A/N: I wished I owned Harry Potter. Alas, I do not. Ms. Rowling, I'd be happy to take it off your hands
A/N: Well, it's been over a year since this started. I have really enjoyed writing this story and developing the world and characters. I believe that the time between this chapter and the 53rd was the longest time between updates. There are a whole host of reasons for this, some technical, some real life concerns, and some around the fact I now have two different stories running with different versions of most of the characters.
To be honest, the updating schedule will NOT be better for a little while. I may be able to get a chapter out near the end of November, but no promises. I'd estimate that I will be able to return to once a week near the end of December, 2020, but once I do manage to get back to that speed it will be a straight shot until the end of the story.
Chapter 54: A Flurry of Fights
April, 1995
"Harry, I cannot allow you to act like this," Dumbledore said. Harry just gave the headmaster a smile. Clearly Dumbledore was trying to act severe, but he was not in control anymore. Minerva put a hand on his shoulder, and Harry's smile grew wider. It felt good to have a teacher in his corner when the headmaster inevitably called him into his office to chide him, something that was a new an enjoyable sensation. It felt even better now that the teacher in question was his grandmother.
"Headmaster, with all due respect, that is not something you have the right to do," Harry reminded him. "After the duel with Bellatrix," Dumbledore squirmed at the memory of that. Harry didn't love the memory either, but a month of constant reassurances by Fleur and Neville had allowed him to deal with it better. "After the victory, I am confirmed as Lord Peverell. Along with being declared as a legal adult by the goblet, you don't have a right to hold me."
"I understand the rules of magical Britain," Dumbledore spat back.
"It doesn't seem like you do," Harry's grandmother said. "Since Sirius is not in a position to act in his position as guardian, as his closest relative I am the only one who can make a formal request of Harry to change his behavior." Minerva looked at Harry, amusement in her eye. "Harry, 5 points from Gryffindor and a detention with me tomorrow night from leaving this past weekend."
"Of course," Harry said, trying to act contrite. He and Minerva already had a training session scheduled for tomorrow night. From the sour look on Dumbledore's face, he was not the only one who knew. "Well, if that's everything."
"Very well." Dumbledore was just tired. He had more important concerns than Harry's now consistent recalcitrant behavior. His Deputy Headmistress, usually so steadfast in her support of him could not be counted in to give him even the slightest support on even trivial matters. Though that was not the truly bothersome part of her behavior
He had overheard from a portrait that Harry's grandmother was discussing the possibility of the boy leaving for Japan after the tournament with his elder brother. Even earlier in the year after their familiar connection had been discovered, the transfiguration professor would have fought vehemently against the idea. After a year of insanity, it seemed that if Harry was to leave, not only would Minerva McGonagall, a Hogwarts institution, allow him to go, but would leave with him, so devoted was she to her last remaining kin.
"I will see you tomorrow then, Minnie," Harry said, hugging his grandmother. Then he froze solid.
"Harry?" Minerva asked at the still boy. She saw Dumbledore rise from his desk as well, a look of confusion on his face. "Headmaster! What did you do to my grandson?"
"He didn't do anything," Harry said, sliding from Minerva'a arms. "He felt it too." Harry's face twisted from confusion into complete bafflement. "And another one?"
"Yes, there is two," Dumbledore said, walking out from behind the desk. "Mr. Potter, while I know we do not see eye to eye, if you could assist me…"
"This time, I think we see eye to eye," Harry said, following the headmaster down the stairs.
"Would you mind informing me what is going on?" McGonagall asked, her Scottish brogue starting to creep into her tone.
"The Headmaster and I noticed a spike in magic near the outskirts of the grounds, near the Beauxbatons carriage a few seconds ago," Harry explained. "I think we were both trying to sense what was going on when another flare of magic threw me off. It was multiple spells being cast at once, on the 6th floor down an empty corridor. I don't recognize all the signatures, but I sure recognize Cedric. I'll go there, if that's ok with you Albus."
"Please exercise restraint and do not take sides." Harry just flashed a toothy grin. "I will send some staff members along to take control of the situation." Dumbledore raised his wand and a glowing phoenix raced off. "I had best go-" the headmaster cut off and looked up. "Harry…"
"What is that?" Minerva knew she was nowhere near the level of the headmaster or Harry when it came to sensory magic. But even she felt the power and malevolence flowing through the castle from above.
"The top floor," Harry breathed out. "It's an unlock."
"An unlock?" Minerva asked as Dumbledore nodded.
"Powerful magical martial artists lock up part of their power," Harry explained. "That way, we don't accidentally harm someone. Otherwise you tend to unconsciously move your magic around to power up spells. It's an intrinsic part of your training. Someone on the 7th floor just unlocked, and they are powerful."
"Three fights in school?" Minerva paled.
"I have to take care of the 7th floor," Harry said. "Grandma, go help Cedric. He is in a serious fight too."
"What about the powerful martial artist?" Minerva fretted.
"Don't worry." Harry took a deep breath, and Minerva and Dumbledore rocked back. Harry always radiated more power than most, but now raw magic was rolling off him, in truly seismic amounts. "I'm a pretty powerful magical martial artist as well. This person isn't the only one who has to unlock to fight seriously" Harry allowed his magic to flow around his body once to loosen him up, and then bounded down the corridor at top speed.
It took Harry barely any time before he reached the 7th floor. As he reached the landing, he saw a few Durmstrang students standing in his way. He did not know two of them, but was not surprised to see the third. Vasiliy, Karkaroff's apprentice took a few steps forward. Harry had suspected that the powerful magical signature that had unlocked on his current floor was the Death Eater and Durmstrang Headmaster. But to have confirmation made him slightly worried. He could not identify the signatures of the ones he was threatening, and did not have time to waste with his student.
"Out of the way Vasiliy," Harry snarled.
"Get out of your-" The two boys next to him were sent flying into opposite walls, and Vasily managed to blink once before being unceremoniously smashed into the floor. Harry took half a second to steady his breathing, more from the sprint than the few quick blows. He stared down at the three unconscious students. The two unnamed students looked bruised and out cold, but none worse for the wear as opposed to Vasily, whose arms were outstretched and bent at awkward angles, a last ditch and unsuccessful attempt to stop himself from flying into the stone floor at high speeds.
"Victor," Harry heard Karkaroff drawl. "I will warn you for the last time. You will end your association with this girl."
"I'll never leave Luna," Victor shot back, and Harry started to silently creep towards the turn in the hallway. He had used pure speed and strength to deal with the Durmstrang students, so it was possible Karkaroff didn't know he was here. Harry could feel the magical power radiating off the visiting headmaster, and knew that if he could, he had to end the fight with a surprise attack. Otherwise, given their relative power and abilities, it could be riskier than he would have preferred.
"Don't be foolish," Karkaroff was saying. "You know you cannot hope to outduel me." Harry started to concentrate. In no time at all, the lake was in his mind as power started to pool in his arms and legs. Harry's muscles started to creak under the strain of condensed magic as Harry drew his wand. He cast a quick and silent spell at the far wall and waited.
Victor stared down his headmaster in shock. He had heard from a few friends that there were rumblings that his headmaster was not fond of his choice of paramour. That was, not in itself, not a shock. The man's feelings about class were well-known, and while Luna was a pure-blood, she was poor and from a family of poor repute, which did not bother Victor one bit. But to see his headmaster literally facing him down, wand in hand, after being guided to a "secret" meeting for him and his girlfriend by that two-faced Vasiliy…
"You are too late," Luna chirped up. "You wasted too much time trying to talk Victor into abandoning me." Karkaroff looked at her curiously.
"Oh, apparently you are under the assumption that someone will come to help you." Karkaroff leveled his wand at Luna, and Victor snapped his wand up from the holster and stepped in front of Luna. "You two are not the only two in danger at the moment, and I have been very careful to shield my power until now."
"So has he," Luna said, and then grabbed Victor. "Victor, duck!" Luna hauled Victor to the ground and Victor felt something whoosh over his head. A cacophony of sounds echoed down the corridor and then Victor heard his headmaster grunt in surprise followed by the sound of a heavy impact. Victor rolled to his feet and aimed his wand at where his headmaster had been standing and drew a relieved breath.
Harry was standing where Karkaroff had been standing before, twirling his wand in his hand, a shield in front of him absorbing a bombardment from his headmaster. Harry had an expression of concentration on his face that was absent during any of the other spars or fights he had seen him in. The amount of power Karkaroff was putting into spells heading his way made a cold sweat run down Victor;s neck, but Harry's wand moved like lightning, flicking half the spells harmlessly overhead while the rest crashed into a shield that Harry summoned behind himself to to protect him and his girlfriend.
A spell flurry at Harry's head was an instant too slow and Harry closed the distance. Harry threw a shoulder into Karkaroff's chest, getting a bit of separation, and somersaulted into the air above him. A discharge of magic swept down his leg and pooled in his foot and Harry forced his body weight down violently. The magically enhanced seismic stomp missed as Karkaroff dodged back but Harry was relentless in pursuit, throwing enhanced punch after punch, interspersing a few cutting spells as his wand switched between his left and right hand effortlessly.
Harry threw all his weight into a right cross that caught the Durmstrang headmaster flush in the chest, sending him flying down the corridor for the second time in as many minutes. Harry flexed his fingers in frustration as Karkaroff rose easily, the older wizard's eyes filled with an angry fire. The two combatants stood ten feet apart, an uneasy silence from the two students behind them.
Harry had hoped to do real damage with that last punch and actually give him an opening to attack with some magical martial arts. but the young wizard had sensed an imminent counter and had managed to pull his blow just in time. Harry tore his shirt over his head, exposing a shallow bloody furrow in his upper chest. Even though he pulled the punch, Karkaroff had managed to gouge out a non-insignificant chunk from his chest. But as the two wands leveled again and Karkaroff began to once again bombard Harry with all manner of blasting and exploding hexes Harry was forced to shield.
Slowly Harry was forced back step by step as his wand whirled into a brilliant dance of counter curses and shields alike as his opponent began to add variety to his spells. Occasionally Harry was able to fire back but the opportunities were far and few between. Harry knew he was faster and more agile that his enemy, but Harry had hoped he would have been able to drive Karkaroff farther down the corridor in the opening exchange. Now he was locked in a fight with a canny opponent taking full advantage of the fact that Harry was responsible for not only himself but also Luna and Victor behind him, forcing him to shield and retreat instead of dodge and counter attack.
The spell barrage paused for a moment and Karkaroff's own wand flew back into his holster as he switched to close range combat. The first few blows would have been the end for Harry if he had not already known faced Karkaroff's martial art style, and even than it was close. The older man's flexed fingers seemed to artificially extend his range and another bloody cut appeared on Harry's right arm before he could counter attack.
Harry threw a blasting hex at the space in between them. Once again Karakroff had managed to leave him a hole in his defense and like an idiot Harry had tried to exploit it. Harry cursed to himself as Karkaroff's foot seemed to simply appear at his shoulder. It had been a feint and Harry was forced to gather magic in his shoulder to block the blow. Even then the block sent numbness radiating down his arm.
"What's wrong?" Karkaroff mocked as Harry shook his arm, trying to regain feeling in the sore limb. "One instant slower and I would have removed the head of the famous Harry Potter." Karkaroff's eyes flicked past Harry and he drew his wand and continued his barrage of spells, forcing Harry into the defensive again. "Don't go running anywhere Victor! You wouldn't want to make it harder for your protector!" He cackled in glee as Harry was forced to shield in place.
The curses and hexes Karkaroff were sending his way were getting more dangerous. Harry saw that Victor had been mid-flight but his headmaster's words had frozen him, thinking that if he fled that Harry might be in more danger. A calculated gamble by Karkaroff that paid off handsomely, as Harry was now guaranteed to be stuck guarding Victor and Luna the entire fight, something he could not keep up for long. It had taken him a minute, but Harry realized that Karkaroff had a hole he could take advantage off and maybe win a fight that was quickly becoming slanted towards his opponent. To take advantage he needed a distraction, a moment to prepare but it looked like his opponent wasn't about to give him that opening.
"Expluso! Diffindo!" Luna cried from over his shoulder and Karkaroff stumbled back in surprise. Both the spells were absorbed around his body, flickering into vision as Luna's magic impacted on his now visible condensed magic shield. It seemed like almost everyone, even Luna, was surprised by the turn of events. Victor and Karkaroff were shocked Luna had thrown herself into the fight. Luna was shocked at the appearance of the invisible magical shield, but Harry was already moving. He wouldn't get another chance.
Karkaroff saw his primary enemy flicker out of sight. The boy was fast, freakishly so, able to literally vanish at with high speed movement in the moment of distraction the girl had provided. Karkaroff couldn't follow his movement, but his wand barely an inch until it was aimed at the girl and an exploding hex jumped from his wand. The hex had been cast in anger and Karkaroff internally sighed as he realized the girl would be dead, an unfortunate but necessary causality. But then his spell was blocked by Victor's shield and Karkaroff felt a deadly presence behind him.
The killing and deadly intent in the magic laced strike would have paralyzed a lesser wizard in fear, but Karkaroff had not idled since turning traitor to Voldemort in 1981. He had realized how outclassed he was in some of the battles between top Death Eaters and Dumbledore's militia and had left Europe, searching for ways to grow stronger. He had settled in Iran and had learned about magical martial arts. Most masters turned him away, some due to age and others due to temperament. But eventually he found a Krav Maga master who taught him how to blend his magic and physical skills, and after two years Igor Karkaroff returned to his homeland with physical magic skills that wowed the Durmstrang board, allowing him to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts Post, followed shortly by Headmaster.
The boy must have trained hard to gain his speed. The power radiating out of him was impressive, and any of Karkaroff's physical attacks would have laid low any other student, but the Hogwarts boy was tough. But he was impatient, and even though he must have thought he was safe in his blind angle, Karkaroff could feel the killing intent behind the blow. He simply slipped out of the way, angled his fist, and as he felt the blow flash past him Karkaroff struck back.
As his fist hit Harry's skin the Death Eater felt the skin ripple and to his surprise his closed fist pierced the flesh. His attack took his face to face with Harry but instead of pain, shock, anger, of any of the emotions he would have expected with impending death he saw a slight smile as Karkaroff's hand exploded through his back. Then a searing pain flared through him.
Victor watched in horror as Harry seemed to vanish and his headmaster brought his wand to bear on his girlfriend. The danger to Luna jerked him out of his state of shock at her bravery, and he silently cast his most powerful shield, catching Karkaroff's spell inches from Luna's chest. He saw a flicker of movement and turned his head to see Karkaroff's hand explode from Harry's chest and he heard Luna cry out.
Harry almost seemed to smile as his body sagged to the floor, and then the hall exploded into light. Victor's eyes went wide as he saw his headmaster twitching on the ground his limbs askew his hair wild, as magic seemed to arc through his body. Surprisingly it looked an awful lot like Harry's specialty magic. A wave of sorrow went through Victor as he looked next to his headmaster to where Harry's body had fallen. Shock was the closest sensation as Victor saw only space.
"Whew." Luna shrieked in excitement as she threw her arms around Harry. With anyone else, Victor would have been fuming. Even in normal circumstances he would not have been thrilled to see his girlfriend throw herself around another boy, even Harry. But for all intensive purposes, Harry had just returned from the dead.
"How?" Victor asked as Harry helped him to his feet. Luna took the opportunity to bury herself in his chest, and Victor could feel her still shaking. "I saw his fist explode through your body."
"Well, it did in a sense," Harry said with a smile.
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February, 1994
"So why do you do it?" Harry asked his master. He had been stewing over the question for a day. His training was usually harsher when he was stuck on a question, but the last few hours he had only been knocked into unconsciousness once, an odd trend. For a moment Harry wondered if Nambung was feeling sick. Could his master even get sick?
"You know about apparition and portkeys?" Nambung asked. Harry nodded. "Even for me, flashing has a bit of a time delay. Apparition, although disorientating is instantaneous. So why do I only flash?" His master asked.
"That's just repeating the question."
"No ideas?" Nambung teased. Harry fixed him with a death stare. "So, I guess a demonstration is in order then." Harry whipped his wand out and trained it on Nambung. He was more than used to demonstrations at this point. "Only apparition, ok?" His master didn't wait for confirmation but sent two blue bolts at Harry, who managed to deflect them. Usually Nambung didn't leave openings when they sparred, so Harry took the invitation and apparated away. Until he landed in the exact same spot.
Harry groaned and opened his eyes. He looked at the amused eyes of his teacher. Nambung offered Harry a hand up. Harry saw that off to the side Li-Min was holding back a smile as well. It took Harry a few more seconds for his mind to wake up and process what had happened.
"You stunned me in the same spot," Harry said slowly. "Even though I apparated."
"Harry, my lightning boosts my power, but there are lots of ways to boost power. If my specialty magic was just to convert magic into a physical form, it wouldn't be that special. That's what certain spells do. Aguamenti creates water, and incendio creates fire. I'm just creating lightning."
"I couldn't apparate," Harry said to himself. "Your spell hit me, and I couldn't apparate …because my magic wasn't working. That's what your lightning does!"
"Li keeps underestimating you," Nambung said as his second in command handed over a galleon. "When I summon lightning, either to flash, fire the railgun, or any other type of specialty spell, the overall magical content is the same as anything else. Except for 1 thing, the refinement."
"What?" Harry asked.
"Most magic looses some potency when being asked to perform a task. You are asking magic to summon an animal, change a structure, turn heat into fire, etc…" Nambung explained. "But the lightning spells you are adapting from me cuts through other magic. I flash because there are no wards that can stop it. Right now, your railgun pierces shields because it is weak. Eventually, it will stop someone from using magic for a time."
"So hypothetically, you could stop someone from using magic for an hour if you hit them with a concentrated burst?" Harry was excited by the possibility.
"I can, because it's natural to me," Nambung added. Harry nodded. "But so far, you have learned two natural forms of lightning. Flashing is necessary to start using attack and defense spells, and the railgun is the easiest and least dangerous spell. But you have made exceptional progress in solidifying your magic and converting physical strength into magical energy. So I'm going to teach you one more thing."
Nambung motioned for Harry stand across from him. They both raised their wands, and Harry jumped back, knocking away two spells. He felt an odd pulse of magic from his master, and then felt immense pressure behind him. His master had disappeared, but Harry could feel the bloodlust and power coming at speed from behind him, so he raised his wand and kicked backwards, following it up with two severing hexes that sailed through Nambung's body. When his foot connected with the body, he felt an electric shock travel up his body.
"Lightning clone," Nambung explained later when Harry awoke again. "A concentrated amount of killing intent pushed into a magical clone of magic. Unless your opponent is a master they will naturally react and attack, and the intense dose of lightning magic knocks them out and disables their magic. High risk, but high reward. The best magic I can teach you at the moment. You up for the task?"
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April, 1995
Harry opened the infirmary door, leaving it open for Victor who was levitating an unconscious Karkaroff.
"Sorry Madam Pomfrey, I-" Harry stopped as he looked at the chaos in the infirmary. "Um, What"?
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"I have to take care of the 7th floor," Harry said. "Grandma, go help Cedric. He is in a serious fight too."
"What about the powerful martial artist?" Minerva fretted.
"Don't worry." Harry took a deep breath, and Minerva and Dumbledore rocked back. Harry always radiated more power than most, but now raw magic was rolling off him, in truly seismic amounts. "I'm a pretty powerful magical martial artist as well. This person isn't the only one who has to unlock to fight seriously" Harry allowed his magic to flow around his body once to loosen him up, and then bounded down the corridor at top speed.
Daphne was walking to dinner when she sensed it behind her. She turned and held back a smile as she saw Malfoy with a few older Slytherin's behind him filling out of the hallway to confront her. It wasn't a surprise that the Slytherin's would eventually confront her about leaving the house. She was just surprised it took them so long.
"You had potential Greengrass," Malfoy said. "Shame you decided to side with blood traitors. When the dark lord returns…"
"Spare me your posturing," Daphne said, grabbing a glowing parchment from her pocket. Draco palled and took a step back. "Oh, you recognize this?"
"How did you get that?" Draco snarled.
"Harry doesn't need a contract to put you in your place. I suggested to him that you were most likely to use that kind of language around me, and he was happy to lend me the contract. I believe blood-traitors is one of the phrases that activates the contract." Draco's eyes were terrified. "I guess that means if I press my wand on the contract it activates. Wouldn't that cause you to lose your magic?"
"Enough." To Daphne's surprise, she saw Adrian Pucey standing forward. He was one of the stronger spellcasters in the house, but he had never struck Daphne as a blood-purist or someone who would scrape to Malfoy. She saw Warrington and Montague, both decent spellcasters along as well. Apparently Malfoy had some serious muscle. "Your information was good Davis. Get going." Daphne's heart sank as she saw Tracey nod from the back of the pack.
"Sorry Daphne." Tracey didn't look sorry in the slightest and Daphne lowered her wand slowly. The contract stopped glowing as Daphne counted 11 Slytherins as her ex-best friend left after a kiss on the cheek from her boyfriend
"I don't think Harry would appreciate you interfering in his contract."
"Potter is occupied elsewhere," Warrington said, and the three older years spread in a semi-circle around her. "You give us the contract, and we promise we won't leave any permanent bruises. Resist, and I can't make any promises."
"Harry risked his life for this contract," Daphne said, stowing the parchment. She was closer to the stairs then any of the other students. Even if it was just the three older years she might have been able to escape. If she gave up the contract, hopefully she would be left alone. Harry probably would understand. But the look in Malfoy's eyes gave her pause. She could give up the contract and most of the students would probably leave. But the ones who followed Malfoy even when there was no house pride on the line would remain, and Daphne would have no way of holding them back.
"Don't be stupid Greengrass," Pucey said. "You are all alone?"
"Oh, you mean you haven't heard about Badgers?" A familiar voice called out, and Daphne turned to see Cedric behind her. "We tend to be a close pack."
"Badgers protect their own," Daphne felt Susan and Hannah on her right. Cedric's best friend Jason was next to Cedric, and both of them drew their wands as Warrington drew his.
"Your turn to not be stupid," Cedric shot back. "You pick a fight with me, you pick a fight with all of Hufflepuff."
"I can live with that," Warrington said, and to everyone's surprise a spell shot from his wand. Jason stepped forward and shielded the spell. There was a second of silence, and then the corridor broke out into wild spellfire. Cedric and Jason went back to back instantly, covering the entire length of the hall with shields. Susan and Hannah dragged Daphne back into a doorframe as the two older Hufflepuffs were forced to retreat under heavy fire and split to either side of the hallway.
"They are not joking Ced," Jason yelled over the noise of spellfire as he emerged from cover to fire two serious looking hexes, which impacted on shields across from him. He had to jump back behind a wall as a few dark bolts flew at him.
"No, they aren't," Cedric shouted back with a smile. "And it's only a matter of time." Cedric whirled out from his own cover and with a twirl of his wand the stone floor erupted to become a wall, infused with magic power. It would last for at least a few seconds, courtesy of special training with Akira Hayashi "Time for us to clear out. Susan why don't you guys get going? Jason and I can take up the rear."
"One problem," Hannah said as she pointed down the hallway that would have been their escape. Cedric groaned internally as he identified a few older Slytherins. He was ashamed to admit he had not been training as hard as he could over the past month, and it was coming back to rest at his feet. He was already starting to become winded after only a few minutes of fighting, and instead of instantly running he had allowed his friends to get pinned in. Susan, Hannah, and Daphne were ok in a fight, but he wouldn't ask them to push through multiple older students.
The wall he had transfigured came smashing down and Warrington and Pucey were the first through the wall. Now they were well and truly surrounded. The 5 Hufflepuffs drew into a tight circle. There was only one way forward, which was to punch through the weak fighters and hope help was nearby. Cedric sighted his wand on Malfoy's two gorillas. Cedric felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Daphne shake her head.
"Fine. I give you the contract, and you leave?" Daphne asked. Pucey looked contemplative, but then Montague stepped forward.
"Not enough anymore. Turns out the badgers need to learn what happens when you stand against the snakes."
"Montague,"
"Enough Adrian," Warrington snapped. "Give us the contract, and we'll leave you with all your limbs."
"Excuse me," a voice called, and someone emerged from a nearby classroom. Every eye was on Dean Thomas as he balefully looked over the combatants. "I was reaching a critical stage of my experiments, and I already received permission to use this part of the floor, so if you could go elsewhere for the time being, I would appreciate it."
"This is none of your concern," Malfoy snapped. Warrington raised a hand and Malfoy took a step back.
"You are interfering with my experiment. If you leave, then I don't care much, but I need you to leave promptly and quickly, if you don't mind all that much." The Slytherin contingent looked confused by how matter of fact Dean was. He looked totally unconcerned by 15 drawn and hostile wands.
"Walk away," Montague snarled. "And maybe we won't hunt you down after this." Dean cocked an eye at that.
"I don't much care for any of this," Dean said slowly. "But can I assume from your belligerence that you do not intend to leave?" Without waiting for a response he whirled to Daphne. "Daphne, if I remove these green menaces can you and your housemates go and leave me in peace?" Daphne nodded dumbly. "Wonderful."
"Remove us?" Warrington took half a step forward before dropping, courtesy of a blindingly fast and silent stunning spell from Dean who stepped in between the larger group of students and the Hufflepuffs.
"If you could all attack at once so we could finish this quickly?" Dean asked. Once again the hall was silent for a moment before erupting in spellfire, this time all aimed at Dean. Cedric rushed forward to help him, but before he could even cast a covering shield Dean had dodged three attacks and deflected another four into people who couldn't fit into the narrow corridor. 16 attackers were already 12, and Dean started walking towards the large group, totally unconcerned.
Minerva burst into the hall her wand raised and stopped as she saw a 5th year Slytherin girl groaning on the ground. She walked forward slowly and saw Slytherin students of 4th year and up littered all over the ground. Some were stunned, some were petrified, and a few more had slightly more serious injuries.
"What happened here?" Minerva heard the half-goblin charms professor ask from behind her. "Albus told me I needed to get here to stop fighting in the halls. Minerva, did you do this?"
"It wasn't me Filius," Minerva said. Cedric was sitting in front of a door, and Minerva marched up to him. "Mr. Diggory, what happened here?"
"Well, we were outnumbered until Dean showed up. Daphne had Malfoy's contract from the fight with Harry a month ago." Cedric shook his head. "They couldn't touch him. Every spell they threw at him he redirected right back at them. He left saying he needed someone quieter to do his experiments."
"Dean like Dean Thomas?" Filius pressed.
"One and the same," Jason confirmed, emerging from the classroom. "He was a demon with the wand."
"Well, we best get the students to the infirmary." Filius and Minerva started binding the Slytherin students together and floating them in groups. Along with the five Hufflepuffs, who all had at least a few scratches the group made their way to the infirmary. The massive amount of wounded had Madam Pomfrey up in stiches as she tried to take care of the worst injuries first. There were a few older Slytherins who looked distinctly unwell. Cedric claimed that Dean had claimed that he only returned dangerous spells to people who cast dangerous spells at him. It all gave Minerva a giant headache as she assisted the Hogwarts healer in stabilizing the 6th year female prefect suffering from a nasty freeze burn. If there was any doubt that Dean was a prodigy, it would be gone now.
"Sorry Madam Pomfrey, I-" Harry stopped as he looked at the chaos in the infirmary. "Um, What"? He looked around and saw the majority of the older students from Slytherin laid out on beds.
"Harry, is that headmaster Karkaroff?" Minerva asked tiredly, pointing at the man Harry was levitating. Her grandson nodded. "Just put him on a bed."
"Well, one rogue attack is odd." Harry stuck Karkaroff to a bed and cast a few spells at him. "Is tow at the same coincidence?" The door opened and Harry saw Fleur walk in with Hermione and Neville. They all had some kind of wounds. "You guys too?"
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"I have to take care of the 7th floor," Harry said. "Grandma, go help Cedric. He is in a serious fight too."
"What about the powerful martial artist?" Minerva fretted.
"Don't worry." Harry took a deep breath, and Minerva and Dumbledore rocked back. Harry always radiated more power than most, but now raw magic was rolling off him, in truly seismic amounts. "I'm a pretty powerful magical martial artist as well. This person isn't the only one who has to unlock to fight seriously" Harry allowed his magic to flow around his body once to loosen him up, and then bounded down the corridor at top speed.
Fleur and Hermione did not usually spar much. Their lessons with Flitwick was a lot of repetition against training dummies and the charms master who seemed impossible to hit most of the time. But Fleur had floated the idea of a spar between the two of them before leaving on Saturday, and Hermione had accepted. So the two were facing off near the Beauxbatons carriages after classes on Monday.
It was a quick first bout. Hermione knew an awful lot of spells, but Fleur was three years older, stronger, faster, and more experienced. It took all of thirty seconds for Hermione to end up bound and trussed on the ground, her wand in the triumphant Veela's hand. Fleur helped Hermione up, and the English girl managed to keep her temper in check as she reluctantly praised Fleur.
"As strong as Harry is, I was selected by the Goblet of Fire for Beauxbatons" Fleur consoled Hermione. "You have gotten much stronger since February, as have I. Did you truly expect to win?"
"I wouldn't have agreed to fight if I didn't think I had a chance."
"Oh, so the tournament was too tough, so you resorted to beating up little girls?" Fleur turned to see Maxwell and a few of his friends staring at her and Hermione. Maxwell had barely made a sound since Harry had broken his jaw after the first task. He had made a few insulting comments during January, but when Harry returned one glare from her boyfriend had sent Maxwell scuttling back into his hole.
"This little girl could beat you easily enough," Fleur retorted. She believed it too. Hermione was an accomplished witch, certainly more versatile and talented than she was at age 15. Maxwell wasn't a particularly accomplished wizard, even if he knew a few dark curses.
"Oh really?"
"Really." Fleur and Hermione turned to see Neville behind them. "Uh guys, some crazy shit is going down in the castle right now. We need to go back, like now."
"What?"
"Rumor is that a fight broke out between Slytherin and Hufflepuff. And-" Neville seemed to blur and appeared in front of them, catching two spells from Maxwell's friends on a shield. "What are you doing?"
"She has poisoned the school against us, and she disgraces us with her actions," Maxwell sneered. "We are getting revenge." It was six on three and the element of surprise was on the side of the Beauxbatons students. As Fleur would describe later, it wasn't much of a fair fight. Fleur in January might have frozen. But Fleur had spent three months gearing up for such an occasion
She stepped past Neville and a few cutting and blasting hexes flew from her spell. One of the cutting hexes left a deep laceration on one student and another was sent flying by a blasting hex. They returned fire but Hermione and Neville were already at her side casting shields. Neville even managed to silently deflect a particularly powerful bludgeoner back at the attacker.
Fleur was a blur of movement as she attacked. Spell after spell poured from her wand, part instinct and part natural talent. Flitwick's relentless training had helped Hermione, but it was Fleur who truly benefited from the training. There was no more hesitation in her movements and every spell was part of a chain that inevitably ended with a disabled opponent. All in all in took a few minutes but with Neville and Hermione working in concert to shield her Fleur was able to disable all of the opponents but Maxwell.
"Something is wrong," Fleur whispered as Maxwell was waving his arms and ranting. He was always intolerable, but now he looked totally insane. He was even frothing a bit at the mouth. He raised his wand and a beam of dark light shot from the wand. Neville just shoved the girls out of the way and danced past the beam himself. Fleur heard Hermione hiss in surprise and turned to see the beam had scorched a trench in the ground behind them where it had landed. The most dangerous spell Fleur had thrown was a cutting hex, and it was only aimed to incapacitate. Maxwell had just raised the stakes.
Maxwell raised his wand again and fired that same spell. Fleur and Hermione were forced into a wild dodge, as the beam was twice the size and Fleur felt the magic pass by her by inches. Once again Maxwell prepared to fire, but then his eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped to the ground. Neville gave them a half smile from behind him.
"Turns out he wasn't prepared for the hit to the back of the head." Neville called. "What was that spell he threw at us?"
"I don't know," Fleur admitted.
"Me neither," Hermione agreed. "What is going on?"
"I have no idea," Neville said. "But for now, I think back to the castle." He looked down at a scratch on his arm. Fleur and Hermione didn't have any better ideas so the three of them raced to the infirmary. Hermione had a cut on the side of her face, and Fleur was limping a little, having twisted her knee from the second wild dodge, but the trio were mostly unharmed. They opened the infirmary door and were greeted by total chaos.
You guys too?" Harry asked.
"What do you mean?" Fleur asked, taking her lover's hands in her own.
"They," Harry indicated the group of Hufflepuffs "were attacked by half of Slytherin. Luckily Dean was nearby to help out. Victor and Luna," Harry removed his other hand from Fleur's to indicate the couple talking quietly in the corner "had to deal with Karkaroff. I arrived just in time and," Harry titled his head at the unconscious headmaster.
"My love, you are wounded!" Fleur cried, realizing that Harry was covered in wounds.
"Nothing a day of rest won't heal," Harry said, laying a calming arm on hers. "What happened to you?"
"Some Beauxbatons students went crazy and attacked us," Neville explained.
"The last one standing cast a really dangerous spell," Hermione finished. "It was digging furrows into the ground." Harry stood up and looked around. "Harry?"
"Something is wrong," Harry said. Every conscious eye was on Harry as he raced towards the far wall. "Shields up!" Shields sprung up around the hospital as the far wall exploded into pieces. Chunks of masonry and broken tables shot across the infirmary, impacting on different magical shields. Harry, in front of most of the other students, managed to get a big enough shield up to dissolve most of the shrapnel and absorb the majority of the concussive force. "Everyone ok?"
He wasn't even sure if he heard it correctly. It was a deep thrum that he barely heard, followed by an air splitting hiss he had only heard a few times. Harry's eyes picked up the arrow shaft at 20 feet away and it was all too simple to begin the process of stepping out of the way of the laughable attempt. But at 10 feet he realized with horrible clarity that was sure to be someone behind him.
A burst of magic surged through Harry and his hand seemed to snake through the air and just as the point of the arrow surged past his head, his fingers curled around the shaft of the arrow and with a quick twist Harry snapped the arrow, stopping its momentum. Harry moved to the gaping hole in the wall but couldn't make out the archer, though he did see an indistinct blur of movement a few hundred yards away.
The door to the infirmary burst open and Dumbledore snapped his wand quickly. The infirmary wall started to piece itself back together and Snape was right behind him. Dumbledore looked as harried as Harry felt. There were sure to be some inquests regarding the madness that was today, and Harry allowed himself to sympathize with the old headmaster.
"Harry?" The green-eyed wizard looked down at Luna, who was standing in front of him. "What's that on your hand"
"Huh?" Harry looked down at the hand that had snapped the arrow and saw a small drop of grey liquid slowly seeping into his hand. "Nothing to worry about. I think that…" Harry's voice trailed off as the world around him seemed to spin and he lurched. "I don't know."
"Harry?" Hermione asked, looking at him in concern. Harry tried to flash a smile to show he was fine, but the strength fled from his legs and Harry slumped to the floor.
"I think," Harry started, but couldn't go on. Speech was labored, and he felt more tired than ever before. "I might be in trouble." A bright blue burst sped around Harry's body, and then he keeled over. Just before he hit the ground he heard some shouts, but he was simply too tired to care.
"What happened?" Dumbledore asked as Minerva levitated Harry to a freshly conjured bed.
"I saw a weird liquid on the hand that caught the arrow," Luna told him. "Something was wrong with Harry. His magic felt wrong."
"Wrong?" Dumbledore pressed. He reached out for Luna, but his hand was stopped by Victor Krum.
"Luna, sweetie, what are you talking about?"
"The liquid you saw," Snape asked. "What color was it?"
"Grey I think," Luna said. Snape seemed to visibly recoil.
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked. "What is it?"
"The boy, he glowed blue before collapsing," Severus muttered. A few heads nodded. The potions master seemed to straighten and he hastily exited the room. Dumbledore looked totally confused, still trying to consider the madness was the infirmary at the moment. He seemed to straighten, making a decision as he followed the potions master out.
"Madam Pomfrey, if we might prevail on a book of poisons from you," Victor said. "It seems Harry was poisoned, and it might well be up to us to cure him." Harry started to thrash on his bed. "And it looks like me may not have a lot of time.
