Who Am I? A Harry Potter Fanfiction
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters; I do own any OC spells explained at the end of the chapter.
Harry/Hermione
Neville/Ginny
Draco/Luna
Normal Speech
'Thought'
{Parseltongue}
Review Answers:
MariusDarkwolf: That is the base idea, but I think that there were others who picked up on that;
Zamia: You think that NOW? Dumbles has been a few players short since his staff and the Vindicators chose Harry's side;
"Ginny Weasley," Sirius answered, "And the reason you're in danger is because…" he shared a worried look with the others while Severus was the one to say it, already bracing himself for the explosion.
"Albus was the one to choose her for you…we think he's going to try and trap you again."
Chapter 11: The Second Task
'Bastard; asshole; whiskered wanker; senile manipulative fucking shit-head!'
Harry's thoughts could have made even the strongest of men cower with fear as he sat at the Slytherin Table on the morning of the Second Task, others around him noticing the absence of their classmates, while Harry kept his gaze on the Gryffindor Table, watching as Neville seemed to hang his head in shame, as if he felt he had failed Harry.
Rising from his seat, Harry walked over and, kneeling down next to his vassal, asked, "Neville: tell me: why do you think you failed?"
"I am sorry Harry," Neville answered him, "I should have helped you watch out for Hermione, but she was asked to Professor McGonagall's office and that was the last I heard from her. Is she…"
"She's not one of the hostages," Harry explained, "Ginny is and, if my theories are right, then she'll have some kind of spell or ritual enacted upon her that will force the two of us together…at least that's what Ragnok believes."
"How do you hope to fight it Harry?" asked Neville, watching as his lord looked to the High Table, where Minerva and Severus were looking worried, while Dumbledore had a look that may as well have been used for a summer vacation.
"Actually," whispered the Tri-Lord, "If you want me to prove to you that this isn't your fault, then I'll need your help, my vassal."
"I will do all in my power to help you, my Lord," Neville replied, looking to Dumbledore as he asked, "What do you need?"
"Just be on the Champions platform before the start of the task," he then slipped a hand into his robe and, being as subtle as he could manage, Harry slid the contents of his hand into Neville's pocket, "And, when I say, put this in your mouth and do as I say."
"Yes my Lord," Neville replied, watching as Harry stood tall and wandered back to the Slytherin Table, his plan working so far; now all he needed to do was ensure the safety of the other hostages as well as seeing to his princess.
'Dumbledore,' Harry thought, sitting back with the Slytherins, 'You thought you captured this snake in your trap? Well guess what? The snake that you hoped to capture has just revealed its true self…as the dragon that will bring you down you old fool.'
WhoAmI?
Standing on the platform with the other champions, Harry caught sight of Cedric looking slightly worried, Fleur looking less glamorous than she had usually presented herself and Viktor Krum looking like he wanted to rip someone's eyes out. This was to be expected however as, with a little unknown assistance from Harry, the other champions had known just who was going to be taken and, as Harry stood on the edge of the water, his hand hiding a small amount of his specially-charmed Gillyweed, he counted down the seconds to the start of the task, hoping his newfound brother would not miss his cue.
Ludo Bagman was now speaking with a magically-amplified voice as he addressed the other students and staff, "Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One...two...three!"
"STOP!" Boomed a deep, commanding voice, the timing making Harry smile as Ragnok parted the crowds and approached Harry, bowing with respect as he whispered, "The deed is done my brother."
"Thank you Ragnok," Harry replied, looking to Bagman, before he copied the man's amplified voice with his own, "Honoured judges: I, Lord Harry James Potter, Heir of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin ask to enact the Right of Reservation!"
"There is no such right," snapped Percy Weasley, but the bossy-mouthed fool was silenced by Ragnok drawing his sword, a similar weapon now appearing in Harry's hand as he stepped away from the water's edge and, looking to Weasley, pointed his weapon, the sword of Godric Gryffindor, right between the teenager's eyes.
"If you knew the rules as much as your honourable Mr Crouch says you do," Harry explained, "You would see not one, but two rules that have clearly been breached here today: Article 213 of the Ancient Rules clearly states that all champions or, failing that, their adult supervisors are to be informed of the names/titles of the hostages taken for the second task; also, Article 1 states quite clearly that there is a Right of Reservation that can be enacted by any of the champions as long as they are represented by a family or an organisation of equal standing. Since I am Lord of two Founders, an Honoured Brother to the Goblin Nation and Lord of three powerful families in Potter, Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would say that I have the necessary standing to enact this right; Master Ragnok, as Goblin Chief, would you do me the honour of being my representative?"
"I would my lord," Ragnok answered, stepping forwards and linking his hand with Harry's as he added, "Since Lord Potter was not officially named as a third champion, but under a fictitious fourth school, he is now represented by the Gringotts High Council of Elders."
"Very well," Bagman nodded, "The claim and rule are both valid: Lord Potter, who do you choose as your second?"
With a smile, Harry answered, "My family's vassal and brother-in-arms, Neville Longbottom."
As if on cue, Neville was transported next to Harry, his cheeks bulging slightly as he quickly swallowed and asked, "What is your wish my lord?"
"Go into the lake and play your part in this task," Harry explained, watching as Neville joined the other champions, before the Tri-Lord looked to the schools and, with his amplified voice now echoing across the lake, he explained, "For the sake of the schools, I hereby swear that none of the hostages will be left down there, even if one of the champions should fail: and, speaking of the hostages, here they are: Gabrielle Delacour, Millicent Bulstrode, Cho Chang and Ginerva Weasley!"
"WHAT?" Roared most of the school, Minerva, Severus and Remus watching with pride as Bagman turned on Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore: what is this? We agreed that Lord Potter's lady, young Hermione Granger, would be the hostage: what has happened?"
"I thought her clear and present danger would distract Harry from the purpose of the task," Dumbledore explained, trying to sweeten the deal here as he added, "Believe me Mr Bagman: I did this…"
"For the Greater Good," Harry chorused with him, "How sweet, but now, if you don't mind, I have a young woman to find: Neville, good luck."
"Thanks Harry," Neville replied, as the cannon sounded and the champions took to the water, Harry meanwhile tapping into the Hogwarts wards – as was his newly discovered right as Heir of the Founders – before he apparated away from the lake and up towards the school.
WhoAmI?
Whether it was instinct or a sense of protection for his Hermione, he didn't know, but Harry's first destination was none other than the Hospital Wing, his eyes shining with raw magic as he tried to keep the feelings of rage and fear deep down, his magic spiking dangerously, making the walls tremble as he threw the doors to the wing open, catching sight of Madam Pomfrey.
"Where is she?" he asked, his eyes darkening as he looked to the matron, "Where is Hermione?"
"Calm yourself Harry," Madam Pomfrey answered, "She is here and she is safe."
"Is she awake?" asked Harry, following the medi-witch through to the rear end of the wing, the familiar figure of his girlfriend lying on the same bed that Harry had first occupied.
"She's been placed in deep stasis," explained Madam Pomfrey, "She won't wake for one hour; when she discovered that she was not to be the one who would be your hostage, she was slightly worried."
"You knew?" asked Harry, looking to the witch, "Why didn't you warn me?"
"Because I knew you would do something reckless," Madam Pomfrey answered, her own eyes now on the young man that had kept her quite busy in the early stages of his Hogwarts life. "But Hermione is safe, Harry and, judging by the fact that you are not covered in water and merpeople injuries, it's clear to me that you have done something to change this obvious play on your emotions."
"And you would be right," Harry agreed, "When I was informed of this little change in plans, I made sure that there was no hole for the master manipulator to crawl under: he endangered the life of my girlfriend and I would not stand for that. Now, within the next hour, you should actually have four people making their way here, which is all thanks to the pre-emptive strikes I took against this task and, if I'm right, the first of them should be arriving…right…about…now!"
There was a loud crack and, as if Harry were some kind of seer, the first arrivals did turn up: Viktor Krum and Millicent Bulstrode, both of them soaked to the bone, Viktor clearly halfway through some attempted human transfiguration.
"Dobby!" cried Harry, his loyal elf appearing as he looked to his fellow champion. "Please inform the judging panel that their champions are all safely convening here in the Hospital Wing."
"At once Harry," replied the elf, vanishing with a pop as Harry sat back and waited: ten minutes after Viktor came Cedric, holding Cho, but looking slightly alarmed.
As the Vindicator set his friend down, he looked to Harry and, with a slow smile, explained, "Neville wanted me to tell you thanks: apparently, he's going to be a while as Ginny wasn't among the assembly of hostages."
"Then where is she?" asked Harry, looking out of the window towards the lake.
"I don't know," Cedric answered, "Perhaps you…"
"Don't leave her," Harry warned him, before he slipped his Gillyweed into his mouth and, with another twist, apparated away from Hogwarts and down to the lake, his destination both comedic and intentional as he dive-bombed straight into the icy depths of the water.
Then, quite suddenly, Harry felt as though an invisible pillow had been pressed over his mouth and nose. He tried to draw breath, but it made his head spin; his lungs were empty, and he suddenly felt a piercing pain on either side of his neck – Harry clapped his hands around his throat and felt two large slits just below his ears, flapping in the cold air...He had gills. Without pausing to think, he did the only thing that made sense - he flung himself forward into the water.
The first gulp of icy lake water felt like the breath of life. His head had stopped spinning; he took another great gulp of water and felt it pass smoothly through his gills, sending oxygen back to his brain. He stretched out his hands in front of him and stared at them. They looked green and ghostly under the water, and they had become webbed. He twisted around and looked at his bare feet - they had become elongated and the toes were webbed too: It looked as though he had sprouted flippers.
The water didn't feel icy anymore either...on the contrary, he felt pleasantly cool and very light...Harry struck out once more, marvelling at how far and fast his flipper-like feet propelled him through the water, and noticing how clearly he could see, and how he no longer seemed to need to blink. He had soon swum so far into the lake that he could no longer see the bottom. He flipped over and dived into its depths.
Silence pressed upon his ears as he soared over a strange, dark, foggy landscape. He could only see ten feet around him, so that as he sped through the water new scenes seemed to loom suddenly out of the incoming darkness: forests of rippling, tangled black weed, wide plains of mud littered with dull, glimmering stones. He swam deeper and deeper, out toward the middle of the lake, his eyes wide, staring through the eerily gray-lit water around him to the shadow beyond, where the water became opaque.
Small fish flickered past him like silver darts. Once or twice he thought he saw something larger moving ahead of him, but when he got nearer, he discovered it to be nothing but a large, blackened log, or a dense clump of weed. There was no sign of any of the other champions, merpeople or, thankfully, the giant squid.
Then, as Harry swam deeper, he caught sight of what he'd read to be Grindylows surrounding a familiar light-haired female; with a gasp, Harry pulled out his wand and, pointing at the creatures, commanded, "Toranatius!"
A whirlwind of magic flew from the end of his wand, cutting through the water like some demon of the depths, its powerful waves of energy throwing the Grindylows away as Harry swam deeper, noticing Fleur Delacour covered by what he had also read to be the Bubble Head Charm. Powering through the water, Harry took Fleur's hand and gave her a smile, her face showing fear as she whispered, "Arry: what are you doing down here?"
"Helping my friends," Harry replied, "Have you seen Neville and Ginny?"
"Non," Fleur replied, her voice slightly distorted by her charm, "I thought zat zey would have been close; Monsieur Krum 'as already saved 'iz 'ostage."
"Okay," Harry nodded, looking through the murky waters; all around him was blackness and he was running out of time. "The hostage site isn't far away: get there, save your sister and get back to the Hospital Wing: Madam Pomfrey will look after you."
"Merci," Fleur smiled, before she leaned forwards and placed a light kiss on Harry's cheek, the young Lord knowing that Hermione would skin him alive if she learned of this.
Leaving Fleur behind, Harry moved away from the water, using his mental body clock to count down the minutes until the hour would be up; all around him was blackness for a long time until, with a last gasp, Harry caught sight of a familiar Gryffindor ahead of him, wand sparks doing battle with a creature that, when Harry moved closer, found he could only whisper, "Oh damn you Dumbledore."
Neville was doing battle with the giant squid and, embraced in its tentacles was none other than Ginny Weasley, her body still and unmoving.
Swimming up behind his vassal, Harry extended his hand and summoned Godric's Sword to his side, before he tapped Neville gently on the shoulder, his eyes on the squid as he whispered, "Allow me Neville."
"Harry?" asked the interim champion, "What are you…"
"Later," Harry explained, before he indicated the tentacles, "Freezing Charm until you reach Ginny: if it tries to attack you, then cast Protego or Diffindo; leave the rest to me."
"All right," Neville answered, watching as Harry took off to another side, the sword glistening in the reflective light of small orbs that seemed to envelop the squid's body; as he looked into the orbs, Harry shook his head: Dumbledore was a really stupid git. The squid lived this far into the lake because its instincts made it nocturnal, ensuring it hunted and lived by night; with those lights down here, it grew aggravated and, judging by its attack pattern, Harry also supposed that the old man had tried some form of compulsion.
Well, two could play that game; lowering his wand to the orbs, Harry commanded, "Expellilumus!"
A dark light flew from his wand and, as it touched the orbs, the darkness seemed to devour the light in a form similar to a black hole, leaving only the dim, sub-terrain light that the majestic beast in front of him would be used to. As he moved around the squid, dowsing the light that each of the orbs was providing, Harry noticed Neville seemed to be making some headway with the quest he had been given; extinguishing another light, Harry lifted Godric's sword and, putting his bravery first, he moved close to the squid's blood-red gaze, the sword clearly recognised by the creature.
"I'm sorry for disturbing your slumber," Harry informed the creature, holding the sword in one hand while he reached out with his hand and slowly petted the squid, its body feeling both soft, but slimy under his touch, the beast almost purring in delight as it felt a soft touch. "The one who placed those lights there only wanted to cause harm to others; my friend down there is innocent and my other friend means you no real harm; if you will release the girl in you embrace, I will heal your wounds and we will leave you be: please?"
There was a sound like whale-song and, as Harry watched, the squid began to move its remaining tentacles, slowly releasing Ginny from its grip; as he was about to reach out for her, Harry shook his head and looked to Neville, "Grab her and don't let go: if I'm right, you'll like what happens next: see you later."
With that, he apparated away from Neville and Ginny, the squid squealing with delight as it felt its dark familiarity returning, a part of its loyal subconscious to the human with the sword knowing that the day was coming where he would be needed and, on that day, the great beast would do as his master commanded.
WhoAmI?
"You…are…a…stupid…reckless…fool…Harry…Potter."
Harry could only smile as Hermione paused between each word to give him another longing kiss, her eyes watering as she looked to where Neville and Ginny were now sat at each other's side, the Lady of Gryffindor still holding onto her boyfriend as she asked, "So why is it that I can't hate you for what you did?"
"Because you knew I had to do it," Harry answered, watching as Hermione lay her head on his damp chest, her hand stroking her boyfriend as he ran his hand through her hair, "I wasn't about to let Dumbledore's plan come to pass, but I still can't believe that he would be so desperate as to use the giant squid in all this."
"And why didn't you grab Ginny?" asked Hermione, watching as Harry quickly flicked his wand at each of the returning champions, Fleur holding onto a silver-haired girl like she was the most important thing in her life.
"Because a charm was in place," Harry explained, "One that now affects Neville, but isn't as powerful on him because the emotions are already there."
"What charm and what emotions?" asked Hermione, but her question was answered when Ginny opened her eyes, the hour of time now passed; she seemed dazed and confused for a moment as she looked at Harry, but, when she looked up and saw Neville, Ginny gasped and looked back at Harry.
"Thank you," she whispered, a nod of acceptance being returned to her from the Tri-Lord.
"I used my power over the school to minimise the damage," he explained to her, "But the charm is there: you always said that you owed me your life and, judging by what I saw at the Yule Ball, I know there are feelings there; so, as payment for saving your life, I say that you will stay as close to Neville as I am to Hermione: do you accept?"
"I do," Ginny replied, watching as Neville took her chin in his hand, lifted her head to his and kissed her gently, both of them wrapping their arms around one another as Harry lay back on his bed.
"A binding charm," Harry explained to Hermione, "Binding their hearts together through mind and magic: had I done it, then I would have lost you Hermione, but now that I don't need to worry about that, I know who my love is."
"And I know my love is a genius," Hermione remarked, giving Harry another longing kiss; when she came up for air, she added, "And he is forgiven."
A shorter chapter 11, but enough to put across what everyone has been wondering: Dumbledore won't give up; Ginny and Neville are now together and Harry's power at Hogwarts continues to grow, but what will the aftermath be?
Also, what will Fleur's reaction be to Harry's unforeseen assistance in the second task?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Hermione has a request for Minerva and Remus regarding Harry's summer arrangements; it seems that a certain red-headed retard just can't get the message and Harry has a favour to ask of the goblin nation: its purpose – REVENGE!
Please Read and Review…
ALSO: If anyone wishes to have a crack at the challenge associated with this story – as seen as the first page in this fanfiction – then I have posted the challenge details in my forums;
