A/N: Won't leave you guys hanging. Read end of chapter for the notes.
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter.
Warning: Grammar and spelling errors.
Chapter 45.
He felt the wet tears slide across his cheek, the black sky mocking him.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry….
Harry felt his soul magic dying, the creatures in the forest screaming in anguish along with his soul, his fire burning the area around him, trying to fight what was hurting him, before it too burnt out. He felt the world narrow and with his last breath he sent his message, pushing it into the connection.
I love you and Lucius. Please let him know. I'm Sor…..
And he felt no more.
Harry!? Harry!? NO!
The scream rang across the sky, carried by magic and power. The world busting at the seams to contain it. But it was too late.
"NOOOOOO!"
The toe curling scream erupted from her throat. The vision behind her eyes of fire and rage and destruction.
"No!" she screamed again.
A shove at her back took her out from the vision as the force pushed her over the bed, her head hitting the ground with a bang. A kick on her stomach had her curling in on herself, while another hit her back.
"Shut up! Shut up! Can't you let us sleep for once!"
She barely realised where she was, but she knew were had to go. She needed to find Harry. She had to find Harry. She had to find Harry.
"Harry", she gasped. Her stomach ached from the kick, the floor swam in front of her eyes. She had to get up.
Uncurling her legs made pain erupt. She grit her to teeth to keep the scream trapped. She needed to show him before she forgot.
She took hold of the bed with one hand, using it to push herself upright, her other arm still wrapped around her sore stomach.
The floor moved beneath her feet, swaying with every step she took.
She ignored the people in the room, moving towards the door, their slurs not even registering in her mind.
She fell against the door, unable to see the handle; tears sprang in her eyes,
Please someone help.
As if in answer to her prayer, thundering feet sounded in the hallway before her door was pulled open and she fell into someone's arms, bushy hair tickling her nose,
"Luna?!" gasped Hermione in shock. She looked inside the dorm at the other three girls, her eyes narrowing in fury, "What the HELL happened here?!"
Before the other three could offer their protests, Luna weekly pushed against her clothes, trying to stand upright as hazy blue eyes met brown, "Take me to Harry. If you want to save him, please," Luna begged.
She could see curiosity brim in the brown eyes, but she had no Time!
She went to push Hermione away, before the other girl nodded to herself and pulled her along. At the end of the Hallway, two Prefects were standing, as if waiting for Hermione.
"Remove house points from each of them. I'll handle the rest when I get back."
They looked at Luna with sympathy in their eyes before their eyes filled with glee, one of them commenting,
"Not a problem, we have been looking for someone to complain about those girls for a while now. Most are too scared because of Beatrice's father. Leave it to us."
Hermione nodded at them before she left the dorm room.
It was almost midnight, the hallways were dark, lamps lighting the way, casting shadows against the walls. Hermione did not say a word, too afraid to wake any portrait and get into trouble. Luna softly wheezed beside her, holding on to her midriff, speeding up in her desperation.
Hermione wondered what to do. Luna most like had a skill, what it was she could only guess, but the girl was not 14 yet, so she could not be sure. She had managed to get her hands on some 'illegal only in Britain' books to do some light reading, but they did not mention how to recognise someone with a skill or how to help the people who had them.
The way Luna seemed so desperate told her it was vital that they get to Harry. Even if she did not know the way to enter the Hufflepuff's dorm, she would bang on the doors until someone answered.
A jolt of speed had Luna holding back a sob of pain, a whimper escaping her, the sound carrying across the hallway.
"Well, well, who do we have here? Two Ravenclaw's breaking curfew."
Filch!
Hermione froze in fear, wondering how to explain herself, when Luna moved straight towards the dark figure. Filch moved into the light, face a mask of shock when Luna took hold of his grimy robes, "Save Harry. I need to save Harry, please. Take me to him" she whispered.
She was more afraid of the portraits waking up than anything else right now. That and Time.
Filch's presence seemed to increase, the hallways vibrating with something, "What?"
He looked into Luna's desperate eyes, then took hold of the girl to help her walk.
"Follow me"
He took them towards the secret passageways that lead straight to the Hufflepuff's dorm.
Once reaching the barrels, Hermione looked around desperately for a door to bang on, "Take your wand out girl! Wave your wand around the tune of Helga Hufflepuff!"
"Thank you" gasped Luna, her grip on him tightening.
She was trying her best to fight the pain outside and inside. Keeping the vision fresh, otherwise she would forget something important. She focused on the memory, barely aware of when the barrels opened and she was gently pushed to crawl inside.
She heard Hermione whispering a spell, before she was pushed towards a tunnel, and reached a round door. Luna did not wait to knock. She barged in and screamed, "Harry!"
The boys in the dorm shot up from their bed in shock. One of them rolling off the bed to hide his undress state.
"Granger?! What the fuck are you doing here at this time?!
Luna only had eyes for emeralds, as the other looked towards her, already knowing something was wrong.
Harry jumped out of bed, rushing towards her, clad in an undervest and night trousers, uncaring of his attire.
Harry. Her friend in every vision she had ever had. The one person who had always been in her corner. Every possible future she had seen of herself, he was there. A light for her. Her light. Her first vision of him telling her 'It's okay, I'm here' branded in her mind, saving her when she thought she was going insane. Her Harry.
A sob broke through her chest. Harry's eyes widened in panic as Luna launched herself at him. The moment she felt his arms wrap around her safely, his magic covering her, her legs gave out beneath her. His strong arms caught her, holding her as he followed her to the ground.
Harry looked towards the entrance, where Hermione and surprisingly Filch were still standing. "What happened?" he demanded.
Hermione subconsciously straightened her posture, "She wanted to talk to you about something, and Filch helped us get here unseen."
Harry nodded towards Filch, who nodded back before leaving the corridor. He turned towards his dorm mates, "Dress and leave. I'll call you the moment I am done here. Hermione, stay."
Even Zacharias knew not to mess with Harry when his tone got this way. They quickly dressed and left the dorm, Hermione closing the door after them.
Harry turned towards Luna, who was starting to shake in his lap.
"What's your name sweetheart? What do you want to tell me?" he asked.
Dull blue eyes met his with sadness, "I wish we hadn't met this way, but you need to see. You and him both need to see inside my mind. Please, before I forget something important. Please."
The girl was almost begging by the end, her hands gripping his undervest and curling in into a mess.
Harry turned towards the link in his mind,
Marvolo! Wake up!
With no answer forthcoming Harry pushed his fear and urgency towards the link, letting his skill free to see if the girl was hurt anywhere.
He took her pain away, her body relaxing as Marvolo's presence surged in his mind.
Harry! Is everything okay?
A girl found me. She wants us to see her memories.
Both of us?
Marvolo's voice has a tinge of fear.
I think so. She said to hurry.
Let me take over.
Harry opened the door to his mind, letting Marvolo fill it and look through his eyes. They both looked at the girl and Marvolo pushed inside her mind.
The child's mental shields were shredded to pieces. All strewn about.
Something broke this child's natural barriers. A tragedy at a young age probably. Her skill is active and she has had nothing substantial to ground her.
A memory was glowing in her mind, sending light and power to the shredded barriers.
She is using a memory to ground herself with?! This is dangerous! How has she survived so far?
Marvolo's voice was filled with horror and rage.
Where the hell were this child's guardians?!
Harry did not respond as a memory came rushing at them, a voice somewhere saying 'Luna' as Marvolo guided them inside.
It was Harry. He could see through his own eyes, running. Harry felt shock course through Marvolo, awe and reverence in his voice.
A seer.
This was the future? Harry thought, as he looked at the cheering crowd through his own eyes, a lightlessness in his soul, I win.
Harry waited for pride from Marvolo, but there was only silence. Harry felt confusion cloud his mind, when suddenly, they were looking through Dumbledore's eyes.
What the fuck!
Hush Harry. Listen and feel. Learn everything you can.. Now!
Harry took his advice and started focusing on Dumbledore to get a feeling of the man. He looked around the room, categorizing the objects in the office, before his skill started swirling inside him,
Lock it down Harry.
Marvolo was still focused on Dumbledore. Harry felt horror start to fill him. His skill. He knew this feeling. It only happened when his life was in danger.
Harry watched himself get a letter from Sebastian; telling himself to stop and think. Don't follow through. Don't go. Tell Marvolo.
The feeling only got worse when future Harry was standing by the hut.
Why is my skill not telling me that my life is in danger?!
Marvolo's voice was strained as he replied, You need to be within the soul's presence to know that the soul means you harm. Unless you let out your skill and direct it towards a specific person. You can control your skill now Harry. I am sure you are feeling something off, but are ignoring it to meet your brother. Beside, I am sure at this moment, as the champion, you probably think you can handle anything.
A strum of shame lit inside him,
Do not blame yourself. You have every right to be proud. You could not have expected anything dangerous.
Harry waited with bated breath; his future self was definitely feeling something was wrong now, as he turned to leave.
NO!
Harry screamed as the sword plunged in his stomach. Marvolo's soul suddenly gathered his close, as if to remind them both, that he was alive. Uncaring, Harry pulled the essence closer, mingling with Marvolo as never before, becoming almost one, as a way to stop the feeling of pain, anguish, terror, fury from taking them under with it.
Harry felt the pain fill him, echoed by Marvolo; both present and past, as future Harry opened his link to say his last words.
Harry knew what he was going to say, and he was not ready. Maybe Never.
He pulled away from the memory, taking Marvolo with him, shoving them both in their own minds, ignoring the jarring, painful, almost tearing sensation the action caused.
He came to with a jolt, barely noticing Hermione and the girl, Luna; her grip on his body the only thing stopping him from tumbling over.
Shivers racked his frame, fear boiling inside him, ready to burst. Hands heating with his flames.
"Do I survive?" Harry asked the girl in his arms.
Luna looked at him, eyes filling with tears, falling down her face in gentle arcs.
"No. You die."
Hermione gasped behind him, her hand coming to his shoulder in a harsh grip, as the ramifications of what happened hit her.
Luna held his face in her hands, gazing at him with such a soft look, that Harry did not know what to do with it.
"You saved me. Always. In all the versions of you I have seen, you were always there with me. We were supposed to meet in your fourth year. I have never seen this future before. You never die this young, ever. Something changed. What changed? Please un-change it. Please."
Harry pulled Luna into a hug, letting her cry on his shoulder.
Harry did not want to think about what he saw, not now. Marvolo had probably been listening.
Do you know?
I think so. Do not worry Harry. That future will not come to pass, never. There was a growl in Marvolo's voice, a menace in his tone. Harry felt better hearing it.
Meet me in the ROR in an hour.
Harry sent his assent, turning towards Hermione,
"Would your dorm mates lie for you?"
Hermione seemed too shaken to answer, but she managed to pull herself together, a steely look coming in her eyes, "You will tell me what you saw. But, yes. They would lie if I asked them to."
Harry nodded at her, getting on his haunches to pick Luna up, before putting her in his bed. "Tomorrow we will take Luna to Madam Pomfrey. Do you know who did this to her?" Harry pointed towards her midsection, where the pain had been the most concentrated.
"Her roommates" Hermione hissed.
Harry turned to look at her, "I thought we were working on bullying in the houses, how did we miss this?"
"She refused to come forward. I knew something was going on, but without someone coming forward, my hands were tied. One of the girls is well connected so the other girls were probably afraid."
Harry narrowed his eyes in consideration, "I'll call a meeting. If we are missing a case this bad, then there could be others, hiding. I will not let kids be bullied while I am in Hogwarts…" Harry paused, before continuing, "Anyway, we will tell Pomfrey that Luna had a nightmare, the girls did not like it and beat her. You found her and wanted to take her to the Hospital," Harry then turned towards Luna, "You refused because you did not want to cause further problems and were just going to heal yourself. Hemione let you stay the night in her dorm, and convinced you to go to the nurse in the morning. Let's make this official. Let's see what happens."'
"Where do I spend the night?" Luna asked softly.
Harry bent down and picked her up, taking her towards the common room. Luna did not say a word. She seemed to trust him in a way that was beginning to scare Harry.
He entered the common room, his dorm mates all laying in different places in the room, softly talking to each other, looked at him in surprise. He wished Hermione good night, waiting for her to leave the common room, before turning towards the mantle and opening the secret tunnel.
The boys behind him gasped, "Harry?!"
Harry turned to look at the boys, a small smile on his face, before he moved inside the tunnel and opened the door to the secret room. He put Luna in the bed and covered her, waving his wand to put protection wards around the bed.
"You'll be safe here" he whispered to her, before turning to leave.
A soft, "I trust you" had him pausing, before he turned to look at her. Her wide eyes seemed focused for a change. He shook his head in confusion, "Try to get some rest."
Harry left the tunnel and the opening closed behind him. The boys were still in the common room, waiting for him.
"Luna was beaten by her dorm mates. She is a friend and came to me for help. I will take her to the nurse tomorrow. For propriety's sake, we will tell them that she spent the night at Hermione's dorm room. It would be best if no one finds out that she was here."
Justin grinned at him from his position on the sofa, "I know you care about your friends Harry. No need to defend yourself. The biggest question is, why did you show us this room?"
Harry grinned back, "Well, we are fourteen-year-old boys, and might need some alone time, so I thought, why not share?"
Wayne spoke softly from his position near the fire, "You don't need to bribe us Harry. We won't tell anyone what happened tonight. There always seems to be something more going on with you. What I learnt in the last three years is that you are a good guy; smart, powerful, maybe a little cunning, but a good guy. You're nothing like what your brother describes. So in case you need to hear it in words 'I'm on your side'."
He got up and moved towards the dorms.
Justin followed after him, the grin still on his face, "I'll take the bribe."
The other two seemed to be having a discussion with their eyes before Ernie turned towards Harry, "I don't want to be involved with anything, but I'll help you if you ever need it."
Zacharias was the hardest to read in this case, "I don't care. Don't ever come to me. But what happens in Hufflepuff stays in Hufflepuff. Just avoid waking me up at this time of the night. I need my beauty sleep." He turned his nose up at Harry before leaving the room. Ernie rolled his eyes, but followed him, with a nod towards Harry.
Harry let the empty room settle around him, the silence stretching. With nothing to hold his attention, his mind began to wonder. He pulled himself together long enough to get his cloak and make his way towards the Room of Requirement.
The moment the door closed behind him, everything seemed to hit him at once. He stumbled as he fell to the ground. His chest constricting in fear, breath escaping in gasps, mind spinning out of control; he tried to breath but something seemed lodged in his throat.
A whimper escaped him, nails scratching the floor as he tried to hold on to something. His vision turned blurry around the edges, spots appearing in front of him. Just when he thought was going to die, magical calm flooded his system, a body turned him over, "Take a deep breath, Harry! breathe!"
Lucius!
Harry took hold of the robes and pulled himself into the other man. He would feel embarrassed later, but right now, he felt unmoored. He pushed his face against the silk robes, letting Lucius magic fill him, taking a deep breath of the special perfume that the 'French guy' had specially made for Lucius.
He kept breathing,
In
Out
In
Out
The spots slowly disappeared. He sagged into the arms holding him, shame rising within him. He rubbed at tears that had slipped down his face and tried to pull away. Lucius did not let him go. He helped him stand before Harry forcibly pulled his arm out of Lucius's grasp and turned away from the two men. He walked towards the empty wall, sending his thoughts to the room, and stopping in front of the materializing window.
He let out a sigh of exhaustion, rubbing his eyes, "Do you-do you know what happened?"
Two sighs followed his question. Sounds of someone falling against something soft hit his ears.
Marvolo's voice was grave when he started, "You already know that Lucius and I have had plans for this year. Plans that had been in the works for a while."
The two older men shared a look, watching the still figure by the window, "My only guess is that … the future changed when I stopped my plans."
Harry swirled around at the news. Green eyes looked into somber red, "Wh-Wha-Why?" he croaked out. He had wanted everything to stop so badly.
Marvolo rubbed his hand over his face. It was the most venerable Harry had ever seen the other man; a part of him did not like it, the other appreciated knowing that even Marvolo had moments like these.
When no answer seemed forthcoming, Lucius moved forward on the sofa the two were sharing, to look at Harry, "Even though Marvolo and I have never explicitly said it, we are sorry for what you have gone through the last three years. I had not wanted it but Marvolo had plans for first year because Dumbledore acted. We realized then that what we had done was not fair to you in any way. Which is why there was no plan, no trick, nothing, for your second year. Dumbledore acted again, and we had a choice…. I want to say we took the wrong one, because of the pain and trouble it caused you, but I can't…."
Lucius looked away from Harry, standing up. He started pacing the room, agitation in his every step. Harry could not believe what he was seeing. He had never seen Lucius this frazzled. Marvolo still had not spoken anything further, and was staring at this hands.
Lucius continued hesitatingly, "I'll be honest with you. A part of me fears Dumbledore. I can't see him. I can't predict him at all. He could do anything, and I am truly not afraid for myself. He can't touch me politically and anything else he might do I could negate… but he has my son, and you-" the last was said looking straight at Harry. "You spend the entire year under him. He controls Hogwarts, and that scares me. And that vision…. It terrifies me" Lucius's voice broke at that, before he looked away.
"So we let Dumbledore get his way in second year. We wanted him distracted at Hogwarts while we put our roots in the Ministry and made precedence for the Governors to interfere at Hogwarts….. and we had a plan for the tournament as well."
Lucius looked at Marvolo as he said that, eyes cold, in a way Harry had never seen directed at Marvolo, "Before he contacted me tonight to tell me that the plan was cancelled, and we would just deal with whatever happens."
Marvolo looked conflicted at the accusation Lucius threw his way. Harry felt a sliver of guilt. He had truly never looked at the situations from their perspective. He knew they cared about him, but he had been tired of jumping to Dumbledore's tune.
Marvolo broke the silence, "It has been a long time since I was fourteen Harry and Lucius," a slither of a smile appeared on Marvolo's face, "but I still remember everything. Do you think I have not felt bad about what you have gone through?" Marvolo looked at Harry at that, "Do you think we don't want you to have a normal year? We want you to build your own connection, your own people. Be yourself."
Harry snorted at that, a bitter smile forming on his face, "Myself? I am never myself. I have to keep pretending to be that weak Hufflepuff duffer!"
Harry's eyes widened at the statement. He had not realized that he felt this strongly about the topic. "Everything I do is to protect my true personality," He grit out, anger stirring in his stomach.
"What is your true personality?" the question threw him. He looked into calm red, no anger anywhere.
Harry opened and closed his mouth, trying to answer in a way that could explain the confusion churning inside his mind.
Marvolo did not let him think for long, "What I see, is a boy who cried when his plants died, a boy who killed for someone for me and felt guilty, yet strong. A boy who forgave his abuser and even understood that two people had been abused that day. A boy who tries to be better, always better than what he was before. A boy who genuinely cares about his people. Tell me Harry? Who are you surrounded with?"
Harry tried to talk around the lump forming in his throat, "Draco, Neville, Hermione, Susan and Hannah," He choked out.
"Two of these are elementals, and they follow you. They are your friends, and they would be on my side, but only because you are. And now, you even have a seer. Do you have any idea how remarkable that it? Seers never take a side; they never try to change the future. They believe in fate, and never crossing it. You have an untrained seer, so loyal to you, I have no doubt she would break the time barrier if she had to, for you."
Harry rubbed at his cheeks, removing the wetness gathering there.
"Have you ever though why so many are loyal to you? Because you are you; Harry Potter. You don't need to be anything but yourself. You need to stop defining yourself as who Sebastian thinks you are and portrays you to be. You be yourself, and they will all see."
Harry rubbed at his nose and cheek, wiping his tears from his face. He did not know what to say after that. "It does not change the fact that people still see me as the weaker version of Sebastian," Harry said, trying to make sense of his muddled thoughts, "I want to prove to people that I am better than him…."
Something about what he said seemed to have effected Lucius. Lucius walked right up him, causing Harry to swallow his suddenly dry throat. Long elegant fingers tilted his chin up to look into his eyes. Harry did not know what Lucius saw, but the other's eyes softened from their chilliness of before, "I don't share your mind Harry… So I never knew how strongly you felt about this…. But let me ask you this… If you beat Sebastian, what will that show?"
Harry felt confusion and anger grow inside him, "That I am better than Sebastian!"
Lucius smiled at him, "Harry, you are already better than Sebastian. When you set him as your limit, you are doing yourself a disservice. Prove to the world that you are the best. Not better than Sebastian, just the best. Prove your worth, without attaching it to Sebastian. You limit your potential, by looking through that lens."
Lucius continued before he could digest what he had just heard, turning chilly eyes towards Marvolo again, "That does not explain why you changed plans we had been making for more than a year?"
Harry looked into cold blue eyes and felt his magic stir, something was wrong with Lucius. He took an unconscious step forward before he stopped himself. Even he wanted the answer to that.
Marvolo looked exhausted. He laid on the sofa and put his arm over his eyes.
"It was not easy. I am not an emotional fool….. but ever since Harry became a horcrux, his feelings have been leaking through the barrier –"
Harry gasped at the news, "What?! You can tell my feeling? Why haven't you told me? What have you felt?! No don't tell me!... Why can't I feel you then?"
"Hush you" Marvolo broke in, a tired smile appearing on his face. "You cannot feel me because I have always had impeccable control over most of my emotions. I can't read your mind, but exceptionally strong emotions can leak across the bond. Your state of mind had been in turmoil for the last few days, which kept leaking to me. Today, you sounded so desperate…and not for yourself. That is what got to me.. You did not want yourself to be chosen as the Champion, well.. you did, but you actually wanted the most deserving person to be the champion. It was such a ridiculously Hufflepuff thing to want, but I could feel how you felt… I realized that, if neither you nor Sebastian Potter are chosen, then someone deserving would lose the chance, if I mess things up…. We can work in the shadows without moving along Dumbledore's chess pieces… I got tired, and wanted to stop…so I decided to just let go…"
The other seemed to gather his composure before starting again, this time looking not at Harry, but at Lucius,
"It was not an easy decision; neither was it a decision solely made on a whim. I have only ever felt that conflicted two times in my life. The first was when the only innocent I ever killed, came to me and forgave me… she told me she knew it was an accident, that she forgave me and would never tell anyone… It made me second guess every decision I was making back then. I stopped my plan of making more horcruxes after that, until I had myself sorted out.. Second time, was the day I came from abroad and found that Lucius was married…"
Marvolo looked away from Lucius at that. Lucius seemed to want to move to Marvolo's side but stopped himself, his hand curling into a fist, "I thought to let him go. No need to kill a loyal knight for one man….. but he was under the curse and I would never have let that stand… Today was the third time… I finally decided to sacrifice everyone's hard work over the year for the sake of our mental freedom…to give you what you wanted.. and to let myself me free of the chains I have put around myself.. . …. But Lucius was right… He's always right….I should listen to him more often..… I can't stop what has already begun."
Lucius snorted at that, "It's been so many years, are you just now learning to listen to me?"
Marvolo sent a mock glare towards Lucius, the heavy atmosphere lightening a little. Harry let his shoulders relax minutely, still assessing everything that he had heard in the last few hours. "So what is the plan?" he questioned.
Marvolo was the one who answered, rubies assessing him, "Do you really want to know?"
Harry thought about that. The vision had taught him that he was capable of winning in a fair fight, but this was not a fair world. But still, knowing could place a burden on him that he was not sure he was ready to bear. "Does your plan involve any of the tasks?"
"Only the last. We will also change a few of our originals plans, keeping the …vision.. in mind" Lucius responded.
Harry nodded to himself, "I'll ask then. Not before. I still want to enjoy this year as much as I can…. I already know what the last task is but thankfully the first two have not been spoiled."
Lucius smiled at him before turning serious again, "Harry… you need to look at how you see Hufflepuff. It is not fair to the house or the students for you to think so lowly of them…and I know, most of it is because of your brother and father's words rattling in your brain. Just think it over. Why did the hat choose Huflepuff for you?"
Harry tiled his head as he though, "but you already told me it's because I am loyal to you."
Marvolo shook his head, "That is true Harry. It was the reason why the hat chose Huflepuff, but there is more to it than that. I did not explain more then, because you were only eleven. The Hat looks at everything in your mind and finds the house that fits you perfectly. You proved to me today that you are the embodiment of this house. Now, you just need to figure out what kind of person you want to be.. and the rest will come to you."
Harry tried to understand, but nada, he was getting nothing, "Are you being so obtuse on purpose just to annoy me?"
Marvolo let out a chuckle, "You know the future Harry. How you want to handle it is for you to decide. Just know, that we both trust you and believe in you….Now go, get some sleep."
"okay" Harry said and moved towards the door, stopping just before he turned the handle, "Is Lucius going to be here tomorrow?"
Lucius hummed as he replied, "I'll be heading home now, but will come for the selection of the Champions in my official capacity as the Head of the Governors. Now go."
Harry nodded and turned to look at the two; one lying on the couch, draped across it in a way Harry had never seen before, a strain around his eyes, while the other was standing by the window; the distance between them new and daunting. There was something wrong with them…
He gave a tight smile and left.
He would try to trust them and leave it to them. But if they did not get normal soon, he was going to do something about it
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning, Harry sat at the breakfast table and rubbed his tired eyes, stifling a yawn. He had gotten up early to sneak Luna out of the dorms and back to Ravenclaw. Thankfully Hermione had been waiting for them. She had taken Luna with her to the hospital and Harry had waved at the girl, before turning towards the Entrance Hall.
He had been watching the students putting their names in for a while. There were a lot of students. Everyone wanted to be the champion for their house. The Ginger twins came amidst hooting as they threw their names into the cup with a flourish.
The age line was glinting around the cup. Harry looked at the entrance as the doors opened with a bang. It was Sebastian Potter, surrounded by his entourage; Ron Weasely, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, if he had the names right. The entire Hall fell silent, watching in rapt attention as he strutted towards the cup and threw his name in. Harry could hear some younger Hufflepuff sigh. A flash of resentment had him curling his lips. He tightened his occlumency shields, his lips curling into a sneer. It was so easy for Marvolo to say what he did… living under his brother's fane was so much harder.
He watched as every person from Sebastian's group entered their name and moved towards their own table. The doors opened again with as the thirty something Durmstrang students entered the Hall and put their names one by one, before sitting on the Slytherin table for their breakfast.
Harry put his hand into his bag, taking out the slip of with his name, school and Sirius's signature. He had been carrying this particular slip for months now…. And now was the time. Footsteps had him turning towards their direction.
He looked up to see Draco and his roommates, Hermione and her roommates, Neville, Justin, Wayne, Susan and Hannah all standing above him.
"Well, are you putting your name or not?" Zabini said, his eyes judging him. The Slytherins did not have completely loyalty to him, not yet. But they would. He would prove himself.
"Of course I am" he simply stated. He got up and moved towards the cup.
The others followed behind him. He crossed the age line and stood in front of the sizzling blue flames. He put his hands as close to the flames as he dared. He already knew he would be chosen so why was he so nervous.
He took a deep breath and let go.
He turned to watch the rest of the people behind him put their names. He smiled at them before heading towards his table. This year he had planned on not wearing any masks, but the vision frightened him. He had his skill out at all times now, scared in a way he had never been before, but he would not cower.
He would just have to be better. You want to play Dumbledore…. Let's play.
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Finally….it was time.
Harry sat in the great Hall, surrounded by his year mates, all eyes on the Goblet of fire. Harry could feel sweat beading up on his arms. The knowledge of his win did not have him relaxing one bit. With the future changed, it was entirely possible that he never gets chosen at all.
The great Hall seemed to hold its collective breath, as the flames inside the goblet turned fiery red. A tongue of flame shot into the air, the parchment clasped into ageing hands, "The Champion for Durmstrang is…. Victor Krum!" said Dumbledore.
Harry stood up to his feet with his house mates, clapping with the rest of the Hall. Everyone was happy with the choice. Most of the students were whistling and howling.
Victor Krum rose from his seat and headed towards the next chamber. Harry let his mind ponder before coming to a decision; Krum would be his, he would make it so. Come to think of it, why not make all of the champions his…. They were the best of their schools after all…
He turned his attention to Dumbledore as another parchment shot out of the Goblet. "The champion of Beauxbatons is….. Fleur Delacour!"
The Hall was swept up in cheers again, as a beautiful girl got up from the Ravenclaw table and headed towards the next chamber. Harry shoved at Justin, who had practically fallen on top of him to keep the girl in sight, "Knock it off would you!" Harry whispered to the other boy.
Justin looked at Harry, "I can't help it! Do you have any idea how beautiful she is!"
Harry looked at the silver hair leaving through the Hall, "She has veela blood, obviously. Keep your wits about you."
Justin shook his head, opened his mouth to respond when their attention was taken by the cup again. The Hall went absolutely silent, no one dared to even breathe.
The flames moved as if in agitation before a fire shot into the air, a slip landing in Dumbledore's hands. Dumbledore kept looking at the parchment. He did not say a word. People started shuffling in place, confused looks started exchanging along the houses. Harry waited.
He felt his nerves reach a breaking point as the silence stretched before Dumbledore spoke, "And the Hogwarts champion is…."
Sebastian Potter started to stand up, "Harry Potter."
It felt as if a bomb had exploded inside the Great Hall. Students of every house stood up on their tables, clapping, screaming and hollering filling the halls. One of the twins waved their wand and fireworks exploded from somewhere, shooting colourful sparks all around the hall.
Harry hunched forward, breathe leaving in a rush, feeling himself fill with pure happiness. He was the champion.
A shove had him getting up from his seat, his housemates stomping in happiness. A Hufflepuff was chosen, and a fourth year as well. The screaming accompanied him as he reached Dumbledore and nodded at him. Piercing blue eyes pinned him in place, a slice of fear turned his insides icy, before calm magic pulled him away from Dumbledore.
Thank you.
Harry turned and bowed towards the Head table to show his respect, before moving towards the ante chamber. He entered and smiled to himself at the wide eyed looks from the other champions.
"Hi, I'm Harry Potter. Nice to meet you."
He moved towards Fleur, who was closer to the door and pulled his hand out to her. Surprised eyes met his as Fleur gave him her hand and he pressed a light kiss on the back. He then turned towards Krum, who took his proffered hand in a shake.
"Congratulation to the both of you for getting chosen as your school's champions." Harry spoke before they could settle into awkward silence.
"but you are only fourteen!" Fleur burst out..
Harry wondered if he should feel offended, before deciding to let it go. He had better things to do, "Yes I am, I.."
"And you lost your magic a year ago!" Fleur broke in again.
Harry let the silence linger after her statement, his voice caustic as he replied, "Obviously I have it back and am the best Hogwarts has to offer, even with being only fourteen. Pease don't take me lightly. I want to have a fair and friendly completion."
"There is nothing fair or friendly about this competition, it's a fight to see who is the best wizard and the best school." Krum spoke for the first time, his voice gruff, his English rusty.
Harry turned to look at Krum, and then Fleur. Well, time to work his magic.
"It is a friendly competition where people have died. Just because it is a competition does not mean that we can't have fun along the way. I want nothing more than a fair match to test our skills."
"Fair match…. To test our skills?.. You mean to tell me you don't want give your all to win? You'll let us win, if we are better?" Krum's tone was dripping sarcasm.
Harry felt frustration boil within him. Why did no one else understand?
"No. I will do my best to win. I will use every arsenal at my disposal, but I will not cheat nor sabotage. I truly want the person most deserving to win, even if I lose, I will know I tried my best and the other person deserved it!"
They both looked at him in shock, "You truly believe that," stated Fleur, her tone uncomprehending, "You really would be okay if we win, if we defeat you."
Harry let a smile curl his lips, letting just a little bit of his power through. His eyes flashed green for the barest of seconds, Fleur and Krum taking a step back in shock and fear. "Try and defeat me. If you win.. you deserve it."
Before anything more could be said, sound of fighting reached them. People were screaming and shouting. All three turned towards the entrance, when a gleeful Sebatian Potter entered the chamber. Glee turned into anger when he looked at Harry, striding towards him and catching him by the collar of his robes. Sebastian shook him, "What did you do?!".
Harry tried to stop himself from grabbing hold of the arm, to free himself, as the other pushed him against the wall. His back hit with a loud bang, pain thrummed inside.
I must not attack, I must not attack, I must not attack.
His mantra was cut when an arm grasped Sebastian by his collar and pulled him away from Harry. Sebastian spluttered as he looked into condescending rusty eyes. Harry put a trembling hand towards his throat, rubbing and trying to straighten his collar. He turned to the side to see suspicious eyes of the other champions. He covered as his face, and gave them a wink.
He turned back towards the adults who had entered after Sebastian.
"Is..Is everything okay? What happened?"
It was Barty Crouch who answered. "It would seem that there has been a problem with the cup. It just called out a fourth champion, Sebastian Potter."
Harry felt his eyes widen, shock turning his insides cold. What the fuck?! Was that the plan?! People will suspect me of being the cheater!
"See!" Sebastain started, "My brother obviously cheated! The cup chose me! He must have done something!"
The judges turned to look at him at Sebastian's accusation, their eyes considering.
You better have a plan!
Harry let his eyes well up, "but..but.. I did not cheat."
Sebastian snorted, eyes narrowed.
The Headmistress of Beauxbatons spoke up, "Well?! We must do something! Hogwarts can't have two champions." She turned towards Karkaroff "Why don't you say something?!"
Before things could escalate further, a cool voice spoke from the entrance, causing everyone to freeze.
"This is a very simple matter, obviously."
Lucius!
The slim figure of Lucius Malfoy entered the room. It was starting to get crowded in the small room. He looked around the room, distaste clear on his face.
"So many people, and yet no one is stopping a child from throwing around groundless accusations. Let's clear this up shall we. Professor Dumbledore, do you have the parchments with the student's names?"
A flash crossed Dumbledore's eyes before they began twinkling, "Of course why did I not think of it?" He put his hand in his pocket and four parchments came out.
Lucius took the four parchments and looked through them, before passing them around the room. "It's pretty obvious what happened. Harry Potter is the chosen Hogwarts Champion. His name has his school and guardian's signature under it. Sebastian Potter's signature has no school and no guardian's signature."
"But I saw Sebastian put his name in… I'm pretty sure it had the school name and signature" Harry spoke up.
Lucius looked at him approvingly, "You are right Harry. Which means one of two things. First, someone was afraid that the Boy-Who-Lived would not be selected as champion, that some seventh year would take his place and so they tricked the cup into thinking that there were four schools. Second option…." Here Lucius looked towards Sebastian, "The tournament is known to be deadly…. And someone is probably hoping he will die from it."
There was absolutely silence after that statement. Harry moved forward, "No, I don't want him to die.. is there-"
Sebastain cut him before he could even finish, "No. If you can do it.. so can I. I am better than you. I have fought a basilisk before. Maybe you should worry about yourself."
Harry slumped back against the wall, rubbing at his head in agitation.
"Regardless of what anyone wants, the flames of the cup have died down. These four are the champions. They have no choice but to compete," Barty Crouch broke in.
He turned towards the four students, "The first task will take place on the 24th of November. The first task tests your daring and courage, so you will obviously not be told what the task is. How you perform in the face of the unknown will be a true testament to your skills as the chosen champions. Let us now depart, we will meet you on the day of the tournament."
Crouch nodded to everyone in the room and left, the other two judges following behind. Only the school heads and Lucius Malfoy were left.
Madam Maxime looked livid while Karkaroff was blank. Krum kept giving his headmaster strange looks, brows furrowed.
"Well then, if there is nothing else, then why don't you head to your beds. I'm sure your school mates are waiting for you." Professor Dumbledore spoke, eyes twinkling merrily.
Harry kept his head down and was the first to leave the room, shoulders hunched.
He had barely made it to the hallway when he heard the running steps. He had a split second to make his decision. He shut his occlumency barriers tight, he would not let emotions dictate him.
Rough hands grabbed him by the shoulder, wrenching it back and turning him around, before he was getting shoved against the wall, the second time in a span of minutes. He held his body taught.
Sebastian was practically foaming at the mouth, anger making his face twist in an unpleasant expression. "How dare you?! Were you so jealous of me that you had to trick the cup to choose you too?!"
Utter bafflement filled him. Was Sebastian delusional? He opened his mouth when his skill pinged on his radar. He spread it around the corridor. One.. two.. three souls nearby. He sent his power to the three souls, getting a feel of them. Two humans and a …..beetle… no… an animagus.
Harry pushed Sebastian away, "What are you talking about?! The cup chose me as the champion. Someone else messed with the cup and entered your name separately. It's why your name did not have your school or guardians signature and was still chosen!"
Sebastian Potter moved as if to grab him again, but Harry had enough. He caught the arm that moved towards him, twisted around it and shoved Sebastian towards the same wall he had his back against before, letting go at the same time. He took two steps back, "What is wrong with you Sebastian? Why can't you just let me be?"
Sebastian was stunned at the move, facing the wall. He turned to look at Harry again. "Me?! It's you! You're jealous of me! Always have been, and you keep trying to prove yourself better than me! You are not! I killed Voldemort when I was a baby, I fought him off in first year and I defeated the basilisk in second year. If anyone, I should be chosen by the cup! Not you!"
"I'm not jealous of you! I don't want what you have for one minute! I have been the top of my class since first year. I am ahead of all my classes, I have friends I can trust, and I was just chosen as the champion of Hogwarts! Why would I be jealous of you?! I just want you to stop attacking me!"
Harry's chest heaved as he tried to contain his emotions, "You are my brother. No matter what, I don't want you hurt or dead because of this competition. So please….. Just….please….stop"
Sebastian looked at him in disgust, "You are a liar. I will never trust you. I hate you," he spat before turning and walking away.
Harry felt his legs weaken and walked back to the wall to slide against the floor. He felt the animagus soul leave after Sebastian and waited for the others to show themselves.
The shuffling of steps had him looking towards the other two champions, "So you heard that I guess"
Fleur looks sympathizing, "I guess you don't get along with your brother"
Harry chuckled at that, "Understatement." He looked at them, "You guys should go. I'm just going to head back"
Harry got up and moved towards his common room. He felt heavier and lighter at the same time. Maybe someone should lock Sebastian and him in a room together so that they could scream everything they had locked up inside each other, and just move on. Lucius was right. No matter how much he wanted to prove himself better than Sebastian, hearing the same sentiment echoed in Sebastian's voice had been jarring. Competing with Sebastian was taking all of Harry's attention. He had bigger goals. It's time he focused on that. At least, he'll try.
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The next few days passed in a happy blur for Harry. Before the Hufflepuffs and other could get mad at Sebastian for trying to take Hufflepuff's glory, Harry sent a message through the grapevine that it was not his fault. Someone was manipulating events, either for Sebastian's fame or his death.
Not Surprisingly an article came the very next day, by their very own Rita Skeeter, which described exactly what happened when the champions were chosen, and even mentioned their fight. It confirmed his suspicion about the identity of the beetle soul he had felt. Now he just had to use it to his advantage.
All the houses supported him, other than Gryffindor. They were keeping themselves to Sebastian. Outside Hogwarts was another matter though. Despite the Prophet actually telling what really happened, he had been getting a lot of hate letters, for trying to usurp Sebastian's position. He had expected it, what he had not expected were the letters of support from people outside. There had been a lot of sympathy regarding his fight with Sebastian. People were unsure how to feel about him yet. He was the not the important brother but he had become too visible in the news to just disappear as a side note.
He had expected more excitement than what he was feeling though. Despite his happiness at being chosen as the champion, he was just plain bored. He knew everything the teachers were teaching and had taken to reading ahead in class after performing the spell the teacher was showing. He guessed spending a year and a half of specialized training under Marvolo would do that to anyone. He had taken to practicing twice a day in the Room of Requirement.
He had done his research on the tournament. The first task was always a magical creature of the dangerous kind. While dealing with each creature would be different, he needed to be in top physical condition. He had also taken to going to the Quidditch pitch every night and spreading his skill in a wide radius. He was making a map with all the creatures in Hogwarts and the forest. He needed to know everything that was there, so any new soul would come up on his search and help him figure out what creature he would be fighting.
That exciting adventure was for another day, today he had to go through a dull event like the wand weighing ceremony while pretending to not be dying of boredom. He watched as everyone from Fleur, he was right about her, to Krum had their wands checked. Next it was his turn, but Sebastian decided to go first. Harry mentally rolled his eyes at his bothers maturity. His brother wand was a Hickory wand with a phoenix feather. The mention of the feather seemed to make Sebastian proud for some reason. hmmmm.
Soon it was his turn. He smiled at Ollivander as the other took his wand,
"Ah, I remember this wand. It's one of my own. A miracle wand actually. There is quite a story behind it. Do you want to hear?" questioned Ollivander.
He had effectively peaked the curiosity of everyone over that statement, including Harry. Ollivander had not said anything when he gave him the wand.
"Of course," replied Harry.
"A thousand years ago a dragon gave his own heartstrings willingly before his death. If you work with dragons, you would know how rare that is. Very rarely do any magical creature willingly give away a part of themselves; the act alone is magical. An alive creature has magic running through it, while a dead creature's parts have magical properties but not active magic running through it. This dragon gave two heartstrings, one joined with an elm wood and was given to a noble family at a very costly price. I don't think the wand even chose a person, they just bought it because of how powerful it was. The records don't contain the name of the family as it was struck out by my great grandfather, but I am sure they passed it down the family until it finally sang for someone.
The other heartstring refused to join with any wood. It had been kept in a shelf for a very long time, until we finally got our hands on the oldest magical yew wood. There is a tree, here in Scotland, which gives its wood once every five hundred years. That year it gave two. One wood joined with a phoenix feather and the other joined with the dragon heart string. This wand….." he looked down at the wand in his hands, caressing it, "is one of the most magically powerful wands I have ever made. And also, surprisingly, one of the most harmonised. A fire elemental core with an air elemental covering. It is one of the three wands I had been waiting for to meet their owners. It truly is beautiful."
Ollivander did not wave his wand, but gave it back to him. Harry looked at him in confusion and the other smiled, "I have never seen a stronger bond between a wand and its user. The essence of the dragon in this wand will not let anyone else use it."
Harry looked at the wand in his hand in awe. He had not known. He had never tried to look for any essence from his wand. Harry tuned his skill towards his wand and pushed. A curious feeling came over him, a hesitant acceptance, before magic tried to push at him, the tip of his wand starting to flare. He pulled his skill out and locked it. Not now, later. He would figure this out later.
He nodded to Ollivander and stood to have his pictures taken. Skeeter was moving people around trying to get him and Sebastian in the center. Sebastian had already given an interview to the women, but the women had been eying him for a while now. No way was he going to give a one on one interview. It could paint him as attention seeking, and he honestly had no desire to give an interview.
As soon as the pictures were done, Harry made to get out of the room. The moment he was out of everyone's sight, he ran. He ran all the way to the Room of Requirement. He went inside the room and sat on the floor, taking his wand out and putting it next to him. He spread his skill inside the wand, trying to feel the core as he had before.
The wand seemed to wake, a strange sensation coiling within him, before magic burst from the wand and pushed inside him, the wand glowing brightly in the room. Magic surrounded him and seemed to seep inside him, not attacking, just settling inside his skin. He blinked his eyes to get rid of the spots, attention belatedly turning towards the voice screaming at him,
Harry!
I'm okay….I'm okay…. My wand was kind of alive… I think… and it just ...bonded to me… I think…
You think?!
Well, I'm not hurt am I?
Seething fury seeped through his bond with Marvolo, his breath leaving his chest at the strong sensation. He tried to lock his shields but he was getting pulled under Marvolo's emotions. Suddenly everything stopped.
He gasped for breath, poking at the link, but it was silent.
His head dropped in his hands in exhaustion. Dammit!
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It was almost midnight as Harry made his way towards the Quidditch pitch. The competition was only a week away and he still had no idea what he would be fighting against. He had been going to the pitch every weekend after nothing happened the first few days. They had to bring the creatures soon, he hoped, or else he won't have time to prepare a strategy.
He sat under the bleachers and put his hands on the ground. He took a deep breath and opened all his shields. His eyes glowed bright green, wind ruffling his hair, as his skill pushed into the ground. It started from his surrounding and move further away from him in an arc. He closed his eyes against the strain. He felt the grass, and flowers, ants and bugs and pushed further away. Soon the creatures of the forest flashed before his senses. He knew them but they never knew he was even there. He had felt them all before and knew what they were. A unicorn, an acromantula, the centaur herd; nothing new. He moved towards the lake, and stopped.
A new soul, dark and old. The flare of recognition was his only warning before the creatures seemed to sense his presence. Harry pulled back, a shiver of fear going down his back. What was this?! A water creature, old, powerful and dark. He needed more information.
Harry steeled himself, digging his hands into the ground beneath him to ground himself and focused his powers towards the lake.
Grindylows, the squid, mermaids, and there it was. … A dark, menacing, powerful soul; old, tired, enraged, enslaved. Harry tightened his shields to center himself and pushed against the soul, merging with it.
Hatred hit him first, anger.. so much anger and sorrow…. Ancient powers… He blocked off the creature's emotions and opened its eyes. He needed to know what it was.
He looked around, the creature was in an underwater cage. He could see bars surrounding it from all sides. He looked up to see the steel trap. He moved around, it was a big creature. He moved its neck towards the right and saw another creature moving towards the bars… what?… The creature was distinctly serpentine in features; long neck, narrow face, eyes wide, white and deadly. It was too close. Movement on his left had him turning towards it, only to feel the scales of another head…. Wait…. More than..one…head….
Harry broke the connection with a gasp, returning to his own body with a snap of magic, the area of around him sparking with a ring of blue flames, before he controlled it. Fear unlike ever before lit up inside him. He tried to breathe, a heaving sound escaping him… the FUCK!
HYDRA!
A HYDRA!
They had to fight a bloody HYDRA!
A Hydra! He screamed down the link.
Aren't they instinct?! How did they even get one! A hydra! Do you want to kill us all?!
A bloody hydra. Fantastic Beasts and where to find them did not even have one word on the creatures. How the bloody hell was he going to defeat the creature without using his skill? How the bloody Hell were the other normal champions going to fight with such a creature!?
You lot are mad!
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A/N: So…. Yes..I decided to do an original version of the triwizard tournament. It was not easy let me tell you…. I have been researching creatures for a month now… making rules, making up the scoring system.. etc… I can't do things half heartedly .. so ya….. Let me know what you think. Your reviews feed me.. and make me want to write that much more…... No seriously, this is new territory, so I really need to know what you think...