Passing by Professor McGonagall, she rests her hand on my shoulder, with an expression that is a mix between apology and support. I nod in acceptance, giving the old woman a slight smile.
Opening the door to the side room, the trio stares at me.
"Do they want us to return to the Great Hall?" asks the young French girl, with her thick accent.
Without saying anything, I just shake my head, standing further to the side, making room for those who would come to this same room. The trio, of course, looked at me confused, but said nothing.
The door is thrown open with force, when Madame Maxime enters, shouting protests and how it was a fraud and things like that. I couldn't understand very well, since with her accent, and still mixing French and English, everything was confusing.
"Hogwarts can't have two champions, Dumbledore. That's not what we negotiated for participation in this tournament." declares Karkaroff, with his disgusted face much more pronounced now.
Dumbledore continued to stare at me, his eyes focused on mine intensely, but his expression was a mess, and I didn't understand why.
"Most likely...," Mad-Eye's voice caught everyone's attention in the room. "... your name was put forward as a fourth school to compete, so Mr. Potter wouldn't be a second Hogwarts champion, but the champion of another place." He made his point.
"And how do you know that, Mad-Eye? Did you happen to come up with this idea to protect the boy from your schemes?" Karkaroff replied, trying to intimidate the other, approaching.
"It was my job to think like dark wizards, understanding their ways of operating and combating them, Karkaroff. I hope you haven't forgotten that detail. Your position as headmaster of an outside school doesn't stop me in the least." Mad-Eye threatened.
"The discussion between you two isn't going anywhere." Dumbledore finally says, turning around and approaching Crouch Sr. "The final decision is yours." he says, staring at the man.
"Your name came out of the goblet, so Mr. Potter is contractually bound to the tournament. If you refuse, your magic will be stripped from your body, making you a squib at best." Crouch Sr. says with all the weight of the situation.
*APPLAUSE*
It draws the attention of everyone in the room, while I applauded these great and excellent wizards. An emotionless laugh, cold some might say, escapes my lips.
"In short..." I say, staring at the adults. "... Someone deliberately put my name in, circumventing the rules you implemented, thus putting my life at risk, without needing my consent and, if I refuse, I'm the only one to pay, right?" there was a coldness in my gaze, which was not going unnoticed by anyone.
"When you put it that way, we realize how much we failed to protect you, Harry," Dumbledore says, his expression quite worried and sad.
Frustrated, I blurt out, "Finally, the realization, even if it's not even the beginning, too bad it's too late."
As my words sink in the old man, and are received strangely by the others, Crouch Sr. turns to the now 4 champions.
------
GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM
"It doesn't matter, you just had to lie and sign up for the tournament, without giving us a clue or a chance to do the same, right? It's always you, unable to let others shine in your presence." says the angry and envious Ronald Weasley.
The drama was drawing everyone's attention, who were silent. Some, I noticed, seemed to want to agree with the redhead, while others just shook their heads.
"A magical oath is incapable of being broken, Ron, you should know that. Dad always said how dangerous it is to make such an oath." says Fred, trying to put some common sense into the boy.
"And Harry did it in front of the entire school, guests and judges. What you're saying can be considered a very strong insult. Do you want to continue down this path?" adds George, trying to calm Ron down.
"You're my brothers, and you're still going to stand by him?" says the boy full of indignation.
"I think that's enough." I say, gaining everyone's attention. "Thank you for showing me that our friendship was based solely on how much you wanted to shine, without having to do anything." My expression of relief was giving me a bad feeling.
"I appreciate everything the Weasley family has done for me, for the care and affection, and I hope that, even though I'm no longer Ron's friend, that you, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley can still see me as a friend.
Of course, the visits to your house, even though I love that place, must end. Thank you again, Fred and George, for being by my side through this. Ginny, take good care of your brother, he's going to need someone to put some self-control in that airhead.
Let it be clear, here and now, that NEVER again do I have any kind of desire to be friends with Ronald B. Weasley. I have NOTHING against his family, it's a private problem, MINE and HIS. This is how our friendship ENDS. TODAY." I finish speaking, and go up the stairs to the dormitory.
Behind me, Hermione and Neville, who seemed worried somehow. As I entered, I sat on my bed and sighed, tired somehow.
"How are you, Harry?" Hermione asked, hugging me. The tears on her face showed much more than just concern for me.
"I was a fool, but anyway, freedom. I'm not asking you to stop your friendship with him, but be careful, because I don't know how far he can go with his envy and resentment." I answered the girl, looking directly into her eyes.
"I may not be the bravest or best friend, but I recommend that Hermione, when she's not with you, Harry, be with me. I don't want to imagine where Ron might go with what happened." Neville said, taking the girl by surprise.
"Thank you, Nev. Your friendship is very important to me. And I want to ask you one thing, that you join me, and if Hermione wants, too, for my training that will be very necessary to survive this tournament." I say to the boy, extending my hand to shake his.
He takes it, grinning from ear to ear.
"I'll be more than happy to accept your invitation, Harry."
Meanwhile, Hermione had that expression that would make even McGonagall shiver. "Explain your idea to me." she says, not giving him a chance to dodge the subject.