บท 232: Chapter 232: "The Aftermath of the Champion Selection"
The Ravenclaw common room was alive with celebration when Harry finally made his way back to his dormitory. The excitement of having their housemate chosen as the Hogwarts champion had the Ravens in high spirits, and it was well past midnight when Harry could finally retreat to his room.
As he entered, he found Roger and Reggy waiting for him, their faces a mix of excitement and concern.
Roger spoke first, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Are you not mad, Harry, that your moment was stolen by your brother also becoming a champion?"
Harry sank onto his bed, a wry smile playing on his lips. "No, I'm not mad. To be honest, I expected something like this to happen, so I was prepared."
Reggy's eyes widened in surprise, nearly choking on the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean he'd been chewing. "What? You knew Charles was going to be selected?"
Harry shook his head, his green eyes glinting in the dim light. "No, not specifically. But I knew something was going to happen. Why? Just because today was Halloween. Something wrong always happens on Halloween at Hogwarts. Maybe it's a curse."
Reggy's mouth formed an 'O' of realization. "Blimey, with all the excitement, I completely forgot today was Halloween. Well, that explains the unexpected show."
Roger leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "So how do you reckon he got into the tournament?"
Harry ran a hand through his messy hair, considering his words carefully. "No idea, to be honest. He got in not as the Hogwarts champion, but as the champion of a fourth school. It takes powerful magic to tamper with an artifact like the Goblet of Fire, which Charles is certainly not capable of. So someone wanted him to be in the tournament. As for the reason..." he trailed off, leaving the ominous implication hanging in the air.
Reggy waved a dismissive hand, nearly knocking over a stack of books on his nightstand. "Well, Charles would have to do his best to come out of this alive. He is not a contender for the cup since he stands no chance against you three, a part-veela, Krum, or you, Harry. He's going to have a tough time of it."
Roger nodded in agreement, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Yeah. Dumbledore would have to do something to ensure he even survives the dragon you mentioned is in the first task."
The room fell silent for a moment, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Roger and Reggy knew that even if Harry had no familial feelings for the Potters, he would not want his younger brother to be injured or die in this tournament. With a collective sigh, they called it a day, each lost in their own musings about the tournament ahead.
---
The next morning, the Great Hall buzzed with excited chatter as students filed in for breakfast. At the staff table, Dumbledore stood, his usual twinkling eyes somber under the watchful and angry gaze of Lily Potter. She did not like the fact that her young boy was forced to participate in this dangerous tournament.
"Students," Dumbledore's voice carried across the hall, instantly quieting the chatter. "I must address the events of last night. It has come to our attention that someone tampered with the Goblet of Fire, causing it to select a champion for a nonexistent fourth school. I want to make it abundantly clear that Charles Potter is not responsible for his inclusion in the tournament."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as Dumbledore continued, "However, due to the nature of the magical contract formed by the Goblet, Charles must participate or risk losing his magic. We are investigating this matter thoroughly and will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all champions."
As Dumbledore's words sank in, Harry observed the reactions around him. Unlike the canon universe, where there had been no such clarification, leading to bullying, this time an angry mother had forced Dumbledore to make the announcement.
However, as Harry looked around, he noticed that there might not have been a need for it. Unlike the canon, where jealousy and resentment had run rampant, the student body seemed largely sympathetic to Charles's plight. Even the Slytherins, usually quick to mock, appeared more intrigued than antagonistic.
Perhaps it was because in this world, the fourth champion, Charles, had not stolen the thunder of the underappreciated Hufflepuff house. This removed most of the bitterness.
Over at the Gryffindor table, Harry noticed Ron Weasley's face contorted with a mix of jealousy and betrayal. It seemed some things remained constant across timelines. However, Hermione and Ginny Weasley sat resolutely by Charles's side, expressions a mixture of worry and determination.
Outside the castle walls, the wizarding world was abuzz with the news of the fourth champion. The Daily Prophet's headline screamed: "POTTER DYNASTY AIMS FOR TRIWIZARD DOMINATION!" Rita Skeeter's article was a masterpiece of insinuation and conspiracy, suggesting the Potters had orchestrated Charles's entry to increase their chances of victory.
Harry couldn't help but smirk as he read the outlandish theories. They were a fun read.
Life as a champion brought its own set of challenges for Harry. His already considerable fan following had grown to almost unmanageable proportions. Even with Viktor Krum's presence in the castle, Harry found himself constantly dodging admirers, often resorting to his invisibility cloak for moments of peace.
"Blimey, Harry," Cedric commented one day as they watched a group of giggling third-years hurry past. "I thought I was having it bad in the school, but this is another level entirely."
Harry sighed, running a hand through his perpetually messy hair. "Tell me about it. I'm considering setting up a decoy to throw them off the scent."
Cedric grinned. "When you do come up with such a spell, teach it to me too. I might need it as well."
In the days that followed, Lily Potter threw herself into preparing Charles for the challenges ahead. Harry often saw them in empty classrooms, Lily drilling Charles on defensive spells and evasive maneuvers. She even convinced Moody to help.
One evening, as Harry was leaving the library, Lily approached him, her green eyes - so like his own - filled with a mixture of hope and desperation.
"Harry," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I know things between us are... complicated. But please, if you can, look out for Charles. He's in over his head, and I'm terrified for him."
Harry regarded her coolly. After a moment, he gave a non-committal nod and walked away, leaving Lily standing in the corridor, her shoulders sagging with the weight of her worries.
Harry had promised his grandmother that Halloween night that he would keep his brother safe, and even without Lily's reminder, he would have done that. Charles might fall into some dangerous situations, but Harry would be there to control the situation and ensure that Charles got out without much harm.
Harry might be the only champion who was not practicing desperately. Enough said about Charles's training with Lily and Moody, even the other champions were not idle. Fleur Delacour could often be seen practicing intricate wand movements by the lake, her silvery hair glinting in the autumn sun. Viktor Krum, when not being mobbed by fans, spent hours in the library, poring over books on magical creatures and defensive spells.
Harry, meanwhile, was still assisting his master Flitwick in his apprenticeship duties. They did duel every now and then, but it was all the usual. Nothing special for the tournament. Flitwick knew Harry could handle anything that came at him.
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