His Own Man

Chapter 1: The Goblet

By Jamnaz79

Notice: I do not own Harry Potter. I write this not for money but just for fun and the hell of it. I do not claim ownership of anything to do with Harry Potter.

Harry looked around the filled Great Hall. It was packed with the addition of the students from Beauxtons and Durmstrang in attendance plus he honored guests. Tonight would be an interesting night since it was when the Goblet of Fire would select the champions for the three schools. It would be a night that hopefully for Harry would set a new precedent for his life.

The emerald eyed young man was wearing his new best clothing. It was clothes that he had purchased out with Remus and padfoot earlier this summer. Had a nice dark green silk shirt, black suit pants and basilisk hide boots on under a very expensive set of robes with the House symbol of Potter on the crest. When he had taken out the clothing it had been a surprise for everyone, it was hidden away in one of the compartments of his new trunk. But, that was part of the point, tonight was to be the night when he surprised everyone.

Harry was tired of how he was treated at Hogwarts. He was treated by the professors as either a criminal or with kid gloves. He was believed to be nothing special academically and lazy student. But, really that was not him, he knew the information and even most of the spells but he had always held back. It was partly due to his upbringing and partly due to his best friend who needed the spotlight academically. But, he had decided to change that this year. He would stop holding back and start being who he really was. What was the reason for this change?

The reason was Sirius and Remus. During last year Remus taught him every day after classes, at first it was catch up because he was behind in his studies. Then it was the patronus charm along the classwork for the third year. They progressed faster and faster in feeding Harry information and by the end of the year he was already doing work for fifth year students would have had difficulties doing. This continued over the summer and even expanded as Sirius joined in. Sirius understanding how powerful his godson was after scaring off one hundred dementors to save his life realized he could broaden the horizons of Harry. Since the young man was always in the middle of a ton of mischief, he figured he might as well at least teach him some of the Black curses and defensive techniques to assist him. This eventually expanded to politics, reading body languages and lesson on wizarding culture once he learned that his godson had never been taught any of it. Sure Sirius wasn't a follower of his families rhetoric but that didn't mean he didn't understand it wasn't useful to know.

After those changes, this year had continued for the young Potter heir as he worked to learn as much information as possible till he felt ready. Tonight was to be his coming out, tonight was hopefully to be his chance to prove to the world that he wasn't just the boy-who-lived. He was Harry Potter, future Lord of the Ancient House of Potter.

He now turned his emerald eyes towards the front as Albus Dumbledore stood up and smiled at the gathered folk before him. The ancient wizard, rumored to be over one hundred and seventy, smiled at the audience before he spoke up, "I bid you welcome on this Halloween. It has been a special night in our culture for centuries and even more special after the events thirteen years ago. So it is fitting that we draw from the Goblet of Fire on this sacred night in order to revitalize our hope for a brighter future of work and prosperity between all of the elite schools of Europe."

Harry grimaced at the reference to his family as multiple people turned to look at him. Sure to them this was a wonderful night to rejoice the disappearance of the Dark Lord Voldemort. To him it was instead a night to remember that his parents were murdered in cold blood and he was shipped off to prison with a group of muggles that loved the idea of beating him. He was drawn out of his thoughts as the ancient Headmaster continued, "The Tri-Wizard Tournament has always in the past stood for excellence, skill and fantastic displays of ability. The champions are set against three tasks in order to determine the most skilled upcoming individual in magical Europe. I am proud that Hogwarts will be able to host the first tournament in one hundred and fifty years! I look forward to the next being held in six years at Beauxtons Academy."

The Chief Warlock stepped around the staff desk and walked in his garish purple with pink polka-dot robs before the Goblet of Fire. The magical artifact spit and burned with a heavy dark flame at almost sent flickers to the old man's long beard. "It is my pride to announce the champions. When you name is announced please exit to the small chamber on the left for a talk."

The first piece of parchment fluttered up from the goblet floating upwards till it landed into the hand of Albus who took it with a smile. He slowly opened it up and spoke loud and clearly, "From Durmstrang, Victor Krum!"

The world renowned seeker stood up with his rigid discipline and stern demeanor as he looked around the room once and executed a crisp formal bow. The young man walked into the waiting room closing the door after him.

The second piece of parchment floated upwards from the goblet and into the hand of the Headmaster. He again opened it with a smile, "Fleur Delacour of Beauxtons Academy!"

The beautiful young woman stood up in her light blue outfit that somehow snug tightly to her chest and hips. She appeared to be without makeup, but that did nothing to hide the elegance and beauty she radiated. Many of the young men of the hall seemed to be drooling. A good example was Ron who had food halfway to his mouth before she stood up. He actually had dropped half of the pudding onto his lap from the spoon but never noticed. The attractive blonde performed a curtsey before walking off with a sway of hips towards the aforementioned room.

After she left the hall the third sheet of parchment fluttered up upwards and into the hands of the Headmaster. He slowly opened it up with another smile. That smile faded at once as his skin took on a pale cast as he read over the name. His eyes shot up, not twinkling for once towards Harry with a frown on the edges of his lips. He seemed to recover himself as he spoke up, "Harry Potter for Hogwarts."

The room went insane. There was arguments and shouting up and down the tables, especially from the Slytherin table to the staff table. Harry ignored it as he stood up and brushes off the crumbs from his robes. He offered a polite bow before all of those around him, ignoring the glare that came from Ronald. Instead he turned and started to walk towards the room only for Dumbledore to stop him at the goblet.

"Harry, what did you do?" The Headmaster looked at the young man with a frown still on his lips.

"I figured if this tournament would be here I would save the time and trouble of whomever was out to kill me by entering myself for once. This way I will at least be able to prepare through the tournament for the challenges and expect what is to come." Harry's lips twisted into a smile that for a moment was filled with mischief and looked exactly like James Potter.

Before the Headmaster could speak another slip of parchment fluttered up. Harry reached out and caught it opening it up to hand to the Headmaster. He couldn't help but laugh as he started to walk off, "I rest my case. This school is a death trap. But, now whoever entered my name into that goblet is also stuck in a magical contract!"

~~~HOM ~~~

Harry walked into the side door from the Great Hall leaving the yelling and complaints behind him. He softly sang to himself iron maiden which he had heard over the radio that summer, "Run to the Hills… Run for your lives…"

Inside the room the two other champions were standing by their by themselves. Viktor was over by the fireplace staring at the flames. Fleur stood by herself with her arms crossed before her chest. Both turned towards the newcomer, when they saw Harry there a look of confusion flickered across their eyes. Viktor's look turned into a smile at the sight of the scar peeking out from Harry's hairline.

On the other hand Fleur continued to look at him in confusion, "Do zey need us back into the other room little boy?"

Harry's lips twitched and he stopped his song instead turning his gaze onto the beautiful Veela. Even though he had started potions this summer he knew he still looked small for his age and far too young to be considered a champion. He instead walked over and bowed before the young woman, "I think not Ms. Delacour. I am to be your third champion."

"But, you are far too young and small to be a champion." The French witch frowned at the raven haired teenager.

The first rule of a marauder according to Sirius is never let them see you sweat. So he instead laughed with a grin before answering her with a wink, "I promise you Ms. Delacour I am far from small where it counts."

Any reply that might have come was cut off as the door slammed open and the three Headmasters with associates came into the room arguing. Harry turned towards them and crossed his arms over his chest waiting for the coming explosion.

He was not disappointed as Dumbledore walked briskly before Harry with disappointment in his gaze. "Harry, why did you enter yourself into the tournament?"

The young man merely raised an eyebrow making certain not to meet the eyes of the Headmaster as his godfather had warned him of the man's ability to read a mind. "I already told you Headmaster, I figured that no matter what I would be forced to compete. After all this year couldn't be different than the past few years with murder attempts, basilisks and teachers that are being controlled against me. So why not at least enter of my own free will."

"That is very dangerous of you to do Harry. I don't think you would have had to compete, but now I don't see a way to get you out of this." The Headmaster leaned in giving his best disappointed grandfather look.

"He is an arrogant child just like his father was Headmaster." Snape snapped at the chance at Harry.

The young man rolled his eyes with a smirk lighting up his face, "Indeed, I am the arrogant child but he is the one that holds a grudge against a dead man. Now he instead takes it out on the man's son. Why is he even here? This should be the Champions, Judges and officials. Is there a quota that requires one dead eater in the room?"

Out of the corner of his eye Harry saw Karkaroff flinch. The young man shook his head slowly and ran his fingertips through his messy hair in frustration. "You want to know why I knew I would be in this Headmaster? Because you always make a mistake that causes me to be in danger, it seems to be your delight to watch me go through trials."

"So this time I figured I would just do it myself. Hell, I am sure you don't have a clue who put my name into the goblet the second time do you? I am certain you didn't bother to post portraits to watch it? What about House elves or ghosts? It is not like the castle doesn't have plenty of them." Harry frowned at the man not noticing how the room became quiet. His eyes glowed slightly with anger as if the fires of his eyes were stoked with power. "Why did I enter the tournament? It is simple, at least this way the fool who entered me will have to compete too."

"Why would they need to compete? It was your name that came out of the goblet young man." The Headmistress of the French school ask politely with her heavy French accent, a giant of a woman asked as she looked curious at the teenagers logic.

Harry inclined his head politely with a smile, "Madame Maxime it is an honor to meet you. I have heard wonderful things of your school. Perhaps someday I could have a pamphlet of the classes offered there."

He could see the eyes of the tall woman light up at the idea of possibly poaching England's favorite son from them. Harry continued quickly though, "The answer is simple. Intent."

"A wise man once told me that intent is the key to magic. It is intent that determines if it is light or dark. It is intent that is read from magical artifacts for how they function. The intent of this goblet is for a name to be entered and drawn for someone to compete. Since I am already entered already into this tournament then the intent of the man or woman who entered me will now be read as themselves wished to enter." Harry smiled brightly as he thought about the discussion with Sirius. While the escaped convict might not exactly be wise, he was intelligent. The discussion of course was also about the differences of light, grey, and dark magic. It mainly had been about how it was the intent of the individual that determined if the spell cast was evil not the spell itself. Still, it did go into magical items.

The large woman seemed to consider his words then nodded in agreement. A large smile spread over her lips lighting up her face, "It is an interesting theory. I look forward to seeing if it is true or not. You also mentioned attempts on your life?"

Albus Dumbledore stepped into the conversation again at that point. It was obvious that this was a discussion that he did not want to take place. "I think we should concentrate on the subject at hand. Let us have the judges speak alone for a moment."

Harry mouthed out the words later to the extremely tall woman then turned to walk over next to Fleur and Viktor. They stood in silence waiting for a few minutes before the judges walked back over. Ludo Bagman came over and looked over the three of them closely, "It has been decided that despite the age of Mr. Potter you three shall be the champions. In one week time we shall have a wand weighing that each of you must be present for. The first challenge is not known, so you must prepare for anything. Good luck and may the best witch or wizard win."

Author Note: This is just a story for a bit of fun at the goblet. If Harry had met with Sirius and started to take his studies serious with Remus he obviously had the power and talent already to be something special. This story just assumes that he stopped acting the fool and started to work. After all in third year he has a mass murderer that caused his parents death to worry about. This is same man that entered the castle in October of that year, which I call motivation for hard work. Now Harry wants to be his own man instead of being just the boy-who-lived. Like it? Is it worth a story or nah? I was leaning towards a dual pairing of Daphne and Susan Bones for a bit of fun.