No Longer There

Above picture is NOT mine!
This story was a random thought I had that broke my heart... so I decided to write it. It's took me maybe an hour and I didn't proof it or anything, it's just a raw story. I hope you enjoy.

Harry James Potter had been worried since September 1st. At the welcoming feast that year Dumbledore had announced the Tri-Wizard Tournament would be held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That worried Harry in its own right, but what truly worried him was the day the drawing of the champions would happen;

October 31st.
All Hallows Eve, Halloween, Samhain, the day of the dead, and so... so many other names.

A day, that in Harry's life, had only ever brought misfortune and misery.

Harry, in response to his unease, had begun to raid the Hogwarts library almost nightly after everyone went to sleep. He started in the Regular Sections of the library, though most books there only referred to the death counts involved in each tournament.

Harry then moved onto the Restricted Section. He found more relevant information to his goal there, but not enough.

By October 1st Harry had begun sneaking into the Teacher's Section of the Hogwarts Library. He found lots of relevant information there, but none of it pointed in a direction he liked, though he dutifully compiled all the information into a book he was making.

Soon enough Harry had contacted Sirius Orion Black to ask for any books the man's family had about the tournament. He received them all, but in the end, he found no new information.

Harry spent the week before October 31st running all kinds of hypothetical situations to find out what the statistics for each option would be. None of them were turning up very hopeful numbers though.

Soon Harry resigned himself. He began simply living in every day, taking in everything around him. Basking in Hermione's once annoying nagging. Running his hands over the rough bricks of Hogwarts' hallowed halls. Even immersing himself in Severus Snape's scathing comments against him.

Much too soon Halloween came, and Harry ate nothing that night. He sat and stared at all of the excited and joyful expressions around him, something he would soon never get to see again.

"The Champion for Durmstrang Institue of Magic, Viktor Krum!"

"The Champion for Beaubaxton's Academy of Magic, Fleur Delacour!"

"The Champion of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Cedric Diggory!"

The flames once again shot red as the hall fell deadly silent...

"Harry Potter!"

A single tear slipped down Harry's face, he silently looked around the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Gently reaching down to his wand, "I, Harry James Potter, swear on my life and magic that in no way, shape, or form did I attempt to enter the Tri-Wizard Tournament of 1994 to 1995."

With his oath made, Harry cast a soft 'Wingardium Leviosa'. A mournful smile danced on his mouth as he remembered one of his first Charms lessons, as well as what Hermione had taught Ron and him in that class. Something that would soon never happen again.

Harry walked into the Chamber off the side of the Great Hall, with the other Champions. He listened with wistful amusement at the fact that, once again, adults were making decisions about him, with him in the room, yet with no input from him.

Bartimus Crouch Senior seemed to put his foot down after minutes of bickering, saying Harry must participate, that there was no other option.

After that declaration, Ludovic Bagman explained what was expected of Tri-Wizard Champions as well as some obscure information about the First Task on November 24th.