Enemy Action

Harry went to dinner on Halloween of his fourth year, trying to be as “normal” as possible. He knew he was different from how he was four, no five, months ago. Ron hadn’t noticed, but Harry had noticed Hermione giving him the occasional contemplative look -- generally because of his better study habits and scores. Of course, the change had started more than five months earlier, but the experience in the Shrieking Shack and his defense of Sirius with his Patronous was the real turning point. That was when he realized that he really needed to do something about the pattern in his life; he needed a plan to deal with it.

A quick peek at his Marauder’s Map a few minutes ago confirmed the pattern would almost certainly continue too. Fortunately, he now had a plan since he’d let his Slytherin side out a little more.

As they sat in the Great Hall with parts of two other schools and ate the Halloween feast, he added little comments as needed to the conversation, until Ron once again said, “I wished I could have entered.”

Harry snorted. “No you don’t.”

Ron looked upset. “Come on Harry! There’s the money and fame!”

Harry noticed Hermione and Neville each shaking their head slightly, having heard Ron pontificating on the subject before. The Boy-Who-Lived wondered if he could get through to his friend this time. “Ron, according to your father, 1000 Galleons is about what an above average worker at the Ministry makes in a month, so think of that as your dad. That’s it, Ron, you’d win only one month’s wages.”

“That would go a long way for me,” Ron retorted. “And think about the fame!”

Harry figured Ron would use nearly half of the winnings on a single broom so the money wouldn't really last that long. Considering how often Ron mentioned money, perhaps he was blind to the problem and fame was the better part to attack. “First, I can tell you that being famous sucks,” he pointed out to receive a very disagreeing look from his friend. “Second, if this will make you so famous, name the last winner of the Tournament.”

“Uh, I don’t know but that was a long time ago according to Hermione. I would be famous for the rest of my life,” Ron returned happily and confidently. “The most important part would be the money though.”

That was an almost reasonable reply for the fame and Harry noted money was mentioned again. “Well Ron, you only get the money if you live. Since you’re quoting Hermione--”

“Hey! Leave me out of this,” the girl objected.

Harry ignored her. “She said that on average at least one contestant dies every tournament, and the last time they had one of these all three contestants died. You’re also only a fourth year and this was made for seventh years, so odds are the person dying would be you. That’s why I haven’t told you how to enter; I’d like my friend to stay alive.”

It took a few seconds before Harry noticed Hermione stiffen in realization before Ron’s eyes went wide as he caught on also.

“What?! You know how to enter without being caught by the age line?!” Ron practically shouted, drawing everyone’s attention around them, not that most weren’t already lending at least some attention as Harry talked. “Why didn’t you tell me?” the red-head said with a hint of anger.

“I just answered that, Ron. I’d like for you to stay alive.” Harry stabbed at his chicken and took another bite.

“How would you do it then?” Ron begged him and several others, like Seamus and Dean, leaned in.

Harry took a drink. “I haven’t tried any of these, mind you, so they could fail. However, Dumbledore has never had very good security. I’d start with just wadding up a full sheet of parchment into a ball and throw it into the Goblet while standing outside the line.”

Those around him looked shocked. “Why didn’t I think of that?” Ron exclaimed breathily. “It’s so simple.”

“I understand from your father that the Ministry has a spell to make paper airplanes to go to a specific destination, I’d try that next.” Harry reached for dessert. “I bet Hedwig would be happy to fly in and drop my entry into the Goblet. Or attach the entry onto a string and pole, sort of like a fishing pole, and drop it into the Goblet … but that does assume the Goblet would pull it off the string. Hmm, perhaps a spell to stick the parchment on and then hold it over and a spell to unstick it so it falls in.” Harry shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter I suppose. I could probably come up with other ideas given more than the ten seconds I’ve considered it. Oh, besides paying an older student, you could get a house elf to drop it in, assuming you could convince him to help.”

“You put your name in, didn’t you?” Ron accused him, his eyes going angry.

“Nope, like I told the whole house last night and I know you were there. I will not enter and if my name comes out then someone else put it in there,” Harry said a bit forcefully. Ron didn’t reply, but Harry could tell his friend still wanted to be in the tournament and was not happy Harry hadn’t told him how to enter.

Harry returned to eating, but he stayed quiet and mostly reflected on how he had arrived at this point in his life…

===beginning of flashbacks

It really had started just after saving Sirius and himself from the Dementors. As Harry was hugging the man just before Sirius was to fly away, Harry whispered so Hermione wouldn’t hear. “It’s really important that I talk to you in the next day or two, alone.”

Sirius continued to hold him. “You know about the tunnel to Honeydukes?”

“Yes.”

“Meet me about halfway down it two nights from now at eight.” Sirius let him go and spoke normally. “Take care, Harry. I’ll send you a letter.” With that, he mounted Buckbeak and took off.

— — —

“Want to play some chess?” Ron asked him two evenings later, his first full day back after his broken leg.

“Sorry, how about tomorrow. I need to go think,” Harry told him and started to leave, the Map hidden in a pocket and his Invisibility Cloak hidden around his waist under his shirt.

“I’ll come with you,” Ron announced.

“Ron, I said I need to think, that means by myself,” Harry insisted.

“I won’t say anything,” Ron said getting up, “and give me a second to put my chess set up.” He sprinted up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time.

The second the redhead was out of sight, Harry turned and hurried for the portrait hole.

“That’s going to upset up him,” Hermione said from nearby. “He doesn’t understand alone since he’s from a big family.”

“That surprises me more,” Harry said a little more sharply than he’d intended as he left the tower. He knew that if he'd been raised in a big family he'd crave alone time occasionally.

A couple of minutes later, he pulled the map out and checked the path ahead. Fortunately, the corridor was clear. He gave the password to the statue of the witch and squeezed past her into the tunnel, lighting his wand as he entered; the witch moving back after he was clear of it. It didn’t take too long before he saw light ahead. He rounded the last curve and saw a cleaned up (but still haggard) Sirius sitting in a comfortable chair with a wand out. A couple of brightly burning torches were stuck on the wall lighting the area nicely.

“Good, you made it.” Sirius rose and gave Harry a hug, which the boy returned gladly.

“Wasn’t too hard.” After Sirius conjured a comfortable chair for him, he asked, “How did you get here? I thought Honeydukes would have closed hours ago.”

Sirius laughed. “I’ve been here enough times that I’ve memorized the tunnel that is between the two sets of wards so I could Apparate directly here. Probably wouldn’t be a good idea to stay here for days as someone might come through here, but a few hours at this time of night should be safe enough.”

“You look a little better,” Harry commented.

Sirius took a deep breath. “Harry, let me start with an apology. I let my grief overcome me when your parents died. I abandoned you when I shouldn’t have. I could have done a LOT better. My … bad decisions, led me to being in prison and you growing up in a place you should have never even visited. I know Petunia just well enough to know it wasn’t a good place for you. I’m so sorry I did that.

“As for how I look, as much as I didn’t want to, and I very much didn’t want to, I went to my childhood home and took care of a few things, like a bath and some clothes and a wand. I hate the place; but I screwed up and you suffered, so I decided to suck it up as they say and suffered a little myself by going there. I’ve also started doing my best to clean it up so I can keep my promise to you and you can live with me. There’s a lot of work to be done, so we’ll have time to talk and bond.

“Oh, I brought something for you.” Sirius pulled out a small square mirror and handed it over. “Say ‘Sirius Black’ to it and it’ll cause mine to vibrate. When I answer we can talk. If yours vibrates, say my name and that’ll open the connection the other way. Saying 'mirror off' turns it off from your end.”

“Brilliant!” Harry breathed. “Thanks!”

“James and I used to use them during our detentions to see what the other was doing,” Sirius grinned. “So what’s up?”

Harry set the mirror in his chair beside his leg and looked down at his hands in his lap. “I need to tell you a few stories and I need your help. Bad things keep happening to me.”

“All right, tell me.” Sirius leaned forward a little.

“Every year something bad happens to me here at school. My first year…” Harry started and spoke of his adventures at school for the next hour, with Sirius asking clarifying questions as Harry talked.

At the end, Sirius looked upset and leaned back in his chair and thought for a few minutes. “I have a LOT to make up for,” he said softly. After a moment more, he asked, “Do you know the spell to create a privacy bubble around yourself?”

“No.”

Sirius grinned and leaned forward again. “Time to learn. I need to plan and then I’ll call you in a couple of nights at ten at night. You can sit in your bed with the privacy harm and we can talk on the mirror. In the meantime, you need to go to the library and find out a few things while you’re still here. Let’s learn the spell first.”

Sirius was a patient teacher and Harry learned the spell in about half an hour. The man also gave him a small list of topics to go learn about in the library. Sirius hugged him again before sending him back.

Harry thought life was looking up and the mirror in his pocket ensured he could continue talking to Sirius. Ron with grumpy for "abandoning" him, but Harry thought the night was a positive one.

— — —

As Harry slid into the car with the Dursleys, he noticed the displeased looks from his uncle and aunt. “I’m sorry to bring you down here, but I’ve made arrangements to leave so you don’t have to see me again. I just need to go to your home first as I’ll leave from there.”

“Why didn’t you do this before?” his Uncle Vernon demanded harshly.

“You’ve heard of the mass murderer Sirius Black?” Harry asked innocently and secretly enjoyed the horrified looks from the two. “He’s my real guardian, my godfather in fact. He’ll be waiting for us in the back garden. Once I get there I’ll leave with him and never return. If Dumbledore sends you a letter telling you to come pick me up from the train station or anywhere else again, you can ignore him. However, I really don’t think he’ll ask you that.”

After a long moment of silence, his aunt asked, “Are you sure?”

“Very sure.”

A long moment later, his uncle grinned evilly. “Maybe he’ll add you to his list of victims, boy.”

Harry rolled his eyes the second Vernon looked back at the road.

— — —

His trunk still lightened from the charm he did just before leaving the train, Harry carried it through the house and did find Sirius sitting in a lawn chair in the back garden.

“Did they give you any trouble?” the godfather asked.

“Surprisingly no,” the boy replied as he walked over.

Sirius gently grabbed the boy’s shoulder and they left, to the amazement of Vernon and Petunia who watched through the window.

Harry found them landing in a dingy looking house. Sirius put his fingers to his lips for silence and motioned for Harry to follow him to another room.

“As you can see, the house needs a lot of work after having been abandoned for nearly ten years, but we have some great wards here so we shouldn’t be found. I’ve also made sure only three of us can enter. Me, you, and Moony, who’ll join us tomorrow. I have so much to teach you about the Wizarding World, your family history, spells you need to know, and a lot more.”

“What about not doing magic outside of school?” Harry wanted to know.

Sirius laughed. “The wards here will prevent your magic from being noticed. Also, this is a registered Wizarding house, so the Ministry would think it’s an adult and not care if they did notice. Come on, let me show you to your bedroom before we get started…”

— — —

Each of them were in disguise, but Harry and Sirius were in Gringotts. It was a case of good new and bad news. The good news was that Harry now knew that Dumbledore hadn’t been stealing anything from his vault as he had his first statement starting from back in 1980. Also good, he now had a copy of his parents’ Last Will, which had been in the Sirius’s vault.

The bad news was that he had evidence that the Dursleys weren’t being paid anything for him, so their gripe about him costing them had been legitimate -- not that Harry planned to give them anything to make up for that oversight. Also, it seemed that all of the normal copies of the Will, requested by Gringotts from the Ministry, were unfindable and presumed destroyed by someone -- a someone that Sirius was all but certain had a long white beard.

This was only a week into the summer and they still had a lot to figure out.

— — —

Remus walked into the parlor and dropped a sheet of parchment and a phial of memories on top of it before he dropped into a chair, covering his face with his hands.

“What?” Sirius asked before Harry could.

“I finally talked with Aberforth Dumbledore.”

“Good,” Sirius said.

“Dumbledore has a brother?” Harry asked, surprised.

“Fortunately for us, they don’t get along too well,” Sirius said as he picked up the report Remus had brought them, skimming through it. “WHAT THE HELL?!”

Harry snatched the report from his godfather and read it hurriedly. “The bastard Snape is the reason my parents are dead?”

“He also didn’t have to have a trial and didn’t have to go to Azkaban, the rank git!” Sirius growled vindictively.

“All because of a supposed prophecy,” Remus said as he uncovered his face. “What I really want to know is why did Albus hold a job interview for Hogwarts in a pub and without privacy charms? The job was for working at Hogwarts, so why didn’t he have it in his office? If he had, no one could have overheard it. I bet it wasn’t even real.”

“Can we get the prophecy?” Harry asked, afraid of the answer.

“Not easily, at least not before I’m declared free,” Sirius answered him. “I think this answers why Riddle is after you, but it can wait for now. By the way, I really like that name over You-Know-Who.”

“I agree it’ll have to wait,” Remus said quietly.

“I suppose,” Harry said dejectedly.

— — —

Harry was not happy. He’d received an invitation from Ron to come over to The Burrow for the last week of August, which included going to the Quidditch World Cup. It sounded like an amazing thing to see. However, the invitation also came with questions about where he’d been because Dumbledore had finally figured out he wasn’t at the Dursleys -- somehow.

To avoid Dumbledore and almost assuredly a mess, Harry had to decline. Sirius did his best to console the boy and promised to make it up to him later. Sirius also promised they could listen to the match on the wireless.

— — —

Harry walked into the Leaky Cauldron a little before seven in the morning on Aug 31^st. There weren’t many here yet, but he did see Sirius who was in disguise and was slowly eating breakfast -- present in case he needed protection. He sat on the opposite side of the room from Sirius at a table in the corner, a small box he'd brought with him on the table -- a box that looked like it could have held a folded cloak.

A few moments later, an older woman with graying hair came out of the Fireplace, followed by an Auror. The Auror walked up to the bar while the woman looked around. She walked over towards Harry when he did a small wave. “Mr Potter,” she said as she sat.

Sirius had said she was one of the more honest in the Ministry, which Harry hoped was good enough considering some of the dishonesty and dare he say corruption he'd seen from the Ministry so far.

“Thank you for coming to see me for a few minutes. Could you do a privacy charm please?” After she had done so, he pushed the plain cardboard box with string around it like a present towards her. “I said this wouldn’t take long and this is why. Everything you need should be in there, including copies of various statements from people, copies of documents, and copies of multiple memories. There is also a suggested plan for dealing with it all when the time is right. I just ask that you approach the evidence with an open mind and a sense of justice.”

“That sounds … ominous,” she quipped.

“Some big things have happened that shouldn’t have. I don’t think you need to look through it all today, but within the next week would be appreciated. It seems something big usually happens to me at school every year and I’ll probably need you to bail me out of it. I’m actually hoping you’ll figure out what to do before I get pulled into some mess. I’d really like to have one normal year at school for once.”

Amelia Bones looked at him for a moment and then sighed. “I’m not supposed to tell you this and let you learn about it at school, but they’ll be holding the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts this year. It’s a fairly dangerous thing; but only those who are seventeen are allowed to enter, so you should be safe from it.”

Harry shook his head. “I promise I won’t try to enter it; but if it’s dangerous then I can almost promise that someone else will enter my name and then Dumbledore or the Ministry will force me to participate. That’s how the last three years have gone -- my life in danger.”

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I should hope not. However, I don’t recall my niece Susan mentioning anything like that to me.”

“Either she didn’t know enough details to make it interesting enough to tell, or perhaps someone made her forgot.” Harry shrugged. “I could see it going either way.”

Bones sat up straighter. “No one better have made her forget,” her voice rising a little.

“All I can suggest is that you ask her, after you’ve looked through the box. You’ll know better what’s going on.” Harry rose. “I’ve taken more of your time than planned, but if you need more information, I’d suggest finding me during a Hogsmeade weekend visit.” He left, walking to the Fireplace to leave by the Floo Network, ignoring Sirius as planned.

— — —

On the train back to Hogwarts, Ron had quizzed him mercilessly on where he’d been all summer because Dumbledore and his mother wanted to know. Harry ignored the questions and tried to talk to Hermione and Neville, but Ron wouldn’t let it go until Harry had finally had enough and let him “have it”.

“Ron,” Harry growled, “you’re right that it’s unfortunate that I couldn’t go to the Quidditch World Cup with you. You’re right that I missed a good game from what I heard on the Wireless. But from what I heard about that happened after the game, and where someone stole your wand to cast the Dark Mark, I’m glad I didn’t go.”

“Then where were you?” Ron demanded.

“I was somewhere very safe with my guardian,” Harry said yet again, through gritted teeth this time.

“But--”

“Ron, your mother is not my mother. I’m pleased she likes me, but I don’t have to do anything she wants or asks for like you do. And do remember that Dumbledore is only our Headmaster and during the school year. He has no say over me during the summer. In fact, he has no say over family matters even during school. So until Dumbledore can legally say what happens to Neville, Hermione, and even you during the summer, he can’t legally tell me what to do either. So shut up about this!”

“Harry!” Ron protested.

Harry sprang up and left their cabin, slamming the door after himself. Had Ron always been this thick, he asked himself as he stormed off. Or maybe Dumbledore had pressured him and his family? It didn’t matter in the end, he decided. He was Harry Potter not Harry Weasley, he was fourteen, and he’d do what he and Sirius pleased.

— — —

After the Welcoming Feast where he learned about the Triwizard Tournament and no Quidditch this year, Professor McGonagall came by on his way out of the Great Hall. “Mr Potter, the Headmaster would like to see you in his office before you go to the Gryffindor tower.”

“Since I’ve not done anything wrong in school, do you know what this is about?” he asked.

“I believe I heard him say it’s about where you were this last summer as he couldn’t find you,” she replied and started to leave. “Oh, his password is Milk Chocolate.”

“That’s all right, Professor,” Harry told her. “I don’t need the password as I won’t be going to see him.”

“Mr Potter!” she said aghast as she stopped abruptly and looked at him.

“Professor, my summer is not a school related matter; it’s personal. Until the Headmaster is able to dictate what Neville Longbottom, Susan Bones, or Draco Malfoy does during the summer, he has no say for me as well and you can tell him that. Have a good evening.”

He left her there, staring after him. Of course, that meant tomorrow morning would be more trying, but they had a plan for that too.

At ten o’clock, he put the privacy charm around his bed and called “Sirius Black” to his communication mirror.

A moment later, Sirius’s face appeared. “What’s up, Harry?”

“Bones was right, they are having the Triwizard Tournament here this year. Dumbledore said it was a serious thing not to entered lightly, or as Bones said … it’s dangerous. It’s also a ‘Binding Magical Contract’. That means I’m going to be entered against my will, or I’d bet that way. So I need to read the real Tournament rules as soon as possible and I need to learn about magical contracts and the Goblet of Fire, which will choose the champions.”

Sirius swore under his breath for a moment. “Right, I’ll send Remus to the Ministry to get the rules while I research contracts here in the Black library as I know we have books on that. I’ll see if we have info on the Goblet too; you check in the library there.”

“Thanks, Sirius. Oh, and Dumbledore wanted to talk to me about where I stayed this summer. I declined so I'm sure I'll see him in the morning.” Harry wasn't thrilled about that.

"Stick to the plan, Harry," his godfather told him.

— — —

Sure enough, at breakfast the next morning, Dumbledore came in the main doors and headed directly for him, stopping behind him. “Mr Potter…”

Harry knew the old man was trying to guilt him with the formal address and disappointed tone.

“…you’re disrespecting me by not following my command to come see me will cost you three detentions with me.”

Harry continued to look at his plate and cut up his food. “Very well, I’ll file an appeal to the Board of Governors and Department of Education about you interfering in my personal life. What I did and where I stayed this summer is none of your business as Headmaster.”

“Mr Potter, I’m also your magical guardian so appealing will gain you nothing,” Dumbledore said solemnly, “and look at me when I’m talking to you.”

“Headmaster,” Harry still didn’t look at him, “you know as well as I do that there is no such thing as a ‘magical guardian’, at least legally; therefore, you have no authority over me for non-school related matters. As for looking at you, only after you give me a vow not to use Legilimency on me, as you’re known to be proficient with the skill -- as is Professor Snape.” He heard multiple breaths being sucked in around him, including some from the Ravenclaw table next to them. He was sure that would be known all over the school before lunch, he thought with a mental grin.

“Mr Potter, who’s filling your head with these incorrect ideas?” the Headmaster continued.

“That would be the books in our library, sir. If you’ll excuse me, I need to finish breakfast quickly as I have a class in less than half an hour.” Harry started eating quickly, but still more neatly than Ron did. He heard a huff behind him as the old man left.

Harry didn’t go to the detentions and he didn’t get into trouble either. A conversation that evening with Sirius was filled with much laughter by each of them as they’d correctly predicted the two conversations. Sirius promised to write a letter to Dumbledore telling him to stay away from Harry. That would imply where Harry spent his summer; but it was very unlikely Dumbledore would turn him in for helping Sirius. If Dumbledore tried to take Harry to the Aurors, that would start the official process of freeing Sirius because Harry could demands answers to questions the Ministry would have answer sooner rather than later, and they were sure the old man was aware of that.

— — —

A visit to the library that evening found that there were no books about the Goblet of Fire, only two books with minimal details about the Tournament, and no books about magical contracts. A quick conversation with Madam Pince enlightened him that they’d been removed only a week ago. That made him more certain that his name would be coming out of the Goblet of Fire.

Three days later he received a package with a certified rule book, details about the past Tournaments, and a five page write-up about magical contracts. Go Sirius and Remus!

— — —

At the end of September, there was a Hogsmeade weekend. As Harry walked into the village, a very young looking female Auror with short black hair walked up to him and held out a letter with his name on it. “Uh, thanks.” She smiled at him and left, her hair changing to bright pink as she walked away.

Opening it, Harry read…

Mr Potter,

I now understand many of the issues you and your godfather are facing. I am on board with your plan in general. More specifically since you didn’t know about it at the time, I will show up when you need me, which I believe will be at the drawing of the names for the Tournament.

I will also offer my apologies for taking so long with this, but politics is working against your godfather despite the facts. I will continue to work on this with the best speed I’m able.

A.B.

Sirius had said the Ministry was fickle and corrupt. Harry sighed. At least Bones acting reasonably honest and was agreeable to the plan.

===end of flashbacks

Returning to the present, Harry noticed that Dumbledore was starting his speech about the Triwizard Tournament. Harry didn’t care and mostly tuned him out. What he did care about was whether he’d need his full plan or just an abbreviated version.

Looking to the end of the Gryffindor table near the front sat two extra girls in Beauxbaton’s uniforms, girls he hadn’t seen before. Then again, the other two schools had only arrived yesterday. Nevertheless, they didn’t sit with the others at the Ravenclaw table and Headmistress Maxim was studiously ignoring them, unlike the other French girls who couldn’t figure them out. That told Harry those two had a private agreement with the French woman to be there in uniform and that they were part of “the plan”.

When the first name came out of the Goblet of Fire, Harry had finally decided that the plan was more his than Sirius’s, but he had really appreciated Sirius’s help, although Remus had added a few extra very useful things.

He clapped politely for the French girl, who he had to admit was a real “looker” and had to have Veela influence in some way. More polite clapping, compared to Ron’s whooping and hollering, for the Bulgarian Quidditch star that would represent Durmstrang. He was surprised by sixth year Cedric being picked for Hogwarts and clapped a little more heartily because Cedric was a genuinely good bloke.

Harry thought that just maybe he would not need his full plan when the Goblet suddenly belched out a fourth name. He hung his head knowing what was going to happen.

“Harry Potter,” Dumbledore called out.

Harry looked up in time to see every head in his vision turn to look at him. This was going like he feared and it sucked, he thought.

“Harry Potter,” Dumbledore called out again.

Hermione nudged him. He looked at her and saw confusion on her face. Beyond her, Ron looked angry.

Harry sighed. Knowing he had little choice, he rose as he thought, `It’s game time.`

Walking forward slowly, stopping just short of the two Beauxbaton girls at the Gryffindor table, he started everything in motion. “No, Headmaster. I refuse to be a part of this circus.” He noticed upset looks from the two men from the Ministry, while Dumbledore looked surprised.

“I did not enter my name into the Goblet in any way -- not myself nor did I ask anyone else to do it. I very clearly told the entire Gryffindor house last night that I would not in any way try to enter and that if my name came out then it was because someone else unknown to me put my name in. I stand by that and I’d even be willing to make an Unbreakable Vow to show it is the truth.” A number of people gasped at his declaration. He slowly pulled his wand out as if to make an oath, but let it dangle by his side.

“You still have to compete, boy,” the older Ministry man said -- Crouch he thought.

“Do I really?” Harry said as sarcastically as he could. “Prove it. Do a spell that shows I’m connected to the Goblet of Fire.” Everyone stared at him and no one said anything. After a long moment, Harry smirked. “I didn’t think so. Therefore, I don’t have to compete.” He noticed the other three champions come back out of the room. He guess they hadn’t closed the door and heard the argument.

“It’s a binding magical contract,” Crouch insisted. “You have to compete. There’s no way out of it for you, young man.”

“You know, it’s interesting that all of the books on magical contracts were removed from the library this year so we couldn’t find information on how they work,” Harry pointed out.

Dumbledore cleared his throat lightly. “Harry, I’m reasonably sure the library has never carried books on magical contracts, nor on law in general.”

“Ah, you’re correct for this year since you had them removed over the summer,” Harry replied and watched the old man’s eyes narrow at being contradicted. “You forgot to remove the memories of Madam Pince, who told me you removed the books. You also removed the books that carried the details of past Tournaments, especially the ones with the rules so we couldn’t find out ahead of time what it really meant to compete in the Tournament. Madam Pince was again helpful to explain that after I asked her why I couldn’t find such a book.” He heard a gasp from Hermione.

“Fortunately, Headmaster and I believe Mr Crouch, I was able to get a book on magical contracts and the rules of the Tournament from another source. I know that I’m not under a magical contract with the Goblet since I didn’t put my name in with the intent of competing and even if I had, you could cancel the Tournament to remove me and do another drawing of the names as long as you do so very soon.” Harry looked at each of the judges. “So are you going to let me out or stand by Mr Crouch’s lie?”

“Mr Potter!” Dumbledore exclaimed. “You must show the judges respect!”

“Respect?” Harry exclaimed, his voice rising slightly. “Many of the adults at Hogwarts have never shown me much respect and that starts with you, Headmaster.”

Dumbledore started to say something but Harry raised his voice and continued talking. “Let’s start with you having me illegally kidnapped the night my parents were killed.” Many in the room gasped. “You had no authority or responsibility to place me anywhere, especially with Muggles who hate me.”

“Let’s not be overly dramatic, Harry. Also, this is not a topic for public discussion,” Dumbledore reprimanded him.

“I’m trying to show you why you’re not trustworthy and don’t have my respect,” Harry shot back. “Not only did you illegally kidnap me and illegally place me with Muggles who abused me, when it was time for me to return to the Wizarding world you never told me about the Wizarding world like you tell all of the other Muggle-borns and you never told me about my family and place in the world. You purposefully kept me ignorant.”

“Now Harry, you know that’s not true,” Dumbledore said placatingly.

“I will admit you did a good job of hiding or destroying most of the copies of my parents Last Will, like how the Ministry has a record of it being submitted but they also can’t find it anymore; but fortunately my parents made multiple copies and hid a few where you couldn’t get to. So I’ve read it and know I was supposed to go to Wizarding families who were still alive. I also know you were not the executor of their Will … hence, you illegally kidnapped me. I can prove it before the Wizengamot.”

People murmured about that and Dumbledore didn’t look happy.

Harry quickly continued on. “Then each year, you have manufactured a crisis to test me or perhaps a bad attempt at training me. I’ll admit I went willingly or at least was forced by circumstances, although the first time was mostly because I was a naive first year.”

“I didn’t do anything--” Dumbledore tried before Harry cut him off.

“You brought a magnet for evil into the castle, not to mention a Cerberus, Devil’s Snare, a troll, and a magical device which has killed people before, or so you told me it had.

“Second year, I was a little more weary of the crisis, but when you’re best friend’s sibling is marked for death, I had no choice but to react. Let me tell you, killing a thousand year old basilisk with only a sword is no picnic.” People gasped. “And somehow, even though you were here the last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, you still couldn’t figure out what was going on while a thirteen year old girl did.”

“Harry, I--”

“Then last year, we had a supposed murderer trying to come into the school. So what happens? The Ministry sends Dementors to guard us and otherwise suck our souls out and you didn’t do anything but let it happen.”

“Harry, the Minister--”

“Yes, the Minister sent them, but if you’re such a great Wizard, why didn’t you protect us? They swarmed Diggory and me during a Quidditch game. Later, they came after me and my two best friends while on the school grounds. Good thing I can do a Patronus.

“Of course, the real highlight was finding out that my godfather, Sirius Black, was framed for the crimes they accused him of while really being innocent. If that wasn’t horrible enough, you, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, didn’t do anything to uphold justice to free him.”

“Harry, I told you I can’t make people believe--”

“You didn’t have to make people believe anything!” Harry all but screamed. In the few seconds of silence, he reined his temper back in, but still was forceful in his argument. “All you had to do as Chief Warlock was schedule a trial for him and present the facts. That is within your power, but you wouldn’t do it.

“There is a saying: Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.

“In each of the three previous years here, my life has been endangered and it usually starts on Halloween. That is a pattern that can not be denied. So here we are in my fourth year and it’s Halloween again and again my life is being put into danger because you,” he gestured with his hand with his wand haphazardly in the direction of the Headmaster, “can’t do something as simple a making sure underage witches and wizards aren’t kept out of the Goblet of Fire. How hard would it have been to make your age line keep everyone out but yourself, stand there for one hour while Headmistress Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff help you screen each entry and make sure the name on the paper is the person handing it to you, then closing the area off so no one can put anything else in? A little oversight is all that was required.” He gestured again with his hand with his wand.

“We didn’t think it was needed--”

“Yes, you don’t think about security at all. Is Hogwarts the safest place in Britain like many say? Absolutely not! I could have been killed five times in my first three years.” He threw up both hands. “My first year even had the Wraith of Voldemort attached to a teacher for the entire year and you didn’t know, or if you did then you let him live here.” A few gasped at Voldemort’s name.

“Then this year, we have the Tournament while you,” Harry waved his wand lazily but diagonally left as he whispered, “Petrificus Totalus”, and a beam of light blue light streaked the five meters towards the head table, catching Professor Moody completely unaware in the face, freezing him in place. While everyone gawked at what he just did, Harry shouted, “Again, you let some impostor come in and teach us. That is not Moody but some person named Crouch, probably his son who was a Death Eater and supposed to be dead.” Harry pointed at the older Ministry man while mentally thanking Sirius for telling him all of the Death Eaters from the last war, even those who had been killed -- or supposedly in this case.

“Mr Potter!” Dumbledore shouted and started to draw his wand. Harry didn’t wait and summoned the old man’s wand, glad he had worked on that spell this summer. That surprised the old man so much, his shock looked like fear. Harry was surprised that the new wand caused his hand to tingle when he caught it.

A Canon Blast charm was let off as the two “girls” at the end of the Gryffindor table stood and started to change, the redheaded one after quaffing a potion that made her sort of bubble until she was a woman only a little younger than McGonagall, a woman with graying red hair that he’d met only once before but had exchanged a letter with after their meeting. The other girl aged only a little as her faced changed its shape and her hair changed to a bright pink. Each woman waved her wand over her clothes and the Beauxbaton's uniform changed to an Auror uniform.

Surprisingly, most of the students quieted, generally to find out what was going on.

“Aurors, hurry in!” the woman’s amplified voice called out. “I’m the Director of Magical Law Enforcement and everyone will stay where they are. Scrimgeour, come make this fake Moody safe and get him in magical suppression manacles. Dumbledore, stay right where you are. Roberts, cover Snape and stun him if he even glances at his wand; Shacklebolt, secure and cuff Snape because he’s going with us too.”

“Amelia--” Dumbledore tried.

“Dumbledore, the only thing I want to hear from you is a motion to the judges to cancel this Tournament, as the real rules state.” When he didn’t say anything, she yelled, “Do the right thing for once, now! And I swear to Merlin, if I see a Phoenix flame in, I’ll force him into a burning day.”

The Headmaster closed his eyes for a moment still not saying anything.

Maxime stood and looked at Dumbledore with contempt. “Judges, as we are still within the initial 24 hours of the drawing, I move that this Tournament be canceled as invalid because of tampering. I vote to cancel. Karkaroff.”

“Aye, cancel.”

“Bagman of the Ministry?” she called out.

He dithered for a moment, but eventually he nodded. “I agree, cancel.”

“Crouch of the Ministry?” Maxime looked at him. When he looked to try and talk but wasn’t able to, she took two long steps over and forced his head up to look at her in the eyes as she bent over, forcing him to work to maintain his balance. “He is under the Imperious or is Potioned.”

Pulling her rather long wand out, she cast a spell that created a bright white light, hitting him in the face. Many in the audience cried out in surprise, but she grabbed Crouch’s head again. “Do you want to cancel this Tournament?” She stared at him for a long moment.

“Yes,” he finally croaked.

“Sit and stay,” she told him while lowering him gently into his seat.

“Dumbledore, you are the last. Cancel the Tournament,” she commanded.

“But he needs to be in it…” Dumbledore tried.

“Cancel the damn Tournament!” Amelia yelled and pointed her wand at him. “He does not need to be in this; he’s too young by the rules.” Realizing she’d forgotten something, she cast a summoning spell and two items flew towards her from the old man. He tried to grab one but missed. She let the items, Portkeys, drop at her feet.

It took a moment, but Dumbledore suddenly straightened. “No, I can’t for the Greater Good.”

While everyone looked at Dumbledore for refusing, Harry was incensed. “Who put you in change of some strange Greater Good? Let me out of this.”

“No,” Dumbledore insisted.

Harry flicked his wand at the old man, muttering a spell that was invisible. A few hairs on Dumbledore’s long beard were yanked out, causing the old man to grunt and his hand to go to his face. “I think you need a little extra help with hygiene because that beard probably has fleas in it; I’ll help you with it. Perhaps a new look will help you see what is the right thing to do.” He did another spell and a few more hairs were yanked out of the man’s lower face.

Amelia Bones understood what Harry was doing and since it was mostly non-violent and considering what Dumbledore had done to the boy, she didn’t interfere. Somehow, she even managed to keep her smirk to a minimum.

“Dumbledore,” Harry did the depilatory spell again causing a small yelp. “I’m warning you, agree to cancel the Tournament or I’m going to do something you’ll regret.”

“This is assault, Amelia…” he squeaked out.

“I don’t see him doing any violence,” the Director said with a straight face, surprising Dumbledore greatly.

Harry again did the charm that caused a few more hairs on Dumbledore’s long beard to be yanked out. “I’m waiting.” When the old Headmaster looked to protest again, Harry yanked a few more hair out from the same side such that his beard was starting to look lopsided. At Dumbledore’s outraged look, Harry yanked another ten hairs out of the man’s beard.

“Stop!” Dumbledore finally yelled. “The Tournament is cancelled, but you’re making a huge mistake. Hundreds will die now.”

Bones hit Dumbledore with a Silencing spell. “Save it for your questioning. Auror Tonks, cuff him with the manacles. Mr Potter, I need that wand in my bag.” She held out an evidence bag so he could drop the funny looking wand into it. “Somebody get Crouch so he can be examined.”

“Wait a minute!” Scrimgeour’s cry and standing up with his wand pointing at the manacled man on the floor caused everyone to look over there. Before their eyes the fake Moody started to ripple and turned into a much younger man with straw colored hair. “That looks like Crouch Jr and he’s supposed to be dead.” He snorted. “I suppose that answered how Potter’s name was entered and it's a good thing Barty is already coming with us.” That caused a number of murmurings.

“Aurors, let’s go,” Bones commanded loudly. “Professor McGonagall, I guess the school is yours for the moment. However, I request you keep everyone in the Great Hall for at least an hour and preferably for two hours while we figure out what’s going on. Perhaps work on getting to know one another,” she said with a smile as she motioned to the pink haired young Auror to grab Dumbledore’s arm to lead him out. "Oh, have the House Elves start the search for the real Moody since he'd have to be alive for the Polyjuice to be made. I'll be by tomorrow to talk to him."

Snape was pulled out next, followed by a stumbling and confused looking Crouch Sr, and a floating and unconscious Crouch Jr.

“Thank you for the heads up, Mr Potter,” Bones told him as she neared him. “While I still wasn’t sure about this when I arrived tonight, I’m glad I came. I’m also thankful for the box of evidence you sent me earlier.”

Dumbledore looked at Harry in shock as he was practically dragged out of the large room in manacles.

Harry returned to his seat and sat down, with everyone looking at him.

The double doors slammed shut and all of the windows closed after the last Auror left. “Make yourselves comfortable,” McGonagall called out.

A first year Hufflepuff raised her hand and waved. When Sprout recognized her, the girl said, “Professor, I have to … go.” As soon as she said that, several others raised their hands too.

McGonagall closed her eyes and sighed. “You’ll have to hold it for a few minutes while we sort that out, Ms Devon.” She called an elf and several self-contained toilets were brought in to the side of the Great Hall before temporary walls were conjured and the students were allowed to relieve themselves. A line of eight, mostly younger students formed to use them, although others came later.

“What was all of that and why would you get the Headmaster into trouble?” Hermione asked her friend, very confused.

“I know there might have been one or two things that were a surprise to you, Hermione, but how could you not understand how much Dumbledore has done wrong?” Harry looked at her. “None of our adventures here at school should have happened because Dumbledore could have prevented them. I know you don’t know how I was raised, but my parents Will was purposefully ignored and he removed all of the normal copies in order to do what he wanted because he’s the only one who could have. He was not supposed to have taken me to my aunt’s house, that was straight up illegal -- truly kidnapping. There are other things he’s done to me also.”

“But, he’s…” she gestured helplessly, not sure of what to say.

“Yes, he’s the Chief Warlock and should have known better since he helped to write and pass the laws,” he told her. He sighed and tried to be a little more gentle. “I’m sorry that one of the people you look up to has been shown to be a criminal. There is a lot of corruption in the Wizarding world and those with the most power tend to be the most corrupt. Director Bones seems to be one of the exceptions, or generally so I’m told. We’ll see what happens.”

“How did you learn all of that?” Hermione wondered, looking very lost.

“I started to really suspect at the end of my second year. Last year I started to really look for myself, finding out about my family and Sirius. I talked to the Goblins at Gringotts. I talked a lot with Sirius, who gave me a lot of history and told me things he’d heard the Death Eaters say or really brag about in Azkaban. Some of it I just worked out on my own once I had more pieces to the puzzle.”

Harry shook his head. “Honestly, the hardest part was convincing Director Bones to help me because we had to convince her that several things she thought were the truth were really lies. Fortunately, Sirius and I found evidence for most of what I said. If she can force Dumbledore to take Veritiserum, he’ll hang himself; but even if she can’t, she has enough evidence to remove him from all three of his positions and go to Azkaban for at least ten if not twenty years … assuming Dumbledore doesn’t find a way to buy himself out of prison.”

“But…” Hermione looked crushed at what she was hearing.

“Seriously?” Ron asked from his other side. “That’s what you’ve been working on when you wouldn’t play chess with me?”

“Yes, Ron. I was researching how to free Sirius for his wrongful imprisonment and my being put into danger this year with the Tournament,” Harry replied.

“Sirius, as in Sirius Black? The Death Eater?” Seamus asked, almost squeaked.

“Yes, Sirius Black who has never been a Death Eater,” Harry told him. “His being a Death Eater was a rumor the Ministry made up to make themselves look better, and to throw some of the blame away from the real Death Eaters who bought their way out of prison by claiming the Imperious. Sirius is hopeful those cases will be reexamined; I’m of the opinion the Minister is corrupt enough to prevent the extra investigations. We’ll see what happens.”

As the conversation stalled for a long moment, Ron screwed up his courage. “Harry, I’m, uh…”

While the redhead paused and looked hopeful his friend would bail him out, Harry just waited, trying to look patient.

“You were right,” Ron finished finally.

“About?” Harry prompted.

Ron didn’t look pleased, but managed with a, “You didn’t enter yourself.”

Harry wanted to give a snarky and sarcastic reply, but by the slimmest of margins restrained himself to, “Thanks for figuring that out.”

It seemed like a long two hours before McGonagall let them all return to their dorms, although she kept the owlery closed until the morning.

— — —

An hour after she’d left Hogwarts, Amelia Bones did a full recall of the Aurors. It took half an hour for everyone to arrive. As they did, they were forced into a room and told to bare their forearms, each of them, and not to try for a wand. Her group that had gone to Hogwarts had their wands out and were watching those in the line. Six Aurors were found to have the Dark Mark and were moved to holding cells.

Thirty Aurors took Portkeys to Little Haggleton based in what Crouch Jr told them with help from Veritiserum. By the time Harry and friends were walking to their dorms, the Aurors had Peter Pettigrew and a baby Voldemort in custody, plus a dead snake.

The next morning, Harry woke early despite having gone to bed late because of the activities the previous evening. Neville was up too and walked with him. Harry decided he was really starting to like hanging out with Neville and was a little sad he hadn’t done it more over the last three years. Ron was still keeping his distance at the moment and Harry was fine giving his friend time to figure out what was important to him.

“All right, Harry?” Neville asked as they left their Tower, just the two of them walking together.

“Right now? I’m fine. Over all?” Harry shrugged. “Harder to say on that one. I guess it depends on what happens to Dumbledore.”

Neville nodded. “Hard to say on that one. I wished I could say otherwise, but gold talks too loudly to those in the Ministry. I mean, look at how all of the old Death Eaters got off because Malfoy and some others could afford it.” A tinge of bitterness was obvious in the complaint.

“So you think Dumbledore really will buy his way out of prison?” Harry asked aghast.

“Don’t know, but I won’t be surprised if it happens.” Neville looked a little disgusted and Harry had to nod in agreement at the possibility. “According to Gran, it’s hard to break the cycle after you get enough in the Ministry like that, especially when it starts at the top with Fudge and Bagnold before him, and probably other Ministers before her.”

“And any obvious and simple answer would get ignored or waved away?” Harry suggested.

“Yep; they're not going to approve anything that takes power or gold away from them. I asked Gran once and she said she couldn’t think of a way to fix it either, or at least not in a way that the Wizengamot would accept.” Neville sighed. "Harry, do you really think Dumbledore is evil?"

Harry considered it for a moment. "I think he's a bad person who is so used to getting his own way that he doesn't always consider if his actions are good and sometimes even if they are lawful. However, bad is not evil; perhaps they're close but they aren't the same."

Neville nodded. "I suppose I can see that view after what's happened to you. Some people are going to be in for a real shock once they find out what he's done."

They finished their walk into the Great Hall in silence, each considering the question of how to fix things, but weren’t able to come up with any solution.

At their table, they started to eat when the food came out, even if it was a little early and only about a quarter of the students were there.

“Nev, do you know how to dance?” Harry queried.

“Some, but not with you,” Neville cracked with a smile.

“Prat,” Harry returned with his own smile.

“Why?”

Harry looked around the room as others trickled in. “When I researched about the Tournament, I read that historically there is a ball at Yule. I know they haven’t announced it yet, but I was thinking that if we wanted one of the better girls it’d help to ask before it’s announced.”

Neville stared at him for a moment. “Wow, planning? I thought you did everything by the seat of your trousers.” At Harry’s look, Neville added, “Except for last night because that was obviously planned.”

“That was a LOT of planning,” Harry agreed. “Still, who would you ask?”

Neville looked around now that maybe half of the students had come. “Hard to say. Who would you ask?”

Harry watched Cho Chang and Cedric Diggory walk in together. They weren’t holding hands but it was obvious they were doing the “I like you” dance around each other -- so she was out. “You’re right, it’s a hard question.” A pair of girls caught his eyes. “No one in Gryffindor interests me too much, but have you thought about another house?”

After a moment Neville snorted lightly. “Sort of have to because I agree none in our house really do much for me. I mean, at least not now; a couple years could change things though.” He looked around again. “Who would you ask if you could?”

“Maybe a Hufflepuff,” Harry confessed. “Don’t know if it’d be long term or not, but there is a strawberry blonde that’s interesting to me.”

Neville nodded. “I find her blonde friend interesting.”

“I heard a rumor there’s a Hogsmeade weekend coming up soon. Maybe ask them to that and if it goes well then at the end ask them to the ball?” Harry suggested.

“Another good plan.” Neville looked at him and grinned. “You’re really channeling Hermione well.”

Before Harry could reply, a voice said, “Why is he channeling me?” the brunette asked as she sat down.

The two boys looked at each other and started snickering.

“What?” Hermione demanded.

“Boy talk,” Harry finally said after he reined in his mirth.

“Seriously?” she demanded again.

“If you girls can say ‘girl talk’ to hide your secrets then we can say ‘boy talk’,” Harry replied with Neville nodding with a slight smirk.

“Boys,” the girl groused.

It was two mornings after the big blow up Halloween evening when the Daily Prophet revealed what had happened at the school. There were multiple major stories, each with larger than normal print:

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT ALMOST HAS 4 CHAMPIONS

HARRY POTTER CHAMPION BRIEFLY

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE ARRESTED

Inside on pages two and three were more major articles:

DEAD DEATH EATER CROUCH FOUND ALIVE

DEAD DEATH EATER PETTIGREW FOUND ALIVE

OLD DARK LORD: DEAD OR ALIVE?

SIRIUS BLACK INNOCENT?

“Damn!” Neville swore softly as he finished skimming the articles, handing the next page to Harry.

A few minutes later, Harry set the last page down on the breakfast table. “So, Peter Pettigrew was doing necromancy and brought back a shade of You-Know-Who?” he repeated from the article. “That seems weird, but if catching him means Sirius can be declared innocent, then it is worth it.”

“All because you found Crouch Jr here.” Neville looked at him. “How did you find him, anyway?”

“Remember the map I showed you?” Harry saw his friend nod and then a look of comprehension came over him. “Yeah, I looked at the map just before coming to the feast and saw two Barty Crouchs on the map here in the Great Hall and Moody was still in his room. Then when I got here in the place of one of the Crouchs was a person who looked like Moody, who we all knows drinks out of his flask every so often.”

“Like he was taking Polyjuice,” Neville filled in with a nod. “Makes sense. And since he was a Death Eater, they questioned him and found out about Pettigrew and You-Know-Who and went and got them -- a brilliant and lucky find.”

“That one really worked out for me, but Sirius helped by telling me all about the Death Eaters back in the day, mentioning Crouch Jr.” Harry shook his head. “I didn’t really believe it at first, but since the Ministry screwed up and put Sirius in prison, who’s to say they didn’t screw up and let Crouch Jr out by mistake? Even if I was wrong, it was a person on Polyjuice and my name had just come out of the Goblet.”

“Totally understandable. Now with Sirius free, you’ll be able to live with him. Good for you, mate,” Neville told him.

“I do have one question though, beyond what happens to Dumbledore.”

“What?” Neville had to know.

Harry changed to a whisper. “The article said they were going to throw the shade of You-Know-Who through the Veil of Death after they finished questioning him. Since I sort of caused that to happen, am I getting rid of only one Dark Lord or two since I also caused the downfall of Dumbledore also?”

Neville choked on his juice so Harry had to pound him on his back. “Really, Harry?!”

“Just wondering,” Harry joked. “Think about everything I said he did.”

Neville shook his head but he also didn’t say anything for nearly a minute. “Maybe two?”