Harry was just as glad for her to do so. He wasn't going to go around telling other people that Dumbledore was stupid or mean or whatever. He didn't even tell people that about Professor Moody, and he hadn't about Lupin, except when they directly asked him why he wasn't taking Defense with the other students anymore. But he didn't owe it to anyone to defend those people, either.
"What are you going to do in the First Task?" Hermione asked then. "Aren't you worried that you don't know what it is yet?"
Harry shook his head. "I told you about that weak binding to the Goblet of Fire. I'm just going to show up, shoot one spell, and sit in the stands."
"You aren't worried about the magical contract, then?"
"No. Even Dumbledore admitted the binding was weak, so I don't need to do anything more."
"Professor Dumbledore, Harry."
Harry gave her a single exasperated look, and Hermione blushed and really did drop it, this time.
...
Harry was glad as hell that he'd decided not to participate when he saw that the First Task was bloody dragons. The Champions who had actually entered their names in the Goblet were mental.
"Now, then, our Mr. Potter—do excuse me, Mr. Malfoy!"
Ludo Bagman, the excitable announcer, called out his name, but Harry walked out of the tent as slowly as he could possibly get away with. The Hungarian Horntail that he'd taken in miniature from the bag earlier loomed over him in reality now, crouched over her eggs with her mouth open in what looked like a permanent snarl.
Harry shot a small Stunner towards her. It splashed against her scales without affecting her at all.
"It's going to take more than that to defeat this dragon, Mr. Malfoy!"
Harry turned away and walked towards the stands, where Mother, Father, and Draco were sitting. He could hear some people gasp and murmur as if they thought this was a daring strategy or something.
"And what is Mr. Malfoy going to do? Summon his broom and outfly the dragon?"
That wasn't a bad idea, Harry thought. He was a little surprised that Krum hadn't done it, since he was such an adept Quidditch player. But Harry climbed into the stands and sat down next to Draco, between him and Mother. Draco grinned at him and punched him in the shoulder. Mother touched his arm lightly.
"I'm not sure that I've ever seen a strategy like this before!" Bagman was trying to sound cheerful, but his voice was getting a little shrill. "We'll no doubt see Mr. Malfoy come out swinging to get the golden egg any second now!"
Harry sat still and stared at Bagman. Other people stared at Harry, and he could hear the discontented murmurs rising and falling like waves. Harry rolled his eyes. They didn't want him in the Tournament in the first place, and now they were disappointed that he wasn't participating?
The announcements went on for another ten minutes before Madame Maxime stood up and shouted, "It is obvious that the boy is not participating! Bring in the Dragon-Keepers and end this farce, now!"
Bagman tried to protest, but apparently the Dragon-Keepers agreed with her. A group of nine of them ran forwards, dodging the fire the Horntail blew with practiced ease, and subdued her with repeated Stunners.
The murmuring got louder. Harry ignored it, and didn't turn around when he got a pitiful three points combined from the judges, either.
Why should he? He hadn't wanted to be here in the first bloody place.
He briefly caught Ron's eye as he walked with his family back to the school. Ron stared at him, but when he saw Harry looking back, his entire face turned red, and he stomped away.
Harry sighed. It was going to take a while longer for his best friend to come back to him, he supposed.
The important thing was that he was alive, and he had shown people who were smart and paid attention exactly how little he cared about the Tournament.
....
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