Harry Potter knew sothing was going on before he even entered the Great Hall for breakfast. He could feel the excitent in the air, hear the poor attempts of teenagers trying to whisper conversations that could be heard about others while not making a scene, even the faint edge of concern seed to perate, likely from any adults in the area.
As he entered, and imdiately glanced about for his friends and family, it was impossible to ignore the borderline mob gathered around an announcent board usually reserved for requests to study, Quidditch ga info, and general statents from the staff.
Moving forward he could note the annoyance, and concern, on the faces of nearby professors, huddled together in a separate group, talking under their breaths with eyes darting back and forth.
Dumbledore, in particular, looked more agitated than he could rember seeing her in a very long ti.
Keeping his head down, just in case it sohow pertained to him, he managed to blend in and slowly maneuver forward to get a better look at the paper with large, easily readable, scrawl covering it.
The mont he began to read he understood both the excitent in the students and the dismay of the adults.
To the students of Hogwarts,
I, Cornelia Fudge, am requesting the aid of two students of bravery and skill to undertake an assignnt not just for myself, but for our world. Recent events have instilled fear and doubt as to our governnt but with your aid we will abolish such concerns and apprehensions.
Upon speaking with the Headmistress, we have decided the best course of action is to allow students to prove themselves capable of such an undertaking and allow selected individuals travel rights to the village of Hogsade once more.
Furthermore, I am awarding any such student the right to select another to accompany them on such an outing and will personally provide funding for a romantic outing of your choice.
Your safety has already been guaranteed by both the Ministry and the Aurors. Those of threatening nature have fled or disbanded. Now we just need you to step forward and show our country and its citizens that we will not cower from imagined terrors!
Office of Cornelia Fudge, Minister of Magic
It was an incredibly stupid, unnecessarily risky, potentially harmful action that put not only a competent student at risk but also soone who they wanted to take on a 'date'.
And it was exactly what Harry Potter needed.
****
"Absolutely not"
Dumbledore let out a sigh, sothing she felt as if was happening more and more lately, "I understand this isn't ideal but still…"
"But still no," Riddle interrupted, "It isn't happening Augustina, period, end of statent. I don't care what the ministry, schoolboard, or whoever else demands. I'm not using the dueling club to choose which student to put in danger!"
"I don't like this anymore than you do, but the fact remains I will be overridden, and we either take the initiative and make our own choice or soone else will. Neither of us have control over the situation and so I ask you this, what good will co of saying 'no' when we are replaced and soone who has little to no compassion simply lets the children go in groups without care? At least this way we might be able to prevent a major disaster."
Grace bit back her initial response, because deep down she knew the woman had a point. It was just like the previous year, so long as results were 'shown' little care was given to how many were hurt in the short term. But understanding didn't an agreent.
"Fine, I will setup a tournant and the victor will be granted a pass to Hogsade." The Headmistress smiled slightly and nodded in agreent and thanks, but as she began to shift her attention to another topic an emotionless tone stopped her, "Considering who is in my club though, I have little to no doubt that Harry Potter will end up defeating the competition."
Dumbledore's veins turned to frost. Hadn't he been through enough? Hadn't he sacrificed enough for them already? "Then…"
"Then what Dumbledore? Kick him out of the club? You know without just cause I can't do that, even if we were to ignore my status as ntor and what a breach of contract that would be. Or maybe I should sabotage him? I could make it look like an accident and ensure he loses to another student hm?"
Neither was an option, and they both knew it, and the only other solution did not sit well with the elder witch.
But still, if it ant keeping him out of the Hospital Ward, or worse, she was willing to play the part. "Ban him from it."
A deep, unsettling, silence filled the room, broken only by the breathing of those present. "Excuse ?"
Augustina Dumbledore wasn't in a mood to play the 'innocent Slytherin' ga, wasn't in the mood for much of anything at that point other than a stiff drink and hanging the Minister's ovaries from her wall.
"You heard Professor Riddle. Ban all n from participating in the competition, you can take that as a direct order if it makes you feel better."
She heard the snarl a second before watching the other woman's face contort in anger, a rare sight for soone usually so composed. "How dare you! After all the shit you've spewed for decades about equality, about treating n as equals, about…"
"I will not spend another afternoon standing over him while he recovers in the hospital ward!" Dumbledore nearly roared in response, earning a wide-eyed stare from the professor. "I will not watch his sisters tear themselves apart wondering what they could have done differently, will not see the doubt in his parents' eyes about whether he would have been better off with them being dead, will not wonder when, or if he will awaken from wounds that could have should have been prevented!"
Riddle was silent, watching the deep, angry breaths taken by the Headmistress, thinking over all that had been said. "I understand and I agree with you that he shouldn't be involved, but I don't want to be standing over any other injured student either, wondering what I could have done differently to prevent it."
Dumbledore watched as she turned and left, leaving only an empty cold to replace the rage which had been so bright and hot monts prior.
______________________
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