Chapter Fourteen: The Goblet

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While the rest of the school was busy, Salazar slipped into the girls' washroom in the second floor. Ignoring Myrtle's wide eyes as she realised who he really was, he turned to the tap with snakes engraved on it and spoke a single word in Parseltongue.

"Open."

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Ginny wasn't sure how to react when Harry said that he reopened his not-so-secret chamber.

Hermione, on the other hand, responded immediately. "You did what?"

(Nearby, Madame Pince narrowed her eyes at the table the four students were occupying. If there was another outburst, she'd make them leave the library. Her hawk eyes would glance towards them every few minutes.)

Harry gave her a look. "I went down to the Chamber last night. I wanted to see if I can clean the place up and try to get into one of my rooms down there."

Across the table, Draco gestures towards him as if saying 'Why do I even bother trying?'

Finally, Ginny said, "Thanks, by the way, for telling us that you built a secret chamber in our school. It's not like we cared or anything about the school that we created together."

Harry winced at her tone. "In my defence..." He trailed off seeing her glare. "Nevermind. You're right. I should've told you all that I built a secret chamber under the school."

Ginny nodded, satisfied.

"Students, be aware that the Triwizard Tournament Contestants shall be picked tonight. Do not forgo this chance to participate!"

They all looked up at the announcement. Harry's mouth twisted downwards. He had a bad feeling about the tournament, not that Hogwarts should have been part of it in the first place.

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"HARRY POTTER!"

Wait, what? Surely I heard that wrong.

After taking a glance around and seeing Ron's jealous face, Harry realised that he was not trapped in some horrid nightmare and had been chosen by the Goblet of Fire for some godforsaken reason. Did it forget that three people had already been chosen?

Still sitting, Harry gave the Headmaster an unimpressed look. "Really funny Professor. This is the TriWizard Tournament, not three people and an extra Harry Potter for luck."

Students around the hall looked confused at the nonchalant response.

("Didn't Potter enter his own name in? Why is the cheat acting like he didn't put his name in?")

Turning to look at his friends, he saw that they all had a frown on their faces but they didn't seem to be directed at him. Instead, they looked towards Dumbledore and the Goblet. Draco, in particular, kept his gaze on Dumbledore.

(Unbeknownst to Harry, Dumbledore had an eye on Draco as well.)

With a last look towards his friends, Harry walked to the antechamber, ignoring the dark looks and murmurs following in his wake.

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"Why does this shit always happen on Halloween?" Harry asked no one in particular. Diggory had a look of pity, while Krum and Delacour looked unsure of who to believe. He ignore the scandalized looks and frowns at the use of the vulgar word.

Dumbledore's eyes gazed at Harry intensely. "Are you sure that you did not put your name in the Goblet, or perhaps asked an older student to do so?"

Harry narrowed his eyes back.

"Is that even possible? If it is, then why didn't you do something to make sure the older students can't put a younger student's name in?"

Dumbledore's gaze faltered. "No, it's not exactly plausible, however-"

Harry's threw his hands into the air, completely done with all of this nonsense. "Then, why would you even ask me such a question? Clearly, I have no idea how this happened. I certainly did not put my name in or ask anyone else to do so."

Snape sneered nastily, "Why should anyone believe you Potter? This is exactly the type of arrogant, attention-seeking behaviour you normally exhibit."

Harry looked the Potions Master, half-incredulously, half-angrily. "Excuse me, does 'The Boy-Who-Lived not ring a bell? I have no need for fame nor money."

Crouch finally spoke with the air of someone trying to impose authority and failing, "Regardless of who put his name in the Goblet, the boy must compete."

"The Boy-Who-Lived competing on the Triizard Tournament! What a day the Daily Prophet will have!"

Harry gave Bagman a look filled with so much disgust, the man actually took a step back and stopped talking.

Harry frowned at Crouch. "Why do I have to participate? What exactly is forcing me? It's not like a signed a contract or anything, forcing me to compete lest I lose my magic or some other nonsense."

Crouch's beady eyes stared back at Harry. "Whatever the Goblet decrees is what we must follow."

Harry looked unimpressed. "So you're just talking out of your arse then?"

Professor McGonagall sternly replied, "Mr. Potter, watch your language."

He looked incredulously at her. "These people are trying to put me into some death competition that I did not sign up for and you're telling me to watch my language? Unbelievable!"

Dumbledore actually sighed. "Harry, my boy, what do we have to do to convince you to participate in the Triwizard Tournament?"

This time, the other students actually spoke up. Finally.

"Why is this little boy being allowed to participate?" Fleur asked indignantly with a strong French accent.

Nevermind. Harry was so done with this nonsense. He saw Viktor glance at him out of the corner of his eye.

"If Potter must participate, the judges can score him zero for each task. That way he is still participating but not part of the competition." Viktor's suggestion silenced the room for a few moments.

The adults seemed to think it over and agreed to it after seeing that Harry was not going to budge.

Thankful for the resolution to this particular issue, Harry strode out of the room. He sensed more than heard Diggory's presence behind him. "Yes?"

He heard Diggory's stumble and he hid a small smile. "Um, I thought that you put your name in the Goblet but you seemed like you really didn't want to compete."

Harry didn't turn around when he answered. "I don't. But since I'm not technically competing and not an outsider, there is one thing I can do." He smirked, "Regardless of who's competing we're both representing Hogwarts. And we're going to win. Meet me by the lake on Friday after lunch. We have to prepare for the first task."

Ignoring Diggory's confused quieries, Harry made his way back to Gryffindor Tower.

AN: As you can probably tell, I'm not investing much time in writing this story. I don't even know if anyone is still reading this, but I had this chapter lying around for months and I finally finished it.

-Madsinator (11/15/19)