THIS STORY HASN'T BEEN WORKED ON IN OVER A DECADE. IT IS TRAAAAAAAASH.
Seriously, the edits needed to be done to this are horrid. It's from my ipod 4 from way back when, I just managed to get all my old docs off of it. Expect a few more pieces of crap to be posted soon.
Everyone in the Great Hall was silenced suddenly before they broke out in whispers about Harry Potter and if it was really him or not. The child they were talking about had not left the group of first years right away but the time Harry Potter's name rang out a second time, the smallest child of all the eleven year olds stumbled forward. With a few hesitant steps, the one called Harry Potter moved forward, as if not used to the attention.
The child was small, very small, black hair so black as night it was almost blue under the right light. It was long enough to cover the child's eyes in front without the bangs being pushed away. This had caused several gasps behind Harry since several other children had indeed been looking for or had spoken to the child.
"Up on the stool child." One Minerva McGonogal whispered softly with a faint smile on her face. She had been wondering how the child of two of her favorite students had been doing and outside of being much to small and way to pale, everything seemed to be fine.
The Hat came down and a few seconds later it's 'eyes' widened in surprise. "Oh my." It exclaimed out loud, wisps of Frost coming from its brim as it spoke. The Hat went silent for the most part after that with slight mutters that couldn't e heard by even the Professpr standing right there. Each time though, more cold frost seemed to be coming from its brim.
After nearly five minutes of silent muttering, Professor McGonogal started to wave her wand in a wordless warming charm when The Hat spoke aloud again, a blast of cold air accompanying its words. "Deputy Headmistress, a cooling charm on Miss Potter here please. Your strongest.
That stunned almost everyone save for a few adults. Well, the Miss Potter part anyway. Harry was supposed to be the Boy-Who-Lived afterall. It was just a diversion set up by Albus Dumbledore and only four of the Professors knew the truth. Albus, Minerva, Rubeus Hagrid, and oddly Severus Snape.
What they didn't understand was why a cooling charm was needed. Nevertheless it was cast and 'Miss' Potter seemed to slump down in relaxation. "Thank you." we're the winters soft words escaping from the small girl.
It only took a moment more for the Hat to finally come to a verbal conclusion. "Good luck in HUFFLEPUFF Miss Potter, come speak to me when you have the chance."
The Hat was slowly pulled off and the small girl hopped down with a nod and a whisper of thanks to both The Hat and Professor McGonogal and then hurried off quickly to the loudest table where several other girls had already been sorted.
As it was, she sat down beside the first two girls to be sorted into Hufflepuff and stayed quiet for the rest of the sorting. When the food appeared, a moment after an Italian names Blaise was sorted, there was a small enclave around Harry where no food appeared, just a bowl of multicolored ice. Once gain this garnered everyone's attention.
That was the talking around the table started.
"So, uhm...Harry?" Susan Bones first started to speak.
"Harriet." the small girl whispered before popping a cube of ice into her mouth, her eyes still hidden by her hair.
"Ah." That did in fact answer most several questions. "Welcome to Hufflepuff." Susan finally concluded.
That caused Harriet to look up and smile slightly causing Susan to blink. Harriet's lips looked blue?
Hannah also noticed and blinked a few times. "You look cold." The blonde frowned a little and leaned in a little to get a closer look. "But the Sorting Hat had a cooling charm put on you?"
"it's to hot here for me." Harriet spoke a bit louder, more sure of herself. These people weren't the Dursleys after all. She popped a blue ice cube in her mouth while everyone watched in fascination.
"And the ice cubes?" Am older boy from across of Harriet asked with a faint smile.
"Ah...flavored ice." Harriet pushed the bowl forward a little and the boy used his spoon to scoop a piece out, pausing slightly to marvel at the frost that quickly coated his spoon. "That one is cherry." Harriet motioned to the cube on his spoon.
The boy nodded slowly and then spooned te ice into his mouth, wincing slightly at the sudden taste that was a lot stronger and colder than he thought ice would be. Everyone watched him suck on the ice and swirl it around in his mouth while he nodded. In the same time, Harriet popped several more into her mouth just using her fingers.
"That's pretty good. Cedric Diggory by the way." A rueful shake of his head from watching the little girl pop cube after cube into her mouth while he coul only handle the one before his mouth got to cold.
Though people did wonder how whoever made the food knew what to make for Harriet without much in the way of fore knowledge.
For the most part, Harriet kept quiet, just finishing off her bowl of ice cubes while everyone else had their turkey and potatoes and carrots and the like. She listened in on the conversations and never spoke unless spoken to first. Not a single member of Hufflepuff asked to see her scar.
Desert was pretty much the same, though the Hufflepuff selection had colder deserts than all the other tables, several different flavors of ice cream bought swiftly from Diagon Alley. Several other frozen delicacies peppered the table as well, though Harriet enjoyed another bowl of ice mixed into her ice cream.
Soon enough the desert vanished and Dumbledore began his yearly speech about the Forbidden Forest, the banned item list from the caretaker Mr. Filch, and the Forbidden Corridor on the Third
Floor.
Not once did Harriet look up at the Head Table nor did she ask about any of the
Teachers as the Prefects led them away from the Great Hall down to the Hufflepuff Dorms. Due to that she missed the fact that several of the Professors were giving her varying looks.
Breakline
Albus watched as the final student left the Great Hall, relaxing back in his chair with a pensive look on his face. "That was interesting."
"Albus?"
The old Headmaster waved it off for a second as he continued to think for a moment, trying to place a memory before it finally came to him. He didn't speak until several of the Professors had already left. "It would seem Miss Potter has come into her heritage."
"Speaking of which," that came from Filius. "Miss Potter?"
"Ah, yes. Ingenious I thought. Afterall if everyone was looking for a young boy, they would overlook a girl." Albus murmured softly.
He got a few nods about that. "And this heritage nonsense?" Minerva demanded.
"You'll have to look after her Pomona." Albus stated, ignoring Minerva for just a second. "As for her heritage, I do believe it comes from her maternal great grandmother. That's how these come to pass, though it obviously skipped a few generations."
"Albus!"
Filius chuckled as he understood. "I shall have to set up charms for Miss Potter in each classroom then. Wouldn't want the poor girl to overheat."
"Indeed my friend. I do believe Charms is the first class the first year Hufflepuffs have. If you could also escort her to Madam Pomfrey tomorrow when she gets in to have the scans done?" Albus smiled.
"Of course."
Pomona and Minerva were starting to look annoyed while Severus looked intrigued. Hagrid had just shrugged it off. It was obvious to him.
"Are you going to tell me about my Badger or do I have to look it up myself, Albus?" Pomona demanded.
"Ah. It isn't obvious? Well she's not the first Snow Child to join Hogwarts, but they are few and far inbetween."
"A Snow Child?" Pomona blinked a few times, the Herbology Professor blinked in confusion.
"Aye." Was Hagrid's booming confirmation. "S'a race o' females tha're like t'Veela but o' Ice an' Earth instead o' Fire an' Air. None o' tha' Allure and transfermation. But they need to be kept cold whereas a Veela can live comfortably where they want."
"Illuminating." Severus sneered. "No doubt she will require special attention when it comes to Potions as well."
"A partner would be best. Miss Potter will be able to handle most of the ingredients and steps but she will require aid when near open flames for right now. Just a few well placed charms should be needed. I shall work on it ver next weekend, Severus."
The dour man rolled his eyes but thanked Filius anyway.
"Excellent. The House Elves have already seen to Miss Porter's bunk in the girls dorm." Albus clapped his hands and stood. "Until tomorrow everyone."
Breakline
Harriet Lily Potter didn't quite know what to think when Hagrid had shown up at the door to that hut in the middle of nowhere. She had been sick for weeks, everything had been to hot for her as she did her chores around the house. Aunt Petunia had checked her temperature once, and found the girl to be cold to the touch and the thermometer reading close to zero. She'd been sent to her cupboard for that little bit of freakishness.
Then the letters started to come and she got a bedroom. Being a me to open the window at night helped, but she was getting worse and worse. It honesty felt like she was burning alive, especially after the mistake with that first shower in her new room.
Aunt Perunia started paying attention when Harriet screamed in pain at being scalded by the hot water. Her memory kicked in as she remembered her Grandmother having the same problem, always taking cold showers and baths since things were just to warm for the old woman. Thermometers also didn't work for Gran.
Harriet was fixed up with a cold pack for her hand and was sat in the tub with cold water and all the ice in the house.
The letters kept showing up and Uncle Vernon kept getting angrier and angrier. Aunt Petunia just seemed resigned to the whole thing.
They left the house, the letters followed.
They drove for two days straight, stopping only to use the bathroom and for Aunt Perunia to switch with Uncle
Vernon.
The heat of the car was to much for Harriet and she spent most of the time completely passed out.
Then came the island with its blissfully cold water, then Hagrid just after the clock struck midnight on her birthday. Yet by then Harriet had been nearly unconscious and the last thing she remembered before blacking out was a frightened whisper of "Help me..." escaping her lips.
The next thing Harriet knew she was waking up with a Goblin looking over her.
"Miss Potter, good to have you with us again." Despite the kindness of the words they were spoken in what seemed to be a defaulted and angry tone.
"W-where am I?"
"The Underground. Rubeus Hagrid brought you here."
"Who? Wait...that large man?"
"Half Giant technically."
"O-oh."
"Moving on. It was fortuitous that he brought you here web he did. Your temperature was at an astoundingly high Forty Degrees."
Harriet finally paused and blinked at that. "Forty Celsius?"
"Hah!" The Goblin pulled back in abrupt laughter and shook his head. "Good one. I'll have to remember that. No, obviously it was Forty Kelvin, you've been here for over a week while your temperature dropped to a normal level."
"When can I leave?"
"Hagrid has already been informed and is on his way to pick you up. Payment has already been taken from your Vault. Now how long has it been since you came into your heritage?"
"About a month ago...everything started to be to hot...I started to get more pale...and my hair is a little blue now."
"Indeed. Your eyes have also grown brighter. They're much more vibrant than when you were brought in. Regardless, I shall leave you to get dressed. There are some new clothes for you behind the curtain that have had a cooling charm attatched to them but you will need ones with a permanent charm until you can manage to keep yourself cold enough. You are still a child and this would normally be taught to you by your Mother...sadly in this case you shall have to learn by yourself until word has reached Japan and the Yuki-Onna of the region."
Harriet nodded her thanks as the Goblin left and then finally looked around the room. It was darker than most and certainly didn't smell like a hospital. When she looked down, a grimace appeared on her face. 'Not wearing any clothing. Great.' Her thoughts were mutinous as she held the blanket to her body and opened up the curtains. Little, spying clothes that certainly weren't hers.
"Great."
A few minutes later she was dressed in a robe of sorts, it felt like magic had helped her put it on. The fabric was smooth, soft, and actually fit her form. It was an odd feeling to Harriet, wearing girl's clothing and not Dudley's old castoffs.
Even her shoes had been replaced by the Goblins and she now wore sandals. She felt like a Princess and was rather embarrassed when she saw Hagrid who gleamed happily.
"Wha' y'say we go an' get yer stuff, 'ey?" Hagrid boomed out in his usual loud and boisterous voice.
"Sure." Harriet smiled and grabbed the final bit to her clothes, a ribbon that she tied into her hair. She hadn't been expecting her hair to grow out to her shoulders in the back and down to her nose in the front. "What happened?"
"Magic." Hagrid grinned a little. "Bes' y' keep 'er tha' way so y'dun b' mobbed up in t'Alley."
Harriet nodded slowly and picked up a hand mirror that was on the table next to her and ace her face a look, puffing the hair out of her face. She honesty wasn't surprised when her eyes seemed to be glowing an even brighter green than they had been before. They had been a soft green before, now they were unnatural emeralds that stood out against her oddly pale face. Yet the first thing she could think to say about all the changes was rather funny wen she thought back about it.
"What the heck happened to my tan?"
Hagrid's laugh echoed through the building.
Breakline
For the most part, the rest of the day went smoothly. A trunk was bought to store all of Harriet's purchases, books were piled in, especially books that Hagrid secretly bought about what had happened to her and information on what a Snow Child, in English, was.
Madam Malkins was also a bit of an extended trip since Harriet decided she needed a few of everything, with extra charms, just in case. The pure intensity of the charms se needed however would cause the garments to not be available until after the term had started. Harriet nodded and just paid the extra quietly since Hagrid was doing most of the talking for her.
That was when she was bustled into Ollivanders shop while Hagrid said he had to go somewhere. "Getting' yer wand is somethin' sacred an' I'm not one t'intrude on it. Jus' meet me o'er at that' shop there when yer done." Hagrid pointed to one of the more colorful shops in the alley that actually had tables outside of it.
Harriet nodded and the door closed behind her leaving her alone in Ollivander's Fine Wands.
"Hello...?" She called out softly, seeing no one as she stepped in.
"Ah. Another Potter. It has even a while since I sold a wand to the last one." A voice rang out as a man stepped out from the shadows of the shelves in the back. The man looked, and oddly enough felt, positively ancient. He got a good look at Harriet and quirked a brow. "I guess the stories were wrong afterall."
"Stories?" Hariet tilted her head slightly, hair parting to give Ollivander a glimpse of her bright emerald eye and blinked a few times.
"Nothing of consequence in the end, Miss Potter." He came forward, with piercing eyes. "Your wand hand?"
Harriet shrugged a little as measuring tables, much like Madam Malkins started to appear around her, though why one was measuring her nose, he has no idea. "I do most things with my right."
"Excellent. Let's find you the proper wand then. Though, truly it's the wand that chooses the wizard, or witch in this case." With that he went into the shelves in the back and started going through his shelves and came back with almost a dozen boxes. The measuring tapes l snapped back as flew to where they originally came from.
That's when the accidents all started to happen. Some wands were waved and things would freeze or shatter, some wands were snatched away before they could be waved and some she just wouldn't touch.
"A very tricky customer I see. Time to go into the more unusual combinations." A Holly and Phoenix Feather came next and with and was given a wave.
"It...feels close. The closest yet. Like...the inside is wrong. To hot." Harriet murmured down at the wand. "A month ago, this would have been my wand." She slowly handed it back to Ollivader who had a disappointed look on his face and gazed into her eyes once more.
"Yes. I see now. I had hoped, but my selection of cores is limited to Phoenix, Dragon and Unicorn. Perfect, mind you, for almost every single Wizard and Witch in Europe and most of Asia. It seems you are in that tenth of a percent I cannot quite supply a wand to. Eleven Inches, Holly and a cold core the opposite of a Phoenix. It would seem I must make a request of Gregorvich." Come along, this shall not take long." Ollivander nodded sharply and went to his door, swinging the sign to 'Closed' with a wand that appeared out if nowhere.
Harriet followed Ollivander back through the shelves warily, ready to bolt just in case. They passed by dozens of shelves and a couple of doors and even a pair of stairs until they stopped at a firepit at the end of the long hallway. The fire lit and Ollivander threw a pinch of something into the fire and started to speak. "Gregorivich. Gregorvich, we need to speak."
A moment of silence ensued before a face appeared in the fire and Ollivander knelt down on the pillow in front of the pit.
"Ollie? Vhat do you vant?"
A small look of displeasure ran across Ollivanders' face. "I have a customer I cannot sell to you. I know you've retired but I do believe you have an appropriate wand that could be purchased."
Gregorvich bit out a harsh laugh. "of course. I do supply to most of Asia after all. What specifics do you have?"
"Holly, Elven Inches, Sturdy, Right handed, Witch. Not human. The closest is that with a core of a specific Phoenix feather. The core for young Miss Potter is wrong. Very close but wrong, to hot."
"To hot? Yet Phoenix is correct more than likely. Interesting. Yes. I have the proper wand I believe. I have sold a similar wand about a hundred years or so ago. They don't normally use them. I am sending it through. You know my prices."
Two minutes later an exchange was made and the fire was unlit. Harriet finally stepped closer, not wanting to be near the green fire. "Back to the front?"
"Quite right." Ollivander slowly stood and Harriet ignored the creaking
Sounds as the old man did so. That was probably an unpleasant feeling.
Back in the front of the shop try both stood and Ollivander put the little box on the desk and opened it slowly, handing the new wand over to Harriet carefully. A refreshingly cool sensation ran through her body as she gave it a wave. Blue sparkles flew from the wand, transforming into snow crystals in midair and disappeared on the way to the ground. A single gust of cold air seemed to swirl around the shop from the wand as well and Ollivander could see his breath with how cold it had gotten.
"Excellent, Miss Potter. Thankfully we've found you the proper wand. Eleven Inches of stable Holly and a core of...well an Ice Phoenix I suppose. Very suitable for strong spells, especially of a certain nature. That'll be a bit more than the usual seven I'm afraid. Gregorvich sells his at a higher price. Twenty-Five in total for the package with the holster and Care-Kit."
"Thank you." Harriet smiled softly as she paid for the money, getting a bag for the Holster and the rest of it while gripping tightly onto her wand as she left the shop. She never wanted to let the wand go.
Breakline
Hufflepuff was a House of Loyalty and Hardwork. Long thought to be the house of leftovers and filled with 'duffers' as some people put it, the truth was far from it. Most of the current students were children of those that were either rich, very important, helped run the government, or a true Slytherin. The fact of the matter was the a Hufflepuff was currently the Minister for Magic and the current head of the DMLE was also a Hufflepuff. It was with that in mind that a majority of the Hufflepuffs thought that one Harriet Potter, firmly thought of as Harry Potter and the Boy-Who-Lived should probably belong in Gryffindor. She also had the weirdest Sorting in living memory, after all the Hat never asked for a spell to beast before. Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, and Justin Finch-Fletchly were the first years pulled aside to keep an eye on and figure out of Harriet Potter truly belonged to Hufflepuff since those three made up the differences in the so called Blood Purity. Fourth year Cedric Diggory was also assigned to help out in his free time.
Harriet Potter was a quiet girl, shying away from large crowds. She was taken to the Hospital Wing after her first Charms class with the Ravenclaws and missed her first Potions class.
At lunch, she once again only ate ice and the air around her was noticeably cooler. After lunch she went along with Susan, Hannah, and Justin to Herbology, their last class of the day.
After that was free time that Harriet spent in the Dorms laid out on her bed in the room she shared with Susan and Hannah with a book in her hand.
"What are you reading about, Harriet?"
"A History of Yuki-Onna."
"Yuki-Onna?"
"Japanese for Snow Girl."
Susan and Hannah exchanged a look at that. The big, and rude, question now was why?
Harriet lifted her book up, looming at the two girls from under her hair. would they run away, calling her a Freak as well? She certainly wasn't human anymore.
"I've heard rumors about them." Hannah finally spoke. "Dad told me they were like Veela...but their opposite."
"Veela?" Harriet blinked.
Susan picked it up there. "Veela are a race of women that can wandlessly create fire an turn into a bird like creature when angered. Auntie Amelia say they put out some kind of Allure that makes boys dumb."
"All boys are dumb." Harriet murmured as she sat up a bit more.
"Justin's alright." Hannah defended.
"He also has more money than I'll ever see." Harriet deadpanned.
"The Potters are very rich!" Susan exclaimed.
"So?" Harriet shrugged, having gotten a report about how much money she had. Rich to the Wizards, sure, but in the rest of the world? She'd barely e able to afford a decent house. "He probably has ten times what I'll ever have. Probably more." Probably closer to one hundred times.
"Can someone even make that kind if money?" Susan asked.
Hannah shrugged slightly. "We're pretty well off, but well off as a Magical family doesn't really mean well off as a Muggle one."
Harriet lowered her book back down with another shrug. She had to study and learn if she was going to survive without spending her time in the hospital.
With that concluded, Hannah sat down on Harriet's bed mid with a sigh that turned into a girlish shriek as she jolted upwards. "Merlin's Beard! Why is your bed so cold?"
"Not cold enough." Harriet muttered softly and put her book down. "Same reason I'm reading this, had that charm last night and waiting until tomorrow for my robes and bed clothes."
"You mean you're...?"
'Here it comes.' Harriet thought bitterly and started to pull her book up.
"That's wicked. Do you have any powers yet?"
The book nearly dropped from her hands as she blinked a few times. "W-w-what?"
"No, huh?"
"No...just very uncomfortable around fire and heat."
"Aw."
Harriet shook her head with a smile, pushing her hair from her eyes a little and looked at both girls for a moment. "Do...do you want to go exploring?"
The two girls exchanged another look and nodded slightly to each other. "Sure. It'd be nice o know our way around too."
Was this what it was like to have friends? If it was what she had hoped, she would cling to this feeling as much as possible. She knew it wouldn't last.
Breakline
The days passed quickly for Harriet, classes for the most part were simply theory with a bit of spell casting near the end. It was to no ones surprise that Harriet's transfigurations were always frost touched and that she just couldn't seem to do the Bluebell Flames charm at all. Since she missed the first day of potions, se was dropped right into the second, and Snape, rumored to be the worst teacher alive, completely ignored her presence, that of Susan who was helping her, and just a murmured well done when she left the class.
All said and done, it was another two weeks until the rest of her clothing showed up with a note from Madam Malkin on how they were to be maintained and to not let anyone else wear them, the charms were only geared to the inside of the garments and could not be turned inside out.
The intense relief on Harriet's face showed through the rest of the day when everyone saw her. That night she also decided to do up her hair, pulling a all of it out of her face into a side ponytail that fell over her left shoulder. She kept her face buried in a book about different magical races and conspired to try and find another like her she could talk to.
The next day, she kept the side ponytail and got rather shocked looks at just how bright people found her eyes to be.
Justin was the first to complement her and that got a smile and a blush from the very shy girl.
Break
It wasn't until the summer of Harriet's third year that she received word from another clan of Yuki-Onna. She was staying with Justin since her GodFather was still at Saint Mungo's. It came from one of the Elders, introducing themselves and also contained a letter from a girl named Mizore who was a few years younger than she was.
The first letter contained a few notes on what she could do to remain cool while wearing normal clothing instead of relying on spells and charms cast by Wizards and Witches, and a few different was to use her natural abilities, including ways to transform her own body into ice.
The letter from Mizore contained a childish greeting, a hope to become friends and a few lollipops made specifically for Yuki-Onna.
The first was blissfully sweet and cold and lasted for almost the entire day. Harriet decided to charm some of Er ice cube treats and send them back with a couple letters written on paper borrowed from Justin.
Fourth Year started off horribly with the riot at the Quidditch Tournement, and only got worse when School started and the announcement of the Tri-Wizard Tournement was being held.
It got even worse when a Veela by the name of Fleur Delecour showed up with Beuxtbeutons contingent of students, and then even more so when the Durmstrang students showed up and took notice of the Hufflepuff with nearly porcelain skin.
Harriet knew she looked every bit the noble Pureblood, especially give the robes that Sirius bought her and it was garnering lots of attention from the foreign students, by the worst of the Slytherins were already spreading rumors about her being a Halfbreed freak.
That just put the female students from France off since they knew and were friends with A Veela. The Durmstrang students didn't care either way, though Viktor Krum was slightly intrigued.
Harriet was as famous, if not more so, than he was and she obviously could hear the whispers.
The whispers that grew louder when Fleur decided to sit at the Hufflepff table right across from Harriet.
Thankfully, before anything could start, Dumbledore's Noise Maker went off and he gave a speech and unveiled the Cup with the Champions being announced on Halloween.
"You going to try and enter, Harriet?" Sue asked from Harriet's left as food appeared.
"Even if I could get past the Age Line I wouldn't." Harriet murmured, plucking some ice from a bowl and popping them in her mouth. "I plan on having a nice quiet year and being a spectator."
"You do not want to bring prestige to your school?" Fleur asked intently. "To become Rich and famous?"
Harriet turned her sharp emerald gaze onto Fleur. "You know who I am, correct?"
The blonde French Veela scoffed. "Of course. Who here in this school does not?"
"My point exactly. I neither need nor want more prestige. I am more than content with the money I have, and these past tree years have contained enough excitement to last me for decades to come." Harriet declared between ice cubes as she ran her finger along the obviously chilled bowl.
"Which is why Sue asked, Harriet." Justin remarked from her other side, only half paying attention, concentrating on eatting.
"Justin?" Harriet asked alarmed.
"Pax." Justin put down his fork and knife and looked intently at her. "It's to get a leg up on things that'll more than likely happen."
"Wouldn't it be nice to relax in May and June instead of frantically finding and fixing things?" Cedric remarked a little with a chuckle.
"Your alliteration doesn't impress me." Harriet said flatly.
"Pattern follows is all I'm saying." Justin shrugged and picked up his fork ad knife again. "The Stone, the Snake, your Godfather, now the Tourney."
Flurry was intrigued now. "There seems to be stories behind all of these."
Harriet sighed a little as she sook her head. "I didn't do much."
"Yes, we did help." Sue smirked. "But it was always you in the end, though Hermione usually finds the information we always need."
A few quick short stories over the course of supper and dessert had Fleur looking more and more appalled as each ended.
"They allow things like that to happen here?" Fleur demanded.
The Hufflepuffs shrugged, it was a normal occurrence after all. Though Cedric did chime in. "Hogwarts hasn't had a Defense Professor for a full year for the past forty some odd years. It's what makes the place unique."
"And we have an Auror this year, retired though." Sue responded thoughtfully.
"How do you think he's going to try and kill me?" Harriet snarked softy with a rueful shake of her head. "Bet it's going to be with the Tournament somehow."
"Well, I'm entering since Quidditch has been cancelled this year." Cedric shrugged. "It's my final year anyway, so might as well keep myself in shape."
Fleur shook her was as she looked around the deserts. "Excuse me a moment." She finally said politely and stood up, heading to the Gryffindor table.
Harriet leaned in a little. "Shoukd I tempt the age line to make sure I works or make sure I'm surrounded and have witnesses?"
Justin seemed to be thinking it over as he stole one of her ice cubes an shook his head. "To bad you couldn't request a ward specifically against you."
That froze everyone. "Would that be possible?" Hanna asked Cedric since he was taking Ancient Runes and Arthimancy.
"No idea." The handsome Head Boy responded cheerfully. "I'll go ask right now."
With that, Cedric got up from his chair and ambled his way to the Head Table to stand in front if Dumbledore's spot. A quick exchange, a lifted eyebrow and hearty chuckle from Dumbledore and Cedric shot Harriet a thumbs up. Before discussing it a bit more.
No one realized Professor Moody had been absent from the feast at that point.
Break
The entire Fourth Year had turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. One after the other. Despite Age Line and the any Harriet Line, her name still came out of the Cup. She still had to participate after about an hour of making sure she really was bound to compete, she ruined the Sixth and Seventh Year's Ball by making sure those of at least her year could go and only a few people outside of the Hufflepuff's believed her. Hermione of course suspected the DADA Professor since that was the ongoing trend.
Sadly though, that theory fell flat when Susan said that she had met the man several times and he really was what he said he was. Hermione remained unconvinced though. It was probably her Gryffindor Qualities.
The weighing of the wand was rather amusing and Cedric some ribbing due to him saying that he had indeed 'polished his wand'. Though the forced interview with Rita Skeeter was anything but.
Things remained on course until a week before the first task when Harriet was out after curfew under her Invisibility Cloak with Hannah and Sue.
"That's Charlie Weasley." Harriet suddenly had a horrifying feeling when she pointed out a redhead.
"Another Weasley?" Sue asked.
"Gryffindor Seeker and Captain." Harriet supplied. He graduated the year before we started. "He works at a Dragon Preserve."
"Dragon Preserve?" Hannah squeaked.
"I old you about Norbert in first year, right? Ron helped get ahold of his brother for me and Hermione." Harriet whispered as they followed the red head
"Dragons." Sue hissed when she caught sight of them. "There's four of them."
"Oh Merlin, oh Merlin..." Hanna started to hyperventilate.
"Let's get out of here." Harriet whispered hurriedly. "We need to tell Cedric, now."
The three bolted back to the Hufflepuff Dorms and in a near panic found themselves outside of Cedric's door, knocking quietly and frantically.
"What?" Cedric's head peaked out from his room, a little sleepy and his hair tousled. All three girls blushed, though it barely showed on Harriet's face.
"Dragons." All three said at once.
Cedric stared a moment, blinking a few times. "Say again?"
The three shared glances and Harriet stepped forth, fidgeting a bit. "The First Task. They brought Dragons."
"Dragons." Cedric repeated and went pale. "Seriously?" They nodded. "Merlin's Beard."
"Four of them. One's even a Horntail." Hannah added.
Cedric shook his head a little. "You three, get to bed. Five points for being out after curfew, but ten for showing what it means to be a Hufflepuff. We'll make plans tomorrow so calm down and try to get to sleep." he paused and grinned rakishly. "Besides, what's a Dragon to our Basilisk Slayer, hm?"
"Right." Harriet fumbled, having mostly forgotten about the Chamber of Secrets and the massive scar on her right arm.
The next week was plans and quiet conversations about the First Task, though that's when the Buttons started showing up amongst the Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and even a bunch of Gryffindors. At least letters from Mizore kept coming in from out East with more lollipops.
Soon enough, Harriet was never seen without one between her lips.
Then the first task started and all
Four Champions were herded to a small tent just outside the Qudditch Field. Harriet was last with the Horntail.
She barely managed to summon her Firebolt to the field and also barely managed to outfly the Horntail who was giving her a wary look of respect after she managed to snag the Golden Egg and get quickly out of range.
She was the only one without a mark on her, but she was also the most exhausted due to the fires coming from the Dragon. Madam Pomfrey poured three potions down her throat before Harriet almost toppled over.
She came in First due to the speed of which she grabbed her egg, and the only one without visible injuries. Much to the glee of the crowd. Cedric ended up in second, Fleur in third, and Viktor eded up last due to harming the Eggs. The Bulgarian looked remorseful though and promised he would put half of his Qudditch Earnings towards the Reserve the dragon came from for the next year.
The second Task was to be in Febuary, just under three months away.
Break
It was the beginning if December when the Yule Ball was officially announced. Girls started to roam in packs, giggling as they glanced at various males from each school.
Cedric was the first Champion with a date, going with his long term girlfriend Cho Chang. Fleur had the most requests, eventually deciding on Roger Davies from Ravenclaw, Viktor ended up asking Hermione since she was the only one not fangirling over him.
No one asked Harriet. Ernie was already going with Hannah, and Justin already had plans with his parents from the year previously. Zacharias already had a date in a year below them too. She didn't really know any of the other guys in Ravenclaw, she didn't like the guys in Slytherin except for maybe Blaise and of the Gryffindors, Seamus had a date, Dean went home, and there was no way in the Nine Hells was she asking Ron.
So she asked Neville.
Break
Neville had been total caught unawares when Harriet had walked up to him. she was considered to be the most attractive girl of their year, and the most unapproachable, even more so than Daphne Greengrass.
Of course, he knew of Harriet through her sometimes being around Ron and Hermione over the past couple of years. In fact Ron was probably one of three male students that knew Harriet best, what with the rumors of a Dragon in first year, Ginny and the chamber in Second Year and whatever had happened with Professor Lupin and the Shrieking Shack in Third Year and Sirius Black attacking Ron of all people.
"Neville?" Harriet has come up to him.
"Hello, Harriet." Neville said, happy that he hadn't stuttered.
"Can...can I ask you a favor?" The girl seemed almost reluctant to ask him whatever it was, but he realized she was nervous. He's know. He was always nervous.
"Ah...sure. Anything for a friend." Neville nodded slowly. He hoped he wasn't assuming to much with that, though the way she seemed to tighten, he guessed he went with the right words.
"Will...well, you see, the thing is...willyougototheballwithme?"
Neville blinked a few times, mouth agape a little. Did she just..?
Harriet was suddenly crestfallen. "No, huh? Sorry to bother you." Neville watched as she started to turn away.
"Wait." Neville responded quickly. "You're asking me to the Ball?"
"Yes?" The response was almost...timid.
"I...I'd love to go with you, Harriet." Neville smiled a little as Harriet brightened.
"Thanks, Neville. you're the greatest." Harriet declared and leaned in before Neville could do anything and kissed him on the cheek then quickly walked off.
"I am?" Neville whispered, touching his cheek where it was suddenly cold from that quick kiss. "I'm going to the Yule Ball with Harriet Potter..." he was going to the Ball with a girl he had a crush on since he had first seen her in the train.
Neville was on Cloud Nine for the rest of the day.
Break.
The lead up to the Ball was even more nerve wracking than Harriet had thought. Instead of going with Wizarding Fashion, she had instead involved Mizore's mother.
She was sent a traditional kimono that was meant to be worn rarely during extravagant affairs and cost one hundred thousand galleons after the exchange rate. It was also Harriet's Great Grandmothers. The Kimono had multiple layers, was all extravagant silk that was completely handmade. It also seemed to shift and shine under the light, like the dark night sky over the frozen snow while shimmering in anticipation and delight.
Lavander and the Patil Twins were recruited to help Harriet with her haiuch like they had done with Hermione's, though whereas the Gryffindor wore hers straight and down instead of the mass frizz it usually was, Harriet had decided to put her hair up. Her midnight blue hair was straightened, curled, crimpped, raised, twisted and dangled in an elaborate hairstyle meant for only the most special of occasions. Her hair shined vibrantly with life instead of the usual flatness she had in her side ponytail.
Finally she was ready, her Kimono on, hair done, and as she stepped out through the enterance to the Hufflepuff Common room, she saw Neville standin there, mouth slighty agape as he stared, causing her to blush fiercely.
"Hi."
"Hey."
Both seemed nervous, though most everyone had been staring at Harriet when they watched her finally reveal her Kimono. (Thank Merlin for dressing charms!) and now they were attracting a crowd before Neville snapped out of his reverie and offer his hand to Harriet.
"Shall we, M'Lady?" He asked softly.
Harriet nodded faintly and took his arm slowly, moving closer to the taller boy as they walked slowly towards the Great Hall.
They found themselves outside the Great Hall with the other Champions and their dates with McGonogall waiting. All of them stopped and stared at Harriet much like the Hogwarts students had done so with Hermione.
"Excellent." The Deputy Headmistress finally said with a smile to all the students. "The Champions and there dates will start off the Ball with a single dance before the rest of the students join in. All their eyes are on you. Again, there will be photos taken, though there will be no Reporters."
"Thankfully." Harriet murmured under her breath, still unhappy with what that horrid Rita had written about her.
"Quite, Miss Potter." Came McGonogall's voice in a rather flat tone before a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Enjoy yourselves."
With that, the Ball was on.
Break
Ball Stuff Goes Here.
Break
Rest of Fourth Year. At the end ofthe tournament, Harriet takes the cup alone because she knows it's probably a trap and won't let Cedric be hurt. If she was wrong, she'd give him the Galleons.
Cedric is very unhappy when Harriet is right and shoots up sparks right away.
Break
Summer between Fourth and Fifth with included Dementor Attack, though Harriet encases them in Ice without her wand. The Trial still happens, though when the Dementors are delivered on Ice, an investigation into Azkaban is called.
Break
Fifth Year. Much the same happens, though Umbridge is still appointed DADA despite the ongoing investigation. She still uses a Blood Quill on Harriet and due to the fact that She's a Hufflepuff and most of the school believes her about Voldemort she gets Sprout involved and shows her the cuts on the back of her hand.
Umbridge is arrested on a count of attempted murder, and dozens of counts of torture, a count of using a controlled artifact without proper permissions, and on several counts of blood theft.
During the trial, Harriet announces her plans to pull out of Wizaring Britain due to the attacks on her and Dumbledore due to the way she was treated, she thanked people for the way she was treated and told them if they didn't want the Girl-Who-Lived, then she would go somewhere she was wanted.
That causes an uproar as she simply walks out before Umbridge is finally found Guilty.
Dumbledore seems disappointed until they get back to Hogwarts and she explains her reasoning.
"Professor, I'm not really leaving for good." Harriet shook her head as she spoke softly. "This is to just get Voldemort to move into the open faster."
"If he knows you are not here, that could potentially bring Tom forward." Dumbledore mused while not looking at Harriet.
"I already have a place to stay in Japan with Mizore."
"Japan? Hmm...this could work for the benefit of all. It would be best during the Winter Holidays. I shall have to contact someone." Dumbledore nods.
The prophecy is not touched upon until Arthur is attacked the day before Harriet leaves. Harriet says it should be destroyed. Dumbledore reluctantly agrees, it is done and Harriet is off to Japan.
She learns Japanese, hangs out with a nervous Mizore, learns more about her heritage and what are considered Youkai and Monsters and how they interact with the real world, at least from a Japanese standpoint where most varied types live in the world.
Harriet also learns how to transform her body into a more natural state, her hands becoming jagged ice and her hair becoming crystalline.
Back in Britain it only takes a few months for Voldemort to find out the Prophecy had been smashed and in a fit of rage he tortures and kills several Death Eaters and leads an attack on the Minstry just to be sure.
He is seen by several eye witnesses and Harriet's plan comes to fruition, and she even 'asks' why should she come back to a populace that called her and Dumbledore liars just to get them to apologize.
Fudge is sacked, Sirius gets freed, and Harriet heads back for her sixth year, leaving a teary Mizore behind.
Break
Sixth Year proceeds as normal, though with more Sirius and less wangst. Instead of just thinking Draco is up to something, Harriet finds out through use of her Father's cloak.
Dumbledore also finally comes clean about everything an why she was with the Dursleys instead of family on her Father's side and after a large bit of losing her temper, Harriet asks for help from Sirius and the Black library. Kreacher overhears and offers the locket up to be destroyed, thus saving them a trip to the Sea Coast, the figh with the Inferni and making Dumbledore worse off.
When Draco's attempts at murder continue to fail, the attempt to break into Hogwarts also fails because Harriet did...something to the Cabinet. Things get more involved with Harriet and Neville too.
Break
Seventh Year Summer, Harriet decides to leave a day early after informing her family, Dudley finally wizens up and thanks Harriet for saving his life and she simply takes a taxi to 12 Grimmauld, walking in on the Order and the discussion of the Seven Potter Plan. Harriet laughs and surprises everyone there. She tells them to have a bit more common sense next time they plan something. At this point, the
Locket, ring, and diary have been disposed of leaving only the Diadem, the Cup, Nagini, and Harriet herself.
The Diadem is dealt with swiftly while Sirius in his reinstated position of legal head of the Blacks has the Lestrange Vault examined and the Cup destroyed, for a price and relinquishing if several Goblin items in the Black Vault.
Voldemort finally invades a week after Dumbledore succumbs to the curse on his arm, though not until after Harriet had disarmed him and won the 'Wand', though it is still buried with Dimbledore as he doesn't explain it.
She sneaks out before the main fight and goes into Voldemort's camp with two of the Hallows on her while Voldemort uses the third with an AK on Harriet.
Things proceed like in canon. Neville killing Nagini and Harriet dueling Voldemort to the death.
Harriet and Neville get together in celebration, save the Wizarding World, an get their NEWTS.
During the summer they're both invited to Youkai Academy to get a Mundane Education. They both accept and join the school a day before Tsukune is on the bus.