The Binding of Fates: Metus Obscuritatis
Chapter Seven
The More Things Change
The Monday before school began Master Ollivander was back at the shop. Jon came in fifteen minutes late, which was quite a surprise to Harry. Jon also looked tired.
"Is everything all right, my boy?" Ollivander asked.
"Alexandria was not well last night," Jon said. "It was hard for me to fall asleep afterwards, that's all."
"Ah," Ollivander said. He went through the accounting books and inventory movement logs from the past week. "And the tasks I requested, are they done?"
"Finished," Harry said. "Oh. We're expecting a first year, Richard Rabiot, to come in either this morning or tomorrow. He was the lad who was abducted by the Diablo in Salles."
"Oh?" Ollivander said. "He's registering at Hogwarts?"
"Yes," Jon replied. "He wishes to learn from us, as mentors. He intends to become strong."
"All young boys do," Ollivander chuckled. "Well, let's hope he can handle it."
Later that morning, Richard came in with his parents, Robert and Alize Rabiot, and his two sisters, Rylai and Ramellie, who were both present last night at Alexandria's dinner party.
"It's you," Richard said in passable English. "You two are everywhere!"
"Manners, Richard," his mother scolded. "Bonjour, good morning Mr Ollivander. And Jon, and Harry," Alize Rabiot said. "This is a surprise!"
"Alexandria did not say that you two worked here," Rylai said.
Harry shrugged. Jon bowed. "It may not have been the most interesting dinner conversation," Jon said.
"Well!" Mr. Rabiot said. "It's great to see you two again. Have you been keeping yourselves out of trouble?"
"Yes-" Harry said at the same time as Jon said "No."
The Rabiot family laughed. Master Ollivander shook his head with a chuckle. Within twenty minutes Richard had his first wand, twelve inches of Horntail Heartstring on Oak.
"Oh, a warrior, are we?" Ollivander said when aggressive red sparks shot out of his wand.
"I am going to be strong, oui," Richard said solemnly.
"That's good, quite good," Master Ollivander said with a faraway expression. "And your sisters? Do they have any need for retooling or customization?"
"Ah, no, Master Wandsmith. Thank you," Alize said.
The two girls looked disappointed. They whispered to each other, smiling at Jon and Harry. "Au revoir, Harry, Jon," they said in tandem as their family left. "A bientot!"
"Goodbye," Richard also said with a short nod. "I will see you in school, Crows."
"Right," Harry said. Richard was very composed for a ten year old. The young boy shot up quite a bit over the past year. He looked very robust for his age. He had a quiet way about him, a deeper purpose in his mannerisms. He reminded Harry of young Tom Riddle.
During lunch, Harry convinced Jon to accompany him to the Light of St Valentines. While walking towards the bank, Harry explained what they had to do. "Let's find Sirius. We need to get the locket from his family home."
"Another of the cursed objects?" Jon inquired.
"Yup," Harry said.
Jon nodded. A voice called out to them while they were walking on Diagon Alley. Lexcilla ran and caught up to them. "My handsomes," she greeted, coming in between them and pushing her arms through both of their elbows. She was wearing a pale green witch robe with her curled toe boots. The ice cream shop was closed on Mondays. "And where are we off too?"
Harry sighed in annoyance. Jon looked over the shorter girl at Harry. Harry didn't pull away his arm, but he kept his eyes forward, ignoring her.
"It takes nothing to be kind," Jon said to Harry.
"Hello, Lexcilla," Harry said sweetly. Lexcilla smiled and rest her head against his shoulder.
"Hi, Harry," she said in the same false tone.
"We are visiting my uncle at the bank," said Jon.
"Right," she said. "I'll come with. Maybe you can introduce me. It is good to know people high up in the bank."
A couple minutes later they were being escorted by a staff member to the inner offices of management. The young woman knocked on the open office door on the third level. Sirius was reading a large text, swivel chair turned and facing out the window.
"Mr Black," Sherisse Higginbottom called. "Your nephew is here to see you."
"Little James, Jon... and... have we met?" Sirius said, frowning at the auburn hair witch. He swung the chair around and used a file to keep the page in his book. A spike of pain coursed through Lexcilla's temple. A memory of a younger version of Sirius, arguing at family meetings with his mother, giving her intense looks during tea parties- then nothing.
"No," she said softly, watching his face. Or have I?
"Lexcilla Krabbt, my uncle, Lord Sirius Black," Jon said.
"Pleased to meet you," Sirius stood up and offered his hand.
"How do you do," Lexcilla said hesitantly when she shook it. Sirius did not stop looking at her face.
"Jon, I need to talk to him for a bit. Can you hold on with her outside?" Harry said, clueless to the strange behavior between Bellatrix and Sirius.
"By all means," Jon nodded and escorted her out. Bellatrix and Sirius maintained eye contact as long as possible.
"Could swear I know her," Sirius said when Harry closed the door. Sirius looked troubled. He leaned against the varnished hand-crafted desk in his large office.
"Senior Vice Mugwump of Hereditary Hierarchy Holographics and Heresy Arbitrator, eh?" Harry said, picking up the foot long title plate of his desk.
"Yeah, always wanted a title that doesn't mean anything, but looks good on my desk. The harder to pronounce, the better," Sirius said, eyes twinkling.
"What do you really do?" Harry laughed.
"Last will and testament stuff, and I settle disputes with people with claims to an inheritance which hasn't been written. I wanted the position where there might be the possibility of some action. This post has an option to settle dispute by combat, to the death, or through other lesser means. I can't wait to oversee a duel!"
"Doesn't sound like it would happen on a regular basis, innit?" Harry said.
"A man could hope," Sirius said, offering Harry a seat. The both of them sat down.
"You don't do anything, do you?" Harry teased.
"I'm beginning to think you know me better than I think you should," Sirius said.
"Wanna hear something cool?" Harry asked, grinning.
"Sure," Sirius said, leaning back and lacing his fingers on his stomach.
Harry explained to him his quest, how he died, how he came back, everything, (except how Sirius died) within a couple minutes. Sirius opened his drawer, poured out a shot of whiskey in two glasses, and slid one over to him.
"And Jon?" Sirius asked as he sipped.
"He's from another dimension," Harry shrugged. "A Lord Commander of an Order of Knights dedicated to fighting the undead. Apparently, he's also the rightful king of his homeland too, but he only found that out when he spoke with a dragon in the Artic. He was killed when a group of his soldiers betrayed him and stabbed him to death. Apart from that, he's your nephew."
"You got to be fucking me," Sirius said, eyebrows raised.
"He is here as my Fist, the Sword of the Light. Bloke could fight, I'll give him that," Harry stared into his drink.
"Oh well that makes sense, seeing how easily he put down Valerian," Sirius nodded and finished his drink. Harry did as well. "So, what now, Chosen One?"
Even though Sirius said it siriusly, Harry burst into laughter. Sirius raised an eyebrow at Harry.
"I've never heard anyone say that with a straight face, until now. Coming from you-" Harry cleared his throat. "Seems impossible. Anyway. Sorry. Kreacher has a Horcrux in the Black manor. We want you to take us there and we'll safeguard it for now. We have to destroy it."
"Is that all?" Sirius stood up. "A bloody fragment of he who must not be named is at my folks' place? No wonder that house felt so fucked up those last few years. Let's go."
Jon escorted Lexcilla to the cafe and returned to meet Harry and Sirius at the floo fire at the bank.
Sirius grabbed a handful of floo powder. "St Mungo's is the closest floo node, we'll side along after from there."
All three stepped into the flames and arrived at St Mungo's. Alexandria was working within the triage when she spotted the three of them walking out the front door. Her sixth sense warned her of trouble.
"Jon!" she called, intercepting them in the waiting lobby.
"Hello, sweetheart," Jon smiled, pecking her lips. "You are well?"
"Fine," Alexandria greeted Sirius and Harry with air kisses on either side of their cheeks. "What are you three up to?"
"Horcrux stuff," Harry whispered in her ear. Alexandria's eyes opened wide.
"Give me a minute. You will need me," she said.
"We will?" Sirius asked.
"Oui. Just in case," she smiled at them prettily and got her clan potions kit.
Outside, behind the hospital, Sirius made trips apparating the three youngsters to the entrance corridor of Grimmauld Place.
"Quiet," Sirius warned. "Step where I step, do what I do, try not to touch anything."
Sirius tiptoed along the creaky floorboards of the entrance hall. He peeked into the dining room on his immediate left. "Good. Kreacher is not here. I don't trust that elf. Something like that might be in the showcase on the first floor drawing room. Follow me. Don't touch anything," he reinforced. The four of them passed the severed elf heads mounted on the wall as they went up the staircase.
"Right, in here-" Sirius opened the door and froze. A Dementor unfurled from underneath the writing table, rotting robes flapping, looming seven feet tall towards him.
"No," Sirius breathed, knees buckling. "No!" he screamed and fell in a heap, hands covering his head and face. He scuttled into the corner of the room, curled up into a fetal prison position.
"What is that!" Jon was right behind him, and panicked when he saw the ghastly creature. "Enflamare!" he drew his wand and cast dragon fire at the creature. The flames shot straight through the creature and ignited the curtains on the far end of the room. The searing heat caused all the doxies nesting within the folds of the heavy curtains to attack. The doxies screeched as they were set on fire, swarming towards Jon and Sirius like tiny demons from hell.
"Expecto patronum!" Harry shouted, pushing Jon aside.
A white, fully robed dementor with arms and legs swung a massive scythe. The loud sound of the searing whistle of a blade, cutting through your very soul, ran through the entire house.
Where the blinding white scythe cut through the boggart and the doxy swarm resulted in an inexplicable nothingness. The very air in front of Harry was ripped into the netherworld. The bisected boggart dropped unto the floor seeping into the carpet.
Harry was dumbstruck. He approached his new corporal patronus, ignoring the remaining flaming doxies. The enraged swarm of fairy-like creatures desperately avoided him, focusing on attacking Jon and Sirius. Alexandria dashed in last, casting Aguamenti against the Doxies biting and tearing at Sirius and Jon, who were swatting away at the annoying beasts.
Alexandria cast a compress healing charm at the area in front of Sirius. The flaming fairies were crushed together in a tight ball, screeching and buzzing angrily.
"Reducto!" she cried. The closely packed pests exploded in a satisfying mist of black-red blood. And so it went, Alexandria fighting for almost a minute while Harry stood still as a statue, staring at his slowly fading patronus. When Alexandria was done fighting off the swarm, she was bleeding from cuts and burn marks on her face and hands. She cast Aguamenti on the flames engulfing the burning room, but to no avail.
Harry ignored it all. He was entranced by the apparition hovering in the middle of the room. The spectre's empty cowl was staring right back at him, scythe held calmly in both skeletal fingers.
"Hey, snap out of it! Harry! The roof is on fire!" Alexandria screamed. Harry ignored her. Alexandria cast the water spell on him too. The cold splash on his head brought him back to the real world. The glowing grim reaper vanished.
"What? Sorry!" Harry said, rubbing water out of his eyes and blowing his nose.
"The place is done for! Can you out this fire?" Alexandria shouted in his face.
"Um- no- wait. It's me that's the problem." Harry grabbed Sirius and Jon roughly to their feet and chased them out into the corridor. "Use the water spell now!"
With the flames no longer attracted to Harry's presence, Alexandria was finally able to extinguish the flames. A thick black smoke from the burnt curtains was permeating throughout the first floor. Harry sat Sirius and Jon in the stairwell. Their faces and hands were swollen with painful looking welts, cuts, and in Sirius' case, angry-looking burns.
Sirius hissed at his painful injuries. "Of course," Sirius chuckled with Jon. "Anytime a Potter calls me to play hooky; shit like this always happens."
"Yes, I know. I got stabbed, and burnt alive; twice. That boy is a menace," Jon said calmly. The both of them nodded sadly.
After fighting the fire Alexandria treated all of Sirius' burns using a bottle of Dragon Saliva and clean bandages from her medical bag. Sirius had bandages wrapped around his face and hands, with only his eyes, mouth, and nostrils exposed. She dressed both of their cuts and stings with a doxy antivenom and soothed the welts with anti bacterial salve.
"There goes my bachelor of the year photo opportunity," Sirius sighed as he looked in the hallway mirror.
"The prodigal son returns," Kreacher shuffled into view, a menacing scowl on his aged, wart infested face.
"Kreacher," Sirius snapped. "Why was there a fucking dementor in the drawing room?"
Kreacher laughed. "Bob would be pleased with his performance."
"Bob?" Sirius said, getting angrier by the second.
"It was a boggart, Sirius," Harry explained. "It's gone now."
"Fuck. So tell me Kreacher, why was Bob the Boggart in the drawing room?"
"Would you prefer that he was in the lavatory?" Kreacher said.
Sirius didn't have a response. He just raised his hands, exasperated. Kreacher eyed the three visitors intruding the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.
"Half blood scum," Kreacher spat at Harry. "A lesser family, a bit diluted, but the line is consistent and ancient. Good," he commended Alexandria with a deep bow. He approached Jon. "And what the fuck are you?"
"Don't answer that," Harry warned Jon.
Jon remained silent. Kreacher and Jon had an intense stare down.
"A mass murderer, blood drips from his hands," Kreacher said to himself. "He should do well," Kreacher smiled, gaps of teeth missing from his mouth.
"Bring me the Locket," Sirius ordered.
"Anything but that, defiler!" Kreacher cowered behind his hands, snarling.
"What? This is a direct order! I said, bring me the Locket!" Sirius shouted.
"I will not!" Kreacher said in firm denial.
The next second his head popped off his leathery body like a pimple. Three of them screamed and jumped away a few feet except Jon, who held firm and activated his Aegis shield. Kreacher's corpse and decapitated head fell to the ground, spurts of blood escaping the neck.
"Did you do that?" Jon asked Harry calmly, raising an eyebrow.
"It wasn't me, mate," Harry said.
"Oh my god," Alexandria said. She looked a bit pale. She dug in her robes and sipped from a tiny flask.
Sirius laughed. "That's the punishment a family bonded elf gets for direct disobedience," he said. "He was a disgusting piece of shit. Oh well."
Sirius destroyed the corpse with Reducto and levitated the head to the main tapestry room. "Probably shouldn't, but it is a Black custom." He took out a dusty mantel from a cupboard and screwed in the taxidermy hook. With a disgusting "skurch" he shoved the head on the spiked hook, then tapped his wand on the forehead. Kreacher's eyes opened and aligned front. The elf head stiffened in place.
"Parietem!" said Sirius. The freshly mounted elf head joined the others along the staircase shelving. "Right. You've always wanted to be up there, you got what you wanted, you vile bastard."
"Why did you do that?" Alexandria asked.
"Long story, Alexandria," Sirius sighed.
"Hm. Can you show me that spell?" Alexandria asked. It looked like something she could use to pack away stuff neatly after clinic treatment.
"Parietem literally means 'against the wall'. Wand motion is a thrust up, then a push forward and down, as if you were placing something on a high shelf." Sirius demonstrated the wand movement. "If you want to push something away so that it is flattened against the wall, it's this-" Sirius held the wand across both palms in the cradle of his thumbs and pushed out. "See? It's either up on a shelf, or against the wall. Good for moving furniture and packing books on shelves. Learned that from Madame Pince, actually."
Harry spotted Jon practicing both movements. Jon looked a mess with swathes of salve all over his face. Sirius looked ready for mummification. Harry was reminded of his own ordeal at the hands of Lockhart.
"So... what about the locket?" Harry asked Sirius.
"Oh fuck," Sirius said. "I have no clue. Kreacher would have known."
"Merlin's scrotum," Harry breathed, looking at the blood seeping into the dusty wood floor. "Let's look around. It's a gold locket and chain with a serpent S on it." They searched the display cabinets that were in the blackened and soot-stained drawing room. Their footsteps squelched on the thick sodden carpet.
It wasn't here. Harry literally had to use his leglimency to sift through his memories. "Wait, the space behind the boiler!"
"Oh, I forgot about that- he used to nick stuff and put it there," Sirius agreed.
"Let's not take anymore chances, shall we?" Harry said. "Crows, on me!"
Harry, Jon and Alexandria's regular robes faded from view as Harry activated their custom armour.
"Please don't let your mother see you like that," Sirius sighed. "Why do you and Valerian wear stuff that is always so- what is the word... looking for trouble?" he asked Alexandria.
"I think becoming involved with those two started my 'living on the edge' phase," Alexandria explained with a smirk.
"A Chosen One, and a Chosen One," Sirius shook his head. "Fucking lovely. Let's head down to the basement."
A nest of miniature Acromantula swarmed the kitchen basement floor. What appeared to be a dead cat was being eaten by the dog sized spiders.
"Fuck me," Sirius breathed. "This has to be a fucking joke."
The boiler equipment was at the far end of the basement storage room, semi blocked in by piping, oil barrels, cupboards and a large stone oven recessed into the wall. Harry spotted rack of fuel containers. One was on it's side, without a cover. The entire floor was probably covered in flammable substances.
"No fire," Harry whispered to Jon. "Any ideas?"
"Another type of wide range attack?" Jon offered. "Something that would take them out in one sweep."
Harry thought a second. "I've got just the thing. Sirius, get behind me. And get down to one knee. Brace yourselves."
Jon and Alexandria bowed immediately, bracing their elbows on their knees. Sirius looked at the both of them, lost. Alexandria tugged him down by his sleeve.
"So wot, we're bowing to Harry now?" Sirius whispered at her.
"Hard to explain. But no, not bowing, just protecting ourselves. It feels like being crushed-"
Harry closed his eyes, trying to focus on the spiders scuttling along and feasting on the cat. He closed his eyes, and then closed his fist.
Sirius could not explain what he was feeling. It felt like a large palm pressing against his head and spine, forcing him to kiss his own knee. He braced himself with both arms on his thigh, then against the ground. God dammit it he was still physically weaker than he thought.
The crunching sounds of crustacea and legs being broken popped like popcorn in the dark basement kitchen. A few rotting crates also imploded. The fuel containers dented at the middle, twisting, squashing down. A large acromantula desperately scuttled towards Harry, unbeknownst to him. Jon skewered it with his claymore just before it could sink its fangs into Harry's boots. Harry's eyes opened, surprised.
"Thanks," Harry breathed.
"No problem," Jon said. "I think you got them all."
The heavy magic lifted. The floor was now a disgusting mess of pulp, spider matter, and crushed, hairy legs and torsos. Some were still twitching in their last throes of death.
"Lovely," Sirius said. "I'm having second thoughts about moving in this place."
"Hm," Harry said. "I'll go check. Don't step on that shit." Harry hovered over the floor and and crossed the carnage. He shone a lumos at the old rags and wooden crate Kreacher used as his bed. Within a few seconds he found the locket.
"Jon, toss the onyx box here will ya?" Harry shouted. He had a weird suspicion that if he took his eyes off the Horcrux, it would attack, or disappear, or something. Jon tossed the small onyx encased box across the room. Harry caught it, and used his wand to pick up the chain of the locket. He gingerly transferred the locket into the onyx box and sealed it inside. "Right. Let's get the fuck out of here."
"Wait. What about this mess?" Sirius complained.
"Reducto isn't flame based," Alexandria offered. "Could grind this down to a paste, then Evanesco? It will get rid of the bodies, at least."
"Lets do it," Harry agreed. Within ten minutes they had the majority of the infestation cleared. The floor looked slimy and poisonous though. "That would need some scrubbing, with brushes and stuff. Scourgify doesn't work well on poisons and flammable substances."
"I'll deal with it. Later. This smell is getting to me," Sirius said. "Let's get out of here."
Thursday, Lexcilla visited Harry and Jon once again. "My handsomes," she greeted in a loud voice as she opened the door. "Missed me?"
Ollivander looked up from his reading behind the sales counter. "Hello? How may I help?"
"Oh. Sorry. Are your lads here?" Lexcilla said, embarrassed.
"Yes, I shall call them," Ollivander nodded. Harry came out first. He almost turned back around but Jon pushed him out towards her.
"Be nice," Jon said.
"Why?" Harry asked. "Must I?"
Lexcilla grabbed their arms, linking hers through theirs, as usual. She tugged them out of the store and walked down the street with them. "I'm leaving today," she sighed.
"Finally," Harry said with a grim nod.
"You won't miss me?" Lexcilla said, pouting. Harry must admit she was mildly entertaining, and she was friendly towards Valerian, so he nodded his head sideways, neither here, nor there.
"I hope you enjoyed your few weeks vacation here," Jon said gallantly.
"Aw, you're so sweet," She tiptoed and kissed Jon on his cheek, patting his other cheek affectionately when she was finished. "And you too, you meanie," she pulled Harry's head down a bit and kissed him on his cheek. Her lips against his face felt strange. As if they were of a woman much older than she looked. It had nothing to do with how her lips felt, it was the way she delivered it. As if she was tasting the top layer of his skin, sampling his essence. It felt sensual, yet, disturbing.
"Looove those eyes of yours," she winked at Harry.
Harry stared at her, rubbing the spot she kissed. She grinned back at him. She knows about the red magic in his eyes!
"I don't know what you're talking about. My eyes aren't special," said Harry.
"If you say so, Roderick Hallow," she tweaked his chin. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
Harry and Jon glanced at each other. "Fine," Harry said. "Safe trip."
"See you first week of school, hotshot!" She vigorously smacked Harry on his butt. Harry's eyes opened wide, his hand forming a fist at his side, ready to flatten her. He immediately pushed away his anger. She turned to Jon. "And Jon," she hugged him around his neck, pressing herself against him. "See you soon, luv." Jon patted her back once, then straightened uncomfortably.
"Um," Jon said, unsure of what to say.
"Right. Durmstrang. Knew I wouldn't get rid of you that easy," Harry remembered that she did say she would be part of Durmstrang's delegation at Hogwarts.
"I can't wait to see you two in your cute Hogwarts uniforms!" Lexcilla blew kisses at them and waved off. Jon and Harry watched her walk away. She turned and waved as she passed through the entrance to Diagon Alley. Harry folded his arms. Jon saluted.
"Cute Hogwarts uniforms? What are we... six?" Harry said. "Fucking mental bint."
"Language, Harry," Jon frowned. "She is strange. Let's get back to work."
Valerian and Alexandria were in Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions the Friday before school opened. They were shopping for new uniforms.
"Now that I'm accustomed to the short ones, these feel so... different," Valerian stepped out in perfectly fine skirts that covered her entire knee.
"It is the rules. The previous skirts were way too short," Alexandria said. "And you've gotten taller."
"I know. Now I won't have to wear the leggings," Valerian said. I liked my short skirts. What is wrong with me?
The girls bought their new uniforms and other items of clothing that they needed. When they left the store Alexandria leaned in and spoke softly in Val's ear. "Harry has found another piece of the Horcruxes. He just has one more to retrieve."
"One more? I thought they were... seven?" Valerian said.
"He destroyed the cup, and well, the one in himself. The other pieces are the dark lord and his snake," Alexandria said. "Jon tells me Harry doesn't want us involved in that part."
"Us?" Valerian asked.
"You and I," Alexandria nodded. "He says it is far too dangerous."
"Hm," Valerian said. "He always has a way with secrets."
"But Jon eventually tells me. Speaking of secrets," Alexandria slipped her arm through Valerian's, pulling her close. "How was it?"
"I..." Valerian stammered. "In here," she pulled them both into the narrow alleyway behind Obscurus' Journals and Fine Literature. "It was great, hurt at first- but.."
"But what?" Alexandria asked, desperate for hints.
"You must see a healer first. Do not risk it. Get the potion, suitable for your horoscope and cycle."
"Oh," Alexandria said. "As a healer's apprentice, I should have thought of that. Merci."
"I am worried. Even though they say that it throws off a woman's cycle at first," Valerian admitted. "My period... I am always regular. This is the first time it is late."
Alexandria and Valerian stared at each other. Alexandria smiled and held her hand as if to comfort her. "Do not worry. It is fine."
"I hope so," Valerian said, touching her stomach gently.
Alexandria looked at her feet. "I tried, and failed," Alexandria said. "It hurt quite badly. I had to stop. The healer said I need a few days to heal. Madame Pomfrey spoke to me, more like scolded actually. I am at a legal age, for apparition and agreeing to marriage contracts, but only with boys seventeen and older. She was upset with my lack of judgement. She knows it was with Jon."
"The age difference," Valerian said, understanding the problem.
"Oui. I will figure that out on my own. But, about the actual night. Any hints?" Alexandria asked.
"I do not know. Harry is very... vigorous. He is stronger than he looks."
"Jon is inhumanly strong. He said he picked up Fred and George in each hand!" Alexandria said.
"Impossible," Valerian said. "He must be lying."
"Has Jon ever lied before?" Alexandria countered.
"Well, he hid the truth- if you count that as lying," Valerian said. "But that doesn't matter. I think if you two believe you are ready, and use methods to protect yourself, so what? Do what you want to do, discreetly, and live. Being around those two is like playing a deadly game of spin the bottle." Valerian shook her head, then stared at her friend. "I am not ready to die, not yet."
"You're telling me?" Alexandria said. "Sometimes I freak out when we are on mission, especially the one where we met you. Did Harry tell you about Sirius' place?"
"Not much, just said he obtained another cursed object."
Alexandria scowled. "Zat boy, sheesh. Always makes things seem so ... unimportant. The house was infested will all manner of dark creatures. It was horrible." Alexandria explained what happened.
Valerian frowned. "Sounds like him. He is absolutely fearless, almost to a fault. Even when it comes to sex. I wasn't sure about the contraceptive potion, I didn't want to risk letting him do it until my cycle kicked in-"
"Risk what?" Alexandria interuppted her.
"Coming inside, I meant," Valerian pointed down there.
"Oh no," Alexandria said. "You told him not to, right?"
"Right. He forgot himself like, minutes later. Still!" Valerian rolled her eyes. "He is like a machine gun at the end."
"Ooh," Alexandria giggled. Valerian bit her lip, reminiscing. They did not do it this whole week. Tonight was the last chance before school re-opened.
"Yes," Valerian scowled. "Boys would say anything," she smiled knowingly at the older girl.
"I will try again, tonight," Alexandria said, feeling much more confident.
"Good luck," Valerian said.
Friday evening after work Harry and Jon flooed from the Leaky Cauldron into the Clan Base. Sanguini had an update on Jon's latest request.
"You sent the owl letter already?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Master Ollivander should get it at his home, as you told me to do." Jon said.
"Good. Once they find it, they shouldn't worry too much. The less people who know, the better. Let's roll," said Harry.
Harry and Jon sneaked out the mansion towards the back yard. Harry summoned Shadow Wing and One Ear. Shadow Wing still had the Hallow Blade hanging from the weapons belt around his neck.
"Good work, Shadow Wing," Harry petted the threstral. When he made contact with his hand he could hear his familiar's thoughts.
This thing around my neck chases away the potential females.
I'm sorry. What can I do to repay you?
I want pigs. Three young ones should do.
You shall get it, Shadow Wing.
I am thankful.
Jon took out Sanguini's parchment with a hand drawn map. "All right, around here, where the coast makes a letter F," Jon explained. "We should find a light house."
They climbed on the threstrals and within an hour they got their bearings and narrowed down the directions on the map. They flew north west, through the valleys between the mountains and then over the lakes of western Scotland.
"Forgive me for making fun of you flying on a winged chicken headed horse," Jon said, grinning into the sunset.
"Told you it was cool," Harry said next to him.
"Right. Cool," Jon said. Whatever that term really means. Cool refers to the weather, not 'agreeable' and 'pleasant'. Bah. This weird way they speak. Don't over think it Jon, no, or is it Aegon... what SHOULD I call myself these days?
"There it is. The lighthouse over there!" Jon said, pushing those strange thoughts out of his mind.
"I see it," Harry said. They dove towards the ancient lighthouse. A lone figure was standing at the base, the cold Atlantic breeze whipping at his long cloak. Harry and Jon disembarked.
"Gentlemen," Sanguini the vampire bowed.
"Master Smith," Jon and Harry greeted.
"My latest designs are to your liking?" Sanguini asked.
"Yes, they are excellent," Jon said. "Truly a masterpiece." Harry nodded in agreement.
"You told me you wanted an underground dungeon for your dark wizardry?" Sanguini asked with a broad grin. "Here is as good a place as any. Ancient Scottish druid magic has twisted the spatial and temporal resonance in this area."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked.
"Apparition and portkey travel is very dangerous around these parts. Come," Sanguini turned and walked around the light house. The two boys followed him.
"So fast travel is prohibited?" Harry asked as the bramble and bushes parted for Sanguini, but snapped back together when he was clear. Jon was using his claymore to shove aside the more troublesome foliage.
"No, just very risky. It is almost a guarantee that a wizard would be spliced in two, or a portkey may lose you between planes- forever lost in the abyss. Do not attempt it."
"Right," Harry said, glancing at Jon. Jon shrugged.
"Sounds good," Jon added simply.
"Here we are!" said Sanguini. He pointed to a metal door set into a weathered outcropping of hard stone. Vines, rubble and other signs of neglect had been cleared and dumped at the side. "A secret tunnel to an underground smuggler's cove. Maybe 1300's, built during the war for Scotland's independence. Origin might be uncertain. I was a wee lad then. Come."
Sanguini took out keys and opened the sturdy metal door. He held his hand in front of him and a pale moonlight shone from his palm, like the beam from a torchlight. "One of the Scottish Warmages was imprisoned here. A Galbranth Brandubh, if I recall correctly." The two boys activated their custom dragon/basilisk/threstral armors and followed him inside.
"Harry, do not use your lumos in my presence-" Sanguini said to Harry when he drew his wand. "However Jon, you are free to do so." He pointed to Jon.
Harry shrugged, indicating Jon go in front. Jon followed a few paces behind the vampire and took out his wand. "Lumos!"
"The tunnel goes on for fifty metres, then slants down steeply. At the base of the slope is a torture chamber, with four cells set in the floor. A beautiful piece of foresight, and engineering. This is a perfect setting to secure wizards with your raw magical materials as reinforcement, of course," Sanguini strode confidently along the moss covered flooring. "Watch your step, lads."
Jon slipped just as he said it. Harry cast a scourgify and sticking combination on the base of their Clan armor boots. The spells didn't work. The armor was impervious to boosting spells.
"A drying spell," Sanguini advised as he continued on. "Let's try and keep up, shall we?"
Harry cast a powerful drying charm on the slick and slimy floor in front of them. The damp moss now crunched underfoot as they progressed through the dark tunnel. Eventually, it opened out into a cavern built using heavy wooden support beams. A giant rusted portcullis and winch system took up the majority of wall space at the far end. The sound of the sea echoed faintly through the grate.
Sanguini jumped from their high vantage point into the middle of the cavern. The steep slope at Harry's and Jon's feet was lined with heavy ropes that had accumulated centuries of moss and decay. The ropes formed crude hand holds and footholds to allow one to crawl down to the cavern below. Harry got the impression the way they came in was actually a hidden passageway out.
"Don't be shy, I won't bite," Sanguini's chuckle echoed ominously throughout the cavern. He sat comfortably, legs crossed, staring up at them from his perch on the crucifix metal table used for torture. There were shackles at each end of the crucifix's points. "Wonderful, isn't it? You could not have asked for anything better, Aegon Targaryen, Harry Potter."
"Looks like something out of a nightmare," Harry said into the cavern. He felt reluctant to go down there.
"You did say a place of dark magic, torture, and execution," Jon replied softly. Jon never liked the concept of torture.
"Do not be afraid. We are business partners. Might I go so far to presume more than that... maybe colleagues?" Sanguini's smooth voice echoed beautifully in the cavern. "You are young lads, your legs work. Climb down."
Jon turned around, and climbed down the slope like a ladder, feet first. Harry followed him down. The ropes were slimy and taut under his onyx lined gloves. When they reached the floor of the cavern Harry and Jon could smell the salt of the sea through the grate. Sanguini gestured at the four narrow square gates set in the flooring.
"Fuck," Jon said. "Oubliettes."
"What?" Harry asked, crouching near to one of the gates.
"Narrow cells, with no other exit but this," Jon stepped on the gate. "There is no chance of escape except by outside help. A psychological nightmare. It is frowned upon, even in my world."
"Excellent," Harry said. "How deep is it?"
Sanguini approached. "Twenty feet. At the base there is not enough space for one to sleep comfortably. It widens at the middle so that arms cannot press against the sides to climb out, then the gate itself is set in such a way, that even if one manages to reach the ceiling, they cannot physically stick to it to open the latch," Sanguini hefted the metal gate.
Inside was absolute darkness.
Jon shone his lumos in the pit. They could identify what appeared to be a few human bones at the base.
Harry frowned. This was brutal.
"Fitting punishment for the Stranger himself," Jon said, disgusted. "So, what about wizard proofing?"
"I make a mortar of ground onyx bones and basilisk tissue. Coat it on the walls. And barricade this gate with bones of the Onyx, just in case. The only real problem I can see is a gaoler. Who is going to feed them?"
"Hm," Harry said. He had no intention of feeding his enemies. They would absorb the Horcrux, and they would be killed, like a fish in a bucket. Harry stood up and faced the vampire. "Not important, at the moment. What do you want in return?"
"I was thinking of you hunting down a Nundu for me, but... that may be out of your league. Have no fear. I shall secure it. This place shall be ready for you within a few months. Don't capture anyone until you hear from me."
"All right," Harry said. Getting the vampire's help was easier than he thought.
"Why would you help us?" Jon blurted out. Harry was thinking the same thing. Jon speaking out loud maybe was the best way forward. This was too critical to leave loopholes for this not to work.
"Because of this," Sanguini removed the cowl from his head. His once full head of hair was balding. Wrinkles were visible on his face, and liver spots were forming on his neck. "The horrible cross... it has removed our immortality. This phenomena happened a few days before Stannis told me two young boys bought Onyx gloves in Knockturn. Immortals such as us do not usually become intrigued in what two little wizards do, but it was too much of a coincidence. When the Crows sent further requests to be made- I knew you two were special. Like you, my kind has a lot at stake in removing the horrible cross from the underworld."
"The vampires are aging?" Harry asked.
"Yes, we are. It has shocked us to the core. Even Death's touch itself is weakened. Corpses are rising, Harry Potter. Magic is twisting- Fate is desperate, and Life has been steadily fading away. If you do not believe me, check your muggle's global birth statistics. Since you have returned, there has been an acute rise in stillborn children. Life is failing. A damning sign that something is terribly wrong."
"That means even more is at stake huh?" Harry said tiredly.
"I don't understand," Sanguini said.
"I mean, if everything is messed up, the whole world depends on us figuring this out."
"I suppose. Destroy the pieces of the Dark Lord on Earth, and he will have no choice but to be condemned to the underworld in the effigy there. There he shall be judged," Sanguini shrugged.
"Right. Thanks," Harry said. He didn't like Sanguini's nonchalant shrug. Sanguini was usually completely certain.
"You still need to figure out how you are to fuse the Horcrux with the specimen," Sanguini warned. "The Dark Lord is powerful. Think carefully."
"Right," Harry repeated. A vampire warning him to be careful was scary. The vampire didn't know that Harry knew personally how the Horcruxes worked.
"Let me escort you out," Sanguini said gallantly. "This way." Sanguini transformed into a crow and flew to the exit at the top of the rope-slope.
"Yah!" Jon sprinted to get a head start on on the exit slope. He attacked the rope ladder with soldier-esque gusto. Within less than thirty seconds he completed the steep climb.
"Come Harry, push it!" Jon said, turning to look below him.
"Mate, I'm here already," Harry said at the top. Both Sanguini and Harry were watching Jon quizzically.
"That's cheating," Jon said, walking past them. The vampire and Harry smirked as they followed Jon down the tunnel.
The time taken to do a site visit at the torture chamber and return was four hours. By the time he dropped off Jon at the base and used the floo to return to the Leaky Cauldron it was after ten that night. A note was slipped under his apartment door.
Dragonslayer, I stopped by but you were not home. Come over when you see this.
Harry quickly bathed and changed his clothes. Within ten minutes he was flying west towards Ollivander Manor, Devon. When he saw the building beneath him, he was hesitant. Should he approach her window or walk to the front door?
Better to be respectful. Master Ollivander is her ward, and also his trainer.
Harry approached the short gate at the edge of the property. He walked along the track which graduated into a cobblestone roadway. When he climbed the steps to the door, he tried to control his windswept hair and tucked his shirt neatly into his jeans.
He knocked on the door and waited. A couple minutes passed. He knocked again.
He heard the thrum thrum thrum of someone racing down the steps and towards the door. It swung open. Valerian had a sleeping robe wrapped around her. She was ready for bed.
"Where were you and Jon?" she asked, pulling him inside.
"Harry! You gave us a scare! Are you two alright?" came master Ollivander's voice from the third level balcony. Harry looked up. The old sage had on his sleeping hat and reading spectacles. He was holding up a lantern in his hand.
"Everything is fine sir! Thanks for asking!"
"Don't stay up too late, my dear," he called down to Valerian. "Harry, good night." Master Ollivander went back inside his bedroom.
Valerian frowned. "What was so secretive that you two left such a cryptic note?"
"Um," Harry stalled. "Horcrux stuff. Stuff I don't really want to get you girls involved in. It's not Clan business, per say. So, does he... well, y'know, approve of me?"
"Yes, and no. Yes, because he knows the type of man you are, and no, he knows the type of boy you are currently. He says that it is my life to live, but he wishes that we wait until you are older."
"Oh," Harry said, deflated.
"I told him life is too short. He had this twinkle in his eye- then he said 'You are right. Too right.'" She mimicked his deep voice.
"And?" Harry prodded.
"Nothing. He left it at that," she smiled.
"I'll take that as... he is okay with us being a couple?" Harry said.
"I don't think he knows we..." she said in a whisper.
"Right. So, I'm here... but it feels a bit awkward."
"I know. But you did the right thing by coming to the front door. Come on. We could hang out in my room."
"You're sure?"
"Yes," Valerian said, taking his hand and leading him up the stairs.
Harry and Valerian sat and talked about things, just enjoying each other's company by the light of the lantern until the clock in the hallway chimed midnight. Harry got up to leave.
"This was nice," he said, opening his arms for a hug. "As in, nice nice, and not... naughty nice," he smiled.
"It was, Dragonslayer. Reach home safe," she came into his arms and kissed him passionately. "Let me walk you out."
When Harry arrived at his lonely apartment he lay awake in bed. Valerian was a really good girlfriend to him. He was horny as hell for her. That nightie was the best.
A vision of Penelope stripping naked to complete the Ritual and one of Tonks taking a barrel shower in the barn in France danced in front of his minds eye. Then again, Penelope, back from the dead, simply enjoying being alive at the phoenix ritual at the riverside. Tonks, sitting in the bath at the clan mansion, naked, her left leg hitched up on the rim of the tub.
Harry turned over, closing his eyes and trying to forget what he saw. He had everything he wanted with Valerian. Everything. Why were these images coming to him?
An hour later he fell into a troubled sleep.
Saturday he completed his readings, did a comparative analysis on the difference between Dark Creatures and other Fantastic Beasts for his DADA review assignment, Snape's Wolfsbane readings from Bagshot's text The Alchemist's Way and tamed his copy Care for Magical Creatures Book Hagrid had sent for him. Dumbledore pushed up the Arrival Day to the Sunday instead of Monday, seeing as the visiting students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were scheduled to arrive Sunday evening as well.
Harry packed his things for school, ran errands for the things he forgot to do, and packed up the apartment neatly.
He spent a lot of time hitting the muggle punching bag he suspended in the forge downstairs, trying to relieve stress. He kept thinking of putting Pettigrew and Lestrange in those Oubliettes in the floor of the torture chamber. Forcing them to use the Horcruxes.
Then he would have to kill them.
The voices said he should not kill another human being.
What the fuck was he to do?
It meant that Jon had to do it. Harry didn't know if he could simply order him to do that.
Jon did execute King Ironfinder and wiped out ninety five percent of the goblin army with his dragon fire spell. He seemed pretty okay after that.
But capturing and torturing Death Eaters, forcing them to become hosts to Voldemort's soul fragments... And then executing them? Was that the same thing?
What if Jon turns?
What if I turn?
Harry swung his fists harder into the punching bag. The Diadem. The Diary. The Locket. Bellatrix. Pettigrew. Barty. That's three Death Eaters. Lucius Malfoy could be chucked into a death pit too, seeing as he was already plotting for three, what's one more?
Harry chuckled to himself with sadistic humour while he punched and kicked the bag.
"What's one more man to murder in cold blood, eh?" Harry said to himself.
The next day Harry, Val and the others met up at King's Cross station. Harry knew they could floo to base and reach Hogwarts, but he wanted Valerian to experience the actual train ride. Hermione and Ron greeted him chummily.
"You're a bloody beanstalk!" Ron said. Harry had two inches on Ron now. "How was the summer mate?" Ron said. When he spotted Jon, he excused himself. "Come on, Ginny," Ron said quietly.
"Bye Jon!" Ginny said with a wave.
Jon bowed his head, watching the siblings walk away from them.
"Since when does she smile and wave at you?" Alexandria asked softly in his ear. Ever since Friday night, she was feeling overly attached to him. Jon was so gentle with her, he took his time, and it was magical. She couldn't believe making love could feel so wonderful.
"Since I dropped her brothers on her front doorstep in chains, I suppose."
"Oh. That," Alexandria said in apology.
Jon frowned. Ginny was beginning to look more and more like Ygritte. "Shall we?" Jon said.
"Yeah," Harry said. He found the compartment Michael and Penelope were in during the second year train ride. It was empty. The two couples settled in and spoke about the weather, school subjects, Alexandria's O.W.L. Results, and the upcoming Tri-Wizard Tournament.
Only when the lights flicked off and a deathly cold penetrated the cozy compartments did Harry recall what happened during his third year. Dementors were searching the train for the Prisoner of Azkaban.
"Oh fuck," Harry said. "Guys. This is bad."
"What is it?" Valerian said.
"Dementors on the train," Harry said when he stepped out into the corridor. Two Dementors were converging from either end of the train; harbringers of sub zero cold and crippling fear. Harry closed his eyes and drew his wand, holding it before his nose in Dueling Code's 'Halt' position. He recalled, in vivid detail, Valerian's and his first time.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A whistling sound of a scythe coursed through everyone on the train. A blur of a shining white cloak traversed from one end of the Hogwarts Express to the other within a second. Both Dementors were cut down, their black, shapeless robes dissipating into thin air.
The lights came back on.
"Easy." Harry inspected his phoenix wand. "If I do say so myself."
"Was that your Patronus?" Valerian asked, opening the compartment door. "I thought it was a Griffon!"
"Changed," Harry said. "Remember when I was injured? Yeah, that caused it."
"That thing, whatever it was, was so fast!" Valerian said as Harry sat back down.
"The Grim Reaper waits on no dark spirit," Jon said. "You must show me how to do this spell."
"Yeah- its an emotional thing, you've gotta-"
"Harry!" Hermione burst into the compartment, frazzled. "Someone cast a corporal patronus- it looked like a white dementor!"
"It's mine," Harry said.
"Wot? Yours is a winged lion!" Hermione countered.
"Was," Harry said.
"It could change?" Hermione said, now in scholar mode.
"It can."
"How?" she asked.
"I'm not sure what causes it. But it can change."
The door opened again. A much better dressed Remus Lupin poked his head in. "Is everyone here okay? Oh. It's you lot. How are you, Jon, Harry?"
"Good," Both said in unison.
Remus looked at Jon, looked at Valerian, then Harry. The Crows were on the train. "Right. Well, carry on. Good job." He shut the door. Harry chuckled.
"He knows who you are?" Hermione asked. "Who is he?"
"The new defense teacher," Jon said.
"Okay, I hope he is as good as Professor Bagshot and Mr. Drinkwater!" Hermione said, opening her book bag. "I heard Ms Bagshot went crazy after seeing something in the Chamber of Secrets!"
"I think it was the other way around- she went crazy before she got in the chamber," Harry said. "Aurors handled it."
"Wow," Hermione said. "She was so... knowledgeable about basically everything!"
"Yes," Harry said. Valerian was quietly looking out the window, ignoring Hermione. Hermione continued on about school, what the Tri Wizard Tournament would be like, and how in the world could the ministry let dementors on a train.
Before they knew it, they were disembarking at Hogsmeade station.
When Valerian spotted the station manager, Mr. White, she froze. Harry had to track back a couple steps to investigate.
"What is it? What to do you see?" he asked.
"I've never seen anything like it. His blood radiates like the Aurora Borealis," she said.
"What does that mean?" Harry leaned in close.
"I don't know. He's the most powerful wizard I've seen," Valerian whispered. "Uh oh. He's spotted me. And his magical radiance, disappeared."
"What do you mean, disappeared?"
"He's cloaking it. He figured me out," Valerian sublty stepped behind Harry. Mr. White frowned, then walked over to him.
"You brought a viking swordmage to Hogwarts?" Mr. White smiled. "Well, this is interesting."
"Mr White, my friend, I mean, girlfriend, Valerian Goldstein," Harry introduced.
"This is your first time riding on the train young lady?" Mr. White's eyes were calculating.
"Yessir," Valerian said, standing at attention.
"At ease, Val-Kryja svero-Freyr," Mr. White said. "I mean no harm. It is quite refreshing to see the old enemy, face to face."
"Whoa. Valkryia wot wotsit called?" Harry asked, raising his hands in a calming manner.
"The invaders I spoke about, remember? She is a descendant of the Viking Sword warriors, the female ones that is. You brought one. Beautiful and as dangerous as ever, eh? Do you mean to bring strife and war to this land?"
"No, of course not," Valerian said, tense.
"Good. I will defend against the enemy from without. If it's one thing, I'm a patriot," Mr White winked at Harry. "A bloody swordmage walks our lands again. Harry, you sure know where to find them. A Dragon Knight, now this. If you were of age, I would believe that you are planning on starting a war!"
"A war? Me? Nuh-huh!" Harry said. Of course he was going to start a war. And hopefully end it before it got out of control.
"If you do plan such," Mr White leaned in close and spoke in his ear. "Get someone who could be your voice. You're terrible at lying. She is a bad omen Harry. All Valkyrie stick to their chosen to guide them from this life. That's what they do. Select those to be killed in battle, and see that their burial rituals are completed."
Harry was reminded of the Beowulf, and Valerian's insistence to make sure he had proper burial rites. She also brought back Jon, who at the time, was immolated in Dragon Fire.
"Are you saying she is... like bad luck?" He whispered.
"Luck? Nothing to do with chance, my friend. If she is with you, someone's going to die. Someone close to a Valkryia always dies." Mr. White nodded as he glanced at Valerian. "The Blonde Widow."
Harry remained quite still. "You've seen this happen before."
"Yes. They infiltrate this land and war is inevitable. A Viking witch is not to be trifled with." Mr White patted Harry's shoulder. "Oy! You two! Get away from there!" Mr. White abruptly shouted at Fred and George, who were just about to step unto the main engine. "Good luck, Chosen one," He winked at Harry.
The great hall was set up differently for the Sorting Feast this year. Instead of only four long tables, there were six. There was a table between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and another between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. It came to Harry that the placement of the four Hogwarts' house tables was significant. Helga "Hufflepuff" Malkin was married to Godric before she was killed... and Rowena "Ravenclaw" Connall was in love with Salazar Slytherin before he killed her.
The students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang occupied the two extra tables. About thirty students from both schools were present, sitting under their school banners instead of Hogwarts house banners.
Harry thought that there were much more visitors here than last time. He saw Fleur, and a few of Alexandria's friends from Beauxbatons. They nodded at him when their eyes met his. Viktor Krum and bloody Marcus "Three-peat" Flint were seated at the table between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Lexcilla was also there, dressed in heavy Durmstrang robes. She raised an eyebrow at him when they made eye contact.
She blew Harry a kiss. Harry shook his head and looked away.
Gabrielle Delacour and Richard Rabiot were sorted into Gryffindor. Harry clapped, but Jon frowned at the young French girl.
"Oh, Gabi is in our house! Too precious," Alexandria waved at her. Gabrielle waved back.
When the rest of the first years were sorted, Dumbledore clapped his hands and food appeared on the table. "Bon Apetit!"
An hour later when the meal was coming to a close, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up.
"Excuse me, dear children, before dessert is served, there are a few announcements!" Albus Dumbledore said. There was an excited low murmur coming from the assembled conglomeration of students. "First, I ask that we once again offer a rousing welcome to our esteemed guests!"
The Hogwarts students clapped with fervor.
"Excellent! This year, as some of you know, the school will be hosting the Tri-Wizard School Tournament. The format has been changed from singular participation, to a more, shall we say, holistic approach," Albus Dumbledore beamed, finger held up for emphasis. "So, to summarize. There would be three main competitions. The Tri-Wizard Team Tourney, a test of magical ability and fortitude. Second, the Scholastic Team Tourney, which would be a year long competition of academic superiority, and last but not least, a grander Quidditch Cup tournament, with Durmstrang and Beauxbatons fielding their own all star teams to compete with Hogwarts' four houses! Quite exciting," Dumbledore nodded sagely.
There was a loud cheer at that.
Now Harry understood why the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang contingents were much larger.
"The first two elements of the competition must be appointed a captain from the Seventh Year of their school. Henceforth, there would be two captains per school, so six captains in total. These captains will have all the details and the rules of engagement explained to them from the joint panel of six professors, two from each school. As captain, the responsibility for relaying these instructions and rules to their team will fall upon them. A good leader, one of good mind and magic would be crucial to your team's success. Does everyone understand?"
There were rumblings of "Yes, headmaster," from pockets of students in the great hall.
"Lovely!" Professor Dumbledore said. He adjusted his glasses on his nose when he picked up a roll of parchment. "Oh. My glasses... can't see a thing. Severus, please, a spot of help would be appreciated."
Severus Snape stood up and rapped his wand on the parchment. The font increased. "Good. Much better. Thank you, Severus." Snape returned to his seat, apparently unaware that the headmaster was being polite. Dumbledore cleared his throat as he begun to speak. "The Tri-Wizard Team Tourney would consist of a captain with a team of three active team members, with two reserves. The reserves can be called upon if one of the active three members cannot; or chooses not to compete. On task days, team registration will be cut off three hours before it begins. Once the team of three is confirmed, they must compete inthe assigned task."
"The Scholastic team members are also handpicked by the captain, but this team must have a boy and girl from each year in the team. Fourteen from each school, and the captain, makes a team of fifteen. As stated before, it would be the Captain's responsibility to explain the rules."
"And finally, the Inter school Quidditch Cup would field six teams, with all teams playing each other once. Team rosters must be confirmed two days in advance. Everything else concerning the rules of play, remain the same."
"Oh, and seeing this is an opportunity to foster positive school relations, the respective student bodies are invited to Hogwarts for a few days to support their champions on competition days! It's going to be quite an interesting year, don't you think!"
There were more anxious murmurings. The place would be crowded with new faces.
"The Goblet of fire will accept students from seventh year to put forward their name for Captain duty. You may enter yourself to be the captain of both aspects of the tournament, but you can only be chosen for one. The Captains shall be drawn Wednesday, at exactly six in the evening. Good luck! And here comes dessert!"
Wednesday evening, at the drawing of Captains ceremony with the Goblet of Fire, Professor Dumbledore was awaiting the first names to emerge.
"Beauxbaton's Tri Wizard Team Tourney captain is Maximilian DuPlessis. Congratulations, monsieur! The Scholastic team captain would be Isabelle Youseff. Well done, Miss Youseff!" There were loud congratulations from the Beauxbatons crew.
Dumbledore caught the next two burning pieces of paper.
"And now for Durmstrang! Tri Wizard Team Tourney goes to... what a coincidence! An ex alumni, Marcus Flint!" There was a large round of cheer from Slytherin table. "And the Scholastic team captain would be Christopher Larsen."
The Goblet of fire spat out the last two charred pieces of parchment.
"The Hogwarts Scholastic team captain would be Meredith Malkins, from Hufflepuff! Well done, Ms. Malkins!"
There was a loud cheer from the Hufflepuff students. "And the Hogwarts Tri-Wizard team captain goes to, Penelope Clearwater, from Ravenclaw! This is a surprise!" Albus clapped. "Bravo, Miss Clearwater!"
Harry groaned. For some reason he thought he would miraculously, or suspiciously, be entered as a captain, just like the last time. Having Penelope as the captain was quite surprising. Penelope immediately made eye contact with Harry.
I'm going to pick you and Jon, for sure.
Good idea. I was going to tell you to do exactly that.
But who should I pick for the two reserves?
I don't know. Does it matter? Maybe probably sleep on it?
You're right. There is still time. I'll keep my eyes open. Bye Harry!
Uh-hm. Laters.
"Jon, she's going to pick us," Harry whispered.
"That is wise. And would the reserves be Alexandria and Lady Valerian?"
"Val and Penelope do not get along," Harry cursed. "We'll talk to her tomorrow."
The next morning, at breakfast Penelope came over to Harry and Jon while they were eating. "Hey guys."
"Lady Penelope, or should I say, Captain?" Jon greeted her.
"Um, no. Use my name. Without the title. Harry, I dreamt last night. Strange huh? Dreams? Me? You...? Totally a shocker, innit? Anyway, I've decided on the reserves." She waved them over. "Cedric, these two are trouble. Trouble, Cedric Diggory."
Harry and Jon shook his hand. "Sup?" Cedric said, nodding and putting his hands back in his pockets. "You guys put on a show in the tournament last year," Cedric said. "You're pretty damn good, for third years."
"Thanks," Harry said.
"And this is Gabrielle Delacour, meet Harry and Jon," Penelope introduced the short girl standing next to her.
"Ooh, zis is a coincidence, isn't it?" Gabrielle said. "The flames see all, Jon."
"Stop it with your flames nonsense," Jon grumbled. Penelope raised her eyebrow at Jon.
"Oh no. The flames are important." Gabrielle somehow managed to sit down like a princess between Harry and Jon, even though there was barely enough room for her to fit. In a mutually agreed show of bravado, neither Harry nor Jon shifted aside to make more space for her.
Melisandre didn't seem to mind. She stared into the torch fire on the wall that wasn't put out as yet. "Without it, we are blind, and cold. We must all walk in the light, so that we may see. Imagine a world without flame, it would be perpetual night. And such a night is dark, and full of terrors."
The three lads of the team just stared at her, freaking out.
"What the? What sort of first year speaks like that?" Cedric said to Penelope. "How? Why?"
Penelope looked smitten. She nodded proudly.
"Crazy, I know! She's the best. She came up to me this morning and we talked. She has this... I can't explain it. This energy, yes! Ah!" Penelope closed her fists in excitement. "It's bloody brilliant."
Jon was at the table, brushing elbows with the petite first year. Even while sitting, he towered over Melisandre. It was only her third day in and she already was quite identifiable by her red Gryffindor hoodie and flowing red skirt.
Melisandre knew they were watching her. She ignored them while daintily buttering toast, just so. She glanced at Jon, then Harry, smiled to herself then returned to her simple breakfast.
Jon held his hair in his hands. "I knew this was going to be an interesting year."
Harry stared at Cedric. He couldn't believe it. He was seriously contemplating finding a way to get Cedric expelled from Hogwarts or forced out of this team. "You cannot, not in a thousand years, know how true that statement is, Jon."
Fate was truly an ugly beast.
