"I am fourteen years old. I may be a seventh-year student, but I am still fourteen years old."
"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Ludo Bagman, looking confused.
"Oh, Mother Magic, have mercy!" moaned Sirius, covering his face with his hands. "The contract is for only those witches and wizards who are of age. Harry is fourteen, not seventeen."
"The second I step into that arena for the first task, I would be in violation of the contract," Harry explained, turning his back on them all again as he stared into the black emptiness outside the window. "And if I don't participate, I would violate the contract. I am a dead man walking, bound by the contract of the Goblet of Fire. I felt my magic register it."
There was complete silence. The black eyes belonging to Severus Snape were smug with triumph, but no one noticed it. Barty Crouch Senior was looking at Harry speculatively.
"I don't think so, Mr Potter," said Mr Crouch sharply. "There is a way you can escape from that clause."
"What do you mean?" Sirius demanded, though he couldn't stop himself from glaring at the man who took away ten years of his life.
"He said so himself, Minister," Crouch replied. "Mr Potter is fourteen. What we need is for him to be of age. He would still be a party to the contract so there is no way out of the tournament, but there is a way in which he will not have to forfeit his magic and as an extension his life on the day of the first task."
"How is that?" asked Remus curiously.
"Emancipation. If he is magically and legally emancipated, the contract authorised by the Goblet of Fire would recognise him as an adult."
Sirius' head snapped up and everyone looked at Harry. The fourteen-year-old boy's face was impassive but his eyes showed that he comprehended what Crouch had said.
"I need to speak to my lawyers," said Sirius quietly. "We'll know if it works only after we consult experts. If that theory is wrong…"
"There is still the issue of how Potter's name got into the goblet," said Professor McGonagall.
"This is most definitely my handwriting," Harry told them, looking at the slip in his hand. "There is no denying that it was written by me. A fake slip of parchment couldn't have been used from what Professor Dumbledore explained to us yesterday. It was probably taken from the school or Ministry archives or even homework assignments."
"A Confundus Charm would have worked," Dumbledore mused. "Though the person who charmed it must have been skilled enough to hoodwink the Goblet of Fire and Harry was probably entered under a fourth school. I'll check the goblet for any signs of tampering, but there is no question about it - both Harry and Cedric will have to compete."
Madam Maxime, Karkaroff and Snape all looked furious. The three original champions were quiet, watching the confrontation with wide eyes. The reality of the danger posed by the tournament was visible before their very eyes, and the tasks hadn't even started yet!
"Barty, the instructions?" Ludo Bagman spoke up. He did not seem all that affected by what had transpired here. In fact, he seemed overjoyed that Harry was participating.
"Ah yes, the First Task," said Barty Crouch, impeccable as always. "The First Task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard."
"The First Task will take place on November the twenty-first, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the Second Task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from the end-of-year exams and those held during the year."
"But I'll be taking my N.E.W.T.s at the end of the year," said Harry worriedly, looking at Sirius.
"We can deal with that once we solve this problem of you not being an adult," said Sirius quietly. Harry nodded. "That is all, I presume?"
"Yes, Minister," said Barty curtly.
"Good. Harry," said Sirius, jerking his head towards the exit. Not looking at anyone, Harry walked gracefully towards the door, his godfather's arm around his shoulder. He was followed by Karkaroff leading his student and Madam Maxime leaving with Fleur.
"Well, this night certainly was not what I had in mind," said Remus wryly.
"Indeed," said Dumbledore, his blue eyes lacking the customary twinkle. The signs were present. He should have seen this coming. Severus had warned him that the Dark Mark was growing stronger, which meant one thing.
Voldemort was making a return, but what was the reason behind Harry's forced entry into the tournament?
....
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