If Only//Harry Potter [4]

8

Dumbledore stormed into the room and pushed Harry to a wall. "Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" 

"No, sir." Harry answered, still unsure of how he won. 

"Did you ask one of the older students to do it for you?" Dumbledore asked, still pushing Harry.

"No, sir." Harry answered quickly.

"You're absolutely sure?" Dumbledore asked, lessoning his grip on Harry. 

"Yes. Yes, sir." 

"But of course he is lying." Madame Maxine walked in, pushing a light out of her way so she could walk. 

"The hell he is!" Moody shouted. "The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful magical object. Only an exceptionally powerful Confundus Charm could've hoodwinked it. Magic way beyond the talents of a fourth year." 

"You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Mad-Eye." Igor said, eyeing Moody.  

"It was once my job to think as dark wizards do, Karkaroff. Perhaps you remember." Moody spat, daring Igor to keep talking.

"This doesn't help, Alastor. Leave this to you, Barty." Dumbledore said, emotionless. 

"You can't let him compete!" Autumn burst through the doors with a loud thud.

"Miss Grey?" McGonagall asked, looking just as shocked as Autumn.

"He's just a boy — and he didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire! Why would he want more attention than he already has! And—"

"What are you doing in here!? This is a room for champions only!" Barty shouted at Autumn.

"Then what the hell is Harry in here for? Are you seriously making him compete? You literally just accused of casting the Dark Mark in the sky a few weeks back! If he's a champion, then what will that say about this stupid tournament? That you value the Goblet more than a life?" Autumn bossed, then turned back to Dumbledore. "Please, sir, he's only fourteen, and hasn't he been through enough?" 

Dumbledore looked to Barty, waiting for an answer.

"The rules are absolute. The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract. Mr. Potter has no choice. He is, as of tonight a Triwizard champion."

Autumn and Harry looked at each other for a brief moment before Autumn yelled at Barty again.

"Are you deranged?" Autumn turned to Dumbledore again. "Is there anything that can get Harry to not compete?"

"No. As of now, Harry must be in the Triwizard tournament and I am unable to change that."

Autumn looked back to Harry. He looked defeated. 

>>> 

Harry was sitting in his room, thinking about what was to come. Was he actually going to take part in the tournament? And who even put his name in the Goblet of Fire?

"How did you do it?" Ron asked, feeling a bit jealous. When Harry didn't answer, he spoke again. "Never mind. Doesn't matter. Might've let your best friend know, though." 

"Let you know what?" Harry asked, confused by the question.

"You know bloody well what." Ron spat, walking over to his bed.

"I didn't ask for this to happen, Ron. Okay?" Harry said, trying to get the point across. When he didn't seem to get it, he spoke again. "You're being stupid."  

"Yeah, that's me. Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's stupid friend." Ron sat in his bed and pulled up the covers.

Harry looked around and saw his other two friends were ignoring him. Harry had had enough. He quickly walked over to Ron and spoke. "I didn't put my name in that cup. I don't want eternal glory. I just wanna be. . . . Look, I don't know what happened tonight. . . . . .and I don't know why. It just did. Okay?"