Snarry-a-Thon21: FIC: Trusting in One's Self Title: Trusting in One's Self Author:Goddess47 Other pairings/threesome: None Rating: PG Word count: 6200 Content/Warning(s): Gen work. Harry is 14 y.o. in this fic. This should be considered pre-relationship. Prompt: See Author's Notes at the end; prompt is a spoiler for the story Summary: Harry's not really surprised when his name comes out of the Goblet of Fire. He is surprised by some unexpected assistance. A/N: Many thanks to Rosie3745 on Discord who helped me trim the story down to something reasonable. Thanks to melagan who listened to me whine as I wrote this story.
Dread suddenly pooled in Harry's stomach as a fourth slip of parchment flew out of the flaming Goblet.
Dumbledore grabbed the parchment and read it aloud. "Harry Potter!"
The flame in the Goblet guttered out.
No! Harry screamed internally. He couldn't move.
Hermione poked him. "Harry! What did you do?"
Harry couldn't talk. Couldn't move. Murmuring in the hall started and became louder.
A cool presence dropped on his shoulder. Harry turned his head but didn't see anything.
"I know you've learned about not trusting things where you can't see their brains but I'll explain shortly," a voice said. "Just hang on and don't say anything."
Harry nodded minutely.
"Good! Come on. You have to do this part," the voice went on. "Move."
Feeling not-so-alone for a moment, Harry got up from the table and moved to the front of the room. The murmuring stopped and the room was silent by the time he stood in front of Dumbledore.
"Go and wait with the others, my boy," Dumbledore said kindly. "We'll straighten this out inside."
"Ignore him. Keep going," the voice said. "Don't let them touch you."
Harry stepped away from Ludo Bagman and marched into the room ahead of the man. Crouch followed them both and closed the door behind them.
The other champions stared at Harry in confusion before the door opened again and a herd of adults moved into the room. Dumbledore, Karkaroff, and Maxime he expected but Professors Moody, McGonagall and Snape also came in and arrayed themselves around the edges of the room.
"What is going on? Dumbledore, I demand an explanation," Karkaroff all but shouted.
"Eet iz not fair," Madame Maxime protested. "Ogwarts cannot have two champions!"
"There was no school name on the paper," the voice said.
Startled, Harry repeated, "There was no school name on the parchment." He started nervously but once he understood what he was saying, he ended firmly. "I'm not representing Hogwarts!"
"WHAT?" Karkaroff roared.
Dumbledore looked down at the scrap still in his hand. "Harry is correct. There is no school name on this paper. That must be how the Goblet selected him. No school name makes it look like a fourth school."
"Iz no matter! How did he get 'is name in the Goblet?" Madame Maxime demanded.
"An adult," the voice said.
Harry shrugged. "Any adult could have done it." Harry stopped a smirk. "For example, you could have done it, Madame, to make your champion look better by defeating the Boy-Who-Lived."
Madame Maxime reared back.
"Good one!" the voice complimented.
"There really is no formal age rule," Bagman said semi-apologetically but Harry could see he was excited with the prospect of Harry's participation. "We only put that on this year as an extra safety measure. I... I don't think we can ignore that his name came out of the Goblet. He is required to participate."
Karkaroff huffed and Maxime stamped a foot in frustration.
"Swear on your magic," the voice said. "Go ahead."
Not quite sure what he was doing, Harry took out his wand and repeated the words the voice offered to him.
"I swear on my magic that I did not put my name in the Goblet. I asked no one to submit my name, and I do not know who may have done this. I do not want to participate in this Tournament. So Mote It Be!" Harry said loudly. A flash of light coursed over him. He held up his wand and said, "Lumos!" The wand lit brightly.
"Oh." Dumbledore was flummoxed. The others were all silent. He thought there was a gleam of approval in Moody's eyes but Snape was gobsmacked.
"The rules do state that the names that come out of the Goblet are required to participate in the Tournament," Crouch said unexpectedly. "And, before you ask, since the Goblet has already gone out, we cannot re-do the selection. We must proceed with four champions."
Bagman clapped his hands cheerfully. "Excellent! Everything is settled."
Crouch stepped closer to Cedric, Fleur and Viktor. Harry stayed where he was across the room.
"The first task is designed to test your daring," he told them, "so we will not be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard... very important....
"The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges.
"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempt from end-of-year tests."**
Harry rolled his eyes. He could already hear Hermione complain about needing end-of-year tests to know how well one had done during the year. And Ron would whinge about having to take the tests when Harry didn't.
Harry tuned out as the adults talked about next steps.
"Follow Sev- I mean Professor Snape back to his office," the voice said. "We need to talk to him tonight. I can't stay too long and there are things I need to share with both of you."
Harry wanted to protest but there were too many others around, so he stayed silent.
Maxime and Karkaroff took their champions back to their residences. McGonagall escorted Cedric out. Dumbledore left while in conversation with Bagman and Crouch. That left Moody, Snape and Harry in the room.
The voice prompted him what to say next. "Professor Moody, I had been hoping to ask Professor Snape some questions about his current assignment. Since we're both here, I was wondering if I might impose on Professor Snape for a few minutes."
Moody frowned.
"Alastor, I will see Mr. Potter back to his dorm," Snape said gravely.
"Good night then." Moody seemed reluctant to leave them alone. He looked back as he went out the door.
"You had a question?" Snape asked.
The voice told Harry what to say. "I'm supposed to tell you that your favorite color is copper, you dislike mushrooms as a food although you'll eat them to be polite, and the first potion your mother taught you was actually a salve for sunburn. And there's a ritual called Enemeos Kardies that you and he went through."
Snape stared at him.
Harry shrugged. "I have a... a voice in my head. One that knows you. He came when my name came out of that bloody Goblet." Harry tilted his head. "Oh. He can't stay much longer. It's a version of... Episkepsi Eaftos that you helped design? But he says you can help me."
"The rules say teachers are not allowed to help."
Harry snorted. "Like Madame Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff aren't going to do what they can to help their champions."
Snape nodded.
"Okay. The first task involves getting a golden egg away from a nesting dragon. The second task is to rescue a hostage tied up at the bottom of the Lake in the Mermen's village. The third task is to overcome obstacles in a maze to reach the TriWizard Cup. Which is a portkey." Harry stopped. "He won't tell me where it goes." Harry stopped again. "And we're not to trust Moody and I'm never to be alone with him."
"That last is actually sensible," Snape allowed.
"Also, you need to forgive Sirius for something because I'll need both of you for all of this." Harry frowned. "What did he do?"
Snape pinched his nose. "That's too long a story for tonight." When Harry opened his mouth to voice a protest, Snape held up a hand. "I promise I will tell you soon."
"One last thing, evidently. I need to take Dobby as a bonded elf? What?" Harry shook his head. "Why do I need a house-elf?"
"Again. For a later discussion," Snape said firmly. "Anything else?"
"He's just about out of time. I'm to... what? No!" Harry stopped and then sighed. "I'm supposed to trust you and you're supposed to protect me."
Severus flinched.
The presence said to Harry, "Believe in yourself. You can do amazing things and you will be fine!" It then gave Harry the equivalent of a warm hug and gently dissipated.
"He's gone."
"Well, there have been enough surprises for today. I will take you back to your dormitory and will ask that you stay there tonight. For the next couple of days, try not to be alone, just to be safe," Snape decided. "Tomorrow is Saturday. Come to my office after lunch on Sunday and we will talk then. I also have some research I would like to do before we talk."
"Thank you."
They walked to the entrance to Gryffindor in silence. Harry gave the password and a blare of noise came out. Harry winced then turned to Snape. "Good night."
"Good night, Potter."
Taking a deep breath, Harry went into the common room. He was immediately besieged by a dozen voices who wanted to know how he beat the Age Line. Taking a cue from the voice, he told Fred and George, "If you can get everyone to be quiet, I'll tell you what I know."
"QUIET!" Fred bellowed. "LISTEN TO HARRY!"
The noise dipped to some whispering as everyone tried to shush everyone else.
Harry got his wand back out and held it up. "I swear on my magic I did not enter my name in the Tournament. I did not cross the Age Line. I did not ask anyone to enter my name. I do not want to be in the Tournament. So Mote It Be." The same flash of light shimmered over his body. He held up his wand. "Lumos!" The wand again lit brightly.
"Oh, bloody hell!" George muttered, sitting suddenly.
"Bloody hell, indeed!" Fred nodded.
"Cool oath, though," George added.
"You have to mean it," Harry said. "And you can't lie. Even slightly. Don't go using it for just anything. But it's the only way I have to prove that I. Didn't. Do. It."
"We can see that now," Fred replied, freckles stark on his pale face.
"Who is out to get you?" George asked.
Harry gave a bitter laugh. "Who isn't? Voldemort. Fudge. The Dursleys. Random people who hate me for being alive. It's actually a pretty long list."
The silence in the common room was unnerving.
"Okay, then. We're going to help!" Fred declared.
"We are? Oh. Right! We are!" George agreed. He looked around. "Harry needs our help and he's going to get it. You don't have to overtly help but we at least need to be on his side."
"Who's in?" Fred stood up and looked around.
Cheering came from everywhere.
Harry held up a hand and everyone quieted. "I don't want to win. I don't deserve that. But I have to make it through the three tasks, which will be hard enough."
"We'll help!" Angelina promised.
"No one gets mad if I don't win?" Harry looked around, frowning seriously.
Lots of shaking of heads.
"Excellent!" George clapped his hands. He turned to face the rest of the room. "I think we were having a party?"
"HURRAH!"
Harry had to grin at that. He let Fred hand him a butter beer and a biscuit and Harry went off to bed, waving as he left.
As Harry crawled into bed, Ron came into the room and sat heavily on the edge. He rubbed a hand over his face.
"I was so... jealous. You got to be in the Tournament. You were going to be the hero again." He sighed. "And then you go and swear on your magic that you don't even want to be in the Tournament. Merlin! That is so crazy."
"That's my life, Ron. You've been here. You know that. You should know I hate all the attention." Harry had wanted to say that for years. It felt good to finally be able to do it.
"I know, I know."
They sat in silence. Ron finally got up and turned to face Harry. "You're going to need some help with this. Whatever you need, I'll be there."
"Thank you." Harry had to hope. In spite of what he already knew, he'd need all the help he could get.
After breakfast, Hermione herded Harry and Ron to the Library. "I don't care whether you have to do exams or not, you need to learn everything you can to make sure you survive this Tournament."
Harry decided to be somewhat straightforward. "Professor Snape has offered to..." He looked around to see who else was around and lowered his voice. "He thinks he may have some suggestions for me."
"Good!" Hermione said. "You'll need that!"
Harry stared.
"What? You need all the help you can get!" Hermione huffed.
"Thanks. I think," Harry grinned.
"Oh! You!" She grinned back.
"I do need all the help I can get!" Harry nodded.
"Where do we start?" Ron asked.
"We can make sure we do our homework," Hermione stated.
"Fred and George and some of the others in Gryffindor have also offered to help," Harry reminded her.
"I'll talk to them and see what they are thinking and make a schedule," Hermione replied.
"Wait until I talk to Professor Snape," Harry said. "If he's willing to help, you'll have to work around his schedule."
"Okay, but I'll still start talking to the upper years and see what they have in mind," Hermione agreed.
"I'll see what Fred and George are planning," Ron said.
"Okay, homework!" Hermione refocused them.
On Sunday afternoon, Harry made his way to Snape's office.
"Professor. Thank you for your time!" Harry said.
"Come with me," Snape directed. "I want to make sure we have the privacy we need."
"O-o-o-kay," Harry replied, curious. He followed Snape through the office and to what was obviously Snape's personal rooms. Harry looked around curiously.
"Tea?" Snape asked.
"What?"
Snape sighed. "Would you like some tea?"
"Uh. Yeah."
"We can sit in the kitchen then," Snape said. "It's easier than balancing tea on your lap."
"Good idea," Harry admitted.
Snape busied himself making hot water and put some biscuits on a plate.
"Milk? Sugar?" Snape asked.
"Both, please," Harry answered, feeling more than slightly weird about how normal this entire thing was.
When they both had tea, Snape sat at the table as he cradled his cup of tea.
"Enemeos Kardies is the ritual for Eternal Hearts," Snape said. "It's a magical bonding ritual."
"You and he? You're married?" Harry was dumbfounded.
Snape nodded.
"What about the other thing?" Harry said. He had to concentrate for a minute to remember. "Episkepsi Eaftos?
"I am still working on that," Snape admitted. "If it is something he and I created, then it is highly personal and will not be found in a book. I am going to consider it less important at the moment."
Harry shrugged. "If you say so."
"As I see it, the goal is to get you through the tasks alive," Severus said. "I can... feel that He is working toward coming back." He placed a hand on his arm. "The Mark has become... active."
"Can I..." Harry swallowed. "May I see it?"
Snape froze for a moment. "I don't normally do that."
"How can it hurt to look?" Harry asked.
"It's a symbol of momentous stupidity, if nothing else," Snape said softly.
"Everyone has one of those," Harry said, gesturing to the scar on his forehead.
Snape gave a grim laugh. "Touche!" He rolled up his sleeve and showed Harry the tattoo on his arm.
Harry moved closer and said, "It's a snake!"
The snake moved and looked at Harry. "Master calls?"
Startled, Harry looked up at a wide-eyed Snape then back down at the snake. "Can you leave the Mark?"
The snake wriggled slightly. "There must be intent.
Harry looked up at Snape and closed his eyes to make sure he was speaking English. "The snake says if there is enough intent, he can leave the Mark."
"That is all? I have to want it to leave?" Snape was amazed.
Harry shrugged. "I suspect it will take two of us. I have to talk to it to make sure your intent will work. We can try it, if you like."
"How should we do this?"
Harry debated. "Put your arm on the table. That will keep it steady."
Snape did so.
"May I?" Harry reached out a hand and then hesitated. "I... I need to touch it, I think."
Snape nodded jerkily.
"When I start talking to it, you wish it gone, I guess."
"Whenever you are ready," Snape directed.
Harry looked down at the snake, placing a finger next to the head of the snake. "Professor Snape would like you to leave. You can come to me and you both can be free from what was done to you."
The snake wriggled around on the forearm, leaving the skull. Harry coaxed gently, "Come to me."
There was a small pop! and the snake transformed from ink-on-skin to real in a shimmer of magic. As it crawled up Harry's arm, the outline of the skull went from dark black to gray and then crumbled to dust.
Snape groaned and flexed his hand. He ran his other hand over the smooth, clear arm.
The snake hissed as it crawled on Harry. It was large enough that Harry needed to use two hands to hold it up... it was active, looking around and hissing non-sense.
"We can give you a new place to live," Harry offered to the snake. "Warm and with good food."
"I will stay," the snake agreed.
Harry explained the bargain he had made to Snape, who nodded jerkily. Snape was still looking at his unbranded arm in wonder.
They settled the snake in a terrarium that Snape had to enlarge. Harry cast warming charms in the space as Snape retrieved a mouse from his ingredient stash.
"That was... amazing," Snape said. "My magic already feels different."
Harry shrugged. "Merlin only knows what it was doing to you. If it was anything like the Diary, it was pulling on your magic."
"Diary?"
Harry sighed. "Of course, Dumbledore didn't tell you. Long story for another night. I need to get through this Tournament first."
"I will hold you to that," Snape replied. He looked down at his arm. "I think we should not tell anyone what you were able to do here."
"You're probably right," Harry nodded. "I already have a big enough target on my back. This would only add to it."
"True."
"So. Dragons?"
Snape sighed. "Nesting dragons, no less. And you need to get a golden egg away from them."
"I'll bet Hagrid can help us with that," Harry suggested. "He's kind of obsessed with dragons."
"I am not surprised."
"How do you get an egg from a dragon's nest?" Harry asked.
"I would try a Summoning Charm first," Snape answered. "Assuming the object has not been secured with some type of a Sticking Charm. There are other spells to prevent magical summoning, to prevent theft of valuable objects."
"Well, if it's stuck down in any way, that would make it harder to get," Harry pointed out. "And going up against dragons will be dangerous enough without making it even harder."
"That is... reasonable," Snape agreed.
"What is the Summoning Charm and how does it work?" Harry asked.
Snape got out his wand. "Accio pillow!" He pointed his wand at the pillow. It flew across the room into his hand. "There is a level of intent for speed and distance. If you put too much power into it, the object will crash into you. If you don't put enough power into the spell, it simply will not work."
Harry got out his wand and pointed it at another pillow. "Accio pillow!" The pillow flopped in place.
Harry looked at Snape. "Was that the correct wand movement?"
"Do it again and let me watch more closely," Snape directed.
Harry stood where Snape could watch. Harry took a breath and focused. "Accio pillow!" The pillow flew at Harry and smashed into his face.
"I would think that would be correct," Snape said dryly.
Harry had to laugh.
"We need a back-up plan, in case the egg cannot be summoned," Harry said.
"I will think on that," Snape replied. "Dragons themselves are resistant to most spells that you could cast. So you need something that will distract the dragon from what you are doing."
"Is it possible to make myself invisible?" Harry asked. He wasn't ready to share the secret of his father's cloak but maybe there was a spell that could do the same thing temporarily.
"There is a Disillusionment Charm but that is difficult to cast," Snape said." It takes a certain amount of power to cast it and then to hold it in place." He swung his arm over his head and said, "Aoratos!"
Snape disappeared from sight.
"Finite!" Snape re-appeared in a different place, evidently having taken several steps to one side.
"Okay, that has possibilities. How good is a dragon's eyesight?" Harry asked. "And just because I couldn't see you, does that hide you from a dragon?"
"Dragons have reasonably decent eyesight, I think. Something we should check on," Snape replied. "And the Disillusionment Charm should hide you from a dragon, but since I have not needed to protect myself from dragons, something else to check at the same time."
"I can get Hermione to check on that for us," Harry offered. "She's good at research. Teach me that command and the wand movement, so I can try it."
Snape walked through the spell several times until Harry had the movement correct.
"Again, there is an element of intent," Snape said after Harry failed after several attempts.
"Like the Patronus Charm?" Harry asked.
Snape nodded. "You don't need the happy thought as you do for the Patronus but that is a good example."
Harry took a breath and let it out. He swung his wand as Snape had showed him and said, "Aoratos!" He felt something trickle down his head and stop at his shoulders.
"I can see you but you have accomplished a partial disillusionment," Snape said. "Now, end the spell."
Harry pointed to himself. "Finite!"
"Between the two spells, you should be able to get that egg from the dragon," Snape said. "You need to practice both so that they become second nature but that should be sufficient. I will consider any additional spells you may want to learn and we can discuss those at another time."
"The first task is in three weeks," Harry replied. "Is that enough time?"
Snape nodded. "You have the basics of both spells already, which is excellent progress."
Harry stared, gobsmacked.
Snape flushed. "I... I apologize for how I have treated you in the past." Harry saw Snape flex his arm. "You have treated me honorably and I need to do the same for you."
"Umm... okay?"
Snape sighed and gave a small smile. "We have a long way to go if you are to survive this year."
"I'll take all the help I can get," Harry nodded. That seemed to be his current catchphrase. It was interesting to have an adult actually working with him.
"What evening are you free so we can continue preparing for the first task?" Snape asked.
"Hermione has us doing homework on Monday nights since we have Herbology, Care and Divination that day. Although Hermione has Arithmancy when we have Divination," Harry replied. "If we don't start right away, Ron lets it go too long and then he whines about having to homework on the weekends. If we get most of it done on Monday, then he can finish it up when he can."
"That's sensible," Snape nodded.
"Tuesday nights were Quidditch practice but since there won't be any games, I have Tuesday evenings free," Harry went on. "Hermione has us doing homework during our free time on Wednesdays, so Wednesday evening is also free. Thursday night is Astronomy. We have History, Charms and Potions on Fridays, so we do most of that homework on Friday nights."
"Plan to come back on Tuesday after dinner and we can practice your charm work then," Snape said.
Harry nodded. "Oh! What about Sirius? And Dobby?"
"If I may borrow your Hedwig, I will write to Sirius," Snape said. "That will take some time but I promise I will do my best."
"Sure! She'll be glad to have something to do," Harry nodded. "And trying is all I can ask."
"As for Dobby, I need to do additional research," Snape admitted. "I had forgotten about the elf. We can talk about that more on Tuesday."
Harry nodded.
"You have used an extraordinary amount of energy doing magic this afternoon," Snape went on. "Eat more protein than you usually do at dinner tonight and at breakfast in the morning. Go to bed earlier than you normally do, since you will be tired."
"Good to know," Harry nodded.
"When was the last time you saw a Healer?" Snape asked.
"I haven't needed to see Madame Pomfrey for anything. Yet," Harry shrugged.
"She is a Medi-witch, not a Healer."
"Then... never?"
Snape sighed. "I will work that out with Black when I talk to him."
"Why? Is it important?" Harry demanded.
"You're... thin and not as tall as I suspect you should be," Snape admitted.
"Oh. Well, the Dursleys treat feeding me like I'm taking their last meal from them," Harry said. "So I try to eat better while I'm here at school but I always lose weight in the summers."
"As I said, we will work on that," Snape said firmly.
"If you must," Harry replied with a grin.
"Go. Before I change my mind about being reasonable," Snape said.
"Thank you, sir," Harry nodded.
"Thank you, Potter," Snape replied softly.
Harry showed Ron and Hermione the charms he had learned and they promised to practice them with him. At Ron's suggestion, he set George and Fred to work on the questions about dragons. They planned to ask Charlie, since he worked with dragons.
Harry challenged all of Gryffindor to think of other ideas they might try to get an egg away from a dragon.
Charlie sent back oddly specific information about the eyesight of four different types of dragons. Most of them could see reasonably well but none were known to be able to see through a Disillusionment charm.
Angelina figured it out. "If the first task is with dragons, where do you think the Ministry is going to get those dragons?"
"Excellent point!" George said. Fred nodded.
It was five days before the Task that Harry was able to perform the Disillusionment charm perfectly.
"Well done!" Snape said as Harry applied the Finite charm. "You disappeared completely and held that for fifteen minutes. That should be sufficient time to retrieve the egg, if the summoning charm does not work."
Harry grinned. He and Snape had built a cordial relationship over the past weeks. Their meetings would start with Snape organizing tea and biscuits as Harry checked on the snake they had liberated.
Severus stared when Harry casually mentioned making biscuits at the Dursleys.
"You live with Petunia?" Snape was dumbfounded.
Harry shrugged. "Dumbledore says there are reasons. Don't understand how it works, especially now that I know more about magical theory."
"What did he tell you?"
"Something about blood wards from my mother," Harry admitted.
Snape frowned. "But..." He snarled, then took a breath to calm himself. "If Lily did what I suspect she did, those wards are almost useless."
"If you could point that out to Dumbledore, that would be helpful," Harry replied. "I'd just spend the summers on Diagon Alley, if it came to it."
"You could live with Black," Snape suggested.
"That would be my first choice," Harry nodded. "Dumbledore keeps saying I have to go back to the Dursleys. Also, he knows Sirius is innocent and keeps saying he can't do anything about it."
"He and I are meeting this weekend in Hogsmeade," Snape admitted. "I am not sure I'm in a position to help him."
"I'll settle for the two of you getting along," Harry said. "I need more adults on my side."
"We will sort that out," Snape said.
In class, Snape had become the kind of teacher Harry had always wanted -- Snape was firm but fair, and spent time explaining what they were doing. That made brewing potions easier and Harry had more successes than failures in the class.
Harry brought up the issue of Dobby in one of their meetings.
"I don't know why I need a bonded house-elf," Harry complained. "I don't know what it means."
"Since it was just my mother and I, we did not need a house-elf," Snape added. "My father knew about magic but wouldn't have anything to do with it."
"Ha! Like Aunt Petunia!" Harry put in.
Snape nodded. "Exactly. It was something he could not control, so he wanted nothing to do with it. My mother would teach me things when he was away but we would never do magic when he was home."
"More than I got," Harry sighed. "But that doesn't help with the house-elf issue."
"Since the First Task is coming up soon, perhaps we can put that part off until after," Snape suggested. "That will give us time to research why you might want to have a bonded house-elf."
"Maybe you can ask Sirius about it," Harry suggested. "Hermione's all on a rant about freeing House Elves with her S.P.E.W. crusade but my magic is telling me there's more to it than she knows."
"True," Snape nodded. "Let me ask Madame Pince for some reference material. She should be able to help me with that."
"She'll give you books she wouldn't give to Hermione," Harry agreed.
"For good reason," Snape said.
"I know, I know," Harry sighed. "But putting Dobby off for a bit takes one thing off the list. Thank you."
The First Task was scheduled for after lunch, so Harry and his friends went to their morning classes. The morning class was History of Magic, which almost made it worse. Binns droning on about yet another Goblin Revolt was not a distraction. Harry closed his eyes to tune it all out.
Professor McGonagall got him from lunch and escorted him to the tent where the other champions were gathered. The others were quiet, something Harry was grateful for.
As the drawing began, Harry was resigned to getting the worst options, which turned out to be true. He was going last and he had the Hungarian Horntail, the meanest of the dragons according to the information Charlie had sent.
Harry sat in the tent, listening as the others faced their dragons. He had only sketchy information from what he could hear but the roar of the crowd told him when Krum finally succeeded.
"Your turn now, Harry!" Bagman was excessively cheerful as he came to retrieve Harry from the tent.
Harry walked toward the enclosure where the dragon was sitting. He walked carefully toward the dragon, remaining outside her reach and trying to look innocuous.
Harry took out his wand and held it up. "Accio Golden Egg!" he called firmly.
The dragon startled as the golden egg wriggled out of the nest and rushed toward Harry. She roared once then focused on the eggs still underneath her. She must have realized that the golden egg wasn't one of hers and settled grumpily back on the nest.
Harry reached up and snagged the egg as it flew toward him. He juggled it in both hands and then clutched it to his chest.
After a moment of stunned silence from the crowd, it roared in approval.
"Well done!" Bagman boomed. "And now our judges will score each of the challengers!"
Ron and Hermione raced from the stands to join Harry. Hermione threw her arms around Harry in a fierce hug.
"I was so worried!" she said.
"Mate! That was awesome!" Ron added. "That egg came out of the nest without any hesitation! That's a great spell!"
"I'm just glad it worked!" Harry nodded with a smile.
Professor Moody came stomping up. "Good work, Potter! Knew you could do it."
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied.
In the end, Harry was tied in the lead with Krum, something he didn't feel too bad about. Cedric and Fleur weren't that far behind.
Bagman gathered the four champions in the tent.
"Well done, all of you," Bagman said, looking as pleased as though he personally had just got past a dragon. "Now, just a quick few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth -- but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will see that they open... see the hinges there? You will need to solve the clue inside the egg -- because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!"**
In the party in the Gryffindor Common Room that night, Harry opened the egg... and quickly shut it.
"Ow! That was horrid!" George protested, rubbing his fingers across his ears.
Harry put the egg away and enjoyed the party. He took it with him to his next meeting with Snape.
"What would that have to do with the Mermen in the Lake?" Harry asked as they both winced at the noise. "The second task is in the lake, to rescue a hostage from the Mermen, remember?"
"Mermish!" Snape exclaimed. "The language of the Mermen will sound different underwater."
In the end, Snape worked with Harry to brew a potion that used Gillyweed as a base. It allowed Harry to breathe both underwater and in the air and, best of all, lasted almost two hours, well beyond the one hour mentioned in the clue.
For the final Task, Snape sneaked into the Maze and cancelled the Portkey charm on the Goblet. Harry let Cedric take the honors to become the Tri-Wizard Champion.
That summer, just before his birthday, Harry received a letter from Snape. At Dumbledore's insistence and over Snape's objections, he was staying at the Dursleys until his birthday. Snape had delivered him to the Dursleys' door and then had a private conversation with Aunt Petunia. Everyone had ignored him from that moment on, which is all Harry could ask for.
Potter,
I have worked with Black to get him a hearing before the ICW, even over Albus' protests. I do not know what Albus is playing at, but it does not bode well.
Now that I no longer have the Dark Mark on my arm, I was able to use my contacts within the Potions Masters Guild to override Albus' refusal. Black should be cleared by the beginning of August and we will reach out to you when that is finalized.
This next part is awkward and I ask you to take a calming breath before you proceed.
Harry frowned. What could be so bad?
The second ritual that your visitor told you about was Episkepsi Eaftos, which Black and I have decided loosely means 'visit yourself' -- that means you came back to help yourself with the Tournament.
I insisted on being the one to tell you that, but Black will be available via communication mirror when you are ready to talk about it.
--S. Snape
Harry frowned. That was actually cool! He must be a really good wizard to be able to help Severus develop a ritual like that and give himself the information he needed to survive the Tournament.
Harry frowned. Wait! There was that other ritual mentioned... he scrabbled for his mirror.
"Sirius Black!" he demanded as soon as he could after the case was opened.
"Sirius! Does that mean I married Snape?" Harry asked in horror.
Sirius smirked before he could control his face. "Well, pup, it sure looks like it. Although time travel like that means you now know enough to get around it."
"I'm just going to be fifteen!" Harry protested.
"Severus and I are painfully aware of that," Sirius soothed. "He's already promised me that nothing is going to happen that you do not want. But he did want to keep working with both of us. Voldemort is still out there, in spite of what everyone thinks. Dumbledore knows something he has not told us and, until then, we can't let our guard down."
Harry sighed. "Okay, okay. I just... needed to let off some steam." He slumped in his chair. He and Snape got along okay but... eww.... Married? Yucch!
"Understandable," Sirius nodded.
"You're sure you'll be freed by the ICW?" Harry asked for the bazillionth time.
"I know I'm innocent," Sirius assured him. "It'll be fine."
"Then I'll see you just after my birthday," Harry said.
"I'll be there!" Sirius promised.
Harry closed the mirror, for once looking forward to the rest of the summer.
-The End-
Author Notes:
Original Prompt: No. 58: Harry's name comes out of the goblet of fire but since he's underage, it pulls a version of him from the future, one who was expecting this to happen and is looking forward to it being his turn to take on the tournament, deal with Voldemort, and start his relationship with Severus.
Sorry for essentially skipping the Second and Third Tasks but I didn't want to re-write all of GOF, I wanted a fic I could finish.
At this point, this is all I plan to write in this universe. Doesn't mean I may not re-visit it again but it won't be soon...