Chapter 34

On the night of February 23rd, Snape came to find her. "Come here, Miss Lestrange"

"What-"
"Come here." he gripped her arm and pulled her into Dumbledore's office where Granger, Weasley, and Celestia were waiting.

"What is going on here?" Calypso asked exasperatedly. "Can someone tell me?"
Celestia shrugged. "Ee eez for ze task ee z'ink"

"Oh...oh! Wait what, I'm what Warrington would miss most?"
Dumbledore twiddled his long, goblin-like fingers. "Yes, strange how it works isn't it? Now I'm going to put all of you in an enchanted sleep at the bottom of the lake. Should your champion not come, you will be safely brought up by our merchieftess. Any questions?"
Granger looked nervously at Weasley. "Er- who is for which?"
"Ahh yes. For Beauxbatons, it will be Miss Celestia. For Durmstrang, Miss Granger. For one Harry Potter, Mister Weasley. And for Hogwarts, Miss Lestrange."
"Fitting that the death eaters stick to each other" Weasley muttered under his breath.

"Ten points from Gryffindor Weasley," said Snape coldly.

Weasley looked at Dumbledore desperately, but the old man just shook his head. "Alright, any other questions?"
Once everyone had shaken their heads to the satisfactory level of Dumbledore, he waved his wand and Calypso felt herself falling asleep. The charm seemed to be similar to the one her mum cast on her the night before the QuidI'mch World Cup.

Suddenly, she was underwater and a ghostly figure that looked like her mum was floating in front of her in green light. "Hello dear"

"Mum?" Calypso asked tentatively. She glanced around at all the other champions but they were all sleeping soundly.

"I believe I am your mother. Now listen carefully"

"Wait..is this real?"

Her mum rolled her eyes. "Of course not honey. It's just a dream. Now listen!"

"Okay, okay. What?"

"The Dark Lord is back-"

"How do you know?"

"Stop interrupting! he's back and this tournament is not what it seems. Don't you go wandering off with any professor, student, or animal. Do you hear me?"

"Yes?"

"Good. Death eaters are mingling in the Hogwarts staff itself. Don't bother anything and do NOT go wandering off, poking your nose into anything suspicious. Also, merry Christmas. Who'd you go with to the Yule Ball?"

Calypso shrugged, "Warrington"

Bellatrix frowned, "Hmm. It could be worse. see you!" And everything faded to black again.

When she next awoke, she was in the middle of the lake, cold, wet, and being tugged onto the dock by Daphne and Cassius.

"Oh my god Calypso- I was so worried" shrieked Daphne, "I thought the old cow was going to-"
Calypso stared warningly at Dumbledore who was just sitting a few feet away at the judge's table.

"Oh sorry, but I thought you were dead- and You-Know-Who had-"
"Enough now," said Madam Pomfrey sharply and she seized Calypso, wrapped her so tightly in a blanket that she felt as though she were in a straitjacket, and forced a measure of very hot potion down her throat. Steam gushed out of her ears.

Madam Pomfrey pulled her to wear Fleur was crying hysterically. Fleur's robes were torn and she had cuts all over her face. "Celestia- eez she okay?

Soon later, Krum showed up as a half-shark, with Granger in tow. Almost half an hour later, Potter burst to the surface as well, with Weasley. Fleur jumped up and hugged Celestia as she rose from the water with twenty merpeople. "Celestia! Celestia! Is she alive? Is she 'urt?"

Fleur hugged Celestia, "It was ze grindylows . . . zey attacked me . . . oh Celestia, I thought . . . I thought . . ."

Celestia blinked the water out of her eyes. "Eez fine. Can 'ou give me a towel Z'eo?"

Fleur didn't even wait for Theo to go get one for Celestia. Instead, she wrapped her own towel around her. "I thought that 'you were z'ead Celestia," she said quite hysterically.

Just then, Ludo Bagman's magically magnified voice boomed out beside them, making them all jump, and causing the crowd in the stands to go very quiet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Marcus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows. . . ."

"Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points."

Applause from the stands.

"I deserved zero," said Fleur throatily, shaking her magnificent head.

"Cassius Warrington, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour."

Enormous cheers from the Slytherins in the crowd and Calypso hugged him happily.

"We, therefore, award him forty-seven points."

"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points."

Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, looking very superior.

"Harry Potter used gillyweed to great effect," Bagman continued. "He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr. Potter was first to reach the hostages and that the delay in his return was due to his determination to return all hostages to safety, not merely his own. He waited for all the champions to appear but when they did not, he was chased off by the merpeople as he tried to free Miss Noire as well."

"Most of the judges," and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, "feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However . . . Mr. Potter's score is forty-five points."

Ugh, now Potter was first with 85 points.

"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June," continued Bagman. "The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions."

As they entered March the weather became drier, but cruel winds skinned their hands and faces every time they went out onto the grounds. There were delays in the post because the owls kept being blown off course.

Today during breakfast, Artemis arrived, her feathers sticking up everywhere and a letter in her beak.
"What?"
Calypso curiously folded open the letter. "Meet me in Hogs Head tomorrow."

Theo peered over her shoulder at it, "Who's that from?"
She shrugged, "My mum I think."
"Interesting. Can I come with you?"
"Why?"
"Because what if it's not your mother?"
Calypso gave him a calculating look.

"Fine, I don't' care if it or not. But I'm still coming. Happy?"
"Very," said Calypso sarcastically.

"Shut it. Also, look" Theo bent down and gave Calypso a magazine, "Witches Weekly"

Calypso flipped it open slowly to where a small colored picture of Potter and Granger were.

Harry Potter's Secret Heartache

A boy like no other, perhaps — yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. Little did he know that he would shortly be suffer- ing yet another emotional blow in life already littered with a personal loss. Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone cannot satisfy. Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Viktor Krum, Bulgarian Seeker and hero of the last World Quidditch Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections.

Krum, who is openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer holidays, and insists that he has "never felt this way about any other girl."

However, it might not be Miss Granger's doubtful natural charms that have captured these unfortunate boys' interest. "She's ugly," says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth-year student, "but she'd be well up to making a Love Potion, she's quite brainy. I think that's how she's doing it."

Love Potions are, of course, banned at Hogwarts, and no doubt Albus Dumbledore will want to investigate these claims. In the meantime, Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that next time, he bestows his heart on a worthier candidate.

"Well, at least she's not writing about them and not about that piece you burned up right?"
"What? Oh, not that. Here" Theo snatched the magazine and flipped to another page with all the champions.

A Hogwarts Win

On October 31st, not the expected three but four champions were picked out for the Triwizard Tournament. For Hogwarts, Cassius Warrington has just recently dumped his former girlfriend who he's been dating for three years for Calypso Lestrange. Miss Lestrange is also very close to Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons champion writes Rita Skeeter.

"That must be why he's dating her," says his former 'love of his life', Selena Black. And we must agree, why else would Cassius be pretending to love an escaped death eater's child.

Perhaps, despite all meetings, "someone might be trying to get Hogwarts 'two bites of the apple'" quoted by Madame Maxine. See page 5 for more details on her relationship with fellow half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid.

Hogwarts seems to be pulling all the strings to win, a fellow Hogwarts student, Theodore Nott, has also started a relationship with Fleur Delacour. The poor girl is in for a heartbreak, isn't she? And of course, the Durmstrang champion is dating muggle-born witch Hermione Granger.

The headmaster of Durmstrange, Igor Karkaroff has recently been expressing his concerns as well, thinking that Hermione is a threat to their school's secrecy. But of course, this could be all part of Albus Dumbledore's plan to prove he's better than former death eater Igor Karkaroff and half-giant Madam Maxine.

"Seriously?" demanded Calypso. "She's still saying that you're dating Fleur Delacour?"

"Eh, she's making Warrington sound horrible, and Selena. She's been crying all morning in the Slytherin common room."
"She has?"
"I thought you knew. You might want to go talk to her before you leave. And remember not to wear anything fancy or Skeeter will write another story, "Broken Hearts". All about how we 'ditched' the champions or something."

Calypso nodded and tried to keep that in mind throughout the day. Turns out she shouldn't have bothered though because the last class she had that day, Double Potions, reminded her.

It all started when halfway through the class, Professor Snape caught Potter and Granger talking about their love life.

"Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger, I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor."

Daphne clapped her hands together. "Excellent, thank you for tuning everyone to another episode of Professor Snape. Today featuring, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter!"

"Ah . . . reading magazines under the table as well?" Snape continued, snatching up the copy of Witch Weekly. "A further ten points from Gryffindor . . . oh but of course . . ." Snape's black eyes glittered as they fell on Rita Skeeter's article. "Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings. . . ."

The dungeon rang with the Slytherins' laughter, and an unpleasant smile curled Snape's thin mouth.

Then he started reading the Potter article out loud, much to everyone's amusement, he read the story out loud.

"You're in luck today everyone!" Daphne whispered. "Storytime with Professor Snape!"

" ' Harry Potter's Secret Heartache . . . dear, dear, Potter, what's ailing you now? ' A boy like no other, perhaps . . .' " Snape began. He was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh.

" '. . . Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that next time, he bestows his heart upon a worthier candidate. ' How very touching," finished Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the Slytherins.

"Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your potions rather than on your tangled love lives. Weasley, you stay here. Miss Granger, over there, beside Miss Lestrange. Potter — that table in front of my desk. Move. Now."

Granger furiously moved all her things to the table beside Calypso's.

"All this press attention seems to have inflated your already overlarge mudblood head, Granger," Calypso hissed.

"Oh your funny, really funny. I wonder where you got that confidence?"

Calypso rolled her eyes, "How is it with Victor? Does he know you've put him under a love potion yet?"

Granger stuck her nose in the air and ignored her for the rest of the class until the bell rang.

"Nice sitting with you Granger, remember to clean the desk later. You've slimed it all up now with your mudblood fingers"

"Maybe you should with your attitude"
"Nah, see you, Granger"

The next day, after lunch, she and Theo walked to the Hog's Head together. A dingy old bar with an actual hog's head for its logo.

Inside her mum was lounging on a chair with a veil over her head.

"That has got to be the worst disguise ever" Calypso hissed.

Theo shrugged, "It's not horrible"

"She's the most wanted person in Britain!"
"Thank you. What's he doing here?"
Calypso rolled her eyes, "I don't know. He wanted to come I guess"

"Ahh."
"Why'd you want to meet me?"
"Why Warrington?"
"What?"
Her mum glared at her, "There are so many other people you could've chosen. Why Warrington's?"

"What do you mean?"
Bellatrix grabbed Calypso. "It's a dangerous time for everyone. Don't you go associating yourself with anyone? Stick with him-" she pointed to Theo, "Or the Malfoys. Not blood traitors, not the neutral. Show your loyalty and show it prominently."
"Mum! I'm not dating him" Calypso half shrieked and half-whispered.

"Shh. I know you aren't. But the whole world doesn't! The Dark Lord's been to visit the Lestrange Manor. I will not have your foolish mistakes drag down our reputation!"
"Okay- but I can't just abandon him!"
"You MUST! It's everyone for themselves, do you think he will hesitate to kill you when the time comes? His parents were and will be part of the Order!"
"Fine, fine" whispered Calypso. "I'll stay away from him."
Her mother nodded, satisfied. "You're word?"
"I swear alright?"
"Good. And you- you make sure she does."

"That's not fair! There are rumors all around that he's dating the veela!"
Theo rolled his eyes. "Nobody cares. It's better for me to look like a good person. The Notts are still popular in the Ministry aren't they?"
Bellatrix nodded. "Look, he has common sense. See you in the summer, Cal."
"Wait! You came all the way here to tell me to stay away from him?"
She glared at Calypso. "It's more important than you think. And I'm being nice right now, you can stay with Greengrass if you want. " and her mum strode out of the pub before apparating.

Calypso glanced at the barman who was staring at them suspiciously before heading out as well. "She's crazy! How am I supposed to just ignore Warrington?!"
"You did great with Pucey," Theo told her begrudgingly. "Do you have any plans?"
"No"

"Well, Celestia's waiting in the Three Broomsticks. You can come?
Calypso shook her head, "I need to sleep. See ya"

It was difficult avoiding Warrington. After the first few weeks, he had probably guessed what was going on and stopped trying to talk to her at all.

Her mum's words kept ringing in her ear though, every time she wanted to reach out to him.

It's everyone for themselves, do you think he will hesitate to kill you when the time comes?

She was now spending most of her time with Daphne. Almost like she was afraid her mum was going to ban her from seeing Daphne too and her conscience was determined to make the most of the time she had left.

"Lestrange! Calypso- Lestrange!"

Calypso looked around to see Draco waving excitedly at her. "Come look at this" he hissed, holding out a small beetle on the palm of his hand. It was brown with green markings like spectacles just around its eyes.

"What is that?" Calypso demanded.
"Rita Skeeter, she wants an interview on Potter" he whispered plopping himself down underneath a tree.

Calypso sighed, "Oh alright, hello Rita."
Obviously, the beetle did not speak back but merely nodded impatiently.

"Oh er- well Potter can speak to snakes I guess. That's dark magic, you can go off on him about that."
"Yeah," said Draco eagerly. "There were a lot of attacks on students a couple of years ago, and most people thought Potter was behind them after they saw him lose his temper at a dueling club and set a snake on another boy. It was all hushed up, though. But he's made friends with werewolves and giants too. We think he'd do anything for a bit of power."
The beetle nodded and mimed with one leg to continue.

"Uh-He's made friends with werewolves and giants. Lupin and Hagrid you know? We think he'd do anything for a bit of power."

"Mhm, and he also killed a teacher in our first year, Professor Quirrel"
The beetle clapped her front two legs together before scurrying out of Draco's hand and away. Just at the edge of the grounds, Calypso could just make out a human-like figure appear before it apparated away.

"I think it was a success"

The next morning, just how successful the article was, they learned.

"Look at this" exclaimed Draco, waving the Prophet in Calypso's face as she ate breakfast.

HARRY POTTER "DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS"

The boy who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-BeNamed is unstable and possibly dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Alarming evidence has recently come to light about Harry Potter's strange behavior, which casts doubts upon his suitability to compete in a demanding competition like the Triwizard Tournament, or even to attend Hogwarts School.

Potter, the Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal, regularly collapses at school, and is often heard to complain of pain in the scar on his forehead (relic of the curse with which You-Know-Who attempted to kill him). On Monday last, midway through a Divination lesson, your Daily Prophet reporter witnessed Potter storming from the class, claiming that his scar was hurting too badly to continue studying. It is possible, say top experts at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that Potter's brain was affected by the attack inflicted upon him by You-Know-Who, and that his insistence that the scar is still hurting is an expression of his deep-seated confusion.

"He might even be pretending," said one specialist. "This could be a plea for attention." The Daily Prophet, however, has unearthed worrying facts about Harry Potter that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, has carefully concealed from the wizarding public.

"Potter can speak Parseltongue," reveals Draco Malfoy and Calypso Lestrange, both Hogwarts fourth year. "There were a lot of attacks on students a couple of years ago, and most people thought Potter was behind them after they saw him lose his temper at a dueling club and set a snake on another boy. It was all hushed up, though. But he's made friends with werewolves and giants too. And killing a teacher in our first year? We think he'd do anything for a bit of power." Parseltongue, the ability to converse with snakes, has long been considered a Dark Art. The most famous Parselmouth is none other than You-Know-Who himself.

A member of the Dark Force Defense League, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that he would regard any wizard who could speak Parseltongue as worthy of investigation. "Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers."

Similarly, "anyone who seeks out the company of such vicious creatures as werewolves and giants would appear to have a fondness for violence."

Albus Dumbledore should surely consider whether a boy such as this should be allowed to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. Some fear that Potter might resort to the Dark Arts in his desperation to win the tournament, the third task of which takes place this evening.

But they couldn't even properly celebrate, their workload was piling up as the Easter holidays drew nearer, and even Theo, had dark circles under his eyes but granted, he was taking about twice as many classes as everyone else.