Second Chance at Saving Them {Harry Potter}

Aftermath

Again, no long spiel.

"In what chapter (number) of the books do we hear Dumbledore ask calmly if Harry put his name in the Goblet of Fire?"

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"You've got to be kidding me!" Harry stood up and shouted.

"Mr. Potter, please, through the door." Dumbledore said gravely.

"No! You can't seriously be expecting me to compete in a Tournament with kids three years older than me, can you?" Harry stared at his Headmaster incredulously. While he generally avoided drawing such attention to himself, he hoped that by making it clear he wanted no part in this, some of the hate wouldn't be so strong.

"It is not up to me Mr. Potter."

Harry huffed, though he knew as much already. "I can't have a normal year, can I?" He muttered as he walked through the door to where the three real Champions were waiting. He ignored the muttering portraits he passed and entered the room the other three were in. Krum was leaning on the mantelpiece staring at the fire, Cedric was facing the fire as well, and Fleur had turned around as she heard the door open.

"What is it?" She asked, "Do zey want us back in ze Hall?"

"No. Someone put my name in the Goblet and now they're forcing me to compete in a Tournament that I have no chance of winning." He had every chance of winning and planned on it. "I have no clue who put my name in the Goblet, but apparently they want me killed, because I've heard they bring in dragons and manticores for this thing, and I wouldn't know the first thing about beating those things."

All three of them stared at him like he was crazy. "Wait, what?" Cedric asked, "So you're competing in this?"

Harry could only nod glumly before Bagman walked into the room. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen...lady. May I introduce - incredible as it seems - the fourth Triwizard champion!"

Apparently, he was anticipating a lot bigger reaction, since he was staring at everyone expectantly. When no one said anything, he cleared his throat. "Right, well, since his name's come out of the Goblet, there's no backing out at this point. It's all in the rules, you see."

He was saved from having to ramble on further by the entrance of Professors Dumbledore, Karkaroff, McGonagall, Snape, Madame Maxime and Mr. Crouch. In the brief moment the door was open, Harry could hear the excited murmurs of the students in the Great Hall. Fleur was talking before Professor McGonagall had the door closed.

"Madame Maxime! Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!"

"Hey. Don't sound so angry about it." Harry said. "If anyone should be angry it should be me. Someone other than me put my name in the Goblet and now I have to compete in a competition I'll probably die in."

Harry's words were drowned out by Madame Maxime and Kakaroff demanding answers. Snape was apparently the only one to notice and sent Harry a particularly nasty look before speaking,

"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff. Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break the rules. He -"

"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore stopped him. He turned to Harry, speaking calmly, he asked, "Did you out your name in the Goblet of Fire?"

"No, Professor. You know as well as anyone the years I've had here, I was looking forward to a year where I wasn't being threatened with death."

"And you didn't ask an older student to put your name in for you?"

"Of course not." Harry said, with slight irritability.

"'E must be lying!" Madame Maxime declared.