Disclaimer: see chapter 1

"Auntie, how old am I?" asked Timothy as he played on the floor with the Pettigrew children.

"The same age as Beadle Bard." Said Addie as she held a fussy Bertie Bott in her arms. Her other children paid her no mind as they played a game involving toy muggle soldiers and dragons charmed to move.

"Are you sure?" asked Timothy as he floated over to his aunt, Addie. Addie looked into his large, deep, blue eyes.

"I'm sure." Said Addie. Timothy could feel her lying to him, her eyes said so.

"I don't feel the same age as Beadle." Said Timothy wishing his mum was there. She'd tell him the truth. She was busy though, cutting holes in the fabric of the universe or something along those lines.

"Some people mature faster than others." Said Addie. The truth of it was she had no idea how old this little feyling really was. Her twin girls, Caroline and Coraline looked over at their mother.

"I just feel…different. Not different because of who my daddy is, just different. Sometimes I feel like the world is…off somehow." Said Timothy looking at the twins. He remembered, somewhat hazily, a time when it was just him and Beadle.

"You're a very small boy with a very big vocabulary, that's all. Any difference that you may feel can be explained by who and what you are. Now, go play with the family." Said Addie in a tone which left no room for discussion.

"Yes, ma'am" said Timothy as he returned to his game.

XXXXX

"Are you mad?" asked a voice from outside her bed. Galatea drew the curtains away in annoyance. Who dared to disturb her?!

"Don't bother, it's safer if you can't see me." Said a disillusioned blur. Galatea pulled the wand from the sleeve of her nightgown. She recognized that voice…

"Mum!" said Galatea jumping up, her belly protesting at that.

"Shush!" said the voice. Galatea took the golden compass from around her neck and opened it. She could feel her magic interacting with its' in an internal dance.

"Mum, what are you doing here? I thought you were in South Africa." asked Galatea. this was indeed her mother, but also not her mother.

"Stay out of the time stream." Said the voice simply in a tone that left no room for argument. Yes, that was, in fact, her mum.

"You still haven't answered my question." Said Galatea defiantly. The voice exhaled loudly in frustration.

"How is it possible that you are in two places at once." Said the voice. Galatea felt the phoenix gate in the secret pocket of her nightgown. She narrowed her eyes.

"I'm only here right now." Said Galatea. She had to stay put as long as possible with this new person growing within her.

"This incarnation of you, anyway." Said the voice. Galatea gasped. How had-?

"Please, don't insult my intelligence. I know very well how you make more time in the day, the year. I know that thirteen year old Galatea is cavorting about somewhere and I'm here to tell you to stop." Said the voice in an even harsher tone.

"I know what I'm doing." Said Galatea in a tone only a teenager could pull off.

"Do you, do you really?" asked the voice. This was her daughter…in a way. This was her fault.

"I know what I must do." Said Galatea

"For your own good or the good of the world?" asked the voice

"They're one in the same." Said Galatea now standing up at her full height. Her stomach bulged out in front of her.

"You can't really believe that." Scoffed the voice

"It doesn't matter what I believe, it only matters what is true." Said Galatea, her wand in her hand throwing green sparks.

"What is truth? It's not an easy thing to define, now is it? Especially not when you can go and change it at a whim."

"You don't need to be a witch to do that." Said Galatea. Now the baby was throwing off its own magic. Timothy sometimes did that but not when she was this early. It was big enough to be noticeable but small enough that it couldn't survive outside of her body.

"I'm going to repeat myself; stay out of the time stream. You're playing with forced beyond your control." Said the voice

"There is nothing in this world outside of my control. I'm Galatea Black." Said Galatea. The voice scoffed and began to pace the floor, heels clicking as it walked.

"Galatea Black, Superstar. Lady Galatea Black. Dark Lady Galatea Black. Galatea the Ageless. Queen Galatea Black. I've heard them all." Said the voice.

"What do you mean?" asked Galatea with forced nonchalance as she threw on her dressing gown.

"You are working towards something, that much is obvious. What you are working towards is beyond me." Said the voice still unhappy.

"I am working towards the advancement of me and my family." Said Galatea

"At what cost?" said the voice. The green of her dress was staring to become visible.

"Just tell me what you're getting at, and don't you dare tell me something about staying out of the bloody time stream without telling me why." Said Galatea running a brush through her long black hair. She had to make her mum feel less important than her. it hurt her, to treat her mum like everyone else but it had to be done. She was Galatea Black, nothing shocked, fazed, or even slightly bothered her unless she decided it did.

"You're making changes." Said the voice. Galatea dropped her brush. It clattered to the floor, the mirror on the back cracking.

"Time is like a river, correcting it's course against all change." Said Galatea, her hand still hovering in mid air as if the brush was still clasped in her long, bony fingers.

"No it's not." Said the voice. It then disappearing in a burst of green flame. Galatea stared at where the voice was. She clutched the phoenix gate to her chest.

XXX

"Four tasks!" said Harry loudly as he plopped himself down hard onto the boy's side of the Spellwick's table. Portia and Persephone gave him confused looks.

"We know." They both said at once. They had worked through the stages of disbelief from anger, to bargaining, to acceptance.

"Well I had assumed that we would get through the third task and then get on with our lives." Said Harry as he spooned himself some porridge.

"Don't assume; it makes a fool out of you and me." Said Persephone as she drank down her foul tasting potion.

"You and I." said Portia absently. That purple Granger girl was sitting at the Gryffindor table, laughing with a group of red heads. She'd look better if she did something with her hair…her nose was cute though.

"Thank you professor grammar." Said Persephone sourly

"You're welcome, cousin." Said Portia pleasantly. Harry threw his arms down on the table in a huff.

"I'm having a problem here!" said Harry getting up. Everyone looked at him and he heard mutters about gillyweed addiction. The matron shushed him and he sat back down, sourly.

"We all have problems." Muttered Portia. Harry looked very concerned and held her hand from across the table.

"I promise you, you won't die in this tournament." Said Harry looking into her eyes. She smiled at him.

"You're right, I'm just being silly. We've been to Avalon after all. This logic puzzle obstacle course or whatever won't be a bother at all." Said Portia

"I have complete faith in you." Said Persephone looking at her cousins with suspicion. Persephone knew for a fact that Portia's mind was far from this tournament.

"See, even Persephone has faith in us, for once. We'll meet in the library later and look up obscure creatures and traps so we'll know what to do." Said Harry. Portia looked into Harry's eyes and she was immediately brought back to their night in the astronomy tower.

"Sure thing." Said Portia absentmindedly touching her chubby belly.

XXX

"I hate the snow…I hate the cold…and most of all I hate the snow." Said Persephone as she walked back to the castle in the unusually deep snow. This was a form of self punishment for the unkind way she acted towards her family. As she walked down the path a snowball hit her in the back.

"Who was that?!" yelled Persephone. She turned around and looked for her invisible assailant. When no one presented themselves she turned around and went back to walking. Soon another snowball hit her in the back of the head, knocking her hat off. She turned around and drew her wand. Whoever it was, they were crazy determined. She huffed and turned around to collect her hat, she was in no mood for this.

"Here." Said a slightly lispy voice. Persephone turned around and jumped back a full foot into the unusually deep snow. She landed on her bottom in the snow.

"Get away!" yelled Persephone as she held her wand out in front of herself defensively. There was a vampire in front of her.

"I don't bite humans, that's a form of cannibalism." Said the girl as she put her hands on her hips indignantly. Her dirty blonde hair was in a mess of curls; just peaking out from under her navy blue hood embroidered in a family crest she was unfamiliar with. Her cloak was clasped together with a family insignia she had never seen before. Small fangs poked out from her mouth, just past her lower lip; but not in a threatening way. In fact, she seemed to be a girl just like her. very similar looking too.

"You're only half vampire?" asked Persephone. She was fascinated, truly fascinated. She knew, academically, that such things were possible if the vampire was either an incubus or succubus. Even then the vampire had to be a specific type of incubus or succubus and find a human to mate with.

"What is this, twenty questions? Listen, I'm breaking almost every rule just speaking to you." Said the vampire. Persephone attempted to retain some amount of her inborn decorum.

"My name is Persephone, Persephone Pettigrew. You are?" asked Persephone holding out her dainty, gloved hand. The vampire looked unsure for a moment before extending her own hand.

"Claudine Estelle DeLioncourt. Listen. I haven't much time." Said Claudine as she took Persephone's gloved hand in her pale, thin one. Persephone didn't know if this girl was naturally cold or if it was the weather. Upon further inspection she could see familiar features in the girl such as the shape of her mouth and eyes. Almost the same color, even.

"Time for what?" asked Persephone. Claudine reached into her cloak and came out with a blueish, greenish liquid suspended in a vile.

"Drink this, it's not poisonous. Trust me, it's for the good of all of us." Said Caludine. Persephone eyes it suspiciously. She wasn't born yesterday.

"I'm not stupid. I don't just go around drinking strange potions from strange strangers, even though I suspect you're a Pettigrew." Said Persephone. Claudine clicked her tongue and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Then have Aunt Galatea take a look at it and then drink the bloody potion!" said Claudine. Her fangs growing in anger as if she were going to feed on Persephone.

"What do you mean, Aunt Galatea?" asked Persephone. Claudine gasped and put a hand over her mouth.

"I've said too much!" said Claudine. She began to fiddle with the pendant around her neck. A cyclone of pure white snow engulfed Persephone's vision. When it dissipated Claudine was gone.

XXX

Valentine's Day came with much fanfare for Harry and Portia. More so Harry than Portia, when one thought about it. They shared a table together at the Three Broomsticks with Persephone acting as the third wheel.

"Are you sure you don't want something else, I'm buying?" asked Harry as Portia ordered a second butter beer. Because he was still technically a citizen of Remodere he could order strong, adult like alcoholic drinks. Or spark bombs, those were good too.

"I'm fine." Said Portia. She had never done anything like this before, courting not eating in a restaurant.

"Are you sure? I wish I could have taken you to a more posh place but this was the nicest I could get." Said Harry cursing the fact that he wasn't allowed to venture past Hogsmeade Village, their only all wizarding town in their Ministry's jurisdiction.

"It's all fine, really." Said Portia sipping her butter beer. It was almost like drinking liquid butterscotch.

"And so are you." Said Harry. This was nice, much nicer than being with Galatea. They didn't have to hide and Portia didn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"No, I think you're describing yourself." Said Harry lacing his fingers within hers. Persephone made childish gagging motions unbecoming of a young woman in her station, but perfectly acceptable for a regular young girl.

"I'm going back to the castle." Said Persephone sourly. She liked butter beer, she liked rare roast beef, but she didn't like this. Couples, everywhere. Beautiful girls with handsome guys sitting together in this refuge from the cold.

"No, don't." said Harry half-heartedly. Persephone put her long, white, fur lined coat on. She'd rather be in the cold library researching anything and everything having to do with this tournament.

"No, I really must be going. Good day, ta-ta for now." Said Persephone as she went out the door waving a white muffed hand behind her. Her pink and white outfit almost blending in with the unusual amount of February snow, snowflakes getting caught in the long sausage curls peaking out from under her warm hat.

"She's just jealous." Said Portia as she moved the half eaten food from Persephone's plate towards hers. Harry made a face like he had just eaten an entire sour lemon in one bite.

"What happened to your manners, Lady Pettigrew? Too much time away from home?" asked Harry. Portia turned red and looked down at her soft, kid skin boots charmed to keep her feet warm and nice smelling.

"Probably." Said Portia as she shoveled some vegetables into her mouth. Harry shook his head.

"You shouldn't eat so much, you're starting to get fat." Said Harry giving her belly a little poke. It didn't concave inwards, like normal fat. She jumped back.

"Well, that makes two of us." Said Portia with forced lightness as she too, poked Harry in the belly.

XXX

"Molly, Arthur. I wish I was calling upon you on lighter circumstances." Said Dumbledore as he entered the Weasley house. He had waited until the day after Valentine's day to have a very serious discussion with the Weasley's.

"What's wrong Albus?" Said Arthur Weasley. Whatever it was, it must have been order business. That was the only thing which he could think of which warranted a person visit from the notoriously overworked Albus Dumbledore.

"It's your daughter." Said Dumbledore, looking his age. He exhaled and made himself look even more pathetic. Arthur and Molly were some of his first supporters and he couldn't afford to lose them.

"Ginny!" said Molly turning white as a sheet. She glared daggers at Albus. She knew it was a mistake to let Ginny return to Hogwarts even if it was under private tutelage.

"What happened!" yelled Arthur drawing his wand as if to look for invisible assailants. He was picturing his baby girl strapped down to the bed at St. Mungo's again, screaming in that deep demonic voice.

"Sit down…what I'm about to say will shock you." Said Albus Dumbledore in his most serious voice. Arthur and Molly sat down clutching each other for dear life, and then in extreme anger.

XXX

The Third Task came with much fanfare. An obstacle course was erected all around Hogwarts with high up stands and screens charmed to show the various champions as they made their way through the course so that people wouldn't be sitting there bored doing nothing.

"Think Galatea will watch this one?" asked Portia as she smoothed down her dress. It was a short thing, just below her knees, made of the finest acromantula silk and dragon hide. The crest of the house of Pettigrew shined on her back along with the school crest. Harry had a similar outfit only with breaches and the crest of the house of Potter.

"I'm not sure, she's been really busy." Said Harry as he tied his shoes tightly. He discretely cast a charm to keep his feet warm, dry, and comfortable.

"Saving the world?" asked Portia. Persephone cracked a small smile. She knew that she shouldn't have been back there, not being a champion and all, but Hermione Granger was there and neither was she.

"Or taking it over, depends on who you ask." Said Persephone sarcastically. She knew things now…great things. Terrible, but great. Shouting was heard from outside their tent, followed by flapping. Then silence a pregnant silence followed by clapping.

"I guess Frenchie made it out alright." Said Portia as she began to pace, her petticoats rusting with each step she took.

"Too bad about the others…" said Harry his voice trailing off. There was a heavy silence as they remembered their fallen champions.

"If we die, I'm going to kill you." Muttered Portia as she coated herself in a very greasy salve. It was designed to protect her from cold, poisons, and fire as well as act as an anti-acne cream.

"We're not going to die…I think." Said Harry as he took some from the pot which clearly said 'Very Expensive Acne Cram' on the front in fancy script.

"You're both going to slip on that girly cream of yours. Honestly, we face our deaths and these two want to be photo ready." Said Ron. Hermione giggled a little bit before looking down. Portia thought she had a nice smile.

"I don't believe we were speaking to you." Said Portia in the voice her mum used when speaking to the help. Hermione glared at her.

"People have died and all you two can think about is how you look." said Hermione with a huff. Harry, Portia, and Persephone had a silent conversation. Through a system of looks they all made the decision to ignore her.

"We'll save it for the final battle." Said Portia. Everyone in the tent looked at her. Battle? None of their teachers had even hinted at a possibility of a battle.

"What battle?" asked Victor in his heavily accented English. Everyone was looking at Portia now. Portia carried herself like Galatea did whenever she needed people to know how important she was.

"In the end there's going to be a final battle where we'll all fight each other to the death. The winner will be the last one standing. The bodies of the losers will be paraded around for everyone to laugh at. Then they will be reanimated and used as opponents in the next tournament; hovering in a state between life and death from which there is no escape. Their souls in agony for all eternity." Said Persephone darkly before Portia could get a word out.

"Macabre, Persephone, very macabre. Oh, look, it's my turn. Wish me luck?" said Harry breaking the silence. Everyone just continue to stare at Persephone.

"Oh very well, then, pray for my imminent demise. Be warned, I will haunt you." Said Harry as he threw the ten flap back with a flourish. He waved at the crowd and attempted to pick out anyone he knew. Plenty of people he knew socially, parties and such, but no family false or otherwise. He waved to his adoring public and set off into the maze.

"Bloody hell!" muttered Harry vines came up from the ground and attempted to pull him down into the ground. Thorns pierced his legs deeply; his blood ran down in rivets. He exploded the vines and was covered in a green and white liquid. It burnt holes into his clothes, he was grateful for the potion now. He heard a high pitched whine.

"What now?" asked Harry. A shadow crossed the sun and bathed him in darkness. He didn't know what that thing was but he saw teeth and claws and that was enough for him. He held his wand in his slippery hand, small smoking holes coming from it. He as the thing came closer to him he cut it in half.

"Well then, I shall have to send Hogwarts my cleaning bills." Said Harry with a smile. He wasn't sure if they could hear him but he knew they could see him. He walked like a gentleman, with his head held up high. It had become abundantly clear to him from the articles by a Rita Skeeter than the public opinion portion of the tournament also mattered. He didn't really want to win but he did care about Galatea. Being publically allied with her group made him a reflection of her.

"Great…" muttered Harry as he saw the deep pits he'd have to make his way across. The walls trapped him in…hmm…he had an idea. He cast something onto himself to make his hands and feet adhere to the walls of the obstacle course. Instead of an undignified climb he walked along the tops of the walls. He technically wasn't leaving the course…not really. He made his way across the pits, under the spikes, through the fire, over the ice, and around the unidentifiable ooze. He finished the course and scored lower than he thought he deserved. Oh well, Portia was next and she would most likely score some points for their school. She and Galatea did swim in the same gene pool after all.

"I'm sure you did wonderfully." Said Portia as Harry walked past her. He grasped her hand in his quickly. Portia beamed as entered the maze. She got a wicked idea…too wicked for words. She had to go through the obstacle course but the obstacle course didn't have to be there…

"What is she doing!" yelled someone as the entire course, all of it, caught fire. She scored lower than anyone else on that round…and her family had to pay to have it hastily rebuilt. Apparently they didn't value independent thought in this competition. She'd play more by the book in the fourth task.