Author's Notes: This is a non-profit work of fanfiction meant only for entertainment.
Destiny
by Lerris Smith
-«Chapter Seven»-
Hours later a very tired and old headmaster sat by the Potters in the hospital ward. The two from Durmstrang had been moved back to their ship where their own mediwizard monitored them, although no complications were expected there. Albus was much more worried about the pair before him. Something was still off. Oh he had quickly figured out that Harry's wife had no magical core of her own, even if she did have magic that was clearly coming from Harry. He had even identified where in their left arms it was leaving and entering their systems. He had even identified the touch of Veela magic on them, but had figured out that it was beneficial and left it alone.
A part of him was tempted to try to undo what appeared to be blood magic, yet their bond prevented that. Removing it might be lethal, since it seemed his wife's body was actively using it. No, he dare not risk it, particularly when the removal of the Horcrux clearly meant that the prophecy had to be interpreted in a far more worrying way. He looked on even as he noticed Harry and his wife's toes were now uncovered. He blinked twice when he saw their toes fade from existence before quickly returning.
Dumbledore called out, "Fawkes! I need you!" A surprised Fawkes burst into flames into the middle of the room. Dumbledore said, "I need you go get Algernon Croaker right now. It is important. I saw them fading."
Fawkes looked at them with worry before bursting into flames. A few minutes later Fawkes returned with one old annoyed wizard dressed in pajamas yet still with his wand at the ready. He said, "Albus, I hope you have a very good reason for kidnapping me. I put those wards up for a reason you know."
Somber the defeater of Grindelwald said, "I saw their toes fading from existence. You and I know there are a few reasons for that to happen, and probably only one."
The Unspeakable's face grew grim as he shuffled over to the pair, obviously uncomfortable with the cold castle floor. Albus absently conjured him some slippers that Croaker slipped on. Croaker then began to cast his wand first at their feet then over their bodies. A dull violet glow soon covered Harry while an intense blinding one covered Lacus.
Croaker said, "They both stink of time magic. The boy has clearly been using a time turner, although not to dangerous amounts. The girl has done something, changed history somehow, and not something trivial. This is big, bigger than I even thought possible. No time turner could have possibly done it, yet clearly she has. You know what that means as well as I."
Albus said flatly, "Then she is the walking dead, and soon her death will mean Harry's. With the prophecy Voldemort may then be unstoppable. Before I thought that with the prophecy fulfilled that I could perhaps finish him off. I'm not so sure now."
"What are you talking about Albus? What prophecy?"
Resigned the old wizard told him, included what he had figured out about Lacus and Harry. Croaker said, "Albus your idiocy may have doomed us all." Louder he continued, "That muggle girl somehow found a way far back through time which should have killed her, and it looks like she came to save Potter. She did your job for you, probably because you screwed it up the first time with your stupid interpretation of prophecy! The boy should have been trained from his diapers, and the Horcrux dealt with somehow. Instead you insure that he gets no special training at all and its up to a muggle to fix your mistakes!"
Lacus and Harry were awake now and listening. Lacus asked, "Who are you?"
Croaker said, "Algernon Croaker, head of the Unspeakables."
Lacus nodded. For Harry's benefit she said, "He is the head of the group that would normally deal with threats like Voldemort, but who didn't. I don't know why." Harry gave an absent half nod even as he grabbed her right hand under the covers with his own left.
Croaker said, "You are well informed. Exactly when did you come from, how the heck did you get here and what did you change?"
Lacus looked to Harry who half shrugged. He didn't like the situation, but it seemed unlikely that a little truth would be any worse than anything else now. He didn't have the Horcrux anymore, so in theory, Dumbledore would no longer be seeking his death.
His wife said, "I come from almost a hundred years in the future. I came by modifying a weapon that had already destroyed the Earth to punch a hole through time. I saved Harry from his fate of being eaten by a Dragon. If all goes well, we will save your people and change fate."
Croaker guessed, "Voldemort won and started a war which the muggles finished or something like that?"
"Within ten years the muggle's had clearly won the war, but that was not enough. They unleashed a bio-weapon. Every man woman and child with even the potential for magic was killed."
Albus fainted. Croaker floated him to a bed even as Fawkes looked on in worry.
Croaker asked, "Then why did you come back? Surely a lesser change in time would have suited you better and been much less dangerous."
Lacus said, "There were two reasons. First, I simply did not know how. The theory I used to travel in time was well studied, even if untested. It required nearly enough energy to destroy all life on the planet to work, and even then was limited to larger jumps. I could not just come back a few years even if I wanted to. Given that I was bound to be exposed to enough radiation to eventually be lethal, I also could not wait to make changes. I suppose I could have tried to setup something that would have only have affected the future, but that would be chancy at best and I didn't want to risk it."
Croaker said, "Your second reason?"
She said, "My people were designed and created partly out of research done on your people during the war. The people of Earth accepted the sin of genocide being a necessary and acceptable tactic then. I am uncertain if the battle that ended life on the Earth could be prevented without first preventing the genocide of your people. Once they believed in that it was easy for them to try to do it again."
Albus had woken again by then which necessitated a repeat of what they discussed. Croaker asked, "Designed and created? Never mind. We can talk about that later. When did you plan to do the final change to finish off Voldemort forever?"
"During the final task of the tournament. We do not know where he will be with any certainty before then. His Horcruxes will be eliminated nearly simultaneously to prevent him from sensing it. A group will then kill off Voldemort's current form, finishing it once and for all."
Croaker wore a pained look momentarily before saying, "It is a good plan. I suppose you have Augusta involved. She has hinted a few things to me."
Lacus asked, "Why did you look at us with pity when I told you the date?" Harry looked at her confused.
Croaker asked tiredly, "Are you sure you want an answer to that question?"
Harry looked worried. Lacus looked afraid yet resolved. She said, "I do. I cannot plan for what I do not know." Harry held her tighter.
Croaker said, "You are experiencing what happens when someone tries and succeeds in changing history. Oh people do little changes with time turners all the time, and some get lucky and never notice anything. The larger the change, the larger the affect. The more time that has happened since the change also increases the effect. You did an unimaginable change. When Voldemort dies, you will probably fade from existence. Harry's bond to you helps, but I doubt it will be enough."
Harry began to breath rapidly yet shallowly even as he held a nearly painful grip on his wife. Harry said softly, "No! No! I won't let it happen. Andromeda said that if Fawkes gave tears.."
Numb Lacus said sadly softly almost robotically, "I didn't know. I wouldn't have asked Harry if I had known. I thought that if I helped him, then perhaps he could help me heal from the radiation damage. A magical can travel in time without long term damage. It was thought that their magic healed them." She seemed so lost until Harry held her face between his hands and said firmly, "I would change nothing, even if I were to die now. We did the best we could, and we are going to beat this together. Do you understand me. We are going to beat this!" Lacus nodded, clearly uncertain, but wanting to believe.
Croaker laughed bitterly. He said, "I hope your right boy. At least now that I know about it, you can be assured that Voldemort will be taken care of. Fawkes's tears will probably help, for a time at least, but when history takes the bigger turn of Voldemort's final death, well I just hope your right. For what it's worth, there is no reason you should have known about the fading. That level of knowledge is known to few. Most believe that changing the past is simply impossible."
With forced calm Lacus said, "Just stopping Voldemort probably will only delay, but not prevent the eventual war with muggles. Your secrecy must end."
Croaker said, "I very much fear that you are correct. I'd rather see the wizarding world let go of a few of its prejudices first, but I promise to work on a plan. Albus can help. Merlin knows the mess it will cause, but controlled chaos, even if there are deaths, is a hell of a lot better than extinction."
Lacus nodded before saying, "Be careful with Alastor Moody. He is in reality Barty Crouch Junior. If he is found out before the end, then all may be lost." Croaker nodded grimly even as Albus winced. Harry seemed lost.
Lacus turned back to him and said, "It is alright. I have enjoyed my time here and have lived longer than I had a right to. Others can finish my work." She was in tears then, but she ignored them and said, "We can adopt children, so that you have something to hold onto when I'm gone. You will live and help finish my work. Please." The last was bit had a tone of desperation to it.
Albus said quietly, "Both of you were fading before. Whatever is going on is affecting you both. The first thing you can do though Harry is promise never to use a time turner again. It might help a bit."
Croaker said, "Yes. If you have one, then you should turn it over to me anyway. I always thought it was stupid that our department ever lent Hogwarts any in the first place. Sure they can be used somewhat safely if one is careful but they are hardly safe."
Harry said, "It's in our bedroom." He called Dobby and asked him to bring it, before asking Dobby to leave for now. Dobby almost cried when he saw Harry in the hospitable bed, yet left quietly. Harry handed it to the Unspeakable.
Lacus said, "There is a magical device in both our arms. Andromeda knows about it. It allows Harry to share blood and thus his magic with me. If they are deactivated before the end of the third task it may allow Harry at least to live."
Harry said firmly to his wife, "If you die, I die." Lacus seemed even sadder at that but nodded and held him tight.
Croaker said, "Blood magic eh? That is an interesting trick. I would very much appreciate it if that secret never got out. The muggles would love to know that I'm sure. In fact, with your permission, I would like to cast a Fidelius charm on them before I leave."
Lacus and Harry shrugged. Harry said, "It sounds like a good idea to me." Lacus said, "The muggles who used them died if they got too far away from the donor. We would have to at least remember that."
Croaker said, "You two will know the truth as will any who need to know. If you need me, send Augusta a coded note. I will come and tell those you want told. I can show you how to code one later."
There was silence for a time. Fawkes had hopped up on their bed indicating his willingness to help. Hesitantly Croaker said to them, "There may be a chance, if a small one."
Harry said eagerly, "What? Just tell me."
Croaker smiled and said, "If your wife was pregnant, there is the chance that the new life, combined with sharing your blood, might be enough to keep her in existence. That way she would have two ties to this reality."
Harry blushed. Lacus too darkened a bit. She said quietly, "I said before that we are a created race. We are based on humans, yet not close enough to have children with, at least without help. The technology to allow us to have a child does not exist yet, nor could I develop it even if I tried in the time we have."
Croaker said, "I think you underestimate magic. At the very least, I can't think of a better way to spend the time you have." To that, Lacus blushed furiously as did Harry behind her.
Albus and Croaker left the pair to themselves. A short time later Fawkes soft voice seemed to caress them. Then he was standing over Lacus's head and looking down into her eyes with a tear beginning to fall from his right eye. Lacus held still as the tear fell and entered her own right eye. Suddenly she felt that all was right with the world.
-«oOo»-
In a room without portraits just off the headmaster's office Albus said, "So, will her becoming pregnant actually help? She still has a couple tasks to complete in."
Croaker shrugged. He said, "There is a chance, but not a great one. Most probably she will die and take Harry with her that day. There is also a very small chance she will live to give birth if she manages to get pregnant that is. I can't see it likely for her to survive the birth though, particularly since the child would no longer be anchoring her, although in that case the child might live. I wouldn't bet on it though, but who knows. Magic sometimes does what it wants."
Albus nodded. He said, "If you find out anything I can do for them. Anything."
Croaker said, "Our sins are rarely paid for so easily. If we survive all this, you can help me find a way to integrate our world with the muggles, for I very much fear she is correct there. You do know that they know about us right?"
Albus said, "No I did not. High at their governmental levels I presume?"
Croaker said, "From what little intelligence our American counterparts deign to give us the major governments have known for years. They even have detailed plans to destroy us if it became necessary."
Albus paled. He said, "If some find out they might use it as an excuse to attack first."
Croaker said, "Then I very much doubt we would even last the ten years. We probably got some second chances the first time around since they could blame Voldemort, but without him to blame, we would simply be annihilated, particularly as their fear increased. Once we started regularly using the Imperius on them, things would turn ugly very quickly. I don't think most appreciate just how powerful the muggles are, or how numerous."
Albus nodded.
Croaker said, "There is one additional possible complication. There is no record of anyone changing history as much as she has. There may be additional effects..."
Albus nodded soberly.
-«oOo»-
Fawkes flew away even as Harry turned pulled her to himself and got close, as if asking permission to kiss his wife. She answered him with her own lips even as they slowly began to caress each other and kiss. They treated each other like fragile glass. The love that had grown in him for her was clearly there as was her own for him. For the longest time they did little more and no more was needed. A soft warm glow enveloped them and all seemed right with the world. As the dawn broke they were one for the first time.
-«oOo»-
The next morning at Hogwarts found Lacus and Harry still in the infirmary, along with Andromeda Tonks, a large black dog, and Fleur while the Daily Prophet was delivered to the great hall.
The title read, "Potter's save hundreds from Minister's Idiocy." The article had a large picture at the top that showed highlights of the three tasks. On it was written the following:"
-«oOo»-
Excitement was high at the Tri-Wizard tournament yesterday as our contestants got to face not one but two dragons. Then they had to steal a fake egg from the dragons nests. Potter's team from Hogwarts stole the show, while the Durmstrang's team got the best time. The Beauxbatons team also did well with their innovative approach.
The Bulgarian team completed the task the quickest by using genuine siege weapons. Yes, dear readers you are not misreading. They used weapons that have not been used for more than a hundred years, not even by you know who. It is not known who still has the skill to craft such staffs, but it is known that such a staff is very dangerous to the user. It can lead to coma or death since the staff will ignore the users own limits. Two members of Durmstrang now lay in a coma due to the use of those staffs, although they are expected to make a full recovery. Even Victor Krum is said to be extremely exhausted.
The Beauxbatons contingent hatched a plan that, though it scored last in points, this reporter privately thought was the smartest. They used earth tunneling spells to tunnel under the ground and then at the last possible place they tunneled up, grabbed their prize, and left. Sadly their attempt also took the longest clocking in at almost a half an hour, but I know if I ever had to do it, theirs is the approach I would have taken.
The Hogwarts contingent consistent of Harry Potter, the amazing witch he recently married, and a sixth year Hufflepuff student. Their team easily got the worst of the dragons. They had to face two full grown Hungarian Horntails. At first it seemed that the Potter's had a brilliant, if highly risky and possibly insane plan of flying a broom to distract the dragons while their partner Cedric Diggory snuck over and grabbed the fake egg under the cover of an invisibility spell."
Their plan worked well, with Harry deftly controlling the broom while his wife faced the other direction and controlled these foot long square plates of metal wandlessly. She quickly gathered together about a dozen of the plates from a magical pouch and formed them into a shield to protect them from dragon fire. The shield was wandlessly moved amazingly fast. At times it even split in two to protect them from both dragons at the same time. This was a feat this reporter had never seen the like of before. Cedric had in fact almost gotten back with the fake egg when it all went wrong. Both Horntail's chains broke loose, and while Cedric easily got back with the fake egg, Harry and his wife risked their very lives to keep the dragons attention away from the spectators.
People might wonder what all the dragon handlers were doing while two fourth year Gryffindors tried to distract a pair of the fiercest creatures in the world. The answer is nothing. They did nothing, since technically Harry and his wife were still competing, and our dear minister made everyone involved in running the tournament swear on their magic not to help any contestants.
Headmaster and Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore started to head to the stands to at least protect the audience, but once it was clear that Harry and his wife had led the dragons away he went back to watching them through omnioculars. The other headmasters were just as useless, as they were bound by the same oath. Some teachers headed back to the castle with the students that were running that way, while others stayed to protect the remaining crowd.
The dragon handlers gathered up brooms, but again were unable to help as long as the task was in progress. The half dozen aurors present kept their defensive positions. They apparently expected Potter and his wife to be dragon food soon. At the auror headquarters a full mobilization began as the crowd continued to watch in horror. Thankfully neither Harry Potter nor his wife are ones to disappoint.
Harry pulled some kind of magical bow and arrow out of his bag and tried to launch an obviously magical explosive at one of the dragons open mouths. Their first attempt failed. The explosive detonated when the dragon flamed it. Their second attempt was simply astounding. Somehow his wife managed to wandlessly shield with one of those plates the magical explosive as it traveled into a Dragon's mouth at incredible speeds!
Staff at the Daily Prophet asked several experts on wanded levitation on how difficult it would be to repeat what they did, and they were doubtful it could even be done, despite the memory we showed them. The magic in the Dragonfire should disrupt any other magic, yet his wife somehow managed to feed the plate to the dragon. The plate melted into slag in the creature's mouth just before the Dragon's head exploded. There was a price, however, for the bit of magic Merlin would have been proud of. His wife was driven unconscious by it, no doubt deeply magically exhausted from her feat.
Harry didn't give up even then, for to give up was to let his wife and everyone else die. He cast another sticking spell to attach his wife's back to his own to make sure she would not fall, then another couple to try to hold her arms legs and head in relative place. Then after making sure his magical weapon was ready he literally charged the flaming dragon somehow dodging all but the fringes of it before launching his magical explosive when he was nearly in the Dragon's mouth! The other dragon's head exploded when Harry was only a hundred feet away, but both seemed unharmed and landed seemingly normally.
Staff at the Daily Prophet have had experts look at the omniocular footage and this reporter even interviewed quidditch star and Tri-Wizard champion Victor Krum. He told the Prophet, "His flying was the best. He landed on a broom that should not fly. I doubt I could have done it. It was amazing." We at the Daily Prophet think it sums it up well when the most popular seeker in the Quidditch world says he doesn't think he could have flown that well in that attack. A picture of what was left of his Firebolt is shown below. As you can see, it should not have been flyable when he landed seemingly normally.
The best estimates we have show Harry's broom going right at its maximum speed for one person, when the broom was holding two while dodging dragonfire. When you combine the maneuvers he did, even the Firebolt company is unsure how it was accomplished. They asked for Harry to stop by when he is feeling better and said that while damage from dragon fire is not normally covered, they would gladly replace the broom. This reporter noticed that they already had a picture showing the Potters's final attack on the wall of the Firebolt show room. We at the Daily Prophet believe that for their Valorous actions at the Tri-Wizard tournament both Mr. and Mrs. Potter should be nominated for an Order of Merlin.
-«oOo»-
At the Slytherin table Draco Malfoy muttered, "Now Potter is going to be really insufferable." The ones around him said nothing, and even Draco dropped the paper and returned to his eggs.
At the Gryffindor table one Ravenclaw who had read a surprisingly similar article in the Quibbler said, "Their legend begins." to which her boyfriend looked at her and quietly nodded. Neville just hoped they were okay. The magical world needed leaders and the Potters were shaping up to be just that. He wondered what the second task would be like. He hoped it would be less dangerous than the first.
At the head table one potions professor just tossed down the article and said quietly, "At least this Potter didn't fail." It was said obviously bitterly with a trace of regret before, with an obvious effort of will, he put the whole thing out of his mind and resumed eating.
Minutes later Neville and Luna finished their meal. Luna left her copy of the Quibbler on the table open to a seemingly random page. However, on closer inspection of the paper it appeared to be an exact copy duplicate of the arithmancy work Lacus had done on the levitation spell. In the corner of the paper was a small picture of one of the students from Beauxbatons wandlessly levitating a feather.
Luna walked away with a smile on her face. She did not know where it would end, yet things were beginning to move. She silently said a prayer for the good spirits to watch over the Potters and just for good measure she asked her mother to do so as well.
-«oOo»-
In the infirmary Harry and Lacus had managed to convince his godfather that they were fine and that it really was best that he get back into hiding and of course the other tasks wouldn't be that dangerous. Sirius didn't seemed convinced, but agreed to go for now. Harry felt bad about lying to his godfather, but he wanted him at least to be safe. That was about the best they could hope for until Voldemort was stopped and Wormtail could be turned in.
Fleur was one of the few people Madam Pomfrey was letting in the infirmary. She stopped by while the Hogwart's group was still having breakfast. After looking at Harry and Lacus's somewhat disheveled forms she grinned and said, "I see that you two are finally properly bonded. Perhaps I can drop by some Veela literature that gives suggestions?"
Both blushed furiously even while checking to make sure they were adequately covered.
Looking around to make sure no one was within earshot Fleur said softly, "My family gave you a gift last night. We gave you a touch of our magic to help heal you. I hope that it helps."
Harry and Lacus looked at each other for a moment before saying, "Thank you."
Fleur said, "There is more. What we did is not commonly done. For now, if you notice anything do not speak of it except to me or my mother. I think it will be okay, but I really need you to come to France to talk with our coven after the ball. Sooner or later another Veela will see the change in you, and questions will be asked if we do not address this."
Lacus asked, "Are you in trouble?"
Fleur shrugged.
Harry asked, "Why?"
After casting the spell for silence on the doorway as well as the nurses door she hesitantly explained about the Veela prophecy, which oddly seemed to relieve Harry. Fleur asked, "Harry?"
Harry smiled and said, "I'm just relieved." Lacus looked at him with curiosity.
Fleur prompted, "Relieved?"
Harry said, more to his wife than to Fleur, "Don't you see? The prophecy says if we fall. If. That means there is a chance we will not. We are going to beat this thing and everything is going to turn out okay!"
Lacus smiled as she buried her head in his arms. She was still lightly crying, yet both in the room could tell she was happy.
Harry said, "We will be there Fleur, and thanks."
Fleur was confused, but it seemed she would not be getting answers right now. Just what could be going on that hearing that prophecy would give them hope? She supposed it didn't matter. If the coven agreed that they were the ones of prophecy then they would support them. They all would. It was very seldom that the higher powers deigned to give a warning so clear. Only an idiot would ignore it. Perhaps helping them is the purpose she had been seeking when she foolishly entered the tournament. For now she had a fake egg to figure out and a dance to find a date for. She wondered if Cedric had any resistance to her aura. He seemed fairly normal before the task and she knew her control wasn't the best then. As did Victor for that matter and neither was bonded as far as she knew. She wasn't looking for a serious date as much as someone who would not slobber like a fool when dancing, particularly since she wasn't allowed to skip the dance.
A short time later Tonks stopped by to make sure they really were okay. They assured her they were. This was followed by another visit by Andromeda who they told the truth to. Andromeda assured them that she would do all she could and asked them not to tell her daughter fearing that Nymphadora could not act normally if she had known and blow her cover. They assured her that they had no plans to tell anyone else.
-«oOo»-
Two days later at breakfast, news of the second task was given out. Much to Lacus and Harry's surprise it was not to be a hostage rescue from under the lake. It was instead to be a race around the perimeter of Hogwarts. They would have a month and a half after they got back from the break to prepare. They could build any tools they wanted to help them with the task within certain rules. The participants had to pool their own money to purchase the materials and then divide it between the three groups. The materials had to come from the wizarding world.
No brooms were allowed to be made, used, or purchased. Nor could any flying carpets. All three members of a group had to arrive together and be healthy to get any points. They could use their wands to prepare, but could not bring their wands with them during the task. They could try to sabotage each other during the task, although a rule was added that if anyone was permanently injured, then the aggressor's group automatically lost. They could even bring any potions they might have made. There was essentially no limit in the materials they could bring as long as they could carry it and purchased it with the pool money. Other than they were forbidden from bringing any magical focus to the task or summoning any. They were not technically forbidden from making a magical focus during the race, but all the common wand cores were not allowed, which included the cores used in all of the participants wands.
They were also allowed either two student helpers or one staff helper to prepare, although the helpers were forbidden from doing more than a third of the work on preparations. They were to be given work areas, however the work areas had to be opened, closed, and watched by members of the other two schools to assure there was no cheating. Their guards were to be required to give a minor oath not to help or hinder any group, other than to report cheating or something dangerous.
After breakfast and the class that followed Neville, Tonks, Luna, Harry, and Lacus met up in their rooms.
Luna said, "Something has changed."
Lacus asked, "Was I so obvious?"
Neville said absently, "I didn't notice anything."
Lacus nodded. She said, "The task has changed. I'm guessing they somehow got all of the school heads and even the Minister of Magic to agree to make the task less dangerous afterwards. The clue in the egg doesn't fit this task at all. We got a note to just ignore the clue as it didn't apply to the changed task."
Harry said, "It seems the bad press has caused our minister to be a bit more reasonable after almost getting everyone killed. Odd that. Do you think it will affect things in the end?"
Lacus said, "I don't know. I don't think so, although we will have to be very wary during the third task."
Luna said, "Can you make an air-o-plane? I saw one once that had fire in the back."
Lacus offered, "You mean a jet? Perhaps something like an F-16?"
Neville asked, "What's that?"
Harry also seemed confused.
Lacus said, "It was a small supersonic aircraft that first flew in 1974. They usually had room for one person, although there were some two seat models. It was powered by a single jet engine and had places where a variety of guns and missiles could be mounted."
Neville said, "Supersonic? Missiles?"
Lacus said, "A missile is a muggle weapon that can fly by itself to destroy a target. Supersonic refers to anything that can travel faster than sound travels. That is roughly five times faster than the top speed of a Firebolt."
Harry's eyes gleamed as he imagined flying at those speeds. He missed his Firebolt already, even if he had received an offer from the company to buy it back for twice its value. He did plan on taking them up on their offer for a free one though. Perhaps he could get them to make him a bigger one?
Lacus said hesitantly, "I do not think showing them a bit of muggle technology now would make things worse..."
Luna asked, "Would there be a better time?"
Harry answered, "No, probably not." even as he daydreamed of flying such a device.
Lacus seemed sad at that. She said, "Well, with everyones help, and perhaps a thousand Galeons or so of material, we could possibly make something, although I'm not sure how similar it would be yet. It also wouldn't have weapons or any electronics, yet I believe Harry could fly it with practice, particularly if we could use any of the spells used on brooms to improve stability. The rules aren't clear there, but as we would not be making a broom..."
She paused briefly then said, "Adding a third seat wouldn't be difficult. The biggest key that would make the whole idea plausible in the time we have would be featherweight charms. We could also make parachutes just in case, although I might also be able to help it land in an emergency."
Neville said, "Your talking about permanent transfiguration into a muggle device? I didn't know that was possible."
Luna said fondly, "My mother used to make clothes that way when I was little. She started with cloth and made it to be what she imagined."
Lacus said, "I've never done it, but it is supposed to be difficult. I'd need all of your help to get pieces at least close to their final shape. I don't plan to transfigure the whole thing at once. That would be too hard, but we should be able to manage pieces. The hydraulic control system and the jet engine would be the most difficult parts, even if the featherweight charms would make things easier."
Luna said, "Yea! We are going to make an air-o-plane."
Neville said, "What would Cedric do? Harry would be flying. You would be making sure they don't crash."
Lacus shrugged and said, "Perhaps he could pedal to build up the pressures needed to start the system or if we got in trouble mid-flight. I haven't really thought about it much yet. I was hoping there was a magical way, but we will need to work around the lack of electricity somehow, at least to get things started. After that bleed air from the jet engine can power things. Co-pilot controls are a possibility, but this is going to be hard enough to complete in time to learn to fly it as is, although, if we changed the shape..."
Luna suggested, "Could Cedric control weapons?"
Lacus asked, "What did you have in mind? With the jet we would easily win the race without hurting anyone."
They talked it over a bit and it turned out that they did indeed have some ideas for weapons, although surprises might be a better term. The wizarding world was in for a surprise indeed in the next task. The world would change. They would allow for nothing less. Harry just hoped that his family would be here to see it. A part of him wondered if this greater change would endanger their lives more, yet he would not live his life in fear. If Lacus wanted to do it, then he was more than willing. Maybe they would get lucky and it would help them get over the worst of it before the third task.
-«oOo»-
At an empty table in the library of the Salem Academy for Witchcraft and Wizardry a young prodigy was looking through the local magical newspaper only to see a reprint of Lacus's work on the arithmancy of levitation and how it applies to wandless magic. She said out loud to the nearly empty room, "I've got to get there. She could teach me so much." before absently wondering if there was even a procedure in place to transfer to a different magical school. Even if their wasn't, she would find a way.
She certainly had nothing holding her back here. She had acquaintances and faculty that liked her, but no real friends. It was a sad life, that sadly gave her a great deal of time to focus on her academics. It also, somehow, felt wrong to her. They had taught in class how messed up things were in the British Wizarding world, yet she felt she had to be there and things were hardly perfect in the states either. If she could go there and learn true wandless magic and then bring that back to the states. Yes that was a dream she could get behind. Perhaps she would never have the lifelong friends or even romance that were in her tales, but she would be remembered as far more than a mere muggleborn.
-«oOo»-
Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews.
