Harry Returns

Not long ago...

Harry felt himself hit the ground, his face buried in the grass, his nose filled with the scent of fresh greenery. He had kept his eyes shut while the Portkey carried him through the air, and now he remained motionless with his eyes closed.

Something hit the ground. The Goblet of Fire came spinning through the air and landed three yards in front of him.

The flames on his backside had already gone out, but they had burned a hole there, leaving his private parts completely exposed—poor Harry was still reeling from the dizziness caused by the Portkey and had no idea that he was lying bare-assed in an extremely awkward position in front of the judges' stand, with the spectator stands directly behind it.

His head spun violently, and the ground beneath him seemed to pitch and sway like a ship's deck. A wave of noise drowned him, leaving him confused. Voices were everywhere—footsteps, shouting... He frowned tightly, as though this were a nightmare that would soon pass...

A pair of powerful hands grabbed him and turned him over.

"Harry, Harry!"

He opened his eyes.

Above him was a star-filled night sky. Hagrid's eyes, as large as brass bells, filled his vision, while Professor McGonagall and Ludovic Bagman stood at Hagrid's sides, their faces tense.

Dark figures crowded around him from all sides. Harry could feel the ground beneath his head trembling faintly with their footsteps.

"What happened? What is going on?" Professor McGonagall drew herself up with the authority of a deputy headmistress, her clear voice reaching Harry's ears.

"Where's Dumbledore?" Harry panted weakly. "I need to see the headmaster! I have extremely important information to tell him!"

McGonagall, Hagrid, and Bagman exchanged glances. The three fell silent for a moment before McGonagall said, "Shortly