Friends, From Ruin is back!
I am deeply sorry for the unforgivably long break. I truly had no intentions of staying away from this fic for as long as I did. For those following my other story, you know I had been writing the story The Last Prayer like a madman. That plot bunny may as well have been crack for a writer because I couldn't put it down. For those that don't know, when I took a break from writing From Ruin, I started writing a Naruto fanfiction called The Last Prayer. Since March of this year till last month, I stuffed over 300K words into that story. Craziness.
Even though I love writing the Last Prayer, with every passing week, I was missing FR more and more. I won't lie to you guys. It was very difficult to get back in the groove of writing FR. After writing TLP for so many months, I'd just forgotten the flow, character motivations, etc, so it took some time to get back in that head space, but I managed it. So from now on, I'm going to alternate updating both stories.
This chapter takes place immediately after the previous chapter. So, Harry just finished chewing Dumbledore out. Many have expressed totally valid points that Harry if facing too many obstacles and while I agree it's a lot for a person to take, that's sort of the point. I just want to let you know that it's all to plan.
11K for those who like to know. And without further ado, enjoy!
Dumbledore walks around the heaving Harry, calling for Madam Pomfrey to tend to him as Harry mentally thanks Nova and the Elixir for easing much of the fiery pain webbing from his nose down to his sternum as well as the hot, thick throbbing from the wound in his left hand. The elder wizard is quickly met by the throng of professors, officials, and judges. With Harry's enhanced ears he hears Fleur, Snape, Lily, and Flitwick inform the other judges, Lucius Malfoy, the Minister, Fleur's father Stéphane, and Dumbledore of what they know as Pomfrey rushes to Harry. He allows her to tend to his wounds as he waits for Dumbledore to get the full scope of what's known thus far, and waiting for the final piece of the puzzle that can only be provided by the elder wizard.
"Rita Skeeter is writing up a storm up there," Daphne notes walking beside him, holding Astoria's hand and eying the shady reporter under the shaded bleachers. "Coercion, attempt of murder, assassins, all under Dumbledore's nose… you've dropped some major revelations I'm more than certain Governor Lucius Malfoy will request to be investigated."
"Should keep him busy for a while," Harry hoarsely mumbles as Tracey, Hardwin, and Luna join him and Hermione.
"Daphne's saying our families are in danger," Tracey starts. "Can you get my mother, Ares? Please? I reckon I know where she is."
Hardwin tells a worried Tracey with some exasperation, "Mum already said she talked to Uncle Sirius using the two-way-"
"Then why aren't they here yet," she yells back.
"They'll be here," Daphne reassures her friend, still holding Astoria.
"At least tell me Draco's okay," Tracey asks.
"He's fine, Tracey," Harry answers as Sirius, Sharon Davis, Amelia Bones, Alice Longbottom, Nicolas, and Perenelle rush through the entrance. Amelia Bones and Alice Longbottom move toward the Minister and Dumbledore while Sirius, Sharon, Nicolas, and Perenelle rush over to Harry and his group. Tracey runs straight to her mother and the two women hug each other fiercely before Sirius envelops them both protectively.
At the sight of Harry being tended by Madam Pomfrey, Perenelle brings her wand out to assist examining and treat his injuries as Nicolas asks, "are you okay?"
"I've had worse," Harry croaks when Madam Pomfrey leaves Harry to Perenelle's care while she tends to the mass of startled children.
"Don't remind me," Perenelle mutters before adding, "and stop talking." After a moment, she asks for the shrunken trunk around his neck, to which he acquiesces so she can take out the potions she needs.
While Hermione speaks in private with her worried parents, Harry turns to Luna, still holding his egg and Daphne, holding Astoria's hand. Though Luna doesn't look overly worried, certain her unorthodox mind is helping her cope, Harry doesn't like how close one of best friends is to losing another parent. In his timeline, she was one of the few who truly understood him and it was a morbid connection that always endeared her to him.
"I'm sure… he'll be… fine," Harry manages to tell Luna, his voice nearly gone.
"I'll be quite relieved if he is," Luna slowly states. "I imagine finding him will be just as difficult for us as it will be for the Goblins. He's on an expedition in the forests of Sweden, you see, and Crumple-horned Snorkacks are notoriously elusive."
"I'm sorry," Harry croaks.
"I know," Luna nods, staring at him without a shred of ill-will or accusation. "But you oughten be. It'd be foolish to lay the blame at your feet simply because others are trying very hard to kill you." His airy snort is his only response before she ponders aloud, "I hope you don't mind my holding your egg. I feel dangerously close to learning if the egg came before the chicken." Feeling eternally grateful for Luna's presence in his life, Harry simply nods.
Practically adhered to her protective sister, Astoria was upset and Daphne was unreadable, prompting Harry to conjure a short bird-stand beside the first year. As always, Nova needs no verbal command to understand her master and flaps her midnight wings twice before landing on the stand, easily matching the bonny blond's height. At the divine creature's calming song, Daphne's stoic countenance finally cracks, not by much, but enough for her. The crystal blue of her eyes gloss over, her brows knit together, and her pink lips press into a line as she stares at her green-eyed savior with the most minute expression of gratitude. One of the worst anguish a person can suffer is being powerless as one waits for news of heart-aching tragedy. Sympathetic to what she's going through, Harry nods.
As the forlorn Grangers join them, Perenelle hands Harry two vials then cleans off the dried blood from the lower half of his face. Harry groans in relief when the first vial both heats then cools the bleeding sores in his mouth and throat. Closing his eyes, he hums as the pain from acid-shredded muscle in his throat begins to recede. Drinking the second vial, Harry recognizes the taste of the Elixir and turns to her with a questioning brow, as if to say, 'I wasn't dying this time. Why the Elixir?'
With a bored expression, she shrugs, answering, "with you? Just covering my bases."
"Actually," Nicolas wearily starts, eying the elixir nervously. "Uh, there's been a sudden issue I feel- well, it's a delicate matter we should discuss." The legendary alchemist looks nervously between Harry and Perenelle's confused faces when the Weasleys break from arguing with Lily and Flitwick to walk straight to Harry's group, prompting Nicolas to finish, "as soon as we're able."
Harry shrinks his storage trunk before clasping it to his chain necklace as Molly leads Charlie, his younger brothers, minus Percy, who stays beside Fudge, and Ginny. The Weasley matriarch eyes them all, from Hermione and her frazzled parents to Daphne and Astoria hugging Nova, to Tracey and her mother Sharon, to a seated Luna looking intently at the golden egg on her lap, to Harry, Nic, and Nelle.
"Mum," George calls, spurning the protective mother on to speak to Nicolas and Perenelle. "Mr. and Mrs. Flamel, I'm hearing all sorts of talk about- about assassins, danger, kidnappings, and- and truly terrible terrible affairs, however, no one seems to know precisely why this is. Our children can certainly cause their fair share of worry, but this? Please, as a mother, surely this isn't how it sounds. It can't be."
Harry expected to get overwhelmed by her motherly presence. Mrs. Weasley was one of the strongest influences in his life before Horcrux-Voldemort filled him with enough reasonable doubt to be confused by her now. The way she had treated Sirius when they were being sheltered in his house, not knowing where platform 9 ¾ despite having taken five of her children there previously, her initial thoughts on Fleur and Bill, taking care of his vault's key without ever asking him. Maybe she was a little intrusive and meddlesome when it came to those she cares about, but it was always because she cared, and Horcrux-Voldemort could never truly dissuade him of that. Still, she doesn't know him now and her eyes are protective of the redheads behind her, not the three Flamels in front.
Perenelle respectfully replies, "I'm afraid I don't have answers for you, Mrs. Weasley. Nicolas and I have only just arrived ourselves."
Undeterred, Mrs. Weasley then turns to Harry fast enough to whip her hair, stating, "young man, I've heard you take after my more mischievous sons, and by your word alone, my husband and firstborn are currently searching for Mr. Lovegood as we speak. Surely this is a mistake, or, Merlin help you, a truly abominable prank. For if it is, I can assure you this will not end well for you-"
"Molly, please, allow me," Dumbledore intervenes, less angry since minutes passed, though not happy either. The group behind Dumbledore—Fudge, Umbridge, Percy, Stéphane, Apolline, Amelia, Sirius, Alice Longbottom, Bagman, Karkaroff, Maxim, Lucius, Snape, Lily, and Flitwick—huddle around as the Headmaster continues. "We are getting to the bottom of this incident, I assure you."
"This is far too much, Headmaster," Molly throws back. "Death Eaters, Acromantula, and now assassins?! It's not even been half a year!" Having gone through far worse than this Molly Weasley can apparently imagine, it's a little grating on his nerves she can act so innocent, however, when Harry spots Fred and George pulling an imaginary noose around their necks for Ginny's benefit, he smiles.
At Harry's slight amusement, Molly leveled him an irreproachable glare, spouting, "how is it you find this amusing when this trail of terrors leads directly to you!" Harry had to admit that stung and though Perenelle didn't seem to take it well either, he's thankful she let it be.
"I couldn't agree more, Mrs. Weasley," Umbridge states, righteously adding, "why, you must be absolutely distraught with concern for your husband and firstborn."
"Molly, Undersecretary, please," Dumbledore states before turning to Harry. "Mr. Flamel, I am now aware of all the relevant information to this event, however, what hasn't been explained is why this is taking place."
"Since I'm not a fan of the current company," Harry starts, turning sharp green eyes directly at Umbridge before nodding toward Hardwin, Harry adds, "and there's still one Champion left to go, I'll be brief." Hardwin's shoulders slump as Harry continues to address the group. "While I was levitated at the start of Krum's task, I was made to see that my friends, Hermione, Luna, Daphne, and Tracey, were surrounded by three assassins; Dark Goblin-"
"Why that cannot possibly be. You must be mistaken my dear boy," a ruffled Fudge gasps as Umbridge adds, "correct as always, Minister. It's positively preposterous. Proof of his duplicitous behavior is forthcoming, I'm confident Mr. Flamel obstructed justice in this morning's official inquiry." Harry rolls his eyes in growing annoyance as she adds, "while I'm certain he means well, Minister, he has a propensity to embellish and flaunts his disrespect-"
"Oh will you shut the fuck up," Harry yells at the pink toad of a woman, causing a general ruckus by those who've never heard of his contempt for select authority as well as chuckling amusement by a few that have; Lily, Sirius, Nicolas, Charlie, Fred, George, and Ginny. "You're not the Head of the DMLE, the Head Auror, the Minister, the Headmaster, or a decent human being, so keep your useless fucking opinions to yourself!"
Taking a step forward, Nicolas asserts with the authority of his ancient and well-respected house, "I want every official here to keep in mind that Perenelle and I are allowing Ares to cooperate as it's the right thing to do. Make no mistake, he's under no obligation to do so. We've more than had our fill with this cavalier attitude toward ever-present dangers."
Perenelle glares at Umbridge as she interjects, "and Minister, if Undersecretary Umbridge utters another word, House Flamel and all our substantial influence, fortune, and favors will work tirelessly against your administration. I do not want to hear her neutered voice again!"
"Lord Nicolas, Lady Perenelle," Fudge submissively begins with his best political smile, "she means well- she, in actuality, had nothing further to add." He laughs before turning to give Umbridge a stern look of grave warning.
Amelia informs Nicolas, "additionally, no charges of obstruction will be filed against heir Ares Flamel. Your heir was questioned and answered all my questions to our satisfaction." Amelia's stern eyes challenge the Undersecretary when their silent contest of wills is broken by Stéphane Delacour.
"Good," the French Deputy Minister comments. "The nation of France would not take kindly any injustice toward the House of Flamel."
Fudge Amelia focuses his political façade to the influential foreign official and asserts, "Amelia would be more than happy to answer any further concerns you may have Deputy Minister." Turning to Umbridge, Fudge tilts his flabby head away, saying with his eyes to do or say nothing more before hurries over to the next possible French Minister of Magic.
As Harry smiles with sinister satisfaction at the garish pink toad, his voice projects further information for Amelia, Sirius, and the rest. "There were four Dark Goblins in total. The three surrounding my friends showed me their daggers; they were special. Magical to a degree I don't fully understand… yet. The fourth Goblin's name is Týr and he led the team."
Half in his head, a thoughtful Sirius slowly makes note of that detail, voicing, "a four-unit assassination squad…"
Harry nods at the Auror as Amelia asks, "what did they want?"
Harry wasn't going to admit they wanted basilisk venom or bring attention to Nāga and so explains, "their goal was to kill me as the heir of house Flamel." Harry ignores how stunned many are to hear him speak so casually about being the intended target of assassins to continue adding, "obviously they were using the rules of the task, specifically the loss of my magic if I left the arena to their advantage." Focusing on Umbridge and Dumbledore, Harry reasons, "exploiting the task to manipulate me may have been for their convenience or because they felt they couldn't defeat me in a straightforward confrontation."
With the implication in his voice and the accusation in his eyes clear to everyone paying attention, Harry continues to tell Amelia, "before it all went bust, the Dark Goblins detailed for me the names of all my friends and their family. They wanted me to know they could get to any of them if I didn't comply with their demands. They named the Grangers, Delacours, Lovegoods, Greengrass', Weasleys, Potters, Blacks, and Malfoys."
Professional as can be, Sirius asserts, "so, when they couldn't get you or the others here in the stadium, they resorted to attacking those outside of Hogwarts to prove their point. That's some dedication."
"They nearly killed my parents," Hermione announces to the group. "If Ares and I hadn't gotten to them in time…" Turning to her parents, Charlotte places a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Arthur and Bill are searching for Xenophilus now," Molly chimes with horrible angst. "Oh, please let them be safe."
"You can always count on a Slytherin to bring about death and destruction," Ron adds, directing a scowl at a surprised Harry.
"Enough," Dumbledore demands before informing Harry, "we will need a memory to confirm-"
"No," Harry states. He's not sure how well he can mentally block his conversation with Týr from a wizard like Dumbledore, but he doesn't want to try. Dumbledore stares at him without the comforting grandfatherly routine, and Harry simply adds, "I'm not lying and you have plenty of witnesses to choose from."
"They were wearing masks," Snape makes a point to mention.
Turning to the potions professor, Harry retorts, "were you hoping they had on jumpers saying 'I'm a Dark Goblin and Here to Kill'? I'll give you a manuscript but I don't supply memories."
"And we're to trust your word," Dumbledore sternly asks. "How are we to trust someone who keeps so much to themselves?"
"You're one to talk," Harry retorts with hard green eyes.
Rather than address that comment in public, Dumbledore asks, "what of all the families we've upended on the word of a single student?" It annoys Harry how easily Dumbledore's partiality influences many of them. Fudge, Umbridge, Percy, Alice Longbottom, Bagman, Karkaroff, and Maxim all seem to question what is so painfully obvious simply because the revered Albus Dumbledore questions it. It nearly makes Harry laugh to think all these highly influential witches and wizards could come together to end Voldemort's rise to power. Instead, they seem more concerned with questioning reality rather than reacting to it.
"One of those things nearly killed my daughter," a frazzled Charlotte speaks loudly, effortlessly drawing their attention. Looking at the group of officials, the anxious mother declares, "and we can no longer allow her to stay in this- this horribly dangerous place."
"Mum, Dad," Hermione whirls on her parents, whipping her brunette tresses.
"No, sweetie," Daniel argues before she can get another word out. "We know you love this school, this world, but you nearly died. It's our job to protect you and if that means taking you out of this dangerous element, then so be it."
"Dad, you know you can't be rational in a vacuum," Hermione fervently argues. "Which only means I need to stay here."
"She's right," Harry turns to the Grangers. He feels odd disregarding their clear wishes, but he knows they're unable to keep her as safe as he can. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger. I'm truly sorry for what's happened to you and your daughter-" "Ares-" Hermione tries to interject but he continues. "But for her safety, I can't allow Hermione to go with you." Despite their acute expressions of defensive disbelief, Harry turns to Dumbledore, Amelia, and Fudge and informs them, "as a matter of fact, Hermione and the rest of the Hogwarts targets are staying with me until this threat is resolved."
"Your initiative is commendable, however, that will not be necessary," Dumbledore professes to Harry before focusing on the worried students and parents, smiling, as if trying to project safety.
With heavy sarcasm, Harry challenges, "oh, because it's impossible to break into Hogwarts?" Without giving the elder a chance to respond, Harry continues telling the three authority figures, "if they've infiltrated once, they can do it again. And the leadership of this school has shown, yet again, that the risk to my friends or any innocent student is too high to entrust in you. So, you're more than welcome to protect the adults, but the students are staying with me."
"I agree," Perenelle voices, adding, "and the only counter-argument I'll willingly hear must come after swift and diligent actions on your parts are taken to ensure the safety of the students and in resolving this dilemma."
"The position of our House is set," Nicolas adds with all the authority of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Flamel.
At the stern and steadfast stance of a very influential family, a sudden awareness of importance descended on Fudge, Amelia, and Dumbledore. The three were veterans of navigating the political landscape and they could argue the irregularity of this family's demands, the selfishness of their insistence, or the institutions that are already in place to protect them, but will they capitulate and at what cost?
"It is expected for one as young as you are to react on the liberating spirit of emotion," Dumbledore voices, looking at Harry. He then turns to Perenelle, adding without missing a beat, "or a mother figure to ignore every consideration that does not prioritize the safety of their child." Looking at Nicolas, Dumbledore expresses, "with respect, my old friend, I cannot allow your heir to assert any authority over my students-"
"I'd be happy to fight you for the authority," Harry challenges, squaring his shoulders and taking a measured step toward the revered wizard. He can feel his eyes ignite with additional insight as he further imparts, "because you can't seem to listen to any other voice but your own."
"Watch how you speak to the greatest-" Molly attempts to intervene, but it falls on an audience of deaf ears as Harry's defiant authority as a monstrous magical entity steamrolls over her voice.
"I'll say it clearly, Headmaster," Harry shouts, cutting Molly off. Stepping deeper into the ocean of Magic within him, Harry's green eyes brighten as Nova rises, arcing her neck defensively and stretching her midnight black wings at the magical feel of her master, who declares to Dumbledore with the gravitas of an ancient magical Lord, "I do not trust you. Not with my life and not with the lives of the people I care about. So you can either step out of my way and let me do what I do best… or I can move you."
It's unnerving how silent it becomes, as if everyone but Harry and Dumbledore disappeared. But of course, the crowd in the stands and surrounding them haven't and those near enough to hear are stunned at the sight. The audacity of threatening the most revered wizard alive would be troubling for those nearby to hear, but Harry's power wasn't just in his daring green eyes or in his legendary creature on his shoulder, but in the air around him. Without knowing it, he was aggravating the air itself with vibrant kinetic energy and everyone surrounding Harry can feel it like breathing in pure oxygen. They felt light-headed, their skin prickled with heated bumps, their eyes strained to stay open, and their breathing felt labored.
None felt the need to speak or they were too stunned by the sight of a fourteen-year-old openly challenging the strongest wizard to do so. It's why he appreciates witches and wizards like Amelia when she steps between them and asserts without Dumbledore or her Minister's approval, "until we have concrete proof, we'll act to the threat accordingly. For the moment, I want all the potential targets secured in the Great Hall."
Standing down with his eyes slowly losing their glow, Harry steps beside Nicolas and Perenelle as he offhandedly comments, "Potter still has to do his task."
Nodding, Amelia responds, "while he performs his task, the students in the stands must return to their dorms." Turning to Alice, she orates, "call in every available personnel. You have ten minutes to coordinate with the staff and aurors to secure Hogwarts." Alice nods before rushing out of the arena while Amelia orders Sirius to, "take Tonks and escort the intended targets to the Great Hall. We'll discuss the logistics after safety is assured."
Sirius nods and casts his patronus, likely to communicate with Tonks. Harry had never seen Sirius' patronus before but wasn't surprised to see beautiful light shaped like a large dog exit his wand. With Flitwick's help, the head Auror begins asking the students and parents to exit the arena with him. Lily stays with her son as he has to perform his task, however, they aren't the only ones who don't leave. Though the Weasleys, a reluctant Tracey and her mother, and Lucius do as instructed, Hermione, Daphne, Fleur, Luna, and as a result, Astoria, Gabrielle, Stéphane, Apolline, and Hermione's parents don't move as directed.
Hermione, Daphne, Fleur, and Luna wait for their friend, a touching gesture Harry can't help but appreciate. With a small smile, he nods, telling them, "I'll be along. You can trust S- Auror Black." The girls hesitate, but eventually nod and leave the arena. Luna extends the golden egg to Harry, to which he smiles and asks her, "would you mind holding on to it for me?"
With her nod, she affirms, "incidentally, the egg came first," before following the group out of the rocky dragon pit. Amelia turns to the minister, respectfully proposing, "it seems we'll need to discuss meeting the Goblin Nation. Would you like me to coordinate with Cresswell in the Goblin Liaison office?"
Harry's certain he doesn't have to look at Perenelle or Nicolas to share in the unsettling feeling of Amelia and Fudge meeting King Ragnuk. If ever there were two highly official positions to reveal Nāga's existence to, the Minister of Magic and the Head of the DMLE would be it. Amelia would then be bound by law to take Nāga from him. As a sweating Fudge fumbles his agreement with Amelia, Harry promises himself that he'll use every ounce of strength in him to keep anyone from taking Nāga.
"…R-right," an unsettled Fudge calls after Amelia, taking steps away. "I'll await a, uh, draft statement." The Minister nods to them with his practiced broad smile before stepping away, calling, "Weatherby!" Having refused his mother to leave with the family runs after the large minister.
Dumbledore conveys to Amelia, "we will, of course, assist in every way, however, as Headmaster, it would only make sense that I safeguard the students."
Harry would rather drown than ride that boat to safety and responds to the Head of the DMLE while staring at Dumbledore, "I'd think the Headmaster would be too busy, what with securing Hogwarts, being Supreme Mugwump, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and Triwizard Judge."
"I think it best I oversee the children," Lily states from beside Hardwin. As one of the adults in the loop, Harry doesn't mind the suggestion, however, that would also keep her in close proximity to him and he didn't know if he could handle that emotional baggage.
"I'm in favor of that," Amelia asserts, nodding to the Potter Head.
"As am I," Perenelle voices, smiling at Lily. Harry inwardly rolls his eyes, thinking, 'of course you would be.'
"Madam Bones," Bagman voices, calling her attention to ask, "do I have your leave to continue with the first task?"
At her nod, Harry turns to leave, signaling Nicolas and Perenelle his desire to talk with his eyes alone when Dumbledore calls out, "Mr. Flamel, as you are at the heart of this matter, we will need more answers from you."
Turning to Dumbledore in exhaustive disbelief, Harry looks around the rocky dragon arena before asking with incredulity, "now? Don't you have a task to watch?"
Dumbledore pauses a moment before nodding and amending his statement. "After, we should speak in my office."
"In the Great Hall will suffice," Nicolas asserts, placing a supporting hand on Harry's shoulder. "It's imperative we all discuss how this will proceed and wasting time speaking one person at a time isn't going to help."
"Please make your way to the Great Hall," Amelia asks of them. "Would you like an escort-"
"Thank you, Madam Bones, but we'll be fine," Harry voices. As many of the remaining judges exit the arena, Dumbledore addresses the crowd above. It seems no one but the judges and Lily will be seeing Hardwin fight his Swedish Short-Snout. Walking past his unanticipated brother and distracting mother, Harry voices, "a short-snout has horrible mobility. Go for the legs."
Harry kept on walking with Nicolas as Perenelle speaks with Lily. After passing the jagged and cold cavern, they wait on the wooden stairway between the Champions' tent and the arena for Perenelle to catch up to them. It's the very spot Nicolas, polyjuiced as Harry and with a fake Nova on his shoulder and waited to switch places with the real Harry before the start of the tournament. When Perenelle joins them, Harry erects his privacy wards before he asks them, "well?"
Nicolas shrugs as he affirms, "everything went as we expected. Though Amelia and Sirius rushed through the questions, Umbridge's zealots on the judicial board tried to delay you, or me as you, for as long as possible."
Perenelle adds, "eventually, Amelia decided to end the charade, which sparked a debate about bias between the members and her office. It became a game of optics at that point."
Nicolas adds, "since we didn't want Amelia and Sirius to suffer simply because they weren't in on our little ruse, we allowed Umbridge's loyalists to question us to their satisfaction." He smirked in fond memory as he reveals, "you should've seen their smug smiles when they were sure 'Ares Flamel' lost his magic. How hysterical they became when I cast a simple warming charm on myself."
Smiling at Nicolas's good humor, Harry asserts, "good." Harry hears the others entering the cave and the Flamels continue up the creaky stairs to the Champion's tent.
The likelihood that Umbridge would've given up after her public shaming seemed low, so it was no surprise to find Umbridge, Alecto and Amycus Carrow waiting for them. The twins already had their wands out and the garish Umbridge tilts her twitchy head, clasps her hands in front of her, and voices with thick sweetness, "as I thought, you are without chaperons. No need to worry, Alecto and Amycus would be more than happy to-"
"Do we look suicidal," Harry interjects before gripping Nicolas and Perenelle's shoulder and flaming out of the tent. The Flamels land just inside the Great Hall and it's evident to the three that they are ahead of the group being escorted.
"That horrible harpy couldn't be more transparent," Perenelle harshly remarks.
"Don't worry," Harry replies. "Give her enough rope and she'll hang herself."
Looking at the brilliant Nova standing proudly on Harry's shoulder, Nicolas asks, "how much of a ruckus did the appearance of a second Nova cause?"
Suddenly feeling bad for the chicken they had transfigured to look like Nova, Harry sucks in a deep chest-expanding breath as hesitates to confess, "um, there, uh, wasn't. One of the dragons ate the Nova I had." At Nicolas and Perenelle's solemn silence, a wincing Harry asserts, "I do feel bad about it."
"Poor chicken," Nicolas sadly prays.
Nodding, Perenelle quietly voices, "a life is a life, but, what's done is done. Mr. Ferret?"
"I'm about to see him now," Harry responds, looking around the empty Great Hall. "I assume he's fine. I'm sure Nova wouldn't leave him stranded. Can you guys cover for me?"
"Of course," Nicolas answers before inquiring, "but before you go, how were you planning on watching all these students?"
Harry pauses a moment to consider the question. With Hermione and Luna, Daphne and Astoria, Fleur and Gabrielle, Tracey, Draco, Hardwin, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George, four education levels between them that require different classes in different parts of the castle… it seemed unlikely Harry can be in multiple places at once. An effective defense seems unlikely or wishful thinking.
As he's more curious about Draco, Harry answers, "I'm not sure… yet. I'll come up with something though."
Nicolas hums a moment before offering, "we'll consider some solutions to mitigate the problem. No sense in putting all this on your shoulders."
"Can't say we didn't contribute to this unfortunate outcome," Perenelle muses with a sad smile.
"We should've known better," Nicolas replies, wrapping an arm around Perenelle's waist and bringing her in for a sideways hug.
It was almost astonishing for Harry to witness adults taking responsibility for an aftermath that he knows is, in actuality, his fault. He may not have been the one to outmaneuver the Goblins in their deal for the Hufflepuff's cup. That's too tangible for something as complicated as his life. Harry has no doubt the strong-arm trade they made in Gringotts only escalated to drawing in the Dark Goblins because of his rotten luck.
Another part of him wondered why they would stay by him, however, he didn't want to indulge that twinge of deprecation and told them, "don't worry about it. No one's taking Nāga and nothing's going to happen to either of you." Clearing his throat, he hesitates to add one, "I won't let it." Feeling a pang of swelling grateful emotion for how amazing they've treated him threaten his stability, Harry immediately flames to the main chamber of the Chamber of Secrets and didn't see their happy smiles.
Harry hardly has time to recognize Nāga slithering with his head coiled and ready to strike when he hears someone yell from above, "where the bloody hell have you been?!" Harry looks up to the tall graying ceiling of the chamber to find a flustered and sweating Draco on his Firebolt fiercely eying Nāga. Harry's large pet snake is locked on Draco and hissing joyfully, like a dog fetching a flying ball.
Nāga's coiled head blitzes Draco with moderate speed, certainly enjoying playing with Draco as the silver-blond yells, "call that bloody thing away!"
Harry places Nova on a stand as he enjoys the view. Smiling broadly, he clasps his hands behind his back and cheerfully asks, "aren't Slytherin's mandated to worship snakes-"
"Potter!" Draco yells as he narrowly avoids a moist tonguing by the feathered head of the large serpent. It's obvious Nāga isn't seriously trying to eat the airborne Draco, just as much as it was obvious Draco's been flying with agitated speed for some time. Nāga's flicking tongue and excited slithering is evidence enough of fun curiosity, however, it seems Draco can't see beyond the fact that it's a very large and deadly basilisk.
Rather than telling the silver-haired nuisance to calm down or calling a humored Nāga to him, Harry asks about the obvious wood furniture in the center of the grand chamber. "Why is Dumbledore's desk here?"
Groaning in distress, a flustered Draco yells back, "did you really fucking reckon I could get through his wards?! His!? We're talking about fucking Dumbledore! Not some firstie trollop's secret diary, you smarmy tit!"
At some point, Draco's insults have become amusing to Harry as he can always respond with, "you realize I haven't called Nāga off, right?"
"Potter!" Draco heedfully yells. "It's going to kill me and I can't kill it because of my oath!"
Harry snickers at the rare gem that is witnessing his old Slytherin enemy stuck in a chamber, trying desperately to stay away from a snake who's only playing. With sheer amusement, Harry asks, "so, rather than do what we discussed with the ample time you had to retrieve the diary, you have Nova bring the entire desk here? Making it painfully obvious I, or you polyjuiced as me, stole his furniture in the process?"
"I told you I couldn't do this," the silver-blond yells. "You think we're all magical whack-jobs capable of remembering a forty-eight step plan-"
"You wrote it down," Harry retorts.
"Potter! This is better, trust me-" Draco's yell is interrupted when Nāga manages to nudge the tail of the very fast racing broom. It's not so much that the broom is slow, but that typical physical reaction speed and intent take about as long as Nāga needs to get very close. "Call him off," a sweaty Draco screams.
Harry rolls his eyes before calling Nāga back. For a moment, the king of snakes is saddened by the game coming to an end, but he then slithers happily toward its beloved master, cuddling Harry with a strong wrap as he demands to know of Draco, "well?"
Finally settling back on solid ground thirty yards away from Harry and his snake, Draco sarcastically chimes, "you're so crackin amazing, yet you couldn't figure taking the whole desk could just as easily look like a good prank."
"Speak quickly or Nāga keeps toying with his food," Harry threatens with a smile as he taps its belly's sleek scales. As practiced, Nāga's body slithers and curves into a prone position, as if ready to strike. Harry ignores Draco jumping on his broom again as he climbs the hard scales, conjures a pillow and sits on its scaly back. The king of all snakes then lays its terrifying head on Harry's lap for his feathers to be petted and massaged.
Flying in the air, Draco swallows audibly as he moves close enough to be heard. The silver-blond Slytherin explains from a safe distance, "if the wind-bag comes at you about the desk, you can play it like a prank. We know he can't get in here even if this place was plottable, so, in the meantime, you use your utterly ridiculous magic to take the diary out and replace it with a fake before returning the desk. This is infinitely better than me going spar worrying about every little sound or booby trap trying to break into-"
"Yeah, yeah," Harry gripes, waving away the rest of his argument.
"Genius, I know," a presumptuous Draco concludes.
Shrugging at the minor alteration to his original plan, Harry voices, "fine. We don't have time right now. We need to get back."
"Why," Draco wonders aloud, watching the large reptile practically vibrate in comfort as Harry answers, "there was an attack during the task. Dark Goblins tried to kill me by threatening Hermione, Daphne, Luna, and Tracey-"
"Tracey," Draco harps but Harry assures him, "she's fine. They're all fine."
Nodding with relief, Draco snidely observes, "you're not in the fetal position in a puddle of your tears, so, that's a bonus."
Eying Draco with irritation, Harry asks Nāga in the language of the snakes, ¿Did you enjoy playing with my man-servant, Nāga?
The way Nāga's head turns sharply on Draco as it hisses, pale servant is much fun! makes the sliver-blond Slytherin shooting to the ceiling on his broom, yelling out, "alright, alright!"
Harry pats his snake, massaging the sensitive scales around his plumage as he calls out to Draco, "they threatened to kill you too, by the way, so, there's one death I won't cry over."
"Being a target by association doesn't even surprise me anymore," Draco calls out as he floats closer to the scared Harry and his pet basilisk. "Your life's a fucking curse."
"No shit," Harry agrees, thinking longingly about all his friends and family, past and present, alive and dead.
The short silence ends when Draco dares to move closer to them and warily declares, "but it won't be for long." Harry's green eyes look on curiously as Draco adds, "we only have to kill one nut-case, right?"
Again, Harry feels his emotions swell by Draco's consolation, however, he isn't sure why. It's wildly confusing as much as it is uncomfortable and shoving it to the side, he voices, "come on. Your parents were bugging me and Tracey's threatened to spread to cutesy rumors about me if I don't bring you back."
"Really," Draco voices with a small smile before it suddenly fades from his face. All the while Harry leaps off his giant partner and hisses his friendly farewell, Draco seems to be deep in thought. With Nova on his shoulder, Harry didn't care about what was on Draco's mind until the silver-blond takes a step back the second Harry's hand nearly clasps his shoulder. The skin between his black brows crinkles in confusion as green eyes communicate, 'what?'
Though silent, Draco's uneasy body language expressed just how apprehensive he felt about whatever was on his mind. It's disconcerting and Harry suddenly dreads it like their girl talk a few weeks ago. His former enemy, now lackey proves him right by professing, "we're not mates, right? Never have been, never will be, obviously." Harry is silently apprehensive when Draco looks away and begins pacing, uttering more to himself, "but this isn't about that."
Nāga's curious head slowly rises over Harry's and Nova's heads as the three observe the highly distracted Slytherin boy pace even in the close proximity to a man-eating basilisk. Rolling his eyes, an impatient Harry contends, "spit it out."
"It's fine," Draco sputters, rubbing the back of his neck. "I- right, you should first know it's not like I disapprove. If I had a pecker as small as yours, I'd figure out a way to permanently enlarge it too."
Startled by the remark, a wide-eyed Harry struggles to accept what he just heard as he sputters, "w-what?"
With a furrowed brow and raised palms, Draco struggles, "look, don't make this weird. I'm just saying I saw and… well, you may have gone a bit far, but I get it. And you don't have to tell me how you did it, but, I mean… we're practically… if you wanted to, I wouldn't… mind?"
"Draco, start making sense right this minute or you're playing with Nāga again and I tell him to move faster," a horrified Harry declares.
Suddenly realizing the large Basilisk is looking at him with what feels like hungry eyes, Draco yells, "I just want to know what you did to permanently change the size of your meat-wand, is all! There are no spells to make that permanent and potions can go horribly wrong even with the smallest mistakes."
Harry only understands they're talking about his dick and has never hated his luck more than this moment. 'Why the fuck is Draco Malfoy dedicating human words to my dick,' his mind is nauseated to yell as he verbally vomits, "have you gone mental?"
"I was polyjuiced as you," Draco yells getting out his Firebolt and backing away from the large looming basilisk. "You didn't think I'd look?"
Shaking his head, Harry yells back, "nnnooo!"
"Why? Anyone would," Draco defends. "I wasn't getting my rocks off or nothing! I just wanted a laugh- Listen, we're blokes and this is purely educational. I only want to know what you did? A penis is one of the few things on this planet that's nearly impossible to change without horrible side effects. Wizards everywhere know it's nearly impossible for a potion to be permanent, especially to that size. Like I said, I don't blame you. I remember how small…" Draco halts his own words.
With dead green eyes and a sinister voice, Harry asks with a mind full of perfect recollection, "how small I was? Are you referring to the time when you and your fucking cronies laughed at me? Tortured and cut me? Castrated me?"
Stunned by the admission, Draco asks in shock, "castrated? I didn't-"
"Know?" a scowling Harry angrily responds. "Why would you? I was dead to you by that point."
"Potter, I…" a shamefaced Draco seemed to rethink his position and slowly turns his gaze to the ground as he apologetically voices, "uh, um, just forget I brought it up. I was only surprised and curious. It wasn't my intention to make you remember-"
"That's because you don't think before you run your entitled mouth," Harry angrily retorts. It grows uncomfortably silent between the time-travelers. Yet again, Harry wonders why he shouldn't just murder Draco. He would certainly feel better, if only for a moment. However, his mind reminds him of the only monster he truly wants to kill. Draco may be a thick prat, but killing someone for such a reason is something Voldemort would no doubt do. With Perenelle's voice, his mind always reminds him, 'you're not Voldemort.'
With Draco waiting on the scared boy, Harry eventually drags himself from his righteous anger and with great irritation, asserts, "let's go." Harry nearly has his hand on Draco's shoulder when the silver-blond steps away, aggravating Harry further, eying the pale Slytherin with a furrowed brow.
"Sorry," Draco quickly chimes. "I just wanted to say… we have too much history to ever be okay with one another." Wildly uncomfortable, Draco takes out his flask of Ogden's for a quick swig to settle his nerves before finally adding, "whether I like you or not—and it's mostly not—I can still respect you." Draco pauses to decide on the multitude of words to follow up with. Many words are too nice, most are too mean, and none strike the perfect balance of a respectful 'quasi-sorta-hate-you.' Shaking his head in failure, Draco simply finishes, "that's it."
Unimpressed, Harry sarcastically mutters, "fantastic," before clapping Draco's shoulder and flaming to the Great Hall. The large room with the magical ceiling was virtually empty when he left Nicolas and Perenelle earlier. Now, in addition to the timeless couple, McGonagall, the Delacours, the Grangers, Daphne and Astoria with Tracey and her mother, Luna, Ginny, Fred, George, Charlie, Molly, Narcissa, and Lucius are all in clumps around the professors' tables at the head of the grand room. Tonks, Alice, Remus and a couple of other Aurors have secured the room with Harry and Draco flame into the center of the large room.
With Nova comfortably on Harry's shoulder, the pair walk toward the endangered group. As Narcissa, followed by Tracey, rush to Draco, Harry wonders if the absence of Dumbledore, Lily, and Hardwin means he's still fighting the Short-Snout. Sirius may be with Lily for support or with Amelia dealing with the Goblins, but as Nicolas, Perenelle, Hermione, Daphne and Astoria, Fleur and Gabrielle, Luna and Ginny meet him just ahead of the professor's elevated section, Harry wonders how he's going to protect everyone here while simultaneously dealing with the Dark Goblins.
"Ares," Hermione calls when she reaches him. She grips his forearm with worry as she asks, "how are you feeling? Has Madam Pomfrey seen to your injuries? Is your throat better?"
Smiling at the nostalgia this time-line's Hermione always manages to bring out in him, Harry pats her warm hand as he reassures her, "I'm sore, but fine-"
"Fine is the last thing you are, Trouble Star" Perenelle interjects. "All I did was alleviate the pain and momentarily halt the tissue decay." Patting the Hufflepuff table next to them, Perenelle adds, "sit."
Immediately feeling resistant to medical attention, Harry sighs as he takes a seat, asking Hermione in the meantime, "how are your parents holding up? Can't imagine they're too happy with me."
Harry sets Nova on a stand in front of Astoria and Gabrielle to pet as Hermione shyly admits, "it's difficult for them, but, they know you saved them. As for everything else… I'll make certain they understand."
Hermione seems as if she'd like to say more but decides to approach her parents. Harry turns to an expressionless Daphne watching her sister, her concern for her father hidden underneath of mask. As Fleur takes the seat beside Harry, Daphne answers his unasked question, "they're still searching for him."
Hoping against hope he isn't about to be the cause of untold pain for her, Harry expresses, "I'm sorry-"
"Please don't speak," Perenelle asks as her wand pans delicately from jaw to clavicle.
"Don't be," Daphne calmly returns, adding, "it's unbecoming of a Slytherin."
Caring very little about what it means to be a Slytherin, Harry responds, "even so," earning a stern eye from Perenelle.
If Daphne had any more to say, she keeps it to herself as she takes the available seat beside him, allowing Luna—still holding his egg—to ask, "will we be staying in your room now?" Luna's whimsical gaze lands on Daphne then Fleur, before adding, "it's certainly for safety but I can't deny it's also exciting."
"I, uh, haven't figured out what'll happen just yet," Harry awkwardly responds to Luna, and it upsets him to think that he can't without drastic changes.
"While you're all certainly welcome to remain," Perenelle starts. "If I may have some time to examine him. I promise he'll be yours again soon."
In less than a minute, Harry is the nucleus by which most seem to gravitate around. With Apolline observing, Perenelle examines him and prepares a tonic to begin neutralizing the acidic nature of the toxic dragon's breath, Astoria and Gabrielle play with Nova in front of him with their sisters seated on either side of him. Nearby, Hermione is having a conversation with her parents under a privacy ward. Just as near, Draco and Tracey are being casually interrogated by each of their mothers. Nicolas explains to McGonagall, Lucius, Alice, and Stéphane that Harry is by far one of the strongest wizards he's ever instructed while Molly and Charlie remain near enough to listen. Luna explains to Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George how the egg that hatched the chicken was the mutated offspring of a different fowl.
"I imagine the chicken must've appeared quite hideous to its mother," Luna voices when Dumbledore, Sirius, Tonks, Lily, a bandaged Hardwin—with his golden egg— Krum, and the rest of the judges enter the Great Hall. Harry remains quiet as chatter erupts all around him; from Dumbledore to McGonagall, Karkaroff to Nicolas, Maxime to the Delacours, Molly to Lily, Krum to Hermione, and Umbridge to Perenelle. It was so suffocating, Harry was ready to call Nova and leave.
With a shoulder rub and subsequent smile from Fleur, Harry soothes himself with her warmth as Bagman, Sirius, and Dumbledore walk up the steps to the professors' tables to address the gathering on the elevated platform. As Bagman begins explaining the second task, it suddenly strikes Harry that he's sitting between Fleur and Daphne, two of the most attractive witches in Hogwarts; a position any wizard would do anything they could to be in. Feeling how warm and stunning these girls are down to his bones, Harry wonders if moments like these were meant to deter him from making the ultimate sacrifice. These girls are beautiful, smart, caring and seemingly interested in him; though much hasn't happened yet, Harry's fairly certain he and Fleur are dating.
As Krum asks Bagman about the items taken by the Merpeople, Harry mentally vows, yet again, that nothing will stop him from killing every shred of Lord Voldemort that exists on this planet. Looking at Fleur's profile, then over to Hermione, then directly into Daphne's icy blue eyes, he hates that they might feel sorrow after his death, however, he takes solace that they will be alive to eventually move on with their lives. Bagman exits the stage before Sirius explains the security that will be in place for the following task.
With the last bit of detail for the following task out of the way, McGonagall asks, "may we expect elevated security throughout the event that's to take place this Christmas holiday?"
Harry wanted to laugh at the reference to the Yule Ball. In another life, in another time, asking Cho Chang to the Yule Ball was the scariest experience he could imagine. Instead, he lets out a dry huff of air at the impossibly distant memory, drawing Fleur and Daphne's attention. His small smile and shake of his head is all the answer he'll give as Sirius responds, "yes. There will be an elevated security presence throughout the year."
"With that," Dumbledore begins. "We have concluded the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. I would like to congratulate the champions on a performance well done." Dumbledore lightly claps to the champions, momentarily giving Harry a stern eye as everyone joins in. "Sadly, we are unable to celebrate this success in the adulation of your peers, however, as you are all aware, there was an unforeseen attack on our students. I would like to reassure all of you present that anything and everything that can be done for your safety, is Hogwarts' utmost priority moving forward."
"While it thrills me to the moon and back your so keen on keeping us from getting stabbed by Goblins, talk is cheap," Draco speaks out, defying Dumbledore in a manner Lucius approves of. "You're not exactly telling us anything, are you?"
"At this time," Sirius begins, taking a step forward. "Anyone who isn't directly tied to the incident will have to leave. Alice, Tonks, gather em up."
"Dhis is an injustice," Karkaroff calls out. "Viktor Krum iz dhe only champion excluded! What assurances do ve have zhat dhis is not a clever ploy to marshal your resources against Durmstrang and my champion? I demand ve stay!"
"I cannot allow that," Sirius informs Karkaroff. "This threat supersedes the tournament and I cannot, in good conscience, place foreign guests in harm's way because you're feeling left out."
"The Aurors have to keep them alive so the tournament can try and kill them," Draco casually comments to a smiling Tracey as Bagman tries to escort and irate Karkaroff along with Krum, Maxime, and Umbridge.
"As the Minister's eyes, ears, and voice," Umbridge begins. "It is abundantly clear I remain-"
"Amelia tasked me with their safety, Undersecretary Umbridge," Sirius calls out. "And as this is an active operation, my authority is final. Please try to remember this is for your own well-being. The less you know, the safer you'll be. Alice, Tonks," Sirius orders them, then turns to McGonagall and softly adds, "forgive me professor, but, that goes for you too. Limiting vital information is key here."
Professor McGonagall hesitates to leave them, however, after Dumbledore assures her with his grandfatherly nod, Alice and Tonks escort Bagman, Umbridge, McGonagall, Maxime, Karkaroff, and Krum out of the Great Hall. As their combined footfall softens with distance the remaining witches and wizards are left alone in the grand stone dining hall. If it appeared to them as if they were finally ready to discuss the details of how they proceed, Harry disabused them of that notion.
"Headmaster," Harry calls out, instantly drawing every pair of eyes on him. "I recall saying Delacours, Grangers, Blacks, Greengrass', Lovegoods, Weasleys, Potters, Flamels… I never mentioned Dumbledores."
Molly instantly tries to defend her adored Headmaster, aghast as she tries to voice aloud, "you can't possibly be suggesting running off the strongest wizard-"
"Head Auror Black already said it," Harry cuts her off, making Charlie take a step forward as if ready to defend his mum. "The less who know the details of our whereabouts, the better. Headmaster or not, the fact that he wasn't named means he has no direct reason for being here." Harry turns to Dumbledore and assures him, "if he feels he needs to know any information, he's welcome to ask Nicolas, Perenelle, or Auror Black, as I trust them."
"And Lily," Sirius voices, glancing at her. "When I'm not around, she'll be in charge." Harry isn't quite sure how he feels about that, however, for the moment he doesn't dispute it.
"This cannot be," Molly essentially yells, turning to Lily for support. Not unlike a bad call in quidditch, everyone has an opinion they can't help but loudly vocalize. The fact that Lucius Malfoy happily agrees annoy the vociferous Weasleys. Dumbledore makes his case to Sirius and the Grangers side with the Headmaster, adding more voices to the pollution of noise festering in Harry's ears. The sheer number of moving and talking bodies around him makes Harry shake his leg as he grows more and more agitated. He doesn't want to be a dictator about this, but as the voices get louder, Harry can feel himself losing control. His mind recalls the faces he's let down in the past, the faces he's seen stuffed and mounted on his wall of horrors, and with tightly clenched fists, Harry softly voices, "Nova."
His legendary phoenix hops on his shoulder before the pair flame from his seat on top of the Hufflepuff table to the very top of the professors' table; right in the middle where Dumbledore tends to sit. The flaming light and sudden slam of weight on an old wood table easily draws everyone's silent attention. Time freezes in the slight moment Harry takes to look at scared faces, worried faces, curious faces, young, old, male, female and it makes him angry; at them and most of all, himself. They're concerned, as they should be, but they're looking elsewhere for solutions. And Harry hasn't truly figured out how to protect all the students without locking them in a room until he kills every threat to their lives.
It's frustrating because even with all his augmented power, he knows it's not enough against the flexibility of this new enemy. These Goblins, Týr specifically, are focused, professional, and beyond reason. 'We only need one,' Harry recalls Týr's gravelly voice saying, which is why Harry settles on the ease of mind that comes with speaking the truth. They won't like it, but, he doesn't need them to.
"I'm sorry Mr. And Mrs. Granger," Harry begins looking from the parents to their daughter; the friend that always stuck by him. "I said Hermione isn't going anywhere and I meant it. I'll kidnap her if I have to."
"You will do no such thing," Mr. Granger starts as Hermione tries to hold her father's hand and Dumbledore calls out, "Mr. Flamel, regardless of your intentions, I will not allow you to take anyone against-"
"Listen up," Harry calls out louder. "This'll be a very uncomfortable observation for many of you but it is our reality. We have a deadly problem here and unless I lock each of you in a room until I neutralize this threat, I can't promise you'll all survive… not against an enemy like this."
"All the more reason that I should-" Dumbledore begins to plead his case again.
"This isn't a decision by committee," Harry loudly cuts him off. Looking sternly at the Headmaster, he continues, "Daphne, Astoria, Hermione, Fleur, Gabrielle, Luna, Tracey, Ginny, Fred, George, Ron, and Hardwin; what's going to keep them truly safe isn't you, Headmaster… it isn't me, either, or Auror Black, or anyone else in charge of keeping them safe."
Ron calls out, "I thought that's what your whole deal is about. You keeping us safe."
"Do the arithmancy," Harry tells him. "There's eleven of you and one of me. I'm strong but even I can't be in eleven places at once," Harry declares, referencing just the students since many of the adults will be taking care of by the Aurors.
"There's twelve," Tracey hesitates to correct, looking at Draco beside her, to which Harry easily responds, "Draco doesn't count."
"Because he's the love of your life," Ron calls out.
"Because I don't care if he dies," Harry flatly answers the red-head; answers all of them. Even after Draco had the pompous gall to talk about his penis, some part of him wonders if he would care if he dies. A strong argument can be made that this-Draco and the past-Draco aren't exactly the same. If the Draco he's staring at were the same as the Draco from their shared past, Harry's certain he would dance on his old rivals grave, but the brutal truth is they're not; they're eyes are different. This Draco has suffered enough to make Harry wonder what he might actually feel upon the silver-blonds demise.
"Excuse me-" Lucius tries to say.
Ignoring the train of thought, Harry cuts Malfoy senior off as he continues with a cutting voice, "except for a few of you, I can't say as I care if some of you die either." In his mind, Lucius is the only person that expressly fits that criteria, however, Harry needed them to truly hear his point far more than his compassion. And the shock on most of their faces says he's pushing them to uncomfortable realities.
"I reckon none of you want to hear that from someone who's displayed some next-level magic," Harry admits. "I reckon many of you would prefer I was like the Headmaster, the picture of a fucking humanitarian-"
"Language," Perenelle's voice cuts through.
Exhausted by her staunch stance on cursing, Harry exhales before he continues to tell his peers. "When these assassins come for you, to kill you, I want you to really ask yourselves what are you going to do if you're alone? Ask yourselves, when these Goblins come, who can you rely on without a professor, or an auror, or me? The simple fact is, no one is going to protect you, at all times, better than you can. No one! I don't care if Draco dies because I trained him. I trained him so well, he's not making the mistake of expecting me to save him because of some altruistic drive is making me love humanity to bits. He knows I will save him because I can and if I can't, he'll save himself."
"Mr. Flamel, not every witch or wizard is capable of performing similar feats," Dumbledore voices. "That is why the Auror department and the professors are here to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
"I wasn't talking about any of them, Headmaster," Harry responds. "I'm talking to the people in front of me; some of the smartest and most capable witches and wizards of this age." Turning to them, Harry continues his brutal honesty. "The things that can hurt you the most aren't Death Eaters, Acromantula, or Assassins. Those type of threats pop into existence, kill you, then leave. It's absolute but it's quick. The things that can hurt you the most… are the people you love… who are insensitive to reality. To go against the dominant thinking of your teachers and leaders and people you associate every day, is the strongest form of courage you will ever perform. Don't go through this thinking that you're powerless. You direct the power in your life."
"It's us, isn't it," Hermione realizes aloud, looking at Harry with such warmth and admiration he can't but feel lighter. It's soothing to hear her tell the group of adults, mostly her parents, "the best way we can survive this is to learn how to protect ourselves like a unit."
"Young lady, how is it you cannot see this is precisely what Defense Against the Dark Arts is for," Molly loudly directs at Hermione. Turning to Harry she further adds, "it's what professors and parents are for. Terrible situations like these are not for young showy upstarts demanding to have things their way!"
"And how many of your kids would be dead if I wasn't here, Mrs. Weasley?" Harry continues to ask Molly, "where was their education and professors and parents against the Death Eater or Acromantula? You know the only reason I was able to intervene against the Dark Goblins is because Hermione, Daphne, Tracey, Luna, and Fleur were smart enough to comprehend the situation and put me in a place to make a difference?" Turning to the Grangers, Harry sympathizes. "I get that it's scary. I understand it's dangerous and we may get hurt, but I wouldn't have the strength I have today if I kept relying on others to keep me safe and you shouldn't either. So, I'm asking you, help me keep you all alive by helping yourselves."
Elated, Daphne asks with a small grin, "does this mean you'll teach us?"
"Yeah," Harry answers her.
"Everyday you will meet the king of the Monsters," Nicolas sagely voices to the young, which is essentially all of them relatively speaking. "Whether it's laziness, contempt, hatred, disloyalty, selfishness, bullies, dark wizards, or creatures. There is a new challenge every day, but that is how you learn and grow and change so you can defend yourself. You can allow us to destroy you, or you can allow us to build you up, but the result is in your hands."
"Eef you are offering to train our daughter, zhen you 'ave our permission," Apolline voices. "The Delacour family trust you."
Hermione leaves her parent's grip, step ahead enough to turn to her perturbed parents and asserts, "I know you want to protect your little girl and I love you for it, but, what Ares is offering is the discipline to do that for myself. You must know that knowledge is more valuable than the fear I feel right now."
"Sweetie," Hermione's father starts, adding, "there are regulated bodies and personnel in place that will protect you."
"Daniel," Charlotte begins, turning to her husband and taking his hand. With a chuckle and a smile, she tells him, "look at her eyes. When was the last time you saw them so determined?" Hermione's chocolate brown eyes did indeed look determined and grand with purpose; as strong as Harry remembers.
Mr. Granger sighs before nodding and turning to Harry to state, "you have our permission. But reasonable or not, I'm holding you personally responsible if anything happens to her."
"I'll die before I let that happen," Harry replies and though he means it, he's taken aback by Hermione's blush.
"I'm in," Daphne sounds, squeezing Gabrielle's hand.
"Same," Tracey voices, taking a step forward. Though her mother is very worried she only nods at her daughter's courage, a sentiment Sirius also shares as he walks to hug his fiance. The gruff auror eyes Draco a moment before nodding to Harry.
"You have my permission as well," Lily calls out, turning to a stunned Hardwin, who asks, "mum?" Lily smiles as she responds, "it's not like I'll be going anywhere, but this opportunity is what I've always wanted for you. Be strong, like your father." To hear that struck Hardwin silent and torn. Harry remains neutral as Hardwin nods his acceptance.
"I don't see any reason why father would disagree," Luna sweetly voices before concluding, "please teach me as well."
"Well, you don't have my permission! I refuse," Molly calls out, forcing an outburst from her adventurous children. Fred's, "come on, mum," trumpeted with Ginny's, "please!" And George's, "you can keep ikle Ronniekins but let us go!" "Hey," Ron retorts.
Charlie tells Harry, "just give us a moment," before the entire Weasley brood shuffles away to begin pleaded with the Weasley matriarch. As that drama unfolds several paces away from the main group, Dumbledore turns and stares at Harry without the guise of a caring grandfather. The revered wizard almost seems wary of Harry as the Slytherin strokes the clothe still attached to Nova's leg.
"You made me figure your rune out on my own," Harry points out like a detached warning. "I told you, whatever we could've been would evaporate the second I had to be the one to free Nova from her shackle."
Ignoring the now-decorative cloth on Nova's leg, Dumbledore replies, "you have until tonight to return what you've taken. You do not want to make an enemy of me."
"You're right, I don't," Harry admits before deathly adding, "but you're not leaving me any other choice."
Before Dumbledore can respond, hard fast footsteps can be heard rushing down the long stone steps of the Great Hall. Rushing straight to Sirius, Alice is frantic, red-cheeked and nearly out of breath before she whispers urgent news in Sirius's ear. Dumbledore steps down the platform to hear the development when Sirius slowly turns a grave eye on Daphne and Astoria. Harry instantly knew what that expression meant and sadly, Daphne did as well.
With his dark eyes alone, Sirius conveys his deepest sympathy as he asks, "miss Greengrass, can I speak with you in private?"
The statuesque figure of the Ice Queen of Slytherin betrayed no emotion as she stands straighter. Inhaling, she kept it all in as she shakes her head, voicing, "no, Auror Black. We cannot."
Astoria looks round with clear confusion, holding her sister's hand as she asks, "Daphne?"
Daphne bends down to hug the one person in this entire world she cares more about and whispers words no one but her sister can hear. Astoria nods in their tight embrace before Daphne turns to Dumbledore, and to the surprise of all, asks, "Headmaster, if you would be so kind as to excuse us, Ares has strategies to discuss with us."
Well, I hope that helped explain Harry's plan. Again, I'm so sorry I left you guys hanging for so long.
Aside from the difficulty of recalling the head-space for this chapter, all the characters in one place was a challenge to write. So this was a very on-the-surface type of chapter. I'll go into much more detail about what's to come in the next update. We'll also be moving ahead with what I want to do with the Goblins. It's fairly important to the end game of this fic. There are a lot of points in this fic I will elaborate on so stay tuned!
Also, since September, I've starting taking writing as a profession very seriously. I've written one novel that's free on my page(pay-tree-on page for my ffnet readers since ffNet censors that kind of stuff). It's /graefoxx if you'd like to read it. It was originally a modern day Harry potter fanfic that I just scrubbed the names and made original. I want to be clear here, that page isn't for making money on my fanfics. My fanfic stuff is free public domain. My original novel is the only thing you'd be monetarily supporting. ...last thing I need is to get sued for copyright infringement.
If some of you do read my other fic The Last Prayer, keep in mind it's for adults. It has a lot of sex and cursing and morally grey areas.
Lastly, thank you all very much for supporting, encouraging, critiquing me. Your PM's and comments are very helpful to my development. I truly want to get better as a storyteller and I know I can't do that alone. So again, thank you. Have a happy holidays and a great day,
-Grae