Summer to Remember
Harry Potter/ Fay Dunbar
XXI
Bagman watched as Harry's shadow convulsed and Fay reappeared in his arms. "Well, due to exceptional planning and wonderful usage of…"
"Thaumaturgy…" With that everything went absolutely crazy.
Harry pointed his wand to the sky and a multitude of cannon-esque blasts erupted from it; an unintended side-effect was a small cascade of slightly-blood stained feathers floated into the audience "And Professor Flitwick thought I couldn't quieten things down without a fight." Unfortunately, the starting point had enhancing runes engraved into the wood as a result all conversations were able to be heard.
"THAUMATURGY!" Screeched Percy Weasley as he adopted a holier-than-thou attitude that almost seemed to turn the Third Weasley Son into a miniature version of his boss. "THAT'S BORDERLINE DARK MAGIC! HE HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH DARK MAGIC
IN THE FIRST TASK! AND THE DEBACLE THIS…" Suddenly, he was rendered silent as Harry waved his wand.
"Borderline…bullshit. Thaumaturgy, is contrary to the propaganda and mis-information given to us by the British Ministry of Magic is not just 'Voodoo'. Or using Thaumaturgy to cause harm to people. It is in fact, much, much more widespread than one particular skill. Thaumaturgy can in fact be used as tracking magic. Now before people decide to ban it just because of one aspect…do your homework first."
Percy turned red, Harry released the charm as a barrage of pops and cracks occurred as Aurors, clad in red robes and distinctive dragon-hide vests appeared on the borders of the Black Lake. It appeared the Dumbledore had grudgingly reduced the protections of Hogwarts, not by much but enough. "Harry Potter…You are under arrest." Announced an Auror, who Harry recognised as one of the idiots who had tried to arrest him earlier on the previous summer.
"Charges?"
"We don't need any. Courtesy of Minister Fu…" The man stopped as Cedric pointed his wand at the man.
"There is an article in the Tri-Wizard rulebook from 1720 where it states in essence 'Champions possess sovereign right to self-defence and protection from any who would harm them'…This Auror Dawlish falls under that remit."
"Minister Fudge…"
"Minister Fudge could order you to drop your pants and order a blowjob from me to give to you. I wouldn't." Harry growled.
"One of the other kinds of magic I learnt was evocation. Evocation for those ill-educated, uneducated or just plain braindead is combat magic. I'm a Potter…I'm fucking good at combat. So Dawlish, your choice is obey the Tournament and potentially lose your job or follow braindead orders and find out how it feels for your brains to violently exit your head…I really don't care which one."
Dawlish gulped "Arrest him for threatening a Ministry Official and resisting arrest."
"That is enough." Dumbledore thundered. His eyes flashing, magic pulsating and moving at a quicker speed than Harry had thought possible…no, Harry watched. The Headmaster was manipulating Hogwarts Grounds or the Grounds were manipulating the Headmaster getting him between the aggressor and his charges.
Throughout the year, Harry's view on Dumbledore had begun to rapidly plummet, but as of this moment Harry's view changed. He disagreed vehemently against Dumbledore's actions towards him. However, he agreed that Dumbledore was an exceptional Headmaster. The old man stood on the pier facing down the fifteen Aurors who had arrived, shortly after Dumbledore arriving the rest of the staff had as well.
"The Minister wants Potter to admit to using magic that goes against Britain's Laws."
"The Minister can go fuck himself in the vagina. He'll be able to once I've made one. That magic is Potter Family Magic; unless Fudge wants to enact a blood-feud; I'd be happy to oblige." Harry repeated his temper was very near exploding.
Dawlish bristled but another voice rumbled out, this one a baritone "You've done enough John. All of you, return to the Ministry and report to Madame Bones, aka your boss…I'll take over from here."
John turned to argue but eventually remembered that he was an auror and thus the face of the DMLE. He turned murmured a half-assed apology and turned away "Don't forget to write!" Harry yelled.
One of the Aurors was a Trainee, by the name of Tonks. She was very familiar with the anime Harry had been referencing. "Bitches love cannons and the girl who's dating him is going to be very happy indeed." "Something funny, Trainee Tonks?"
"Nothing sir. Just reminds me of something I heard a few months ago, a conversation between a Vampire and his Mortal Lover. Instead of the sappy farewells; they yell 'eat me don't forget to write'." Tonks replied. "Slightly better to say it like that than it coming from a cartoon."
Meanwhile back at Hogwarts "Headmaster, Professors."
"Kingsley Shacklebolt; it's been a while since you graced these grounds. What brings you here?" Asked Dumbledore, steel in his tone.
"I came with orders to recall my erstwhile colleagues; who should be protecting the Minister at all times…" Shacklebolt said before turning to Harry "Mr. Potter, I can only offer a generic saving-face apology from the DMLE for the actions of my colleagues. However, I on the other hand say well done I've not seen Dawlish look that interesting a colour since our training days."
"I, Harry Potter accept the apology from the DMLE. I as a person, not an entity think it's a load dragon shite but an apology is an apology. I would be grateful if you could find out why Fudge is deciding to judge me on completely different laws instead of the laws I should be allowed to use both as Heir-Apparent to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and as both a citizen and constituent of Wizarding Britain."
Kingsley nodded "I'll get someone to look into it."
Harry began to count to ten and resettled his temper. Meanwhile, Fay had caught a beetle in a jar which had previously been resting in Hermione's hair. "I'll explain later." Ludo Bagman; noticed tensions were sky-high and rising quickly decided to cut to the chase. Harry was the in the lead with Eobard and Cedric in joint second, Fleur in third and Krum in Fourth.
"Champions please report to the Quidditch Pitch on the 22nd of June for your briefing on what the Third Task will entail."
The Champions nodded, Fay made her way over and threaded her fingers into Harry's "Have you got a plan?"
"Train, train hard, smuggle in some toys…I'm done playing nice." Harry murmured to her as they headed up to the castle. The days slowly warmed up and Harry found himself attending a few more classes at Hogwarts; but most of his time he spent with Professor Crane. The Elder Crane, gladly spent his days free when he wasn't teaching his own students; teaching Harry various spells and strategies…By beating him senseless with them every single time.
During the final four months of preparation, the famed international co-operation that Dumbledore had been looking for finally blossomed. Yes, Harry and Eobard had been spending time together it was Viktor Krum who had suggested a set of friendly Quidditch matches. "Gather everyone who is interested. Fourth Years and above." Harry suggested.
Soon enough the games were away; however the match everyone wanted to see was Harry Potter against Viktor Krum. Best Seeker of Hogwarts vs. The Bulgarian International Seeker. The match was intense and rather brutal; Harry's team of Quidditch Players read the Gryffindor Team along with surprisingly Fay Dunbar in Keeper position put up a show and dominated the Durmstrang Team with the Quaffle, Krum eventually triumphed over Harry by catching the snitch millimetres from Harry's face.
"You fly well! Very well, far better than Lynch." Krum commented shaking the hands of everyone on the Gryffindor Team.
"And you're not decorated as the best seeker in the world."
"For a time, Mr. Potter. I suspect you'll be better than I." Krum said with a firmness. Unfortunately, the good nature of it all came to an end when Draco Malfoy all but demanded a match against Krum; who obliged but instead of humouring the Malfoy Heir; crushed him within three minutes as opposed to the fifteen it had taken for him to beat Harry.
Even Snape, trapped in his now triple-cross plan of ridiculousness had reigned in his snark and waspish manner. Instead of blaming Harry for all of the potions; he targeted others. Harry still lost House Points but less than usual, the Gryffindors had realised that the Potions Master had slightly laid off their Champion. Speaking of the Gryffindors, after watching Harry absolutely dominate in the first two tasks and casually defeat Cormac McLaggen; not exactly an impressive feat but then again not one that was unheard of for a younger year to defeat an older student. However, it was Harry Potter and thus half expected.
The Quidditch Team had been steadfastly loyal to Harry all year. They had murmured their support and carried on their own year; Harry understood and accepted that whilst they weren't the most vocal of his supporters due to their exceptionally watered-down adventure into the Chamber of Secrets. They had decided to the next best thing, leave him to it and get on with their own lives, something that Harry had thanked them for.
However, with the Third Task and a potential victory for not only Hogwarts but also the YOUNGEST Participant EVER, any and all Gryffindors that Harry either knew well or had a passing acquaintance with had begun to contribute their own skills in his victory.
Eventually the 22nd of June rolled around and Harry headed down to the Quidditch Pitch; He arrived with Cedric with Eobard with Fleur and Krum turning up together.
"Welcome to the Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts Students…relax it'll be returned exactly how it was last year." Bagman announced.
"Pity, I don't actually think you or the Ministry know what 'returned exactly how it was last year' actually means." Harry muttered getting choked laughter from Cedric and Krum.
One of the officials fixed Harry with a dark look "If you have any concerns…"
"I'll send them to the Ministry with my solicitors and a fire breathing ferret…Official, I have little faith in the organisers of this tournament due to my participation despite the Headmaster's assurances that no-one under the age of Seventeen would be entered. If I have little faith in them, what does that say about my unspoken feelings with the Ministry as a whole? Now as the Lords Monty of Python would say 'Get on with it' Mr. Bagman."
Bagman pouted, making Harry think that the Director of Magical Games and Sport was an overgrown child…Harry lived with Sirius, thank you very much! "In two days, you will enter the maze at staggered intervals depending on your position. You'll go through the maze, defeating the obstacles in your way to get to the centre. The first to the trophy wins. If you feel overcome in anyway send out red sparks and trusted officials will retrieve you."
"In ozzer words, blast our way out. If Mister Potter, doez not trust you." Fleur retorted before shrugging "I can do zat."
"Now that you've been briefed, tomorrow and the day after have been reserved for family members and spending time with them, as this is the Task that tends to kill off the majority of competitors." Bagman said as he dismissed them.
The walk back to the castle was in comfortable silence. Harry unfortunately would only have Remus for company for the day; unless Sirius turned up in his animagus form. Harry sighed in relief, this had been his most stressful year yet. He'd put money provisionally on being attacked at some point by Professor Moody.
Harry fell asleep that particular evening sprawled out on the reclining sofa bed in the common room. Fay, who had remained up to wait for him, curled up next to him. For now the pair knew that all of their problems would be sorted within the next 48 hours; they were going to be exceptionally long 48 hours.
