46. I'm In

It was a year like any other. Boring classes, an annoying bat, a crazy old man, and the presence of dementors.

Okay, it wasn't a year like any other, but it was good for Harry, who could train his Patronus very calmly, since there were so many training dummies floating in the air. And we used them mercilessly, as they would fall to the noseless man in the future.

Or is it not?

At the end of that year, with the fiasco in capturing the fugitives, our attentive and lovable Minister, Cornelius Fudge, began to appear more and more at Hogwarts.

His idea was to use Harry as a podium, to ask the boy to be seen going in and out of the Ministry sometimes, as if he was helping with something.

The flaws in that plan were so many, I nearly threw up.

First, what would a 13-year-old boy help in his search for wanted killers? That same boy, being the target of the fugitives, seeking revenge for his slave master, and third, he didn't even know how to Apparate, so what help would he be, flying around in circles with his broom?

For Fudge, it was just a cloud of smoke he wanted to use, to stay in power, but unfortunately, Dumbledore was far from being able to help, as the only people who could agree to this were his sworn enemies.

Evans Black and Sirius Black, the names that were bringing the Ministry to ruin. Mainly because, every week, new evidence of his involvement with families not so loyal to magical Britain appeared.

When I say that, I mean it in the sense of his accepting bribes to overlook certain matters that would benefit a few families, and get the majority of the people into serious trouble.

Like, for example, the law about werewolves and Muggle-borns that the purebloods were pushing hard for him to pass.

The law stated that Muggle-borns, like werewolves, must give their names and residences to the ministry, so that they can be 'protected' more effectively against possible false claims.

We know where this is going.

But Fudge hadn't given up his power, so, as a last desperate act, he managed to bring Britain the Quidditch World Cup final and, not least, the Triwizard Tournament to Hogwarts.

This time, the tournament between schools did not come as a surprise to the students and residents of Brittany, as he needed all the support possible from the people to remain in office, and giving these events to his people, made him believe that the situation it would cool down a bit.

Knowing this, I intensified the training of Harry, who was confused. But he said nothing, not wanting to alarm the boy any more than necessary. I just hinted that with the tournament, if he wanted to participate, at least he would be prepared.

Taking advantage of the fact that this year's school supplies also required formal attire, I invited Hermione, Luna and Ginny to spend the rest of the holidays at my house, teaching us how to dance.

Harry took advantage of the situation to invite Ginny, who fainted before answering, and I invited Hermione, who accepted. Luna just had that dreamy look on her face, but she said her invitation would come later.

Nev had already been warned by me that a ball might take place, so he quickly thought of Luna. Not for the wrong reasons, but because she wanted to take her sister, as he called her, out for a good time.

He arrived the day before we left for Hogwarts, and he took advantage of the fact that Luna was already there and proposed, which the girl happily accepted. I could only smile at that little girl. She was really cute.

After boarding the train, join our group and talk a little about how the vacation was, eat the sweets from the cart and try to control Luna who had a suitcase with only pudding.

We arrived at Hogwarts, which looked much livelier. Professor Pomona looked at me with resentment that I had turned down Prefect. I claimed it was too much trouble for the badgers, which she didn't take very well.

Another one who looked at me with a certain anger was Hermione, after Harry let slip that I turned down Prefect, she gave me a nice scolding, which was endorsed by Andromeda and Dora, on their rare visits.

The days passed at Hogwarts in a normal way, but this time without the ghosts of the cold around us. The castle looked as if it had been given a makeover to make visitors look better.

Then we went together to the Great Hall, where we were introduced to the other two schools, who entered with great pomp. Beauxbatons, the school with its beautiful Veelas and Durmstrang, the institute that loves to teach dark magic.

The three Headmasters, along with Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch, stood around the cup, casting countless spells, which Dumbledore effortlessly made a magical line circle around it.

"For security reasons, no student under the age of 17 will be able to enroll. And as I know that many underage students will still try, we made this protection line, just in case. Good luck." Dumbledore taunts.

But he didn't expect that someone wouldn't wait and get up on time.

"May I try, Director?" I ask, with an excited smile, as Harry just shakes his head laughing.

"Make yourself at home my boy." he teases, very sure of his magic. "I guarantee no one will interfere until you give up or finish." he takes responsibility.

Madame Maxime and Igor Karkaroff just chuckled off to the side, finding it amusing.

I took from Hermione's hands, a piece of paper she was reading, and a quill, writing my name. She almost protested, but noticing the school and the guests looking in her direction, she turned into a tomato and fell silent.

I put the paper in my pocket, and went to the cup. After passing through the magic circle, which showed no reaction, I placed my hand on the cup. I moved it a little on the pedestal it was on, and it wasn't stuck.

Very calmly, I held her with both hands, and took her out of the place, taking her out of the circle, after leaving, I just deposited my name, waited for the chalice to accept and took it back to her place. I bowed to all of them, and taking advantage of the complete silence and disbelief of the people around, I returned to my seat.