Ready-Set-Action (I)

~~Headmaster's Office, Ilvermorny~~

Albus Dumbledore carefully watched Harry as Bagman explained to the boy why all of them were here. Sirius pitched in from time to time whenever it looked like Harry was about to snap at Bagman. Yesterday, Albus never got to sleep much as he was busy reviewing the Prophecy delivered by Sybill with the help of his Pensieve in extreme detail. He kept scrutinizing every bit of the Prophecy again and again for hours until the Prophecy finally started to make any sense to him.

Albus was almost certain that the Child mentioned in the Prophecy was Harry. He knew that Harry was quite powerful even when he was only a year old and he had recently seen the memory of his duel against Avery, so there was no doubt in his mind that Harry was quite powerful and after a lot of consideration, Albus realized that Harry Potter was the probably the most fitting candidate for the Prophecy.

He was born from James and Lily and both of them were avid Light supporters, and during that fateful night, Harry was tainted by Voldemort's Soul. Not only that but later, Harry was tainted by darkness itself when he killed the Dursleys in cold blood. Right now, Harry was striving to have a better life and the rest of the Prophecy was kind of self-explanatory, especially with the first part of the Prophecy, but there was something Albus failed to understand. No, matter how much he tried, he couldn't understand the meaning of the last line of the Prophecy…

'Archmage's Might' What was Archmage's Might? He didn't know, but he knew that he needed to find out as quickly as possible as according to the Prophecy, Harry was going to reshape the Wizarding World and Albus couldn't have that… Since yesterday, Albus was also wondering if 'the power the Dark Lord knows not' referred to Archamage's Might… If that was really the case then Albus was going to have a really hard time trying to stop Harry, but Albus had no intentions of backing down from the challenge.

Then all of a sudden, Albus was broken out of his musings when Harry finally started to speak…

"So, let me get this straight… Apparently, my name came out of the Goblet of Fire and now I have to participate in this Tournament or lose my Magic?" Harry asked as he looked around, making gestures with his hands.

"Yes, that is exactly what we are trying to say" Barty Crouch Sr. huffed gruffly while giving Harry an annoyed look. He still remembered how the boy had humiliated him in front of the Aurors.

"Harry, I know how you feel… I don't think anyone is happy by forcing you into this, but you need to participate in the Tournament or you will lose your Magic" Sirius stepped forward and placed a hand over Harry's shoulder while speaking with a solemn look on his face.

"Hm…" Harry hummed as he looked around the room. Bagman was obviously happy over this development for whatever reason. Barty Crouch looked annoyed. Sirius was quite angry with this whole situation, but he seemed to have accepted the situation as there wasn't much he could do right now. Cornelius Fudge looked nervous and giddy at the same time for whatever reason while the President of MACUSA simply looked troubled. "No, I don't believe I will" Harry answered softly with his gaze fixed on Albus.

His words took everyone by surprise except for Jacklyn as she already had an idea of how Harry was going to react. She knew that Harry hated being forced into anything and then there was the fact that Harry wanted nothing to do with the Tournament. Albus Dumbledore, who was looking really contemplative for whatever reason, reeled back in disbelief. Barty Crouch was the first one to regain his bearings after Harry dropped the bomb.

"I don't think you understand the situation, boy" Barty growled with an annoyed look on his face. This was his chance to get back at the boy, but before he could continue his tirade, Harry decided to cut him off.

"It's not me who doesn't understand the situation, Crouch… It's all of you who don't understand" Harry spoke out in an amused tone while shaking his head. "What was the name written on the parchment that came out of the Goblet?" Harry asked.

"Harry, what are you…" Sirius began to speak with a confused look on his face, but before he could continue, Harry interrupted him.

"Just humor me" Harry insisted and it was Bagman who decided to answer his question.

"Harry Potter. That was the name written on the parchment" Bagman answered unsurely. He wasn't sure where Harry was going with this, but he didn't see any problem with answering Harry's question.

"See… There you have it. The name written on the parchment was Harry Potter, but my name is not Harry Potter. There is no way someone can bind me with an Unbreakable Contract with a name that's not even my own" Harry revealed with a toothy grin on his face, making everyone stare at him blankly. Everyone inside the room except for Jacklyn were equally confused and while Albus was confused too, he felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"But you are Harry Potter" Cornelius Fudge blurted out dumbly and Harry simply shrugged at him.

"That is what you people decided to call me, but that is not my real name…" Harry simply rolled his shoulders with a 'What can you do?' look on his face.

"So, you are saying that Harry Potter isn't your real name?" The President of MACUSA asked with a conflicting look on his face. Half of him was glad over the fact that a 14 year old wasn't going to be forced into a gladiatorial sport, no matter how big of a celebrity the boy was, while the other part of his mind wanted to get the boy arrested for using a fake name. Alas, even a below-average lawyer would be able to get the case thrown out of the court within minutes.

After all, by the time the boy appeared in the public, everyone already knew him by the name Harry Potter and the boy was only a year and a half old when he became famous. Clearly, someone else was to be blamed here for making him famous by a fake name and the boy simply took advantage of him… No matter how much he tried, he had to admit that the boy was quite cunning.

"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying" Harry confirmed while nodding his head. Meanwhile, Sirius, who was still standing by Harry's side, didn't know what to do… A part of him wanted him to cheer in joy as Harry didn't need to participate in the Tournament, which meant that the ones who entered his name in the Tournament, failed. Then another part of him wanted to congratulate Harry for pulling such a hilarious prank and then another part of him was sulking. That part wanted to ask why Harry decided not to trust him, but he quickly crushed the feeling as he realized that they haven't known each other for long.

"You know, I could have you arrested for using a fake name?" The President threatened, wanting to scare the boy to make him realize that he was on thin ice, but instead of looking afraid, the boy simply nodded his head. Sirius wanted to protest on Harry's behalf, but Harry simply raised his hand to stop him.

"I know, but I know you won't. Arresting me won't get you anywhere… So, I welcome you to try" Harry said cockily, making the President grit his teeth. The boy was right. He could have the boy arrested right here, right now, but it won't get him anywhere, but regardless of that, he was so tempted to ask his Aurors to arrest the boy, but it won't help his image in the slightest and if he wanted to win the election, again, he needed to keep maintaining his good image.

Meanwhile, Albus was having a hard time wrapping his head around the big reveal… He couldn't believe all of his plans were failing in such a manner… NO! He realized he couldn't have that! He couldn't have his plans failing at this stage… Keeping an eye on Harry became more important after the second Prophecy was delivered. Albus decided that he needed to get a hold of this situation before this could derail anymore.

"Harry, I can understand what you are saying, but do you really want to risk your Magic on something as whimsical as that… The Goblet of Fire is an old artifact. We do not know how it works, or what are the limits of the Goblet, and so many people know you by the name Harry Potter. Magic is all about intent Harry and the one who entered your name believed you to be Harry Potter, then there is a chance that the Contract might have formed regardless of the fact that Harry Potter is your real name or not" Albus explained, trying to act as a caring grandfather and it seemed to be working as Harry seemed to clearly considering his words.

"I can see the logic in your words, Headmaster Dumbledore, but I am still going to stand by my decision" Harry answered with a determined look on his face, making Albus grimace.

"Harry, you have no idea what is at stake here…" Albus began to speak with a pleading look on his face, but Harry cut him off. While Albus was almost certain that Contract wouldn't work with a fake, he didn't want to take any chances as if Harry lost his Magic, then Voldemort would win.

"Maybe, I don't, but there are a few things I know for certain… There are people back in Britain who want to make me dance to their tunes, but that is not going to happen. My decision is final… I am not going to participate" Harry stated firmly and Albus felt his shoulders slump down at those words. It was clear that words weren't going to work, which meant he needed to use other means to get Harry back to Britain, but for now, he would accept his defeat and leave, though there was something nagging at the back of his mind.

"By the way, what is your real name? Just to sate this old man's curiosity" Albus asked softly. He wanted to know Harry's real name in case he ever needed it.

Harry simply smirked at the elderly man. "That's for me to know and you to find out" Harry said slyly, making Albus almost snap at him, right then and there…

========================

If you appreciate and love my work, then you are welcome to donate to support me and keep me motivated.

My P A T R E O N link is:- https://www.p a t r e o n.com/IngloriousMe

========================

My Discord Server- https://discord.gg/zdUqAGKrkm