Title: Crimson Tangerine
Author: enchanted nightingale
Beta Reader: pussycatadamah
Summary: Their first encounter changed the course of their lives. What will a second meeting bring?
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I only use them in my plot for fun.
A/N: Inspired by idea/prompt Aliengirlguy suggested to me.
A Champion In Need
L
They broke the surface to the lake and the spell that had been on Blaise broke. In the distance and up above them, the crowd of spectators cheered or booed accordingly but Harry could not care less. He was no longer in the dark depths of the lake away from the Merpeople, the Grindylow's and the other dangers lurking in there. But there was still a road for them to cover till they were on dry land, completely safe. They got their bearings and started the long and hard way back. The green eyed teen was tired and Blaise was sluggish from being unconscious.
Right after Harry managed to get his hostage halfway to the shore, Krum came out of the depths of the lake with Granger tightly held in his arms. Cedric was not far behind though.
"Harry?" Blaise was spluttering and shivering as Harry tried to keep them floating and move them towards land where blankets and warmth waited for them.
"I've got you," Harry told his friend.
"Are you okay?" the Slytherin asked.
"Fine… Just tired," Harry panted.
Krum swam past them and Harry did not mind. Cedric caught up too. Harry was the last to reach the shore; Fleur was already out, sans her hostage though. Their school nurse rushed to meet them and Cedric, after checking Cho was fine, also approached Harry, worried about the younger teen.
"Everything's fine," the green eyed wizard insisted.
"Just one more task," Blaise tried to reassure his friend, but at the same time all of them dreaded the third and last task.
LI
Clarissa hugged her son to her and just would not let go. Harry let her, hugging her back. Philip had them both in his embrace. It was a touching finally moment and a bit sad at the same time as the main reason they were all clustered together was fear. The two parents had been afraid for Harry's safety. Unable to go to Hogwarts and see the tasks they had only been able to follow them through newspapers and Harry's own, lengthy and rather detailed letters. It had not been enough though. Now that Harry was home for Easter, he was at least safe and they could keep an eye on him, for now.
"I booked us a table," Philip told his son. "Your favourite restaurant. Call it a mini celebration, son."
"Thank you," the teen smiled.
"And you can tell us all about school, letters just don't cover everything," Clarissa tells her boy.
The teen is happy to comply, eager to spend time with them, forget about the castle and the deadly tournament and the third task which keeps getting nearer.
LII
Harry got his second letter from Xylanthe Of Glafka two days into his Easter break. Aside of informing him about the destruction of the Horcruxes, the Vampire was telling him they had pin pointed Voldemort's location. That they were close to taking the Dark Lord down once and for all and about the small hitch in their plans. Thus the invitation the female Vampire was extending towards Harry and his parents. It was not an invitation to a remote location and that had settled the teen's fears just a bit. No, they were meeting at a restaurant in London. Philip and Clarissa had been worried about this.
"Vampires?" Clarissa demanded when he first told them what he had done during the Triwizard Ball.
"I told you about the soul pieces, mum," Harry sighed.
"Yes, but those books of yours were quite adamant that Vampires are dangerous to deal with," Philip pointed out. "And while you said you have met one before, it still does not settle my mind. This Dark Lord was powerful then and he had Vampires on his side. What assurances you have they are not working with him and that they won't turn on you the moment you let your guard down?" the doctor asked his son. He and Clarissa had made a point to read all of Harry's books after the boy used them. They had stated quite logically that they wanted to learn the culture and history of the community their boy was part of, be supportive and not ignorant about Harry's heritage. It was a double edged sword at times. "We worry Harry. What with the Tournament and all the trouble you have faced in just four years in that school."
"I trust them more than the Headmaster or the Ministry," Harry admitted to his parents. "The Vampires somehow tracked Voldemort down. They actually plan to take him out because he's causing trouble to their plans. You know the Wizengamot is just looking for an excuse to take away all their prerogatives and throw them back to creature status. They are constantly with one foot inside the community and one foot out and they are sick of it." Harry shrugged. "As of yet, I'm the only one who has not tried to ban them from the wizarding world, use them or exploit them to further my agenda."
"Harry," Clarissa smiled with amusement. "You don't have an agenda."
"Exactly," Harry replied. "That made me their best ally. And since I want Voldemort dead for one and never returning, they're are the best allies I've got. The Ministry are a bunch of morons…"
"Harry…" Philip warned, mostly because Clarissa was frowning at her son's language.
"Sorry, sorry, but you get my point, right?" the fourteen year old asked.
"We do," the doctor agreed. "What do you want from us?"
"Just… support. The invitation included the two of you and I thought that I should at least tell you," the teen eyed them from behind thick black lashes.
His parents sighed.
"I thank the deities every day that you at least have some sense in that head of yours," Clarissa mused, a smile on her face. "Now, what should we wear? Let me see the invitation. Mm, yes, I know this restaurant. Slick but casual then."
"What is that insistence of yours that we always dress according to the situation?" Philip asked his wife.
She glared. "It's not like I make us wear colour coordinated clothes," she responded and the two males of the family sighed with relief.
LIII
Orfeus was feeling the magic of the life debt tagging at him, the magic that animated his cold body, the magic he still possessed after centuries of being turned. What Xylanthe was announcing to her group of confidants and warriors come generals was horrifying.
"Are you certain?" Lorcan, more human and more expressive than them spoke first.
"It is confirmed," Xyla stated in a cold tone. "Tom Marvolo Riddle went so far as to make a living Horcrux."
"The snake is really one then," Orfeus said.
The female Vampire nodded. "But… not just the snake."
"Seven times? He ripped apart his own soul seven bloody times," Lorcan looked sick.
"What was the next vessel?" another Vampire, with exotic features and purple eyes asked. Xyla looked at her companion for the last millennium. Orfeus watched the pair, Xyla and Malik; they had always been together as long as he had known them, even before they had all relocated to stay in the UK for the majority of their years, seeking to make themselves a name, establish themselves on the top of the hierarchy.
"Another snake?" Malik asked. "A magical creature?"
"A wizard," Xyla replied, voice grave.
Orfeus felt sick, a feeling he had not felt in centuries. "Harry Potter."
The others looked at him.
Xyla nodded. "Harry Potter, I felt the darkness when I met him at Hogwarts."
LIV
There was something ominous about meeting the leader of Vampires, for the UK at least, in a nice restaurant with salmon pink walls and flowery carpets. The family of three entered and the Vampires stood; all six of them. Lorcan d'Eath was there, dressed in nice slacks and a shirt, unlike his usual leather and silk. Xyla was dressed in a pencil skirt in white; unlike the dramatic dress she wore the last time he had seen her. Harry recognized one more face in that room, Orfeus, who was at Xyla's side, looking imposing and handsome and like a prince in Muggle casual clothes. Harry was glad his mother had insisted on nice clothes, anything less might have been an insult.
''Harry.'' the female Vampire, the only one in the room greeted him with a smile full of fangs.
To their credit, Harry's parents just sucked in their breaths, looking composed and trying not to gape or stare at the species they had thought fictional before meeting their son.
''Madam, nice to see you again. I'd like to introduce my family. My mother Clarissa and my father Philip.'' there was no need for full names; the Vampires used aliases and more likely already knew all information about the green eyed wizard's family.
''Harry told us of your... Arrangement,'' the Muggle woman commented. ''Thank you for your help keeping him safe.''
Xyla's smile widened. ''You're welcome, Clarissa. Now, I am told this restaurant produces miracle dishes and I bet you are hungry.''
''What about you?'' Harry asked. ''Our foods are bland to you, right?''
''Usually, yes, but rare fillets are nice,'' Lorcan allowed. ''The wine as well.''
''Considering there are days I want my steaks with a bit of blood I understand,'' Philip commented.
They sat at a table, Harry between Xyla and Lorcan. Clarissa found herself between Lorcan and Orfeus while Philip was on the female Vampire's other side.
Throughout the appetizers and the first course the conversation was varied and rather pleasant if not generic, starting from the food and not limited there but expanding to include music, work, cars and travelling. It did not have that war council kind of feeling, in fact it was, almost, like an ordinary dinner and that ominous feeling Harry had when he entered the establishment did not linger over them for a while. What Harry in particular tried during that time was not to stare at Orfeus more or less than he did with others. It was bad enough that vampires had keen senses; he did not want to give them any ammunition to use against him. And it seemed that the vampire he had danced with at the Yule Ball was of the same mind.
It was during the second course, right before dessert that the subject of their meeting was touched again.
''Harry, is your family aware of the particulars of your situation?'' Madam Xyla asked.
Harry had not even touched his plate.
''You mean about a certain Dark Lord and his safety clauses to immortality?''
''You can use the word 'Horcruxes','' the female Vampire commented. ''the staff in this establishment are all of them Muggle's with no ties to the magical world."
"There is no such thing as being too careful," the green eyed wizard responded.
"A bit paranoid," Lorcan teased.
"Not when people are really out to get you," Harry replied. "Then it's being cautious and prudent."
"I stand corrected," the half vampire nodded at the teen.
"Did you destroy those… things?" Clarissa asked. "Harry should be safe… well, safer at least now, right?"
"Yes and no," Orfeus said. "The soul pieces are destroyed, all but two. We are close to acquiring Nagini…"
"His snake," Philip recalled and the vampire nodded.
"What's the last one?" Harry asked.
Here the Vampires looked grave, Orfeus more than the rest of them. Immortal eyes were pinned on him. Clarissa and Philip seemed confused, but Harry, staring into bottomless eyes like Orfeus and Xyla's, eyes that had seen wars and empires rise and fall, he just knew.
"Is it possible…" the teen's throat constricted, his heart not wanting to put words to what his mind had just realized. He worried his lip and tried again, not once his green orbs leaving Madam Xyla's marble like face. "Is it doable for a human, like say, a child, to become a soul vessel?" he finally asked.
Clarissa and Philip turned to look at their adopted son with horrified looks on their faces.
"I am sorry to say such a depraved act is actually possible," the oldest vampire of the group told Harry, her eyes showing a bit of regret.
"Are you telling us…?" Philip spoke first but he felt too upset to go on. His hands clenched and he closed his mouth, unable to say anything else. Clarissa looked so pale that Harry was worried she might lose her senses.
"Harry being a vessel is the problem," Xyla admitted. "But you have yet to hear the solution."
Those were hardly comforting yet somehow the teen felt that he could breathe again.
The solution to their problem came over dessert, something sweet to soften the bitterness of the news they had received previously.
"How do you destroy those things?" Clarissa asked. "Harry mentioned some kind of fire…"
"Fiendfire," Malik offered. "That was what we used to get rid of the other objects."
"The tiara," Harry recalled.
"And the cup we found and a locket, courtesy of you again," Xyla told the teen.
"Locket?" Philip asked.
"From the Black house in London," Harry told his father.
The Muggle's shuddered.
"Horrible place that one," Clarissa muttered.
"But Fiendfire is uncontrollable and …"
"We are not using that spell on you," Malik stated, his mate was nodding.
"Basilisk venom then," Harry said.
"Not even that," Xyla replied.
Harry looked lost.
"A simple curse," the female Vampire said. "Two words, Avada Kedavra is enough."
"You plan to use that Unforgivable on my son!" Clarissa hissed, not caring that she was glaring at a creature stronger, older and deadlier than her.
"We won't," Malik stated, unfazed by the woman's rage. "Voldemort will."
That statement made Harry's blood freeze. "What?" wariness entered his emerald green eyes.
Xyla smirked. "Well, there is a plan young wizard."
The sneaky part of Harry that nearly got him into Slytherin made him stop from overreacting and ask the vampire what she meant. Xyla's smile widened and the dinner did turn into a war room then as plans upon plans fell on the table and dessert was the perfect ending to that night.
LV
It had taken a lot of thought for Harry to do this. His mind weighing all the words the Vampires had said when a few nights ago they had planned to end the reign of the dark lord Voldemort before it began again. They had a place and approximate time when that would happen. Assurances upon assurances were given to the teen, Clarissa and Philip that all would turn out fine, that all aspects were covered, how everything would work out fine. Harry, ever since the time with his biological relatives, he had had a pessimistic outlook on life, an outlook he suppressed because just being around Clarissa and Philip made him feel happier, more hopeful. But the pessimist remained. So here he was, in front of a law firm Hannah had recommended. 'Abbot and Abbot' was a law firm of two partners, a wizard and a Muggleborn who had met in Hogwarts some thirty years ago and later partnered up. He did not tell anyone he came here, not wanting to worry his parents or his friends, even his allies. Though the wizard believed that at least the Vampires would understand the necessity of such an act and might even appreciate the planning.
"Mister Potter?" Hannah's cousin greeted him, his Muggleborn partner a few feet away.
"Gentlemen," the teen said. "I'm here to sign my will."
The two adults looked grave but understanding. A Goblin from Gringotts was there with a detailed list of Harry's assets. It was a long and gruelling process that added to the difficulty of the already morbid task the teen had set himself to do.
LVI
Cedric frowned at Harry. They were back in Hogwarts and the youth looked like a different man. A bit distanced, a bit more thoughtful. The teen feared the beginning had been at the Yule Ball, when Harry had disappeared for a while but he could not ask the younger teen. And he worried. Justin and Harry's other close friends worried as well and had sought out Diggory and badgered him with questions but no one had an answer.
"It's like he's waiting, preparing for something," Blaise had told the Hufflepuff before shrugging and walking away.
"But for what?" Cedric kept asking himself.
Blaise shook his head. "I have no idea. And I don't think he will tell us if we ask." They hoped at least but deep down they knew Harry was more likely to keep quiet about his troubles. Snooping around was not an option either as the green eyed teen would see it as an invasion of his privacy. So his friends set out to play their usual waiting game, hoping for the best. Harry's peer group was not the only group in Hogwarts that noticed that something was up with the teen. The same pair of blue eyes that had followed the Boy Who Lived as he walked the hallways of the school since the age of eleven.
Albus Dumbledore had an active interest in the prophesized child. He had known James and Lily and he had viewed them with affection, not just as their former Headmaster but as a friend and a mentor. Those same feelings had transferred to their son, the same green eyed baby that Lily would bring to Order meetings where the Prewit Twins would take on the task of entertaining the newborn. Albus had held Harry numerous times those days and since James and Lily's parents had been gone by then he had been the only remotely grandfatherly figure. There were still some pictures of him holding Harry while he slept. And then came the much dreaded feeling Albus had whenever he thought of that baby boy and the mature teen he turned out to be. Albus was not as cut off from the Muggle community as most people would think. He got the Muggle papers regularly and he had seen the articles of Harry lost in the woods. He had been about to join the search when the Muggle authorities found the boy. And then the other, horrible truth came to light, Harry's home life. And all of Dumbledore's failings came to light, his biggest one since his sister's death. The abuse and neglect Harry suffered at the hands of Petunia, the aunt that was supposed to love him. Albus felt horrified and sick that his actions, however well meant his intentions had been, it seemed that what came out of them was horrific. He was often told that he trusted too much, to an almost naïve level. His brother and even Gellert had been the strongest voices declaring that. They were once again right.
The aged Headmaster had found Harry in the hospital and he had been ready to whisk the boy away into the magical world. He no longer cared if he would get a big head, as long as he had a happy childhood, when he noticed that man and his wife. He learned their names, Philip and Clarissa. Both Muggle's, both kindly souls, both incredibly taken with Harry. He stood back and watched as they got closer to the boy. He watched as Harry was adopted and his new family tried to heal all his wounds. He was glad and relieved that those two people had done what he failed to do when he trusted Petunia, despite all the warnings Minerva gave him. He let Harry stay with his adoptive parents because he knew they were a family and he was not going to ruin that, he was not about to offer Harry one more reason to resent him. He had put him in enough danger over the years, when he hoped to save Quirrell from Voldemort's position, when he hoped to stop the monster himself, when he failed to realize Sirius was innocent, when the boys name came out of the Goblet of Fire. He would not interfere in Harry's life but he would do his best to help the teen grow up and live his life, it was the least he could do.
LVII
The hedges were tall, taller than the first time Bagman introduced the arena for the Third Task to the four champions, making the labyrinth covering the Quidditch Pitch that looked ruined. Cedric was more scandalized than Harry about the sacrilege committed and the green eyed wizard just knew the Quidditch fanatics would bitch and moan about this when they found out, what had happened. Now they stood at the entrance, wands at the ready. The pitch was surrounded by the stands where the spectators sat, eager to see the last Task.
"Harry?" Cedric had Harry's attention.
"Hm?"
"Are you okay? You have been absentminded," the older Hufflepuff asked, concerned.
Harry smiled. "I'm fine." he noticed that Fleur and Viktor were also looking a bit apprehensive. "Everything's fine, honestly!"
"If you find trouble, shoot the damn sparks," Cedric told the youngest of the Champions.
"We signed in for this," Viktor said.
"Promise 'Arry?" Fleur asked.
"I won't run headfirst into trouble," Harry vowed. "Though, I know some of Hagrid's pets are prowling the corridors…"
The older teens shuddered.
"That was evil of you," Cedric pouted and Harry grinned. "Harry I'm serious. If you are in danger…"
The green eyed teen dropped the silly act and gave a serious nod. "I know, I'm not losing my life over this."
"Good boy," Cedric told him and clapped his shoulder. He turned to the other champions. "Good luck, all of you."
The others smiled and wished him luck as well. Then the whistle sounded and one by one the Champions entered the maze.
LVIII
The world started spinning and not because of all the creatures he had encountered on his way to the cup. He had thought about giving up, he knew he had nothing to prove because in the end, he had survived and gotten this far into the competition. But there was also the trap he had laid with the help of the Vampires to take Voldemort down once and for all. He got past the anti gravity spell, the Sphinx, the Blast-Ended Skrewts Hagrid offered to the Task, the Acromantula and the hedges that wanted to trip him. He saw red sparks rise and he hoped it was not Cedric. So when he had caught sight of the cup he ran with all the strength he had in his legs and he braced himself for what was to follow.
The Portkey he had expected. The cemetery was a spooky and rather predictable choice as well. The cauldron and the disfigured baby like creature were not. Harry was nearly sick at the sight. And then Moody walked up to him, wand pointed at him with a twisted grin and Harry knew that this man was not the real Moody. Before he had the chance to react, the fake Moody was attacked. Xyla had been true to her word and her minions were there, the female Vampire sauntered over, falling into a stop right next to Harry.
"I hope you were not worried," she told the green eyed teen.
The green eyed teen shook his head. "I just hate Portkeys," he offered and she nodded. Both of them turned their eyes to stare at Voldemort in the false body he had created. It was a pathetic form of existence. Vampires were immortal, or as closely as there was to immortality as possible, and even they thought Riddle's attempts to live forever were desperate at best.
Harry kept close to the female Vampire, trying not to flinch when Voldemort started hissing and cursing his way, both in English and in Parseltongue. The Vampires just glared at this excuse for a wizard.
"Well," Xyla shot a disdainful look at Voldemort. Then she turned to Harry. "Let's get started. No reason to stall."
The green eyed wizard winced. "Do I need to be here for this?"
"Remember that Prophecy darling? Not only do you need to be here, but you get to participate," she told the teen.
What followed was the most gruesome hour in Harry's life. Rituals, even purifying ones, were a mess. The Vampires were prepared. The cauldron the fake Moody had been preparing the potion in was tipped and the contents spilled in the soil of the run down cemetery. The foul smell as the brew sizzled and disappears is worse than anything imagined.
"It's the dark magic," Xyla explains. "Anything demanding bones, flesh and blood is too foul for the Earth to receive. Banishing it would not work though. Come on now, our work starts now."
Harry lets her herd him forward. He wants to bolt but he knows he needs to play his part; it was after all what they had agreed to do. The rune circle is easy to draw; it helps drown out the hissed insults Voldemort makes. When the intricate design is over and Harry's knees ache and he feels drained from pouring magic and the intent to purify into the carved designs. The vampires shove the humanoid form of the dark Lord inside. Then Harry steps back and the chanting starts, Xylanthe and her mate are the ones in charge of this. Tearing Tom Riddle's soul away from this corporeal form he has assumed is easy. It is a shrivelled, wounded soul and not strong enough to hold onto a body. It has been mutilated beyond natural laws. The fake body crumbles away and Voldemort's spirit levitates inside the rune circle. The soul tries to break free but the runes glow, trapping him inside.
"You'll never be rid of me!" Voldemort threatens them. "I can never truly die! And when I come back you will all pay!"
Xylanthe smiles, her cruel, bloodthirsty smile that makes even the crazy dark lord take notice.
"I'm afraid, Riddle, that your contingency plans are dust, basilisk venom and fiendfire will do that to a Horcrux," she mocks and if spirits could pale, Harry thinks this one would as well. There is nothing but anger and vitriol spewing from Voldemort's mouth but there is no real threat to his words. The most feared dark lord in Britain is rendered powerless thanks to the Vampires. Then Xylanthe mutters the final words to the chant and Harry feels something snap inside his head. He's down on his knees with a pained cry, the scream of agony mirrored by the bodiless spirit a few feet away. Blood rushes from the scar on the green eyed wizard's face and dark smoke rises, polluting the blood, making it look like tar running down the teen's face. Harry feels like he has been in agony for years, throat screamed hoarse. Then he is pulled to his feet rather forcefully and a sword pushed into his trembling hands. He can barely see where he is going despite the tears running from his eyes. He hears the words of encouragement only it is not Xylanthe this time but Lorcan. The singer and half Vampire is supporting him, helping him cross the rune circle. The moment he does, the remains of the Horcrux Voldemort had unwittingly created when he attacked the Potter house on Halloween thirteen years ago. As the remains disintegrate, purified by the ritual, Harry can suddenly see better and he can finally see the spirit of Tom Riddle. It is easy to lift the sword and cut through the ghostly mist. He channels his magic into the blade, all the while being encouraged by the Vampires that surround him.
In the end, it is easy to kill Voldemort, somewhat anticlimactic, but the relief Harry feels is staggering. The rune circle glows one last time before disappearing, the chalk becoming ashes as the magic takes with it the remaining spirit of the wizard that used to terrorize wizards and witches of his home country. Then everything blacked out.
LIX
It is like a war council in the infirmary. The Headmaster of Hogwarts had been alarmed when the Portkey, instead of taking the winning champion to the beginning of the labyrinth whisked Harry Potter away from the school. It had caused a huge stir and the boy's parents had immediately tracked him down, worried and angry at the school for the danger the boy was in. Cedric Diggory, the second person to reach the centre of the labyrinth, is with them, bloodied and tired yet more worried about the missing younger Hufflepuff. And then Harry arrives, unconscious and bloody and magically exhausted in the arms of a female Vampire, surrounded by a dozen of the creatures. Chaos is the lesser word to describe what happened then.
He still wonders how he managed to send Fudge away, keep the spectators and the teachers calm and lead the strange group back to Hogwarts. He is beyond curious as to why Clarissa and Philip Lloyd seem at ease around the Vampires or why Philip thanks them. It seems Diggory is as well.
"What's wrong with my son?" Clarissa demands.
"Extracting his Horcrux was taxing," Lorcan admits.
Albus looks horrified and then adds astonishment to that emotion when Harry's parents, two Muggle's, seem to recognize the term when even Cedric does not.
"Soul piece," Philip explains to the older Hufflepuff. "It's how that Dark Lord of yours kept alive. No more though," he states. He eyes Xylanthe almost defiantly. "He is dead and gone for good this time, right?"
She smirks. "Of course. That's why Harry there fainted. Exhaustion. His magic was also tired for fending off that last soul piece."
"Did you know he was one?" Clarissa asks, never taking her worried eyes off her son's face.
"I suspected," Xyla admits. "We all did," she eyes her mate. "It no longer matters though."
"What is going on?" Cedric asks and Philip clasps his arm.
"I'll explain later, son," he tells Harry's friend. "Or perhaps my son will when he awakes again."
"I would also like an explanation," Albus cuts in and he receives a fanged smile from the leading Vampire.
"I'm sure you do," Xylanthe tells him. "Let us step into your office for this. I'm sure Harry's parents just want to spend time with their son."
The blue eyed wizard frowns. He desperately wants answers. He had had theories as to what happened on that Halloween when Lily and James died and how Tom was vanquished, however temporarily. He had thought dark magic had been responsible and the foulest form of them as well and it seems like he was correct in that assumption. Albus Dumbledore just never expected to hear that damned word, 'Horcrux' from the people that practically barged into his school. If they say though that the Horcruxes are destroyed he wants to learn how, he had after all searched for a long time to find out and he wants to know whether young Potter is finally free once and for all. If he is, that is one less regret in his life, though he hates that Xylanthe of all people had a hand in this. He can already tell he has a difficult summer ahead of him.
"I'll have Madam Pomfrey check on my student first," Dumbledore tells her.
The female Vampire shrugs. "If you think it necessary. Clarissa, Philip, we will make contact at a later date."
Lorcan nods at them and the Vampires leave.
It is then that Poppy Pomfrey rushes forward and starts checking up on Harry, under the worried eyes of his family.
"Will he…" Philip is almost afraid to ask. He half expected the crazy plan those Vampires and his son concocted to blow up in their faces. Clarissa clutches his arms so hard it should pain him, but with all the adrenaline he hardly feels it.
"Just exhausted," the medi witch explains. She starts cleaning away the stains from Harry's face and with a spell the teen is wearing pyjamas and is under the covers of a bed. "He's fine, nothing he can't sleep off."
And just like that, Harry's family and Cedric feel able to breathe again.
End of chapter.