Chapter 37 – – A dual anyone?
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Draco being the new school champion hadn't increased his brain functions. Up until now Draco had pretty much been hiding especially from me. Now he had a small group of admirers following him around and Draco was strutting around like the cock of the walk.
"With Draco strutting around as the cock on the walk would you girls like to go for a little stroll with a picnic basket lunch. Hermione's does have this afternoon free of classes."
"That's a fabulous idea Harry, come shortly the weather is going to turn and we will be stuck in the castle." Hermione look very happy with the idea.
"I agree we can all do a little bit of sun." Kat added with a large grin on her face.
Penny and Jenny made a picnic basket that I could hardly carry. After little charm work on the now lighter picnic basket we strolled along the lake's edge toward the forbidden Forest. We strolled this way so we could get some privacy. I had asked Tonks to take a break for the afternoon. Kat and Hermione spread the blanket I put in the picnic basket in the middle. We all flopped down onto the blanket and dug into the picnic basket to find what treasures Jenny and Penny had packed.
"So how are your classes coming Hermione?" I asked as I took a bite out of my pastrami on rye sandwich.
"Professor Flitwick is teaching us the unlocking spell..." Hermione let out a bloodcurdling scream which caused me to turn around.
There coming out of forbidden Forest was an Acromantula the size of a large sedan. Just as a reflex I just threw up my hand to send a wandless fire curse at the spider. What happened then shock all three of us, the spider instantly incinerated. The fire curse is like a stream of fire that burns upon contact this was nothing like a stream of fire. I was sitting there looking at my hand when Kat started giving me instructions...
"Harry relax, don't think of the fire, think on something like how beautiful your wives are and just relax."
I of course came back with a intelligent response, "Huh?"
"Harry that was elemental fire!" Kat stated.
I just flopped back down on the blanket and mentally shook my head, now what?
"Harry do me a favor, take out your wand and use it to lift that small rock over there by the bush." Kat said as she pointed in the direction of the bush.
I shrugged my shoulders and took out my wand and pointed at the rock and nothing happened. Of this kind of upset me so I pointed the wand and tried to send a blasting curse through the wand at the rock and nothing happened. This time however I felt something like something was missing.
"Kat what's going on? Has Harry lost his magic already?" Hermione looked like she was about ready to panic.
"I believe Harry has lost his magic but has just joined a very restrictive club and is now an elemental magic user. Harry and I now have some serious training to be doing, I think your vacation is over Harry."
And indeed it was. Kat and I spent most of our free time down by the Lake and in the Forbidden Forest. Kate was instructing and I was learning how to control my new magic. There was no snapping my fingers to have a thin stream of fire reach out and carve my initials in the tree. To start with I snapped my fingers and the tree incinerated. This new type of magic turned out to be some very hard work.
/Scene Break/
It was odd sitting in the stands watching the first task. I was wondering where the Hungarian horntail was at and what it was doing at this time. Fleur and Krum got their golden eggs while Draco almost got totally incinerated. They carted his smoking carcass off on a stretcher to the hospital wing. Not that I really cared but as long as there was a spark of life in his carcass Madam Pomfrey and magic would bring him back to normal within days.
Later in the great Hall it seemed even odder to be talking about how the tasks were done by each of the champions. Normally I was the one being talked about or in the hospital wing.
"Harry don't look now but Dumbledore has taken an inordinate amount of interest in you since we been here in the Great Hall." Hermione's statement started the three of us inconspicuously watching Dumbledore watch me. It had been a number of days now that Dumbledore couldn't take his eyes off of me and I was beginning to wonder what plans he had or what he was plotting. I was moving my hand towards my wand when I remembered Hermione now had my white wand tucked away as her backup wand.
/Scene Break/
"The Yule Ball is a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and blah, blah, – – now, you may invite a younger student if you wish -blah, blah."
I was almost asleep when I heard, "Mister Potter please report to my office after you have finished lunch."
"Come on girls looks like were going to find out what the old coot has up his sleeve." I groaned and assisted the girls to their feet.
Once we were settled into the headmaster's office he started laying down the law, "Harry after the Yule ball your young ladies will be allowed to go home for Christmas and New Year's however you will be remaining here under the 'Protection act'. Now once your young ladies are on the carriages heading for the train you report to Professor Snape and he will escort you to your new quarters for Christmas break. I understand it has a marvelous view of the Forbidden Forest"
/Scene Break/
Draco was still strutting around with his entourage, Dumbledore was still watching, Mad-eye was still clunking around and Snape was still sneering. Draco was now standing behind me with six of his bully boys from Slytherin, "Lost your magic and destroyed your wand, you Potter are in big trouble."
"Who would be capable of hurting little old me? Not the boys from Slytherin and surly not her in the Great Hall."
"This Hogwarts champion has decided to teach you a few lessons." Draco drew his wand and was in the process of calling out a curse.
I grabbed Kat's goblet of pumpkin juice and tossed the pumpkin juice into Draco's face. I found pumpkin juice to be a vial drink but I thought it suited Draco's mug just fine.
As I knew it would further infuriated Draco who growled, "kill him". His bully boys were in the process of pulling their wands as Draco was starting a curse which I thought was 'Confringo'.
Unfortunately I was wanting a couple of elements to appear but they got kind of got out of hand, again. My mini lightning bolt turned out to be quite substantial and probably would've killed the idiot if it had been for Madame Pomfrey's presence in the Great Hall. The lightning bolt burnt off his arm and the amperage took him out of the fight, while the heat set his robes on fire. My simultaneous attempt was to use the wind to push Draco back a number feet which would push him into a couple of his buddies. Unfortunately the wind was strong enough that it flung him a good way across the hall and onto the head table and in front of Madame Pomfrey.
As incredulous as it might seem my new magic was lost in the hail of curses and charms being thrown at the same time. Kat used the wind to push back the bully boys causing their curses or spells to head off in all directions while grapefruit size hailstones started falling from the ceiling. Hermione got off I think two spells before she got stunned. Tonks also unloaded a number of curses or spells at the bully boys.
/Scene Break/
Not much later in the headmasters office, "Except for Auror Tonks you have all earned a detention every night until the end of term." Dumbledore stated giving everyone a stern look as if he was going to do something if we objected.
"Headmaster the Potter's need to be expelled, they almost killed Draco." Snape growled.
"Yes headmaster I agree with Snape please expel me! However neither myself nor my wives will be serving any detentions. Should this lunacy continue I will be forced as a Lord of an ancient and noble house to demand satisfaction from house Malfoy for this unprovoked attack on a Lord and his wives. Come my dear's this discussion is over with."
"Am I now one of your dear's Harry?" Tonks giggled, "The next thing your going be asking for my hand in marriage are yah now?"
"Now that you mention it I do have a slot open in house Black." That got to Tonks as her hair started to rotate through numerous colors at a quick rate.
/Scene Break/
I had of course told the girls that I would be joining them at Grimmauld Place as soon as I was able. I also reminded them not to go downstairs as Grimmauld Place was an unknown and there was no point in taking any chances.
The Yule ball was a bit of all right. The girls were enjoying themselves tremendously as one had me on the dance floor for each dance number. The elves outdid themselves with the selection of food available. The only downside was Malfoy who plagued us the entire evening. It seemed he wanted to get me mad enough to do something stupid in public. At the end of the ball Snape was waiting for me. After both Hermione and Kat gave me some serious good night kisses they headed off to our quarters with Tonks.
"All right where is this special room that I'm supposed to be staying in for the Christmas break?" I should've known before I took the first step, that from the look on Snape's face, I was not going to like my new room.
As far as rooms went this room was better than at Privet Drive but it was still a cell. When I was not in the presence of one of the professors I was to be locked away in my room. Right now is just too tired and planned on sleeping late into the next day. The girls would be on train in the morning the and I did not envy them having to get up that early in the morning.
"Get up Potter if you want breakfast." I knew Snape was enjoying his harassment of me this early in the morning. I just waved him off and went back to sleep. Later in the day I finally got up, cleaned up, and finally took a look out the window to see what I could see.
The room just happened to be located at the top of one of the towers. And while the window gave an excellent view of the Forbidden Forest it was only a gazillion feet from the ground. All I could do was grin, they really thought I couldn't get away from Hogwarts?
'Apperation' was warded against here at Hogwarts which had gotten me to thinking about losing my regular magic. 'Apperation' I would have to try out later using elemental magic. There was another thing that I was capable of using my old magic and I wondered if my new magic would let it still work. What a quick thought I found that my current magic was good enough. I slipped through the small window and leaped into the air. I transformed and was soon gliding over the Forbidden Forest in my Griffin form. This kind of magic should not show up in the wards surrounding Hogwarts.
I touchdown just outside of Hogsmeade village and found that I was no longer able to 'Apperate'. I realized that calling the Knight bus was probably not going to work and jumping into a fire I would put off for a while. While I was kicking myself for not asking Kat if we had a special mode of transportation I started dreaming up stupid ideas. I thought of a chariot of lightning bolts then I could not figure out how not to get electrocuted. Then I really surprised myself by coming up with another idea that actually worked. I used my wind power to support me in an almost comfortable chair while using the same wind power to hurtle me at fantastic speed to where I wanted to go which was Grimmauld Place.
/Scene Break/
"Albus he's gone! The door was still locked but when I entered the room he was gone." Snape was not a happy camper.
"Let's head over to Grimmauld Place and start rounding up some Order members. We'll need somebody in Diagon alley full-time, he's bound to need galleons and to do his Christmas shopping." Dumbledore threw some 'floe' powder and disappeared into the fireplace.
/Scene Break/
"Harry it's good to see you!" Dan and Emma Granger wrapped me up in a hug giving me that family feeling.
"Hermione says that you don't have any plans so we hope you don't mind, were all heading off to France for the Christmas break."
About that time Penny popped in with my trunk and I felt that I should be kicking myself for not remembering, I could've called a house elf to get me out of my new cell at Hogwarts.
/Scene Break/
It didn't take us long to locate the magical sector and then the French branch of Gringotts. Kat filled a bag full of money, grabbed Hermione, and they headed off on a shopping spree. Luckily Emma spoke French and help me purchase Christmas presents. Later the girls drag me off so I could buy the Grangers their presents.
"Harry, Hermione and I were think that it's best if we stop by Gringotts today. We should fill our sacks with galleons but we also should get some English pounds."
"Then we will have no need to go to Diagon alley when we get back. Dumbledore's bound to have somebody watching out to grab you if you show up in the alley."
"Good point Hermione. Now all we have to do is come up with a devious plan to get me on the train."
/Scene Break/
Just to tick off the old goat Kat and I rode the Hogwarts express with Hermione and Tonks back to Hogwarts. We learned of all of the attacks that Voldemort or his Death Eaters had carried out and how the Ministry of Magic was in total disarray. We focused in on the more important matters which was what each person got for Christmas.
I avoided pumpkin juice but I was still consuming Pepsi-Cola on the ride and soon developed a need to visit the WC which of course was on the other end of the carriage. I had just reached the door when I felt a ward going up in the area.
In all honesty I was confused but went on alert. I found the corridor empty and then started second-guessing what I had felt. My regular magic was gone and had been replaced with some kind of elemental magic. I've been through numerous lifetimes and I felt I was at least proficient in my magic and then the next day it was gone. This new magic I was still trying to get a handle on and so far I knew I need a lot of practice and concentration to perform this new magic properly.
My musing over my incompetence was interrupted by the shimmering forms of Draco Malfoy and his two goons appearing in the hallway. Get ready to die you mudblood loving bastared! I don't care what the Dark Lord wants 'Avada Kedavra'."
Not that my previous magic could do anything with the killing curse so was my new magic equally limited. Having only one other option I threw myself to the left and the floor while directed a strong wind crashing the three into the carriage wall. As they slid to the floor unconscious I noticed that Crab was carrying some kind of a box. I had the wind lift the three and the box. While I physically opened the door between carriages I had the wind move the three idiots through the door connecting the carriages and I flung them off the train, I kept the box for future study. I'd come to the conclusion on this last transfer back to my cupboard under the stairs that I didn't care to continue this lifestyle so I damn sure didn't care if Draco Malfoy and his ilk continue to live there's. I suddenly felt the wards falling.
After a short but relieving discussion with the porcelain queen I stepped back into the corridor to find it full of Slytherin students.
"Where is Draco?" Nott demanded.
"You're more than welcome to inspect the Loo for the poof but I assure you I'm not into that lifestyle. If Greengrass didn't have her nose stuck so high in the air I might even give her a spin, but not Draco."
"You should be that so lucky Potter!" She ruined her beautiful face with her attempted sneer.
"Sorry beautiful I have exceptional talents and don't need luck." Of course when words failed to get what they wanted several reached for their wands. I just waved my hand in a dismissive mode and cause enough wind to push them back so I could head back to my compartment.
/Scene Break/
As we stepped off the carriages two hours later I was met by a slightly upset Deputy Headmistress and Potion Master.
"The Headmaster wishes to see you in his office immediately." Professor McGonagall stated with her 'Your in trouble look'..
"Come on girls the old goat has most likely come up with another plan for the greater good."
Upon arrival at the office we found Lucius Malfoy, the Minister of Magic and Madame Bones the Head of the DMLE. Snape slunk over to stand by Lucius Malfoy while Professor McGonagall and Tonks remained by our side.
"Harry my boy there appears to be a number of people who are charging you with attacking Draco, Goyle and Crabbe. What do you have to say for yourself." Dumbledore smiled with that dam twinkle in his eye.
"You must be kidding headmaster, me attacking the three most incompetent and inept people who are attending Hogwarts at this time? If I had my say, my only regret would be that their attacker did not make them totally and irrevocably dead."
"Why you miserable half blood..."
"I'm afraid Lucius that we need to first talk with Draco and his friends." Dumbledore interrupted Lucius obviously attempting to stop any troubles from interrupting..
"I definitely am going to be interested in their replies." Madam Bones stated and stood up to head to the hospital wing. That was where I assumed we would be heading so I followed Madam Bones .
We arrived in the hospital wing to find Crabbe and Goyle moaning and groaning while Draco was whining about all the pain that he was in over the effects of Skele-Gro. I was also mumbled under my breath, "The idiot is still alive, I wonder what I have to do to kill the bastard?"
"Mister Malfoy would you explain what happened on the train and how you ended up in this condition?" The headmaster asked as I saw in his eyes still twinkling as if he was pleased at something." Potter did this to us, he almost killed me, I am in pain because of Potter, it's all Potter's fault!" Draco raved on regardless of his conditioned.
"Draco Malfoy as a Lord of an ancient and noble house I find your accusations an insult and I demand immediate satisfaction. I challenge you to an honor duel to start in one hour!"
"Harry my boy you are unable to fight less raise a wand in magic, surely you don't mean this." Dumbledore whined and his grandfatherly mode was gone.
"Oh but I do headmaster, he has always picked on the weak and defenseless. He is always the first to badmouth people and attack those he feels that are beneath his status. Why should anyone be less in this magical world than the noble house of Malfoy?"
"Draco accept the challenge and appoint me as your second." Lucius demanded as he turned to me with a smirk on his face almost as bad as Severus Snape's.
Draco groaned an acceptance and appointed his father as his second. Lucius demanded an immediate duel to the death as the primary was incapacitated.
"But of course Lucius let step outside so as not to hurt other innocent people" I smirked. "It's always interesting to get rid of one of Voldemorts most loyal inner circle." I gave the most toothy grin that I had.
"Harry did you think is a wise, surely there is a more peaceful way of settling this dispute? "When I didn't answer I received what I figured I was going to receive. "Mister Potter under the Harry Potter protection act I demanded you rescind your childish challenge he don't even have a wand."
"Oh do shut up old man the extermination of the Malfoy line is well underway."
"You've turned dark Harry, you must disavow this path you are traveling and returned to the light." Dumbledore seriously stated, "Your eternal soul is online this day Harry, return to light."
I just gave Dumbledore the most evil laugh that I could and followed Lucius Malfoy down the halls and out the front doors. Of course Dumbledore's office emptied and accompanied us to the Quidditch pitch.
While Hermione was hissing and one of my ears over how insane this was I picked up a bit of conversation between the Minister and Madame Bones over the legality of the duel. Professor McGonagall was hissing in Dumbledore's ear about stopping this insanity. Kat was whispering in Tonks's ear causing Tonks to giggle.