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Chapter 26

Word about Gohan's fight with Ron spread like wildfire, although, as usual, the details were extremely exaggerated. One version had Gohan smashing Ron in the head with the couch, and another of him dangling Ron out the window. Gohan never got punished for breaking Ron's nose, due to the fact that neither of them would admit it, and the fact that no prefect or professor had seen it happen. However, Gohan's stress only got worse with the rain of letters he got over the next few weeks.

"Stay the hell away from my daughter or I will put you in Saint Mungos for a year." Gohan snarled as he crushed the letter in his hand. Fred and George were snickering as he tossed letter after letter into the fireplace Then, he let a out a startled yell as he ripped open a letter, causing a blue liquid flew out. He barely moved out of the way in time. The liquid hit the floor, and sizzled.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Nothing good." Fred commented.

"Although, a letter like that is brilliant." George added. Gohan hissed with rage as he hurled them all into the fireplace, causing them to sizzle.

"Screw this! I'm going to Hogsmeade! I've got a date." he muttered as he stalked out the door. He stomped down to the front gate, and past a smirking Filch.

"No lady friend today?" Filch chuckled as Gohan passed him. He gritted his teeth in frustration

"Not in the mood." He muttered as he walked to where the Beaubaxtons carriage was sitting. He tapped on the door. A minute later, to a bit of his surprise, Fluer herself opened the door.

"Gohan." She said with a bit of surprise.

"Hello, Fleur. Is Jenny there?" Gohan asked.

"Yes, she is." Fleur closed the door. Several minutes later, Jenny poked her head out.

"Oh, hey Gohan! Sorry, I was putting my earrings on." She stepped out. She was wearing a red muggle t-shirt with jeans, with rips at the knees. Her hair was bunched back into a ponytail.

"While you're here, Gohan, Madame Maxine would like your answer." Fleur frowned at Gohan. He gulped.

"Tell her that I'm still deciding. It's not an easy decision." Gohan answered. Fleur nodded.

"Very well." She frowned before going back inside.

"What happened to you?" Jenny frowned as they walked up the path to Hogsmeade.

"A letter tried to kill me." He answered. Jenny looked at him in curiosity.

"Huh? This about that stupid article?" she asked. He sighed and nodded.

"Still can't believe you smashed Ron's face." She chuckled. Gohan muttered.

"Jerk was asking for it." He muttered.

"I did the same thing when that bitch Richards insulted my mother." Jenny answered.

"Your mother? I only met your father." Gohan frowned. Jenny sighed.

"Well… my mom died when I was a baby." Gohan gulped.

"Sorry." Gohan frowned. Jenny smirked.

"Thanks. I heard that she was a Ravenclaw here. Partly the reason why I came at all. I wanted to see this place for myself." Jenny smirked.

"I can see the logic in that." Gohan smirked at the blooming trees. Spring was quite beautiful around here. Jenny smirked as they walked into Hogsmeade, marveling at the sights.

"Wanna get a drink?" Gohan smirked as he gestured at the Three Broomsticks. Jenny chuckled.

"Sure, why not? As long as I get to go Zonkos afterwards." Jenny chuckled as Gohan opened the door. The tavern was full of students and other patrons chatting. A few of them watched the two sit down at an adjacent corner.

"Well, what do you two want?" Madame Rosemerta asked as she stood in front of them.

"Two butterbeers." Gohan pulled several sickles from his pocket. She nodded and walked off. Gohan looked around. He could see Hermione and Ron talking together by a table.

"Oh, Gohan!" Gohan and Jenny turned to see Cedric Diggory walk up to their table.

"Diggory?" Gohan asked with confusion. The two of them hadn't really interacted since the Quidditch World Cup. Quite a few people were glancing with curiosity.

"I just wanted to thank you, Gohan. Your advice really helped." Cedric smiled as he held his hand out.

"Huh? I didn't tell you a thing!" Gohan said with a bit of confusion, causing Cedric to frown. But, he quickly chuckled.

"Of course, I get it. Not admitting to it, eh? Plausibility deniability. Anyway, I found your tip about putting the egg underwater pretty useful." Cedric smirked. Gohan frowned.

"Uhhhh… you're welcome?" Gohan frowned nervously. Cedric nodded and walked back to where Cho was sitting.

"What was that about?" Gohan frowned as he scratched his head.

"Maybe it was a trick, to make you look like a fool. In George Washington, the older students always play pranks on the first years. Kind of a tradition, like when Priscilla Myers switched my hair care potion with one that turned it pink for a week." Jenny shuddered as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Hmph. Diggory doesn't seem like the kind of person to pull a trick like that." Gohan muttered as he stared at Diggory drinking with Cho.

"Why'd he say that you told him?" Jenny asked.

"I… have no idea." Gohan shrugged.

"Hmmm, open the egg underwater… you don't think…" Gohan frowned as he stared at Jenny.

"I suppose it's worth a shot." She frowned as Madame Rosemerta came back with their drinks.

"I don't suppose that they serve drinks like this in the States?" she asked as she placed the drinks in front of them.

"You kiddin? I love butterbeer!" Jenny grinned as she gulped the glass down. Rosemerta nodded as she walked off.

"Hey, it's Bagman!" Gohan said with surprise, causing Jenny to follow his gaze. Sure enough, the judge was sitting at a nearby table with a group of goblins. Jenny frowned.

"Goblins. Always trouble. I've seen them sometimes when my dad has meetings. One thing I've learned, is that they have short tempers, and are really greedy." Jenny frowned.

'Wait, you spied on classified meetings? How?" Gohan asked in disbelief.

"Don't ask. I've been spying on my dad's meetings since I was a kid. I probably know more stuff than half the CIA." Jenny laughed.

"You and your dad don't get along much, do you?" Gohan asked. Jenny frowned.

"Well, he always had a tough political carrer, since I was a baby. First, he worked in Congress, and then became a senator. He had a really rough election during my second year, when he won President. I kinda wish that he lost. Being the President's daughter is not all that it's cracked up to be. Now I never see him that much." Jenny rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure that he still loves you." Gohan said nervously. Jenny snorted.

"He loves his country." Jenny answered. One of the goblins snarled at Bagman, who laughed nervously. Another stood up and shoved him.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Gohan yelled angrily, causing the goblins to glare at him. The room quickly went quiet.

"Your move." Gohan snarled as his hands glowed and sparked. Several of them snarled, but they stood up and headed for the door. Bagman laughed nervously as Gohan sat down, and chatter resumed. Jenny let out a low whistle.

"Great. That's gonna come back to bite. I have enough experience with goblins to know that." Jenny rolled her eyes. Bagman stood up, and walked over.

"I do appreciate that, Gohan, but it really wasn't necessary." Bagman laughed as he sat down.

"Two things. Why were those goblins bothering you? And two… can you sign this?" Jenny blushed as she pulled out a card with a picture of a younger Bagman in Quidditch robes. Bagman laughed as he took Jenny's picture and signed it.

"I played a few games in the States back in the day. You're Warren Griffin's daughter, right?" Jenny nodded.

"He and I used to play quidditch back in the day, before he got immersed in all those politics. He had one hell of an arm." Bagman laughed as he handed the card back to Jenny.

"I never saw my old man as a Quidditch player." Jenny said with a bit of surprise.

"Do tell your father that I would love to drop by the White House sometime. It's been a few years since we've seen each other. And, to your second question, those goblins were simply looking for Mr. Crouch, and were asking me where they could find him." Gohan frowned. He could tell when someone was lying. And Bagman was lying.

"I haven't seen Crouch around lately. He sends Percy these days. Why is that?" Gohan frowned. Bagman shrugged.

"Weasley claims that Crouch is ill. Sends him letters. No one's seen him for awhile. But, enough about that. So! How's the tournament, Gohan? I hear that you're in the lead! Fine job, young man." Bagman laughed.

"I try, I try. I'm looking forward to holding that cup, Mr. Bagman. It'll look great in my house." Bagman roared with laughter.

"I'm afraid you can't take it home, Gohan. But, should you win, the cup will be displayed in the Hogwarts Trophy Case with your name on it!" Bagman grinned.

"Sounds great to me." Gohan grinned.

"I like a man who's confident! I do hope that you'll keep that attitude, Gohan!" Bagman grinned. Then, he leaned in and lowered his voice.

"If I can help at all... you know, a prod in the right direction... I've taken a liking to you, Gohan. Well, if you want any aid, just say the word." Gohan blinked in surprise.

"Did… you just offer to cheat?" Jenny asked with a bit of surprise. Bagman laughed.

"What? No! Just a little advice, that's all." Bagman chuckled. Gohan smirked.

"Well, I certainly appreciate the offer. I'll remember it." Gohan smirked. Bagman smiled. Then, he stood up, tipped his hat, and left.

Outside…

"Oh dear… oh dear indeed. If Gohan doesn't win, I'm sunk. Those goblins will skin me alive. Griffin won't help me. No one can help me." Bagman shivered as he walked down the trail, no one in sight.

"Mr. Bagman?" Bagman yelped as he whirled with his hand on his wand. Then, a look of relief went across his face.

"Oh, it's only you. I thought you were…" Bagman began.

"Oh, things aren't what they appear, sir." The figure smirked.

"I… don't understand." Bagman frowned nervously.

"You will, soon enough. I know what you're hiding. One too many bets, Bagman. Gohan will not win this tournament, sir. You will lose, and the goblins will kill you if you cannot pay." Bagman went white.

"But… you…" he stammered.

"But… I can offer you a way out. Rather, my associate can help you. He can set you up for life." Bagman stammered.

"H-how?" he asked.

"Follow me." The figure turned and began walking into the forest. Bagman sputtered. The figure calmly looked back.

"Do you want to die?" he asked with a smile. Bagman turned pale, looked around to make sure no one was around, and followed the man.

Back to Gohan…

"First Cedric, then Bagman. I'm convinced." Gohan chuckled.

"I don't like it. I feel like I'm back in Congress again. Bagman was lying to our faces." Jenny crossed her arms and scowled as Rosemerta replaced their empty glasses.

"You could tell too?" Gohan asked.

"Yep. I grew up around politicians, Gohan. I can tell who's lying and who's honest. Something I learned over time. I'm so used to it by now. This place is kinda like home. Malfoys and Weasleys fighting all over the place, getting stared at all the time." Jenny sighed.

"So… wanna open the egg?" Gohan grinned. She smiled.

"I though that you'd never ask." The two gulped down their drinks, and sprinted out of the bar.

"I wonder what got them so excited." Hermione frowned. Harry and Ron frowned. Harry kept himself under the cloak, not wanting to talk to his friend.

"Hmph. Probably went off to shag somewhere." Ron snorted, getting slapped upside the head. Harry didn't answer. Gohan was… different.

Hogwarts…

"Where'd you leave it, Gohan?" Jenny asked as she looked up from his trunk.

"I think it was… here!" Gohan smirked as he pulled the egg out from under his bed. She grinned.

"This is gonna be fun." She grinned as they walked down the staircase into the common room.

"Like it here? Not bad, right?" Gohan asked.

"Pretty cool, actually! I could sit here for awhile. My common room doesn't have a view like this." Jenny chuckled as she glanced out the window

"This first." Gohan smirked as he twirled the egg between his hands. Jenny smirked as the portrait hole moved.

"Don't tell me you guys don't use portrait holes." Gohan smirked as he helped her through.

"Oh, we do." Jenny smiled as she followed Gohan through the corridors. They walked out the main gate, past Hagrid's cabin, and stopped at the edge of the Black Lake.

"Only one way to find out." Gohan smirked as he pulled his shirt off, leaving him in his boxers. He turned to see Jenny pull of her t-shirt.

"What? I'm not getting my clothes wet. Knickers are no different than a bikini." She smirked as she pulled her jeans off, leaving her in pink knickers. Gohan gulped as he turned beet red. She was very attractive. She giggled as she winked at him, before leaping into the water.

"Come on!" She smirked as she resurfaced. Gohan chuckled, before leaping in with the egg in tow. The first thing he felt was the ice coldness of the water.

"Wow!" He sputtered.

"I know, right? Come on, let's get a little deeper." Jenny smirked as she turned and started swimming out. Gohan smirked, before following her. It was a bit more difficult for him, since he had to use one hand to hold the egg. After several minutes, it got to the point that Gohan couldn't touch the bottom with his feet.

"You… swim good!" he smirked as they paused and floated.

"Thanks. Comes from years of practice in hotel pools, not to mention the ones in my house. Ready?" Jenny smiled. Gohan nodded. Then, they both took a deep breath, and plunged their heads under the water. Gohan blinked. Jenny was floating in front of him, and nodded. Gohan felt a bit nervous as he held the egg in front of him.

"If this is a trick, I will kill Diggory with my bare hands." Gohan thought, before twisting the handle, causing the egg to snap open. But, instead of the horrible screech from before, a beautiful melody emitted from the egg instead.

Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching ponder this;

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour, the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

Gohan gasped as he shot back to the surface. Jenny popped up beside him, taking a few breaths.

"Wow." She blinked

"Diggory was right! There was a message in there!" Gohan gasped, before starting to swim back to shore. Jenny shivered as she followed him.

"But, what does it mean?" Jenny frowned.

"Figures. That's the usual problem. You solve one question, and you get another five." Gohan sighed as they reached the shore and took several breaths. Gohan gulped. What was wrong with him? Why was swimming and the cold affecting him so much? Then, a shadow fell over them.

"Bout time you figured it out." A cold voice barked, causing both of them to look up to see Mad-Eye Moody glaring down at them, his eye whizzing in it's socket.

"Professor!" Gohan and Jenny sat up quickly. Jenny quickly blushed as she tried to cover herself in front of him.

"Hmph. Well, you heard it. Now, you just have to figure it out. Shouldn't be hard for you lot. More than one way to breathe underwater." Moody growled.

"Ummmm… thanks." Gohan said nervously.

"Your clothes are over there." Moody pointed at the nearby tree, where their clothes were sitting, before turning and clomping towards the school.

"Ummmm… thank you." Jenny said. Moody simply grunted.

"What was that about?" Jenny asked as she grabbed her shirt and jeans. She pulled her shirt on over her head, and then clipped on the jeans.

"Aw crap, now it's on my shirt." Jenny muttered as Gohan picked up his shirt.

"So fast? I like you better without the shirt. Scars are pretty cute too." She smirked at the saiyan's muscles.

"I could say the same about you, Jenny." Gohan chuckled as he slid his shirt on, the golden egg at his feet. He reached down, grabbed the egg, and twirled it between his fingers

"You wish. Besides, you've seen everything already." Jenny chuckled as she followed Gohan up the edge.

"Let's dry off in Hagrid's cabin. I think he's still in there." Gohan smirked as they walked towards the cabin.

"Isn't that guy a giant? I had a really bad experience with giants a few years ago." Jenny asked nervously. Gohan glared at her.

"He's not like that." Gohan smirked as he pounded on the door.

"Hagrid! It's me, Gohan! We're freezing, Hagrid! Come on, let us in! Don't make me blast the door!" Gohan yelled. A minute, the door flew open to reveal Hagrid.

"Are ye nuts, Gohan! Yeh can't blast me door, I'm a Hogwarts Professor!" Hagrid bellowed. He looked a bit different since Gohan had last seen him.

"Can we come in? We just swam in the Black Lake, and we'd like to dry off." Gohan shivered. Hagrid sighed.

"Very well, ceme in." Hagrid sighed as he stood aside to let the two in.

"It's been a while since I sat here." Gohan chuckled as he sat at Hagrid's table. Jenny looked around in curiosity as she sat next to him.

"Hi!" she giggled as she scratched Fang's head, behind the ears, causing the dog to look at her and licked her hand.

"I see Fang likes yeh." Hagrid said as he walked over to the fireplace and tossed a block in. Both children sighed in relief at the warmth.

"Thanks, I grew up with dogs." Jenny smiled.

"Sorry I haven't been around, Hagrid. Been busy." Gohan frowned as Jenny reached toward one of the cakes on the table, giving her a "don't touch it." Motion. She gulped and nodded.

"I heard. Read that Maxine and Kakaroff gave yeh some letters. Not to mention this young woman here." Hagrid gestured at Jenny.

"I'm not stealing him, Hagrid." Jenny laughed.

"Yes, they gave me letters. I haven't decided yet, Hagrid. Bit of a hard decision." Gohan laughed.

"Hmph. After everyting Dumbledore's done for yeh, yed leave, just like that." Hagrid frowned in disappointment.

"The people around here aren't helping my case. You've read Skeeter's article!" Gohan snarled.

"Hmph. I heard that yeh shattered Ron's nose and called him a poor fool! Sprinked galleons in front of his face." Hagrid glared at Gohan.

"He asked for it." Gohan scrowled.

"That's no way to act. You've been friends fer years, and yer throwing it all away. Just because no one punished yeh doesn't change the fact that yeh did it." Hagrid frowned.

"I've just got a lot on my plate, Hagrid." Hagrid snorted.

"Hmph. Unification indeed. This tournament's doing the exact opposite. People are turning against each other, saying stupid things. Civil war, that's what this is." Hagrid scrowled.

"So… you coming back anytime soon? Almost March." Gohan asked. Hagrid chuckled.

"Next week. Dumbledore was already in here a few days ago. Then, Harry, Ron and Hermione showed up and talked some sense into me." Hagrid frowned.

"That's good." Gohan smirked. Hagrid glanced at Jenny.

"Yer Warren Griffin's daughter. Yeh have his eyes." Hagrid said.

"You know my dad?" Jenny asked. Hagrid laughed.

"Of course, he and I were old friends. We went to Hogwarts together, back in the day. Before I got expelled. One of the first Americans I ever met." Hagrid chuckled, causing both children to blink.

"Dad never told me he went here!" Jenny blinked.

"Hmph. He was different than he is now. Young and cocky. One hell of a Quidditch player." Hagrid frowned as he stood up and burrowed through a box.

"This is him." Hagrid smirked as he pulled out several photographs. Jenny stared at one of them Gohan glanced too. The boy in the photographs was obviously a younger version of the man Gohan had met, except this man had thick black hair, and was much younger. He was leaning against a tree, smirking. He was dressed in Hogwarts robes, and wore the Gryffindor emblem on his robes. He looked to be in his teenage years, perhaps fourteen.

"He was a few years older than me. He didn't stay till graduation. He left the year after I was expelled to go fight in World War Two, when he was sixteen years old. I felt sery fer him. Lost his older brother in that attack on Pearl Harbor. Left him devastated. Enlisted and left the minute he turned 16." Hagrid frowned.

"Yeah, Dad told me about that when I was little." Jenny frowned.

"Unfortunately… he had bad taste in friends. I think you know who this is, Gohan." Hagrid frowned as he handed Gohan another photo. Gohan yelped in surprise.

"Gohan, who is that?" Jenny asked. Gohan gulped. The photo showed a teenage Griffin grinning with his arm around the shoulder of another teenage boy, who was smirking. Gohan knew that face all too well. It was no other than… Tom Riddle himself. The same boy who set the monster of Slytherin loose, the one who murdered Moaning Myrtle.

"Voldemort? He and Griffin were friends?" Gohan sputtered. Hagrid sighed.

"The two got along well, despite their houses and personalities. Griffin shared a few of Riddle's ideas about magic and law. Hung out with Riddle a lot. Completely took Riddle's side when he accused me. But, they argued when Griffin left in their 6th year to go fight in Germany. Although, I heard that they met a few more times over the years to go on explorations, things like that. Although, they went their separate ways years ago." Hagrid frowned.

"Please tell me my dad wasn't a death eater." Jenny gulped. Hagrid chuckled.

"He wasn't. Already had gone their separate ways by then. Of course, on one of his visits here, he ran into your mother. Sara. I can see her face in yeh, Jenny. But, that's a story fer another day." Hagrid chuckled.

"Believe me, Hagrid, I've got a lot on my mind too." Gohan chuckled as he felt the egg on his foot. Moody was right. Now, he had to figure out the the heck that message meant.

Cool, right? Read and review! Another chapter soon awaits. The second task is next! And, I promise, a mini adventure starring Warren and Voldemort will appear soon!