AN:All thanks given to Katherine my beta.
I own nothing
Working in the hospital wing an idea had come to Mia on her secret potion project. She returned to the library for every spare moment.
She'd already read every book in the library on Animagi, so now she spent her weekends and evenings finding and reading every book with a mention of werewolves and the lycanthropy infection.
The library was a lot more noisy this year. Viktor seemed to spend a lot of time in the Library, and there was always a gaggle of girls hanging around whispering and giggling. Hermione found it endlessly annoying.
Mia was reading a book by a very old, very dead wizard who had collected tidbits and stories about werewolf culture and history. In the book he mentioned very briefly, a grizzly and frightening legend from the memoirs of F. Aesalon who he reported was too outlandish for him to ever tell.
Mia sighed to herself. This was what was frustrating about this author. He would get deep into a story about werewolf politics or a conflict between pacts, and then just before the good parts would say something like; "sharing the details further would be a breach of trust I have sworn to uphold, but you can imagine the outcome." It was as if the entire book was a teaser trying to get budding academics to drop by the old wizard's house and interview him over tea for the whole story.
Mia sighed and flipped the page. She was halfway through the next story when she remembered. F. Aesalon. She knew that name. Falco Aesalon was a transfiguration master, and was the first successful Animagi in history. His partner was a potions master who supposedly found the research from some old dead potions apprentice whose master had been the first werewolf. Mia checked the card catalog for the name, but found no books by an Aesalon in the library, not even in the restricted section.
"Hermione, when's the next Hogsmeade trip?" Mia asked her friend who was busy muttering about quidditch players and giggling girls.
"Saturday," Hermione said gloomily.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm trying to get Harry and Ron to talk. I was going to trick them into meeting at the Three Broomsticks."
Mia winced. Harry and Ron's fight was turning legendary, and Hermione was stuck in the middle. Harry was back to being hated by everyone except for the Ravenclaws. Most student's uniforms were now covered in Potter stinks and SPEW badges.
Just then a hunched figure made their way to their table and loomed behind Hermione.
"Um, excuse me," Viktor Krum said in a soft voice. "Do you have a spare quill I could borrow?"
Hermione turned in surprise and blushed, then frowned at the quidditch star. Hermione sighed and pulled a quill out of her bag and handed it over. "Couldn't one of your fan club loan one?" she asked rudely.
Viktor looked over his shoulder and grimaced. "Yes, but then I vould have to use it to sign everything they have. You on the other hand vill only scowl and vinkle your forehead but help me anyvays." He smiled softly and bowed to Hermione as he took the quill. "I am in your debt, my lady."
Hermione harrumphed and turned back to her book, but she was blushing. Mia watched her carefully as she tried to pretend to read. When she glanced up at Mia she met her eyes. Mia lifted her eyebrows suggestively before Hermione threw a book at her. Mia chuckled and packed up her things.
That Saturday Mia dragged Gabe into Tomes and Scrolls. She pushed open the door to the old building and was greeted by the friendly odor of old books. The store was packed with tight shelves full of books and rolls of paper.
"Mr. Richards?" she asked, walking through the dimly lit shop.
"Who's there?" a gruff voice asked, muffled by shelves. A grey head appeared around a shelf, and while the eyes smiled, the edges of the old man's mouth turned down. "Ah, I have a few books I saved for ye."
Mr. Richards shuffled around the isle and moved towards the counter on the far end of the store, piled high with books. He rooted around through a few stacks before setting down a few thin volumes.
She had met the shop owner on a few trips she had taken with McGonagall to Hogsmeade her first and second year, and the man had learned she loved potions. When she hadn't appeared for a few months into her third year, he had owled her letting her know his dissatisfaction over having a book he believed perfect for her still cluttering up his shelves. Mia had been surprised the old man had remembered her and gone out of his way to find something for her. She had thanked him, paid for the book by owl, and told him she would be happy to help take similar books off his hands in the future.
It warmed her heart knowing he remembered her still.
She flipped through the books while Gabe wandered the stacks reading spines and flipping through yellowing pages. The first book was a comparison to muggle remedies and folklore, and the true magical cures associated. It looked fascinating. The second book was a record kept by an eighteenth century potions master detailing his failures. Apparently, he found them more important than his successes for documentation to future generations.
"Thank you, Mr. Richards. These are wonderful." She fiddled with the books for a moment while she wrestled with her words. "I'm also looking for a book by Falco Aesalon."
The old man's face grew speculative. "Branchin' out into transfiguration are ye? I do have a stack of old textbooks he wrote on the subject. Of course, it hasn't been used at Hogwarts for a few hundred years. There was some controversy over his private life that ended with the book being banned by most respected institutions."
He started towards the section of the store Gabe was investigating, but Mia stopped him. "Actually I'm looking for a memoir he wrote. It probably would be rare if it still exists."
Mr. Richards tapped his chin a few times before he returned to his desk. "I don't have it, but I can ask around for ye. If I can find it, it won't be cheap."
Mia thanked the man and bought the two books he had set aside for her. She and Gabe made their way to the three broomsticks for lunch.
Monday evening Mia received an owl from Mr. Richards, the bookshop owner in Hogsmead. Mia couldn't help thinking how quick that had been. He said he found the book she was looking for, but it was on the list of banned books for Hogwarts, and he couldn't in good conscience sell it to her. At the end he did mention if someone outside of Hogwarts was to ask for it, and it made its way to her, it would be out of his hands.
Mia sighed. There was only one answer. She would have to write to Sirius and ask him to buy it for her.
She headed to her room and got out a quill. She paused over the paper, unsure how to continue. Starting the letter is the hardest part. How should she address it? Dear Sirius? Dear Father? No, that's probably how Draco writes home. Finally, she gritted her teeth and just wrote out the three letters at the top of the paper.
Dad,
It made her stomach feel all fluttery and weird and she realized she was breathing a little heavy. She needed to get over this.
She ignored the greeting she'd written and wrote out the rest of her message. It really shouldn't be this hard.
Dad,
I have a sort of weird question for you. There's a book I need for a project I'm working on. It's rare and sort of expensive, but the shop owner in Hogsmeade found a copy for me. The only problem is it's on the list of banned books for Hogwarts so he can't sell it to me. The book is Falco Aesalon, A Memoir. Would you be willing to purchase it and send it to me?
I know there are other ways I could go about getting it, but I don't want to get Mr. Richards the shop owner into any trouble, and after McGonagall was so mad about the whole animagus thing, I don't want to push my luck.
I miss you and Remus, can't wait till Christmas break.
Mia
She folded the letter and took it to the owlery before she lost her nerve.
The next morning Mia and Gabe joined Harry and Hermione for breakfast. Harry looked pale and Hermione kept trying to shove food into his hands. Eventually, Professor McGonagall pulled Harry out of the great hall to get ready for the first task, and they wished him good luck. He was turning green.
Hermione looked worried and made an excuse before she left the great hall.
"Poor Harry, he looks terrified," Gabe said.
Mia shrugged and finished his pumpkin juice. "Probably just stage fright. He will be fine anyways. The tasks are supposed to be safe right? What do you think they will have them do?"
"I dunno. The tasks from years past were always so dangerous. I can't imagine what safer alternatives could be in place. Sounds like it could be a bit dull."
Mia sighed and started to get up. "I should have brought a book."
Gabe clapped her on the back as they started walking out of the great hall with the rest of the school. "We'll still have fun even if we have to watch them decorate hedges for an hour."
Mia laughed as they left the castle and followed the stream of people towards the forest. Just out of view of the castle, around the forbidden forest was a large tent. Walking around the ten they saw huge stadium bleachers that created a half circle around an enclosure. In the back of the enclosure were four curtained off sections.
To the left of the enclosure was a raised platform with a long table where the judges sat. Madame Maxime looked regal while Karkaroff looked anxious. Dumbledore looked casually amused while Crouch looked annoyed. Bagman was nowhere to be seen. Around the outside edges stood a number of older witches and wizards wands out looking tense.
"Maybe the hedges are behind each curtain," Gabe whispered.
Mia laughed as a whistle blew. Bagman came running out of the first tent towards the platform and the other judges, then he pointed his wand at his throat, and suddenly his voice was loud for all to hear as it had been a the Quidditch World cup.
"Welcome, welcome all, to the first task of the Tri Wizard Tournament. Now, the prize for the day is the GOLDEN EGG. Each of our Champions will come one by one, and will face whatever is behind their curtain. Their task is to get past the creature, and capture the golden egg beyond. Each Champion will be judged based on a range of skills and their marks tallied. Now, I believe it's time to start."
A whistle blew and the first curtain fell. Behind it was….
"That's not a hedge," Gabe said softly.
"That's a dragon," Mia said in shock.
"The Swedish Short-Snout!" Bagman yelled. "Our dragons are all nesting mothers, making them fiercely protective of their eggs. And here is our first contestant CEDRIC DIGGORY of HOGWARTS."
The watching crowd let out a cheer and the beautiful blue-grey dragon lifted its head in the air and roared. Something of the curtain must have been magical, dampening noise and preventing the dragon from leaving the small space. The dragon was beautiful. Gabe had given Mia a pair of dragon hide gloves for Christmas one year, they had been from a Swedish Short-Snout, and such a beautiful color. The live dragon was amazingly more beautiful. Her scales sparkled in the sun as she leaned down and nudged her eggs.
Cedric walked out of the first tent, looking tall and brave. His chin was in the air, and he looked like a hero from a fiction book. When he saw the dragon he crouched, wand in hand as though ready for anything.
Cedric walked slowly towards the dragon until he was close enough the dragon started paying attention to him. Then he bent over a large rock and started doing a spell.
"Wow, that's some high level transfiguration," Gabe said beside her as the rock turned into a small sandy colored Labrador.
"Oh, it's not a real dog right?" Mia asked. "We decided it wasn't real if it didn't really think right?"
Gabe patted her on the shoulder again as he watched the dragon. "Yeah, not real at all."
The dog started barking at the dragon, and Cedric crept away from the dog and closer to the dragon. It took a little while, the dragon keeping one eye on Cedric while sizing up the small dog, but the dog started taking long jumps at the dragon before backing away. The dragon took two long steps away from her eggs and Cedric ran for it. He darted towards the eggs and the dragon roared and blasted a wave of fire at him just as Cedric grabbed the egg. He took off running, one side of him looking black.
The crowd screamed in terror and the dragon tamers rushed in shooting spells at the dragon and ushering it back towards the eggs where they attached the curtain. Cedric was limping badly as Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey rushed to his side. They rushed him to a smaller tent with a healers emblem for treatment.
"Did you see his arm?" Mia asked, the image of the scorched bloody skin seared in her mind. "I thought they said this was going to be safe."
"They said they were going to try and keep down the death toll. Looks like safe isn't part of that," Gabe said in a soft shocked voice.
Mia shook her head. "How is Harry ever gonna manage?"
Fleur was next, facing off with a Welsh Green, her emerald scales shining in the sun. She approached the dragon slowly, her wand in the air at all times moving slowly back and forth, as though she was directing music. She looked like she was singing or humming a spell.
"Do you think she's using her Veela powers?" Gabe asked with awe.
Mia snorted. "I don't know if I believe she's really part Veela. Maybe all it takes is long silver hair and a laugh like little bells, and all you boys just melt."
"No, trust me, she's hit me with it a few times. It's real and it's bloody shit. Should be illegal to do that to someone unknowing."
Mia shot a quick glance at Gabe and saw he was glaring at the arena. It was true she had seen him staring at Fleur a few times over the last few weeks, and each time had made her feel sick. She had been spending most of her time in the library, not directly avoiding Gabe, but the distraction had helped the jumbled up jealousy she had felt at the thought of him longing after someone as pretty as Fleur.
"What does it feel like?" Mia asked.
Gabe glanced at her and then he let out a deep breath and his face relaxed. It's hard to say. Sort of like getting hit with the Imperius Curse, your mind goes blank, except instead of orders, the only thing you can think about is her, making her happy, seeing her smile. It's sick."
Mia frowned. She had hated that lesson, when Moody had hit them all with the Imperius Curse one by one and tried to teach them to throw it off. She hadn't liked being out of control of herself, and that, mixed with her anger is the only thing that helped her budge the curse. If Fleur was doing something like that to people casually, it was wrong.
"Does she do it often?"
Gabe shook his head. "I don't know. I try to avoid her, and the few times I was hit, she was talking to other people and it wasn't as hard to shake it off. I think maybe it's a reaction, like trying to get people to like you. Oh, here we go!"
The green dragon had just started falling asleep, as though Fleur had put it in a trance. She dared forward towards the egg and scooped it up. Then the dragons' spell broke and it shot flames at her, catching the edge of her skirt on fire. She put it out with water from her wand, as though not even phased as the dragon tamers rushed in.
Mia had to admit, she seemed kinda bad ass.
The next champion to walk out on the field was Viktor. Viktor on a broom at the Quidditch world cup had been strong, powerful and graceful. Viktor walking the halls of Hogwarts or the library was awkward almost bordering on clumsy. This Viktor was somewhere in between. He moved with drive and purpose, but the grace he had in the air was missing.
He moved around the arena, his knees bent and wand out. He shot a spell at the dragon's eye, making it go crazy. He dodged behind rocks, barely missing getting toasted as the dragon blasted fire all around. He shot little hexes at the dragons legs getting it to move and stomp and it smashed a number of its own eggs. The audience groaned and Mia felt a pang at the loss of life. Viktor shot another spell at the dragons other eye until both were red and swollen closed.
The dragon moved further and further from the eggs as he shot stinging hexes at its feet, then he moved in and scooped up the golden egg.
"Wow, that was fast," Gabe said.
"Yeah, he really is impressive," Mia said as she frowned down at the crushed eggs as the dragon tamers ushered the dragon back into its space. Before the curtain was raised blocking the dragon and its noise, she saw the mother lean down its long neck and nuzzle the broken eggs, a sad whining noise escaping.
The last curtain fell, showing the largest and most nasty dragon yet.
"And last but most definitely not least, we have the Hungarian Horntail!" Bagman yelled.
Finally, Harry emerged from the tent. He looked so small and pale. Compared to the other champions, he looked so pathetic and breakable. He walked a few paces out of the tent, raised his wand in the air, and said something and then… nothing. He stood there blankly for a few moments, then started looking around as though unsure.
"What is he doing?" Gabe asked.
"Maybe his spell didn't work? Oh merlin, how is he gonna do this?"
"Uh, not quite sure what the plan is here, how's it going Harry?" Bagman said. People around Mia chuckled nervously.
Just then something came flying around the tent straight at Harry. He reached out and caught his broom.
Everyone cheered.
When he mounted the broom, it was like something came over him. Harry took off far into the air in a graceful movement, then plummeted to the ground. He zoomed around the dragon's tail and around her head, making the dragon twist and spin trying to catch him. At one point the dragon's tail clipped his shoulder, but it was hard to tell with the speed how badly he was hurt. He dodged tails and wings and claws and teeth, and so much fire. He always seemed just out of reach as he moved higher and higher, drawing the dragon slowly away from her eggs. At last she lifted up to her back feet, head extended into the air, and arms flapping behind her as she roared into the sky. As her front feet left the ground around the eggs, Harry darted down and scooped up the golden egg before he flew off. He did a victory lap around the stadium before landing near the first tent to the waving arms of McGonagall and Hagrid. They waved him off to the medical tent.
The Gryffindor common room was absolute chaos. Harry tied for first place and her whole house decided it was time to celebrate. Harry stood on a table, he'd told Ron and Fred the egg contained a clue, and now everyone wanted to see it. Harry opened the egg and out came a piercing terrible screech. Mia covered her ears and made her way up the girl's staircase to grab her books. By the time she escaped out of the portrait hole to head to the library, the egg was closed and everyone was laughing or trying to mimic the mermaid song. No way was she staying in the tower.
AN:Yay! what did you all think of the twisted perspective? Writing the tasks from the audience view has been fun haha.