Chapter 10 – Animal house
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"I don't want to hear your excuses, 'crucio'. The next person who tells me Neville Longbottom is The-Boy-Who-Lived shall suffer my wrath. Dumbledore's fairytales will not stop me from getting Harry Potter. I want you fools to put together a plan and I want Harry Potter, in this room, at the end of their stupid Tri-Wizard tournament. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" Lord Voldemort was definitely not happy.
/Scene Break/
Dumbledore's plotting and planning turned once again to the Deathly Hollows. Gellert had provided the elder wand and the fool James Potter had provided the cloak of invisibility but where was the ring? Dumbledore knew he was getting old and he desperately needed to become the Master of Death. He had a number of people that were standing in his way that had to be eliminated. Once he Albus became the Master of Death he could be the immortal hero of the light by publicly eliminating Tommy but he needed Longbottom to put up a decent fight before snuffing it. He had Longbottoms Will but how to get Kelly to sign a Will so he could also own a piece of Hogwarts. Maybe if I got Longbottom and Kelly to be best friends and persuaded Kelly to help Longbottom eliminate Tommy with...that's it!...a special lost artifact that could do in Tommy but would just kill those two Brats, yes now where is that ring.
Dumbledore had yet to realize that the famous cloak had long ago been returned to Harry Potter by Dobby.
/Scene Break/
I was not having a very nice day as I had just finished running into Snape. Daphne was off studying someplace so I decided to return to our quarters and sulk for a while. As I entered the living room I was shocked to find two red and black phoenixes on the back of the couch.
"Guess who Harry?" The smaller of the two phoenixes chirped. It seemed that our bonding had some side effects.
It was a bit of a shock but before I could reply…
"Come on Harry let's the three of us go for a fly." Daphne was out the window before I could reply.
While Fawkes was showing Daphne how to flame I wasn't feeling very happy. While I was happy that Daphne had found her form and was learning how to flame I was still stuck. I still haven't figured out how ice could flame.
It was fun flying with Daphne especially when we could fly to Hogsmeade village at anytime.
/Scene Break/
Snape's Potion class today had been heading to a "pick on the dumb Potter time" however, Weasley had another cauldron meltdown just as Snape got started on his shtick followed almost immediately with a Longbottom exploding cauldron. I was now out of class and alone because Daphne wanted to practice 'flaming' with Fawkes. Ever since Snape had found out that I was Harry Potter he had been verbally making my life as miserable as possible whether I was in his House or not. As I shuffled down the hall…
"All alone with no one to protect you Kelly or is that now a stinking Half-Blood Potter?" I turned around as I had already recognized Draco's voice. Of course he had his two goons with him but this time he had four older students with him. All seven had their wands drawn. When we were younger he was always an arrogant snot but now he was totally unbearable. The longer he was in Slytherin the more it appeared he was heading to join up with Riddle's group and now he was headed for the Dark Lords crowd.
"Put your wand's away immediately!" Professor Flitwick yelled as he ran up behind the seven with his wand drawn.
Apparently this was not "Hit Potter with some minor hexes day" as two of the older students turned and sent deadly curses at the Professor. Flitwick sidestepped the Reductor Curse while erecting a Protego Totalum shield. The Sectumsempra curse ricocheted into the stone wall sending chips of stone flying. I thought "Body-Bind Curse" as I waived my hand freezing all seven students into motionless statues.
"Nicely done Mr. Kelly how long will that charm last?"
"I believe it's the pretty much permanent until I undo it."
"Well come along come along we have a 'floe' call to make. Then we have to inform the headmaster that he is short a few students."
/Scene Break/
"Filius what brings you to my office?"
"Isn't it obvious headmaster, Potter has again broken the rules." Snape snarled. " Potter you're a pampered arrogant brat just like your father."
I was wondering if Snape lived in Dumbledore's office.
"I fear headmaster we have a Ministerial problem so I must impose upon you in the use of your 'Floe'.
Snape was sneering and bad mouthing me to the point that Dumbledore was asking him to stop so he could ask Professor Flitwick what was the problem. With this delay Professor Flitwick already had his head in the "Floe" fire. That's when the headmaster's office got a little crowded.
As Madame Bones and six Aurors exited the "Floe' fire, Flitwick flicked his wand and a miniature Dragon Patronus was soon speeding away.
Dumbledore actually shouted, "Flitwick! What the hell is going on?"
"Albus some of your students decided to attack a student and a professor in the halls, namely me and Mr. Potter.
"I'm sure it was not necessary to bother Madame Bones over minor hexes performed in the halls."
By now Professor McGonagall had arrived and I was filling her in on what happened while Flitwick was explaining to Dumbledore the art of expelling students from Hogwarts. I had been around Aunt Mini for too long not see a full-blown titrate about to erupt.
"Albus! The curses thrown at me were lethal and I will not work in the school that condones attacking its professors." Flitwick shouted with a serious glare.
"It has to be all Potter's fault, what did he do this time? I'm sure he incited the students and what spells did Potter throw? Snape did not realize what those words were about to cause. The little professor jumped onto Dumbledore's desk and started to yell at Snape face-to-face. Snape's words also caused Aunt Mini to finally erupt and charge over so she could poke Dumbledore in the chest with her finger as she yelled at him.
With Dumbledore so preoccupied Madame Bones approached me and asked, "I assume you are the other person that was attacked. Do you know where the offending students are located?"
As I lead the group out of the office, I smiled as I heard, "Oh no you don't Albus Dumbledore! You're not leaving here until I have…"
By the time Dumbledore and Snape got themselves free, from the irate professors, Madame Bones had the seven students in handcuffs and was heading for the Main Gates. I had officially stated that I would file a complaint and Madam Bones was sure Flitwick would also.
/Scene Break/
"Harry I'm not supposed to say anything but you have a right to know even though Dumbledore forbids us telling you. All seven of the students that attacked you have been suspended for the rest of the year but five will return next year. The two that tried to curse Professor Flitwick will be heading to Azkabon for attempted murder and having Voldemort's Dark mark." I was sure Aunt Mini was not happy over Dumbledore's decision, I knew I wasn't.
/Scene Break/
With nothing better to do I decided to fly over the third task which was a maze. Daphne said she would join me later for a flight to Hogsmeade village. I thought was funny that people sitting in the stands could not see anything that was going on in the maze but I also noticed a ton of wards that had been cast on the maze. They had wards stop you from burning through the hedges or flying out and over of the hedges and…
The center of the maze got my attention as there were no wards and it was shrouded in a mist or fog. Since it wasn't my problem I glided over to watch the contestants enter the maze. It wasn't long before I was extremely happy that I wasn't a participant. I got to see Fleur Delacour tripped up by some vines or devil snare, the professors had rescue her.
Neville Longbottom ran into some kind of a fog and typical for him, he passed out. Viktor Krum got thumped unconscious by the Sphinx but then things got stupid. I saw the fog start to clear as Cedric Diggery entered the center of the maze. An adult Death Eater appeared and stunned Cedric. That's when I saw Daphne.
At first I thought it was an illusion when I saw Daphne tied to the podium where the Tri-Wizard cup had been placed. I swooped down and transformed. I had seen Daphne on one end of the clearing and Cedric lying at the other end but no one else was visible. As I approached Daphne she tried to warn me by shaking her head as there appeared to be a silencing charm on her.
I was trying to figure out how to get her undone from the podium as this was obviously a trap. I thought it probably wouldn't hurt to remove the silencing charm and maybe she had an idea how the trap was going to work. I waive my hand to remove the charm which, as per my normal luck, activated the trap.
The Tri-Wizard cup flew directly at me and I had no time to dodge the speeding cup. I only had time to get my hand up when the cup and I made contact , I was port-keyed. As the brightly colored lights were flashing around I made an instant plan, AND the second my feet hit the ground I 'POPed'.
My arrival point was now receiving a number of stunner spells. This was clearly evident as I viewed the spells from my new position on the other side of the green yard. I could feel the 'anti-appertation' and 'anti-portkey' wards in place, not that that would stop elf popping.
I know I could've return to Hogwarts but I wanted a shot at whoever did this to me and mine. When I pop I make a noise but arriving I am totally silent so I had a second to survey my surroundings before I turned invisible and…'POP'.
What I had seen was twenty or thirty Death Eaters with Voldemort prominently standing amidst them. Everyone was standing on a huge well-kept lawn in front of a large mansion that seemed to be surrounded by tall manicured hedges. Since there was no way to fight twenty or thirty Death Eaters I planned on one powerful curse aimed at Voldemort but even then the there was a problem. Hitting one of his troops would normally stop a curse from going further. I also wanted to get back to Daphne in one piece, stray curses can hurt like hell. The Death Eaters were already throwing curses randomly around the yard.
It looks like there was about ten death eaters between me and Voldemort so I got greedy and waved the strongest thoughts I had in a Bombarda curse. Unfortunately when the first couple of Death Eaters were blasted in different directions Voldemort disappeared as I did. I figured he had a personal portkey keyed through the 'anti-portkey' wards.
The second that I arrived in the middle of the maze I knew there was going to be more trouble. And to be honest I really wasn't in the mood, thankfully Snape saved the day.
Dumbledore was there with Madame Bones, Aunt Mini, the Minister of Magic, and a couple of Aurors not to mention Severus Snape. Daphne was trying to get to me the moment she saw that I had arrived.
"I told you Dumbledore it's all Potter's fault he's interfered with the Tri-Wizard tournament. He's trying to steal the cup and get more attention, see the cup is still in his hand. There's all the proof you need to expel him." About that time I realized I was still holding the Tri-Wizard cup and I knew I was probably in for a million questions.
That was it, I lost my temper and irrational logic took over, "Here Asshole! Take the damn cup!" I banished the Tri-Wizard cup at Snape intending to have it bash into his chest and hopefully send him flying to the hospital wing. Three things happened about then, first Daphne hit me with a crushing hug, secondly Snape grabbed at the cup as it hit him in the chest and thirdly Snape disappeared.
"I think we best discuss this in my office over nice cup of tea." Dumbledore suggested to those remaining.
/Scene Break/
The cup of tea turned into an inquisition, as if I knew all the answers. "Look I found Daphne tied to the podium and the minutes I use magic I had been taken by a portkey to an estate were a whole bunch of masked men dressed in black who were waiting my arrival." I did get to lie that the tri-wizard cup was a two-way port-key.
After I was dismissed from the headmaster's office I then escorted Daphne to our quarters and started asking questions, "Daphne are you all right, do you need Madam Pomfrey? What happened and who tied you to that podium?"
"Slow down Harry! I'm fine and I have no I idea who did this. I was walking by the library and everything just went black. The next thing I knew I was tied to that podium."
After settling Daphne with a cup of tea I then went down to the entrance hall and lay in wait for Severus Snape. I had long ago overheard Aunt Mini talking how Snape used to be a Death Eater and was now supposed to be a spy for Dumbledore. I wanted to know what he found and what he was going to report. When he finally stomped into the entrance hall I turned invisible and moments later 'POPed' into the headmaster's office.
"Ah, Severus, what news have you?"
"That accursed portkey took me to Malfoy Manor's front lawn and one very upset Dark Lord."
"Headmaster, I've told you before the Dark Lord wants Potter and I strongly suggest you give him Potter before he comes charging in here and kills half the school."
"Well it appears Severus that we must go back to our original plans using Potter in the lead instead of Longbottom."
"Morgana! How are you going to make your plan work when the first half of your plan never took place? You wanted the downtrodden kid to face the Dark Lord and get killed so you could finish off the Dark Lord. Where I'm standing you have no chance in hell of pulling that off."
"Never fear Severus I just need to do some fine tuning on my new plans."
I didn't get any further information as Snape stomped out of the room and I needed to follow him to escape Dumbledore's office without making any popping noise.
/Scene Break/
The next morning at breakfast we got another pile of Dragon dung from the mouth of our Potion Master. While in the guise of talking to McGonagall what was said was loud enough for the entire Hall to hear, "Potter is as insufferable as his father and even as a mediocre student he is an arrogant brat that needs to be taught a lesson about respecting his betters."
I made a decision about that time. It wasn't that he insulted my parents or even that he insulted me, he was just Snape and deserved whatever prank he got. Now with the Slytherin house table being close to the professors High-table I was halfway there. I waive my hand under the table and thought of what I wished to happen, we then heard a braying sound (like a donkey) and from under the High-table waddled a penguin.
I borrowed from Tootsie and whispered, "Take that sucker".
Snape was still waddling around that day as we boarded the Hogwarts express and the beginning of summer break. Daphne and I had just settled in when Ginny and Luna slipped in to have a seat. Hannah Abbott dragged Neville into the compartment moments later. Daphne made sure I was sitting next to the window with her protecting my other side.
Hannah was the first to break the ice, "Neville has something to tell you Harry, don't you Neville?"
"Err, it's just something that Dumbledore said that I thought you might want to know." But then Hannah gave Neville a little shoulder shove. "Dumbledore says he's not going to be training me anymore. He didn't say flat out but I think it's going to be you he's going to be training. He also said that House Potter and Longbottom had always been allies and I should renew our oaths."
"Harry, why would he do that?" Daphne asked.
"I have no idea Daphne. Probably some part of some fabulous plan of his."
The rest of the train ride actually was quite enjoyable. As the train pulled in platform 9¾ I popped Daphne to our apartment without us stepping onto the platform.
Unbeknownst to us a number of Dumbledore's "Order of the Phoenix" were waiting on platform 9¾ to escort us to Grimmauld Place to start my needed training by the suggestion of the Leader of the Light.