Chapter 7—The Second Task
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I have no solution but I have a suspicion as to why the Vorlons retreated. I just wish I could retreat from this tournament. I am not going to keep playing a game I want nothing to do with. I've checked and the other champions know or knew what the egg says and what it means.
I was now heading for the Hogsmeade Station and a long ride with my girl friend. The December break is here. I got a nice present for Amelia and Susan and I can now relax until January 4th when Susan is back in danger when she goes back to school.
"I do expect you for Christmas and staying through Boxing Day, of course our new years party is a must attend." Susan was thrilled when I said yes.
"Thanks for the invitation I will bring Mopsy and Hedwick and we can convince them about Boxing Day."
"Yea you convince a house elf that you are going to do the work and they are going to sit with their feet propped up? They will then have to make you the next Minister being that persuasive." Susan giggled.
As the train pulled into the station I got to see the platform. "Susan I have a welcoming committee so I will say my goodbyes now and see you this weekend, love yah."
Dumbledore was armed to the teeth with his KFC groupies; I saw Sirius, Mooney, Molly, Dingle and Tonks was probably wandering around in some body else's body.
I felt the anti-port-key and 'apperation' wards go up. I turned on one of my new toys which was a portable Vorlon shield which surrounded me completely and would run out of power in about ten years at full power. That left me with both hands free and this was going to made me a nasty little boy.
As I stepped onto the platform Dumbledork started, "Harry my boy I am here to take you to your relatives were you can be totally safe over the holidays."
"Listen you old goat, you have no control over me and your Order of the Phoenix, which are scattered all over the platform, touch me there is going to be a war."
"Listen to the Headmaster he knows what's best" Molly Weasley screeched.
Somehow someone from behind me did not believe me, they hit my shield with a stunner, the war was now on. I gave Dumbledore a full 'Confringo' and while he raised his shield he still sailed into a stone pillar ten feet behind him. I hurled a 'Reducto' at Sirius and Mooney who were standing by each other, they should have known better. I stepped to my right as an 'incarcerous' sailed by hitting some unknown woman. I was now throwing spells at the general public and keeping the serious ones for the Turkeys. I strung an 'impedimenta' followed by 'stupify' with a 'tarantallera' thrown in for good measure. Several spells bounced off my shield into the crowd that was now in panic and trying to all leave at the same time. I saw a strange female, probably Tonks, throw a curse my way and hit her with a 'Levicorpus' which hadn't been seen since the Maraders and in a dress she should be busy keeping her knickers hid, that is if she wore any. To increase the panic that now rained on the platform I sent an 'Expecto Patronum' with a couple of 'confundo' to help out. The old goat was up and shaking his head so rather than let him back into the fray I hit him with a 'lighmentum onvolvi' making him resemble a mummy should keep him busy for a few seconds. The Aurors started to arrive onto the platform from the clogged gateway so I tapped my ring and headed home.
After such a nice workout I thought a nice hot shower and beir later would top off a excellent day. The water was soothing and made enough noise in the shower for me not to hear the shower door open, "Harry James Potter you get out here right now Auntie wants you at our house ten minutes ago. So I obeyed my girlfriend and she turned red and did an about-face, but I caught her looking in the mirror at me while I finally grabbed a towel to dried off.
"Next time you are in a hurry you could always join me in the shower; you know to save time and all that." I smiled. She turned around and from the look on her face I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
/Scene Break/
We arrived at Bone Manor with Amelia looking like she was going to rip me a new one but motioned me to take a seat. To add insult to injury Susan plopped herself in my lap.
Amelia sat across from me and said, "Harry Potter what in the hell were you thinking?"
"What already? I was just defending myself from being kidnapped there was a whole bunch of Dumbledore's people there to take me where I didn't want to go."
Suddenly Amelia broke into laughter, "You two are getting awfully familiar aren't you?"
"Yes Amelia she is getting quite familiar with me."
"I can't help it you were in the shower we needed you now." Pouted Susan.
"Well next time I get to watch you take a shower." I retorted and watched Susan give an evil smile.
"Susan! Behave!" Amelia barked.
"I will need a memory from you immediately if I am going to hold the individuals that we caught. Oh and Tonks sent her regards and says she will get you for that."
"Good it was her I hung up in the air."
"Yes I did warn her that she needed to be wearing knickers next time." Amelia giggled.
"Auntie did you see what Harry did to Dumbledore?"
"Yes he is still trying to get that mess off of him, it seems that those bandages you wrapped him in had adhesive on them and they stuck extremely well." Laughter and a snort were heard and I then gave the memory. Amelia departed.
"Well I think I will go and take a shower." Susan stated.
"Oh is this were I get to watch?" I asked.
"Well unless you want to join me?"
"Dam Susan if you really mean that lets do that at my place, I could just see Amelia walking in on us in the shower, I think I want to live to see tomorrow morning."
"Party pooper"
I gave her a kiss and said good night and left. If she was really meaning those words and it not being a tease thing it could get interesting very quickly.
/Scene Break/
Christmas was fantastic I got Susan earrings and a necklace while I gave Amelia an assortment of real Mundane police badges. Amelia gave me hell for the money I spent for Susan's gifts but Susan gave me such nice kisses.
Boxing Day came and went and Susan was right the elves would not hear of reversing rolls for the day. The New Years party could be called a real blast.
The Bones party was part of a rotating party schedule, the Bone's party this time and the Malfoy party next time, next the Minister's would have one followed by the Greengrasse's. To not be invited was a social disaster although some people did not attend some parties. Dancing with Deatheaters was not on a lot of wizards hit parade.
At the party I was fascinated by some of the social chatter or marital infidelity discussed . Political intrigue permeated every corner of the party. How else could you get more paper than the next office or the social disaster having run out of paper clips? Two attendees attempted to ruin the party the most dangerous was Lucius Malfoy who was flanked by his "friends" Crab Sr. and Goyle Sr.; like this tune had never been heard before.
Lucius had a serious desire to kill one Harry Potter for a couple of reasons. One was Harry had killed his son and his Dark Lord. Amelia had Lucius bound and tagged by his second curse. Later a great laugh was enjoyed by the guests of Bones Manor as Sissy's orders were never change or canceled so the arriving Albus Dumbledore, well he found himself in the lake that night.
/Scene Break/
Sirius and Mooney were part of the KFC and teachers at Hogwarts. My memories from before was one of concern and love. Here they showed no interest so I just pressed on with my life. Ron in this life was the same jealous garbage disposal. Hermione however was never seen or heard as she was always staying out of the lime light and studying in some hidden nook.
The second task was here and I was not planning on playing. Amelia appeared three days before the task and pulled Susan from school over a lot of objections from Dumbledore. None of the objections were from me or Susan. Amelia planed to show with Susan just as the task was starting. I had no Dobby to find some Gilly-Weed nor did I have a desire to get any. The bubble head charm was what I was going to show up with as my option. The gun went off and we all jumped into the lake. I splashed around for a few minutes and got out saying I could not continue because of the frigid water. I was snuggled with Susan under a warm blanket as they started pulling the contestants from the lake. The French girl got grabbed by a herd of some water pests and had to quit. Krum ran into the giant squid who threw Krum at the spectators after playing with him. Diggery rescued his Asian beauty and got full points. Dumbledore call for the mermen to bring the rest of the hostages back to the surface. I didn't recognize Krum's hostage, the French girl got her sister and they expected me to rescue Ron Weasley? We had a good laugh over that, another of Dumbledore assumption.