Chapter 10: Fourth Year, The Triwizard Tournament
One Year Later...
Harry was getting used to life at Hogwarts now, though he hated his fame as the "Boy-Who-Lived" A human known as a "reporter" came to Hogwarts and interviewed several students about him and his "unusual characteristics" as she called them. He even made his own arch enemy Draco Malfoy, after reading in her article that he and his father thought him as "An uncivilized little savage" This had made Harry retaliate by having Timon put bug guts in his shampoo and he didn't notice it until everyone started laughing at him in the Great Hall.
Harry was moderately talented in all branches of magic. Except Divination. He despised the divination teacher, Professor Trewlaney, who kept hounding him with bits about his past.
"A family torn apart, an black hearted relative." She had said once when they where having a lesson on telling fortunes with playing cards. "A loved one in need." This made him think of his mother, and Nala.
When Peter Pettigrew. The man who betrayed Harry's birth parents to Voldemort, escaped Azkaban, the wizarding prison, Dementors had been placed around the school and the small village to the south known as Hogsmeade. His reaction to these foul creatures, made him seek the help of Remus, who was an expert at casting the Patronus Charm. He remembered when he and several of his friends where cornered by the foul things.
Think of something happy, the happiest memory you have. He had remembered Remus's lessons. Harry then remembered his pouncing lesson with his dad, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" HE shouted and a shining silver lion burst from his wand attacking the dementors, his classmates and the teachers coming to the rescue watched in awe as the majestic being drove the dementore and then trotted back to Harry whose face softened. It was his father. Mufasa.
"Dad?" He asked, holding out his hand before the Patronus disappeared. The worse for wear students where rushed to the hospital wing as was Harry, who was in complete shock.
Ron and Hermione, sensing his discomfort, didn't approach the particular subject of calling his Patronus "Dad" but instead asked him for advice on how to conjure their own.
Professor Snape, the Head of Slytherin house, wasn't, initially, a pleasant individual to come across, but Harry found his portrayal of the art of Potion making to be very accurate, the subtle beauty of the shimmering vapors of a brew as it simmered in the early morning light, the, aroma of herbs and roots as they where blended together in a copious mixture that had the potential to be deadly and yet be, in its own way, a work of art.
Which was why Professor Snape was surprised when Harry turned in a perfect Pepper Up Potion, normally it takes years of practice and experimenting to make a perfect potion, but Harry turned in one after a few weeks of study.
"Perhaps you've inherited your mother's talent for Potions after all Potter." He said outloud in an impressed tone making the entire class gasp for he had never complimented a Gryffindors work before. He held out Harry's phial showing the class. "Absolutely perfect." He told them. "Not a flaw in his work, and..." He sniffed the open phial. "A hint of peppermint leaves I believe?" He raised an eyebrow at the boy who blushed.
"I thought adding Peppermint would make it taste better, but not give up any of its healing properties." Harry explained looking away slightly.
"Bloody Hell." Snape whispered which was easily heard in the silent dungeon classroom. As he dropped a few drops onto his tongue as he had been having a bit of a sore throat that morning, it healed instantly and left a pleasant taste of Peppermint candy in his mouth. "Perhaps one of you, does have the fortitude to be a Master." He said with praise in his tone. "Full Marks Potter, now class dismissed." He said as a bell rang throughout the castle signifying lunch period.
Even more uncomfortable was their lesson on Boggarts in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
A black maned lion with a scar across his eye came out of the wardrobe. Many of the students gave it confused looks. "Harry." Scar's voice said. "What have you done? Run away, run away and never return."
Remus, seeing his distress, banished it back into the wardrove with the Boggart Repelling Charm, Ridikkulus. The only thing he told his friends was that the lion was his uncle. And he did something he can't take back. They didn't approach the subject again.
It is the Welcoming Feast, Harry would be a fourth year this year as he'd cauhgt up with all his examinations during the summers. Timon and Pumbaa where in the forest hunting for grubs and other bugs for their dinner.
"Welcome Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts." Professor Dumbledore started hiws welcoming speech. "I have a few announcements this year, that effect all of you,m firstly, the banned items list has been extended to include Screaming YoYo's, (Harry sighed in relief, he hated those) Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs, a full list of these items can be found in Mr. Filches office.
Argus Filch, the caretaker of the castle, was an old, bitter man who the entire student pupulation (Harry included) despised, and it was the dearest ambition of many to give his cat Mrs. Norris, a good kick (Harry had done this already).
"Also, the inter-house Quidditch Championship will not be played this year, this got many boos and hisses until Dumbledore pt his hand up to stop them. "Instead Hogwarts will he host of a tounrament consisting of 3 Magical tasks, the Triwizard Tournament.
"Your joking!" Fred Weasley (Harry could smell who was who) shouted.
"I am not Mr. Weasley, but I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a hag, a troll and a leprechaun who all walk into a bar-"
Professor Mcgonnagal cleared her throat to stop him.
"Yes, but perhaps now is not the time, Hogwarts will be host of two other schools this year, Beaxbatons and Durmstrang, whose delegates will be arriving at the end of October. Precautions have been met to make sure there are no unnecessary deaths. Anyone under the age of seventeen will not be eligible to compete.
Fred and George scowled.
"Now that we're all fed and watered, it is time for bed, chop chop." He clapped his hands ax the pudding dishes vanished.
Harry said goodbye to his friends as they reached his quarters. "Sarabi." He said to the portrait of the unique rock formation that was his home and the protrait door swung open.
To Be Continued...
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Dean the Cuddly Fox