After Limbo
Chapter Twelve
Harry was walking down to the Lake with Ginny and Blaise, who Harry was becoming to realize was nothing like the other Slytherins. Suddenly Dobby appeared before Harry.
"Dobby has retrieved the item Harry Potter has requested" He squeaked, handing the green plant over Harry.
Thanks Dobby" Dobby smiled and popped away.
"What's that Harry?" Ginny asked, staring at the plant, curiously.
"Its Gillyweed" Harry replied. "It will help me breath under water" Ginny's eyes widened.
"I didn't know there were plants that did that" Blaise commented. Harry grinned.
"There's alot I'm learning about the wizarding world" He said.
"Aren't you nervous, Harry?" Ginny asked. Harry shook his head.
"Nah" They reached the lake shore just as Dumbledore began the announcement.
"Welcome to the second task. Last night something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the black lake. In order to win each champion need only find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this, they will have one hour to do so and one hour only. After that they'll be on their own" Harry began chewing on the gillyweed. "You may begin at the start of the cannon" The cannon fired and the champions enter the water. Harry began swimming, knowing the exact location of the mervillage, having been there once before.
Harry swiam among the fish and rocks. Singing voices started echoing. As he swam, he noticed that Fleur was being attacked by Grindylows. He pointed his wand and helped free her. She nodded thanks to him and swam on. Harry reached the village first and spotted Hermione, Luna, Cho and a blonde girl from Beauxbatons. He quickly untied her and began pulling her up to the surface.
As Harry and Hermione break to the surface, loud cheering could be heard from the stands. Hermione's eyes opened, though she was a bit disoriented. As they swam to shore, Hands reached out to pull them up. Harry looked with horror that Fleur was on land without the blonde girl he had seen tied up next to her. She looked nervous. He remembered that she was a veela and that the veela hated water and had enmity with merpeople. Viktor came with Luna and Cedric came next with Cho. Fleur started to cry. Harry took a running leap and dove back into the water with screams of "Harry! No!" in his ears. He swam back to the village, fighting off the Grindylows. by now the gillyweed had warn off, so he had to hold his breath. The merpeople had tridents and were getting ready to attack the veela girl. Harry blasted them backward with his magic and freed the girl. He swam towards the surface with the merpeople hot on his trail. He blasted them backwards again and began to glow, his anger getting the best of him. He cursed himself for not rescuing Gabrielle the way he had the first time. Everyone watched shocked as Harry rose out of the water and hovered above it still glowing. His eyes flashed.
"Albus Dumbledore, as Heir of Godric Gryffindor, I deem you unworthy to set foot inside the halls of Hogwarts. You are henceforth stripped of your title as headmaster, for the attempted murder of Gabrielle Delecour, a minor who you placed at the bottom of the black lake, knowing full well that her sister would not be able to reach her and that the merpeople and veela do not and have never gotten along" Everyone was astonished as Harry stopped glowing and brought Gabrielle to shore. Fleur was in tears as she grabbed her sister.
"Thank you, Harry" She said.
"No thanks is needed among friends" Professor Mcgonagall was on them in a flash.
"Mr. Potter, I'd like you to explain how you have the ability to dismiss Professor Dumbledore, and who you intend to replace him with?"
"That's easy, Professor. I am the heir of Godric Gryffindor, and as the only surviving heir of a founder, Hogwarts belongs to me. Dumbledore attempted murder by placing a veela in the mervillage, and as such is not suitable to teach in a school full of children that deserve better than facing Voldemort at 11, a basilisk at 12 and dementors at 13. I will replace Dumbledore with someone who I fully trust will do the job of keeping the children safe"
"Who is that person?" Hermione wanted to know. Everyone was listening to his every word.
"I can think of nobody better suited for the role, but Professor Mcgonagall. I also nominate Professor Flitwick as Deputy Headmaster"
"What about the school board?" Mcgonagall asked.
"They no longer have jurisdiction, as some members of that board are death eaters" Harry replied firmly. "I will be sweeping Hogwarts of unfit teachers and staff"
Professor Snape was watching the proceedings with interest until Harry's words hit him and he realized he might be out of a job shortly. Dumbledore stepped forward.
"Harry m'boy" Harry held up a hand.
"I am not your boy" He snapped. "I suggest you leave"
"I'm afraid I can't let you do this Harry" Dumbledore replied, raising his wand. Harry carelessly summoned the wand into his hand, wandlessly and snapped it.
"Don't you get it yet Old Man?" He asked. "I am through being anyone's pet soldier. I know what you've raised me for. You've raised me for the slaughter" Everyone gasped and Dumbledore's eyes widened.
"Don't look so surprised" Hermione snapped. "You've been setting Harry up to meet his downfall at the hands of Voldemort ever since he arrived as a first year. I don't believe our meetings with the Dark Lord were coincidental, and they all happened here, at a school that is supposed to be the safest place in Britain" Barty Crouch Junior chose that moment to arrive with aurors, having sent for them, the moment Harry spoke out against Dumbledore. Two aurors clamped manacles on Dumbledore's wrists.
"Albus Dumbledore, you are under arrest for endangering the children that are placed in your care" One of the aurors said. She had bright pink hair. She turned to Harry.
"Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE will be by to get your statement sometime this week" She said.
"Thanks Tonks" Harry replied. Tonks looked surprised momentarily, but the aurors led Dumbledore away. "Mr. Crouch, may I speak with you please" Mr. Crouch nodded and Harry led him away, where they couldn't be overheard.
"I know that your son is alive" Harry said quietly. Mr. Crouch began protesting. "Don't worry. I won't say anything. But you need to leave Hogwarts. He's here and he plans on killing you"
"How do you know this?" Crouch asked suspiciously.
"Because I can see the future" Harry replied, which wasn't a total lie. He handed a portkey to Crouch. "Tell no one we have spoken, and take sick leave until the tournament is over and I have had time to deal with your son" Crouch accepted the portkey and vanished and Harry returned to his friends. Hermione hugged him.
"You got first place" She said, kissing him. Harry smiled, but his heart was heavy, for he knew what the third task had in store for him, but he was determined to see this through, and destroy Voldemort. Once and for all.
That evening Harry received a letter and package from Sirius.
Hey pup,
Gringotts was able cleanse the diadem of the horcrux without destroying it. They have asked that I return it to its rightful place at Hogwarts. They also found the horcrux in the Lestrange vault. As it is an item belonging to a founder, that too is being returned to Hogwarts. The house in Little Whinging has been over turned and the ring has been found. It has been completely destroyed. The locket was also destroyed. Kreacher has been very happy with this development, though I am not sure why. for these services, the goblins extracted the money from your vault as requested and have asked me to inform you to let them know if you need their help with anything else.
Harry smiled in satisfaction. He only had one horcrux to go, and she would be in the graveyard on that fateful night. Voldemort was going to pay for all the pain he had caused.
