Harry's Response

October 1994

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Inside the room Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped around the fire.

Victor Krum was standing slightly apart from the two while Cedric was standing with his hands behind the back and eyes focused on the fire.

Fleur Delacour looked around when Harry walked in and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair.

"What is it?" she said. "Do they want us back in the Hall?"

She thought he had come to deliver a message. Harry did not answer her question and stood impassively.

There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He marched towards Harry and tried to take hold of his arms but one stare from Harry's glowing green eyes and he stepped back nervously.

"Extraordinary!" he muttered, after taking control back over his emotions. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen . . . lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce — incredible though it may seem — the fourth Triwizard champion?"

Victor Krum straightened a bit while Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman and Harry.

Fleur Delacour smiled, "Very funny joke, Mr. Bagman."

"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"

Victor furrowed his brows while Cedric looked bewildered.

Fleur frowned. "But evidently there has been a mistake," she said contemptuously to Bagman. "He cannot compete. He is too young."

Bagman then tried to explain how the age restriction was something which has only been introduced this year and since Harry's name came out of the Goblet he would have to continue.

The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door.

"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "They are saying that this little boy is to compete also!"

Harry felt his anger rising on being treated as if he was not even present in the room. He felt anger about how Fleur kept referring to him as he was some insignificant worm.

The same phenomenon of suffocation which had happened earlier in the Great Hall repeated itself in the room. Magic swirled around in Harry and his presence felt heavy.

Whatever Madame Maxime was about to reply got choked in her mouth.

"What is this happening, headmaster?" Asked Harry. "Surely, you would have an explanation," said Harry with his voice rising after every word. "Of how my name came out of the Goblet when you had drawn the age restriction line yourself."

Madame Maxime regained her composure. "What is the meaning of this, Dumbly-dorr?" she said imperiously.

"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips of ice. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions — or have I not read the rules carefully enough?"

He gave a short and nasty laugh.

"That is impossible," said Madame Maxime. "Hogwarts cannot have two champions. It is most unjust."

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."

"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff," said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here —"

Snape was not even finished with his sentence when he was struck by a yellow light and before anyone knew he was smashed onto the wooden chair placed near the wall, breaking it into pieces and then on the wall.

Everyone turned around to see Harry holding his phoenix wand in his right hand. Harry's green eyes were glowing brightly but they appeared extremely dangerous and ominous. The weaker people in the room, the likes of Bagman, Cedric, Victor and Fleur subconsciously took a step back away from Harry.

"Harry," shouted Dumbledore with his eyes flaring with anger. The old man was truly angry this time and he also lost the control over his powerful magic. His beard floated in air and magic swirled around him.

This was Dumbledore, the leader of the light and the most powerful wizard alive and definitely among the greatest to exist in the Wizarding history.

"What is the meaning of this?" He shouted.

Harry ignored his question and faced Snape who was struggling to reach for his wand which was lying on the floor at some distance from Snape.

Harry flickered his right hand and another yellow light shot from his wand. The spell struck Snape on the chest and he was again smashed into the wall. A sound of crack followed indication few broken bones in Snape's body.

Dumbledore raged intensified and with a wave of his sleeve, a wand was in his hands. He was to fire some spell, when professor McGonagall's voice interrupted him, "What are you doing, Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore came to a realisation and stopped but he still held his wand tightly in his hands.

Professor McGonagall turned to Harry, "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Potter?"

Before Harry could answer she turned towards Cedric, "Mr. Diggory, will you please call Madam Pomfrey in the chamber. I believe Mr. Snape is in need of medical care."

Although she herself did not made any effort to take Snape to the hospital wing.

Cedric gave a nod and walked quickly towards the gate and then outside the room.

She turned back towards Harry with an expression that said now is the time to answer. Every other eye in the room also was fixed on Harry.

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