There was a long pause before the doors to the great hall opened and a dozen people were seen standing just outside the door. In the front was a neatly dressed white haired man who was perhaps average in height for a third year, but had strong shoulders. His skin was a bit darker than the average Caucasian and he was flanked by a large Germanic looking man who exuded confidence. Behind them was a quite pretty blond woman in fine dueling robes standing alone and trailing behind were a dozen sixth and seventh year students dressed in spotless dark green uniforms.
The tall man cleared his throat. "Mister Potter, it is good to see you again. I trust we are not too late for dessert. We can't have our champion going hungry, can we?"
Harry turned and bowed to the new arrivals and waited for a moment before realizing that Dumbledore was waiting for something. He decided to do the start of the introduction.
"Gentlemen, I would like to introduce Headmaster Dumbledore, his Deputy Professor McGonagall, and his staff, Professors Vector, Sprout, Flitwick, Hagrid, and Snape."
"It is good to see you again, Professor Giovanni," rising, Dumbledore shook his hand awkwardly across the table.
"Thank you Albus. Would you be so kind as to show us where we can put out things?"
"Whatever you need I am sure that the castle can accommodate you."
"Actually, we need some level ground outdoors."
"Then Hagrid, our Care of Magical Creatures professor and groundskeeper can show you anything you need, I am sure."
"Thank you."
"Can I interest your students in joining us for our meal?"
"That would be excellent."
The short headmaster stepped forward toward the students gathered at the tables.
"Allow me to introduce my school. We are the Stregone School of Magic from Italy, and we have come to sponsor Harry Potter as our School's champion." Applause from three students and muttering from many more was heard around the hall.
At a nod from their headmaster, the visiting students turned and made their way among the rest of the tables, by necessity scattering through the hall. The two professors and the beautiful tall woman stayed at the staff table where seats were found for them. As they were squeezed in among the other students the volume of conversation rose dramatically.
Unsurprisingly, it was Blasé Zambini that began the discussion at the Slytherin table. He looked at the pretty sixth year who had just sat next to him, ignoring the glowering figure of a boy who looked to be her older brother.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Blasé Zambini, this is my friend Theodore Nott." Goyle shifted uncomfortably in his seat, noted only by one member of the table.
"Alaura," the girl stated quietly, not meeting the younger boy's eyes directly.
"Well, Alaura," Malfoy began from across the table. "My name is Draco Malfoy, I can help you find the best people to associate with for your stay. I hope you aren't all personally associated with Potter and his kind."
"I haven't been introduced," she said quietly, remembering the lad's godfather's visit quite clearly. He had been a charming visitor, if a bit brash.
The entire table heard a slight clearing of the throat and as one looked toward the noise. "Please unhand my sister, Mr. Zambini."
Blasé smiled as he reluctantly let go of the pretty girl's hand.
The seventh year prefect finally ended the slight starting contest, "may we have your name?"
"Frederico Ponti."
"It is nice to meet you," and several variations on that theme were tossed around the table. Something in the nature of the young man caused three separate Slytherins to write home and ask about him and his family. Blasé's mother had the most to say.
Blasé,
If this is the same Frederico that has an uncle Alfredo Greco, then you had best avoid him at all costs. He is likely head of house, since his father is dead, but he is under the protection of a very dangerous man. Do not antagonize him and do not approach any female he has under his protection.
From that day, Blasé was almost always silent in the same room as either visitor.
At the other tables, things were quite jovial with the newest arrivals mixing and laughing in a matter of minutes with their fellow table-mates.
Harry went to the Ravenclaw table and sat by Hermione and her Beauxbaton schoolmates. He was quite quiet bordering on rudeness as the new arrivals were almost ignored with the chance to talk to Harry Potter about where he had been and what was going on. After the third confrontative question from the crowd, Harry was about to scream.
"Why should we let a cheat eat with us," Marcus Belby spouted just loud enough to make sure the entire table heard him.
"That is quite a wrackspurt infestation, Mr. Belby."
Everyone looked at Luna for a moment, baffled or scoffing, so she answered the unasked question.
"They are tiny creatures that make your brain all foggy. They like to make it difficult to count."
There was a pause and suddenly a smirk from Harry. "What she is saying, is that the reason there is a fourth school here is that the goblet obviously has been tampered with. There can't really be four schools in a tri-wizard tournament, can there? Someone powerful enough to confuse a powerful magical artifact managed to change its ability to limit the contestants to three champions for three schools and allowed it to add another champion and thus another school. I would guess they then put just my name in for the fourth school. Since I don't know the name of the school used, some friends managed to get sponsorship for the Stregone School of Magic in Italy."
Luna nodded as if it was obvious to everyone that this is what she meant.
The conversations were much more peaceable after that discussion.
After dinner the student still milled about somewhat and Hermione made her excuses and quickly followed after Fleur Delacour.
"Fleur," irritated at the interruption turned with a scowl to see the young girl she still wasn't sure why she had been invited to come.
"Yes, Miss Granger," Hermione frowned to herself. She had never been unkind to Fleur but the disapproving tone was impossible to miss.
"I have my initial notes for you."
"What kind of notes do you have that could possibly interest me?"
"Madam Maxime asked me to use my research skills to help you. Here is…" Fleur was still smarting at being snubbed the other day by the Bulgarian in favor of Hermione and was in no mood to be kind to the girl.
"I can't imagine there is anything a fourth year can possibly have that I have not already thought of, Granger. You can give that to your boyfriends, either that Kendall character or Harry Potter or even Mr. Diggory. I don't care if you burn it, but I don't want anything from you." Hermione tried not to look shocked at the pure venom in the older girl's tirade, but instead of responding, simply turned and quietly slid away to the library. She began a copy spell to put her notes into English, but due to the type of spell she had available, it took just as long as if she wrote it herself, just without the hand cramps. Just before curfew she went up to the owlery and attached the notes to a snowy white owl before sending her off. It had been a long day. It included a long dissertation on dragons and their combat potential.
Harry awoke quietly, listening to the quiet around him before opening his eyes. Glancing around the unfamiliar room for a moment, he checked the condition of his mental defenses before he began their reinforcement. He had been slowly building his strength since after the basilisk incident and his meeting with the young Tom Riddle. The all out mind war he had undergone had exposed him to more about soul magic and mind attacks than years of studying. He had always learned from actions better than books in any event.
He quietly reviewed everything that had happened to him since that near death experience. He had gained a great deal of knowledge, that of a brilliant sixth year student, as well as some other things that no sixth year could possibly have known. There was a different knowledge that had some at their confrontation, a part of himself that Harry didn't know existed suddenly burst forth, attacking him in much the same manner as Tom had. He had been victorious, but the battle had left him dead for a few moments before his newly awakened magic and unimpeded mind had begun to fight back. It was a different Harry Potter that left the chamber over 18 months ago.
Harry had learned that Voldemort, aka Tom Riddle, was not dead and would not stay dead until his dark magics were defeated first. He was astounded when the image of a younger potions professor popped up in the muddled pieces of memory he had received as the dark presence in his scar was shattered. He knew that Hermione Granger had been targeted by the basilisk because she was close to him as well as being sure that another war was coming if Voldemort was given any real support from living wizards.
A new Harry Potter had woken up in the infirmary the next day, bloodied but not broken. He was resolved to fight in the upcoming conflict he was now sure would happen. His parents were killed because of it, because of him. There was one person he was willing to die to defend and this alone had changed everything.
Coming out of his daze, Harry got up and checked out the facility he was in. The strange curved wall on one side of his room seemed to be made from corrugated aluminum. It was magically reinforced to be able to withstand a fierce barrage of spells and physical damage before being breached, however. He left the room and found a common restroom for the boys just to across a narrow hallway. One other boy was up he didn't recognize.
"Hello," Harry said in English. The boy muttered something undecipherable and headed into the showers, followed by Harry who found several empty shower stalls and the lavatory. He finished getting ready and headed out to see the rest of the new accommodation. He had been far too tired to pay attention to the details last night.
Looking over the place he saw a building that appeared to be the top third of part of an enormous pipe of corrugated steel or aluminum. That pipe made up most of the structure. It was easily fifteen feet tall at the center and probably double that wide. The ends were metal and had normal looking doors and windows on each side. He had never seen a building like it.
Turning to start his morning run, he was surprised to see the door open and a tall blond woman exit wearing close fitting workout clothes. He tried to remember her name, but failed. Even though she was Germanic, he thought the name was rather British.
"Mr. Potter," she had spied him immediately. "You are exercising this morning?" At this dumfounded nod she laughed gently. Feeling a bit shy at inviting himself along with the woman, he turned and took off on his run around the lake. While he ran he had his wand out and began casting various spells and hexes over the lake. Some of these would have surprised anyone who knew the old Harry Potter not only with their power and complexity, but with how dark they were considered to be.
After several miles he hurried back for a shower quickly changed before going to the Durmstrang ship. He managed to evade everyone as he made it to his room there and began packing, ignoring the still unmoving form of his roommate.
The bed spoke. "Ivan dropped by rather late. I told him you were in the library studying and said you had a prefect to escort you to the ship."
"Thanks Alex," Harry still had not figured out his quiet roommate, but he had several times covered up for Harry's mysterious comings and goings. Of course he hadn't been using the name or image of Harry Potter, so the older student was not being nice due to his fame or anything similar.
"Kendall, I know you are probably the best at defense in the entire school." Alex didn't finish his thought, which was not unusual for the normally taciturn Russian.
Harry/Kendall just looked at him for a moment, trying to figure out which question was really being asked. Suddenly it dawned on him. Alex wanted to know why he put up with so much from the other students. Practically the only one he fought with was Victor.
"I had to keep a low profile for a bit," Harry added quietly.
"Good luck Harry. If you need anything I'm your man." Not too terribly surprised, given how smart his friend was, he simply nodded thankfully. Neither was given to much emotion under the circumstances.
Kendall went to the door where the Durmstrang headmaster's nameplate was prominently displayed and knocked.
"Enter," came the gruff voice. He opened the door and walked into the small office area, not looking directly at the sallow man behind the desk until he was standing directly in front of him holding out some paperwork.
"I cannot be the helper of your champion you desired. I know you wanted me to help with research and application of exotic charms, but circumstances have prevented such a role."
"What do you want then," Igor looked at the paperwork with undisguised disgust. The lad had performed brilliantly in classes this last year and he had hoped to have him assist his Champion, who he was sure was going to be Viktor. That the boy would have possibly made a better champion Igor had considered and that was halfway why he had let the young boy come. His feats of magic when their field trip had been attacked by dire-wolves on Halloween last year had made him somewhat of a celebrity at the school. The boy had tried to diffuse the praise unsuccessfully, but taking down two of the magically resistant animal within the course of just a few minute was impressive for an adult. Unfortunately the boy had been mauled somewhat and spent a week in the hospital visited only by his dog. No one was surprised that much of the rest of the year the boy had spent countless hours on defense and combat training, finally taking on the seventh years in his mock duels and toward the end of the year beating most of them soundly.
The tired headmaster finally took the proffered paperwork stating that Kendall Sarac was being withdrawn from the party at Hogwarts and would return home immediately. With a sigh the signed the necessary permission form and handed it back to the troublesome lad. Something just wasn't right with the boy. Before he remembered to ask how he was getting home, the boy was gone. Shaking his head Igor went back to the training requirements for the tournament and his prized student, scratching his left forearm absent mindedly.
Now that he was free from taking classes as Kendall, he needed to fix his schedule as Harry. He donned his Italian school uniform that was left on his bed and quickly headed toward the Head of House he wanted to handle his scheduling information.
"Come in."
"Professor Flitwick, I was hoping I could discuss taking classes along with Ravenclaw this year during this 'tournament.'"
"Harry, good to see you! I am sure we can accommodate you. I would guess you want to be in mostly the same classes as Miss Granger?"
"Yes, I have been asked to look after her by her patron. I would like to give you a confidential copy of my scores during the last year, professor, as long as you read them for just the placement then destroy that copy. I am not interested in having my entire schooling history become common knowledge. I am not actively enrolling in Hogwarts." Harry paused as he looked over the scores from Durmstrang with a clear 'Kendall Sarac' stamped at the top. Waiting until the professor looked up, Harry added. "It would certainly be the logical choice, professor."
"Yes, it would," Flitwick's smile faded. "I am not certain the Headmaster will be happy with this news, Mr. Potter."
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment. "Would you be willing to issue the schedule anyway? I will see what can be done about the Headmaster's disapproval."
"Of course Mr. Potter." Harry thanked him and they talked for another half house about how his and Hermione's schedule worked and Harry noticed some of the obvious questions aimed at being sure the academic record was valid. Being the Head of House for the Wise, Flitwick knew a great deal about every subject Harry had on his transcript and asked some difficult questions. He was clearly pleased that the boy, now 'his' student, knew at least as much as the transcript implied. A quick look at the handwriting and he knew that both students were, in fact, the same person.
That evening, Harry was again using the communication mirrors to discuss how they could managed the Dumbledore's interference in their schooling and the safety that Hermione and Harry gave each other by being in the same classes.
After the topic was broached, Hermione actually was the one who spoke first.
"I have noticed that several of the Slytherins have been reluctant to taunt me like they used to. This is especially true of Greggory Goyle, but clearly the others are taking notice. Only Malfoy has been as beastly as usual."
"This doesn't seem to affect how Dumbledore is trying to control everything, however. Two of my professors have made moves to have me pushed into the Gryffindor classes, regardless of my protestations," Harry added.
The meeting went long into the evening and Harry reviewed the training that he was receiving from his new school sponsor. It was quite a relief to all the adults who were constantly trying to support the young man they thought of so highly.
It was a late night and they had potions the next morning. The class was every bit as unpleasant as it had always been and Professor Snape continually sniped at Harry, sometimes including Hermione. Harry wondered why he even bothered to come to class.
"Hermione?" they were walking back to the library after potions. She looked at him expectantly, showing he had her attention.
"How do Crabbe and Goyle manage to pass potions? I know you can get someone else to help with essays and such, but how do they do it in class?"
"I don't know, Harry." He pondered that question for a short time before he discovered the real answer a few days later.
Harry looked over the Marauder's map, puzzled about another meeting of a number of Slytherin students after dinner in an unused part of the castle. After the Peter Pettygrew fiasco, he had taken to looking over the map much more carefully than normal. He didn't want to be too paranoid, but it was quite odd. He decided there was only one way to find out about these activities.
He watched as they all left the room, including Professor Snape, then he hurried to the same classroom to see if there were any clues left. He found several clues including the leftover smell of brewed potions. Harry was unsurprised to find the next day the potion he smelled was the one being brewed in class. The secret of the Slytherin House's success in potions was now clear. It took one subtle listening charm for Harry to be able to tell exactly what potions were being assigned before they were assigned, as well as getting some expert brewing advice from a seventh year Slytherin on how to brew them properly.
With a smirk, Harry added some extra potions work to his, Hermione's, and Elly's potions homework. This resulting in Harry getting far more harassment, since his potions were practically perfect, and finally the Professor began to lose or drop Harry's potions occasionally. His homework was also graded far below its actual content, according to Hermione.
Hermione and Elly were coming back from the ladies room when they found their way blocked by almost a dozen Gryffindor girls.
"Hey Granger," Alicia Spinnet was the first to talk.
"What can I do for you?" Hermione's voice sounded perfectly calm, but her was already in her hand before the first word was said.
"We want you to lay off Potter. We don't want his kind of representation in Gryffindor. He needs to be taught a lesson." Hermione was surprised to note Ginny's red hair in the background.
"Pizza face, you can also tell your new friends you are better away from them or we will be making your life difficult."
"What makes you think I would be better off without the only people in this school who have stood with me?" Eloise Midgen had finally gotten her voice. She was standing up to several girls two years her senior, but it didn't matter to her. She knew what was right.
"What gives you the right to tell me what to do?" Hermione added to the mix. "Does the affection and friendship you have shown me in the past? How about the compassion used to welcome students to a new school? Or maybe it is the defense you of Harry, my best friend, that you have showed in seconds year. Or this year when you all know he doesn't want any part of this idiotic tournament? So I'll tell you what. If you want to act like a family, so be it, but it would take someone a lot scarier than the group of you to make me abandon my best friend."
"I think she needs a less in humility," Hermione thought it was Ginny who said it and at those words the spells started to fly. It started out with hexes then someone threw a bone breaker curse and soon highly dangerous curses were flying. It was a brief but furious battle and seven of the twelve girls attacking were injured before they managed to bring down the two defenders. Eloise had surprised them as they concentrated on Hermione and had taken two out before they began to include her in the storm of spells.
"Let's leave her naked in the Great Hall like that." One of the girls suggested.
"Let's leave her naked in the Slytherin common room," Ginny added, holding an injured arm.
"I didn't know the bitch was so fast." They memory charmed Eloise and were about to do the same to Hermione when someone came along the corridor.
"*(&#T, it's Harry."
"I got it," Ginny said quickly and moved toward Harry.
"Harry," she cried, tears running down her cheeks. "They almost killed her."
Ginny was obviously hurt and Harry was feeling a cold chill run down his spine as he saw Hermione, her face was covered with painful looking boils and her hands were turning blue with something he didn't recognize. Finally, there was blood running slightly from her nose.
"Who is 'they'?" Harry said, looking at Ginny with fire in his eyes.
"It was the Slytherin Quidditch team, we fought as hard as we could, but they were too strong. She cried a bit more for affect." Harry looked at the rest of the battle torn girls, noting the odd yellow hue on the face of one of the fifth years. It was a spell that he recognized. Just to be sure, he cast the counter spell Hermione had taught him.
"Well you had better get down to the infirmary and get checked out. I will take care of this." Harry said through gritted teeth. He walked up to Angela, who was managing the transportation for Hermione and seamlessly took over Hermione's levitation while grasping her wand arm.
"I'll take care of that, thank you. Go on ahead, Hermione doesn't seem to be in any pain since she is out."
Desperate to apply the memory charm Angela shook her head. "I'll stay and help."
Just as she was about to move, she felt a choking sensation and realized Harry had his wand pressing against her throat.
"You will leave and make sure everyone else here does the same." The girls were terrified as they were forced to march in front of Harry as he dragged Hermione using a levitation spell they didn't recognize. He enervated Elly and just asked her to keep completely silent until they were at the hospital wing.
As soon as they arrived, Madam Pomfrey started to treat the worst injured, growling under her breath all the time.
He got Hermione on top of a bed and waited for the mediwitch to come around. During his brief wait he talked to Elly, telling her that she was memory charmed and he would have the mediwitch reverse it as soon as he could.
Finally it was Hermione's turn to be treated, as those with the greater injuries were already taken care of and put abed. As she was being worked on, Harry walked over to the main doors of the infirmary and cast a seventh year locking charm that required a password. It gave a mild stinging sensation to anyone not keyed giving the password. It also muffled the password when spoken and kept the doors secure without it. It wasn't particularly strong, but you had to break down the door to overcome it.
"She will be all right in a day or two, Mr. Potter. Someone went out of their way to cause damage that would affect her appearance. It isn't like boys to do this."
"I know," was the quiet response. Madam Pomfrey looked around the room and became notably nervous as she realized that the sheer number of girls already here could possibly overcome her.
"If you would check Elly for memory charms as you check her injuries and then counter any you find, I would appreciate it. I also think that someone may have slipped these girls something to trigger such aggression. There isn't any other way I can account for this action."
"Mr. Potter, I won't be told how to treat my patients by a fourth year. You may go."
Harry walked away from the nurse and let her continue the treatment, keeping his eyes on both the treatment of Elly and at the same time ensuring none of the other girls had the opportunity to cast a memory charm or something worse on the girls he was protecting.
It took two hours before the Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were trying to get into the infirmary. Harry slid out, having been sure that Elly was watching the other girls, wand in hand, even as she was resting.
Harry came out into the hallway. "Good afternoon Professors. The infirmary password is 'good intentions bad character.'"
"Is that supposed to be…" Minerva began before she was stopped by her boss.
Harry waited for them to enter before changing the password and entering again.
He let Dumbledore question the girls and finally release them before even questioning Hermione and Elly. It was clear to Harry that Albus had no intention on investigating further than simply taking statements and releasing the girls with a firm lecture about responsibility.
"Ever the pacifist, Headmaster," Harry commented from the chair next to Hermione's bed.
"Harry, forgiveness is what separates us from the animals.
"No, headmaster, our soul does. It is our ability to see beyond ourselves. To understand we have a place in the world and a destiny we can fulfill."
"Well said, Harry. I would think your destiny could be clouded by hate as easily as any other man's. It is a sad way to live a life. Kindness is our most human attribute and is something to always be aspired to." "It is also a great way to lose a war," Harry rejoined.
"Harry, you must learn to love those around you."
"You have spent most of my life trying to be sure I don't experience love, Dumbledore."
"Mr. Potter!"
"Professor McGonagall, the only thing I have against you is that you let him get away with stomping on your own sensibilities. I bet you never disagree with anything the headmaster does, at least not enough to change it. That makes your opinion moot, only his matters. He has just declared a sort of cold war on me and those I care about. His lack of defense of right and wrong is inexcusable in someone attempting to teach values to the young. Tell me one time when he defended me or sought justice where I was concerned unless he had some ulterior motive. Even going so far as to return a family heirloom to me and call it a Christmas gift.
"My friend was practically killed here and he hasn't even decided if he is going to punish anyone. You wonder what I saw that made me leave the school after the first two years, now you know. My trust has been abused by authority all my life, why should Hogwarts be any different."
"Mr. Potter, Hogwarts is safe. It is the safest place in the Magical World." McGonagall's voice was strident.
"I know you believe that, but my experiences haven't agreed with that, professor. I only had to defend my life one time while I was away for a year, significantly lower than the average number of times my life has been in danger per year at Hogwarts. It is clear that you expect me to totally trust you both, but the evidence is that you keep secrets that affect my life without bothering to notify me of the least part of them. Why do you think Voldemort came after me specifically over a decade ago? Why do you think my parents were killed defending me? Not fighting a battle, not in one of their safe houses, but hiding behind an obscure spell that I think was cast by Albus Dumbledore." Harry's voice had risen and the knock at the door was unheard for a moment as both professors stared at the angry young man.
Harry went outside in the corridor and let the newcomers in. As he came back with Hedwig on his shoulder he saw the professors approaching where Hermione lay.
"Get away from her," his voice howled with barely suppressed magic and a strong wind suddenly washed through the infirmary, scaring half to death the only attacker who was still awake and had witnessed the arguments.
"My boy," Albus tried to put his wand away discretely, he didn't need Harry's trust to further erode.
"You are not the nurse so anything you say is suspect."
"I will not be talked to like that in my own school."
"Then we will all just have to leave. Unless I have your apology and word that you will not cast or authorize any spell on Hermione, Elly, or me, nothing you say means anything. I know all about your compulsion charms and potions, headmaster, and memory charming me won't erase the evidence since it is far from here. I am not stupid enough to enter the snakes den without backup."
"I think it is time for us to do, Minerva, Harry is clearly distraught." With that parting shot the two Hogwarts professors left the infirmary.
Harry turned to the new arrivals.
"I apologize for my current state, but I am pretty angry right now. I would like a continuance on training tomorrow. I need to be watching my friend to be sure nothing untoward happens to her until she can defend herself." Ed Cochi had been working with Harry on defense extras for a few weeks, but this was an entirely new Harry. His eyes spoke of the terrible pain that would occur if someone were to threaten his friend again. He wondered absently, how close were they really? He had brought along their dueling and combat partner Ms. Stewart, who had expressed an interest in his welfare after he had missed a practice. He had never done so before.
"I will help you watch over your friends, Harry."
Harry motioned to the other occupied beds, "they are not to be trusted. Treat them as the enemy." Ms. Stewart stationed herself guard like near the two beds at the end of the infirmary, wand drawn. He talked over the rescheduling of the classes he was going to miss.