Chapter 21.5- Doom Days

“The Under Seventeen tournament, really? At your age, that’s an interesting choice” Delacour said.

“A chance to gain valuable experience at the very least” Karpov said, tossing an assessing look my way.

“I hadn’t heard about this, Harry” Fudge said, turning to me. So he also spoke French, interesting.

“I hadn’t announced it really. Just been something I’ve been playing with in my head” I said.

“So that means you don’t have an agent yet” Kawaguchi cut in.

“Yes, I haven’t been able to find one” I said.

“Can I volunteer my younger cousin for that. She serves as Agent to several of Japan’s top contenders but considering the World Championship takes place after the Under Seventeen, she’ll have time enough for you” She said.

I gave her an assessing look, trying to figure out what to do here.

“He’ll love to. He can send her an owl tomorrow after the duels” Fleur cut in, and I turned to her in shock. She gave me a wink that was loaded with meaning so I smiled and nodded along with her words. When had I come to trust her this much” I wondered.

“Are you sure competing is the best idea, Harry” Dumbledore cut in, his tone was light, airy, even as I could tell that he wanted nothing more than to forbid the possibility.

“It has to be. I have to test my capacity against others of my age group” I posed.

“Well, the others there will be substantially older. And also passed their magical maturity” Delacour pointed out.

“I think I’ll survive. Besides, there will be duels tomorrow so if things go terribly, I’ll know what to improve on ahead of June” I said with a shrug.

“But are you sure your Aunt and Uncle will be willing to permit this?” I might have been unjustifiably paranoid, but I took those words to mean- ‘I will not be letting the Dursleys release you from your summer prison to go gallivanting about the wizarding world outside my influence.

“Why would they not? The chance to compete in such a star-studded tournament? Rumor has it that Broekzele is going to be the biggest Under Seventeen Tournament in decades” Karpov said.

“Rumor? We all know you don’t need rumors to get your information, Karpov” the German prime minister sniped with a smile.

Fleur leaned over to me and whispered- “The Russian Government has a massive investment in next year’s championships. He’s on both planning committees” She said and I nodded.

“Well, they are muggles, you see. And will have surely missed him, not getting to see him across the Yule break either” He began, lying through his teeth. Now, Harry Potter would never have said anything here. Tom Riddle would have told the truth of the Dursley’s abuse right here and now. Doom would never show such weakness, though. He didn’t need their pity. Instead, he contented himself with the knowledge that he wouldn’t be with them by the summer. And if his gambit with Sirius failed, well, who said the Dursleys couldn’t suffer a very regrettable and unfortunate accident while he remained in Hogwarts, far from suspicion.

“I think my Aunt and Uncle can come to an appropriate compromise, Headmaster. But now, President Karpov, you were telling us about your Nephew. I would love a chance to meet him” I said, turning the subject to something else, playing the role of a fan here.