JK Rowling Owns Harry Potter
FASA Owns Earthdawn
Harry's fourth year will be split between having 'summary' chapters and new chapters focusing more on where divergence from Canon occurs. I do not want to re-tell what most readers already know, but I will spotlight where divergence occurs. The more time goes by, the greater the divergence. Year five will be a full split.
Harry and Bill have been working with Sirius and Ted Tonks on ways to free him from Dumbledore's control. Bill has noticed many odd inconsistencies in how Dumbledore acquired guardianship and some of the odd decisions made. He is also concerned about the growing strength of the animosity curse centered in Harry's scar.
Use of a Corporeal Patronus dampens the effects, but only when Harry is in its presence. Also, the animosity is somehow being projected throughout the castle. Bill is certain Dumbledore knows more than he is saying and intends to confront him on it. Finally, Harry was struck with a potentially lethal curse and Amelia Bones has learned that the Bones heiress was a part of the attack. She broke the alliance with deceit and is extremely nervous about the ramifications of her actions. Currently, Harry is preparing for the First task which he now knows involves dragons. This is where we pick up.
—DoD—
The First Task
Hogwarts
Chamber of Secrets
Sunday, November 24, 1994
Harry got up at the crack of dawn to see the dragons one more time. No changes there. He met Hermione and brought her into the chamber. Hermione spent the first hour just wanting to explore the rooms, but after settling down for a late breakfast, she was ready to start working with Harry.
Harry looked at his best friend and repeated what he had said a dozen times today, "Hermione, thanks for helping me. Bill was supposed to, but apparently the tournament rules forbid it. I have a few ideas, but being laid up in the infirmary hasn't helped me in preparation."
Hermione pulled out massive notes and a few books. "Well, we know there are four Dragons. We know the types as well. The Norwegian Ridgeback and the Swedish Short Snout are the easiest. Not very smart. Just distract them with something edible. Disillusion yourself and grab the egg. The Chinese fireball is significantly smarter. But it has very large eyes that sit on the front of its face. Maybe a conjunctivitis curse? Blind it a bit… then distract it with sounds and transfiguration distractions. Honestly, though - It's the Hungarian Horntail that worries me."
Harry agreed immediately, "Yeah, me too! That Dragon is pure malice. It took twice as many handlers to keep her in line."
"Yes. Well, I was thinking more along the lines of small recessed eyes, making it hard to blind. Amazing sense of smell. So, disillusionment will not work well. Really, I'm surprised they would bring that species. It is easily double or triple the threat of the other three."
"Hermione, I doubt they intended to have four contestants. And there must not have been any other nesting mothers." Thinking about it, he added, "I hope Fleur doesn't get that one."
Hermione did a double take, "Fleur? Harry, what about YOU?"
"I have no idea." Harry was not looking well. Hermione knew he was nervous.
Hermione considered what Moody had told her a few days ago during a weird and unplanned tutoring session. 'When you don't know what to do, stick with what you are best at.' As she thought about it, Professor Moody seemed to be telling her this for a reason… did he mean for her to pass it on to Harry? What was Harry best at? Suddenly, she had an idea!
"Harry, no one in the school is a better flier than you. When you are on your firebolt, you are so fast and maneuverable… What if you just flew around her and grabbed the egg?"
Harry just looked at her. Could it be that simple? "Wait, I can only bring a wand with me…"
"Use the summoning charm. Distance matters, but with a bit of practice…" She was suddenly back in her manic mode. Talking about field of vision, range of fire breathing, leaping ability… They were all huge, so flight maneuverability would be minimized. They would be slow to take off given their size… and he could take advantage of that. Harry was beginning to feel better by the minute.
They spent the next few hours practicing the 'Accio' summoning charm. When Harry showed high proficiency, they went outside and practiced the charm for longer distances. Eventually, Harry felt certain he could summon any portable object up to a mile away. Maybe further had they tried. Hopefully, he could replicate it under stress. As he looked over at his best friend, he wondered how she might feel about being more than just friends… He'd ask her to the Yule Ball after the task. Maybe she would even say 'yes'.
—DoD—
Hogwarts
Headmasters Office
November 24th
While Harry and Hermione are practicing the Summoning charm.
Bill wanted to strike the man. Albus Dumbledore had approached him and wanted to discuss Harry. Bill had reluctantly agreed. Dumbledore had shown him the diary of Tom Riddle and confessed to it being a Horcrux. Bill had heard of that horrific piece of dark magic and asked to inspect the diary. As he looked it over and cast various diagnostic spells on it, he slowly realized one terrible fact. It had the same basic blueprint that Harry's scar carried.
Bill looked directly at the man his parents put on such a high pedestal. "You arrogant son of a bitch. You knew. You've known all along."
Albus Dumbledore calmly answered, "And what would you have had me do, William? Share this with the Department of Mysteries? We both know what Harry's fate would have been had I done that. Enlist curse-breakers or practitioners of soul magic? That would have had the same outcome. Put him with a wizarding family? They would have torn him apart. Bind his magic? That would have driven him insane."
As angry as he was, Bill knew Dumbledore had limited options. Five years ago, before he met Harry, he would have called it a hopeless situation and might have recommended a mercy killing. "So why tell me now?"
Dumbledore leaned into his hand and rubbed his temple. "Simple. You care enough about Harry that you will help me, to help him. I'll admit, I am at a loss. Every idea I have had or obscure arcane reference found would have killed the host with the Horcrux removal. I need someone who is better at curses. Someone I can trust with Harry's safety." He then added, "Your discovery of the Patronus offering some level of respite was… brilliant. It made me think there is still a chance…"
Bill thought about it and asked, "How has he survived this long? It should have consumed him years ago…"
Dumbledore weakly smiled. "His mother gave him protection. Her sacrifice created a level of magic that is protecting him. But lately, it's wavering. The extreme animosity toward the boy. The curse that nearly killed him… It should have done no more than stunned him a bit. I suspect that, unless something is done, within two years Harry's defenses will erode and the Horcrux will consume him completely."
Bill considered what he had heard, "One thing I don't understand. Why the animosity? Why would the Horcrux cause its host pain and… emotional trauma? It needs Harry. If he dies, it dies."
"It needs Harry isolated, so it can be reunited with Voldemort. It needs Harry vulnerable and alone, afraid to ask for help. Also, it seems to somehow feed on the trauma it creates. The more pain it puts Harry through, the more it seems to gain. The more it erodes the protections his mother made. It does not want Harry dead, just weakened and alone. I imagine it especially hates you, William." Dumbledore let that sink in.
Bill pointed out a fact he had noticed. "Well, not everyone is affected. My dad, Ginny, Hermione…" He thought he knew why, but he wanted to see if Dumbledore had come to the same conclusion.
Dumbledore fell back into his grandfather demeanor. "Ah, yes. I suspect vows and debts offer an additional layer of protection. Your sister has a life debt, so she is relatively immune. Your father is the head of the Weasley family, so he also has the life debt from his daughter. Then there is Miss Granger, who owes him a life debt of her own. I suspect you made a vow or perhaps the apprenticeship contract gives you some level of resistance, but probably not as much. As I said, I have been researching this since the horrible night that took Harry's parents."
Bill nodded. He had drawn similar conclusions. "Ok, you have been researching this for years. Let me review your notes. Horcruxes are not as rare in Ancient Egypt as in Old Europe. Contrary to what many believe, Herpo the Foul did not create the first one." Bill suddenly straightened and made a realization, "Wait a minute. Two Horcruxes? That has never been done. If he was willing to make two… why not more? Dumbledore, how many are there?"
Dumbledore just shook his head, "Alas, I have no idea. My primary goal is saving Harry. However, no one would just make two. Three is a number of power. Unfortunately, Tom was always enamored with another number. One with even greater significance than three. Even as a child, he favored the number seven…"
"Seven! That's insane! What kind of a madman would split his soul seven times?" Bill had gotten up and was now pacing.
"I have been collecting memories of Tom Riddle. All the way back to his birth. Some yield far more information than others, but they all give insight into the mind of a madman." Dumbledore poured two glasses of fire whiskey. He handed one to Bill. "One day, I will share them with Harry, but for now, I'd like to share them with you. I admit to needing assistance."
"Why Harry? Not that I'm in favor of keeping him in the dark, but why him specifically?" Bill knew there was more here than Dumbledore was admitting.
"For now, let's just say, I have my reasons. But we need to do something about the Horcrux. At the end of the tournament, I had considered using basilisk venom again. It seemed to damage the Horcrux considerably. I am certain Fawkes will assist, but it is dangerous. And Harry already has inert venom in his veins, along with traces of Fawkes' original tears. It may not even work. If we cannot do something, Harry will be consumed before he graduates."
Bill knew Albus Dumbledore had kept this to himself longer than he should have. Absolutely shameful. But at least he had some decent motivation. "Let's see your notes. And Albus, no more secrets!"
—DoD—
Hogwarts
The First Task
November 25
True to fate, Harry drew the Hungarian Horntail. Bill was there with his Owl Patronus on his shoulder. Harry saw Fleur and Victor look at him in concern. Even Cedric seemed less irritated with him. They were all too focused on surviving. McGonagall tried to talk to him, but he just walked past her. Bagman described the rules. Basically, they had to get past a nesting Dragon and capture a golden egg that was mixed in with the others. Bagman had taken him aside and tried to offer him tips, but Harry just said he had a plan. Bagman didn't offer anyone else tips…
Bill put his hand on Harry's shoulder, "You will be fine. Just do what you do best!" Hermione had told him about their plan. Bill agreed that it was the best bet, especially for the Horntail. Bill wasn't allowed to stay, but he spent a moment with Fleur before he left. Bill left his owl Patronus with Harry and followed Fleur to the side of the tent. Was that even legal? Who knows, but it definitely made him feel better and the scar recede.
Harry gave Bill and Fleur privacy, he could see she was becoming very important to Bill. She had been nice to Harry as well. Hermione snuck into the tent and hugged Harry. She was his rock nearly as much as Bill. They were photographed together and Victor ran off the perpetrators. That damn Rita Skeeter. As if they didn't have enough to worry about? Then, the champions were all alone. Waiting.
Cedric was up first. The other three contestants had to wait and listen to the announcers. Hearing the Dragon roar. Hearing the play by play progress Cedric had made. It was finally clear he had succeeded. Fleur was up next. Harry wished her luck and she seemed to really appreciate it. Victor did the same.
The process was repeated. Fleur was successful and the crowd cheered. Then, Victor was up. Harry made sure to wish him luck as he had Fleur. Harry hated that he had to wait the longest. He listened intently to Victor's task and it sounded like a success. The Dragon had sounded like it was in pain… But, all the champions had survived. Now it was just him.
His heart was beating at an unbelievable rate. After Victor left, Bill's Patronus vanished. It was time for business. Time to prove himself. Time seemed to slow down. Eventually, he was told to make his way to the arena. Harry was now up.
He stepped into the enclosure and saw the Horntail at the other side. She was HUGE! Seeing her up close was so much different than seeing her from a few hundred feet in the air. And that tail! Every time it moved, it carved huge gouges in the ground. He and Hermione hadn't thought about the tail. Harry noticed a shimmering haze around the arena. Apparently they had set up defenses to prevent the spectators from getting hurt. Lucky them. Harry's hand began to tremble.
Clearing his mind and focusing he said "Accio Firebolt!" He stayed focused and waited. Soon, heard the firebolt and turned to see it approaching. It stopped in midair beside him and he climbed on it. Kicking off, he soared up into the air. Away from the ground. Away from the Fear and Anxiety! This is no different than a Quidditch match! He let out a brief chuckle as he turned and looked at the Dragon below. Time to get to work.
Harry was like a fly to the huge beast. He buzzed around and annoyed her constantly. He pushed the firebolt to a level that most had never seen. The flame was easy to predict, but the wings were a bit hard to dodge. She took a few bites at him as well, but never caught him. Harry was actually enjoying himself. He wondered if Victor was watching… Then he had to swerve to avoid the tail. It grazed his shoulder and burned like fire, but he was a quidditch player. A little pain was no big deal. Stay focused! He just had to make the dragon angry! Furious! Use her horrible temperament against her.
He finally got the Dragon angry enough that she decided to take off and leave her eggs. Once she rose up enough, Harry dove under her and retrieved the golden egg. He hastily flew behind the barrier and circled over the stands where everyone was cheering. He had the best time!
He watched the Dragon keepers subdue the Horntail. McGonagall appeared to be trying to get his attention, but he just ignored her. He flew directly to the medical tent to get his arm looked at. It was beginning to hurt more as his adrenalin levels dropped. Lots of blood too.
Landing in the tent, a silver owl Patrons flew over to his shoulder. He was then greeted by Bill and Fleur. They were holding hands! Fleur come over and actually hugged him! Bill did too. Then Hermione came over and put him in a real bear hug. She had been crying. She said "Harry, you were brilliant!" Soon they were joined by Hagrid and Charlie and Professor Flitwick. It was like a miniature party. Harry saw Victor on the edge of the group and motioned him to join. He knew what it was like to feel left out. Cedric was still being treated, but after the way he had treated Harry, no worries there.
Soon Mme. Pomfrey came over and ran everyone off. She treated the wound while muttering something about Dementors and Dragons… After being treated, she went back to Cedric. McGonagall entered the tent. "That was very well done, Mr. Potter. You are probably the best flier I have ever seen." Harry just smiled and nodded. After an awkward moment, she added, "I have no doubt, you could play professionally if you chose…"
Harry had enough. "Thank you ma'am. But not being in a house makes it hard to practice. Maybe at my next school I'll join a quidditch team. I may be able to replace Victor at Durmstrang since he is graduating this year…" Harry had no idea if Victor really was graduating or not, and he had no desire to go to Durmstrang. Still, it ended the awkward conversation. And he had stayed polite. Bills rules.
"Well, yes." Obviously, McGonagall didn't know what to say.
"I should go see my scores now. Thank you for checking on me." And he walked out. Soon the scores were posted. Victor Krum had tied him for first place. Then Fleur, and finally Cedric. All had lived. All had retrieved their egg.
Ludo bagman approached and told them a bit about the next task. It would take place at 9:30AM February twenty fourth. Apparently the golden eggs were hollow and contained a clue for the second task. Plenty of time. One task down, two to go. Hopefully, Gringotts was happy with the results.
Harry pulled Hermione into an empty class room. "Hermione, I couldn't have done it without you! I can't tell you what this means to me… I owe you big time!"
Hermione just smiled and said, "You would have been fine, Harry. And you don't owe me anything. I still remember when you saved me from that troll… that was something!"
Harry smiled. He remembered that too. "I'd say we're square now Hermione! I saved you and now you saved me! No debt and a clean slate!" His scar suddenly flared up. It almost never did that around Hermione or Ginny. They were immune…
"O-OK, Harry." Hermione suddenly got a glazed look. Nononono!
Harry knew what that meant. He had to work fast! "Listen, I want you to know… I think you're brilliant. I always have. Since first year. I know we're best friends, but I thought, maybe we could be more. I'm… mad for you Hermione! I really like you…" He paused as he saw she wanted to say something. Please, please, please…
"Harry, I think…" Hermione was suddenly thinking about all the reasons she shouldn't be with Harry. All the ways she felt inadequate. Really, he was 'Harry Potter' and she was just a bucktoothed, frizzy-haired, bookworm. She had harbored feelings for Harry for three years… but now… He would only leave her in the end.
She heard the words coming out of her mouth, "I think we should just be friends." Why was she saying this? She loved Harry!
Harry crumpled. He looked like he had lost… "OK. Well, I guess… friends are good. I'll see you around." As Harry looked at her, he realized her immunity had worn off. At least the scar only affected her the way it had Neville and Colin. But he would still distance himself. He couldn't bear for her to feel… the way his scar made his other friends feel.
Harry got up hugged her, thanked her again, and went back to the Chamber of Secrets. He needed to be alone.
Hermione just stayed in that room. Wondering what had happened. She reflected on Harry saving her from the troll. He had actually leapt on the monsters back and nearly died. How on earth was that equal to her telling him to 'fly his broom'? The more she thought about it, the more she realized Harry was just being nice. She would always owe him.
Somehow, this cleared her mind. She did love Harry. Had she been thinking clearly, the conversation would have gone very differently. But would that have been the best thing? Harry needed to stay focused. Dating her would not accomplish that. She'd stay friends with him and help him survive this awful tournament. Then, after the tournament, she'd set him straight and hopefully give it a go. But not now. He needed her as a friend more than a girlfriend.
She could wait a year.
—DoD—
Hogwarts
Visiting Office of Amelia Bones
November 25
10:00 PM
Amelia Bones had watched the First task with amazement. All the champions had performed exceptionally. Especially Harry! While she did not like the fact that such a dangerous tournament was underway, she had to admit it was incredibly entertaining!
Her lawyer had made some headway in researching the Potter alliance. While he had just begun to scratch the surface, here is what he knew: The Potters had turned to the Bones family for support a few years before the 1066 Viking invasion. That had involved Norse battle wizards and allied Giant clans. Originally it had been a Tier Two level alliance. It was elevated to Tier One when the Normans invaded just after the Vikings were repelled. The Normans were the greater threat. Far more vicious.
Back in 1066, the Potters were a small family regarded as the best Enchanters and Warders in Europe. Highly skilled magically, but not in combat. They were afraid that their small family would be targeted and enslaved by the Normans. The Bones family was much larger and widely respected for their Battle Magic. They had agreed to protect and represent the Potters in return for the Potters providing wards and enchanted weapons. The Bones family had ruthlessly pressured the Potters to increase the commitment to Tier One. It was a strong arm tactic and it appears to have benefitted the Bones family far more than the Potters.
The ward structure of the Bones Manor was near impregnable and had been designed by the Potter head of family in accordance to the alliance. He was required to sacrifice most of his own magic in the creation, making it near sentient in its ability to defend and protect. When he was done, he was a near squib and the Bones manor was among the greatest strongholds in Europe. On par with Hogwarts. Amelia realized that the ancient Bones family must have been as ruthless and opportunistic as the ancient Potter Family was terrified and desperate.
As long as each generation reaffirmed their commitment to each other, the wards would hold. They would become stronger. The Bones manor would stand as an impregnable fortress. The seat of the Bones family.
Amelia sat back and considered how much their position had changed over the last millennia. The Bones family had been nearly wiped out in the last two wars. Most had perished fighting Grindlewald, and the rest fighting Voldemort. There were a few families that were third or fourth cousins, but none of the main line. It was now just Amelia and Susan. Perhaps she'd have to bring a few cousins into the core family. To shore it up. But that is a problem for another day.
The Potters had developed their own Battle magic. Charlus was not just a master warden and curse-breaker. That man could fight. He had developed Battle magic on par with the Bones family. Likely he had assistance from Dorea Potter née Black. She was a frightening witch and well versed in the Black Family Magic. He built, used, and refined the Potter Battle magic in the Grindlewald war.
So, what could the Bones family offer to reset the alliance? Harry would have access to all of that Potter Battle Magic as well as the Aggressive and Lethal Curses of the Black family. He had fame and would soon have at least as much political power as the Bones Family. He would be Lord Black and Lord Potter. And Harry sure as hell wasn't going to sacrifice the majority of his magic to reset those wards. She wouldn't even consider asking him to do that. Her ancestors may have been unscrupulous, but she was not. Well, she did end the alliance in a shady way... to her eternal shame.
Truthfully, the Bones family now had little to offer young Harry.
So, the Bones family had lost... much. She would need to find out which weapons had been brokered in the alliance. Was her own Claymore a Potter design? What of the family Longsword and cloak? So many of the artefacts in the Bones family vault dated back to that generation. Many of those artefacts had solidified their position in post Norman Britain. They helped elevate the family in what eventually became the Wizengamot.
And the wards... Thank Merlin Voldemort was dead and gone. Otherwise, Bones manor would be vulnerable. Perhaps she could hire Gringotts to replace the wards. They'd be inferior to the original Potter wards, but this was peace time. How much protection did she really require? If she could get some orichalcum, standard wards would come close... But that was so rare. So expensive!
Now the disturbing question: If the alliance had been 'officially' ended, why did she still feel protective of the last Potter? Amelia Bones was not a maternal woman. She loved and protected Susan, but that was family. Why did she feel just as strongly about protecting Harry? Was it guilt? That was absolutely there. But would it be this strong? No...
Susan had betrayed the alliance before it had been officially ended. Would that matter?Were there some sort of penalties involved? Was she feeling that now?
The Potters originally had to sacrifice far more for the alliance, and they were considerably more skilled in designing contracts and enchantments than the Bones family in 1066. It stood to reason that the Potters would have built in safeguards to ensure Bones compliance after the many great sacrifices the Potter family had been required to make. Was it possible that ending the alliance caused the Bones Family more problems than it solved?
Amelia knew she needed more information.
As she wrapped up and prepared for bed, she considered their awful position. That's the problem with Tier One alliances, they seemed to 'stick'. Perhaps the Magic in Tier One alliances required more than pieces of paper and blood quills to end. But how much more?
Susan had royally screwed up.
—DoD—
Hogwarts
The Owlry
November 26th
The Day After the First Task
7AM
Harry had slept decently. Still not dream time with his mum… God he missed her. He needed someone to talk to. Maybe Fleur? Hermione's rejection had stung, but it was ok. Better he know now. And he needed to shield her from the effects of his scar. That only left Ginny as the last immune person. Well, Bill seemed immune too, but he needed his patronus to keep it that way.
The Yule Ball was approaching and Harry was told he had to open with a dance. He needed a date. Harry knew Neville was going to ask Ginny to the Yule Ball, so she was out. It seemed wrong to take that from Neville when he had planned to ask Hermione. Maybe he could find someone that was less affected…
Harry attached letters to Dudley and Bill to Hedwig. Dudley's letters were addressed to the ministry of muggle affairs. They would forward them. Hermione had shown him that trick their first week at school. He had written Dudley a couple of letters and Dudley had actually written back. Apparently the boy had taken up boxing. He was a real natural and the exercise was helping him lose the fat and build up muscle. No way Harry would go back to the Dursley's until his scar was fixed. Dudley was tough before he took up boxing. What would he be like now? That made him shudder.
Harry affixed a letter to Sirius to a school owl. Hedwig was too easily recognized. There. All done, now he would go back to the chamber and prepare for his day. As he turned, he saw Cho Chang enter. She had always been nice to him and he had always thought she was pretty. Very pretty actually. And she wasn't wearing one of those damn badged Malfoy had given out…
Harry decided to 'test the waters' and said, "Hi, Cho."
She looked at him and smiled slightly. "Hi, Harry."
Yes! No nasty looks or sneers. Maybe… "Hey listen Cho…I don't know if you've been asked or not... but… "Willyougototheballwithme…asyouknowmydate"
She crinkled her eyebrows slightly, "What was that, Harry?"
Harry realized he had talked way too fast. "Oh, Sorry. Will you go to the Ball with me? As my date?" He felt his scar flare up. Shite! Here we go. Her eyes glazed over slightly… then returned to normal.
"Sure, Harry. I'd love to go with you." She then smiled. She was so pretty.
"Thanks, Cho. Listen, some people don't really like me. I don't want them to take it out on you… maybe let's just keep this quiet until the Ball." Then thinking about how this might sound, "I'm super proud to go with you, please don't think otherwise… But I get hexed a lot and so do my friends…"
She smiled and chuckled lightly, "It's OK, Harry. I understand and I'll keep it quiet. We can let everyone know with the first dance of the Ball."
Harry beamed. Things were looking up. "Thanks, Cho! I can't wait." And he took off.
Cho Chang sent off her letters. Most were to friends and family. Telling them she had a date to the Yule Ball. The Hogwarts Champion, no less. Cedric Diggory had asked to be his date right after the first task. What she had planned for Harry Potter would be icing on the cake. A date with the real Champion, and putting the upstart cheater in his place. Too sweet. Like Harry, she couldn't wait, either.
—DoD—
Hogwarts
The Headmasters Office
9AM
Bill had spent the night reading over Dumbledores notes. They were not the notes of a curse-breaker, but they were still very good. A few areas seemed odd, but most of it was linear and relatively easy to follow. Still, there were pints he needed to address. Disturbing points. The two of them were sitting in Dumbledores office. Bill in a comfortable chair, and Albus in his ornate wingback behind his enormous desk.
Albus Dumbledore could sense the irritation in the young man. He had learned something… "William, I confess to not expecting to see you so soon. Do you have questions regarding my notes?"
"Yes, I do actually. You recognized that Lily's sacrifice was giving Harry defense against the Horcrux." Bill saw Albus nod. He pressed on, "It was tied to Harry's magic and his blood."
Albus was not sure where Bill was going, "Yes. Perfectly intertwined."
"And fully containing the Horcrux. You then used those same protections to power blood wards on the Dursley home. Extremely powerful blood wards."
Now Albus had a clue where Bill was going. "Yes. I had to ensure no harm came to Harry or his new guardians."
"But by doing that, you weakened Harry's own protections. You essentially allowed the Horcrux to grow. You are the reason the damn thing was able to escape the protections. Hell, you are the reason that boy has had such a horrible life. Ten years those wards pulled from the protections Lily sacrificed to give him! Ten Bloody years!"
"I felt I had no other choice. Eventually, the Horcrux would probably have broken free. But, yes. The wards hastened it'sgrowth. However, without those wards… The remaining Deatheaters would have found him and… taken their revenge. The Malfoys alone were fighting for custody…"
"Did you think about what this would do to him? To the poor Dursley family?"
"I did. I truly thought I might find a solution much sooner once I was able to review the Potter magic… But it is all written in a dead language and I have not been able to decipher it. Are you familiar with Linear A? Minoan Hieroglyphs?"
Bill knew of Linear A and Minoan Hieroglyphs. He also knew that Harry understood both somehow. He didn't trust Dumbledore enough to tell him that. "Why not just bring him here as a baby? To the Castle and raise him yourself? You could have protected him without the need for the blood wards. You wouldn't be the first Headmaster to have family members at Hogwarts."
"I confess, I hadn't considered that. It seemed better to place him with a loving family…"
"No. No family would be loving while a Horcrux was affecting them. Especially if they slept near it. Near Harry. Which they did. You knew this too. I read your notes. You used compulsion charms to protect the boy from physical harm. To ensue he was given food, shelter, clothes… But even that wasn't quite enough. Dudley still beat him, even if his parents couldn't. The clothes were little more than rags. Cast off clothing from his cousin. Food? Yes, he could always have food, but never sit with the family. Like a house elf. Place to sleep? The damn cupboard under the stairs! You knew and did nothing!"
"Harry was safe. He had food. Once here, he was dressed exactly like everyone else. And the cupboard was farther away from the Dursleys… I had hoped his sleeping further away would help…"
"Have you even looked at the Dursleys? You put a compulsion charm on Vernon Dursley to go and have sweets whenever he got angry at Harry. Did you think he would just have a few lemon drops? The Horcrux keeps him angry all the time… He is now morbidly obese. The mother had a compulsion charm to shower her son with 'Love'… whenever she felt irritation or animosity toward Harry. Again, that was all the time. You wrote that you hoped Dudley would be nicer if his mother would love him more. She spoiled him rotten!"
"Albus was becoming irritated. He was not used to be addressed this way. "YES! I made mistakes. Your point?"
"You could have taken Harry in and saved him all this pain. You didn't. And I think I know why. You didn't want to get too close. In case you had to 'terminate' Harry. That's what you were saying when you wrote about avoiding 'sacrifices for the greater good'. Tell me I'm wrong."
Dumbledore no longer looked like a quirky grandfather He seemed to shift. He looked like a dangerous mage. "William. Harry Potter has the raw potential to be more powerful than Grindlewald, Voldemort, or even me. If the Horcrux manages to take over, he could be the worst dark lord that has ever lived. He would have all of Voldemort's knowledge and all of his own prodigious power. Power that is currently fighting itself internally between his mother's protection and the Horcrux. Yes, William, it can draw on his power just as Lily's protection can. Lately, it is drawing even more. That should also be in my notes."
The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Albus Dumbledore spoke first. "Now, let's discuss what needs to be done to protect the boy. Hopefully, we won't have to make the terrible choice. We have perhaps... 18 months before that happens. Unless things change...
Bill now knew the man Albus Dumbledore was. A good man, but willing to sacrifice innocents for the 'Greater Good'. Maybe he was even right, but no one was there to give him 'checks and balances'. He kept his decisions to himself and suffered from a lack of perspective. A diversity of opinion. That autocratic style may work on the battlefield, but this is Soul magic. Curse magic. Albus was definitely not the authority on this.
Albus was hiding something. Still keeping Secrets. Sirius had mentioned a prophesy, but Albus hadn't even brought it up. Bill would trust Dumbledore to do the right thing in general, but he now knew, more than ever, that he had to get Harry away from the man.
-DoD-
I hope you are enjoying the story – Feedback is appreciated.
Notes:
OK, so we finally got to the first task, but I got thru a number of critical points:
1. The first task was delayed from November 24th to the 25th due to Harry's injuries.
2. I went with the book version of the task – less dramatic, but keeps the story moving ahead.
3. This is a bit of a 'set up' chapter, the Gringotts reaction, The Bones report, Sirius' plans, and the Yule Ball will be up soon.
4. Dumbledore brought Bill into the loop - Finally. His fear right now is that Harry will snap and kill someone. He has to Keep Harry close, but he fears Harry could go dark and start slaughtering people. His 18 month estimate is just a best guess. He also knows Harry went from 'pretty good' to nearly 'consumed' by the Horcrux in a week. That terrifies him. He has no idea the Diadem is in the Castle or that it was used on Harry.
5. Harry was gently rejected by Hermione. It really is for the best and I referenced it in Casting Shadows. They will still be best friends.
6. I have now gotten the Dance of Death back to a point where I can begin splitting my time between this story and Casting Shadows. So, the updates will slow a bit, but releasing four chapters in a week should have been enough to satisfy the loyal followers that have been waiting.
Also, in the next chapter of 'Casting Shadows', the Bones/ Potter alliance betrayal has ramifications.
Other Points:
In this story, Tom Riddle knew the way the room of requirement worked and placed the Diadem inside the room to curse the DADA position. Because Dumbledore does not know about the Diadem or the fact that a Horcrux is in the room of requirement, he has been unable to permanently break the curse. He breaks it each year, then it comes back. He has no idea why or how.
So, in an earlier chapter, Barty Crouch Jr. used the Diadem to charge up Harry's damaged Horcrux. But he did more than that. The two Horcruxes are now synchronized. The Diadem is acting like an antenna for Harry's Horcrux and projecting the negative feedback throughout the castle. Obviously, proximity matters and being in the same room with Harry makes it far more concentrated, but there is really no escape from its effect inside Hogwarts. The Corporeal Patronus is the only real way to shield the effects, but that only lasts while it is present. And not many people can even cast it.
Till next time.