Whispers in the Night
Disclaimer: I'm just playing in JKR's sandbox and make no money from this. Please enjoy the story and feel free to leave comments and critiques, it's the only way to get better at this. I'm writing this story for my own enjoyment.
Content Warning: This story will contain mentions of abuse and scenes containing but not limited to swearing, violence, smut and other Adult Content.
Author's Note: 1. Things are a little different this chapter. I didn't want to devote three more chapters to finishing off the competitions, so I chose a simpler method. Hopefully this doesn't seem too strange and we can continue on with completing year four a bit easier. Yes, this may seem like fluff but I hide plot points everywhere and you're just going to have to deal with it. 2. The reason this took a little longer isn't just because I was enjoying life a bit. I've been working out details for Chapter 49: The Third Task, and it's making me want to put more work ahead of what needs to be finished first. So I'm sorry for the delay… No I'm not.
3. Recommendations: To make up for my lack of recommendations in previous chapters, I'm giving you two today. The Closer You Look by Tony Samuels is a great look at Humor-based fanfiction as well as a Harry that is fairly criminally inclined. I've enjoyed it quite a bit and I hope you will as well. Soul Scars by Rtnwriter is also an excellent story that deals with, as you can imagine, soul bonds. It's still in the early stages but I'm looking forward to every update to see how they handle their particular brand of soul mates/bonding as time goes on; both as a interested reader and as a writer comparing my own thoughts on the topic with that of another writer.
4. As always, thank you to everyone that reads, follows, favorites, and reviews my story. It's wonderful to see so many people enjoying my work when I had intended it as something just for me and as an experiment in writing/task fulfillment. Please keep enjoying the story and I love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or questions you might have.
Chapter Forty-Eight: Competition Finals
Tensions were high throughout the grounds of Hogwarts. The Dueling Tournament had finally come to an end with what seemed to be the expected results. Beauxbatons, as a school known for its dueling prowess, had come out in the lead overall, followed by Durmstrang then Hogwarts. Since it was primarily based on a school competition Harry hadn't been ranked among the schools. Instead, Harry's performance was judged on a yearly and personal basis. He ranked top for the fourth year competition, with Hogwarts following second, and Durmstang and Beaxubatons tying for third.
On a personal basis, Blaise, Susan, and Daphne were the top fourth years throughout all of the schools, and were rated higher than even the best fifth years in each of the schools. Su Li, Harry noted, was just behind them, her particular style of luring an enemy right where she wanted them having caught the eyes of a number of officials and visitors. It was also pleasant to note that Terry Boot had managed to be rated among the fifth years, though not nearly as high as Harry's friends and Li.
Harry, however, was named Top Duelist, having beaten a few seventh years from each school, as well as Fleur, Beauxbatons' champion, and Alexandra, Durmstrang's top duelist, with very little rest between matches at that. Fleur had taken a gracious Second, with Alexandra taking Third for Durmstrang, and Clarice Fawley Fourth for Hogwarts. It had been a difficult decision for the judges involved, but all of the schools were proud of their performances.
Of course, to some of the students that mattered less. Alexandra had been offered a dueling apprenticeship with Germany's top Dueling Champion, and Clarice had been offered a spot in the Auror Corps right out of Hogwarts by Amelia herself: both had accepted. Fleur had been offered apprenticeships with a number of Dueling Champions, including, to everyone's surprise, Professor Filius Flitwick himself. She had yet to accept any of them, but everyone knew Fleur had her eyes in breaking out of the Amateur League and going pro, and all of the Champions, including Flitwick, could help her get there.
Harry wasn't allowed to accept or be offered other apprenticeships, considering his position. Of course, he was happy to prove that Healers were some of the most capable duelists, wizards and witches in general. In an act that surprised everyone, he had asked for an exhibition match against Poppy of all people, and the judges, namely Bagman, agreed in a heartbeat! Poppy, of course, had very kindly wiped the floor with Harry, playing their counting coup game to show the difference between Master and Apprentice.
His friends had given him loads of crap over it… out of Poppy's hearing of course, lest they end up getting properly schooled by the Healer themselves. Healer's Monthly had run an article about it, speaking of Harry and Poppy's skills in professional and complimentary ways. Their show of skill had made everyone feel far safer in Hospitals and Auror Corps across Europe had begun hiring healers to include in their squads more often than they had before.
That, however, seemed to be the tip of the iceberg.
With one competition down, the schools had pushed everyone harder to do their best in the other events. The Academic Challenges was concluding over the course of three days so every student could display their final project. As it stood, Hogwarts was in the lead, with Beauxbatons following in second and Durmstrang taking up the rear. Harry, again, was being judged on a personal and yearly basis, but also categorical. Among the fourth years he was solidly in third behind Hogwarts and Beauxbatons and followed by Durmstrang. Categorically, Harry dominated Healing, Care of Magical Creatures, and Defense, while losing to the other schools in the other subjects; Hogwarts took Transfiguration, Potions, Astronomy and Runes, while Beauxbatons took Charms, Muggle Studies and Arithmancy, and Durmstrang held onto History, Herbology, and Divination.
Now, however, the projects would decide the final scores for students and the schools, though few doubted the standings would remain the same. First through Third Year had already displayed all of their projects on the first day. The fourth years from the foreign schools had already put on their shows, and now Hogwarts was putting their students on stage.
Harry actually enjoyed Luna's project the most so far. She had gone into the arithmancy of a transfiguration spell made into a song, one of the closest anyone had dared get to a ritual. Harry had appreciated her candor and attempt to make a bit of a difference. The smile on McGonagall's lips as the girl achieved conjuration and transfiguration of the conjured object through a magically enhanced song had been picture worthy. She had even given credit to Fleur as inspiration for her song of enchantment that the Beauxbatons champion had used on her dragon.
Padma had seemed to work with Luna, as she had taken the opportunity to embrace her heritage and used a mixture of charms and transfiguration to make belly dancers from India, her parents' home country, dance around the stage in complex ways that affected not only the dancing statues, but anything they touched by chilling, cooling, floating, shrinking or enlarging them based on the color of the dancer's dress. Needless to say, when Padma had joined in the dance, she had more than a few admirers wolf-whistling after her.
Harry may have joined in just to make the girl blush and received a light slap on the arm after she passed him.
Neville had gone the exact route Harry thought. Well, at least as far as it being focused on Herbology went. In this case, however, Neville displayed how almost every major branch of magic was necessary to handle some plants. A grade XXXX predator plant had been brought on stage and with a combination of conjuration, transfiguration, charms, potions, and a rune scheme were used in conjunction to calm the plant down enough for some of its valuable ingredients to be harvested. It was something seventh years would have been hard pressed to accomplish, and Sprout and Augusta couldn't look more proud when Neville held up a bright green crystal from the core of the plant to show off his success, unscathed at that. Though it was a demonstration of skills and knowledge and nothing innovative or new, Neville gained a great deal of applause from the hall, especially those herbologists currently attending.
Hannah, however, also had quite an interesting project. Of all of them, Harry suspected, she was the closest to rituals outside of Luna. Hannah had gone on to display the usefulness of runes and the various schema present in everyday life, not just as a witch or wizard, but as someone on the job. Food kept fresh for days, weeks, or months without any degradation. Animals made more docile when placed within certain pens and given the proper treatment, plants, as Neville displayed, being calmed, frozen or manipulated by the proper schemes. Harry gave the girl a wink of thanks and applauded loudly for her when she showed a small rune scheme that could heal bruises, so long as magic was channeled into the item. Poppy was even quite proud of the girl for her final display and even gave a loud whistle of appreciation that had Hannah blush slightly as she returned to her seat with Neville and their families.
Hermione's project, though not as artistic as Luna or Padma's, had been decidedly impressive. She had designed a series of arithmancy equations that, when linked to a maze, altered its structure, obstacles, and the number of people going through it. Harry wasn't the only champion, eyeing the girl's project closely, especially since every judge stared so intently at her and the maze itself in a mixture of fascination and fear. Of course, upon completion of the maze at the final equation, it had shifted into a high-backed chair for the girl to enjoy a snack in, as a tap on of the arms conjured food from a pre-arranged storage rune scheme.
And besides that, the chair had activated a shield ward, which she'd had Harry pummel with a fire spell for three minutes with no change to her or the construct she used. Dumbledore had been so impressed with her work he offered to pay her for a similar chair for his office, though asked for it to store lemon drops for him and give him small, ever-changing mazes to work on in whatever free time he could manage to find as Headmaster.
Needless to say, Hermione had agreed quickly and rushed to tell her visiting parents, who were attending for the competition, immediately. Salvador, Blaise's Grandfather, had also been visiting to witness the end of the tournament and was most impressed as well. He, Isabela, Blaise and the Grangers were deep in conversation until Theo took the stage.
"While I may not sing, nor dance, nor create maze chairs to serve me food, I do have a contribution of magic to make," Theo joked, earning a few appreciative chuckles from the room. "In this case, it's a security enchantment."
Goblins, Curse Breakers, and home owners around the room watched the boy a little more closely. They had witnessed students showing off rune scheme wards of course, but a security enchantment? This coming from a slytherin, a pureblood, and a rather gifted student who topped his year in arithmancy alongside Hermione? It intrigued them enough to pay more attention than they otherwise would have.
Theo took out a simple trunk from his pocket and enlarged it to its proper size. With only a few wand movements, which the boy kept extremely discrete, he smiled as the trunk glowed blue for a split second. Grinning, Theo turned back to the crowd and looked around. "Might I have a volunteer?"
Considering his turn to show off would be coming up after Tracey, who was after Theo, Harry decided he could stomach being a friend's lab rat. Besides, he wanted to help Theo however he could. After Neville had convinced him to come to dinner after they learned about the Third Task, things had been easier than previous months. Not entirely like they had been, but closer at least.
"Why not?" Harry spoke up as he left his chair next to Poppy. "What's the worst that could possibly happen?"
Harry should have known by the flash of a brief smirk on Theo's lips that he had asked the wrong question. Bill actually slapped his face for a moment and shook his head as his colleagues snickered around him. As professional curse breakers, they all knew Harry had invoked a time-proven jinx on himself for everything to go wrong… That and they knew anyone looking to test their enchantment would set it even higher just to screw with someone confident nothing could go wrong.
"Harry Potter, come on down!" Theo drawled playfully as Harry made his way past the crowd and joined his friend on the stage. Theo Looked around and gestured Neville and Blaise up as well. When they were there, he gave a simple command. "Now, I'd like you to test for wards and enchantments."
The boys did as asked, and after coming up with nothing, tested it with a stick, a conjured snake, and a pig dropped forcefully on top of it. The four boys made a bit of a show of it, making sure everything they knew was used to make sure Theo's spell impressed some of the scouts. When they had exhausted options to locate and figure out the spell, Theo told them to go ahead and search for anything valuable and take it. A few minutes passed and they did, though Harry raised a pair of dark blue silk panties up curiously.
A gasp was heard, but none of the boys could locate where it came from. Theo, however, remained as implacable as could be in the face of embarrassment, and possibly future death threats. When they walked off, thinking they had gotten everything, they were shocked more and more. Neville was the first to return his items before he tried to help the other two by getting them to toss them to him. It worked until Neville was shocked again and promptly returned the bag of gold he had been given.
Eventually Blaise and Harry didn't want to risk an explosion of electricity coursing around them, since one arc had gone up their sides already when they neared the door to the entrance hall. Harry returned everything except the blue panties, which he wondered if they'd be considered under valuable. He found out when he reached the door and a large shock wrapped around his body briefly. He couldn't help but laugh after the painful stinging as he glanced up to his hair standing on end. He quickly returned them, without hiding them one bit and sat on the trunk with Neville and Blaise.
"Who can tell me what these boys figured out about this enchantment?"
After a few quiet words with the goblins next to him, Bill stood. "It's only detectable for split amounts of time, activating at certain intervals of intent. There's a time factor at work, as well as a value enhancement, and a distance reader, likely a location tracker. You valued that bit of clothing Harry handed back more than the other valuables, so the shock increased when he tried to keep it. The time also increased the strength of the shock. That about right, Mr. Nott?"
"Quite so, sir!" Theo declared enthusiastically. "The enchantment not only works on distance, and inherent value, but sentimental value, and time. However, this isn't just to stop a thief from getting very far or selling the items. It tracks the person, giving the caster their location wherever they might go, and wherever the items might go as well. So not only will the thief be caught, but the items recovered, and associates of the criminal would be tagged as well. Blaise and Neville had already returned what they helped take, so they weren't subject to the shocking when Harry kept the clothes in question, though the tracking would remain on them until the caster ended the enchantment."
"Very impressive," Bill stated with a grin. "It's a deterrent to thieves and fences that manage to succeed, but their success can only be measured so much if they're tagged with this. Very clever. That takes quite the dab hand at spell creation. I'll be keeping an eye on you in the future, Mr. Nott."
Though it was a far more formal announcement than was necessary, the implications were far wider for the young man. Though the Goblins made no outward show of appreciation, Bill's endorsement was enough to not only catch their attention, but their silent approval. If they could get enchantments like that on their side, security would be even greater for the Goblin Banks and mines across the world. Applause began from Sarah as she enthusiastically cheered for her brother, and many joined in the praise that followed.
Harry, his hair sticking out some, smoothed it out with a brief spell cast on him to undo the effects of that little bit of shock therapy before he did the same on Blaise and Neville. As the pain slipped away and the effects of the shocking vanished, Harry smiled and shook Theo's hand before stepped aside and letting his friend take proper glory for his hard work. By the look in Theo's eye, more could be done with that enchantment but Harry wasn't going to pry. Theo had kept its incantation and wand movements secret and discreet for a reason, and he wasn't going to foul it up now.
As Theo exited the stage, he gave Harry, Blaise, and Neville pats on the back. "Thanks, you lot. That meant a good deal to me."
"Anytime," Harry answered first. "So long as it doesn't start shocking my bits, we're good."
The quartet laughed for a few moments, glad to let loose and relax a bit around each-other before a clearing of the throat caught their attention. They all turned to find Tracey standing there, her arms crossed with a grin on her lips as she watched them.
"Feeling better, boys?"
"Yeah, a bit," Theo said with a matching grin.
"Shock therapy was fun too," Harry added with a chuckle. "I bet you enjoyed that prank of yours."
"A little," Theo admitted before he sighed and offered a genuine smile. "It is meant for security but a little bit of vicious pranking doesn't hurt too much now and then, right? I'm just glad we can be like this again."
"Yeah, me too," Harry admitted.
"And us," Blaise and Neville spoke up.
"Awwww," Tracey cooed as she watched them all. "It's such a wonderful thing! You boys all falling in love before my very eyes. It's so touching I might cry."
As Tracey wiped a fake tear from her eye the group of boys laughed. That is, they laughed until a young Asian woman slipped through the group, gripped Theo by the tie, tugged him down to her level and quickly snogged him. Their eyes collectively widened in surprise, but a moment later Tracey had wolf-whistled and the boys followed suit. Their reaction only seemed to egg on the woman stealing Theo's lung-capacity right before their very eyes. When they finally parted, the black-haired girl turned around and leaned into Theo with a smirk.
"Su Li?" Blaise said before he stared at Theo. "How the hell did Su Li fall for you?"
"Other way around, Zabini," Li said, her smirk firmly in place. "He fell for me."
"You mean your trap," Tracey teased the other girl lightly.
"Oh he loves that too."
The sultry strut her voice had become set a small blush on Theo's cheeks as Harry, Blaise, Neville and Tracey snorted in amusement. Tracey, however, pulled Harry's arms around her and nodded to the Asian girl. "I'll bet. Just be good to him, yeah?"
"Definitely, Davis," Li responded before she slowly held out her hand. Tracey shook it and the two girls grinned. When Li spun about to face Theo again, however, she had a harder look on her face. "When did I say you had permission to show those off?"
Theo cleared his throat and did his best not to pale as he glanced to his friends. Blaise, Neville, Tracey and Harry, however, only grinned at him. "Umm, I… Uhh… that is we… Guys, Tracey, can I get a little help?"
"Sorry mate, but she could trap me five ways from Sunday and I don't want to be late for my date with Hannah," Neville said as he walked back to his seat next to the girl in question.
"Good luck, Theo, you may need it," Blaise consoled the boy before he lightly paced his way back to Hermione with a grin.
"Nnnnnope!" Harry popped out with a grin as Tracey snickered. "You're on your own here! We're not getting in the middle of this."
"Traitors!" Theo called playfully at them as Li dragged him off.
While that word may have hurt a few weeks or months ago, Harry and Tracey couldn't help but smile as Theo stuck his tongue out at them, ensuring they knew he didn't mean it, at least in the way it could have been taken. Harry hugged the blonde tight to his chest, glad she felt alright with the recent development before he kissed her cheek. As Harry let go and turned to walk back to his seat, however, Tracey grabbed his vest and pulled him to the stage.
"Ah-ah, now it's my turn to play with you, Potter."
Harry slowly raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm not an exhibitionist, Trace. Well, not much of one. Only with and around you lovely ladies."
"Oh, maybe someday you will be a real one," the blonde teased with a wink before she shook her head. "But no, that's not what I need you for. I need a volunteer and you've already seen my project."
"Alright, so what are we going to do?"
Tracey, however, merely winked at the boy in front of her and led him back up the steps. Theo summoned his trunk off of the stage and Tracey nodded to her fellow slytherin in thanks. It didn't take long for people to notice that Harry was once again dragged into a display, the third such today in fact. Whispers rippled through the hall until Tracey smiled and took out her wand.
"I'd like to ask Headmaster Dumbledore and Professors Flitwick and Babbling to verify the effectiveness of my enchantment."
A few eyebrows were raised at the request, but it was to be expected. Some of the older students were bound to experiment with new magic, as Theo had, and Tracey's enchantment was best verified by those most skilled in wards, enchantments and detection magic. She was the first to make such a request, outside of Theo's open question to the room, but she was certainly not the last.
As soon as the professors were present on the stage, Tracey grinned slightly at them before she turned to the crowd. "Before I cast the spell, I'll have you know what I plan to do. My boyfriend and I are going to snog right in front of everyone, but you won't be able to notice us doing anything, or notice us at all in fact. We'll move from the stage to the entrance doors after the professors have exhausted their efforts and have them attempt it again before returning back up here to the stage.
"Professors," Tracey declared with a gesture as she pointed her wand at herself and Harry. Her grin was broad as Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at them. Flitwick was caught in a fit of snickers with red cheeks, and Babbling was barely containing her humor as she stood as properly as possible. "Cast when you no longer perceive us."
With a dramatic wink at the professors, Tracey cast the spell over herself and Harry before she stowed it away. Harry watched the professors, and in fact the entire room, become confused before the blonde took one strutting step toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. On instinct the young healer set his hands on her waist and stroked up and down her sides as she closed in.
"If you wanted to kiss me," Harry muttered before giving her an intimate peck on the lips. "You could have just asked."
"And where's the fun in that?"
Tracey's response was followed by a deep, wanting kiss. Her lips locked with Harry's own and it was all he could do not to simply fall into the thrall of the blonde currently molding her body to his. Then again as Tracey moaned, a deep, long and loud sound of yearning, Harry couldn't help but let his hands wander with desire and his mouth operate with only one thing in mind: hearing that moan again.
Whatever nerves or anxiety Harry might have had at kissing his girlfriend in front of the youth of numerous nations, as well as a wide variety of parents and consulting professionals had long since vanished. His hands had found the mind-blowing curves Tracey possessed and he had no intention of letting go. The possessive grip on her ass was tight and hard, keeping her locked in close to him as his other hand rose hungrily to her breast and began to knead and rub at her luscious mound through her uniform. Tracey's own hands had filtered into Harry's hair, rushing through them passionately as she sealed them together, moaning all the while.
Only the rather loud clearing of the throat from Dumbledore alerted either of the two students that anything else was going on. Harry worried for a moment that the professors had managed to undo the spell until he noticed all three of them peering at the space the couple were supposed to be, rather than right at them.
"We have exhausted all detection spells, Ms. Davis, and found nothing," the wizened Headmaster admittedly freely. "Would you kindly appear again so we might discuss your particular enchantment? Or would you, as the young might say these days, wish to show off a bit?"
Harry looked to Tracey for a moment and raised an eyebrow. "Well? Your call, dear."
"Let's take a few risks, shall we?" Tracey said with a grin as she surveyed the hall quickly. "Let's take a pouch of gold from a goblin and a tie from one student of each school."
"Will the charm keep us hidden if we attempt that?"
"Whatever we touch ends up being shifted just outside the perception of others, but nothing enormous. If we're careful we should be able to manage it," Tracey said before she glanced to the goblins. "Although, pickpocketing a goblin might be a bit difficult."
"Leave that to me," Harry assured her. It was Tracey's turn to raise an eyebrow and Harry smirked at her. "What? You think I never learned how to pick pockets trying to survive amongst the muggles? How do you think I stole money from Vernon and Dudley's wallets all of the time? Easy money, that."
The blonde's features turned inscrutable at the mention of Harry's past before a devilish grin appeared on her face. "Fine then, I'll focus on the ties. Last one back here owes the other a massage."
"I look forward to having you on your knees for a very particular massage then."
As Harry winked, Tracey laughed as they separated and made their way to the audience. Harry paused briefly to make sure the Goblin he was going after didn't enchant his clothes to stop pickpockets, which was difficult to do in itself. After he was certain the goblin next to Bill was fair game he quickly snuck a smaller pouch from the goblin and another from Bill, though the way they both jingled in his hands Harry assumed they were expanded on the inside.
Harry smirked briefly before he looked across the room and noticed Tracey with no less than two ties and a belt in her hands. Harry wondered briefly where in the world she had gotten the belt when he noticed Tonks holding her pants up briefly before she shifted to fill her jeans, as well as Susan and Daphne with their blouses open three buttons and without ties on. Harry couldn't help but appreciate the effect it had on the girls, and himself, before he turned back to the crowd.
"Won't do to let you beat me."
Tracey laughed from the aisle across from him as she approached Fleur to work on the French Champion's tie. Harry, however, went over to Viktor and Cedric and took both of their ties as quickly as he could manage.
"Miss Davis?" Flitwick called with some concern. "Has something gone wrong with the spell?"
Professor Babbling, however, had other ideas. "Or are you just indulging in some fornication with Mr. Potter in some exhibitionist fantasy?"
A wave of snickers and blushes cascaded throughout the Great Hall, though a number of shocked and a few appalled expressions came to the fore from more traditional audience members. It was only after everything had calmed down that a few people began to notice the changes around the room.
"Miss Delacour! Why exactly are you not wearing your tie?!" Madame Maxime called with some frustration. "Please refrain from such uniform deviations in the future!"
Fleur glanced down, noticing that her tie was indeed gone and her blouse was opened much further than she ever allowed outside of the Redoubt these days. "Madame Headmistress," Fleur began respectfully as she fixed her shirt. "I wore my tie and was in proper uniform when I entered. My tie must have been taken."
"As were ours," Viktor called out as he and Cedric stood up from the crowd.
"And ours," Susan and Daphne mentioned, only after fixing their shirts.
"Silence!" a gnarly voice called out suddenly as the goblin leaped to his seat on the chair. "My coin purse is missing and whichever of you thieving wizards took it will face the wrath of Goblins!"
"Then I believe this is yours, sir!" Harry said as he and Tracey reappeared on stage. Harry calmly traipsed his way back to the audience and held the goblin's purse out back to him. "And with my sincere regards, thank you for lending your brief aid to Miss Davis's demonstration. Might I repay you with ten galleons?"
"…That would be satisfactory recompense on your behalf, Mr. Potter," the Goblin growled as he took his purse from the teen. The other goblins glanced at both of them with a scarce variety of inscrutable expressions until the affected goblin spoke again. "So long as Miss Davis allows Gringotts to learn of this new magic more fully, that is."
"I'd be happy to give you a more thorough explanation, Master Goblin," Tracey replied with a beaming smile as she held up the ties collected by herself and Harry. "Of course, I do believe these are the other missing items in question."
"And this," Harry said with a grin as he tossed Bill's pouch in the air and caught it again. The goblins actually smirked and snickered as Bill checked his pockets, glad to see that the treatment had been equal, and on one of their better human curse breakers no less. Harry reached into his satchel and handed the Goblin ten galleons for his contribution before he winked at Bill and received a nudge in return as he returned the man's coin purse.
"That boy will get his hand cut off if he isn't careful," the Goblin muttered to Bill.
"But you have to admit, Foehammer, he's got style," Bill managed to say before he leaned in more closely and whispered. "And the magic Miss Davis has shown could be invaluable in hiding vaults or other places of import."
The goblin harrumphed in what could only be grudging ascent as Harry returned to his place next to Tracey. The professors, both impressed and a little disconcerted, watched and listened to the girl carefully as she explained how her particular enchantment worked. When they realized why they couldn't detect the magic because it shifted itself outside of the perception of other magic as well as other magical and mundane beings in general, they were suitably impressed.
"Quite extraordinary indeed Miss Davis!" Flitwick praised her with a beaming grin. "Very exceptional work. Such a spell must have been difficult to create. I look forward to seeing similar excellence in class."
"Of course, professor," Tracey said with a grin. Having earned praise from the half-goblin professor may have earned her points in the competition and with the Goblin Nation. In fact, the promise to show them the magic itself also seemed to work in her favor as the other goblins nodded subtly in approval. As applause came from the audience to signal the end of the demonstration, Tracey whispered in Harry's ear. "Looks like I won't be the one on my knees later, Harry."
"I'll enjoy it just the same."
Tracey smirked and winked at him as she sauntered off the stage. She returned the ties to their owners with a wink in Cedric and Viktor's case, and a tempting kiss in the case of the others before she rejoined her academic team. Soon enough all eyes were on Harry. Hogwarts and the other schools had finished their demonstrations, and now it was his turn.
Harry waved his wand and darkness spread all about the room. Wherever the darkness spread, light fled before it until all was enclosed in the deep black. Worried murmurs rushed through the room. Wands were drawn but none could light and gasps were heard as the more sensitive felt something shift in the world about them. Those that had witnessed this before embraced it, and those that hadn't soon were entranced with something else entirely.
Silver waves extended from Harry's wand and spread out. Further and further they went, every second floating into the air to create a nebulous night sky above their heads that everyone couldn't help but appreciate. Stars formed overhead, bright amidst the shifting auroras that skated through the skies, wavering with every breath their creator breathed. Even as it extended all across the hall, the view only became greater, the silence pervaded until awe was the only thing any of them could feel.
"This is our gift," Harry spoke in a smooth, alluring tone. "The gift of magic. One of the greatest wonders of the world anyone could ever embrace for themselves. Yet you have seen it every day. You have used it, fought with it, lived and breathed with it, even gone to war with magic… Yet have you ever given yourself over to it? Have you ever just taken it all in and let yourself see, smell, taste hear and feel that gift for what it is and know that it is a wonder in and of itself?"
The faces of the crowd were slowly illuminated by the nebulous display of an imagined night sky above them. Smiles were on almost every face in the room as they gazed upon the spectacle. Harry's smile, however soft it might have been, was genuine as he witnessed his hope settle into the audience one by one.
"It is a tragedy that we ever forget this great gift that we have been given," Harry reminded them as the nebula above them shifted from warm, hot reds and oranges to cool and calm blues and greens as the stars immutably reigned bright silver. "We forget so often because it is our tool, our weapon, and our convenience when it should be so much more! I think we all need to remember and give thanks for magic, for this gift. This is the Wonder of Magic that so many of us, even those of us that are new to this world we live in, experience for perhaps too short a time."
Harry paused to breathe; and with his breath the magic shifted and swayed, worked its way among the crowd and slithered and slipped its way among them. As people reached out their hands, the ribbons of color and magic moved. Some split apart to seek out others, some diverted course, and other tendrils wrapped the person in Harry's magic before moving onto the next. It lasted for a few moments more as Harry spoke again from his dimly lit place in the room.
"I never wish to forget this amazing gift we have been given," Harry murmured into the ears of everyone in the room, his voice travelling through his magic. "I don't want to forget how amazing and wondrous this world of magic can be no matter what hardships we might face. We may fade with time but magic? Magic is forever. Let's appreciate it for what it is and breathe as much life into it as we can, and give thanks for a world where magic exists and we are allowed into its embrace."
The soothing, alluring voice he used reached throughout the room. Not a single person was unaffected by it. The breath of the room seemed to catch in their chests as the world seemed to lay in that nebulous magic until it slowly began to recede. First the ribbons faded, then the stars, the clouds of green and blues, all of it trailed in silver wisps and waves back toward the stage. Soon, even the darkness fled the room and returned light back to the world as everyone was released from the magic of Harry Potter.
When the light returned, looks of awe were drawn to Harry. Others among the crowds mourned the loss of such a magnificent sight, while some looked at Harry with wonder. A few, however, looked contemplatively at the boy. Some gazed at him with envy, with greed, lust and all manner of thoughts, sinful and otherwise, but none could deny the effect, however brief, Harry Potter had had on them in those stolen moments in the great hall.
Harry slowly, gracefully and gratefully bowed before the room. "Thank you."
Silence reigned for but a single beat of the heart before the room erupted in applause and cheers. Of all the things Harry had expected, it certainly wasn't this. So stunned by the sudden applause, Harry just stood there for a second before he took one final bow to the room. He looked to the professors of Hogwarts. Flitwick was clapping wildly even as a tear slipped down his cheek at such wondrous magic. McGonagall, whose smile was as big as ever, clapped elegantly for him along with Babbling, Sprout, Sinestra and Vector who all looked on him appreciatively.
Harry then turned to Amelia and Poppy who were whistling loudly in support when they weren't smiling and clapping for him. To the side, he heard Bill cheering along with the rest of his Hogwarts friends and those of the other schools he had become acquainted with. Before he could reach the stairs of the stage, however, Bertha Jorkins stepped on stage, applauding all the while until she asked a question.
"Mr. Potter! If I may ask, what spells did you use to achieve that?!"
Harry merely smirked as he gave a lazy half-salute to the woman and turned back toward his seat, offering an answer that was both confounding and intriguing as he made his way back.
"Oh, just a bit of Magic."
***Hogwarts Quidditch Stadium, Three Days Later***
With the close of both the Dueling Tournament and the Academic Challenge, the final match of the Quidditch Competition of the Triwizard Tournament had finally arrived. Of course it wasn't a normal match. Given that the fourth competing organization only had one student, an apprentice, it was something of a wrinkle in the carpet and a special occasion all at once. The seekers of each school were about to go head to head in what might be the most grueling day in their quidditch careers.
And there they were gathered, sitting at a table and drinking butterbeer shooting the breeze.
"Any chance you lot would just let me win this one?"
The three older students snickered at the young apprentice's comment.
"Nein, I have reputation to uphold," Viktor stated with a smirk.
"And I have a rematch to win," Cedric chimed in as he nudged the international superstar, whose smirk remained intact.
"Not to mention the fact I have men to conquer and scouts to impress," Odette added with a sultry smile.
"You know, you could just date one of them and make them let you win," Harry noted with a nod to the two older boys.
"I am dating Claire, I'll have you know."
"Wait, Fawley?" Cedric said as his drink hit the table with a thud. "As in Head Girl Clarice Fawley?"
"Claire is a woman. There is very little girl about her," Odette said with a growing smirk. "Unless she is, as you British might say, giving me head."
Harry fell into a fit of snickers at that pun as Viktor and Cedric seemed to pause at the thought. Harry would have been imagining such a thing himself if he hadn't witnessed it amongst private time with his ladies. He quickly flipped a galleon over to Odette for a pun well executed, and a distraction set in motion at that. The veela quickly snatched it and winked at him before quite obviously slipping it down her blouse and into her bra.
"How long have you been going out?" Harry wondered idly as he rolled his butterbeer between his hands. "I thought Fleur would have told me."
"Since just after Yule, but we have been discreet about it," Odette admitted with a smile. "Fleur didn't tell you because I asked her to keep it between us. You know I prefer my privacy."
"Yet you choose the most popular sport in the wizarding world to try and get into," Cedric teased her. "Won't find much privacy if you do get in."
"Then Odette is like me," Viktor stated with a grin as he toasted the witch with his bottle of butterbeer. "Kindred spirits."
Odette happily clinked her bottle to his before the two happily finished their drinks and set them on the table. "Thank you for the support Viktor."
"Anytime, you were fierce opponent and better friend," Viktor said kindly as he vanished their empty bottles. "Your help with Katie…"
"I know, and I'm glad I could keep you together for this year," Odette finished for him with a grin. "Small arguments can grow out of hand with competing lovers. I'm glad my advice worked."
"More than I can say," the Bulgarian offered happily. "Showing me how to not brood so much and help both of us get past the hate mail… It meant a lot for us."
"Only teaching what I learned from experience," Odette responded with a smile. "Hate-mail from exes is different than from fans, but similar concept. Even so, I plan to win today."
"You might have caught the snitch in both matches if I hadn't stopped you," Viktor admitted professionally. "Both of you," he amended with a look to Cedric. "You're both very good seekers. I look forward to the duel ahead."
"Like Harry, I have to ask, any chance you could let me win?" Odette teased.
"Would you want victory because I gave it to you?"
The veela's grin was almost predatory after Viktor's response. "Not at all."
"Then we all agree," Cedric chipped in. "No going easy."
"Not a chance," Harry finished for them.
"Good, then Claire will appreciate the snitch I win the competition with all the more when I give it to her."
"Oh now there's a thought," Harry muttered. "That's good. I like that! Can I copy that?"
"I will tell Fleur the instant you try," Odette said with a smirk.
"Damn."
"Is not bad idea," Viktor admitted simply. "Although, I'm sure Katie would prefer the competition winning broom more."
"And I'm sure she'd give it a good ride," Cedric managed to say through a laugh.
"And one has to wonder which broom she loves more," Odette teased in a sultry voice.
The four seekers burst into laughter, Viktor more slowly than the others as he shook his head at the suggestive comments. Even so, the four eventually were called out to a starting stage. As they made their way up, cheers as loud as they had ever been echoed throughout the stadium. Rings made of bright polished bronze floated in the air, a golden tether of magic connecting one to another to signify the course.
Bagman instantly began an introduction to the event but it was all fairly straightforward for the seekers. They had gotten a better debrief of it an hour ago before they were left to talk and enjoy a brief respite before the race: Follow the tether, be the first one to the end. They'd have another brief rest before the seeker's duel would begin, and four international level bludgers would also be on the field to make things interesting.
At a mere shift in Bagman's voice, as the seekers were paying attention to the course rather than the announcer, all four seekers mounted their brooms and prepared for what was to come. The instant the cannon went off, all four players became blurs as they soared to their first hoop. Neck and neck, the four seekers slipped through the hoop with ease, though that would be one of the rare times that was possible. As the course progressed, many of the hoops grew smaller, only allowing two, or perhaps only person through at a time.
Two hoops, three, four went by in a straight line before they hit a sharp turn. Odette, relying on her smaller size and the speed it granted her, took a slightly wider approach and sailed through it just ahead of the four boys as they pivoted through the hoop in sharp turns, using their heavier weight to their advantage. Harry slipped into third, just behind Viktor as they were forced through a series of smaller hoops that took them in a vertical loop.
Cedric, right on Harry's tail, shifted his grip and body and took a danger risk as he slipped by Harry and Cedric as they reached a thin loop before he corkscrewed into a dive, hot on Odette's tail. Harry and Viktor, not to be outdone, quickly followed suit. Soon enough all four were clumped together closely, some trailing at one point only to be ahead the next. With every dive they gained a lead only to lose it in a climbing turn.
Elbows crashed against sides at every opportunity. Knees and feet jabbed at others, seeking purchase on anything that would give them the lead. Broom racing was surprisingly simple in its rules: So long as you never grabbed anyone or their broom, you could do almost anything short of casting magic to win. That, of course, made it a dangerous sport; especially considering one moved at high speeds and altitudes when the blood started to spray.
But when did the wizarding world ever make a safe sport?
As they reached the halfway mark, each of the seekers began to throw their own blows and take risks. Harry could feel the bruises on his arms and ribs, but he couldn't help but smile as he kicked Viktor just enough off-course that he forced him out of line with the bronze hoop and made him circle back. Up ahead, Harry saw Odette full-body tackle Cedric to force him below the next hoop, which only allowed one through.
Seeing his chance to catch up, Harry pulled his body in as much as he could and pushed the firebolt he rode as hard as ever. The acceleration threw him forward, right through the hoop before Cedric. In an instant he had gained on Odette, the pair of them circling and twisting around one another as they tried to push the other off-course, neither willing to lose their speed with a punch or a kick.
As they passed through a hoop and made to turn, both were shoved aside by Viktor barreling in, his body slamming them from behind as he used the recoil to spur him right into the dive toward the ground right before the straight away to the end. Unwilling to lose, Harry kicked at Odette's feet with his own and pushed off, forcing him down in a blur as he accelerated as fast as he could after Viktor.
Harry could see Viktor's plan, using the hoop as his goal for a feint toward the straight away. He had witnessed it at the world cup, and though he couldn't see the international star's face, he knew what it was true. A stroke of inspiration struck, and as Harry neared the ground h pitched forward on his broom, flipping him over into the tilted hoop before he pushed off again, faster than Viktor had with his speed shift. As Harry neared the international star, he smirked and winked until a shadow overcame them both.
Cedric slammed into them from above, pushing both down before Odette shot passed the tangle the three men had found themselves in. Harry had to laugh, because the only way Cedric would have caught them is if he intentionally missed the hoop and stormed after them. A sabotage play that ensured Cedric decided who would win. As Cedric put on a burst of speed back toward the hoop, Harry let out a whoop of joy as he sped past Viktor and rushed for second. A resounding bang went off as Odette crossed the finish line, and second later Harry heard the cannon fire a second and third time in quick succession as he and Viktor passed through, less than a second separating them.
Despite coming in second, Harry couldn't help but smile and raise a fist in the air briefly. Cedric arrived a moment later and with a smirk, bowed to the two boys who punched his shoulder's briefly before the three turned to Odete. She had her broom raised high in one hand, smiling brightly as the cheers of the crowd roared all around them. With a single look, Harry smirked at the other two boys then moved forward, crouching lower. In an instant the two figured what he was doing and Viktor rushed to help.
In an instant the two boys had Odette perched on their shoulders. Odette nearly squealed before she laughed and pat their heads. They remained like that for a few moments until Cedric approached with his own wide grin. He stood before them and knelt before Odette. The veela quickly slipped down from Harry and Viktor's shoulders and stood as regally as her high spirits could manage before she playfully knighted him with her broom. She owed her victory in the race to him, and they all knew it. The crowd did too, it seemed, as they cheered even more loudly than before at the spectacle.
"Well done Mademoiselle Sinclair! Well done indeed!" Bagman announced as the four seekers finally took their places on the podium. "And well done Mr. Diggory for your courageous sacrifice of the win!" The crowd cheered loudly once again before Bagman regained control. "Ladies and Gentlemen, though our race is finished, the challenge is not yet complete! After a short break we will begin the Seeker's Duel and see which seeker really is the best, and which school takes home the trophy!"
Harry smirked at that before Odette led them off of the stage to the healer's tent. Hogwarts and Beauxbatons had both been given a trophy, one shaped like the twiwizard cup, but not nearly as grand. Atop the cup Beauxbatons received was a pair of wands, showing their dueling superiority. Atop Hogwarts' cup there had been a book, showcasing their academic win. Durmstrang seemed intent to take the Quidditch trophy at least, and they were in the best position to get it. They led in points by about one hundred, considering both Hogwarts and Beauxbatons' chasers had racked up the score, and Durmstrang had held on valiantly with a little help from their seeker catching the snitches, but with the amount of snitches going up to ten in the seeker's duel, that position could easily change even though each snitch would only worth 50 points.
"Cedric, that was a dick move…" Harry stated, smirking as Poppy and Andromeda came to treat their bruises. "But a good one. I applaud you."
"Well I couldn't let some nearly-bald bloke or a Casanova healer take the win," Cedric offered with a smirk equal to the one Harry wore. "Besides, beauty should take first place in two competitions and I'm only letting Fleur take the beauty contest between champions. Odette can have the race at least."
"Merci, Sir Diggory," Odette teased him as she took off her boots, armor and shirt to get her bruises treated. "I'm glad you chose me over these ruffians."
"A pity win," Viktor jibed and winked at the pair as they all laughed. "You will not win the Seeker's Duel so easily."
"That ready to take the win, eh Viktor?" Cedric wondered.
"More than ready," the professional seeker answered seriously. "My school's pride is at stake, let alone my reputation. Durmstrang will win."
"Well I know I can't win," Harry chipped in. "Viktor has caught every snitch so far, with help from his teammates keeping you two at bay. They changed the points and the number of snitches is too small. That and I miscalculated how many points your schools have when I said I needed four catches to win outright since I was only thinking of Viktor's four catches. Plus, this is mainly between the schools, I'm just an amusing exhibition match essentially. So I may just end up screwing with all of you."
"If you can't win, no-one does, is that it?" Cedric asked for all of them.
"Sometimes the only way to win is to lose, and make everyone else lose with you just as badly if not worse," the black-haired teen shot back with a grin.
"That is an inspired train of thought, though frightening," Odette claimed with a sigh as Andromeda finished healing her and she slowly picked up her discarded shirt and armor. Like Fleur, she had no qualms in showing off what she had. That she was taken, and so were all the men in the room, made her comfortable in the current setting. Of course, that didn't mean se wasn't trying to distract them with thoughts of her heady curves and beautiful physique. The fact she had gotten to know them, and they her in return, made it even easier for them all: Just like changing in the locker rooms would for their quidditch teams in general.
"How do you live with that sort of mentality roaming around in your head, 'Arry?" Odette wondered as she finally donned her shirt.
"Survival was paramount when I was younger; you learn a lot of things like that," he answered honestly as he shrugged his shoulders. He was more open with his friends about his past than he had been before, though it was still tough to talk about a few specific scars. This, however, was easy for him. "Don't dismiss it though. Sometimes making the enemy pay so dearly for a win is a victory in itself… Lose on your terms or not at all."
"That sentiment I agree with," Viktor stated clearly, reminded of the World Cup. "But today won't come to that for me."
"Then make sure I don't make it happen," Harry offered with a wink to the superstar before he looked to the others. "Or try not to at least."
The three other seekers answered with nods of agreement. It wasn't long at all before they had all been treated and prepared for the last challenge. As Harry walked out to the cheers, he could almost taste it. In a few days it would all be over. In a few days this entire tournament would be finished and he would finally be able to relax. Not for the first nor last time was he tempted to just step foot into an arena and resign.
But then, resignation was part of the antithesis of survival and would never allow himself to do anything else but survive.
"Good luck."
The whisper barely carried to the other seekers, but it was the encouragement they needed. From someone who was their competitor, no, from their friend, it was everything they could have asked for. Viktor and Cedric pat Harry on the back in response, and Odette smiled brilliantly from Cedric's other side.
The cannon went off once again and soon enough all four seekers were in the air. When it fired a second time, glints of gold cascaded across the field. There would be four rounds, three snitches in all but the last one. Even know Harry glimpsed the gold before it faded into obscurity. Harry took to the Raven's Roost once again, eying the entire field. Hs gaze briefly slipped down to the maze, nearly complete as it was. He couldn't get from one end to the other, nor remember any path, but he knew for a fact his future lay there.
Now all he had to do was focus on the present.
With three snitches flying around the stadium, one would think the seekers would spot at least one of them fairly quickly. Snitches, however, weren't a game-ending obstacle for nothing. As Harry searched for the snitch from his place at the height of the stadium, bludgers were released and quickly began to harass all four seekers.
Harry rolled away from the first attack, then a second before he led the angry iron ball on a chase around the stadium. When a second headed toward him, Harry twisted about and turned sharply, forcing one bludger into the other and sending both in different directions to hunt other targets. A glint of gold caught his eye and Harry sped toward it, rocketing through the air as he had only done once in the before. It was quick, sudden, hardly the thrilling chase he had hoped for, but with a single swipe he snatched the first snitch of the match.
"And Potter's got it!" Bagman's voice roared through the stadium. "The first to the snitch and one step closer to victory in this match! With Mademoiselle Sinclair having won the race, earning points toward the competition, every snitch they catch will count! Potter's early catch might be enough to keep Hogwarts and Beauxbatons from catching up to Durmstrang!"
As Harry stowed the snitch he caught into his pocket, he noticed another glint of gold, just as another seeker did. Viktor was barreling toward the goal-posts, hot on the snitches trail. Odette made to intercept but Viktor rolled around her tackle and used it to dive after the elusive snitch. In moments the international seeker had caught it and raised the ball for all to see. He, however, wasn't the only one. Across the field and near the stands, Cedric had just snatched the third snitch of the match before it could dive into the audience. It was the final one of that round, but more were coming.
A cannon went off almost immediately, and three more snitches blurred into gold existence on the field. Just as quickly as they came they were gone, all but one, however, that Odette eagerly gave chase to. Cedric joined her, hot on her tail as they swerved through the air and dove toward the maze. Harry watched them attentively, eyeing them for just a moment before he saw Viktor make a play.
"Not on my watch."
With a sudden burst of speed, Harry dove in and swerved through the air. A bludger caught his scent, and with a smirk Harry slipped right into Viktor's path, his eyes locked over Viktor's shoulder. The Durmstrang Seeker's eyes widened and with a single glance back, sealed his fate. Before he could turn back and move out of the way, Harry had bolted past and led the bludger straight into Viktor's gut.
As the bludger smashed into the man's chest, Odette ensnared the snitch with a single swipe of her hand and held it aloft. It was the quickest catch so far, and if Harry hadn't stopped Viktor, both she and Cedric would have lost its trailed. Cedric gave a nod to Harry, recognizing what he had done. Odette, on the other hand, gave Harry a wink and blew a kiss at him.
"Less flirting, more flying."
Odette laughed at Harry's response but took his advice nevertheless. The schools were back where they had started, with Beauxbatons only fifty and Hogwarts a hundred shy of tying Durmstrang. As Odette flew back into a search pattern, Harry looked across the field toward the stands. A cloud black composed of his supporters cheered him on, but in that sea of black, Harry spotted a flash of gold.
Like a bolt of fire, Harry surged across the field and gave chase. Iron met him halfway and Harry once again rolled on an axis around his broom to miss it. The bludger reversed course, headed straight for him once again and was gaining speed. Without waiting, Harry flipped his broom backward and smacked the bludger away, right into the snitch as it shot upward. The clink of metal on metal sounded through the stadium before Harry shot up and snatched the seemingly dazed snitch from the air.
Looking around, Harry spotted Cedric and Viktor in a heated race for the snitch, their knees, elbows and bodies rammed into the other as each tried to gain a lead to snatch the little golden ball from the air. Odette was headed toward them, but by the time she neared it was too late. Viktor held the snitch in his grasp and increased his lead once again, putting Durmstrang ahead of Beauxbatons by a hundred and Hogwarts by one-hundred-fifty.
With the third round about to start, Harry knew it was decision time. He could help Odette or Cedric get enough catches to tie Durmstrang to put them all on edge in the final round, could let things play out as they would, or take it all into his own hands. In any case, many options pointed at stopping Viktor, something Harry wasn't sure he could do three times in a round. Viktor was a professional and the best seeker in the international league for a reason. Even now Viktor pursued another snitch with Odette trailing just half a foot behind his tail.
Cedric, however, dove from above and tackled Viktor aside, allowing Odette to snatch yet another snitch from between the Bulgarian's fingers. Harry raised an eyebrow at that, his curiosity getting the better of him. Were they working together to stop Viktor? Harry wondered if Cedric knew he couldn't win and was trying to end it on his terms.
But then, where was fun in letting someone else decide the outcome?
Harry grinned mischievously as the bludgers raced toward the seekers once again, hounding all of them even harder than before. The criss-cross of seekers through the sky made the bludgers skip off of one another, but they were never far behind their targets. Harry himself soared through the sky, his eyes searching for a snitch as a bludger swiped at his feet again and again, seeking unseat and divert him as much as possible.
As Odette rushed after another snitch, Harry drove toward her from the opposite direction. Seeing it as a race to the finish, both increased speed, Odette inching closer and closer to the little ball of gold. Before she could reach it, however, Harry twisted about, sped forward as fast as he could and clipped her feet with his own. Spun out of control, Odette struggle to gain control, especially when a bludger rammed her side. As the snitch shot upward, away from the crash, Cedric snatched it out of the air as quickly as he could.
Harry couldn't help but grin, that was two for everyone and only two snitches remained. Cedric raised the snitch high and when he looked down to Odette, could only smile sheepishly. He might have distracted Viktor, but with Harry in play it wasn't going to be that easy. The veela raised an eyebrow at Harry and he answered with a shrug and a smile.
"Who says you get to win?"
Odette's eyes narrowed playfully and Cedric laughed lightly. Just then, Harry had quite possibly ended Odette's chance at a win for Beauxbatons. She would have to catch both of the final snitches to win and at least one to tie. Unwilling to wait any longer, especially with bludgers rushing toward them, the three seekers split up once again, with Odette trailing right behind Viktor to ensure he wouldn't take another point and win before the final round had even started.
The very air filled with tension. Iron flew so close to all of the seekers it was a wonder none of them had broken anything yet, although Harry was sure his and Odette's feet might hurt in the morning. That was not a kind, nor orthodox tackle, but then Harry wanted to win in his own way. He could decide the outcome of the entire match, and right then that power seemed within his grasp.
Viktor shot away as fast as he could, Odette trailing mere feet behind as she reacted to his sudden movement. When Viktor dove down, Harry searched for the snitch and made to move until he turned and thrust himself through the air. Cedric was on an ntercept course and with a quick flourish, harry flipped around in front of Cedric and beat both of their bludgers away, one with the tail of his broom, the other with a swift kick.
Cedric came to a complete stop, hanging forward on his broom with the sudden shift in momentum before he settled back in his seat and stared at Harry. The younger teen shook his head. There was no helping either of them this time, whether that be trying to snatch it for themselves or going after one to stop the other. As Viktor pulled out of his dive, Odette followed seamlessly and caught up. The feint had failed, and now they were both hot in pursuit of the ninth snitch.
Odette, however, proved resourceful. With a sudden burst of speed she rushed under Viktor and forced up, tackling him from below and forcing him off-course just enough so she could gain the lead. With a sudden reach of her arm, gold slipped between her fingers and was snatched by the veela. The crowd roared in astonishment and approval. Viktor Krum had faced hard odds this entire time, with at least two people working against him, plus one interfering for his own gain. Even then, he was still a formidable opponent and Odette was proving herself extremely capable.
"My word! The Mademoiselle certainly is a fine seeker ladies and gentlemen!" Bagman announced in preparation for the final round. "Sinclair beat Diggory to the snitch only once during the tournament and narrowly lost to Krum both times they faced off! It seems that she's come back with a vengeance and has tied her Beauxbatons to Durmstrang!
"It also appears that Potter is setting the stage for the final snitch! He stopped Diggory from interfering in the latest chase and although that puts Hogwarts in third, it looks to be a showdown between an up and coming talent and the world's greatest seeker. No matter what, ladies and gentleman, we have witnessed some of the finest flying of the year right here at the Triwizard Tournament!"
"Sounds like Odette might be recruited soon," Harry noted as he and Cedric flw together toward ready positions.
"Is that your plan here?" Cedric questioned him.
"Not at all," Harry said. "I just want a good match that means something."
Cedric snorted softly as his gaze trailed toward the foreign seekers. "And taking me out of the equation?"
"You're a fine seeker, Cedric, but we both know those two have the true talent here," admitted the younger teen. "Don't get me wrong, I'm a hell of a flyer with natural talent," Harry continued, cutting Cedric off. "But it's not my life, not like it is Viktor's or like it could be Odette's. There's no-one I'd rather be in the air with than the four of you."
"What about the Gryffindor team?"
"Well, them too as a team working together, but facing off? None better than you lot right here and right now. Hell, we'd make a hell of a team too now that I think about it."
"Broom Ballet?"
Harry snorted as Cedric laughed at the idea. "Well we are a rather graceful lot, aren't we?"
"But only one of us is pretty enough."
"I dunno about that," Harry offered with a smirk. "You could fit in well if you grew out your hair, Ced."
The answering nudge from the older boy's shoulder made Harry laugh as Cedric shook his head. "So, are we staying out of this?"
"Oh hell no," Harry responded instantly as if the very idea offended him. "I'm going to make anyone who gets this last snitch earn it, whether they win for their school or not."
Cedric grinned in response. He had hoped for that answer and it was going to be a hell of a final round. In fact, as soon as the cannon went off and the snitch disappeared, all four of the seekrs sought to undo the others and be the last one standing. What followed their initial streak was a gauntlet of feints, hard hits, and even harder chases. None of the four seekers was willing to give up and the fight for the finish kept the audience cheering for a good thirty minutes. Not a minute of rest did the flyers give nor get, and it was only a matter of time until the end.
A glint of gold at the center of the pitch caught every eye and soon four seekers were after it. Swarmed with only two ways out, the snitch burst high into the air and peeled off, each of the four seekers in hot pursuit. Twists and turns, dives and ascents so steep and quick Harry was amazed the sheer g-forces didn't cause any of them to black-out or send any of them into a dizzy spin.
After five minutes of hot pursuit, Harry clustered in the middle with the lead, the raven knew the time had come. The end was in sight in with a thrust of his arm he brought an end to it all. Instead of grasping the little golden trophy between his fingers, Harry forced it to dodge up, right between Viktor and Odette. It was all over then. Two hands surged forward, desperation on their lips as both cried out for hard won victory.
Before anyone could stop it, harry pulled up and caught them all in a jumble of brooms and limbs, flinging them all off-course and down into the cushioned barrier between them and the maze. A cacophony of bodies that surrounded him sent Harry laughing. No matter what happened, he felt like a winner just by making that final choice. The crowds fell quiet, anxious to see the end as the seekers untangled themselves. When they all stood up, panting with laughter and exertion, he knew he had made the right call.
"Hell of a match," Harry panted lightly.
"My favorite ever," Viktor agreed with a heavy grin.
"I won't forget it anytime soon," Odette admitted with a beaming smile.
"Without a doubt," Cedric answered as Bagman approached on the glassy magic that shimmered beneath their feet. "Question is, who won?"
"All of us, I think," Harry chipped in among a mote of laughter before he looked to Odette and Viktor. But seriously, who won?"
A collective breath seemed to be taken as both Odette and Viktor raised their arms high, fists clenched. Even Harry couldn't tell who had won for a few moments until finally they both opened their hands…
And gold laid in Viktor's palm.
Cheers erupted from the Durmstrang students and dragons of fire erupted from the stands in celebration as their star seeker won the Quidditch Competition for them.
"Incredible!" Bagman cheered to the crowd. "Ladies and gentleman, rarely have I seen such a spectacle of flight before, but here we are! Durmstrang has won the Quidditch Cup! Let's give it up for their victory and for the performance of these Valiant Seekers!"
