39 Chapter 37 - Suspicions pt. 2

***** Regular Release ***** A/N: Looks like the timer post failed ahaha. I hiked to some reception to post this, so I'm keeping this short and sweet. Hope you all enjoy! *****

"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

Harry was aware that everyone was staring at him, waiting for his answer. Even though he knew he didn't put his name in, it didn't make it any easier for him to speak.

He swallowed some saliva audibly, in nervousness.

"No...." Harry answered, after a few moments.

"Did you ask an older student to put your name in the Goblet of Fire for you?" Dumbledore asked.

"Wait, wait, wait a second....." Khan interrupted in disbelief. "That would've worked?"

He had jokingly mentioned that to the Weasley Twins (and Lee) that very morning.... Khan had no idea he had inadvertently found a loophole.

"Technically speaking yes...." Dumbledore answered, much to the chagrin of the other 2 headmasters. "But it is highly doubtful the Goblet would choose a younger student, over a more qualified upper year."

"Which begs the question..... how is there 4 champions in the 'TRIwizard Tournament?" Khan followed up, intrigued. "Was the Goblet enchanted to call 2 Hogwarts students? Was it enchanted to call Harry for sure, regardless of who is qualified to be chosen?"

"All very good questions!" Dumbledore appreciated Khan's logical thinking skills. "But I think, before we dive too deep into this mystery, Young Harry here, should first answer the original question: Did you ask an older student to put your name in the Goblet of Fire for you?"

"No!" Harry denied it.

"'e is lying!" Maxime cried in outrage, still upset at the entire situation.

"Even if he was Madame, and he did somehow get his name into the Goblet..." Khan logically refuted her simple argument. "It still doesn't explain why there are 2 Hogwarts Champions, or why the Goblet choose him over another more qualified upper year student, as Dumbledore put it."

"Mr Bagman, Mr Crouch." Karkaroff saw that Khan was winning the room, and decided to try another approach. "You are our 2 objective judges. Surely you must agree that this is highly irregular, and something must be done!"

"We must follow the rules." Crouch answered, sounding uninterested in the entire situation. "The rules clearly state that the people who's names come out of the Goblet of Fire are magically bound to compete in the Tournament."

"Well, there you have it! Barty knows the rulebook back to front!" Bagman beamed happily, assuming the situation to be settled.

"I must insist upon the resubmitting of the names of the rest of my students!" Karkaroff raged. "At the very least Durmstrang and Beauxbatons should have an equal number of competitors as Hogwarts!"

"It iz only fair, Dumbly-dorr!" Maxime backed up Karkaroff.

"B-But it d-doesn't work like t-that." Bagman stuttered out in response. "The Goblet is already extinguished, and won't reignite until the next tournament..."

"In which Durmstrang will not be participating!" exploded Karkaroff. "I have 1/2 a mind to leave right now! This is utt-"

*BANG*

Karkaroff was cut off by the door slamming open.

"Empty threat, Karkaroff!" growled a low voice from the door.

It was Moody, with what looked to be Professor Flitwick behind him!

'He's a bit late to show up.... especially for a senior auror.' Khan thought to himself.

"You know very well that you won't be leaving your golden boy (his mad eye wildly stared at Krum), who is now magically bound to compete in this tournament!" Moody continued. "He has to compete! They all have to compete, or risk losing their magic!"

"Seems awfully convenient, doesn't it?" He finishes. "Almost like someone put Potter's name in, knowing The Boy-who-lived would be forced to participate."

"What I find Convenient, is that Hogwarts that has 2 champions!" Karkaroff rebuked him angrily. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry and the ICW!"

"If anyone has a reason to complain, its Potter." Moody growled.

"Why should e' complain?" Fleur now answered, sounding upset. "We 'ave all beeen 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honour for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money! Zat much money is a lot, even for ze wealthy!"

'1000 galleons is a lot.... even for the wealthy?' Khan thinks to himself confused.

He knew that Fleur's family was quite famous in the French Magical World. Delacour carried a French Nobility title, quite similar to Khan Ancient and Noble family title for the British Magical world. They should have similar statuses, at least in terms of money....

1000 galleons was not considered a lot to Khan however... And It's only been 100 years..... has inflation really lowered that much? 1000 Galleons couldn't even buy most spellcraft recipes during his time... Hell, he spent 1000 galleons on a scarf and a hat the last time he visited Gladrags.

'I must visit Gladrags to really investigate this price difference....I'll just compare directly, and find a similarly enchanted scarf... I clearly remember buying that last scarf for 500 galleons the previous time I was there.'

While Khan was distracted thinking about the current state of the economy, the conversation between the other champions and the teachers/headmasters, carried on in the background.

"He is a 4th year, in a dangerous and potentially deadly tournament, which he is certainly underqualified for." Moody growled, answering Fleur. "Who ever put him there, is probably hoping he is going to die in one of the tasks!"

"Moody old man! What a thing to say! ahaha" Bagman tried to deflect the dark turn this investigation just took.

"It was a skilled witch or wizard who put his name in the goblet!" Moody responded loudly, bring Khan's attention back to the current conversation.

"Where is the evidence of that?" Karakaroff yelled back.

"They hoodwinked a powerful magical artifact!" Moody responded with fury. "Do you think it is easy to cause the Goblet to call 4 names instead of 3? They would have had to use an especially powerful confundus charm to confuse that strong a magical artifact into forgetting there were only 3 schools to be called! I suspect they entered Harry alone under a 4th school, so he would be called for sure."

"You seem to have given this quite a lot of thought Moody!" Karkaroff was just arguing for the sake of arguing now. "Although I have heard that you recently blew up your house, thinking there was a dark wizard attack, and it turned out to be some stray cats..... So you'll have to forgive me if I don't believe your nonsense."

"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions and events to their advantage." Moody retorted. "It's my job to think like dark wizards do and prepare for every eventuality! You ought to know..... Karkaroff!"

Khan being previously distracted by thoughts of the economic situation, tuned in 1/2 way through the conversation/argument between Moody and Karkaroff.

'There seems to be some kind of personal history between Moody and Karkaroff.' Khan commented to himself in observation of their argument.

Khan began to grow more suspicious, as the argument progressed however.

'Moody has too detailed a theory, especially for someone who came to the investigations late.....' He thought to himself listening to Moody rant about 'hoodwinking a powerful magic artifact'.

Not even Khan's theory was that fleshed out yet.... and he had been there since the beginning.

'Confundus charm to make the goblet forget there are 3 school eh...' Khan mused. 'Too specific.... almost like he tried it himself....'

"Thank you Alastor!" Dumbledore loudly interrupted Moody from further escalating his argument with Karkaroff. "Everyone make very valid points!"

"However, the fact of the matter is that we simply do not know how this situation arose." Dumbledore said. "Unfortunately, due to the magical contract associated with the goblet, we do not have any other choice, but to accept the current situation. Both Jordan Khan and Harry Potter will have to compete in the Triwizard Tournament!"

"But Dumbly-dorr!" Protested Maxime.

"If you have any other alternatives Madame, I would be delighted to hear it." Dumbledore rebuked her.

They all waited in silence, but it seemed Maxime did not have any other alternatives. Although, she was not happy about it, if the expression on her face was any indication.

Looking around the room, Khan saw that Karkaroff looked quite livid with the entire situation, whereas Crouch still looked uninterested.

Bagman however, looked rather excited.

"Right! Well lets crack on, shall we?" He cut into the silence after a few moments. "Still have to give all our champions their instructions, don't we Barty? Would you like to do the honors?"

"Yes." Crouch responded, still not completely engaged. "Instructions..... the first task."

'What is wrong with him?' Khan felt Crouch's actions were really quite odd, especially in comparison to how he appeared during the World Cup a few months ago.

The Crouch he met during the Summer was as straight-laced as they came. Dressed impeccably in a Muggle suit, Khan remembers thinking to himself, that he would not look out of place working as a Muggle manager somewhere. And that was just his appearance, to say nothing of how much he appeared to care about the ministry.

He was so busy that he didn't even watch the World Cup match; his house-elf Winky sat up there the entire match saving a seat for him, much to her terror.

And then there was the confrontation they had during the riot..... He had been so adamant to find the culprits, even going to far as to try to blame Harry and his friends...

But now, at the first sign of trouble with this Triwizard Tournament, he seems to be uninterested and uncaring?

Things are not adding up!

"The first task is designed to test your daring." Crouch continued, face impassive, and eyes sunken, sounding almost monotone at this point. "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..... very important..."

"The 1st task will take place on November the 24th, in front of the other students and the panel of judges." Crouch explained. "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, and information about the 2nd task will be given after the 1st is completed successfully." He finished dully. "I believe that is all Albus?"

"I think so....." Said Dumbledore, who had noticed Crouch's state as well, and was looking at him with mild concern. "Are you sure you don't want to stay the night at Hogwarts? You look exhausted Barty...."

"No..... Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry." Crouch responded. "It is a very busy, very busy time, and I've left young Weatherby in charge...."

"Very well then.... then I believe we are done for the night." Dumbledore said in dismissal. "Madame Maxime and Professor Karkaroff, I assure you, that we will get to the bottom of this situation."

Maxime and Karkaroff were still quite upset, and were already leaving with their pupils. Maxime put her arm around Fleur's shoulders, and was swiftly leading her out of the room, whereas Karkaroff and Krum were exiting right behind them.

"Jordan and Harry, you may both be excused." He said to the 2 left over champions. "Please try to enjoy the rest of the night. This is supposed to be a celebration, after all."

Khan glanced at Harry, who nodded his agreement, and they both left the room, back into the Great Hall together.

The candles had all been extinguished by now, and the crowd of students had long since departed.

The 2 champions walked side by side through the Great Hall in Silence, out past the large hourglasses displaying all the House's points, and onto the the grand staircase; Khan deep in thought about his various suspicions regarding Moody and Crouch, and Harry deep in thought about his unfortunate situation.

After a few minutes of walking, each of them caught up in quiet contemplation, they had reached a junction where they would have to separate; Harry to leave to go towards the Gryffindor dorms, and Khan to leave to go to the Ravenclaw Dorms.

"I'll see you around Harry!" Khan called out in farewell, as he noted they were about to separate. "And don't worry about what anyone ends up saying..... I believe you!"

With that statement, Khan walked off, leaving Harry stunned.

He had just been worried about that..... If anyone would believe him other than Ron and Hermione.... or would they all think he'd put himself in for the tournament?

He was already terrified of the possible dangerous tasks he might end up facing as a result of this tournament..... let alone that nobody would believe that he didn't enter himself. Especially when his Hogwarts co-champion, was none other than Prof. Khan himself, inventor of Summoner's Court!

Harry knew that Khan was popular with the entire school.... even the Slytherins. And not like himself, where it was due to something that he didn't even remember... Khan was popular due to his own merits and actions.

And while Harry had always been on friendly relations with Khan, he had always subconsciously categorized him as more Hermione's friend than his friend.

As a result, he had been worrying about the potential social fallout he might face..... Honestly, he was scared that nobody would believe him and back him up, other than Hermione and Ron of course. That everyone would side with Khan, and actively cheer against him...

So to hear those words, from Khan himself..... it meant the world to Harry.

At the very least, he had 3 people on his side.