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Harry stared at the Goblet of Fire as everyone around him started to whisper. He ignored Ron's grumbling and Hermione's whining about cheating as he rose. He stormed toward the door that the other three champions disappeared into. He ignored the hush that had fallen over the Great Hall as he worked on keeping his magic from lashing out at those around him. He was going to kill whoever entered his name into the blasted Goblet of Fire, slowly and painfully. He stormed past Snape who didn't say anything but followed Harry into the room.
"I didn't enter my name into the goblet." He eyed everyone in the room. Dumbledore grabbed him after he entered the room. Harry had just finished staring down the giant in the room.
"Harry, I need the truth. Did you enter your name?"
"NO! I didn't." He looked at the Auror hiding in the corner. "Why not ask our defense professor? Each year the defense professor has endangered my life in some form, why should this year be any different."
Mad-Eye stepped away from his hiding spot. "Harry, I am sure Mad-Eye had nothing to do with it. Barty, what does the rule book say?"
Barty Crouch, Sr. had some parchment, a scroll, and a book in his arms. "I am afraid, it is a magical contract and must be fulfilled."
Harry glared at the old man. He ignored everyone as they discussed the situation until he was ordered to return to his dorm. Harry had already formed a plan. He would get the situation resolved as he wasn't going to have to deal with a crazy defense professor again.
_________________________________
Harry yanked Draco into an alcove. "Potter, what do you think you are doing?"
"Malfoy, listen to me closely, I need to speak to your father. I am aware that Dumbledore reads my mail as well as my two friends will run to him if they see me writing to him or receiving anything from him. It's important."
"Why should I pass the message along? It's not like we are friends. I can't stand you."
"If you don't, I will inform Hermione that you have a crush on her and want to help her out with SPEW but you can't come out and do anything directly because those in your house will not take kindly to it but she just needs to work on converting every Slytherin into agreeing because she already swayed you. Dobby will love to help too." Harry grinned. "We know how helpful he is."
Draco glared. Dobby was a menace. "Fine. One letter to my father and one from my father." Draco leaned close. "If you ever think of having Granger near me, do not blame me for anything that happens to her."
Harry kissed Draco on the cheek as he put the letter in Draco's hand. "I will let you in on a secret. I don't care." Harry exited the alcove. He had someone else he needed to speak to Luna. The girl might appear to be loony to everyone else but Harry had an idea she was very aware of what was happening.
_______________________________________
Draco yanked Harry into the same alcove a few days later. "My father's letter. He also expressed the desire to meet with you and Professor Snape as soon as possible."
"Excellent. Thank you, Draco." Harry snatched the letter from Draco's hand. "Oh, next time you want to prank Hermione, use pink. She hates pink as well as make-up. Ron hates spiders." Harry was still being ignored by Ron after Ron accused him of cheating. Harry headed to the Chamber of Secrets. It was the only place he knew that no one could follow him. He used his map and cloak to escape detection. He opened the letter. He read it once and smiled. So it was possible.
_______________________________________
Harry remained behind after class. Since it was the last class of the day, he figured it was the perfect time to speak to Snape. "Professor, may I speak to you in private?"
Snape's face had its usual look of disdain. "What do you want?"
Harry was aware that this was going to be difficult, after all, they didn't like each other. "It has to do with the Goblet of Fire and magical contracts." Harry opened his satchel and pulled out the letter from Lucius Malfoy. "I had some legal questions regarding magical contracts. I believe I found a way to deal with two pains in the necks without causing death to a majority of the magical world. It won't even cause their deaths."
Snape looked interested for a second before his face was marred with distrust. "I will not have you pranking me."
"I am not. Please add a privacy charm and I will show you what I learned." Dumbledore always said he should trust Snape. He was now hoping Dumbledore was correct.
Snape flicked his wrist and his wand was out and the spell cast. "Be quick about it, I will not have you wasting my time."
Harry handed the letter from Lucius to Snape. "I am being forced to participate in this contest despite my not entering it. I wondered why magical contracts didn't recognize false entrances into contests. I researched basic magical contracts but I couldn't find anything regarding contests. So I wrote to the only barrister I was aware of, Lucius Malfoy."
Snape was a bit impressed. He wasn't expecting the boy to research magical contracts. He was very aware that the boy didn't enter the contest. The boy's reaction to his entrance as well as his anger confirmed it for him but not for many others. Dumbledore was using it as another test and believed that the Dark Lord had Potter's name entered. He agreed but he wanted to protect Potter while Dumbledore was sucking lemon drops and assuring everyone that everything was fine and Harry wasn't in any danger. Dragons were the first task so yeah, sure, no danger. He opened the letter and read it. He looked at Harry after he finished reading it. "Lucius was able to confirm that anyone entered into a magical contract for a contest is different than a magical contract for goods, services, or trade agreements. He stated because of the way the rules of contests are stated it enables anyone to enter them into a contest."
"Exactly. Anyone." Harry grinned. "I was thinking how about a contest between Voldie-also known as Tom Marvolo Riddle and Albus Dumbledore. This war is between the two of them with each pushing their views down everyone's throat. Dumbledore wants everything not light banned and we are aware of what a killer Voldie is. I think it's an ego-based driven war and it's time to get rid of them both."
"Indeed. Why would I agree to this?" Snape had to agree with Potter's assessment of the war and what each side wanted. Dumbledore wanted their world as he viewed it while the man ignored abuse, ignored the plight of creatures, and anything he didn't like. The Dark Lord wanted muggles dead (the muggle would wipe the wizards out first), muggle-borns classified as second-class citizens, and those like himself would fair no better while pure-bloods run their world into the ground because of the Dark Lord and his curse happy wand.
"Listen, I may be listening to Dumbledore right now, but let's be honest here. The man is a few cards short of a complete deck. He ignores abuse, ignores the students who aren't in Gryffindor, ignores anything he doesn't like. I was never given an option regarding this conflict that is brewing. I had Gryffindor forced down my throat before I sat on the stool. I was aware of what was required of me to survive. The hat may have wanted me in Slytherin but I would never have been trusted if I went to your house. I am tired of these yearly tests. I am sick of Voldie and Dumbledore dictating my life. I am sure you are too as well as the rest of the wizarding world even though most are sheep." Harry also didn't want to return to his relatives. "You also saw what he said about Sirius."
"I did. I had wondered about the situation myself." Snape indicated for Harry to take a seat. "You bring up some interesting facts and questions. How do you want to handle this and what contest do you think would work?"
"I was thinking it needed to be a fast contest, something that neither of them could discover but from what I was reading we need a few people to enter with their names as well as a few people to witness the drawing and contest." Harry reached into his bag and pulled out a slim leather-bound book. "I found this in the library. It's a list of requirements for contests." Harry handed the book to Snape.
"I will review the book." Snape placed it on his desk.
"Great, could you work it out with Lucius Malfoy and let me know what is required. I am afraid if I do anything Granger and Weasley will inform Dumbledore if they discover it. They love to read my mail and Weasley likes to break into my trunk." Harry was going to make sure Weasley got an interesting result the next time he did so. "As you know they aren't speaking to me currently but I am expecting it to change once Dumbledore speaks to them."
"I see." Snape eyed Potter for several seconds. He wondered if he should mention...no, it was best to leave everything alone for right now. If they were able to do this contest, Potter wouldn't need to return to the muggles. "Give me a week to read the book and make arrangements with Lucius and his wife, if she is needed."
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. I didn't want to enter this contest but if something good comes out of it, it will be worth it especially if we get rid of those two nutcases." Harry stood up. "Detention?"
"I will give you one when I have some information. I am sure I can discover an excuse." Snape always had a reason to give detention to a Gryffindor.
"Oh, before I leave, I should inform you that it was Granger who was stealing your potion ingredients during our second year. She was also the one who set fire to your robes." Harry exited the room before he could be asked any questions. He did enjoy seeing the shock on Snape's face when he revealed who set his robes on fire.
___three days before the first task__________________________________
"Dragons?" Harry was shocked. He couldn't believe Hagrid who lead him here. This was the work of Dumbledore, he bet. He headed back to the castle as Hagrid went off with his love interest. Harry didn't want to know anything more.
"Potter, I know you are here." Snape wasn't sure but he had a gut feeling that Potter was under his cloak in the hall. He didn't get a verbal response but he got a tug on his robe sleeve. He followed it to an alcove.
Once in the alcove, Harry removed his cloak. "Dumbledore had Hagrid take me out tonight to Forbidden Forest. There are dragons out there. My first task will be dragons.
Snape sighed. "Parseltongue."
"I thought of that aspect but I am not sure if they will respond. I looked at potions and charms as well as spells. I practiced them but none of them I believe will work with dragons. I know I can't get out of it but does that rule book say I have to do anything besides show up?"
Snape smirked. "No, it doesn't. All you have to do is appear. It doesn't require anything beyond an attempt at participation and your appearance covers that aspect."
Harry smirked. "Night." Harry covered himself with his cloak and headed to his dorm.
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Harry ignored the crowds roaring as the other three did their task. He was pacing in the tent. He was a bit nervous because he had to find a way to speak to Lucius Malfoy after the task without Dumbledore becoming aware of the situation. "Harry, it's almost time." He looked at Poppy who was in the tent with him. "Be careful."
"I plan on it." Harry gave her a slight smirk as he exited the tent. He hoped no one minded sitting for an hour. He walked to the dragon. He stared at it. ~Hi, mind if I sit and chat with you and your friends for a bit?~
~A speaker!~ The three dragons were excited. ~Finally, an intellectual two-legger.~
~Thank you. I am sorry they have been caused you distress. They are aiming to remove the fake eggs from your nest. I am to do it too but I didn't enter the contest, so I figured I would just talk to you instead. How about you tell me about dragons?~ Harry spent the next hour listening to the dragons discuss being dragons, living at the reserve, and their eggs. In the end, his dragon pushed the fake egg toward Harry when he pointed it out. ~Thank you kindly. I wish you a safe trip back home and healthy babies.~ Harry stood up with the egg as the end of the hour mark sounded.
Harry looked around as people started to leave the stands. He saw Granger and Weasley were heading toward him. Great, Granger must be forcing Weasley to be friends with me again. He had told Granger to remain with Weasley because Weasley needed her more. Harry ignored their approach and headed for where he could see the blond head of Lucius Malfoy.
"Not now." Snape stepped into his path. "Dumbledore is watching you. He wants to make sure you renew your friendship with Weasley." Snape is a bit louder. "Always aiming for breaking the rules and getting attention." Snape walked away.
______a week later_____________________________
Snape assigned detention to Harry for being late to his class when Harry wasn't. Weasley and Granger protested and lost Gryffindor ten points. Harry remained after class. He told his friends he wanted to speak to Snape about the next task. The Yule holiday was a month away and Harry was hoping they had a solution.
"Potter, sit. We have a solution but we need two more people to attend the contest besides Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, you, and me. We have picked a quick contest that will be over in less than a minute but we need seven people since seven is a magical number."
"I believe I can guarantee two people but the Malfoys may not like who I select." Harry was sure the Weasley twins would help him.
"We spoke and if it removes the Dark Lord permanently as well as Dumbledore, anyone you trust will work." Snape was aware it wouldn't be Granger or Weasley. He wondered who the boy would select.
"When?"
"Yule holiday the day after the train ride. You will claim you are crafting a potion for the next task and I am going to supervise you while you gather the required ingredients. It will enable us to leave without anyone being aware. As a participant in the Goblet of Fire, you are legally an adult, and part of the rules regarding the Goblet is that each contestant must gather their ingredients or purchase them. I will assign detention to the two you select."
"Interesting." Harry wanted to do a happy dance. If he was an adult, it meant he could go to Gringotts and claim his parents' vaults. He wasn't returning to the Dursleys in any form.
______________Malfoy Manor the day after Yule holiday__________________________
The Weasley Twins and Harry looked at the Malfoys. "I am sure we can drag enough issues up to stop us from focusing on the task at hand but I honestly, just want to end Voldie's attempts at returning as well as Dumbledore's control over my life and so many others. So can we please get along long enough to accomplish this goal?"
"We can." Narcissa looked at her husband and child. "This is more important than some petty feud that should have ended decades ago. I do not want my son to follow that madman."
"I don't either." Draco looked at the twins. "I won't do anything if you don't."
"Deal. This is too important for jokes." The twins spoke as one.
"Harry's idea is simple and it will work." Lucius escorted everyone to the dungeons where he had a ritual room set up. "I figured a cleansing ritual ahead of time to prevent any foreign magic from interfering will boost the magic needed for a magical contest."
"A cleansing ritual is very simple, Potter. We just wave the bundles of sage around as we walked in a circle at a set pace and make sure you hit each rune etched into the floor." Snape pointed to the marks on the floor.
"I have already blessed the bundles." Narcissa picked up the bundles from a platform against the far wall. She handed each person one. "Follow the pace Lucius sets. It will be one step, feet together before moving to the next step, waving the sage as you go. It doesn't matter how you wave it or how often. However, the more you wave the better it will smell."
Harry laughed as did the twins. Draco groaned as if he heard the joke a thousand times. "Lucius will be first, followed by Severus, Harry, me, Fred, George, and then Draco. Draco knows the closing and he will be doing it as he walks." It didn't take long to complete seven circuits around the ritual circle before they stopped. They put out the sage bundles and headed upstairs to the main sitting room.
"The contest is a simple one. It will be a simple name drawing contest to see who is entered. Each will have one task to do, failure will result in loss of their magic or death depending on the core. We are aware that the Dark Lord isn't fully in his human form so it might mean his death." Lucius looked at Harry. "I believe we should do Dumbledore first since he won't feel it but we might with our marks."
"Agreed." Snape wasn't looking to the pain the dark mark might induce with the death of the Dark Lord.
"His full name should be used just in case," Narcissa suggested.
"Agreed." Lucius used his wand and the name Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore appeared next to him. "Everyone enter his name." Seven people filled out the slips of paper and dropped them into the cauldron that Lucius had set up. "This will be a simple potion-making contest. He will have three minutes to brew a potion."
They waited three minutes before moving forward. "You said his name was Tom Marvolo Riddle?" Lucius wanted to make sure they destroyed the evilest wizard around. He still cursed his father for forcing him into becoming a Death Eater.
"Yes, he is a half-blood. His mother was a Gaunt. He talks a lot when he plans on killing me. Loves to inform me of his plans."
"Yes, he does," Lucius muttered. "The rules of the contest is a simple name drawing contest. The contestant must transfigure this goblet into a glass within a minute." Seven people wrote out Tom Marvolo Riddle. "Drop them in the cauldron and Narcissa will pick out a name."
"You have to state the rules each time?" Fred wondered.
"No, but I want to make sure we don't have a loophole for him to slip through." Lucius had read the slim book as well as Severus. It had taken them a month to decide what to do and how to word everything.
George set a timer up to start when Narcissa reached into the cauldron and pulled out the Dark Lord's true name. They watched the timer. Harry, Lucius, and Snape started screaming at once. Black smoke came out of Harry's scar as he fell to the ground, unconscious. Snape and Lucius grabbed their arms as you could smell flesh starting to burn. Narcissa flicked her wand out of her sleeve and started casting. "Draco, take the twins down to the potion lab. I need three healing potions, three pain potions, and a vial of the burn paste."
Draco and the twins quickly obeyed. They raced back to the sitting room. Lucius and Snape were still conscious and Harry had been moved to one of the couches. "Lucius, Severus, take a potion each, now. Do not argue with me." Narcissa was still running scans on Harry. "I am glad we removed the man's magic." She handed a long parchment to George as he watched her. Draco and Fred were making sure Lucius and Snape obeyed.
"He will be ok?"
"Yes, his scar is already fading. I am more concerned with the history of abuse." Narcissa whirled around to Snape. "Why didn't Poppy fix any of this?"
"Dumbledore refused to give her permission. He said they needed the permission of the muggles. Poppy and I tried to get around it as much as we could but Dumbledore always showed up in the infirmary when Harry was brought in."
"I don't feel bad he lost his magic." Fred and George spoke at the same time.
"He will never know how or why." Draco had an evil smirk on his face.
Harry started to moan as he woke up. "Where did the train come from? My head is killing me."
Narcissa handed Harry the pain potion. "Drink. It appears you had some dark magic that linked you to the Dark Lord. It is now gone."
"Does that mean he is gone?" Draco asked.
"I believe so." Snape held out his arm. It was burned and covered in some of the burn paste but the ugly mark was gone. "It is completely gone. It won't escape people's attention but I don't expect the Ministry will announce anything since they won't want to admit they have no idea what happened to those imprisoned in Azkaban."
"I agree. It would also benefit us to not mention this to anyone, ever." Lucius looked around the room. "A vow?"
"A vow for our own protection would be good. While Dumbledore might not be able to do anything there are too many supporters on each side that will want answers." Snape looked at Harry. "Potter, we will also be working on fixing your abuse issues since Dumbledore won't be able to stop us."
"Fine with me as long as I don't have to return to them, I could care less."
"Yeah, they weren't-"
"the best muggles, bars -"
"on his window-"
"we had to break-"
"him out." The twins finished together.
"There are the twins I know." Draco looked at them. "Why does Fred always speak first?" Harry was now sitting up as the pain potion was working.
"Because he is the more outspoken one, George is more of a cuddler," Harry answered.
"You two do realize you are the only ones who have ever been able to identify us? Our family can't." Fred beamed with pride.
"The vow, some tea with a bit of food, and a bit more rest before you return to Hogwarts," Narcissa ordered. "Be thankful I am not kidnapping each of you for the night."
"Draco, is your mother mothering me now?" Harry wasn't sure. He only ever had Molly Weasley smothering him when she saw him as to what a mother does. He didn't count Petunia, she was abusing her child in the opposite way he was doing to him.
"Yes, welcome to the Malfoy family. You are part of the Black family and my mother is a Black." Draco sat down on the couch next to Harry, threw his arm around Harry's shoulder. "We are cousins."
"OH!" Harry wasn't sure what else to say.
____________________________________
Snape, Harry, and the twins returned to Hogwarts with the potion ingredients that Narcissa had already collected. Minerva was waiting for Snape as they entered. "Severus, a moment of your time."
"Leave the ingredients in my office. I will put them away later. You will come tomorrow to start working on the potion."
"Yes, sir." Harry and the twins started for the dungeons.
Snape followed Minerva up to the Headmaster's office. Snape wasn't sure what he was expecting to discover but he was aware the man would have no magic. If he had no magic, he couldn't remain at Hogwarts. He could remain in the magical world as a squib but it wouldn't be safe with the enemies Dumbledore had. "Minerva, what is the issue?"
Minerva stopped and looked around. She cast a privacy spell. "I am not sure. Albus started screaming about six hours ago. I summoned Poppy when I discovered him twisting in his chair, screaming in pain. Poppy ran some scans but he has no magic. None, his core is gone." Minerva shook her head. "The weird part too was that several objects in his office started omitting high pitch sounds. Six turned completely back and exploded while another three melted. When I asked what they were about after we got him calmed down, he explained that the six were linked to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named and he believed the man to be now dead. The other three were linked to Harry. The wards at his relatives crashed and -" Minerva looked a bit sick as she continued "he had two binds on Harry and they were destroyed. He thought Harry might be dead too. However, there was a fourth object that is linked to Harry's life force that he still has in his hands."
Snape was shocked. It explained so much. It explained why Harry passed out. It also explained why Dumbledore did the yearly tests as well as Dumbledore expecting him to deliver some type of news that would be needed in the future. It wouldn't be needed now. "Let's go and see what we can discover." He thanked Merlin that they had done a vow. He had a feeling that many were going to be investigating the situation.
_____Three years later__________
Harry looked at the contract that Snape placed in front of him. Draco had one in front of him. The twins were grinning from behind them. "Potion mastery as well as defense?" The twins were in their last year as apprentices to Snape. Draco wanted one in Potions but Harry wanted one in each area.
"Yes, you brat." Snape's words didn't have the sting they used to have when he addressed Harry. After Dumbledore's removal from Hogwarts, the news was leaked out regarding the dark marks. The goblins released the magical death certificate of Tom Marvolo Riddle and on the certificate, it listed Lord Voldemort as his other known name. The magical work had several parties over the weeks that followed the release of the news. Snape turned down the deputy position. He was retiring this year to work on specialized potions with his four apprentices.
Harry and Draco read through their contracts. The twins had their hands on Draco's shoulder in support of their boyfriend. Harry looked up from his contract when he reached the end of it. "You know your mother and father are waiting outside the door for us to sign so they can whisk us off on holiday for a celebration."
"Yes." Draco looked at Snape. "No escape for any of us."
________________Ten years later______________
"Hold your horses. I am coming." Snape knew who was at the door. Harry was upstairs settling their newest adopted child down for a nap.
"You know it's the Malfoys."
Snape turned around and saw Harry with three of their kids. The fourth had to be in her cot. "You were fast."
"She was out before I even laid her down. Now open the door before Narcissa curses because you kept her away from her newest grandchild."
"She had plenty to visit with Draco and the Demon Twins. They have five." Snape opened the door and was a bit surprised to see Narcissa, Lucius, Draco, the Demon Twins, and their five kids. "All the kids are going outside since the baby is asleep. Now."
Harry smirked as the kids rushed to obey. His husband was still scary when he needed to be.