Leading up to the First Task
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
WARNING: These Chapters have not and will not be sent to a Beta they are simply what they are.
THIS STORY DOES NOT FOLLOW CANON AND MAY BASH SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS!
A Continuation of: A Memorable Halloween
The First Task
1 November 1994
The next day they had their physicals. Harry went first and was shipped to Gringotts where a livid Ragnok waited for him. Ragnok asked how Harry ended up malnourished and with so many bones broken. After Harry told the irate Chief Goblin how he was raised, and his first three years at Hogwarts Ragnok said he would take care of it. The goblin then told him that his scar was a horcrux. Harry spent the equivalent of a year in stasis while his body was basically overhauled. It took the Gringotts curse breakers less than a minute to remove the soul piece behind his scar. The bindings on his magic and memory took about half a day to remove.
When Harry left the Gringotts Medical Wing Neville was waiting for him. Neville was in good shape physically but had memory problems and bindings on his magic that had to be removed. Dumbledore would find a lot less in his vault as Neville would get 50,000₲ and Harry 75,000₲ from him in fines. Before they left Harry officially took over the House of Potter and set the date for his parents wills to be read.
Somehow Harry wasn't surprised that he was Gryffindor's heir and would be an Earl in the wizard world to boot once he was installed in the position. Ragnok had Griphook take them to a portal room, and they walked through to the GAM Annex as it was now officially named. When an elf saw Harry, he rushed Harry to his room, so he could be remeasured for his clothes. Harry looked in the mirror and almost fainted he was six inches taller and thirty pounds heavier at least. He almost bumped his head against the mirror while getting close enough to see his scar. Then it dawned on him that he wasn't wearing glasses.
00-00
Harry was sitting with the oldest wand maker, when the girls came from their physicals. He heard Hermione ask Neville, "Who is the long-haired bloke sitting with the wand maker on the far right?"
"Well with as many adventures that you've been on with him, I would think you'd recognize Harry." Neville chuckled at his friend.
Harry couldn't see her but he could picture her from the response, "Neville Longbottom, don't you try to tell me that I can't recognize Harry Potter from the back, and that is not Harry." Harry just knew her left hip was slung to the side, and her left fist was on it. She probably was giving him the look, and possibly shaking her right index finger at his nose.
"Hermione you sure are cute when you to that, but it is Harry, we came back from Gringotts together not five minutes ago." Neville stated patiently while holding his ground.
"Mione it's me. I just had some major issues fixed in the Gringotts Hospital Wing. Now be nice and give Neville a kiss for being so mean to him." Harry interjected hoping to stop a rant.
"Harry James Potter…" she started but was interrupted when Neville kissed her shutting her up.
When things went deadly quiet, Harry turned around and saw Hermione returning the kiss. He smiled knowing that Neville had a thing for her since their first trip to Hogwarts. Harry didn't know it but Daphne was smiling as well. She knew that Hermione liked Neville as a possible boyfriend and Harry as more like a brother.
Fred looked at George saying, "I don't know what they have at Gringotts Hospital Wing, but I want some of it. Owwww!"
Harry heard Angelina say, "I'll give you something, you git." He suspected that she had Fred by the ear again.
"Angelina sweetie, you know how timid and quiet Neville normally is, would you have expected him to shut down Hermione like that?" Fred asked his pain was showing in his voice.
The old wand maker told Harry that he had everything he needed except for a chip from a basilisk fang. Harry told him to give him a minute, and he'd bring him a fang that pierced his right forearm. He ran up to his trunk and brought back a fang that measured a bit over twenty eight inches long. The old goblin said for a half inch from the base of the fang he would make Harry's wand and give him 3,000₲.
Harry thought a minute and replied, "I'll give you two inches from the base, and you keep the three thousand in exchange for my friend's wands."
"Deal," the old wand maker said and added, "I'll throw in turning that fang into a goblin blade sold to Potter family instead of you as an individual."
"Done," Harry agreed with a smile.
Harry watched as the craftsman opened the shaft that was a holly, yew, and ironwood hybrid. The core would be composed of a Phoenix feather, Unicorn mane hair, Thestral tail hair, Hungarian Horntail Heartstring, and chip of Basilisk fang. Harry would add seven drops of blood to the mixture. This would add not only his blood but Phoenix tears and Basilisk venom. His blood would key the wand to him, and ensure it couldn't be taken by magic or used against Harry.
All wands made that day would be keyed to their owners. If it was physically taken from them, they could easily recall their own wand. Harry was amazed at how fast the old wand crafter carved the runes on his wand. One of his goals was to learn how to read and carve them. He was still pissed at McGonagall for not letting him change from Divination to Runes. Harry was told to come back in an hour as it would take that long for the sealant to dry.
When he stood and turned to face those waiting on a wand crafter Daphne thought she would swoon. Harry smiled and winked at her as she passed him to sit where he just left. Harry walked over to Hermione and gave her a hug.
"I'd kiss you but Nev would probably kick my ass," he whispered in her ear. "Just take good care of him sister."
"You know a certain blonde former snake has a thing for you don't you?" she whispered. She felt him nod and tighten his hug the step back.
Harry looked at Neville and said, "Take care of my sister mate, or I'll have to kick your ass seven ways from Sunday."
Neville nodded replying, "She would probably beat you to it."
"Damn Harry what happened…"
"…to the little skinny git?" Fred started, and George completed.
"Ragnok's personal healer says this is what I should have been all along. When they took care of my scar, which Dumbles should have, it fixed my eyes. The rest was taking care of the malnutrition and damage my former family did. I say former since I threw my aunt and cousin out of the Evans family." Harry replied.
"How, they're Muggles?" Fred asked.
"Actually they were squibs as were Mum's parents. I took over as head of the Evans family as the only wizard and threw them out so it could die out. It was that or I would have to take a wife for it and continue the line. If magic appears in my cousin's descendants in the next 200 years the family will come back." Harry explained.
"Are you going to tell them that?" George questioned knowing what the Dursleys were like.
Harry responded, "Actually Ira Shyster will when he goes to reclaim the money Bumbledork illegally paid them for my care. He's also going to check the wards and some other things. It seems that Padfoot, Mooney, and I own eighty percent of the company my ex-uncle works at. It should be a happy Christmas for the Dursleys."
They were interrupted when Sharpaxe said Sirius wanted a word with Harry.
000-000
Sirius' first words were, "Holy ship pup you got bigger. You'll be beating the witches off with a stick."
Harry laughed, "I doubt that as I hope to have a protector by lunch. What happened to our friend?"
Sirius put up a silencing bubble and replied. "Caught him completely unaware and took his memories of old Voldie. Then we added a few compulsions, so he goes to sleep at a regular time. Mad Eye was pissed at himself but after getting a good meal and some potions he came around. He'll sleep all day, and we'll let him out at night to exercise. The elves provided a dummy that looks like it breathes and replicated hair from Mad Eye to make it more real."
"What about Snivellus?" Harry questioned his godfather.
"Funny thing about that, he had been taking a drop of Veritaserum for years. It showed up in his system, and the DOM used a new truth serum and truth wards to question him. Sinvelly sung like a canary and implicated Dumbledore in a lot of shit that once proven will see the old goat fucker in Azkaban or kissing a dementor." Sirius answered while letting his anger show.
After Sirius calmed down he added, "Pup the plan is to capture you when you touch the Triwizard Cup. Voldie wants your blood for a ritual to get a body back. The stupid bastard found out about the diary being destroyed and split his soul again and used his snake for a horcrux. You know about the one we found at Grimmauld Place and took to Ragnok last July. Well, his curse breakers used it to find one in the Lestrange vault well actually it's our vault now. It was a fake Hufflepuff Cup. They found a ring near the old Riddle Manor where Voldie is staying. Dobby took them to the Room of Requirements, and they found a tiara or diadem."
Harry interrupted Sirius, "So there was the diary, locket, cup, diadem, ring, snake, me, and him. Does he have enough soul left to support a full-sized body?"
"It's doubtful but… what the fuck do you mean you?" Sirius yelled.
"There was a soul piece behind my scar. Hell Padfoot it even affected my eyesight. Ragnok's curse breakers removed it." Harry answered quickly trying to calm the man down.
"Alright, anyway Harry that bastard is still powerful but nuttier than a loon or even Trixie before she died." Sirius added.
"Bella is dead?" a shocked Harry asked.
"Yep, kicking her ass out of the family stripped her of her Black Family magic. That and the years in Azkaban with maximum dementor exposure killed her. For some reason, the dementors went on a feeding frenzy and killed all the Death Eaters in that wing of the prison. Fortunately, Ragnok had me hold off so his people could get copies of all the Death Eaters memories. Who knew an elf could go through the wards as Azkaban?" Padfoot replied with a smile.
Harry didn't ask about Narcissa knowing Sirius would tell him when he was ready. They finished their talk, and Harry went back to get his wand and see how the others (Daphne) were doing.
-000-
He saw Daphne watching Hermione and her sister getting their wands made. He walked up next to her and asked, "Would you like to go to dinner and dancing Saturday evening?"
She turned to look at him and had to look up a bit, "Where?"
Harry smiled, "London, there's a great place not far from the Black's London house that serves some fantastic seafood and steaks. Next door is a teen club that doesn't serve hard drinks or beer. They have a good house band that plays a slow song between every fast one."
"Do they have a dress code?" she asked.
Harry explained, "Yes, no shorts or tee-shirts. You would need something with a collar or a turtle neck sweater. The girls wear skirts or dresses down to their knees, although some wear slacks but not jeans."
Daphne whispered, "How do we get there?"
"We take Portkey from here to Grimmauld Place and a taxi from there. We can either stay in London, and that means I'll escort you home, or come back here that is up to you. If you plan on going home and are on the floo I'll floo over and meet your parents. Then we can floo to Sirius' Manor and take a taxi from there. I have business at Gringotts at 0900h and again at 1300h." Harry answered in a low voice.
"Floo me when you finish. Our floo address is Greengrass Actuary. I'll be ready to go and assume you'll probably want to change at your godfather's." She replied.
He nodded with a smile. The old wand maker called him over to get his wand, and it was a work of art. Harry held the new wand and felt it bond to him, and the thing seemed to hum in his hand.
The old wand crafter said, "Lord Potter, start with first-year spells but only after you get control of your magic again. I suggest you do that by learning wandless magic first. If you decide to claim the Basilisk I will give you a good price for the fangs that haven't been exposed to air yet."
"Thank you sir, we hope to move her tonight." Harry replied.
"You're welcome and I'm simply known as Master Crafter. I haven't used a name in over two hundred years but that one." He said and waved Daphne to his table.
On their way out, Sharpaxe handed them two wand holsters each and told them how to use them. He let them know that their wandless class would start after lunch. They joined the others that were finished in the lounge. Everyone couldn't believe how powerful their new wand felt. Harry reminded Neville to get a wand from Ollivander and use it only for Charms and Transfiguration.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
Harry rolled his eyes and replied, "Well Neville's wand is an heirloom. He needs one that matches him. By using the new one only for Charms and Transfiguration it will adjust to his magic. In addition if he decides to prank, someone and is asked for his wand when he says he didn't do it, all they can find is the last six spells he did in classes. Prior Incantato will give an echo of up to the last spells cast from a wand. We saw that at the world cup remember?"
Hermione nodded her acceptance of his statement knowing Neville didn't do pranks yet. She was glad he and Harry were getting closer, and more so that Harry accepted Neville as possibly dating her. She and Daphne would have a talk later about her and Harry.
Sharpaxe brought the last of those getting new wands into the lounge. He looked at the group and said, "As I said earlier your wandless training will start after lunch. I hope no one has a problem with being taught by goblins and elves. Speaking of elves, there is one at Hogwarts that is dying because her former master set her free."
After letting that sink in Sharpaxe explained. "She needs bound to a human preferably a witch, or she'll die painfully by the end of the month. The elves at Hogwarts and Gringotts were born there and get their magic from the school or bank by believing the staff is family. Elves get their magic from the family or person they are bound to. It's only a few wizards that treat them badly and like slaves, most are treated as family or at least as friends."
Harry interjected, "But Dobby wanted to be free and is a free elf now."
Sharpaxe chuckled, "Actually Harry you'll find that he's bound to you and only pretends to be a free elf. If what he says is correct after you freed him, he hugged your legs. What he didn't tell you is he used that not just to show his love for you but to bind himself to you."
Dobby popped into the lounge in front of Harry. "Dobby will be punishing himself for binding without permission Master Harry Potter sir."
"Stop Dobby, you'll not punish yourself without my permission." Harry said and placed his hand on the elf's head. "Dobby elf from this day forward you are to be known as Dobby Potter. If you do something you think you shouldn't we will discuss it. We will also discuss an allowance and time off later."
"Yes Master." Dobby replied as he stood straighter.
"First order is for you to call me Harry and not Master," Harry asserted and Dobby agreed.
Daphne asked to see the female that wanted a family and ended up bound to Winky. The change in Winky was immediate as she stood taller and in clean clothes. The pride of having a family was there for all to see, and Hermione could not deny what she was seeing. Of course, she would do further research on elves later, but now it was time for lunch.
000-000
Sharpaxe led the twenty three students of the Goblin Academy of Magic to the Great Hall in their uniforms. They stood out among those in robes wearing their white tops, black pants, and gold jackets that would lengthen on a command. Their table was along the front of the hall just right of the entry doors. Harry sat in the middle with Daphne on his right, Hermione on his left then boy-girl the length of the table. They sat with their backs to the wall and could see the entire hall. Sharpaxe went to the head table and took a seat next to Madame Bones.
Dumbledore stood and announced snidely, "Now that everyone is here I can tell you the first task has been moved from the twenty second to the twenty sixth of November. The Hogsmeade weekend will take place the weekend of the twelfth and thirteenth. The Yule Ball has been moved to 23 December."
Sharpaxe stood on his chair and announced, "Goblin Academy of Magic students as I said last evening you are free from your last class on Friday until dinner Sunday evening. Hogwarts may treat their students like prisoners, but we do not."
Harry stood and asked, "Headmaster Dumbledore why are you going against the Hogwarts Charter which basically says what Sharpaxe just told us? Are we at war sir? According to the Charter that's the only time Hogsmeade weekends and travel home is not allowed except once per quarter. Furthermore, why weren't we told that first and second-year students could go to Hogsmeade or home if they had permission from their family or guardian?"
"Harry…" Dumbledore started.
"Its Lord Potter sir," Harry interrupted and watched Dumbledore turn red.
"Very well Lord Potter, I don't know where you got that information but the Board of Governors or Headmaster sets Hogsmeade weekends." Dumbledore exclaimed.
Harry explained with a smile that could be taken as a sneer. "I got the information from the Charter. We both know that it can't be overruled by the Board of Governors or Headmaster without them losing their position. The exception is a state of war declared by the Ministry. Hogwarts is supposed to be a school not a prison according to the Charter. The floo room should be opened on Friday at noon until 1700h Sunday evening according to paragraph eight of the Charter."
"Since you are no longer a Hogwarts student this is none of your business Lord Potter." Dumbledore fumed.
Harry sneered then chuckled. "Well then perhaps I should have you call me Lord Gryffindor sir. Do I need to remind you who the owner of Hogwarts is? It sets in the Earldom of Gryffonsmoor, my Earldom. Apparently, it's one of many things my former, and illegal, magical guardian failed to tell me. Keep pushing old man and Cassandra will sling you out on your ass."
The castle shook and everyone heard, "Anytime you wish it Lord Gryffindor it will happen. Mr. Dumbledore you are nearing a line where I take your magic and throw you out of this school. Deputy Headmistress the wards are now yours."
"Lord Potter you need to stop this foolishness immediately," Dumbledore claimed with fire in his words.
Harry seemed to glow as he stated in a cold voice. "You know Mr. Dumbledore, I agree. Headmistress McGonagall you may keep Mr. Dumbledore teaching potions or transfiguration if he gives up his other two positions. However, he cannot be a head of a house, as I say so shall it be."
Dumbledore was livid and being watched closely. Harry expected him to draw his wand and the old man seemed to be thinking about it. However, he sighed and said, "I resign as Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump, so mote it be. Minerva, if it's alright with you, I'll teach potions."
The new headmistress agreed, and named Sprout and Flitwick as her Deputies. They all knew they had better read the Charter quickly. She thought, so much for working for the Goblin Academy of Magic. I wonder why the sudden animosity between Albus and Harry.
-000-
The GAM students went back to the Annex as they now called it and went into time compression for one outside hour. Dobby, Winky, and twenty one elves from Gringotts individually taught them wandless magic. Most of it was defensive and healing but there was some offense taught. Harry and Neville practiced the hardest and longest to get their magic under control. They still weren't happy with it when the time compression ended. One thing the students discovered was that there was no night or day during compressed time, and their watches showed outside time.
After dinner in the Annex, Harry invited the others to see the Chamber of Secrets and basilisk. Ragnok and ten guards met them, and Harry led them to the Chamber of Secrets. Somewhere between the Annex and castle Daphne slipped her hand in Harry's. She had been warned by Hermione that he wasn't much for physical contact because of his so-called relatives. She was surprised when he merely squeezed her hand and smiled at her.
Ron and Ginny saw them coming and decided the rant they had in mind was out. No one in their right mind wanted to piss off twelve goblins armed to the teeth. Harry surprised them by offering them a chance to see the Chamber of Secrets. He didn't miss the look Ginny gave him and Daphne or the one Ron gave Neville and Hermione. However, the two red heads just thanked Harry for the chance to see the Chamber.
The basilisk was larger than Harry estimated and surprisingly didn't stink. Ragnok said it would be years before it started to decompose. Ragnok suggested portkeying it to Gringotts stating that Harry would have to create the portkey as the owner of Hogwarts. Harry agreed to let Ragnok teach him by what Muggles would call a mind meld, but was a form of Legilimency. To be safe Harry created twenty-five portkeys, which were spaced down the basilisk's length. Harry then snapped his fingers and the beast disappeared as did six of the guards on her back.
Harry then set passwords on the Slytherin statue, the round entry door, and the sinks in Myrtle's bathroom on their way out. Ragnok asked for a week to evaluate the basilisk and determine its value, and Harry agreed. Ron and Ginny thanked Harry for allowing them to see the Chamber of Secrets.
"Look you two I know you're wondering why you weren't selected to come with us. In part, it's because of how close you are to Dumbledork. However, Ron you refuse to study and learn what you can and that won't work at GAM. Ginny you're too close to Dumbledore and too easily distracted around me. You both will be rewarded for your part in stopping the attacks. Gin, part of that will include that you're required to see the Goblin Healers. The Goblin Academy of Magic is not going away so there is still the chance you can both join us. But Ron you will have to get your grades up and make it into the top ten percent of your class. Ginny already is in her year group." Harry explained.
Ginny looked Harry and Daphne and asked, "I never stood a chance did I?"
Harry sighed, "Ginny, I've thought of you as my little sister since the chamber mess. Hermione is my big sister to keep me straight. Fred, George, and Ron are my brothers. You're my little sister whom I can spoil rotten and beat up a boy who tries to mess with her. That gives me the family I've never had. Daphne may turn out to be my girlfriend, or we may just end up friends. But, that will be something we decide in the future."
"I can accept that if you don't get overprotective of me. If you do I'll hex you into 1995." Ginny replied and smiled so Harry hugged her.
000-000
At 2200h, 1 November 1994 they began their time compression schedule. That night it was Sharpaxe and twenty two goblins that trained them in wandless offensive magic and mind magic. They found trying to enter a goblin's mind was extremely dangerous and very painful. On the other hand, wizard Occlumency was easy to get around and not be detected for a goblin or elf. They also started a physical training program that required exercise that not only strengthened their bodies but their magic. Harry was amazed that it also increased their speed.
They were told the next two sessions would be on elf and goblin transportation methods. Elves didn't use portkeys and goblin portkeys didn't spin. Fred and George suggested that someone teach Harry how to floo without landing on his back or face. One side effect of the time compression was that couples were paring up. Harry and Daphne were growing closer to each other, while Neville and Hermione were doing the same. They had access to music and danced every other night. They watched videos the other evenings many of which were educational by choice.
The two biggest areas they were behind in were Potions and Defense. They spent one compressed week on Potions and another on Defense because Harry was in the damn tournament. Sharpaxe pulled Harry aside and told him he would be facing a dragon for the first task then smiled and reminded him snakes and dragons were both reptiles. The GAM crew collectively decided to cease worrying about how much time they spent in compressed time since it was confusing. They were learning more in less outside time, and that's what mattered.
00-00
Meeting the Greengrass parents went smoother than Harry thought it would. Adrian and Sophie Greengrass welcomed Harry into their home formally since Adrian was a Baron and Harry would be an Earl. Fortunately, Sirius had a month to pound pureblood ways into Harry's thick head during the past summer. Although Adrian never asked, Harry's intentions toward Daphne were hinted at, and he told her parents what he told Ginny. He did admit privately to Adrian that he would like a lasting relationship with the man's daughter.
While Harry and Adrian talked, Daphne and her mother were doing the same thing. Sophie wasn't surprised that her daughter hoped for a lasting relationship with Harry Potter that led to marriage. Daphne did surprise her mother, however.
Daphne explained, "Mum, Harry is the head of the House of Potter and House of Gryffindor and may end up as head of the House of Black. We both know that could mean he will have two and possibly three wives. Fortunately, the Greengrass line is secured by my cousins even though they're in the USA."
Sophie wasn't shocked but she was surprised and asked, "What are your thoughts about that?"
Daphne smiled while replying, "I'll be his first in everything. We both know that I'll have the final word as to who the other wives will be if that comes to pass. We also know that multiple marriages cause a special bonding that stops all the jealousy, which might otherwise occur. Harry isn't the type to treat one wife different from the others. I can't say I want it to happen, but if it does I'll support him and the others. I just hope it's only one other not two."
"Daph, how long have you been thinking about this? Your words tell me this isn't something you just started thinking of." Sophie questioned her daughter.
"Since I first saw him in the Great Hall being sorted Mum. If Malfoy hadn't been such an ass, he would have accepted being in Slytherin instead of going to Gryffindor. I think if that happened, we would have been rid of Snape three years ago." Daphne answered and sighed.
While they were talking, Daphne changed her clothes and her mother helped her with her hair. She and Harry had decided after dinner and dancing they would go back to the Annex. Harry and Daphne said their good-byes to her parents, then flooed to Grimmauld Place. Harry changed clothes while Sirius and Remus entertained Daphne.
The restaurant was upscale without being stuffy. Harry suggested the filet and lobster tail, which Daphne found an excellent choice. He introduced her to Diet Coke his favorite soft drink, and she liked it. She was shocked that he had made reservations for a VIP room at the club. However, it was an excellent thing since they could dance alone there. Furthermore, the music wasn't so loud that they couldn't talk without shouting. During the last dance, Harry leaned in for a kiss giving her a chance to refuse. When his lips met hers, all hell broke loose. They glowed and created a magical tsunami that spread throughout Great Britain.
Harry looked at her with a lopsided smile saying, "Damn girl when you kiss it packs a punch. However, we'd better get out of here before the Ministry arrives."
Daphne was weak kneed and dizzy so she could only nod. Harry wrapped her in his arms and activated the portkey taking them to the Annex.
To be continued in: The First Task and Beyond.