A Not So Story -x- The Fourth Champion is Chosen

It was Halloween night; the night the Champions names would be selected for the Triwizard Tournament. Even though the three of them arrived very early for supper, everybody else had the same idea. Ron, Harry and Hermione were relegated to some seats about as far away from the Goblet of Fire as was possible and still be in the Great Hall. Ginny waved to them from her place further forward but gave up her seat to come back and sit between Harry and Hermione.

The four of them sat and watch the other two schools as they ate their meal. The wizards from the Durmstrang Academy were still eating at the Slytherin table and Harry saw that Malfoy was still running his mouth on about how important his father was to the Minister of Magic. All of the wizards from northern Europe were very somber and serious fellows. They were a little quirky, however. They had met the Bloody Baron and were laughing at his jokes the night they arrived. A few minutes later Helena Ravenclaw, the Grey Lady, floated through the corridor and three of the younger boys had screamed shrilly and fainted. The rest ran away yelling for protection. Evidently the word at Durmstrang was that all female ghosts were vicious man-hungry creatures that nibbled on the more sensitive bits of the male anatomy. It was an enjoyable couple of weeks as witches and wizards from Hogwarts snuck up on those visitors and screamed "Boo" in their ears.

The girls from Beauxbatons, however, were a pleasure to look at. But they didn't say much other than the occasional giggle they issued as most wizards gawked at them openly and ran into walls and other solid obstructions. Harry seemed immune to their allure and some people, mainly the Slytherins, accused him of being a poof. They second time they had done that to him, Harry turned, grabbed Hermione firmly around the waist, bent her over backward, and snogged the living daylights out of her. The Slytherins had mumbled to themselves and went on their way.

Neither Harry nor Hermione noticed for some reason for three whole minutes. Harry had straightened the two of them back up and apologized to his friend. When she eventually got her eyes back in focus, Hermione said she understood the circumstances and apologies weren't needed.

Harry smiled. "Good then I won't feel bad about doing that again" he said as he leaned into Hermione. They were still a little dizzy when they arrived late for Charms class but both were smiling when Professor Flitwick took points from both of them. Ron hadn't discovered they were dating for all of three weeks. They went everywhere together and Harry never minded that Hermione wanted to bring Ginny Weasley with them. She was absolutely brilliant at glaring her brother Ron away from the couple. The fact that Hermione didn't mind if Ginny stole an occasional kiss from Harry didn't hurt Ginny's feelings at all.

Ginny was now pointing out that Colin Creevy was running around and taking pictures of the wizards and witches that had submitted their names to the cup. Harry nodded and hoped Collin would be content to take pictures of the tournament and the champions for the whole year. Ginny leaned a little into Harry and asked him if he had made any bets. Hermione expressed her disapproval of the gambling as she looked over the racing form her father kept sending her every week. Mr. Granger was convinced that being a witch meant that Hermione had some special gift that would help him at the race track. So far it hadn't worked out like he planned but he hadn't given up hope yet.

Ron finally made shushing motions to his three seatmates after dinner was finished. "I don't want to miss anything." Ron was very excited about seeing who was going to be picked from Hogwarts and which of the attractive girls would represent Beauxbatons. He was so full of hero worship for Viktor Krum however that he had gone against any sort of sense and laid a hefty bet with Fred and George that the famous seeker would be representing Durmstrang. Now he was anxiously waiting to see if he would win any money.

Harry and Hermione were nervous for an entirely different reason. It was October 31st; every previous Halloween at Hogwarts had resulted in life threatening moments for Harry. Even the first year when the walking pus pile of a Mountain Troll had cornered Hermione in a girl's loo. When it was announced at the beginning of the term that the Champion selection would be made on this holiday, Hermione had started researching the rules and terms of the tournament and Harry had owled Sirius for advice. The three of them had come up with an alternative that might spare Harry if the unthinkable happened. Harry hoped he wouldn't have to resort to the drastic measure. The Triwizard Tournament hadn't been held for a number of years because of the many deaths of the competitors.

The Goblet of Fire finally lit up and starting shaking and glowing like a demented Christmas tree. Hermione ducked down at one point because she thought the thing might explode. Harry reassured her that the representatives from the Ministry's Departments of Magical Cooperation and Games and Leisure would be taken out first if that happened.

"Maybe we'll get lucky and Snape will get taken out by the explosion."

Harry laughed at Ron's hopeful suggestion but then Dumbledore began droning on about the history and honors that went with being the winner of the Tournament. 'Why doesn't anyone mention the dangers or the deaths that have occurred during it' Harry thought. He had stayed as far away from the cup as possible and let everyone know he wouldn't put his name in even if he was old enough.

The first chosen was Viktor Krum. Harry was glad someone else famous was going to be the center of attention for the year. Not that he wanted to jinx him or anything but Harry thought Krum's seeker's reflexes might be a better target for whatever calamities the tasks might be. And it would be nice to have the fan girls following someone else around for a while.

The second Champion chosen was named Fleur Delacour; a Veela if one believed the rumors. Harry thought it funny that most of the wizards in the hall drooled when she swayed to the front and curtseyed to her incredibly tall headmistress. Ron looked to be stupefied and almost fell out of his chair before he noticed that she had left. Ginny whispered that he was just 'stupidized' to Hermione and she smiled.

Ginny had laughed out loud the first time Harry had referred to Madame Maxine as a headmistress. "It sounds like she's the most popular scarlet lady at a brothel Harry."

Harry wondered how Ginny knew about brothels for about a second and then remembered Mrs. Weasley's almost daily rants about any female that wasn't a Weasley. He wondered somehow that it wasn't a bit of reverse psychology in sex educating her only daughter; Harry asked Ginny once and she mysteriously said that her Mum had a lot of books and manuals in a cupboard in her bedroom about what 'scarlet ladies' actually did. Harry wondered about the dazed expression Arthur Weasley had some mornings when he came down the stairs. It made Harry uncomfortable when he thought about that now.

The Goblet kept chugging along and appeared to have almost blown a gasket before it finally regurgitated (Harry liked that better than throwing up) a name for the final participant. It was Cedric Diggory, a guy that Harry thought looked remarkably somewhat like a vampire in certain lightings. But he was the Hogwarts champion and Harry let go a big sigh of relief at the announcement. Harry would cheer for him and hoped Cedric would survive until the end.

Everyone started talking about the selection of the three champions and speculating about what their chances and tests were going to be. A lot of Hogwarts students started to surround Fred and George and Harry wondered how much money Ron had made on his bet. Harry had stood and was giving a hand to Hermione when the Goblet shook once and made a horrendously loud fart before flaming up again. Professor Dumbledore hurried back from the other doorway to pick up the charred piece of parchment from where it had landed on the floor.

Colin Creevy was trampled by the returning students as they boomeranged back to their seats. He ended up being shoved beneath the Beauxbatons table where he snapped enough interesting pictures to finance the rest of his and his brother's tuition for many years. It came to light later that the All-girls school had a significant number of exhibitionists that thought half-zipped robes alone were all they should wear.

Meanwhile Dumbledore's face had gotten very red as he looked around the hall. He was searching for someone in particular.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Hermione groaned while Harry closed his eyes. It really wasn't going to happen, was it?

Harry opened his eyes a second later to see the look of disbelieve on Dumbledore's face. It seemed to be in slow motion that Harry heard his name called out.

"Harry Potter?"

Harry swore. "Nobody here by that name."

Ron glowered and took a swing at Harry. He missed because he had to try to reach across Hermione. Harry grabbed Ron's errant fist and pulled on it taking him down to the floor. Ron looked up to see his sister standing over him. "He's your best friend Ron and you don't believe him when he said he didn't enter."

"Malfoy's right – he's a glory hound! And he could have put my name in when he put his in."

Ginny stamped her foot in frustration and Ron quit making any sound except for a high squeal. Hermione looked down to see where Ginny's foot was and made a face. She pulled her wand out and pointed it at Ginny's shoe. "You don't want to know where that's been Ginny. Scourgify!"

The spell hit Ginny's shoe and (fortunately or not) Ron's crotch where Ginny had put her foot down. Ron squealed once again and then passed out.

"Thank you Hermione" Ginny said.

"Harry Potter!"

"He's left for parts unknown. Left no forwarding address."

Everyone was staring at Harry. Most of the Hufflepuffs were trying to push their way through the crowds to get to Harry and remove Cedric's competition. Hermione put up a shield to deflect most of the thrown hexes; most fell to the floor and hit the unconscious Ron Weasley. He really looked like a mess now; Harry wondered how many foul tasting potions Madame Pomfrey was going to have lined up for him to drink when and if he awoke.

Dumbledore called out again. "Mr. Potter. Front and center. Now!"

The crowds of students parted as a giant bowling ball appeared in front of the Headmaster and began rolling toward Harry. "That's the Infamous Earl Anthony Special spell" Hermione whispered. "That's how Dumbledore supposedly took out ten giants in the Battle of Brunswickle Lane."

"Thanks Hermione. Keep your fingers crossed. Here goes nothing."

Harry stood up as the ball came to a stop atop Ron for a couple of seconds and then vanished. Harry stepped over the unconscious git and with Hermione and Ginny providing backup made his way to the front of the hall. Ginny fired off her bat-bogey hex off four times at people that were booing Harry. Hermione sent a very nasty "Trotsus Maximus" spell at Draco Malfoy who was being a bigger prig than normal. His rapid departure from the Hall could be tracked by the number of people who were holding their noses as Draco tried to run holding his behind with both hands.

Harry finally arrived in front of the Headmaster. "Did you put your name in the Goblet Harry?"

"Heck no sir. I may be young but I'm not that stupid."

"Says you" Snape muttered from behind Dumbledore. Harry raised his eyes and tried to shoot daggers at the Potions Master. He was getting a little better at the spell. Small safety pins developed in front of Harry's eyes but they only moved a few feet toward Snape before they disintegrated in midair.

"Did you ask someone to put your name in the Goblet Harry?"

""No, NO and especially, NO! I don't want to be part of this at all."

Barty Crouch was smiling evilly to one side. "Sorry Mr. Potter; the rules are quite clear. The names that come out of the Goblet of Fire are a type of binding magical contract."

Ludo Bagman however was jumping up and down in joy. "Harry Potter competes! The Boy-Who-Lived is part of the Tournament. The Ministry is going to make soooo much money selling tickets to the tasks and then there will be action figures of the four champions. And who knows what other promotional items- Champions cereal, Champion belts, etc.,etc., etc. I'll get such a flipping big bonus check."

Everyone stared at the celebrating Ministry representative. The hubbub had caused the other selected Champions to come back out from the anteroom behind the Great Hall.

"What'sss going on here." This was the first time anyone had heard Victor Krum speak. He had a serious lisp and Hermione and Ginny both backed away from the spittle spray that occurred as he talked. They looked at each other and made the universal 'Ewww!' face to each other.

Someone shouted out from the crowd. "Harry's been selected too. He's going to compete."

"He cainn't, can he Madame Maxine?" The high screechy voice that came out of Fleur Delacour's mouth had everyone flinching. As attractive as the girl was, her voice reminded everyone of nails on a blackboard. Harry thought briefly that only a deaf man could tolerate her company for more than a few minutes.

"Hey Harry."

"Hi Cedric."

"You got picked? Rotten luck."

"That's what I think."

Madame Maxine, Karkaroff and Dumbledore had been all huddled together for a number of minutes talking. They broke their huddle and Dumbledore came back to talk to Harry. Everyone else in the hall was quiet as he spoke.

"It has been decided to make you go forward Mr. Potter. Sadly, refusal to compete means breaking a magical contract and the removal of your magic. Since Mr. Diggory was chosen before you, he is the official Hogwarts champion and you cannot receive any help from me or any of the professors here at Hogwarts. The best I can offer you as an advisor is Mr. Filch."

There were groans from everyone that had ever attended Hogwarts. A high maniacal laugh was heard from back around the big doors. "I've got you now Potter."

Harry rolled his eyes and turned back to Dumbledore. "I'm sorry headmaster but I can't really do this."

There were shocked gasps that came from almost everyone around the hall. Harry was going to give up his magic? It was unbelievable.

Harry made a show of reaching into his pocket and pulled a piece of paper out. "I'm naming a substitute to compete for me."

Another set of outraged cries and gasps swept around the hall and woke up Ron Weasley. He staggered to the front of the mob as he wanted to take another swipe at Harry.

Barty Crouch Sr. was shaking his head solemnly. "The rules are quite explicit about this Mr. Potter. You cannot shove this honor off on anybody else."

"That's not quite right Mr. Crouch." Hermione stepped up beside her boyfriend Harry. "According to the official rules of the tournament, Section Four, Article 8, Paragraph 13, Subparagraph 7, Exception Number 19e – A surviving heir to a Noble family can name a replacement representative as the Tournament does not want to be the cause of the termination of a Family line. Harry is the last Potter left alive – the surviving heir. He has a right to designate a replacement or substitute competitor to take his place."

Everyone was reeling from this latest change in plans. Harry and Ginny both turned and hugged Hermione as the officials from the Ministry of Magic and the three headmasters (and headmistress) pulled out their rule books and began looking up the exception Hermione had stated. Dumbledore read the required page and pushed the rule book back into one of the many pockets in his robe and raised his voice. "What Miss Granger and Mr. Potter say is correct. Ten points to each of you for diligence and the application of investigative reasoning. You say you are ready to name a representative Mr. Potter?"

Harry raised his voice. "Yes, I have Headmaster. I have written down the name of someone that I think really deserves to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. An individual who has been with me almost from the beginning. Someone who knows what I like and dislike; a person that had experienced my greatest fears, losses, and triumphs."

With every word Harry spoke Ron smiled more and stood taller in his scuffed shoes. He knew who Harry was talking about. He thought it great that Harry wanted to name him – he would finally get his due as a wizard in his own right and grab the 1000 galleon reward and all the glory. He had been unconscious when the other champions had returned but hoped the French champion Delacour would recognize his greatness and walk away on his arm at the tournaments end.

Harry passed the folded paper to Dumbledore and he unfolded it. His eyes bulged out once again and he couldn't seem to find his voice. Barty Crouch subtly nudged the Headmaster and Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Mr. Potter this is … unexpected."

"I stand by my decision Headmaster. The present occupants of the school cannot be harmed by any of the competitors. It's a rule that keeps the Champions from cheating or taking advantage."

"Very well; I hope you know what you are doing." Harry and the two girls stepped back to the edge of the crowd. Ron came over and shook Harry's hand. "Thanks mate. I know you wouldn't let me down."

"Whatever Ron."

Dumbledore raised his voice. "Mr. Potter has chosen a representative. It is on this piece of paper. The person Harry Potter has chosen is…"

Ron stepped forward and started waving to everyone as he walked toward the dais with the other champions.

…Tom Marvolo Riddle" Dumbledore stepped back and drew his wand. Ron Weasley stopped in his tracks and then fainted. He knew that name.

"Who? What? I don't know that name." There were hundreds of questions flying around the hall but Headmaster Karkaroff had heard the name and was fighting his way toward the nearest door. Really fighting as a matter of fact, he was swinging and kicking trying to remove everyone that stood between him and getting out of the room.

Harry raised his wand and cast a Sonorus charm on himself. "Tom Riddle was a prefect that attended Hogwarts 50 years ago. But most of you might know him better as…"

There came a crash of thunder and a bright flash of light. Almost everyone gaped at the figure that suddenly appeared in front of the Goblet of Fire.

"That's Peter Pettigrew" Professor McGonagall yelled before petrifying the supposedly dead wizard. The almost bald, portly man was frozen in looking around wildly and almost everyone saw the stain appear on the front of his grubby pants as he urinated in fear.

"So where's Tom Riddle?" somebody yelled out.

Harry smiled, stepped forward and gingerly picked a small bundle out of the frozen Pettigrew's arms. "He's heee-rrre. Tom Riddle is better known as Lord Voldemort."

Chaos overtook the hall. Some witches fainted, some wizards fled. Some Slytherins threw up as Harry held up the vile squirming little mess of flesh up by the foot and heard its pitiful cries. Harry turned back to Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman. "Here's your competitor. I hope the first task involves wrestling a Nundu or something similar. By the way, it smells like his nappies need changing."

Placing the "whatever it was" down on the floor before Barty Crouch, Harry turned and waved to the stunned crowd. He also conjured up a giant size water balloon to wake up Ron and walked away from the Goblet of Fire humming.

Harry and Hermione walked out of the Great Hall smiling and wondering if they would have time to eat a decent size bowl of popcorn as Tom Riddle competed in the first task.