14th November 1994 • The Wizarding World's Beguiling Broadsheet of Choice • 5 κ
HARRY POTTER: HOGWARTS CHAMPION
By Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent
On Halloween, the wizarding world was taken by surprise when it was announced that Harry Potter, also known as The Boy Who Lived, had been chosen as the Hogwarts Champion for the newly reinstated Triwizard Tournament. The biggest surprise comes not from Harry's abilities, given his role in wizarding history, but from the fact he's merely 14 years old, when it had been agreed by those organizing the new Tournament that only students of age were allowed to compete.
"We're as surprised as anyone," a Ministry spokesman said. "However, we are also unable to remove him from the Tournament even if he is still underage. The moment his name came out of the Goblet of Fire, which has been the method for selecting champions for centuries, a binding contract was established. Potter has to compete to the end."
The news seems to have surprised young Harry as much as everybody around him. However, he couldn't help but show a little excitement, as well as some satisfaction over his cunning, which allowed him to go past the security measurements preventing youngsters such as himself from entering. "It wasn't hard, really," he admits, flushing a little. "I can't reveal how I did it, of course, otherwise everybody will try it next time."
I asked him how he hoped he'd fare in such a demanding competition, fighting against champions older and more experienced than himself. "Oh, I'm not sure if I'll win," he replied with some modesty, "but I know I will do Hogwarts proud." When asked what gave him such confidence, he added, "I suppose I get my strength from my parents. I know they'd be very proud of me if they could see me now." The memory of his parents, James and Lily Potter, who were the last victims of You-Know-Who before the evil wizard met his end at the hands of the then one-year-old Harry, seems to cloud the dear boy's eyes. "Yes, sometimes at night I still cry about them, I'm not ashamed to admit it." He doesn't seem to see this admission as a weakness, however, as his love for his long-lost family is what makes him pursue this new endeavour. "I know nothing will hurt me during the Tournament, because they're watching over me."
Neither is the loss of his parents the sign that The Boy Who Lived is living a lonely, solitary life. Harry has at last found love at Hogwarts. His close friend, Colin Creevey, says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one Hermione Granger, a stunningly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Harry, is one of the top students in the school.
The other two Triwizard champions are Fluer Delacourt, who represents Beauxbatons, and Viktor Glum, who represents Durmstrang.