Close Or Far From The Law

Chapter 37 : 36. Call to duty

The next day, the news was in the newspaper and no student at Hogwarts knew exactly how to react:

Sirius Black, fourth Champion of the Triwizard Tournament!

Yes, dear readers, this statement is indeed true, as incredible and absurd as it is! Sirius Orion Black, godfather of Harry Potter-Black, was named the fourth Champion shortly before midnight last night to save his godson from unwanted participation in the Triwizard Tournament to be held at Hogwarts between the schools of Dumstrang, Beauxbatons and ours. How could this have happened? Your star journalist will try to give you as many answers as possible!

Let's start at the beginning, where during the Goblet of Fire Presentation Ceremony, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore made it known that only MAJOR participants would be allowed to attempt to compete. The leader of Wizengamot himself would have drawn an age limit around the artifact that is the Goblet of Fire to prevent any approach by minors, however there were loopholes! For example, an adult could have registered a minor against their will! I was appalled to learn that such a possibility had not been taken into account by the man who calls himself the greatest wise man in our country.

Thus, while the names of the Champions have been given - we also congratulate the three real applicants, Cédric Diggory, Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum, - the name of Mr. Potter-Black was cited as the fourth Champion. He immediately protested but his comments were only heard behind closed doors. However, we can say that Mr. Potter-Black would have refuted having put his name in the Goblet of Fire or having asked anyone to do so.

So Mr. Potter-Black should be the fourth Champion you tell me! Yes, at least until we found out that his registration could be canceled by his guardian! Who therefore came to the castle to discover that a great manipulation was taking place around his godson! Sirius Black found no other alternative to tell the Goblet of Fire to take his candidacy rather than that of his charge so that Mr. Potter-Black avoids the Tournament!

Many questions are now unanswered: who entered Mr. Potter-Black into the Tournament? How did he do it? How could Headmaster Dumbledore fail? What are the consequences for other Champions of facing an older Champion with great abilities? How will the tests be adapted?

I swear to answer all these questions, dear readers! Don't forget to follow me!

Rita Skeeter

On page 3: Mr. Oblansk's request for court against the Boy-Who-Lived!

-I want to burn the newspaper.

Harry felt like he had some kind of hangover. It was too much, way too much for the start of the school year. Many eyes were on him, the curiosity of the other students made him uncomfortable and he just wanted to go back to bed rather than go to class. The day would be far too long for his liking. He poured more tea, his stomach wouldn't accept any form of food, and yet he had tried. His friends looked at him with concern.

-It'll be OK…

Yes of course. My sponsor signed up to save me in a Tournament where he could potentially die. It's great, I love it.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other as if they hadn't thought about this possibility even though it was the one that had kept Harry up most of the night. Yes, Sirius was older than the other champions, twenty years older! The good thing, he had spent twelve years in Azkaban, he was barely recovering from his stay in prison! Perhaps Sirius didn't have the physical fitness to deal with this, on top of the knowledge. Not that Harry thought he was stupid, just... Not up to date. And he didn't blame him for not being, it wasn't Sirius's fault. The problem was that it could kill him.

-He'll be fine, Harry. I believe it.

Neville had managed not to stutter while saying this but his confidence was very much a facade, Harry had no doubt about it. He would definitely have to do some research, he wouldn't let his godfather deal with this situation alone. It would also be unworthy of him, who had always sought to help others within his means. Then… He had to talk to Thomas. The man would have much better ideas than hers. Damn, it was his job to come up with dangerous super villain ideas! He also had to have solutions. Harry was angry with himself for not having written to him the day before and he didn't want to read the article about the courtship. Especially since Malfoy's smile was getting on his nerves, the blond boy was deliberately looking in his direction and waving at the press with a mocking look. Could the Slytherin have spoken to the journalist in such a short time? Possible, after all, she knew a lot for someone not present at all the events of the day before. Harry felt a headache coming on. It didn't disappear all day.