Part 37
When Harry woke up the next day, it took him a moment to remember why he felt so miserable and worried. Then the memory of the previous night rolled over him. He needed to talk to Ron and make sure that Ron believed him. When he went over to Ron's bed he found it empty. He groaned and sat down on his own bed. He then realized he better tell his parents about this. He got some ink and parchment and started writing a long letter, telling them what happened, how he felt and how no one seemed to believe him save McGonagall, Moody, Remus, Dorian and Blaise. Everyone else seemed to believe he'd done it himself or at least thought he'd had help. He was not sure what Dumbledore believed so he didn't write about it. He finished the letter and then he got dressed and went down to the common room. As soon as he appeared, the people who had already finished breakfast broke into applause again. The prospect of going down into the Great Hall and facing the rest of the Gryffindors, all treating him like some sort of hero, was not inviting; it was that, however, or stay here and allow himself to be cornered by the Creevey brothers. He walked over to the portrait hole, pushed it open, climbed out of it, and found himself face-to-face with Hermione and Neville.
"Hello," she said, holding up a stack of toast, which she was carrying in a napkin. "I brought you this... Want to go for a walk?"
"Good idea," said Harry gratefully.
They went downstairs, crossed the entrance hall quickly without looking in at the Great Hall, and were soon striding across the lawn toward the lake, where the Durmstrang ship was moored, reflected blackly in the water. It was a chilly morning, and they kept moving, munching their toast, as Harry told Hermione and Neville exactly what had happened after he had left the Gryffindor table the night before. To his immense relief, Hermione and Neville accepted his story without question.
"Well, of course I knew you hadn't entered yourself," Hermione said when he'd finished telling her about the scene in the chamber off the Hall. "The look on your face when Dumbledore read out your name! But the question is, who did put it in? Because I bet I know who it was. It would serve their purpose perfectly. I think-"
"Have you seen Ron?" Harry interrupted.
Hermione hesitated.
"Erm...yes...he was at breakfast," she said.
"Does he still think I entered myself?"
"Well...no, I don't think so...not really," said Hermione awkwardly.
"What's that supposed to mean, 'not really'?"
"Oh Harry, isn't it obvious?" Hermione said despairingly. "He's jealous!"
"Jealous?" Harry said incredulously. "Jealous of what? He wants to make a prat of himself in front of the whole school, does he?"
"Look," said Hermione patiently, "it's always you who gets all the attention, you know it is. I know it's not your fault," she added quickly, seeing Harry open his mouth furiously. "I know you don't ask for it...but - well - you know, Ron's got all those brothers to compete against at home, and you're his best friend, and you're really famous - he's always shunted to one side whenever people see you, and he puts up with it, and he never mentions it, but I suppose this is just one time too many..."
"Great," said Harry bitterly. "Really great. Tell him from me I'll swap any time he wants. Tell him from me he's welcome to it... People gawping at my forehead everywhere I go..."
"I'm not telling him anything," Hermione said shortly. "Tell him yourself. It's the only way to sort this out. I am not an owl."
"I'm not running around after him trying to make him grow up!" Harry said, so loudly that several owls in a nearby tree took flight in alarm. "Maybe he'll believe I'm not enjoying myself once I've got my neck broken or -"
"That's not funny," said Hermione quietly. "That's not funny at all." She looked extremely anxious. "Harry, I've been thinking - you know what we've got to do, don't you? Straight away, the moment we get back to the castle?"
"Yeah, give Ron a good kick up the-"
"No we need to write your parents."
"Already have the letter", Harry interrupted. "Let's go get Hedwig. You coming Nev?"
Neville had kept quiet since Harry had started talking and while Hermione went on. But Harry noticed something else, Neville seemed to be trying to avoid something because his smile was strained. Harry ignored it and waited for his answer. Neville smiled and agreed to go with them.
They went up to the Owlery. Hedwig fluttered down onto his shoulder and held out her leg as soon as they entered.
"Thank you Hedwig," Harry told her. "Bring this to mum please? Dad will blow a gasket and I think mum will take it a little bit better."
"Are you sure?" Neville asked. "I mean… she did come all the way here when Moody-"
"That was different because it was her boys in trouble. You, me, Dorian and Uncle Moony. Now she will keep calmer than dad. Dad will be happy for me but then he'll get super angry when he realizes I might die."
Hedwig gave a very soft hoot and took off so suddenly that her talons cut into his shoulder. Harry squeaked in surprise and Neville sniggered.
"Good now that's out of the way", Hermione said as they started leaving. "We really need to do something about those jerks."
"What jerks?" Harry asked.
"Zabini and Malfoy."
"What?" Harry asked confused.
"It's probably them that put your name in."
"Malfoy I can believe, I wouldn't put it past him since he hate me but Blaise?"
"Not Draco", Hermione said. "I mean Luna."
"Not this again", Harry groaned as they entered the Entrance Hall. "Hermione listen to me and listen good. Blaise and Luna are not out to kill Moony or Dorian and they are certainly not after me. Blaise told me he believes I didn't put my name in the Go-"
"Of course he believes you because he did it!" Hermione said. "I'm sure Lucius Malfoy told him and Luna exactly how to do it."
"That's a bit farfetched isn't it, Hermione", Neville asked nervously and Harry realized this was what he'd tried to avoid talking about earlier.
"It is not! It makes perfect sense!"
"Does not", Harry objected. "Look I don't know what you have against Luna and Blaise but they are not behind this. Blaise is a good guy Hermione."
"He's just pretending!"
"He is not", Harry growled. "You constantly attack him but he has never done the same thing to you. Is he smart? Yes, he's brilliant. Is he powerful? Heck yes. Is he nice? Once you get to know him he is amazing. Is he my friend? Yes, yes he is and I am getting really tired of you accusing him of being evil all the time Hermione."
"He's put a spell on you!" Hermione shrieked.
"He has not!" Harry yelled at her. "Hermione get it through your thick skull! Blaise Zabini is not some Monster Hunter out to get any of us! He is not interested in Luna Lovegood! Luna is not a Malfoy! Blaise hates Malfoy almost as much as I do! He's not some slimy Slytherin, no matter what Ron says. Why can't you see that?"
"Why can't you see what I'm seeing?!"
"Because there is nothing to see!" Harry yelled and a few students stopped to stare at them. Harry was aware Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass were there but ignored it. "I don't know what you have against Blaise but he has done nothing to you! Is it because he has higher grades than you in a few classes? Is it because he's as smart as you only less of a know-it-all? Is it because of his looks or something? Of his popularity? Is it because he knows things that you don't know and that annoys you? Listen Hermione you are my best friend and I love you, but I have had it up to here", he held a hand above his head. "With your stupid ideas and accusations about Blaise Zabini. Blaise Zabini is not some slimy Slytherin out to get me or anyone else! He is not some crazy murderer or wannabe-murderer. He's a good guy and your strange obsession with him has got to stop. Because you are making a fool of yourself. If it came down to it I know Blaise would help you if you were in trouble and I know he'd help me. As for you… I'm not so sure anymore." With that Harry stormed off.
"You're wrong Harry", Hermione shouted after him. "He's gonna get you! He's a slimy, lying Slytherin and when you least expect it he's gonna hurt you and everyone you care about because that's his way! He's a monster and a freak!" Harry twirled around to start yelling at her but stopped because he saw something behind Hermione. Blaise stood there, his face a cold mask… he looked so much like the old emotionless Blaise that it sent shivers down Harry's back. Blaise looked at Harry and then turned on his heel and marched off.
"Blaise wait!" Daphne called and ran after him. Theo were hot on her heels. Harry stood there and looked between Hermione and the way Blaise had run… and he made a decision. He hurried past Hermione and Neville and hurried after Blaise as well. Hermione gaped at him in shock, as did a few others. Harry Potter going after Slytherins? What was the world coming to?
"What do you think Remy", Dorian asked from where he was sitting cross-legged on Remus' desk with his lap filled with fabrics. "Navy blue or purple?"
"Black", Remus replied.
"But Remy black is soooo boring", Dorian whine. "Oh wait I have the perfect thing!" he dove behind the desk and Remus chuckled. Dorian was busy working out a school uniform for the students of the School of the Full Moon as well as a banner, a school moto and of course student houses. Discarded uniform-ideas were strewed all over the floor. Some from bright pink, some fully black, some crimson and some rainbow coloured. Remus chuckled at his husband's enthusiasm. Remus looked up when Dorian spread a fabric over his lap. It was not entirely black, but changed from dark purple to black and it was filled with little sparkles.
"Think a tailcoat in this fabric", Dorian gushed happily. "Along with black pants and a black turtle neck!"
"Are you trying to make him look like one of us 'circus freaks'?" Remus asked with a smile.
"Duh of course!" Dorian said happily and pulled the fabric back to start measuring it out. "I am also thinking of adding leather gloves… without fingertips of course!" He looked up. "The banner is already done." Above his head was a dark banner with a crescent moon and silhouetted against it was a howling wolf.
"Dare I ask what the motto is?" Remus asked.
"Ulula cum lupis sub lumine Luna argentum", Dorian replied happily.
"Howl with the wolves under the silver moon?" Remus asked. "Really?"
"What, you got a better idea?"
"Credo ego levavi manum meam semper."
"Boring!" Dorian said. "Mine is much better!"
"You are such a child."
"And you are such a Remy", Dorian said and kissed him just as the fireplace burst into green flames and three people came storming out. Remus noticed and pulled back from Dorian who just grinned and sat on the desk again. Lily, James and Sirius glared at the two men and Remus sighed.
"Before you start yelling at me I assure you we did not suspect this would happen", Remus said and when Sirius opened his mouth to protest Remus cut him off. "We watched Dumbledore like hawks and Snape too. None of them were in on this."
"We also had our mouseketeer watching Karkaroff ever since they arrived", Dorian added. "Maxi would never do anything like this and that Malfoy boy is not clever enough or strong enough to outwit that stupid Cup."
"Goblet", Remus corrected him. "But Dorian is right, we were watching everyone there was to worry about so we really have no clue how Harry got roped into this."
"He could die Remus!" James yelled.
"Which is why we are going to keep an eye and an ear on him at all times", Remus said and turned to a now empty frame on his desk. Lily looked at it, she did not recognize the background at all so she had no idea who was supposed to be in that photograph.
"Besides we have an ace up our sleeves", Dorian said and continued with his sowing.
"Which is?" Sirius growled.
"No teacher or headmaster is allowed to help Harry", Remus said and smirked in a most Marauder-like way. "Weeeeelll…. Dorian is neither."
"You are going to cheat Moony!?" James asked in awe, forgetting his anger for a minute. "You've never cheated in your life!"
"It is not cheating and it is only fair because Harry is three years younger than the rest of them. We are not going to tell him how to win, only how to survive each trial."
"Do you know anything about the first one yet?" Lily asked and sat down beside Remus at the desk.
"Not yet", Remus admitted. "But I have my suspicions."
"Which are?" Sirius asked.
"When the students left the station this year Harry told me Charlie Weasley said he would see them sooner than they thought. So if they see Charlie Weasley sooner it can only mean one thing… well two. One: Hagrid is teaching his classes about dragons or two…"
"They are going to be facing a dragon", Lily said in horror.
"Precisely", Dorian said. "So how does one fight one of those flying lizards?"
"It's not easy", Sirius said. "I'd suggest the Conjunctivitis Curse."
"I agree", James said. "Or try to get past it or trick it."
The room went silent for a while then Lily sighed and turned to Remus.
"I have a bad feeling about this", she said.
"I do too Lily", he replied. "But I don't know what to do other than keep an eye on Harry and his friends. I'm sorry they somehow got past me when you asked me to keep him safe. I still can't figure out who did it. We've had the likeliest suspects under surveillance all this time!"
"Which are?" Sirius asked.
"Igor Karkaroff, headmaster of Durmstrang and former Death Eater."
"Drago Myfoil", Dorian said as he sat cross-legged and knitting a student scarf on the floor.
"Severus Snape."
"Flab and Foul."
"And of course Albus Dumbledore."
"Aw man why did you get to say that name Remy? I had the perfect new name for him too!"
"Love the way you keep changing people's name are gonna confuse people."
"But it's so fun."
Lily rolled her eyes at the two of them and looked at Remus.
"How's Harry", she asked.
"Upset", Remus admitted. "He didn't even want this. The worst thing for him is that all student except for Blaise, Neville and Hermione believes he did put his name in the cup. Ron believes he did it and I think that is hurting Harry the most. Harry never wanted fame or to be popular… he just wants what's best for his friends."
"He has been writing very little about Hermione, Ron and Neville this year", James said and sat down on top of a student desk. "Are they having a fight?"
"Somewhat", Remus said and ran a hand over his face. "Hermione is convinced that Blaise is a secret Monster Hunter out to get me and Dorian to prove his undying love to Luna Malfoy."
"Luna Malfoy? Lucius has a daughter or a niece?"
"No, her real name is Luna Lovegood but Hermione is convinced that she is really a Malfoy in disguise. Her theory states that Lucius and Pandora had an affair and Luna is the result. Since Draco seem to be constantly failing him for one reason or another he is now focusing on making sure his daughter is a success and happy. I may detest Lucius Malfoy with all my being but he does care for his son and Hermione sees that too. Which is why she thinks he truly cares about Luna and wants to fulfil her wishes of finding different creatures and killing them. Her strange ways is supposed to be a cover up for a more sinister side. She came to these conclusions watching Luna and Blaise in the library studying werewolf books."
"Geez sounds like someone else we know that likes to read into things", Sirius commented.
"If you are going to insult me do it to my face Black", Dorian said from his position on the floor. "I am well aware that I have lots and lots of conspiracy theories and I will admit when I am wrong. However Dumbledore being a more sinister person than you think is one I feel very strongly about. I know you two can probably counter all of my claims but I don't care. I know I'm right and Remy knows I'm right."
"Of course love, you have my unconditional love and support", Remus said and turned back to Lily. "We'll make sure Harry gets through this, one way or another."
"I know you will Remus", she said and gave him a hug. "Just don't forget to keep an eye on each other as well. Dumbledore seems to want to get rid of you for some reason… and I don't doubt he will use any means necessary."
"Okay enough Lily", James said and they turned to him. "I've come to expect these wild accusations from Remus and from Peter but you too?"
"James", Lily said sharply and got up. "I know you don't believe in Peter or Remus but I do. There is something going on here and Dumbledore is behind it. I know that you have grown up thinking he is above wrong and above everyone else. But James, Dumbledore makes mistakes and he is capable of faults."
"Dumbledore only does what he thinks is right", Sirius jumped in to defend his best friend.
"Like sending Harry away with me without telling anyone?" Remus asked calmly.
"He… the Imperius made him do it", James tried.
"Really?" Remus asked. "You really believe that Dumbledore would let someone cast that curse on him without putting up a fight? Do you really think any of the Death Eaters were capable of that? The only one that might have had a chance to do that is locked away in a Austrian prison for life and as far as I know he's still there. Look, James… Sirius", Remus got up as well. "I don't want to believe Dumbledore is behind all this but there is something wrong here."
"Which is?" James asked.
"Have you not been listening!?" Lily yelled at him and stalked up to her husband. "Have you not listened to a word Remus, Peter and I have told you?"
"Lily", Dorian said and grabbed her arm, pulling her slowly back.
"What", she spat angrily.
"Look at their eyes", Dorian whispered. Remus keen hearing picked it up and he followed Dorian's advice and looked at James' eyes. Instead of the warm hazel colour he was used to he noticed that there was something… off with them. They were still hazel but now… now they were cold, almost cloudy as well. Remus hurriedly looked at Sirius and noticed the same thing with his eyes. It was if the sharpness and mischief in their eyes were gone. Lily noticed as well and in one fell swoop she and Remus had pulled their wands, aimed at their friends and shouted:
"Finite Incantantem!" James and Sirius dropped to the floor and Dorian squawked when he saw a black liquid pour out from their eyes… as if they were crying black tears. Lily covered her mouth with her hand and Remus growled. Someone had enchanted his friends and he could bet good money on who.
"Get them to S:t Mungos", Remus told Lily gently. "I'll call the Weasleys so they can meat you there."
"We'll come by as soon as the school day is over", Dorian assured her and Lily nodded stiffly before levitating her husband and his best friend to the fireplace so she could floo out with them. When she was gone Dorian turned to Remus and saw fury like no other on his face.
"Right", Dorian said and jumped onto his husband and wrestled him to the floor before he could do something very un-Remy-like… also known as something stupid.
If Harry had thought that matters would improve once everyone got used to the idea of him being champion, the afternoon showed him how mistaken he was. He could no longer avoid the rest of the school once he was back at lessons - and it was clear that the rest of the school, just like the Gryffindors, thought Harry had entered himself for the tournament. Unlike the Gryffindors, however, they did not seem impressed.
The Hufflepuffs, who were usually on excellent terms with the Gryffindors, had turned remarkably cold toward the whole lot of them. One Herbology lesson was enough to demonstrate this. It was plain that the Hufflepuffs felt that Harry had stolen their champion's glory; a feeling exacerbated, perhaps, by the fact that Hufflepuff House very rarely got any glory, and that Cedric was one of the few who had ever given them any, having beaten Gryffindor once at Quidditch. Ernie Macmillan and Justin FinchFletchley, with whom Harry normally got on very well, did not talk to him even though they were repotting Bouncing Bulbs at the same tray - though they did laugh rather unpleasantly when one of the Bouncing Bulbs wriggled free from Harry's grip and smacked him hard in the face.
Ron and Hermione weren't talking to Harry either. Neville sat between them, making very forced conversation, but though all three answered him normally, they avoided making eye contact with each other. Harry sighed after class and headed for the Great Hall, when he got there however he and the rest of the school got a small shock.
Behind the Head Table hung four banners. On the far left the Durmstrang's double-headed crimson eagle hung proudly. On the far left Beauxbatons' golden wands, flowers and stars hung like a beautiful pictures on a bleak wall. Beside Durmstrang's banner hung the banner of Hogwarts with its four houses and school motto. In between the banners of Hogwarts and Beauxbatons hung a new one. A dark banner with a crescent moon at the top, shining over what Harry knew was the roof of circus tent and silhouetted against the crescent moon was a howling wolf. At the bottom in silver letters was written:
"Nos autem vobis quem stabam."
Harry smiled, Dorian it seemed had gone all out with this and if the smug look on the man's face was anything to go by as he sat on the Head table twirling Remus' wand between his fingers he was very proud of it. He winked at Harry and nodded towards the chamber behind the table. Harry hurried towards it and when he got inside he noticed a new school uniform waiting for him. He hurriedly changed into it and hurried back into the Great Hall. When he did everyone looked at him. A few girls giggled and blushed and Harry didn't really see why… until he caught his reflection in one of the trays on the Head Table. He was wearing black pants with purple stitches down the side, he had not noticed that before. His shoes were nice, black polished shoes. He wore a black turtle neck and over that a dark tailcoat that went from black to dark purple and when he moved the sparkles on it made it look as if he wore a piece of the night sky. He also wore gloves made of leather, but with only half fingers. He blushed and walked towards the Gryffindor table. However Dorian blocked his path.
"Hm…" he said. "Good but there is something missing." He started walking around Harry while tapping his lip with Remus' wand. Harry blushed while everyone in the room watched them.
"Aha!" Dorian said and took his bowler hat from his head and put it on Harry's. "Perfect!" He turned to the hall. "May I introduce you to the fourth champion, Harry Potter representing the School of the Full Moon. Nos autem vobis quem stabam!" Then he howled and Remus shook his head before joining him. Sinistra, Sprout and Hooch stared at him but then Hooch laughed an joined in. As did the Weasley twins and a few others. Dorian winked at Harry and led him over to the Gryffindor table with an arm slung around his shoulders. Harry sat down next to Neville while Dorian returned to his seat next to Remus. A Remus Harry noticed looked a little annoyed. Harry didn't know why but guessed it had something to do with this whole tournament. He heard giggles from the girls nearby and Harry blushed and tried to keep his head down. However Fred and George had other ideas. They leaned over the table and grinned at him.
"What?" he asked.
"So you are not a Hogwarts champion?" Fred asked.
"No."
"But you are a champion for another school?" George asked.
"Yes."
"Wicked", they said together. "How did you manage that?"
"Dorian came up with this stupid idea to make the other headmasters less angry", Harry explained. "I wish it will work with the 'Puffs as well."
"Probably", Neville said. "If you win Hogwarts won't win and Diggory is our champion."
"Was it Dorian that helped you put your name in?" Angelina asked.
"Don't be stupid", Hermione said. "Dorian is a Muggle. He could not have affected the Goblet. Only a really powerful wizard could."
"Like Professor Lupin?" Seamus asked. "He helped the two of you right?"
"No", Harry said. "He's as worried about this as my mum… I didn't want to enter this stupid competition."
"Well you did anyway", Fred and George said and both took a swig of their drinks and then the grin slid off their faces. "Uh oh." At once the two sprung up from their seats and jumped onto the table. All eyes were on the twins as they belted out I Would Walk 500 Miles by the Proclaimers, Harry only knew that because his mother loved to listen to Muggle radio. The twins sang loudly, falsely and danced a silly jig. They looked horrified and Harry turned to the Slytherin table where a very smug-looking Blaise Zabini sat. The twins kept singing and when the teachers tried to stop them they just danced out of aim of their wands. Blaise winked at Harry and discreetly waved his wand and now the background music to the real song was heard as well. Harry gaped, how did Blaise do that? He also noticed Theo, Daphne and Tracey laugh loudly. Dorian got up and pulled Sinistra with him and started dancing with her. Sinistra blushed a bit but soon allowed him to lead her along the floor. More students got up and started clapping in beat to the music, some even danced. Harry looked over at Blaise again and his wide grin faltered a little. Blaise had Daphne in his arms and danced with her while Theo danced with Tracey and a few other Slytherins danced as well. Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson danced past Harry and he was awoken from his stupor by Parvati Patil grabbing his arm and dragging him into a dance. The room filled with laughter until the song was over and both twins collapsed head first into the pie that was served for lunch. Only they had moved to the Slytherin table for the last chorus so the pie was right in the middle of the Slytherin table. They lifted their now food-covered faces and panted. Blaise leaned down to them.
"Gotcha", he said and stalked out in an almost Snape like swirl of robes.
Harry noticed a change directly after lunch. The Gryffindors seemed upset he was not representing them anymore, the Hufflepuffs were happy again, the Ravenclaws didn't care and the Slytherins just got worse. With they, he meant Malfoy, went on and on about how Harry was too good to represent Hogwarts so to make him happy they made up a school for him. Harry sighed, he would have been looking forward to seeing Hagrid under normal circumstances, but Care of Magical Creatures meant seeing the Slytherins too. Predictably, Malfoy arrived at Hagrid's cabin with his familiar sneer firmly in place.
"Ah, look, boys, it's the champion," he said to Crabbe and Goyle the moment he got within earshot of Harry. "Got your autograph books? Better get a signature now, because I doubt he's going to be around much longer... Half the Triwizard champions have died... how long d'you reckon you're going to last, Potter? Ten minutes into the first task's my bet."
Crabbe and Goyle guffawed sycophantically.
"Well at least that is far longer than you would Malfoy", a warm voice said behind Harry and Harry had to smile when he felt the presence of Blaise Zabini standing beside him.
"Again", Malfoy spat. "Honestly Zabini why do you keep standing up for this loser?"
"Because it annoys you", Blaise said.
"I think you are forgetting your place Zabini", Pansy spat at him.
"Not really", Blaise replied coolly. "Have you forgotten yours?" Harry gaped. Blaise was looking very different right now. He was standing tall and looking down his nose at Pansy. Harry got reminded of why so many thought Blaise was an arrogant asshole because right now he would give Lucius Malfoy a run for his money when it came to acting as if he was superior to everyone else. However Harry noticed Daphne and Tracey giggle behind his back and understood that this was an act, an act that had won Blaise his place on top of the Slytherin food-chain.
"Y-you have no power anymore Zabini", Pansy stuttered. "Your mother disowned you."
"So? Does that affect my skill with a wand or my standings with the heir of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Nott?"
"No…"
"And does it affect my grades and my general intellect?"
"No…"
"So I am still the same intelligent and powerful wizard that I was before that letter came. I am almost as influential, almost as rich because I have my own account that Lady Zabini cannot touch. I am still the Heir of some noble house and this ring proves it", he held up his hand. "So tell me Parkinson, am I beneath you now? Am I no longer a powerful wizard not to be trifled with? Am I not still the same person that I was before? Are you really stupid enough to no be afraid of me?"
"I… you are… I mean no… I mean…" she hurriedly hid behind Crabbe and Goyle and Blaise snorted and fixed his robes.
"Malfoy next time you should fight your own battles instead of having your guard dog do it for you."
"Shut it Zabini", Malfoy spat and pulled his wand.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Malfoy."
"Why, because your ring will zap me?"
"No because the teacher is standing right behind you."
Malfoy twirled around and noticed Hagrid coming towards them. He hurriedly put his wand away. Blaise winked at Harry who laughed as Hagrid carried the tower of crates, each containing a very large Blast-Ended Skrewt closer. To the class's horror, Hagrid proceeded to explain that the reason the skrewts had been killing one another was an excess of pent-up energy, and that the solution would be for each student to fix a leash on a skrewt and take it for a short walk. The only good thing about this plan was that it distracted Malfoy completely.
"Take this thing for a walk?" he repeated in disgust, staring into one of the boxes. "And where exactly are we supposed to fix the leash? Around the stinger, the blasting end, or the sucker?"
"Roun' the middle," said Hagrid, demonstrating. "Er - yeh might want ter put on yer dragon-hide gloves, jus' as an extra precaution, like. Harry, you come here an' help me with this big one..."
Hagrid's real intention, however, was to talk to Harry away from the rest of the class. He waited until everyone else had set off with their skrewts, then turned to Harry and said, very seriously:
"So - yer competin', Harry. In the tournament. School champion."
"For the school Dorian made up," Harry corrected him.
Hagrid's beetle-black eyes looked very anxious under his wild eyebrows.
"No idea who put yeh in fer it, Harry?"
"You believe I didn't do it, then?" said Harry, concealing with difficulty the rush of gratitude he felt at Hagrid's words.
"Course I do," Hagrid grunted. "Yeh say it wasn' you, an' I believe yeh - an' Dumbledore believes yer, an' all." Harry fought the urge to snort.
"Wish I knew who did do it," he said bitterly.
The pair of them looked out over the lawn; the class was widely scattered now, and all in great difficulty. The skrewts were now over three feet long, and extremely powerful. No longer shell-less and colourless, they had developed a kind of thick, greyish, shiny armour. They looked like a cross between giant scorpions and elongated crabs- but still without recognizable heads or eyes. They had become immensely strong and very hard to control.
"Look like they're havin' fun, don' they?" Hagrid said happily. Harry assumed he was talking about the skrewts, because his classmates certainly weren't; every now and then, with an alarming bang, one of the skrewts' ends would explode, causing it to shoot forward several yards, and more than one person was being dragged along on their stomach, trying desperately to get back on their feet. Harry did notice however that Blaise had no trouble keeping hold of his skrewt. Blasted werewolf-strenght and endurance. That was so not fair.
"Ah, I don' know, Harry," Hagrid sighed suddenly, looking back down at him with a worried expression on his face. "School champion, everythin' seems ter happen ter you, doesn' it?"
Harry didn't answer. Yes, everything did seem to happen to him.. that was more or less what Hermione had said as they had walked around the lake, and that was the reason, according to her, that Ron was no longer talking to him. Wait, one thing did not happen to him… but it had happened to Blaise. Harry looked for him and saw him near the water watching Malfoy jump into the water to put out his robes that had caught on fire. Well these Skrewts seemed to be good for something at least.
Blaise walked into the Slytherin common room and as soon as he did all conversations stopped. He rolled his eyes and walked towards the couch where his friends were sitting, but even they stopped talking when he came over.
"Now what?" he asked as he sat down. As a reply Daphne handed him the newspaper where it said his mother's trial was in two days. Blaise rolled his eyes and put it aside and got his books out.
"Are you not going to comment on it?" Daphne asked curiously.
"Why should I?" Blaise said. "Everyone else will do a much better job at it."
"Did you know she did all this?" Tracey asked carefully.
"Yes but she bound me with an Unbreakable Vow so I had no way of telling anyone about it… until she made it null."
"How?" Theo asked.
"By disowning me and telling me she is no longer my mother", Blaise said and snorted. "She really is a stupid woman you know. The vow she made was that as long as she is my mother I cannot tell anyone of what she did. Well… she renounced the title herself and went through all that trouble to publicly disown me."
"So she is putting herself away", Daphne said and smiled a cold smile. "Stupid woman."
"Very", Blaise agreed and looked up when Malfoy sat down in a chair opposite them. "Can I help you Malfoy?"
"Yes", Malfoy said. "You've changed Zabini."
"I know."
"You talk more, act more and you are no longer as emotionless. Why is that?"
"Well eleven years of locked away emotions tend to render a person emotionless."
"I do not follow."
"Which is nothing new for you Malfoy. Now was there something you wanted or are you just trying to scope out sweet intel for daddy dearest?"
"Why these constant insults against me?"
"Because you are a despicable human being?"
"There it is again."
"You are also a spoilt brat who thinks he is better than he really is."
"You know very well that is not-"
"What? Not true? Honestly Malfoy everyone in this little group right here has higher grades than you. Nott is the most influential wizard here and according to some I am the most powerful. What are you?"
"I'll have you know that my father-"
"Is not here at the moment so he cannot touch me."
"No but he can-"
"What, go after my family? My mother? Newsflash Malfoy I don't have any family and my mother disowned me. Whatever leverage you might have had against me is now gone. Which means I can do whatever I want against you and you can't do squat about it."
"Oh yeah?" Malfoy asked, his face red in anger.
"Yeah."
"Well I know your secret Zabini."
"Which is?"
"You really want the whole common room to know?"
"Sure I have nothing to hide."
"Oh really? What about the fact that you are gay?"
The entire common room was quiet and then Blaise Zabini, the stone-faced prince of Slytherin started to laugh. He laughed so much he nearly cried and he nearly fell off his seat on the sofa. Everyone else just stared at him. No one had seen him react like that before. Blaise laughed in both amusement and relief. He had sounded cocky but after he had urged Malfoy to spill his secret he had realized that maybe Snape had let his condition slip. He had done it before and Draco Malfoy was his favourite student. What if he really did let that secret slip? When it was just another rumour about Blaise being gay it was both a relief and hilarious. Blaise dried a tear from his eye and looked at Malfoy.
"Oh Draco, Draco, Draco", he said. "That's all you can come up with? The whole school already thinks I'm gay, heck even the ghosts gossip about it. You really think you can get me through my sexual orientation?"
"I…" Malfoy didn't know what to say. He was sure that would rattle the other teen, not make him laugh!
"You are so stupid at times it's almost endearing", Blaise sniggered. "Do you really mean it has taken you four years of school and almost 9 years of "friendship" to figure out I am gay? Honestly mate how blind are you? I thought the whole school already knew this. Then again your head is so far up your ass that you can only see your own bullshit." At that Theo burst out laughing as did Tracey, Daphne, Astoria and Adrian Pucey to name a few. Malfoy blushed and hurriedly left the common room. Blaise just shook his head and returned to his book. Being the quiet stone-faced Slytherin was great, but being the one in tune with his emotions was better.
Remus waited until the last student was out of his classroom before hurrying to his office, grabbed the Floo Powder and headed to S:t Mungos. He ignored the with at the reception desk because he could pick up Lily's scent and hurried towards it. He found her in a private room where she sat between James and Sirius' beds. She was holding James' hand while keeping an eye on Sirius. Remus sat down in a chair beside her.
"How are they?" he asked.
"Fine", Lily replied. "Well they are still unconscious while Andromeda is trying to find out what exactly is doing this." She motioned for the still oily black tears coming out from underneath the two men's eyelids. Remus shuddered a little and took Sirius' hand so that the other man would know he was not alone, wherever he was.
"I'm sorry I didn't notice something was wrong", he told her.
"I didn't either", she replied.
"True, but I should have realized as soon as they didn't support Peter or me… the Marauders always had each other's backs. Always. When they refused to believe Peter in the Shack last year I should have noticed that something was wrong."
"Remus", Lily said and looked at him. "I didn't notice either and I saw them every day. Who knows how long this spell has been on them. What if it has been since the war and I missed it all this time or God forbid… I'm under it too."
"I don't think you are", Remus said and looked into her eyes. "Your eyes are the same as always."
"Then why them and not me or you?"
"Because", Remus said and thought a bit. "Because if this is Dumbledore's doing he would use it to turn the wizarding world against us."
"What do you mean? That no one would believe us, a muggleborn and a werewolf over the lords of two of the most powerful wizarding families?"
"That is exactly what I mean. If it came down to it and we'd have to face the Wizengamot who do you think they would believe? The two Lords that also happen to be star Aurors or the muggleborn witch with her own potions-shop and the werewolf teacher?"
"Well when you put it like that", Lily said and snorted. "Dumbledore would see it as the perfect opportunity to get rid of us. He doesn't want you at Hogwarts because you are a competent teacher, but me? Why would he want to get rid of me?"
"Because you are the one person that James and Harry… and Sirius will always listen to. If you say jump they will. Without you Dumbledore can control them… I believe he is trying to make it look as if Peter or I killed you and to make sure Sirius and James doesn't suspect a thing he has blinded them with this… darkness." Remus looked at the black tears again.
"We need to stop him Remus Evans", Lily said and looked at her husband.
"I know but we don't have any proof yet. The Wizengamot would never believe our memories over Dumbledore's word. Why do you think they just took his word for it at my trial?"
"We have to expose him somehow… how much of that serum did Dorian make?"
"Enough to make the whole school tell the truth." Remus looked at her and saw an almost evil grin on her face. "Ooooh you're good. Now the question is how to get it into the headmaster."
"Well, well, well", a voice said from the door and a brown-haired healer stood in the door with a somewhat smug look on her face. "Remus Lupin, you finally drag your ass over to say hello?"
"Andy", Remus chuckled and got up to give the woman a hug. She hugged him back before slapping him up the head. "Ow!"
"Took you long enough", Andromeda said and held up a scolding finger. "Did you forget I existed? Did you forget how to write? Oh or did you really go out of your way to avoid me? Remus Lupin what do you have to say for yourself?"
"Uh…"
"Wow very intelligent and I always thought that out of the four of you troublemakers you were the one that was actually intelligent."
"Andy be nice", Lily giggled. "Remus' life has been really hectic since his resurrection."
"For your information I did not resurrect", Remus turned to Lily. "I simply came out of hiding."
"Then you ran away and joined the circus", Andromeda said and crossed her arms while cocking an eyebrow.
"Yes well I didn't have much of a choice in the joining matter."
"And got married", Lily pointed out.
"I-"
"WHAT!?" Andromeda boomed. "You got married without telling me!? Remus John Lupin-husband's name how dare you get married without telling me!?"
"In my defence I only told Lily", Remus said and held up his hands in defence.
"That does not make it better! Now explain yourself young man."
"This is all your fault", Remus said over his shoulder to his two sleeping friends.
"Don't go blaming them, they don't know any better", Lily said with a smile on her face. "Now explain to us why you ran away to the circus, got married, adopted a child and got a steady job at Hogwarts without informing Andy."
"A child!?" Andromeda shrieked and Remus glared at Lily before turning back to his friends.
"Thanks for your backup guys", he growled. "You are so helpful."
"An'y don' mess wi' ma Mooey", Sirius slurred and Lily and Remus stared at each other and then Sirius.
"Padfoot?" Remus asked and took his hand. "Can you hear me?"
"'m sleey", Sirius mumbled.
"James", Lily asked and held her husband's hand to her cheek. "Do you hear me? Can you feel me with you?"
"Lily", James slurred.
"Open your eyes Potter or I will curse your balls off."
"Evans be nice", Sirius mumbled.
"Andromeda can we do something", Remus asked and turned to her and she nodded.
"I found the curse", she said. "It is a very old curse called… something in Japanese. Which roughly translates to the Obscuring curse. It obscures the victim's view of the true world. They will see only what the caster wants them to see."
"Like them not seeing that Lily and I are right", Remus said.
"Well aren't you always right?" Andromeda asked with a small smile. "It is said that this was the curse used to the woman that inspired the Muggle story of Snow White. In the original story the dwarves found her with black tears running down her cheeks from the poison in the apple. In reality she got cursed by this curse and she believed that the apple was poisoned so she 'died' from it and she also believed the same thing of the comb and the bodices in the story. The worst part was that the queen was not responsible… it was the prince and his seven demon servants… not dwarves. The queen only tried to save her from them. But that part of the story was too horrible to tell."
"So is there a way to break the curse", Lily asked and held her husband's hand tighter.
"A true love's kiss?" Andromeda said seriously. The room fell into silence.
"Are you serious", Remus asked dryly.
"No I am", Sirius mumbled sleepily.
"Shut it Padfoot", Remus said.
"Of course I'm not serious", Andromeda said and raised her want. "I admit my Japanese is a bit rusty." She rolled her sleeves up and raised her wand. "Here we go…" she said something in Japanese and a purple stream of light left her wand hitting first Sirius and then James. The black tears started pouring faster and for a moment Remus and Lily worried it hadn't worked until the blackness was replaced by normal tears and James and Sirius opened their eyes slowly. James looked at Lily and it felt as if he saw her for the first time in years. He reached out and caressed her cheek and she cried happy tears of joy. Sirius, being Sirius, just threw himself at Remus and hugged him tightly, like a long-lost teddy bear. Remus chuckled and hugged him back.
"I guess we have some things to talk about", James said after a bit and Remus and Lily laughed.
TBC Happy new year everybody!
Nos autem vobis quem stabam according to Google Translate means: We Will Rock You... well when i tanslated from English to Latin that is. When I took the same sentance in Latin and translated that to English it meant something different so bear with me please?