A/N: For those who read (and ideally reviewed) chapter 1 previously (thank you!), I have just reposted it. A few reviewers had been mildly perplexed about a point I was admittedly trying to be subtle about, so I've extended a scene to Dumbles' office, added a hospital scene, and extended the confrontation in the Great Hall. I have also made 2 or 3 minor corrections while I had the file open.
Disclaimer: Jo's world and characters are the property of Jo, some publishers and studios, and an infinite number of lawyers. Other credits in closing A/N.
- HPATFS: The End -
In a windowless dungeon room, the sole door closed and warded, he quietly reviewed his notes. It had taken him weeks to discover the activation charms, months to plan and execute the theft, all made more difficult because so many of his friends had been lost to the war. Hermione. Ron, Neville. Ginny. All gone. And so many others. McGonagall. Flitwick. Tonks. Lupin. Fleur. Gone.
Dumbledore still around. Even more useless since he lost his magic, but still muttering about his so-called Greater Good. Stupid bloody goat, got everyone killed with his "Everyone deserves a second chance," and "I'm very disappointed with your vengeful attitude."
Well, Hermione didn't get a second chance, did she? WELL? OR RON, OR LUNA?
Oh god.
Harry had despaired of ever winning against Voldemort until he remembered the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and concocted this crazy plan. Crazy plan. Hopefully deadly. And if Harry didn't survive it, well, no matter. Everyone he loved was dead. He hoped he could at least see his parents again.
Putting his notes down, Harry rechecked the wards. They were as perfect as he could cast them – he'd studied for years, and practised them over and over to make sure they'd last until the end. And he had stored over a month worth of food and drink, as it simply wouldn't do to have to break the seals early for something he'd stupidly forgotten.
He uncovered the Goblet of Fire, and cast the charms that triggered the start of another tournament. Blue-white flames erupted, dancing around and through the Goblet. He located the three strips of parchment he'd prepared. On the first he wrote "Konstantin Trevelyan – Durmstrang," and "Julien Malfoy – Beauxbatons" on the second. Finding the names of Dark wizards and Voldemort supporters at the other schools had taken some research too. When he found that half the Malfoy family actually lived in France, well, one can't look a gift horse in the mouth.
On the final slip he wrote "Tom Marvolo Riddle – Hogwarts", and, after a final check of the spelling of all three, threw the slips into the Goblet. He settled down to wait.
The next day, the flames from the Goblet turned red, sparks flew up, and the three slightly singed slips were thrown in the air.
Harry spoke clearly, "The first task will take place in 30 days, here in this room." He again settled down to wait. It would be boring, but unfortunately the Tournament Rules said there must be at least 30 days from the time the champions were selected, until the first task.
And it would be 31 days until the time limit he built into the charms and wards on the room. Just in case he no longer had the magic to bring them down himself.
- Fin -
A/N: Honorable mention goes to Robst for being the first I'm aware of who forced Voldemort into the Tournament, in his excellent story "Knowledge is Power".
A/N Sept 19 2010: I have just stumbled across Bobmin's "Tournament Woes" over at fanficauthors, which ends Riddle in almost exactly the same way as I've done here. So mine is a shameless theft, except that I hadn't read Bobmin's before writing mine. Still, full credit and all that.