Harry Potter: Don't touch

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***

There was instant silence in the hall. Fred stood up from the table with a pleased smile. The international students, who didn't know too well who Fred and George Weasley were, began frantically recalling the rules of the Tournament. It wouldn't take them long to realise that the rules had been broken. The Hogwarts students, on the other hand, had already realised, but they didn't know how to react. Professor McGonagall ran up to Dumbledore and started to whisper something to him, but he just waved it away.

Fred Weasley had already made it halfway to the door when a plate fell and shattered at one of the professors. That someone seemed to be Professor Lupin. Finally the hall gave a voice. There was no consensus among the Hogwarts students. Puffenduys began to express their disapproval, shouting phrases about infractions, age thresholds, and stealing glory from Cedric. The claw table split into three parts: one part agreed with the Puffenduys about stealing the glory, another part shouted words of support, happy that Hogwarts would have more champions, and the last third was silent, they didn't seem to care. The Gryffindors were all voting, but only a quarter of three were in favour of Fred and George, and the remaining few people, led by Hermione Granger, were saying something about faculty points. The Slytherin table was silent for the whole of it.

Finally Fred George reached Dumbledore, then turned round and bowed jokingly to everyone seated.

- I dedicate our future victory to all those who think the rules are too boring to follow and the age thresholds are long overdue to be abolished. And to the genius among us who figured out how to get around Dumbledore's forbidden line.

After these words, the Slytherins began to murmur, but it was impossible to make out what they were saying. And their dean, Professor Snape, stared straight at Potter. The Goblet blushed again and spat out another name without the slightest delay. This time Dumbledore didn't even try to catch the piece of paper, he waved his wand and it flew towards him.

- Harry Potter. School "Sorry, for breaking the rules."

Harry complained to providence for the fact that the Cup had decided to spit his piece of paper out second instead of fourth, got up from the table and headed towards the office the same way Fred Weasley had. The students cheered even louder after Potter was announced champion. The Charmbatonians and Durmstrangians had obviously realised that something wasn't going right after all. It was one thing for a student who looked seventeen if not seventeen to become the champion, and quite another for a fourteen year old boy to become the third champion of the host school. This time, however, instead of the Slytherins, the Puffenduys were silent, not sure how to react to the fact that a student from their department was the champion, even though it was a violation of the rules.

Trying not to meet the headmaster's eyes, Harry reached Fred, and together with him headed for the door, when suddenly Dumbledore's voice sounded behind him.

- Harry Potter!

- What is it? - Harry turned round.

He was ready to answer all the questions he had been asked, but he didn't think that would happen here, and he thought that the four of them would be more likely to be held responsible for what they had done, not just him. It wasn't good to think that way, but it was harder to be guilty alone than it was to be guilty in company.

- I didn't call for you, Harry," Dumbledore said calmly, trying to interrupt the Charmbaton's outrage. - 'Harry Potter,' he read on the parchment.

Potter didn't realise anything for a couple of seconds as he suddenly noticed another note in the Headmaster's hand, which showed the neat calligraphic inscription 'Harry Potter'.

- 'But I only threw one paper, the one on which I wrote an apology instead of the name of the school.

Dumbledore nodded and turned back to the Goblet of Fire, which had managed to turn red again. Just when Potter thought the conversation was over for now, he asked with an obvious pleading tone in his voice:

- Apart from Mr Weasley, no one else is going to participate?

- More Justin Finch-Fletchley," Potter said and walked through the door.

He didn't see the look of disappointment on Dumbledore's face.

* * *

Harry sat in a chair and waited for Justin, who was lucky enough to be the last champion chosen by the Goblet of Fire, to come into the Champions' Room. Fred and George were talking to Cedric, or to be more precise, fighting off his attacks, they had already made a big deal about their championship to everyone in the room. Potter, on the other hand, was pondering what exactly he was going to say to Dumbledore when asked "Why he decided to frame Hogwarts." Finally, the door opened and Justin showed up. Without even thinking to remove the half-face grin, he sat down next to Potter and remarked casually:

- I take it we're not going to win the School Cup this year.

Before Harry could think of a suitable response to that statement, a man burst into the room.

- Unbelievable! - he exclaimed. - An extraordinary occurrence, four students managed to bypass the security system of the Goblet of Fire and the organisers of the Three Wizard Tournament! - he turned round to Potter. - Unbelievable, Harry Potter, what an honour, my name is Ludo Bagman. You're the one who figured out how to cheat the Goblet of Fire, aren't you?Potter didn't have time to come up with a decent answer to that question either, as Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor Stable, some mustachioed man, Professor Lupin, Professor McGonagall, and... Professor Snape, he was just missed, and... Mad-Eye Moody? Right! They're all dead!

Professor McGonagall, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime and Ludo Bagman all spoke at once almost simultaneously. Professor Steble and Professor Lupin were silent. The moustachioed man tried to calm the Durmstrang Headmaster. Professor Snape was silent and just stared at Potter with an evil expression. Moody was looking at Professor Snape with an evil expression. Severus noticed Mad-Eye looking at him and stopped drilling Harry with his gaze and started whispering something to Karkaroff. Hmmm...

Dumbledore didn't even try to intervene in the conflict and interesting relationship that was brewing. He was thinking.

Harry felt, now the headmaster was going to say something, say something that would solve absolutely all conflicts. Because despite all of Riddle's assurances and Moody's lessons, deep down Potter knew who the smartest and most powerful wizard here really was - it was Dumbledore. But for now, the man was silent, before he said anything, he needed to think it through. And Potter was silent too, and tried to ignore the glances thrown in his direction. His friends didn't notice such a lull on Dumbledore's part. Justin got into an argument with Fleur Delacourt, Fred and George were arguing with Bagman and the moustachioed man at the same time.

Finally, Dumbledore spoke up:

- Silence please! I have a spo-.

- Don't try to sneak out! You let four of your students into the Goblet of Fire! - Karkaroff lashed out at him. - You, and no one else. Do you think I'm going to seriously consider the theory that the fourth-year students themselves were able to bypass both the defences of the Goblet of Fire and the Forbidden Line? That's what you're telling me! You violated the terms of the contract between the schools! Maybe you can give us an ultimatum! We will defend the honour... - it seems that after these words the Durmstrang Headmaster tried to pull out his wand, because a red flash flew into him and he fell unconscious.

- He tried to get his wand," Moody remarked.

- Alastor! Be reasonable! - For the first time in Harry's memory, Dumbledore raised his voice. "He wasn't trying to attack me! You are provoking an international conflict with your actions!

- The likes of him should be kept in a cage," Snape drew his wand as well. - I can calm him down.

- Give me the pleasure, Severus," Mad-Eye didn't even look at the potions professor.

Krum and Finch-Fletchley pulled out their wands at the same time. Krum tried to attack Moody, Justin tried to attack Snape, both were immediately stunned by Mad-Eye.

- Stop that at once! Severus, Alastor! Put those wands away at once! Or better yet, give them to me! Now!

A moment's silence. Stable and McGonagall stared in horror at the outrage. Harry was tense, he realised that if he raised his wand he would be stunned by Moody like Justin; unfortunately he was no match for Mad-Eye, but if Snape decided to attack, he would not be left out. Professor Snape himself seemed to have only just realised that the eyes of everyone present were focused on him and Mad-Eye. He gave his wand to Dumbledore and left the office. Professor Stable followed him out, she had obviously decided she had no business being here. Mad-Eye gave his wand to Dumbledore and returned to his seat. Lupin and Fleur Delacour visibly relaxed. However, Harry knew that Moody had three spare, the question was how well Dumbledore knew Alastor himself.

- And the spare wands? - The Headmaster said. He obviously knew Mad-Eye well enough.

- 'Not with me,' Moody replied.

Harry was one hundred per cent sure that was a lie. Moody leaving the house with less than three wands was something out of the realm of fantasy. However, Dumbledore believed it, or pretended to believe it. He pulled out his wand and brought Justin, Kram, and Karkaroff to their senses with a single spell.

- Remus, Minerva, would you escort the three champions of the participating schools? - Dumbledore said.

After waiting for the champions to leave the office, Dumbledore continued:

- 'What has just happened speaks only of my mistake. I relied on the powerful protection placed on the Goblet of Fire many years ago, and so I decided to put the Goblet in a public place. If I had asked Minerva McGonagall to patrol the corridors, none of this would be happening now.

- I insist on increasing the number of my wards given access to the Goblet of Fire. - Karkaroff finally recovered from the attack and intervened in Dumbledore's speech.

- Mr Crouch, Mr Bagman, tell me if there is a possibility of lighting the Goblet of Fire a second time to select additional participants. And is there an option for the participants in the Tournament selected by the cup not to participate?

The mustachioed man, who was obviously Mr Crouch, shook his head stammeringly.- Alas, that is not possible, I see no option to reduce the number of champions," Bagman shook his head as well. - If you want more champions, you can have a lottery, but the Goblet of Fire won't recognise them anyway. And there's no way to remove the existing ones.

- I see, that's what I was thinking. Madame Maxime, Mr Karkarov, I offer you my deepest apologies for the poor organisation of the Tournament of Three Wizards. Even the best of us sometimes make mistakes, but the ability to forgive them is a quality that distinguishes a strong personality. Since it was my mistake that resulted in four additional champions for my school, the same privilege will be available to the other schools. You can select by yourself four additional students to participate in the Tournament.

- But what about the Cup? It doesn't recognise the new champions," said Madame Maxime, who had been silent since Mad-Eye's intervention.

- The Goblet of Fire is only necessary to force the champions out if they refuse to participate. It is a mere formality. You can name four names, and those people will be considered champions. I think that's fair, don't you agree?

- Yes, it sounds fair," Karkarov stroked his beard contentedly. - It doesn't matter that your champions are under seventeen, they will still be considered champions, and the number of participants from each school should be equal.

- Yes, I agree with Igor, you have managed to resolve a rather difficult situation peacefully," Madame Maxime nodded.

- Good, now if you don't mind I will deal with my students. You can inform your students about the situation. And try to decide on candidates within a week.

While Madame Maxime and Professor Karkaroff were discussing some things with Dumbledore and leaving the office, Moody approached Potter. He ostensibly bent down to adjust his robes, but he himself barely audibly whispered:

- 'Did you tell the twins about the way round the Goblet? Did you throw your paper once? Could either of the Weasley twins have thrown another piece of paper without anyone seeing? And Finch-Fletchley?

- Yes, yes, no, no, no," Harry answered just as quietly.

Moody nodded.

- 'You made it up all by yourself, you read it in a book, it's important.

Potter, not quite sure what Mad-Eye meant, nodded again. Alastor was satisfied with that answer, and he stepped away from Potter to Dumbledore.

- I've found out everything I wanted to know. I'll wait for you in your office," he said to Dumbledore and followed the two headmasters out.

The only people left in the office were Dumbledore, Bagman, Crouch, and the four wrong participants in the Tournament of um.... Three... Wizards. The headmaster turned to the students and opened his mouth...