Harry awoke the next morning to the scent of jasmine and the sight of blonde hair, he smiled his crooked smile as he remembered the night before. Harry quietly reached for his wand which ended up on a stand next to the bed that the Room conjured for them, 'tempus,' he silently cast and in small green numbers the time appeared, 5:45. Harry sighed and set his wand back on the table returning to his previous position of spooning with Daphne. He laid there awake simply content to hold Daphne in his arms for awhile. After about ten minutes Daphne began to stir, she stretched against him, making him groan and her smirk.
As she rolled over to face him she playfully spoke, "Somebody's up this morning." Harry responded by tickling her sides. This stared a tickle war that turned into playful kisses and nips between the young couple.
After a few minutes Harry pulled back, "We should get back to the common room before everyone else starts to wake." They quickly dressed, a bit shyly despite the previous nights activities. Harry grabbed Daphne's hand as they exited the room and brought their entwined hands up for a kiss and they made their way through the passage ways to the common room. Harry gave Daphne a soft kiss before she turned and went into the Slytherin girls' dorms and then smiled goofily at the closed door for a few minutes before turning and making his way to his dorm where he collapsed on to the bed still smiling like the cat that caught the Carney. He slipped back into sleep for the morning with dreams of blue eyed, black haired and green eyed, blonde haired babies.
After the Yule Ball Harry dove into researching away to keep Daphne safe in the Black Lake. He wanted to keep her next to him at all times and possibly kill Twinkles but Daphne refused and wouldn't talk to him for three hours until he apologized and promised not to kill the old bastard surprisingly that wasn't what she was pissed about, that was two days ago. So Harry was researching portkeys, summoning charms, tracking charms anything he could think of. Currently he was sitting at Severus' desk as, Severus was watching over his friends try to master the latest spell he taught them, ignis explodere, it had the same effect as an incendiary bomb and was more easily controlled than fiendfyre. Harry had already mastered the spell and had returned to his books.
"Ahh, damn it! Longbottom, concentrate!" Severus said as he put out his robes which had caught fire. Luckily Severus put the fire out before anything more than his robes could burn. Harry had looked up as Severus shouted and suddenly inspiration struck him.
"Severus!" Harry shouted and startled everyone in the room, "Oh um sorry." Severus just shook his head and motioned for them to continue on.
"Hermione help Longbottom," Severus said as he moved over to his desk. "Yes," he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Sorry to bring this up but it gave me, your dark mark," Harry said nodding to his professor's arm, "he can summon you through it, we'll let you know you need to show up and where to go right?"
"Yes," Severus said quietly, "The Dark Lord used a variation on the Protean Charm, a warming charm, and a locator spell."
Harry nodded, "Do you have any notes on it I have an idea."
Severus nodded and moved to open a desk draw, be very careful with these I have been trying to find away to remove the mark for a long time."
"Yes sir," Harry nodded and took the scroll of parchment from his professor.
"Alright, that's enough for tonight."
"Do you think it'll work," Harry asked Hermione who had been reviewing his and Professor Snape's notes. Tomorrow was the start of term and Harry had spent the rest of break buried in the notes, Daphne was irritated and amazed at the same time, irritated because Harry wasn't paying very much attention to her or anyone really, Aiolos was irritated too, and amazed that he cared this much.
"It should work although you should have Professor Snape look over it," Hermione announced from their table in the library. Their table could actually only fit Hermione and Harry as they both had stacks upon stacks of books they were pulling from for Harry's idea, Severus had allowed them to have access to the restricted section. The rest of the new marauders were sitting at another table to the side of them working on their last minute assignments for the new term.
"Daph-ne," Viktor's voice came from behind her, she turned to look at her Bulgarian friend, "Can I haf' a vord?"
"Sure Viktor," Daphne said getting up and taking a book on cross-species switching spells with her, "let's talk while I put this away." They moved away from the table and down an aisle before Viktor started to speak.
"I know you and Hadrian are together, does it bother you that they haf' spent whole break together?"
Daphne chuckled a little, "One thing you have to understand about both of them, Harry and Hermione is they can be very task oriented when they're trying to find answers. Granted I'm a bit irritated at him for not being able to spend most of break snogging in the common room or someplace else," Daphne laughed as she talked, "but it's just part of him, plus he promised to make it up to me. But I'm guessing you're a little worried they have feelings for each other?"
Viktor nodded a bit sheepishly and Daphne laughed again, "It would seem that way but I'll let you in on a little secret if you promise to keep it." Daphne fixed him with a questioning look to which he nodded. "Harry and I are betrothed we'll be married by the start of the next school year. And as for Harry's feelings, Harry grew up without a family so he made his own, Hermione is like a sister to him and I know for a fact she thinks of Harry as a brother. You on the other hand her feelings aren't familial at all," Daphne said with a smirk as she put her book away on the shelf.
"Really?"
Daphne just smirked at him, "I suspect like Harry she'll probably try and make this up to you."
"Thank you," Viktor said and bowed to her as he took the seat Harry had vacated upon their return.
Daphne nodded, "Where's Harry?"
"He asked for you to meet him in Professor Snape's office," Hermione answered.
"Thanks see you at dinner," Daphne said gathering her things.
"Come in Daphne," Severus's voice rang out as he was looking over Harry notes. Daphne came in and Harry smiled up at her as she sat next to him. "It'll work, Hadrian well done, fifty points to Slytherin," Severus smirked happy to have any reason to give Slytherin points.
Daphne sat next to Harry and Harry took her hand in his and gave it a kiss, "I found away to keep you safe always and it'll work the same way for me. It combines the Protean Charm, a locator charm, and the spell used on portkeys. I based if off the Dark Mark, this mark will allow me to summon you to me where ever you are and likewise, although it would have to be tested through anti-portkey wards but other than those it will work."
"Harry that's amazing!" Daphne exclaimed excitedly and leaned over and gave him a quick kiss, "How does it work?"
Harry smirked and cocked an eyebrow at her, "Fancy a tattoo?" Daphne raised an eyebrow at him in return. "Like I said it's based on the dark mark, I will need to place it as a tattoo that way neither of us will be without it and nobody will think anything of it."
"Where would you place it," Daphne asked.
"Any place, it can be activated from pressing your wand tip to it or by speaking an activation word. Personally I already know where I'm going to put mine," Harry said with a crooked grin.
"Where?" Harry placed a hand over his heart and Daphne smiled at him looking like she wanted to do more but Severus's presence made that rather impossible.
"You'll have to cast it on me and I will have to do yours'. Oh and Severus I have another page of notes for you, this one is on the Dark Mark itself. I think I may be able to remove it, well transfer it to something else that holds magic. I think the part you were missing was it can only be removed by the caster either dying or removing it, because of my residual connection I may be able to. You would have to ask Bill for sure though?" Severus snatched the roll of parchment from his hand almost ripping it in his haste. He scanned the document as fast as he could and still be able to take in information. "The thing is I don't what you could transfer the mark to, it has to have lasting magic."
"Thank you," Severus choked out before clearing his throat. "Miss Greengrass think of the tattoo you want and tomorrow night we can cast the spells. I need to show this to Bill, if you'd excuse me?"
"Sure, come on Harry," Daphne said understanding the man was emotional over the subject but wanting to hide it. Daphne pulled Harry up and dragged him out of the room and to the nearest broom cupboard where she proceeded to snog him until he couldn't remember his name.
Harry and Daphne exited the broom cupboard, both with goofy grins and Harry with his hair in about five different directions. They arrived back in the common room to find Blaise in a conversation with Aiolos and Tracey chatting with Astoria, Ginny, and Aiofie. Shea was sitting on Ginny's shoulder smirking deviously at Pansy who had neon green hair, and was glaring at the pixie.
"I think I know how to get the potion to Skeeter," Harry said looking at Shea. "Shea, come here for a minute." Shea flew over to Harry and Daphne who had joined Blaise in the corner of the common room. "I have a prank for you," Harry said to the pixie who was floating in front of him. Shea smiled devilishly and her eyes took on a gleeful look. "I need you to get this to touch that bitch of a reporter Rita Skeeter's skin." Shea took the small vial of potion from Harry and gave him a salute before flying back over to Ginny.
"Harry can I embellish the mark?" Daphne asked quietly to her fiancé.
"I can design whatever you want love," Harry said nuzzling Daphne's neck. Daphne smiled widely.
"I think I know what I want," Daphne replied. Harry's wand shot out of his holster and he summoned his sketch pad and flipped to a blank page.
"Wait what was that?" Daphne asked stopping him from continuing. She flipped back a few pages to a drawing of herself lying on a couch with one arm throw over her head and the other draped across her stomach, she had her ring on and a bikini that was obviously drawn in at a later date. She raised an eyebrow at him; Harry shrugged and pulled Daphne in for a kiss. He deepened the kiss as she ran her hands through his hair; Harry slipped his tongue in her honey flavored mouth and then pulled back slowly. Daphne forgot about the picture and Harry slipped the sketch pad forward while Daphne still had her eyes closed.
He grinned at her crookedly, "So what did you have in mind for your tattoo?"
"Huh? Ohh right my tattoo." Daphne said a bit dazed. "I want in the middle of my wrist on the inside a lightning bolt and in the same place on the outside a wolf's head and connected by a Celtic knot."
"Okay let me draw somethin' up." Harry started sketching the easiest was the lightning bolt on one side of paper he drew out an eternity knot and then tried to decide on the wolf. He drew a small wolf whose tail blended in with the eternity knot; the wolf was in a sitting position with its head throw back baying. The body was done in simple but elegant lines that Celtic style was known for and its front paws faded into the eternity knot on the other side. "What do you think?"
"I love it," Daphne replied with a smile, "What are you going to get, after all I'm going to cast it so it can't be too complicated."
"You know how you write in fine script when you do essays?" Daphne nodded, "I want you to put your initials across my heart." Daphne nodded and moved Harry's sketch pad to the table in front of them. She turned to him and pulled his head down to hers for a kiss. Daphne parted her lips and allowed Harry's tongue to enter her mouth. Daphne moaned quietly and shivered as Harry's tongue traced her own and played in her mouth, damn he was good at that. They sat on a over sized chair in their little corner of the common room nuzzling into each other and sharing kisses, some a bit heated for being in a public place, well into the night.
Everyone had vacated the common room except Harry, Daphne and Aiolos. Harry and Daphne were now seated on a couch placed in front of the main fireplace as Aiolos liked the warmth it produced.
"Daph I was wondering," Harry started quietly and turned her so she was looking into his eyes, "if you would consider wearing your ring on your necklace, until this task is over." As Harry spoke a deep look of sadness and regret came over his face as he tried to convey how much he hated asking this of her. Daphne face fell a bit but she continued to search his eyes and found only love and worry present. "I don't want Dumbledore to know of it why he has the chance to place a spell on you even with Severus being present." Severus had told Harry privately that he would ensure that Dumbledore only placed the sedation spell on Daphne and that if possible he himself would do it.
Daphne sighed but nodded and Harry pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling him and held her tightly to him in a hug. He whispered into her ear, "I'm sorry to ask and believe me I want everyone to know you're mine," he growled the last part out a bit, "but I do not trust that ancient codger with your life." Daphne smiled into his neck and rewarded Harry with a well place wiggle that made him groan. Harry and Daphne lost themselves in a heated embrace until
Aiolos hissed out, "Damn human hormonessss, I'm in the room, ya tosssssspotsss." Daphne pulled away a bit surprised at the volume of Aiolos's hissing usually she was fairly quiet.
Harry, though, pulled back laughing, "Your language hasss certainly got more colorful. But I ssssupposssse we ssshould go to bed asss classssssesss resssume tomorrow." Harry turned to Daphne and said, "Apparently she would prefer we not snog in front of her."
Daphne giggled into Harry's shoulder and then sighed looking at the clock above the fireplace, "I think we need to go to sleep after all we have Skwerts in the morning." They stood and shared one more kiss before Aiolos slither up on to Harry's shoulders and they parted ways at the dorm entrances.
Harry woke up the first day of term ready to get back to classes and practices. He met up with Blaise, Daphne, and Tracey and together they walked to the Great Hall for breakfast along the way meeting with Susan and Hannah. Susan elected to sit with her pseudo brother as did Hannah when Neville came over to join them. By now Slytherin was used to having visitors at their table, in fact the only table as of yet to open to the other houses was Gryffindor, though the odd Gryffindor could be spotted amongst the houses.
"Harry," Tracey's spoke her tone urgent and upset. In her hand was her daily copy of The Daily Prophet. "The horrible infectious harpy, also known as Rita Skeeter, has done it again." Tracey handed him the copy of the Prophet glaring at it with disdain.
Harry flipped it to the front and saw glaring out at him the headline, "Dumbledore's Giant Mistake." Harry quickly read through the article and grew steadily angrier with each line. His magic started to seep out of him, plates, goblets, and other things like books started to shake in their place. Then his aura flared as he got to Weasley's statement that he was attacked by a hippogriph and they all hated Hagrid. As his aura flared the candles in the Great Hall blew out, and Severus at the head table took notice. As Severus made his way to the Slytherin table as quickly as he could without running, Harry's aura flared and this time a steady green pulsing stayed present around Harry as he finished the article. He stood ready to draw his wand and curse the offending Weasel, since Skeeter wasn't there, when Severus reach him and pulled him into a half nelson lock.
"Miss Greengrass come with me," Severus said as he pulled Harry from the Great Hall, with Daphne following and others looking on in awe and concern. By some small fortune Dumbledore was luckily absent from the Great Hall that morning to pre-occupied with a new batch of lemon drops.
Severus still hadn't released Harry, though Harry wasn't fighting, as he dragged him out to the Forbidden Forest. Daphne was looking on concerned and was just about to ask when Severus abruptly stopped about twenty yards into the Forest. "I believe no one will mind if you happen to cull some of these trees." Harry turned and started casting spells at the trees around him, his magic starting to settle as his anger settled.
Severus moved over to where Daphne was standing a little ways behind Harry and whispered to her, "I'm excusing you two from your first class as Hadrian is most likely to kill Weasley. Take him for a run in the Forest when he settles." Daphne nodded and gave her professor a small smile of thanks as she continued watching her fiancé in concern. Severus left to attend to his first class leaving them alone in the Forest.
Daphne was startled when Harry yelled out, "THAT FUCKING BITCH! HAGRID WOULDN"T HURT A DAMN FLY!" As he finished his shoulders sagged and he seemed to calm even more his aura fading away into nothing. Daphne rushed forward to him and wrapped her arms around him. Harry sighed into her embrace, "First she makes life hell for werewolves, like Remus, then she spouts bull about Viktor, and now she's made it damn near impossible for Hagrid to keep his job. And how the hell does she even know he's half giant or that his mother was Fredwulfa, that's not something even Hagrid would let slip." Daphne just ran her hands down Harry's back in a soothing motion as he ranted and calmed himself down. Finally he pulled away and smiled at her in thanks, which quickly turned into a rather evil little grin, "Weasley's begging to be pranked and bloody well at that."
Daphne laughed in response and nodded, "come on, Severus excused us from our first class. Let's go for a run," and with that Daphne transformed into snow and shot off into the forest. Harry took off after her and transformed on the fly into Bay and let out howl that echoed around the forest, even those in Care of Magical Creatures could hear it.
Snow and Bay ran through the Forest with no direction in mind, both working out the stress of the year. Finally after about a half hour of running Snow pounced from behind on Bay and tackled him to the ground. Snow gave a wolfy grin as she stood over Bay who managed to roll his eyes. Snow jumped off him when she heard a horses neigh come from her right.
Snow transformed back into Daphne and she gaped out at the sight in front of her, there
stood a herd of unicorns. There were pure white adults, some youngsters that were silver and just growing horns, and then there were golden foals. Some of the younger ones came closer to them and allowed Daphne to pet them. Harry came up behind Daphne and some of the silver ones scattered back to their herd. The younger ones stayed and even allowed Harry to pet them.
Suddenly a gust of fire appeared and Fawkes appeared and landed on Harry's shoulder and trilled to the unicorns. Upon seeing the phoenix all the unicorns came around to Harry and Daphne. One unicorn had to be helped over by two of the other unicorns. Fawkes took off from his shoulder and flew around the unicorn singing as he did. The unicorn seemed to pick up strength and came to rest at Harry and Daphne's feet, slowly they moved to pet the unicorn at their feet. As they were gently petting the ailing unicorn, he moved his front hoof to his horn and amazing Daphne and Harry the horn fell off. The unicorn moved the horn to Harry with his nose. Harry starred at in awe before gently picking it up and putting an enlargement charm on his pocket and setting it in there, carefully. Then another unicorn came over and made a small cut with its horn on the downed unicorn, a small trickle of blood started and some other unicorns plus Fawkes nodded towards the wound and Daphne quickly conjured a glass and placed it by the wound to collect the blood. Then Fawkes dropped a tear over the wound which sealed itself and then Fawkes dropped some tears into the glass Daphne held. Fawkes then landed on Harry and Daphne's shoulders and in a swirl of flames they disappeared from the Forest and the unicorns went back to grazing.
Harry and Daphne appeared in the potions lab just as the tone chimed signaling the end of class. Harry got his bearings first and yelled out, "SIR! We need an unbreakable vial now!"
Severus was annoyed at the tone but complied and pulled out a vial with the necessary charms on it. Harry summoned it to him which earned him a scowl but Harry ignored it and transferred the contents of the glass Daphne was holding to the unbreakable vial. It was then that Severus took note of the slivery substance, his look turned curious as he noted the substance. "Hadrian an explanation now," Severus said eyeing the substance, "is that what I think it is?"
Harry had finished and looked up and finally noticed his professor's annoyed look, he looked sheepishly at Severus, "Sorry sir. When you left us we went for a run in the Forest. We ended up in a clearing with unicorns, and long story short, Fawkes should up, they came over and an old one gave us its horn and blood willingly and then Fawkes dropped some tears into the blood." Harry pointed to the vial, "That is probably the most potent healing substance on Earth." Harry then pulled the horn out of his pocket to show Severus.
"Come into my office and I'll get something for you to store it in," Severus said as soon as Harry finished his explanation. Severus pulled out a cherry wood box and Harry set the horn in the box.
"Severus?" Salazar prompted from his spot in the painting of the four Founders as they saw him, Harry, and Daphne come into the office like a bat out of hell.
"Hold on," Severus then got out a small box that had runes carved in it and set the vial of blood and tears in it. "Harry run your hand over the runes, it will prick your hand." Harry complied and the runes did indeed prick his hand and then glowed green. "The box will only open for you now, take care of it."
"Yes sir."
"Now since you're here would like to perform the mark, you both have a free period now I believe."
"You ready Daph," Harry asked softly as Severus explained to the Founders what was just given to Harry.
Daphne smiled at him, "Yep you go first though," she said holding out her wrist to Harry.
Harry nodded and took out his wand and placed it to her skin with Severus watching over them. "Proteus macula," Harry's wand glowed after the last word and he traced with his wand the drawing he had down earlier. Once he had finished tracing the design on Daphne's wrist he continued the spell, "portus arcesso mi amor." As Harry finished the spell Daphne's tattoo glowed a deep emerald green and in a flash it felt to her that it sealed itself to her wrist. Daphne looked at the tattoo in awe; it was the exact shade of Harry's eyes and his aura. Now it was time for Daphne to cast the spell and mark Harry. Harry took of his robe and shirt folding them as he took a seat.
Daphne took a calming breath before placing the tip of her wand against Harry's chest, "Proteus macula," she spoke and the wand tip glowed as it had with Harry's spell. She slowly traced out her initials on his chest in her fine script before finishing the spell, "portus arcesso mi amor." The initials now placed on Harry's chest glowed blue and flashed sealing the spell onto him.
"Let's see if it worked, Daphne step into the other room," Severus suggested. Daphne went into the other room and for good measure went into the potion ingredients closet. Harry waited for a minute and then said the activation words, "arcesso mi amor." Daphne appeared in front of Harry a second. "Good one more time to see if it can work through Hogwarts. Daphne floo to your manor and Harry call Harry." Daphne nodded and through the required floo powder in before stepping into the fireplace and disappearing into the green flames.
She arrived home and one of the Greengrass house elves appeared and bowed a little, "Does Miss Daphne need anything?"
"No thank you, Donder. I'm just testing something out for a second then I'll be back at Hogwarts." Daphne smiled to her family's elf, the little elf nodded and popped back out. "Arcesso mi amor." Harry appeared before her and picked her up spinning her around and then giving her kiss. Daphne giggled, "Put me down we need to get back."
Harry laughed and did so, "how 'bout I floo back and then summon you," Harry asked giving Daphne a quick kiss. Daphne nodded and groaned a little when Harry pulled back from the kiss and flooed back to Severus's office.
Harry arrived back and stepped out of the floo, "It worked arcesso mi amor." Daphne appeared in Severus's office once again. "How come it worked through Hogwarts," Harry asked as they gathered their things.
"While you utilize the port key spell, it's not completely a port key therefore the wards aren't guarding against it. Now off with you, you have classes and then both of you have practice."
Harry was bundled in a black winter cloak that was lined with fur as he sat next to his team and Madam Hooch for the Durmstrang verse Beauxbatons Quidditch match. It was only the third day of the new term, and so far it was shaping up to be a cold January. Right now it was currently snowing on the pitch as they waited for the two teams to be announced, Lee was still going to be announcing and Viktor had said it was one of the things he was looking forward to. Apparently Lee's sometimes off the wall commentary was more interesting then the professional announcers, especially when McGonagall would stop him mid sentence.
"Hadrian, Cedric, Ginny pay attention to Krum's movements especially when he dives, he enjoys feinting as much as Hadrian does," Hooch said from her spot. "Hadrian I want you to try and figure out if there are any tells to Krum when he feints, do you have the recording omniculars?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Hadrian replied as did Ginny and Draco. Ginny had been appointed to watch the game through the recording omniculars as had Draco.
"Now you all know who to watch pay attention to their chasers, they are the best coming out of school I've ever seen, that combined with Krum being their seeker makes them the likely winner of this match."
As Hooch finished her statement Jordan announced, "And here comes the Beauxbatons' team. Led by Abney, then DeLome, Guiscard, Isaac and Leon Rousseau, Badeau, and Barret!" The Beauxbatons team flew out to scattered applause and cheers. "And for the first time the Durmstrang team! As chasers, sixth year cousins, Dmitry Petrov, Armand Putin, and Anastasiya Petrov! As Beaters, fifth year Maksym Shapko and seventh year, Aleksandr Vasiliev, and Keeper sixth year Misha Shevchenko. AND AT SEEKER THE ONE THE ONLY… VIKTOR KRUM!" A huge deafening roar went through the gathered crowd. Hermione had joined the crowd in their enthusiastic embrace of Viktor Krum.
"Damn Mione you don't even get this we Harry plays," Theo said from his seat next to her. Hermione had a V on one cheek and K on the other and was wearing a Viktor Krum jersey.
"Sush you," Hermione said and went back to cheering. Harry and the team laughed from their spots in front of Harry's friends.
"Shea," Ginny called and Shea came over from where she was playing with Draco's hair, thoroughly annoying the proper Slytherin. "Rita Skeeter is in the visitor box, the bimbo in the acid green cloak," Ginny said to Shea. Shea got an evil smile on her pixie face and flew off. Harry grinned from his spot and then laughed at Hooch's next comment.
"I didn't hear a thing," Madam Hooch said as she watched the teams warm up.
"Einwaller calls the captains to the middle of Pitch; they shake and mount their brooms. And the Bludgers are up, followed by the Golden Snitch, and Einwaller takes his broom and toss the Quaffel up! Durmstrang grabs the quaffel first, Petrov races down the pitch, passes Ana who passes back to Armand, pass to Dmitry, Dmitry SCORES! Durmstrang 10 to Beauxbatons' 0. Leon takes it down the pitch passes, INTERCEPTED by Armand. Armand to Ana to Dmitry, back to Ana who passes to Armand, ducks a bludger and throws a long shot, Ana SCORES USING HER BROOM TAIL TO FINISH THE PASS! Durmstrang 20 to Beauxbatons' 0."
The game continued on in similar fashion Durmstrang dominated Beauxbatons in all positions. Krum feinted twice but they seemed more to be from boredom than a calculated play. The Durmstrang beaters didn't exactly have teamwork down but that didn't seem to matter as they were built like tanks. When they performed a perfect Dopplebeater Defense, it hit its target, Abeny, and knocked him from his broom and broke his arm in two places. Finally Viktor ended the game making a rather easy catch of the snitch as Barret was trying to break up another play by the Durmstrang chasers. Durmstrang won 220 to 10.
"AAAAHHHHHH!" As Durmstrang celebrated a scream was heard that echoed around the pitch. It had come from the visitor's box. A small little four years old had screamed and jumped into her mother's lap, "Mommy! Mommy! Monster! Monster! Mommy," the little girl wailed as she tried to burry herself in her mum's lap and tried to point at the…thing next to her. Where formally Rita Skeeter had been sitting was now an ugly bird like creature. Rita currently was a harpy. She no longer had hair in fact she looked like a balding Olivander with a beak for a nose and mouth. She had wings instead of arms and from the waist down had large talon like legs. In all she was covered with feathers that were a nasty grayish color and looked like the ugliest over grown baby bird to ever exist. Finally after glaring at the child and the others who were moving away from her, somebody took pity and conjured a mirror for her. Out of the bird creatures mouth came what was supposed to be an indigent scream turned out to be a squawk. She would stay that way for the next three weeks.
"Hermione are there any books on the Black Lake?" Harry and his friends were spending the Friday night after practice in their abandoned classroom. Tomorrow they had a Hogsmeade day and their teams had been given off.
"Not that I'm aware of Harry and I checked the library." Hermione answered with an apologetic look. She was helping Neville on the spell Severus had taught them last time they met.
"Well we know you're going to have to face merfolk and grindylows but that's it," Daphne said looking up from her Ancient Runes book. They were told to expect a quiz next week on Norse Runes.
"Don't forget the Giant Squid," Blaise spoke up from his spot lounging on a couch they had placed in the room, he was reviewing his charms notes.
"Yeah but the Giant Squid likes Harry, remember that time Harry fed it some toast and stopped the first years from throwing things at it," Susan added. "The squid is more likely to help Harry then hinder him."
Harry nodded; he was looking through a book on fresh water creatures. So far the only other dangerous thing Harry could think of was a Kelpie. There wasn't a Kelpie in the Black Lake and unless they took the one from Loch Ness there wasn't going to be one anytime soon now. He found in a book on merfolk that they used Lobalugs as weapons; the little things were poisons if they stung you. Then there were Plimpies which served as sort of a warning of merfolk. So the main problem Harry could see was finding the mervilliage. For breathing underwater he already decided to use gillyweed. It was in the book Neville had given him for Christmas. He ordered it from Sluggs & Jiggers and hoped to get it by Sunday so he could start checking out the Lake.
"So where to first?" Harry asked Daphne who was tucked into his side and he had his arm around her shoulders. They were walking with Viktor and Hermione who were holding hands next to them. Tracey and Susan were walking on the other side of Hermione and Viktor. Blaise had left with Padma earlier and Neville was in detention along with Draco. Draco had punched the Weasel in Care of Magical Creatures after a comment about Hagrid and then Seamus sucker punched Draco. Neville decided that was unfair and landed a punch on Seamus that broke his nose. Neville and Draco were serving detention with McGonagall and Weasley and Finnegan were serving detention with Severus.
"How 'bout Dervish & Banges," Tracey suggested, "they always have interesting stuff."
"Sounds good to me, Viktor you ever been to Hogsmeade before," Harry asked.
"No, but Mi-nee haf' told me stories," Viktor replied.
"Well at Dervish & Banges you can find almost anything," Daphne said. Viktor nodded in reply. They entered the store and nodded to the clerk in hello and spread out as they looked around. Harry was looking around the store but not really paying too much attention. Tracey ended up buying a Medusa medallion that was said to ward against evil spirits, her father collects Medusa artifacts because even if they were completely muggle made they seemed to have magical properties. They ended up going to Honeydukes afterwards; they all purchased something at the world renowned candy shop.
"Take a seat I'll be with ya, in a minute," Madam Rosmerta greeted them as they walked through the doors. They sat down in a booth in the corner of The Three Broomsticks. As they waited Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour came in and took a seat with them.
"Sorry 'bout the wait, and congrats so far Harry you're doin a brilliant job. You two as well. Now what can I get you," Madam Rosmerta finally got to them just as Fleur and Bill joined them.
"Butterbeer, please," Daphne answered as did the others except Bill, Viktor, and Fleur.
"Guinness," Bill said with a smile towards Rosmerta.
"Mead, Vank you," Viktor ordered.
"Tea, s'il vous plait."
"Alright it'll just be a minute." Madam Rosmerta disappeared and came back about two minutes later with a tray following her that had their drinks on it.
"So Harry how long is that prank on Skeeter going to last," Bill asked laughing into his drink at the surprised look on the others faces.
"Three weeks," Harry smirked, "How'd you know it was me?"
"I was watching the game, and I saw Shea right before it happened. Ginny isn't that good at potions," Bill said with a shrug.
"Vell I for one vank you, I haf' never been subjected to worse reporting," Viktor said.
"Well for some reason her reporting seems to run unchecked, she gets to say whatever she wants and knows ever stopped her. I find her to be an absolute bitch and I will find a way to shut up her up indefinitely," Harry said fiercely.
"I just want to know how she gets her information," Hermione added. "When we talked to Hagrid he said the only person he ever told about his mum being a giant was Dumbledore and Madam Maxine. You don't think she would have said anything," Hermione asked her question directed towards Fleur.
"Non, Madam Maxine would not, she will not even admit to 'aving giant blood," Fleur said quietly and then added heatedly, "She would not 'ave anyone subjected to zee Skeeter insect."
Harry suddenly sat up straighter and slipped his wand out, an action only Daphne noticed. Harry was sitting in the corner of the booth up against the wall and had a view of the whole room. Alastor Moody had just come through the door and took a seat at the corner of the bar facing most of the dining area, his eye spinning wildly. "Bill," Harry called quietly, "have you been informed of my 'eye' problem this year?" Bill looked confused for a minute until it registered in his brain what Harry was talking about.
"Ahh right, Amelia gave me something for it but it's at my house. Fleur do you want to come with me or stay here, I'll just be a few minutes?"
"I'll go, I would like to zee your house," Fleur answered standing with Bill.
"Alright will be back with aid in a few minutes," Bill said giving Fleur his hand and together they left the pub, Bill spotting Mad-Eye as they walked out.
About five minutes later he returned with not only Fleur but also Sirius and Amelia. "Look who we found roaming Hogsmeade apparently in search of you, Harry," Bill said as they came in. Amelia looked around and spotted Mad-Eye sitting in his corner, one eye roving the room.
"Excuse me for a moment, I see Alastor and need to talk to him about some auror business," Amelia said and turned and made her way to Alastor who sat up straighter and took a drink of his flask. As Amelia moved towards him, both eyes became fixed to the Director of the DMLE.
"Have you made any progress on my Godson's entry in to the tournament Veteran Moody," Amelia asked using his formal title as a training officer, something she never did. Moody had saved her life once before she became Director, ever since they had been on a first name basis.
"A powerful confundus charm was place on the cup, Madam Director," Alastor growled out in his gravelly voice. "It had to have been an adult; everyone in the castle is cleared. My money's on Karkaroff but we can't touch him as a visiting Headmaster." While he was talking still with both eyes fixed on Amelia and her movements, a shabbily dressed man approached Madam Rosmerta next to Moody on the other side.
Amelia sighed, "Karkaroff should have never been given a deal." At that the man talking to Rosmerta turned abruptly and grabbed Moody up in a full Nelson headlock, Alastor's eye never even had time to swirl around as the shabby man didn't reach for a weapon. As soon as he was in the headlock Amelia flicked her wand out and fired a silent binding cures on Mad-Eye, and then stunned him for good measure.
"Well done Trainee Tonks," Amelia said to the shabbily dressed man who morphed into the familiar visage of Nymphadora Tonks, pink hair and all.
"Thanks boss," Tonks replied with a wink. Sirius moved over with Harry following him.
"Auror business, go back to your drinks," Sirius barked out in an unusually serious and commanding tone. The crowd listened but kept eyeing them and whispering until they escorted the stunned and bound body of Mad Eye Moody out of the bar. "Sorry about the disturbance Rosmerta."
Rosmerta just sighed and waved him off, "One of the draw backs of owning a pub."
Sirius and the others joined Amelia and Nymphadora outside the back of The Three Broomsticks.
"We're going to Portkey him in and throw him in a cell for him to change back, if anybody asks, just say it has to do with the incident from this summer, alright?" Amelia said looking at the gather teens plus Bill. They all nodded in response. "Hopefully this will get through to Cornelius but don't count on it he's growing more paranoid by the minute." With that they portkeyed away from Hogsmeade.
"Harry look at this," Tracey said from across the Slytherin table handing Harry the paper. Harry flipped it so both he and Daphne could read.
MIX UP AT HOGWARTS, STUDENTS TAUGHT BY DEATH EATER
On Saturday January 16th, Madam Black the Director of Department of Magical Law Enforcement, herself went to Hogsmeade and arrested Veteran Auror Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Alastor Moody has been on the books as this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, however in an astonishing twist Alastor Moody has never taught a day at Hogwarts.
An hour after arriving in a Ministry holding cell in the auror department Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody morphed into none other than Bartimus Crouch Jr., the supposed dead inmate of Azkaban prison. Crouch Jr. was famously convicted for the taking part in the torture of Aurors' Frank and Alice Longbottom to life in Azkaban Prison by none other than his father Bartimus Crouch Senior, former head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement and current Head of the Department of International Cooperation.
Bartimus Crouch Jr. was interrogated, much of which remains classified information, by Madam Black, Auror First Class Kingsley Shacklebolt, and observed by Reserve Auror Sirius Black and Auror Trainee Nymphadora Tonks. What we can release to you is below, it should be noted that at the Daily Prophet we cleaned up his language and pieced it together to be more coherent.
Q: How did you escape Azkaban?
A: My mother convinced my father to help me. When she was dying, they came to visit, we used the polyjuice potion to switch places, she died while still polyjuiced, making you idiots think I was dead.
Q: What happened after your escape from Azkaban?
A: My father kept me under the imperious curse to control me for over ten years. He was no match for my master though, who freed me, his faithful.
Q: How did you come to impersonate Alastor Moody?"
A: My master came across information that he would be teaching at Hogwarts. I was sent along with another, we overwhelmed him. I took his place and came to Hogwarts.
Q: Why Hogwarts?
A: Harry Potter is there my master has plans for the boy; I entered him in the tournament as per my master's orders.
Q: What are your master's plans?
A: I have not been told yet, he does not want them discovered if I was captured. Someone else will take my place.
Q: Where is Alastor Moody?
A: Locked in his trunk.
That is all of the interview that has not been classified as a state secret by the Ministry. Alastor Moody was retrieved over the weekend and will take up his post as Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor as his contract says. Moody will remain throughout the year and then return to training aurors.
As for Bartimus Crouch Jr., he was given the kiss by an Azkaban Dementor as soon as Minister Fudge was notified of his escape and capture. Currently the Minister has issued a decree that Bartimus Crouch Jr. was insane from prolong exposure to the imperious and that Bartimus Crouch Sr. is to be captured for questioning on sight. Currently the wayward Head of the Department of International Cooperation is missing. No one is currently aware of what has happened to Crouch Senior, he had been reported as sick and home on leave acting through his subordinates. When a search of his home was completed he was found to be absent, a search is underway but nothing has turned up. So now the question is where Crouch Sr., is dead, serving this same mysterious master, or simply running from his actions?"
Article by Raymond Peakes.
Harry put the article down with a sigh, "Fudge is going to bury this."
"My thoughts too," Tracey answered and Daphne nodded.
"I don't get it, why is Fudge trying to discount this instead of prepare," Hermione asked?
"Mione, that's a question you need to ask Sirius or Amelia, or hell anybody who lived through the first war," Blaise answered. "It was a complete different atmosphere, one of terror that was never seen in Great Britain before, nobody wants to go back to that."
"He's right even with Grindelwald and World War II, Britain wasn't invaded. Grindelwald was focused more on the continent and though Hitler bombed our country, he never came close to invading, he turned to Russia instead," Tracey added. Hermione nodded but still wanted to talk with Sirius or Amelia further.
A/N
First off, sorry, sorry, sorry. I picked up some extra shifts since my summer class ended and my fall classes start next week. So I'm going to look for a Beta for this to clean up the grammer, so if you are one or know one who won't mind my helluva amount of grammer mishaps let me know. Also if you have any suggestions as to questions for the academic challenge I'm open to them. On the upside I know how to make Umbridge and Fudge acting like an idiot fit into the story.
Thanks for your patience,
AM