his shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"You alright?" she asked, "We have been calling you for a minute and you weren't listening."

"I am fine. I was just thinking." He smiled, kissing her on the cheek. "So, why were you calling me?"

"Daphne and I have decided to participate in both of the duelling competitions. Just wanted to inform you and listen to your thoughts about that." Tracey grinned excitedly, loving the idea of showing her skills to the whole school. Harry nodded slowly and gave it some more thoughts.

"Good. Let's make it a challenge. Daphne, you are brilliant at using transfiguration during fighting and Tracey, you rely mostly on charms and curses to fight during our duels. Get out of your comfort zones for this competition. Tracey, you will use only transfiguration during the duels and Daphne, you will use only charms and curses. Let's see if you can beat others with a handicap." Harry smirked, eager to see how his best friends would handle the limitations on their magic, how they would fare when they weren't allowed to use their favourite branch of magic. Daphne and Tracey stared at each other, silently conversing with each other. They then looked at Harry and nodded in agreement.

"It will be good practice. Though I hope we don't lose by following it." Tracey commented.

"That's the fun, isn't it? There is something at stake here so you should try your best. I want to see how you girls adapt to it." Harry smiled, getting the same in return.

"Pfft. Nothing is at stake here. Defeating other students will be a piece of cake, even with the limitations." Daphne said, full of confidence, "Though it will be fun to face you, Tracey, in a real competition. You might even win this time."

Harry stifled a chuckle at Daphne's competitiveness. She was always like that when it came to fighting. Tracey frowned at the friendly challenge. She didn't like the fact that she still couldn't best Daphne in the duels. 'Though it will still be hard fighting Daphne with the agreed handicap. Hmm, I will need more practice and maybe a couple of tricks.'

"Challenge accepted, Daph. We will see who will be standing and who will be on the ground when the dust settles." Tracey replied with a sly smile. Daphne grinned back and clasped Tracey's hand.

"It will be a disaster seeing you two fight. A beautiful, powerful disaster." Harry said softly, looking at them affectionately.

"We will put on the biggest spectacle for you. Though I hope you will reward the winner with something." Daphne said playfully, putting her arm around his neck.

"And what will you like as a reward?" Harry asked, wrapping his own arm around her shoulder, ignoring the glares from other boys for their public display of affection. Daphne leaned towards his ear and whispered so only he could hear it.

"To be your first."

Harry internally winced, he had been planning to finally have sex with Iris soon but now his plans needed to be changed since he couldn't bring himself to say no to Daphne. 'More waiting but it will be worth it.' Harry thought.

Tracey gave them suspicious looks but his eyes were on Daphne who was looking totally serious, waiting for his answer. Harry simply nodded. Daphne beamed at him and brushed her lips on his cheek.

"What about you, Tracey? What do you want if you win?" Harry asked.

"I will tell you that when I win." Tracey answered, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

"If you win." Daphne corrected. Harry just laughed happily as he watched his best friends bantering with each other, unaware or unconcerned of the looks sent from the other students.

~~~

The day was over quickly, bringing the night of Halloween, the time to choose the champions.

At long last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state; there was a sharp upswing in the level of noise within the Hall, which died away almost instantly as Dumbledore got to his feet. On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Ludo Bagman was beaming and winking at various students. Mr. Crouch, however, looked quite uninterested, almost bored.

"Before discussing the main event, I want to request that whoever destroyed the dozens of trees in the Forbidden Forest for no reason, to stop doing that. Forbidden forest is the home of many magical beings and is a historical place which was here before even Hogwarts. Harming it is a crime against Hogwarts itself. Right now I am just requesting but if the activity still continues then I will be forced to take harsh actions." Dumbledore announced in a hard tone. Fleur blushed, not having considered the consequences of her actions last night. Though she quickly turned her face blank, not wanting to be caught.

"The goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' 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," he indicated the door behind the staff table "where they will be receiving their first instructions."

He took out his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it; at once, all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging them into a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames. Almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting for something to happen.

The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it, the whole room gasped.

Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white.

"The champion for Durmstrang," he read, in a strong, clear voice, "will be Viktor Krum."

"No surprises there!" yelled Ron from the Gryffindor table, annoying both Jasmine and Hermione, a storm of applause and as cheering swept the Hall. Harry saw Viktor Krum rise from the Slytherin table and slouch up toward Dumbledore, he turned right, walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the next chamber.

"Bravo, Viktor!" boomed Karkaroff, so loudly that everyone could hear him, even over all the applause. "Knew you had it in you!"

The clapping and chatting died down. Now everyone's attention was focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more. A second piece of parchment shot out of it, propelled by the flames. "The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour!"

The French Veela got gracefully to her feet, shook back her sheet of silvery blonde hair, and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. "Oh look, they're all disappointed," Daphne laughed over the noise, nodding toward the remainder of the Beauxbatons party. 'Disappointed' was a bit of an understatement, Harry thought. Two of the girls who had not been selected had dissolved into tears and were sobbing with their heads on their arms. 'Pathetic' was the word which came into his mind when witnessing that. When Fleur Delacour too had vanished into the side chamber, silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion was next. And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out of it; the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment. "The Hogwarts champion," he called, "is Cedric Diggory!"

The uproar from the next table was too great. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to his or her feet, screaming and stamping, as Cedric made his way past them, grinning broadly, and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers' table. Though not everyone was happy. The other houses let out disappointed noises and looked forlornly at the retreating back of Cedric. Still, the other houses quickly joined in the applause as everyone liked Cedric and the Hufflepuff house, it didn't matter if you were Gryffindor or Slytherin. Indeed, the applause for Cedric went on so long that it was some time before Dumbledore could make himself heard again.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore called happily as at last the tumult died down. "Well, 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 champion on, you will contribute in a very real…"

But Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking, and it was apparent to everybody what had distracted him. The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were flying out of it. A long flame shot suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment. Automatically, it seemed, Dumbledore reached out a long hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it. There was a long pause, during which Dumbledore stared at the slip in his hands, and everyone in the room stared at Dumbledore. And then Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out "Harry Potter."

Harry did his best to look surprised and remained still on his seat.

He resisted the urge to sigh as he stood up at the Slytherin table, focusing on the supportive smiles from his best friends and sister and started walking towards the side chamber under the oppressive silence of the great hall. He thought if he should give a magical oath in front of the students that he didn't want to participate, that he hadn't entered his name but decided against it. A small part of him must have wanted to participate in the upcoming tournament otherwise he would have killed Barty Crouch Jr by now. A part of him must be tired of hiding his true strength for years, a part of him must feel that it was finally time to show the world what he was. A part of him must have rejoiced with the plan of Voldemort which gave him a chance to finally free himself from the last shackles. He wasn't going to risk his magic to gain favour of the sheeps.

By halfway, some students from the Slytherin table had started clapping politely. He turned his head to his table and flashed a smile. 'It is time.'

Harry went through the door out of the Great Hall and found himself in a smaller room, lined with paintings of witches and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite him.

The faces in the portraits turned to look at him as he entered. He saw a wizened witch flit out of the frame of her picture and into the one next to it, which contained a wizard with a walrus moustache. The wizened witch started whispering in his ear.

Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire. They looked strangely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum, hunched-up and brooding, was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the other two. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur Delacour looked around when Harry walked in and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair.

"What is it?" she said. "Do they want us back in the Hall?"

She thought he had come to deliver a message. He remained silent and just stood there, looking at the three champions. 'I feel a little bit of sympathy for them that I am going to take away the spotlight. Only a bit.'

There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. "Extraordinary!" he muttered happily upon seeing Harry. If Harry didn't know better he would suspect Bagman to be the one entering his name.

"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!"

Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to Harry and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur Delacour, however, ignored Bagman, not taking the fool's words. She glanced at him briefly and shook her head and murmured something under her breath in french.

"Harry Potter is the fourth champion." Bagman repeated with a wide grin.

Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned.

"But evidently there has been a mistake," she said contemptuously to Bagman. "He cannot compete. He is too young."

Harry controlled the urge to say something lewd and sarcastic at that.

"Well...it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his 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...Harry will just have to do the best he…"

The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door.

"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "They are saying that this little boy is to compete also!"

'Little boy? Now she is just trying to make me mad.' Harry thought, his anger rising.

Madame Maxime had drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of her handsome head brushed the candle-filled chandelier, and her gigantic black-satin bosom swelled.

"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she said imperiously.

"I'd rather like to know that myself, Professor Dumbledore," said Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips of ice. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions or have I not read the rules carefully enough?"

He gave a short and nasty laugh.

"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 unjust."

"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."

"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. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here."

'Someone's really wanting to die tonight.' Harry thought, glaring at Snape.

"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently through his curtain of greasy black hair.

Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at Harry, who looked right back at him, trying to discern the expression of the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles.

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

"No," said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching him closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.

"You know what? Enough!" Harry said softly, looking at Snape with such contempt that Snape's rage flared.

"You disrespectful br.." Snape started.

"Shut up. Everyone shut up." Harry said in the same soft tone but this time with Deus' enhanced voice. Snape shut his mouth abruptly, his mouth going out of his control. Same happened with everybody else except Dumbledore. Harry smiled grimly at the sight of all of them silenced from only his words. He wasn't surprised that Dumbledore was strong enough to resist this. Harry also locked the door with his magic so no one could interrupt him.

"So much arguing, my head is aching. Shut up and kneel before me." Harry grumbled at them. Dumbledore stood frozen as he saw everyone bar him falling on their knees in front of Harry.

"Cedric, Fleur and Victor. My dear opponents, see what you will face. See the might of this 'little boy'." Harry's smile was mirthless.

"Snape! Kiss Karkaroff." Harry said. Snape turned his head sideways and pulled Karkaroff in a heated kiss. The other occupants of the room just remained dumbfounded as the two professors kissed each other.

"Stop, Snape, strangle Karkaroff. Crouch Sr, start punching Ludo Bagman until I say stop. Maxime! Start slapping yourself until I stop you. Professor McGonagall, you can stand but shut up and don't interrupt." Harry ordered. Everyone started following his orders. Snape had his hands around Karkaroff's neck, Crouch Sr jumped on Bagman and started punching him mercilessly, Maxime was loudly slapping herself. Professor McGonagall stood up and remained silent.

"How easy it is to make others follow my orders. I can make them kiss their enemy, I can make them kill their family. Such a great power is my voice. Tell me Snape, do you want to die? If yes, I just have to say 'die'." Harry said calmly, his emerald eyes on Snape who was white with fright as he squeezed Karkaroff's neck.

"Mr. Potter! Stop it right now." Dumbledore exclaimed in shock and anger, his previous calm disappearing at witnessing the current situation. Harry looked at him with narrowed eyes and a second later, his warm faithful wand was in his hand. Dumbledore also clutched his Elder wand tightly as he pointed it towards the fourteen year old boy.

"Looks like I am fortunate enough to fight the legendary Dumbledore." Harry smirked and pointed his own wand at the old man.

"Harry, stop it. We don't have to do this." Dumbledore pleaded.

"Oh no, I really want to. I need to. I have been given an opportunity to see how powerful you are and I am not going to waste it." Harry chuckled and fired a stunner at Dumbledore who easily deflected it. Harry grinned as he sidestepped a body binding spell and finally let loose. His wand moved so fast that it was invisible to naked eye. Even the legendary Dumbledore didn't last against him for more than a minute. Dumbledore lost when a disarming spell hit him in his face.

Dumbledore's eyes widened in horror at finding himself on the floor with no wand in his hand. He looked up to see his wand in Harry's hand. His prized elder wand in Harry's hand. Dumbledore jumped to his feet but before he could do anything he was trapped inside a transparent cylindrical ward.

"Harry!" Dumbledore yelled as he banged his hands on the transparent ward. He tried using his wandless magic but it was no help, he was trapped in a cage like a helpless bird.

"I will keep the wand as a trophy for defeating the legendary Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." Harry said in a mocking voice and pocketed the wand. Dumbledore stopped his protest and stared at the young boy sadly. Dumbledore was afraid and uncertain as he gazed at his brilliant student.

"Snape, stop strangling Karkaroff, Maxime stop slapping yourself, Crouch Sr, you can stop punching Bagman." Harry said as his gaze moved there. He laughed softly at the mess he made. The unconscious Bagman's face was swollen and bloodied. Maxime was glaring at him as she caressed her crimson cheeks. Crouch Sr had broken knuckles as he stared at Harry fearfully. Karkaroff had his face in his hands as he panted while Snape was pale, looking at Harry as if Lady Death herself had come to take his life. Harry's gaze met McGonagall's, whose hand was on her mouth as she looked at him with wide frightened eyes.

"Unnecessarily cruel, wasn't it? But I was angry and I do unnecessary things when I am angry. At least, no one died...yet, eh?" Harry said with amusement, conjuring a chair and sitting on it.

"Now that I finally have everyone's attention, let me tell you something. I didn't enter my name in the tournament. Surprisingly, I don't need fame and money. You know because of the boy who lived shit and being Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black." Harry said sarcastically. He stared at Snape murderously. He had wanted to kill the bastard for so long but his friends were always able to change his mind. Unfortunately for him, they weren't here now but still he kept his rage in check.

"Harry, give me back my wand and we all will forget this as a temper tantrum from a teenager. Don't do anything which you will regret in future. Don't choose this dark path." Dumbledore, who was the only one able to say anything, begged. Harry groaned as rubbed his forehead.

"I don't really like you Dumbledore and you are not really doing anything to endear yourself to me. Just shut up, okay? I am not going to hurt anybody if they don't provoke me. I am not some stupid dark lord who want to take over the world. Maybe I am a bit psycho, I am self aware about that but I have friends who will stop me from stepping over the line. My simple philosophy is leave me alone and I will leave you alone. I had such amazing plans for this year but unfortunately this stupid tournament is going to ruin it." Harry grumbled. He stood up, gazed at them for a final time.

"I will do this tournament of yours. Just leave me alone. You are free now, it is up to you if you want me as an enemy. I just have to utter 'die' from my mouth and your soul will leave your body, killing you. Remember the international quidditch tournament where several death eaters just ended up dead with no verified cause of death? I hope that is enough of a deterrent to leave me alone if not then remember your precious families. I am many things but merciful isn't one of them. Goodbye and goodnight." Harry said that as a parting remark and vanished in a flash of golden lights.

"What exactly happened right now, Dumbledore?" Crouch Sr asked with a quivering voice. Dumbledore just remained dead silent as he stepped out of the cylindrical ward and stared at the space where Harry was earlier.

"We need to call the aurors." Karkaroff requested urgently. Dumbledore shook his head.

"No. I am not going to risk the life of others. If we call aurors, then they will most probably get hurt from the fight against Harry. We don't even know the true extent of Harry's power. Let's just ignore what happened here and not make him our enemy. He said he wasn't going to hurt anybody and just wanted to be alone. Let's give him that and hope for the best because if he decides to show his wrath then even I will not be able to face him." Dumbledore said somberly. The others nodded silently, not wanting to bend under a fourteen year old's will but also not wanting to make him their enemy either.

~~~

Harry reappeared silently at the Slytherin table where his girls were.

"Cheater!"

"Cheater!"

"Cheater!"

The other three houses were chanting, unaware of his presence. Harry just rolled his eyes, deciding name calling wasn't enough to make him want to kill them.

"Let's go." Harry announced, startling the girls who also didn't know that he was there.

"Harry!" they gasped. He nodded towards the exit and started walking. The girls hurriedly followed him. As the students became aware of him, the chanting abruptly stopped. No one was stupid enough to call him cheater on his face. Harry smirked at the sudden silence, loving how much he was feared. Though his smirk turned into a grimace the next instant.

"The new Dark Lord and his sluts." Ron yelled from the Gryffindor table. The whole great hall was filled with tension, the remaining professors at the head table didn't know what to do to calm the situation.

"The new Dark Lord and his sluts." Ron repeated again, hoping that the others would pick up the chant.

Harry turned around and glared at the ginger haired boy.

"What did you say?" Harry asked in a deadly cold voice. His fingers curled into a fist, his eyes were glowing with anger. Daphne, Iris, Tracey and Astoria had their wands in their hands but weren't pointing at the boy yet.

Not waiting for the answer, Harry shot a spell at the boy. Hermione and Jasmine whipped out their wand to protect their stupid friend but were already too late. Ron flew from the table and landed on the floor.

"Next time, if someone says anything derogatory to my friends or sister, I will cut your tongue permanently." Harry growled and walked out, prompting whispers to fill the great hall.

Jasmine and Hermione were by Ron's side as they helped him to his feet.

"Seriously Ron, what were you thinking?" Jasmine hissed furiously. Ron moved his mouth but no sound came out. He tried to open his eyes but his eyelids weren't complying. Ron gave a silent scream as he was now blind and mute. He struggled against the hold of his friends as the darkness took over his sight and then slumped unconscious.

"Ron!" Hermione shrieked as she shook his shoulders.

~~~

In her room, in the Beauxbatons' carriage, Fleur Delacour was sitting and trembling on her bed. She couldn't help but remember how utterly powerless she felt in Harry Potter's presence. She along with others had fallen on their knees by his mere words except Dumbledore. Though he also was defeated quite easily in the end by Harry. She couldn't believe what had transpired earlier after the dinner. A boy of just fourteen had defeated the most powerful man of the wizarding world as if he was nothing. She crossed her hands tightly against her chest and grabbed her elbows to keep her hands from shaking. And now Harry Potter was her opponent. She wasn't stupid so she knew that there was no chance in the hell that anyone else but him would emerge victorious at the end of Triwizard tournament. She felt rage and disappointment at seeing her change to prove herself to the world crumbling under her grasp.

She resented the person who entered Harry's name. Oh she knew Harry wasn't lying, she believed him. Harry wasn't interested in participating in the tournament, that was crystal clear, he had enough fame and money. Hell, every person in the wizarding world knew his name. She just couldn't understand why someone would make Harry participate. She smirked vindictively at knowing that whoever had conned Harry into the tournament will get their due, Harry Potter wasn't going to just let them get away with it.

'Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus', never tickle a sleeping dragon.' she mused morbidly.

"Still, not everything will be lost if I am able to convince him to train me. He has the power and maybe he will be willing to share a few tips." Fleur thought hopefully.