Chapter Text
Harry paced. It was his entrance into the Triwizard Tournament that was causing his pacing. Well not really, he thought, it was the whole Hogwarts experience. When he first heard of Hogwarts he didn't believe magic was real. He soon believed and welcomed the escape from the Dursley family. Now he was in the side room with everyone yelling back and forth about him being entered, how he had to cheat, and demanding answered. Snape was the one accusing him of cheating and wanted him expelled as usual. He wasn't surprised by that fact. He pulled out his wand. "I, Harry James Potter, didn't enter the Triwizard Tournament. I didn't ask to be entered, I didn't want to be entered, and I certainly don't want to even be considered in this tournament. So mote it be." He waved his wand. "Lumos." Light sprang forth from his wand, showing he had his magic and that he was being honest.
"Harry, that wasn't necessary." Dumbledore rebuked him. He tried to look grandfatherly at Harry, showing his disappointment in the situation, his eyes twinkling away.
Harry could see the old coot was trying to send a compulsion charm at him but he ignored it. "Yes, it was. I didn't cheat. I am not lying and I am sick of this debate. I will not be competing in this tournament." Harry finished and looked at everyone. They were staring at him. He had heard what the other champions complaining about his age. He had heard the other heads demanding another champion also only to be told the Goblet wouldn't ignite again until the next tournament.
"Barty, you know the rules. Does he have to compete?" Dumbledore didn't want to be viewed as the bad guy by Harry.
"I am afraid Mr. Potter has no choice. His name was entered. It's a magically binding contract." Barty Crouch Sr. overruled all of them by saying Harry had not a choice. "It's in the rules, if you enter, you must fulfill the contract." He held up the rule book to show.
"I didn't enter, therefore, I don't. It's a magically binding contract between whoever entered my name and the Goblet of Fire. If a magically binding contract worked that way, everyone would be forcing others into them by putting their names down in their stead." Harry could see Snape was giving him a slightly confused and awed look before recovering. He did notice the man wasn't sneering or glaring at him any longer.
No one said anything for several minutes until Igor Karkaroff laughed. "He has you there. He is right. We need to find out who entered or they will lose their magic or face some type of punishment for breaking it."
Harry turned and looked at Mad-Eye. "I wonder who could have possibly entered me?" He glared at the man. It was always the DADA professors in the past that had caused him problems. He didn't see this one being any different. Especially since he was a new professor this year.
Barty Crouch, Jr. looked at Harry and realized the boy knew something. He was slightly surprised Harry didn't give him away but he was also stuck in a bind. If he didn't say he entered the boy then he might lose his magic. If he said he did enter the boy then he would get his Lord angry with him. "I am sure we can find out." He would speak to his Lord about this and see if he just showed up at the events if that counted for him competing, maybe silently casting a spell or two during the events would count.
"What are we going to do? We need Potter." Ludo Bagman needed the boy to be in the tournament. He had a lot of galleons riding on this and the goblins wanted their money. He needed Hogwarts to win and he honestly didn't think the other two stood a chance against Viktor Krum.
Harry looked at the man like he was an imbecile but was refrained from answered by Snape. "As he accurately, surprisingly accurate, pointed out he didn't enter. Therefore, he doesn't need to proceed further. I am sure he wishes to join his friends while we continue this discussion." Severus was trying to get a grasp that the boy had a brain and wondered where he had been hiding it until he remembered Granger and Weasley.
"Harry, I want to see you in my office after this." Dumbledore turned to the others to reassure them that everything would work out but was blocked by Harry standing between him and Snape.
Harry walked up to stand between Dumbledore and Snape, making sure Snape heard him. "I am not going to be competing. I have done nothing wrong."
"Harry, you need to compete. This is important." Dumbledore began to think of ways to get the boy to stay in the tournament. Guilt usually worked, if not then some potions. He could always make sure Ron and Hermione played a part in getting him to stay in it.
"No. I will make another Vow if I need to." He warned.
"I don't believe that will be necessary, Harry." Dumbledore didn't want Harry to make another Vow. He wanted to kill whoever taught the brat about Vows.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for cheek." Snape could see the anger in the boy. The tension in Harry's shoulders gave that away and he was hoping to get Harry out of this room before Harry exploded. He knew Harry was controlling his temper but he was holding onto it by a string. After all, he had spent years working on pushing the boy and his temper. Harry had Lily's temper and heart. Oh, he knew Harry wasn't a miniature James but he had a role to fulfill. He was hoping the point loss would throw Harry off of his game.
"Take all the points you want. I am not doing it and I will make a Vow." Harry didn't even turn his head toward Snape. He was working hard at not losing his temper but he was close to the point of letting his temper free.
"We will speak later." Dumbledore tone told Harry he wasn't going to give up that easy.
Harry pulled out his wand again. "I, Harry James Potter, vow to never willingly enter into this tournament. If I participate in any event, it will be because I have been coerced, under a spell, or potion. I want nothing to do with this tournament. So mote it be." Harry put his wand away and walked out of the room before anyone could react. He headed straight for the Chamber of Secrets.
Snape turned and faced Dumbledore. "Do you want me to go and find him?" He was surprised by Harry Potter. The boy just did something that would never be considered a Gryffindor move. A Gryffindor would have agreed to do the tournament. Severus had never met a Gryffindor that could resist a dare no matter how it was worded. Dumbledore had worded his words in such a way that a true Gryffindor would have responded to the guilt those words produced or to the underlying dare.
"No, not yet. He will need to calm down. We will need to find a way to fix this." Dumbledore missed the look that Snape gave him. Normally he would have sent Snape right after the boy but he needed time to figure out how to work this. He needed that boy in the tournament. There had to be a reason why his name was entered.
"I can't believe he made those Vows." Cedric Diggory had amazement in his voice. Snape knew the Hufflepuff House would hear about this and he knew his snakes would hear it from Krum and Delacour would tell everyone.
"Me either." Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum agreed. They couldn't believe the drama Britain had. First the World Cup and now this.
Madame Olympe Maxime and Igor Karkaroff exchanged a look. "What are you going to do now Dumbledore? We have a fourth entered into this tournament and we need to find out who it was. You set the charms and age line down. It had to be someone seventeen or older who entered his name." Karkaroff loved the fact that someone finally got Dumbledore.
"I will start a search immediately for the fourth." Dumbledore wanted to strangle Harry Potter. Harry just landed him in a terrible situation. He needed the boy to have his yearly confrontations. Granted last year was a surprise one with Sirius Black. He had another one he had lined up including getting Lupin outed as a werewolf. Severus played into that rather well during the year. However, he didn't have to do anything as Sirius did it for him.
"I will look into the rules but I do believe he is right." Barty Crouch Sr. added. "I didn't think of that aspect. I mean who would want to enter someone else's name into a magically binding contract?"
"Indeed." Snape commented from where he sat down after Harry left. He couldn't believe the room full of idiots. Dumbledore, he believed the man knew Harry didn't enter but wasn't above using it for his gain. He wondered to what gain exactly. He wasn't sure what Barty Crouch's game was but surely the man knew about magical contracts? He was almost the Minister of Magic. He was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement until his son's involvement with Death Eaters became known. Mad-Eye was also confusing him. While he truly didn't know or like the crazy loon, he wasn't exactly acting like himself. He expected Mad-Eye to be outraged over someone tampering with the Goblet. He was expecting the man to be insulted that someone didn't listen to Albus Dumbledore.
Snape had a lot of think of while he blocked out whatever was happening in the room. He knew Dumbledore was working on smoothing over with the visiting Headmaster and Headmistress. Crouch, Ludo, and Mad-Eye weren't making it easy. "I am sure we can find out who did this before the first event on November 24. Now, why don't we let our champions go and get settled into their dorms." After everyone but Mad-Eye and Snape left Dumbledore let out a deep sigh. "Severus, I need you to go and find Harry, make sure he is calmer and bring him to my office. We are going to have to find a way around that vow."
"There isn't a way around it. We need to find who entered him." Mad-Eye said the words Snape was thinking. "That Vow was very specific."
"I am sure we can coerce him into competing. Someone entered his name for a reason and until we find out that reason he needs to compete or something else might happen."
"I will go and look for him." Severus had an idea where the boy would run to. It was the only place he knew that Harry could go that no one else could follow. He headed straight to the second-floor girls' bathroom and he would wait for him to appear.
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Snape summoned a chair, sat down and waited for Potter to appear. He spent some time talking to Myrtle, who confirmed that Harry had, indeed, entered the Chamber. She said he came to visit her but he hadn't been down in the Chamber since the students returned to Hogwarts. She disappeared into the toilet before he could ask her anything else. He wondered about her comment but he would find out from Potter later.
"He sent you to get me?" Harry was behind Snape. His voice caused the man to jump in surprise. He had been watching the Potion Master for several minutes, wondering if the man would realize he was behind him or not.
"In a way, yes, before we go to his office I wanted to speak to you about what happened." Snape had some unanswered questions concerning the boy and he didn't like unanswered questions.
"I bet. Could we do this later? I know he is going to ignore what I said in that room and try and force me into the tournament." Harry leaned against the sink. He was tired and didn't want to deal with Dumbledore and his games nor Snape.
"I do believe that is his goal." Snape got up and banished his chair back to his office. It wasn't comfortable but he didn't think he would have to wait so long for Potter to show up. It was a chair he reserved for students and guests to sit in so that they wouldn't stay.
"Well, let's get that over with. I am sure it will be an enjoyable experience. Could we speak tomorrow?" Harry looked around the bathroom. He didn't see Myrtle, she must be hiding in her toilet.
"May and yes. I have office hours until dinner so after dinner would be the best time. Any detentions I will refer to Filch." Snape answered. "Potter, one question before we do go, why did you look at Professor Moody earlier?"
"So far every year, the DADA Professor has either tried to kill me or been involved in some way of not protecting me. Quirrell and Lupin tried to kill me, Lockhart was an idiot and did nothing to protect us down in the Chamber. It did result in his stay at the nuthouse, so why should Professor Moody be any different?"
Snape didn't have an answer for that. The boy was correct. "He was an Auror. He was very good at his job. A paranoid old devil but he was good."
"Lockhart wrote about his adventures, look at how that turned out. Quirrell was a Professor here before and look at how that turned out. Lupin was my father's best friend and I was almost his dinner, along with you, Ron, and Hermione. The only one here who has even tried to protect me is you and you hate me." Harry wasn't going to mention how little he trusted Dumbledore as he wasn't too sure how Snape felt about the old coot and he didn't want him turning his back and going to the old fool and saying something. He quietly cast secrecy ward to prevent Snape from mentioning anything they said in here.
Snape looked at the boy as he felt the privacy ward settle around them. He eyed Harry and realized the boy had been wearing masks and now the masks were off. Harry wasn't going to be the Golden Boy any longer if tonight's actions were to go by. "Why tonight?" He had wondered over the last few years why things always seemed to happen on the thirty-first of October.
"Why not? I didn't want to have this discussion right now but it's important. Honestly, Hogwarts is listed as the safest place. The wards are to tell him if anything evil is in the school, yet a possessed teacher teaches? He hires a fraud, knowingly, telling us he wanted to expose the man as a fraud. Next, he hires a werewolf to teach us. Hiding the fact from everyone but those who already knew. The same one who almost killed you during your fifth year. Yes, I know about it, Sirius is an idiot. The same man doesn't take his potion and almost attacks us at the end of the year. Don't you think it's strange that Lupin is the only werewolf he allowed to attend and he comes back to teach the year Sirius Black escapes? There is a lot more to speak about."
"Tell me your basic theory, we can delay for a bit longer." Snape was surprised, the boy was certainly a lot smarter than he had given him credit for. He wondered what else he would learn. He was glad he added some privacy wards up when he entered the bathroom. He had felt the boys add some wards too, that impressed him.
"Fine but you aren't going to like it. Have you noticed that this war is between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin? That the ones who are dying are usually Gryffindor or Slytherin? Have you also noticed that the house rivalry has been happening ever since Dumbledore became the deputy? Granted there were legends about Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor but nothing like this was ever recorded until Dumbledore became the deputy headmaster. When he was a professor he removed a lot of points from Slytherin giving Gryffindor the cup just like he keeps doing since I have been here. Worse than anything you ever did. While you might have given a Gryffindor a point versus a Slytherin five for the same answer you still gave them points but he never did. Look up the stats and you can see. I did and I was surprised. You be surprised what you can learn when someone makes you copy the detention slips. He surrounded me with Gryffindors even before I started here. I was told how evil and slimy snakes were. I selected to go into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin because of what Ron and Hagrid had told me about Slytherin, enforced by my meeting Malfoy during my Diagon visit my first time."
Snape thought about it for a few seconds. "Pettigrew was a Gryffindor and betrayed your parents."
"Honestly, think about his personality. Do you believe he was a Gryffindor? If anything he certainly doesn't belong in any house. He didn't have the intelligence for Ravenclaw. He certainly wasn't cunning. I will give him sneaky and a thirst for power and ambition to get that power or link himself to that power but he wasn't a true Slytherin. He wasn't loyal and he certainly not brave." Harry sighed but knew he had to finish this.
"Like he did with Potter and then the Dark Lord. He latched onto their power base. He wasn't friends with him and Black until Lupin made friends with Pettigrew. Dumbledore requested Lupin to tutor Pettigrew." Snape was surprised, it was a valid argument. One he frankly hadn't thought of. Most of the Dark Lord's people were indeed Slytherin and most of the Order were indeed Gryffindor. "So you think it's a power struggle between the two of them to see who is better not so much about light and dark magic?" He didn't want to think about Dumbledore forcing a friendship between his four tormentors.
"Yes, Dumbledore has made a bunch of promises in the last war but he never followed up on any of them. The Ministry is the ones who put the Death Eaters in Azkaban and how long did it take for him to get you out? Why didn't he do anything regarding Sirius? He is Chief Warlock and yet look at what is being done? Nothing. He has been working on me to kill Tom. He forces me each year to stay at my relatives, if I don't stay at my sorry excuse for relatives, he can't control me. He needs to be seen as my magical guardian, not that he has taught me anything he was to teach me."
"He said you have been getting magical training, taught traditions, lore, and heir responsibilities."
"What are you talking about? Heir? I didn't even know I was a wizard until I got my Hogwarts' letter and I thought it was a joke at first until I saw my relatives faces. They told me my parents died in a drunken car crash and I was at fault."
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. "Harry, that is why so many of the pure-blood families have been angry at you and couldn't believe you would befriend a blood traitor. Draco told me about meeting you before you even arrived. He introduced himself the correct way and neither of us understood what happened."
"He reminded me of my bully of a cousin. I didn't know he was doing it correctly. Why is the Weasley family considered blood traitors? Ron said it was because they were friends with Muggle-borns."
"No, it is because they have broken some marriage contracts, two betrothal contracts, didn't show up for some duels based on honor, and have failed to teach traditions and lore to their kids. Granted Arthur Weasley has tried but Molly Weasley refuses to allow him much leeway in teaching them."
"So there is a valid reason. I had wondered. Ron always seemed to brush it off and others gave him weird looks when he did." Harry hadn't been able to find out any information but looking up blood traitors wasn't a subject in the library and one he wasn't going to ask for help in finding information about.
"Do you have your trust vault key? You should have access to your vaults since you are the last Potter. You won't be able to do much but you should be able to work with the goblins on investing and handling your businesses." Snape didn't like what he was hearing. If what Harry, yes he was now Harry, telling him was true, it certainly explained a lot of unanswered and confusing questions he had over the years.
"I only saw my key once. Hagrid had it the first year after that Mrs. Weasley had it. I never got to remove money when I need clothes. These sad excuses for clothing were originally my overweight cousin's." Harry had always asked for his key but told it was safer for someone else to keep track of it for him.
"We have a lot of work to do." Snape had no idea why he just volunteered to teach the boy but he wasn't going to allow this lake of knowledge to continue. He also was going to check into his relatives as the tone of voice Harry used in regards to them had him worried. He wondered if that was why he felt some pain during the summer. The Vow he took would have demanded his attention to it. "We will need to speak some more tomorrow night. Let's go and get this meeting over with."
"It will be short. I am not entering into that tournament."
"I am not worried about that. You made it well known and it will be over the school tomorrow via the rumor mill. Your Vows sealed your innocence."
Harry grinned. "Did you see his face? It was priceless."
"I will never forget." They removed their wards and headed to the Headmaster's office. Snape thought it was going to be a very short meeting as Harry predicted. He was going to enjoy watching it unfold.
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"Lemon drop?" Dumbledore held up his smaller candy dish as Harry and Snape took their seats.
"No, thank you." They replied.
"Now, my boy, about your Vow. You do realize how dangerous things like that are?"
"Yes. I also know how much they can confirm. My first Vow showed I wasn't lying. I wasn't going to put up with another year like my second one, being socially unacceptable, bullied, and made fun of again. My second Vow provided that I will not be doing any event ensuring that whoever did enter my name will have to be found and the correct champions will be doing the events."
Snape was glad his mask was in place. Harry was putting Dumbledore into a bind and in such a way that it would make the man look very bad if Harry entered into the competition. He wasn't giving Dumbledore any wiggle room to slip off the fish hook that Harry snagged him with.
"Harry, no matter the reason, you can't just say you aren't going to participate in the Tournament. Your name was given by the Goblet. It will look very bad if Hogwarts champion and Britain's Magical World Savior backed out."
"Since I didn't enter, I am not worried about it. You have a champion in Cedric Diggory. You know I don't care about my fame, I hate it. I have been telling you for the last three years, I didn't do anything to earn the title. My mother did with whatever ritual she used to protect me. She gave her life up to make sure I was protected and he was defeated."
Snape glanced at Harry. He didn't know that but it made more sense than that love nonsense Dumbledore liked to spew out. If that was the case, the killing curse wouldn't work on anyone if it was used after someone else died protecting their children or loved ones.
"What do you plan on doing? Ignoring this?" Dumbledore couldn't believe how stubborn and selfish the boy was being.
"I plan on studying, flying, and enjoying watching three champions compete. I was also thinking of adding Runes and Arithmancy to my course schedule and dropping Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. I have been studying those subjects and finding them very interesting."
Snape had to cover his mouth. He had seen Harry's improvement in potions and didn't realize he had been taking his subjects as serious this year. He was going to encourage that aspect. "Harry, it's too late to change your courses for the year." Dumbledore didn't want the boy to get smart. He needed him stupid, obedient and submissive.
"According to Hogwarts: A History, I have until the fifteenth of November to change those electives if I can show I am caught up enough to understand the course objectives." Harry was beginning to wonder if the man really thought he was clueless.
"I will speak to Professor McGonagall about testing. Your potion work has shown remarkable improvement this year so far." He realized that Harry had to have gotten his hands on the books he should have been given as a Muggle-born student. Since Hagrid took Harry shopping Hagrid wouldn't have added those books to the list for Harry to get. It was one of the reasons a Head of House took Muggle-borns shopping. He wondered why Harry didn't get the Muggle-born supply list.
"Thank you, Professor Snape I would appreciate that. I set up a meeting with her tomorrow at eleven."
"I will be there." He would as he had a free slot during that time frame.
"We are here to discuss the Tournament and you won't be changing classes." Dumbledore warned him. "I am your magical guardian and I say they will stay the same."
"I will file a petition with the Board as you are the magical guardian of every student here. Since we are in session, I will be asking that they reverse every student who switched classes and making sure that every student and their parents are informed of why this change has occurred. I will also make a note and have them reflect the change in Hogwarts: A History."
Snape inwardly grinned. The boy was proving to be a very skillful Slytherin. He honestly thought it was a bold move but one that Harry could pull off as any student could. He was going to have to teach Harry not to give away his plans so soon but this one was one that it wouldn't have mattered. He thought about it for a few seconds, no it was better this way, if he did it behind the old coot's back it would have created more problems.
"Mr. Potter, I will not be spoken to this way. I have no idea what has gotten into you but you will have detention for a week with Mr. Filch." Dumbledore was beginning to think of potions he would need to get from Molly to control the boy.
"No I won't. If you expect that detention to be served, I will again file a grievance with the Board, submit a copy of this memory, and see who will win. I haven't done a thing wrong, except to voice my rights as a student." Harry was going to also go to the goblins and find a new magical guardian. One that didn't require him to stay at the Dursleys during the summer. Yes, Dumbledore was going to be in for a very surprising year.
"I believe we will get nowhere talking about things tonight. Why don't you go to your dorm? Goodnight Mr. Potter." Dumbledore made sure to keep his voice filled with disappointment in Harry's words and actions this night.
Harry rose from his seat. "Goodnight Professors."
"Severus, please stay."
Snape tried not to look pained at those words but he knew he was stuck here until the old coot vented, planned a new way to attack Harry, and would make sure that he followed that plan. He was going to be in for a huge surprise when it didn't work. He just wanted to get back to his quarters and review his conversation with Harry in his mind. He wanted to think about the past and see what else he might have missed. As soon as Harry was gone, he heard, "Severus, what did you find out?"
"When I found him, he only told me he wasn't going to change his position. I said we were required in your office." Snape didn't technically lie.
"I see. Were you aware of what he mentioned tonight?" Dumbledore needed to find out what was going on with his pawn. He wasn't happy with how things were down tonight. He had thought while he was waiting for Harry and Severus and he realized the name in the Goblet had to be done by a Death Eater. Was Voldemort finally making another move? Since it was Halloween, he believed it to be so.
"No, I was surprised as you were. I certainly wasn't expecting Vows. I didn't even know he knew about them, never mind doing one." He answered honestly. "I certainly wasn't expecting him to be interested in Runes nor Arithmancy either."
"I want you to find out what is happening." Dumbledore told him.
"Me? Do you have me confused with someone else? Are you forgetting the boy hates me? I am not exactly fond of him either. Have you seen our interactions during the last three years? Do you honestly expect him to open up to me?" Snape was wondering if there was something in those lemon drops the senile old coot was taking. Maybe he needed to start slipping some potions to stop the old goat from having delusions.
"You agreed to meet with him with Minerva." Dumbledore pointed out.
"Only because I want to see her face when he asks. It will be priceless. Really, him asking her to make those changes, I can already see her face." He would have laughed if he didn't have his shields firmly in place. Harry Potter was going to turn Hogwarts upside down and he was going to enjoy it. Payback for the years of misery he had to put up with from the Gryffindors running this place.
"Severus." Dumbledore tried to keep his voice from betraying that he was agreeing with the man. Minerva's face was going to be priceless. She was going to be disappointed in one way but delighted in another. Delighted that Harry was finally taking his studies seriously but disappointed that it had taken him so long to decide to do something about it. He wondered if maybe he could use Hermione and get her to change the boy's mind. She might be able to tell him how much work the classes required, make him realize it would cut down his flying time. "Now you know what he needs to do, we need to get him to listen to me."
"Just because he wants to control his schooling doesn't mean he won't listen to you when the times comes. I will tell you that if you keep fighting with him he won't listen to you when the time is right. The expression you get more flies with honey than with vinegar is a true one."
"Let him get his way now and he won't fight me every time." Dumbledore thought it was a good idea. It worked in the past and he could see it working in the future.
"Exactly. So he wants to switch some classes. What is that going to hurt? It's not like he is studying the dark arts or dropping courses that he needs to fight the Dark Lord." Snape wondered how the man became the leader of the light if he pitched fits every time he didn't get his way.
"Very well. I believe that is what we will do." Dumbledore would, however, make sure to mention to Hermione and Ron what he wanted them to do. "I will see you at breakfast."
Snape didn't even respond, he got up and headed to his quarters. He had a lot of thinking to do. He was looking forward to speaking with Harry tomorrow night.