Chapter 60
(A week later)
The sister three had returned home after an interesting week. "I will miss them," the Sorting Hat said from the top of Harry's head. They all could agree on that. Those girls charmed the younger students and now they were gone again.
"We may have a problem. Hermione solved the riddle around the egg a week ago, but we kind of have forgotten about it, because you got cursed and all."
He waved his wand and a song started to play. "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 recover what we took, but past an hour - the prospect's black, too late it's gone, it wont' come back,"
Xander swore. "What does Hermione think about it?"
"A hostage situation, save a person we miss. Mine would most likely be you, Dawn or Hermione. The three of you have become my closest friends. Cedric will probably end up saving Cho Chang. Fleur has been hanging around us mostly. Anyone in the group could be taken for her to save."
Thanks to the war most of the students from the other two schools left. Only the champions remained in England and Hogwarts because the magic contract of the cup forced them to stay or lose their magic.
Only recently a smaller group representing Beuxbatons and Durmstrang had returned.
"So should we talk to Albus about the first rule in our group and that we don't like it when it's endangered?" Harry asked.
"Catch Bagman, he is still the ministry representative who is responsible for this," Xander said.
"Alright, let's go then," Harry said and held out his hand.
Xander grabbed it summoning his magic. "Teleport," he said and the two vanished in a flash of darkness only to return in Diagon Alley. The place looked mostly deserted now and rebuilding was going on for full. Ignoring this, the two walked out catching the Knight bus for stranded witches and wizards.
+T+
A short and terrible journey later
Bagman woke up as his wards screamed 'Intruder.'
Jumping up his bed the man rushed downstairs ready to curse first and ask question later. Instead he dropped his wand as he found two people in the living room and one of those he was scared silly off. "Mr. Harris. Mr. Potter," he said, bending to pick up his wand again.
"We need to talk," Xander said.
Harry agreed. "Yes, we do. The tournament's second task involves kidnapping somebody we care about and putting that person in danger. "
Xander smiled. "And as you are one of the judges Harry wanted to fix this now. You and the other judges do not kidnap one of our people or ANY OF OUR PEOPLE, because if you do, Harry and I will hurt all of you."
They heard a knock on the door and saw an irritated Hermione, followed by Cedric and Fleur marching in. After them Dawn arrived, followed by the rest of his study group.
"Hi guys. We were taking care about the kidnapping affair," Harry said.
"Good, how far have you come?" Cedric said.
"Only as far as telling him that Harry and I would hurt all the judges."
Fleur shook her blond beautiful head. "No Xander, Harry. That is not the right thing to threaten them with. It should be that if anything happens to anyone we care about Cedric, Harry, Xander, Hermione and I will hurt, yes even kill all the people responsible for the competition," she said, taking on a more bird like appearance.
Cedric nodded. "I volunteered. I'm willing to risk my life, but not the life of my friends," he said.
Hermione glared. "And Harry was forced in to this against his will. You claimed he had no choice except to compete. So fix it and do not put innocent life in danger just to get you little sick trill." She took up a note paper and removed a name from her list. "That's one. We have to find the Durmstrang headmaster, the Beuxbatons headmistress and Dumbledore and explain to them what is allowed and what is not."
"The same go for the rest of us," Ginny stated in agreement with Fleur's statement.
Dawn showed her full sized dragon hybrid form, which was the same size as a normal 13 year old girl, but with claws and bit more scaly skin. "Hurt them or us and you die," she hissed, looking more cute than dangerous.
"Now we need to find the headmasters and the headmistress," Xander said and turned to the scared silly man. "Could we borrow you flue... floo... the fire place traveling magic thingy?"
Using the fire and the floo connection they were soon back at Hogsmeade walking up to the school.
The Durmstrang ship was parked in the lake and the Beuxbatons wagon parked next to the school.
"How did you find us?" Harry asked.
"Dawn spied on you and when the two of you vanished we followed," Hermione said with a smirk. "Cedric even knew where Bagman lived. You two must have taken the long road."
Knocking on the door of Olympe Maxime's quarter they entered her room. The female half giant was surprisingly good looking. "Good night. Why are you coming at this time? But do come in," she wondered and worried as she invited them in for a cup of tea.
"We found out that somebody we care about is going to be kidnapped and put in danger. That is not acceptable. I volunteered my own life, not the life of my friends. So I am here with my whole group of friends to offer you and all the other judges a counter demand. If any of our friends are kidnapped and die during the second part of the competition, all of you will be executed in revenge." She took a sip of the offered tea and then continued. "And if one of ours becomes kidnapped we as a group will hurt all of you, after we saved him or her." She looked at the rest of the group that looked menacing at Olympe.
The half giant seemed relaxed and even smiled as she applauded them. "Magnificent. I protested this idea, but Bagman and Albus overwrote my protest. Tradition you see. In Albus' defense the kidnapped will be returned, even if the champion fails," she said with a smile. "The idea of this stupid competition is to promote cooperation between our schools. At least the cooperation is working. "
Her eyes flickered. "Try not to hurt Igor too much. He has diplomatic immunity, even if he is a Death Eater that deserves to die."
Xander nodded. He knew not how, but Igor was the replacement that would curse the Goblet of Fire. Both he and Harry needed that man alive. No matter how much that grated on him.
Getting inside the Durmstrang ship was a bit harder. There were guards there and students that refused them entry, one Gale Wind later those where swimming too shore and Igor Karkaroff proved that he wasn't a brave man when faced with superior numbers. He broke in record time.
"I liked Olympe, she had style," Hermione said.
"Must be the giant blood in her, she is born a true warrior and was raised as a lady," Xander said.
"Could be just bravery and guts," Harry added.
"Igor was slime," Hermione said.
"There is no evidence that Olympe has the blood of a giant in her. No evidence at all," Fleur said with quite a strict voice. Giants were hated and with good reason. Half- giants were most like their wizard parent then the giant part of their family, but still they were feared and hated for the terror their giant relatives did, even if totally innocent of any wrong doing. She was afraid that the legendary Rita Skeeter would hear and print lies. Nobody had heard from Rita in a long while now, that dirt-reporter must be up to something no good.
"Excuse me," the fourth champion Viktor Krum said. "I overheard what was said inside Karkaroff's cabin. I too feel it to be wrong to put innocent life in danger. Can I join you or is it too late?"
Harry looked at the others. "No, there is still time. We have Albus left to threaten and Hermione has a petition she wrote. We are all going to sign it and send to the Daily Prophet to be published. It states our name and what will happen to the judges and sponsors of the competition if they endanger the life of our friends."
Viktor grinned and asked, "When can I sign?"
"After we talked to Headmaster Dumbledore, this joke of a competition is endangering innocent life." Alright, she knew the champions life needed to be on the line, especially Harry. It was perhaps so far his greatest chance and the only way to remove the Horcrux from his head.
All the papers full of calculation they and Albus and Flamel had done before told them the same thing. A death curse cast by Voldemort should remove it with a chance of letting Harry live and unless they found a better way it was the only way to make sure Harry had a future.
And the stupid asshole of a manipulating human waste bucket had tried to keep that secret as long as possible. Why? She had no idea.
"Hermione, calm down," Xander said as they marched up to the old man's quarters and to the password protected door.
"Lemon drops, Chocolate frogs," Harry tried, but nothing happened.
"Yo animated statues, tell the old man to let us in now," Xander said.
One of them blinked and said, "Now why should we do that unless you have a password?"
"Because I will destroy you if you do not," Xander replied with a grin. "You know who and what I am. So tell the old asshole or I will blast my way up."
The two statues of gargoyles studied the student for a moment and then quickly said, "We'll tell him."
"This school is confusing. The many ways the designers took time to make sure lots of memory practiced is forced on the students. It is no wonder that Hogwarts students are well known for their skill in remembering spells," Viktor said. The things he learned from Hogwarts a History was fascinating.
Hermione blushed a bit. "Um. We... I... I heard that Grindlewald was expelled from Durmstrang and well we know that Voldemort was once a student in our school and we discovered more than one old memento of himself behind to endanger future generations. Is it the same thing in Durmstrang?"
Viktor nodded. "He did. I am grateful that Dumbledore managed to defeat that man. He killed my grandfather and many of my older relatives died at the hands of Grindlewald as well." He then looked at Harry and continued. "You Mr. Potter and my father should have a lot to talk about. Both of you are survivors. All his family was in murdered by Grindlewald, just as your family was by Voldemort."
"Perhaps I can talk to him sometimes. I never knew much about my family," Harry replied. "You don't think it's Albus, who asked the professors to keep quiet about them?" he asked into the room as a epiphany hit him.
Xander groaned. "If it wasn't for his Phoenix confirming Albus is on the sight of the light... I think you got the idea. He did it probably so that you wouldn't be burdened by the past or some equal crap."
"That is wrong. Knowledge of your past strengthens you. It's when you live only in the past you are lost and weak. If the Headmaster is silencing the other professors, seek information outside Hogwarts. Write a letter to his old friends. Even use the newspapers to create an embarrassment. You are from an old family. I'm sure some information you can use exists in the Potter Grimoire," Viktor said.
"The what?" Harry asked, while inside his office Dumbledore felt his headache increase.
The door open and they slowly entered.
"Among Wiccan a Grimoire contains secret spells, often belonging to a family of Witches or a coven," Xander said while entering in advance.
"That is correct and it is the same in our world. But a Grimoire is more than just spells. Family names and history is written down in it. Sometimes they are animated and can give advice and tell you stories of the past. But most of the time they are a collection of spells and stories of what your family did and names of people long time dead. They are a legacy," Viktor explained. "They are also considered a secret. Each family keeps the nature of their own Grimoire secret and only the most trusted are allowed to know about them."
Xander nodded to himself. Normally the High-wizard family spell book held magic spells of such nature that they were locked away. Mom and dad kept it in the tower and only now did he get his hand on it.
Tony's book was written by him, even if dad had come from an old line of High-wizard his older brother inherited the family Grimoire with the family secrets. Tony had gained the Rune-Staff. He later married Jessica and as her husband he had gotten the right to learn her family secrets, but he also had started a new Grimoire. It was that book Xander had found and learned from. Inside his tower he had found the true family Grimoire, filled with secret spells and knowledge. The nature of those spells was impressive, but not always the most powerful example of high-magic.
"Well then you have a good book to read then," Xander stated and looking at the last door he was about to knock on it as Harry said, "Crumble." The door started to shake and slowly turned grey as its own magic fought Harry's magic. Then the next high-magic curse hit it and it crumbled to dust in front of them.
"That was not nice Mr. Potter. What did that door do to you?" Albus Dumbledore asked.
Harry glared at him. "Our jointed mission first, then I deal with my personal anger. Xander... Hermione?"
"Alright, to make it short, we will not allow you to put innocent people in danger. If you do, hostility will be the response. We will attack and hurt each of the sponsors and judge in the competition. If one of the hostages is killed in your little game we will hunt down and kill all the judges and sponsors in the game. Harry, Fleur, Cedric and Victor have all agreed. They also have the help and support by Xander's coven. The members of this would be," she started to read from a list. "Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Katie Bell, Susan Bones, Cho Chang, Colin Creevey , Dennis Creevey, Angelina, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, Alicia Spinnet, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Isabelle Delacour, Luna Lovegood, Lee Jordan, Hannah Abbott, Dawn Summers, Janna Kalderash, Buffy Summer and Rupert Giles of the Watcher's Council."
Taking a deep breath of air she continued. "Honorary member's that promised to help include Dr. Reid and Morgan, who are trained as Agents by the FBI. One is also trained in High-magic and the other one in Wicca."
Xander almost giggled. "Morgan is also an expert in close combat. Suddenly he found out that he was also a Wicca and a Witch. It did not sit well with him. But the Agent was to curios not to learn."
Dumbledore flinched as Hermione also mentioned one of the honorary members being a Zero. They where a abominations, yet the Wicca did protect even them. No direct or passive magic would hurt a Zero, they where immune to pure magic power and all type of mind effecting spells. "Are you aware of the nature of a Zero?" he asked the group.
They were all silent except Xander who said, "I am Albus."
"Then you do know they are a danger to all magic users?" Albus said in sadness.
Xander shock his head. "No and yes, a Zero is immune to all direct magical attacks and healing. A death curse would not even hurt them. Illusion, mind magic and all those they are immune to, but levitate a table and drop it on their head and they die. Use a banishing charm to turn a rock into missile and it could kill them," he glared at the old man. "So a danger I would not say. I know that the Wand-wankers have been murdering newborn Zeros. I also know you where one of those that agreed to it and voted a 'yes' to that."
Shocked gasps of terror were heard from the people in the room.
Albus looked sad and said, "They are a abominations. The existence of them threatens the whole magical world. We cannot control or even manipulate them with magic and as the time of magic is returning more of those abominations are born. It's self defense."
"Murder it is I say. Did you know that there are plenty of magical rituals were a Zero standing as an anchor exist? A Wicca who has the help of a Zero can cast extreme powerful spells, letting the Zero suffer the threefold law. Because a Zero is immune to that he or she doesn't suffer a Threefold payback."
The room was silent as ideas on how a Wicca could actually do evil things and get away with it suddenly popped up in their minds.
"In high-magic a Zero by you side can leach of excessive magic, making sure the High-wizard doesn't suffer a magical overcharge. In a ritual once again a Zero can help stabilize a spell. Instable potions can be made stable with a Zero leaching of magic from the potion," Xander continued,
"They are still unnatural and endanger the life of all magical. They destroy magic," Dumbledore said.
"No, they are magical themselves. They are a magical sink pool and a good defense against dark wizards," he said and then blinked for a moment. "Oh fuck... Why did we not see it? Harry it's the solution."
Beside them Hermione swallowed and said, "Of course, it was so obvious."
"Um what?" Harry asked confused.