Chapter 7 I want the rule book!
Room of Requirement, 10:30pm.
The Room of Requirement was a hive of activity, though mainly it was the Slytherin's and Ravenclaw's in the room the Hufflepuff no doubt celebrating and needing to stay a while longer before they could slip away and the Gryffindor's would be in the same boat. Chalk boards were lining the walls of the room along with portable ones in the centre, "Kay surely they cannot make him compete in this?"
"The age rule was only brought in this year," Kayleigh growled moving to one of the boards writing 'age line' upon it, "As far as we are aware and from what has been said the Goblet acts as a magically binding contract."
"He is competing," Severus spoke from the doorway entering the room, "he is back in his common room for the time being and will come down later with the 6th years and Natalie. Remus and Sirius are on their way over now."
"I want the rule book!" Kayleigh spoke writing notes up on a new board titled tasks, "And any other information we have on previous tournaments."
"It is only hosted by three schools, why are they making him compete?"
"Magically binding contract," Severus growled pacing the room.
Room of requirement 11pm.
Harry and Natalie slipped into the room quietly seeing the various boards in action, people talking over each other as they made notes though the hive of activity broke off as the group noticed the new arrivals. Sirius moving forward quickly wrapping his godson up into a tight hug, "We are looking for a clause any clause to get you out of this."
"I didn't enter my name Padfoot…"
"I know Prongslet," Sirius ruffled his hair as the door opened again this time the last members of the Alliance filing in along with the 6th years, a large table appearing in the middle of the room.
"Everyone sit," Severus spoke taking his own seat, "So far we have discovered that the Goblet is a magically binding contract, we are working on if entering your own name is in fact the reason it becomes magically binding or if it is simply when your name is chosen."
"Severus can't you tell us anything about the tasks?" Remus asked, "I mean if we cannot get Harry out of this..."
Severus growled, "Unfortunately no I cannot all professors were bound to take an oath not to reveal what the task or tasks would be to the champions."
"So we are left in the dark then?"
"Amelia may be able to help us on that front," Severus spoke carefully, "If the Alliance was to ask not myself though, nor could it be Black or Lupin."
"Paul get an owl off to Amelia requesting her presence tomorrow here if she can make it, no doubt they would ready have news of Harry's involvement."
Kayleigh looked up from her place seeing the still pale face of the 14 year old, "Harry we will help you as much as we can, I want you to start joining in on our session with Remus."
Room of Requirement, Sunday 2:30pm.
Amelia followed the two 6th years quietly up the sloping passage that lead directly under the school before entering a stone hallway, the two glancing around before slipping her into a second passage way though this one held stairs. It was 10 minutes later she entered the room of requirement without the Headmaster's knowledge, seeing the room was filled with chalkboards all of which seemed to relate to different laws or questions, four blank boards were next to the large table in the room only holding titles with no further information; 'Tasks?', 'First task? November 24th'; Second task? third task?
"What do we know?" Amelia asked softly moving forward to where Severus and Kayleigh were standing.
"So far everything leans to Harry needing to compete," Severus answered writing another note on the board, "We need to know what the tasks are I am sworn to secrecy but we are hoping that they did not make you take the same vow and you know what the champions are facing?"
Amelia nodded taking the offered chalk and moving to the board that said tasks:
Dragons- collect the golden egg, open egg under water to solve clue for next task
Retrieve something you would miss from the bottom of the lake within one hour from the merepeople village
Maze- face different obstacles within the maze including magical creatures reach centre of the maze and take the cup.
Placing the chalk down she turned back to face the two, "I cannot say but I can write it down, is there no way to stop Mr Potter from completing?"
"None that we have come across the age line was newly introduced before this tournament there was no age line," Kayleigh sighed her eyes reading and rereading the tasks, "When you say collect the golden egg…"
"Ah," Amelia turned back to the board adding one simple word that filled the group's heart with dread 'nesting'.
"They are kidding right…" Kayleigh shook her head, "Amelia who in their right mind goes nears dragons let alone nesting ones? Unless they are fully trained!"
"Trust me when I say Milady these were the more suitable ideas for tasks."
"Well doesn't that just fill me with joy…?" Kayleigh muttered, "Set up a table for dragons!" she called out to the room seeing many people look up wide eyed at what had been said.
November 2nd, 3:30pm Room of Requirement.
Harry entered the room of requirement slightly pale as he placed his bag down in the corner after shaking off his friends, "Harry?"
"He showed us the unforgivable's," Harry whispered taking a seat next to the twins avoiding looking at the board that held what the first task would be.
"Are you okay?" Fred asked softly as the rest of the 6th years present looking over to them
"Yeah, but Neville…"
"Longbottom?" Kayleigh asked looking up pale from where she was doing her homework.
Harry nodded, "Yeah, why?"
"Of all the idiotic things he could do! Fucking me over is one thing!" Kayleigh hissed jumping up as Severus entered the room pausing at the outburst.
"Language Kayleigh," Severus looked around the pale faces though some seemed surprised by the outburst.
"Sir Moody showed the 4th years the unforgivable and Longbottom is in that class!" Kayleigh ranted, "That fucking moron!"
"Language," Severus reprimanded again though he paled slightly, "Where is Mr Longbottom now?"
"Professor Moody took him to the side," harry answered even more confused.
"Potter bring Longbottom here, I am going to go contact his grandmother now, you lot age up we will be going on a trip."
"Not until I have spoken to that idiot," Kayleigh growled moving towards the door only to be stopped, "Unhand me."
"I know you are upset," Severus spoke softly glancing once around the room seeing most following his orders though some were still watching him, "But we can address that later at the moment we have other pressing matters."
It was 30 minutes later Neville was engulfed in a hug by his grandmother while the Alliance stood the side Harry not asking questions, "That's what mum and dad went through?"
"You never should have had to have seen that yet," Augusta sighed glancing over at the Alliance and nodding toward them, "Thank you for contacting me."
"Madam Longbottom, Master Longbottom if you would like to follow us please," Kayleigh spoke leaving the room the two in tow along with Harry Sirius's with his hand on his shoulder. They met no one in the halls as they made their way out of the castle and beyond the wards, each member and guard of the Alliance who could apparate taking hold of someone and their guests before they all popped away only to arrive a moment later in a small private room of St. Mungo's.
"Thank you," Augusta nodded again realising where they were.
"We shall wait in the hall if you need us," Kayleigh nodded as Neville walked off his grandmother.
It was an hour later the group returned not to the school but to the Alliance manor, "Harry why don't you show Neville around while we speak to Madam Longbottom," Sirius spoke calmly though none of them were feeling exactly calm.
"Sure, come on Nev you have to see the greenhouses!" Harry grinned knowing his friend loved Herbology.
Waiting until they were sure the boys had left Kayleigh nodded towards the study where they all would be able to speak without being interrupted.
"What was Alastor Moody doing showing them the curses in the first place; he always had much more sense!" Augusta spoke the moment the door was closed.
"We do not know," Kayleigh sighed taking her normal seat, "But something is not right about him at the moment, that I do know there are others from what we have heard having troubles with him within class as well."
"We are working it out though," Severus joined the conversation, "If we had known beforehand that he was going to show the curses we would have prepared the students better for it."
"Preparing the students should not fall to you," Augusta growled, "It is the professor's jobs to prepare the students…"
Room of Requirement 10:30pm.
Kayleigh was slumped in a chair at the table, her homework forgotten those who normally would work within the room at this hour sent back to their own common rooms. The day played back in her head, they had taken a major risk retrieving the lady Longbottom but it had needed to be done, Severus had also been right in stopping her going to confront the Defence Professor. It was only November and she was ready for the school year to be over and done with, "When do I take the potion?" she asked quietly as the door opened the sound of footsteps crossing the room before Severus took a seat next to her.
"I do not know if it is a good idea to be sending you now," Severus shook his head summoning two whiskeys and handing his student one, "it is not a good time."
"It never is a good time Severus," Kayleigh sighed swirling the amber liquid in the glass, "But it is what must be done, I am going to get Sirius to stay, I do not want to take him away from Harry at the moment."
Severus sighed taking a mouthful of the liquid, "Lupin has organised an international portkey to take you there, the IWC have sent the papers across already. You will be met by a guide on arrival who will take you to tour the various facilities they have organised a function one of the nights."
Kayleigh nodded slipping her drink, "when do I take the potion?"
"You already have," Severus raised his glass in a toast.
Kayleigh smiled softly downing the last of the burning liquid, "Why are you drinking it as well?"
"Contagious thing what you have," Severus smirked, "I knew you would get Black to stay but I am not allowing you to go by yourself."
Hospital wing November 15th 3:30am.
Kayleigh was huddled up in a ball as sweat covered her forehead, Madam Pompfrey attempting to get her to swallow a fever reducer to no avail. "It is no use Albus," she spoke softly to the headmaster who was standing between the two beds that held Kayleigh and Severus, "he brought her up two hours ago, though an hour ago he collapsed I have placed antibacterial spells around both of the beds as it seems whatever Miss Rosier is suffering from is contagious."
Albus nodded looking between the two bed, "What would you suggest Poppy?"
"I have already contacted Miss Rosier's mother she is on her way now and has organised for her own private healer to come and check on her, I recommend they both be removed from the castle for the time being… Albus I have never seen anything like this before."
"If you believe it is for the best, though what about Severus?"
"He can come home with me as well," a new voice sounded from the door way with worry, "How is she Poppy?"
"Lady Rosier," Albus turned nodding in greeting.
"Her fever is still dangerously high, I have spelled some fever relief into her stomach but it has done little."
Rosier Manor 3:45am November 15th.
Cassadia Rosier forced the potion down the throats stepping back watching as the fevers suddenly broke, "get cleaned up," she spoke turning the lights up brightly, "You have ten minutes before you need to turn back."
"Turn back?" Severus growled.
"Yes Lord Proclotect and High Lady Kensiskikov along with trusted advisors arrived in Russia 7 hours ago," Cassadia answered, "It was on the 9pm news they covered their arrival."
"Why the hell would I agree to do that?" Kayleigh groaned.
"So the fact that 5 hours after we left the school two of the Alliance arrived in Russia," Severus nodded.
Alliance Manor November 14th 8:30pm.
Remus caught Kayleigh's arm as she stumbled through the floo connection, Severus following her a moment later, "What the hell happened to you two?"
"Sirius, you need to contact Cassadia and let her know to retrieve us form the hospital wing at 3:45am and take us back to her Manor from there shove the potion down our throats and send us back to now," Severus answered closing his eyes briefly, "Portkey takes 20 minutes right?"
"It does," Remus nodded putting the pieces together, "everything is already packed perhaps use the next 5 minutes to tidy yourselves up?'
"After a pepper up potion," Kayleigh sighed sitting on the edge of the seat, "Severus that potion sucks."
