Harry Potter - The Curse of Undeath
Chapter 4 Change of Heart
Harry smiled as he ate his breakfast. Megan Haùfmann, Ravenclaw, under the influence of his will just flung her food at her best friend over a small argument that, unsurprisingly escalated very quickly.
Seeing their argument getting quickly broken up by their prefects, Harry turned back to his food with a discreet little grin. They both wore the 'Potter stinks' badges, so he felt no pity for them despite straining their relationship. Harry had spent the last couple of days this way, enjoying sweet, yet childish revenge against so many of those that had it out for him.
It wasnt enough. He wanted them to hurt more for what they had done, but it was a start. It was all he could do for now, as Ludvig's book had clearly described his power as limited as long as he was only human. Harry would guess his influence would bear little weight against someone if they were aware of his machinations.
He could no longer see why he'd had so much preconceptions against this kind of magic. With a little bit of research, he'd found other books on rituals as well, some that might even improve his eyesight. It would be good to get rid of the glasses, but the process of preparing the ritual was a bit... dark.
Standing up, he walked steadily towards the chamber of secrets. There was no school today and Harry intended spending his time uncovering more of Ludvig's work. He also needed to begin and practice the Obliviation spell, sooner or later, as a last resort to cover his tracks should anyone ever discover his new inclinations. People, as Ludvig himself had said, were narrow minded and shortsighted. What many considered dark was, in all honesty, nothing more than tools to be used by the user's responsibility. It was people who decided what to do with the spells they learned after all. No use in condemning magic for the choices of people.
He easily entered the chambers without fear of being followed, breathing out in relief as the dark chambers greeted him at the bottom of the castle.
Entering the first tunnels, he felt the presence of his new pet Acromantula, smirking as he could see some of the web covered tunnels that she now resided in. By his will, she left the main tunnel alone, since Harry used that to travel back and forth from the library.
Acromantula, Harry had discovered, were incredibly quick and quiet when they wanted too. Harry had willed her to paralyze any interlopers in the chambers and keep them prisoner for him, SHOULD anyone actually intrude upon his chambers.
Rats were plentiful, breeding in the hundreds down here, so he did not have to worry about her running out of food, at least not yet until she got a lot bigger.
By the time he entered the Library in the innermost chamber, Harry pondered what name he should give her. Should he give her a name, named after the greek spider goddess Arachne, whom challenged Athena herself? Or a more inconspicuous name, like Elize, for example?
Arachne was a bit too high profile to his liking... Maybe Elize would suit his new pet just fine.
Elize, he decided, would be the name he'd give her.
Sitting down upon in front of the table, he gingerly moved the book of Ludvig aside and reached out with his mind.
A weak, little lesser mind was close, and Harry effortlessly dominated its thoughts. A little rat scurried out of the dark towards Harry just a second after. Harry picked it up and set it upon the table where it waited patiently and completely still.
Pursing his lips, Harry supposed he should get started. He needed to test his new spells, chances were if he could make them work for the rats, they would work just as well against bigger and more complex creatures as well. The school would ward him from the ministry trace that was on his wand, so he HAD to learn as much of what he could do wandlessly before the year was over.
And he had ALOT of rats to practice on.
With that in mind, Harry decided to was finally time to take a leap and turned his wand on the little rat.
"Imperio."
Monday eventually came too soon, and Harry found himself sitting without a partner in potions class, which suited him just fine. Snape, for once, seemed to leave him alone for whatever reason Harry couldn't fathom, but it was a welcome silence.
His new solitude and inclinations towards magic opened his patience for potions, and Harry found himself with a newfound interest that he did not have in the class before. Several of the rituals he was interested in after all needed some degree of potions work.
"E-Excuse me, Harry?", a timid voice broke his attention. Quickly glancing over his shoulder, he saw Collin standing there with a cautious expression of his face, eyeing Snape warily whom sneered down at them both. "Professor Dumbledore wishes to see you by the entrance. Something about the tournament."
"Thank you.", Harry muttered genuinely before standing up and looking towards his sneering teacher. "May i leave, Professor?"
Snape looked like he wanted to say something, but finally just nodded, surprising Harry even further in the way he was treating him. It did not take long to clean up his potions set and quickly left the classroom before Snape decided enough was enough.
Harry found the entry hall easily enough where he was greeted by an overeager Ludo Bagman. Harry didn't care much for the man, the little suck up, but smiled and greeted him none the less.
"Hello Harry.", Dumbledore smiled kindly at him.
Harry shoved away his resentment and smiled back, ignoring how Fleur and Krum sneered and muttered under their breath at him, well, Fleur the most out of the two of them. Cedric did not really seem to care he was even there, something which suited Harry fine.
Ollivander however, was someone whom Harry was glad to see for once, if only to see a friendly face whom had yet to have wronged him.
The weighing of the wands went painlessly, and unsurprisingly, Ollivander spent a few extra seconds checking his wand when the time came. Harry had almost expected it, considering whom used the twin wand.
A reporter, Rita Skeeter gathered them up for a group picture afterwards. When they were done, Harry turned to leave, eager to get back to class.
"Harry, a moment please! May i call you Harry?", Rita called out to him, a hand holding his shoulder and rooting him in place.
Anger surged upon being held so casually, but Harry smiled kindly at her.
"Something i can help you with?", Harry muttered, his voice sounding gruff even to his own ears. No wonder, considering how little he was speaking nowadays.
"Well, an intervju of course!", Rita grinned slimely and pulled him towards a broom closet. "You're the youngest contender in history! People will want to know your story after all!"
Harry considered a moment if he should refuse. Reaching out with his will and focusing on her presence, it was obvious to Harry that she was only after a story that would sell for money.
Harry did not doubt she'd twist the truth in order the raise the number of papers sold.
Quickly pushing his will down on the woman's mind, Harry smiled benignly as she opened her mouth.
She would write her story... the way HE wanted her to.
'Story of the Boy-who-lived and the Triwizard Tournament!'
That was the headline of every paper that filled the dining hall during their breakfast. Having just read the article, Harry put away the papers satisfied with Rita's work. She had a gift for words, clearly, but Harry did not regret influencing her one single bit during their intervju.
The paper explained Harry's story exactly as it had been, word for word. While the paper had also insinuated the entire school's bullying, or inaction to step in in the case of the teachers, Harry had refused to point fingers and blame like a petulant child.
Harry absentmindedly noted the somber mood among many, especially at the Gryffindor table. He had no intentions of taking any of his former friends back, but it was still satisfying to see them having second thoughts.
A small part of him wanted them to suffer more, but he pushed the notion aside.
"...Hey, Harry...", a soft voice spoke up from across the table.
Looking up from from his food, Harry noted Angelina sitting across from him with a demure expression on her face. Harry noted with amusement that she did no longer wear the 'Potter stinks!' badge he remembered seeing her with.
"Can i help you?", Harry muttered passively, seeing the girl obviously beating herself up over this.
"I just...", she sighed. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I should never hav-"
"Keep your apology.", Harry interrupted scoffing slightly. "You never owed me anything."
"O-Oh.", Angelina sputtered in surprise. Relief seemed to flood into her before smiling at Harry, obviously taking his words for something else than what he meant. "I'm glad! I know you're probably busy right now, but next year we can play quiditch again and catch up-"
"I have no intention of ever playing quiditch with anyone of you anymore, Angelina.", Harry interrupted rudely, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. His temper was flaring and patience wearing thin. "And while you never owed me anything, i still remember you quite vividly with one of your petty badges, making light of the fact i might just die in the coming days. Please, go sit with your friends. Id much rather we happily ignore one another."
Ignoring her shocked expression, Harry focused on his food. With dismay, he noted how quiet the hall had grown and Harry realized he'd spoken louder than what he intended.
Angelina looked like she wanted to say something, but shame seemed to win out as she stood and walked away.
Sighing, Harry stood and left his unfinished meal. The silence was uncomfortable, very much unlike the comfortable silence of his chambers.
Feeling himself in a foul mood, Harry ignored the whispers that broke out as he left.
He supposed he could work on his assignments as he waited for class.
The day of the tournament finally fell upon them, but Harry felt an almost unnatural confidence and calm settle over him as he and the other champions moved towards the tents where they were supposed to wait for the challenge.
He knew he should be worried, but he was not. He felt prepared and ready.
Crouch, Bagman and Dumbledore, alongside the rest of the Heads of school, gave them a few words of encouragement before Crouch presented a bag. Each and everyone picked up a charmed, miniature dragon of different sizes and shapes.
When it was finally Harry's turn, he picked up a familiar shape, black and horned.
"The Hungarian Horntail...", Crouch muttered before shaking his head. "Unfortunately, due to our handlers incompetence, the horntail will not be facing any opponent in the tournament. Therefore, you Harry, whom picked the Horntail will wait until last and face whichever dragon is still the most fit to fight."
Harry nodded having expected this, yet knew Crouch withheld the truth.
Crouch proceeded to tell them the challenge. The dragons were mothers taken from their nesting. A golden egg had been placed among their eggs and that was their objective. The second their hands were upon that egg, they would have completed the challenge.
Calm like ever, Harry almost smirked at this. It would be incredibly easy. He'd have to fake the use of his wand, as he did not wish to raise too much suspicion with wandless AND wordless magic.
Time passed and Harry waited patiently.
A rustle from the flap of the tent disturbed his peace, Hermoine bursting inside with a rush towards him.
"Oh Harry!", Hermoine choked and before Harry could protest, she flung her arms around her in an embrace. "I'm so worried! You will be facing dragons!"
"...I am quite aware.", Harry muttered, grimacing as he gently pushed Hermoine off himself. He would have once be glad for her presence, but that was not the current case.
"Harry, you do not understand! You're not ready for something like this! You should-"
"If the only reason you're here is to tell me what i cannot do, you're wasting your time."
Hermoine's face flared red with anger for a second, before she calmed and looked at him with a sad expression.
"...I came because i care about you, Harry."
Harry snorted as the trumpet that signaled his time to enter the arena called. Giving Hermoine a long glance, he shook his head and moved to the exit.
"You've done a poor job showing it."
Taking a deep breath, Harry lifted the flap of the tent.
"Me and Ron have really messed it up, haven't we...?", Hermoine's soft voice made him stop in the opening of the tent. "Is there no way we can go back to what we once were?"
Breathing deeply, Harry steeled himself.
It would be so easy, to just forgive and forget. Go back to the comfortable zone of his 2 best friends.
"...I don't want to go back.", Harry muttered and strode onward.
He had long decided to not go back, in all matters. He would keep his word.