Avian Anarchy
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling or Disney, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, magically powerful Harry. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.
"What happened?" Harry asked, when Hedwig flashed him right to where Amaterasu was lingering in front of the fire place of Salazar's chamber.
"I've got new friendsss." Harry cast the basilisk a surprised look. "There are dragonsss out on the groundsss. I met them and talked to them earlier. I am ssso very exxxcited. It'sss great to have friendsss."
"Dragonsss?" Harry could not believe his ears, before a sudden thought crossed his mind. "How many dragonsss? Are there perhaps four of them?"
"Sssorry, what?"
"Never mind. What did they tell you?"
"They jussst came here one sssleep turn ago. They are nicccce. My new friendssss. I hope they will ssstay here for a very long time."
"Perhaps, they are here for the tournament." Harry's expression became grim, although he could not help feeling happy for Amaterasu. "I jusssst hope we're not going to fight them."
"You cannot fight dragonsss. They have fire, and they have nestlingssss." The basilisk cast him a warning look.
Harry quickly translated for Hedwig, who fluffed her feathers in apparent annoyance.
#I wouldn't put it behind them to make you fight dragons. Let me catch the person, who put your name into that goblet. He or she would wish they had never met me.#
Harry inwardly smiled hearing how upset Hedwig was on his behalf. 'Amaterasu seems to be lonely,' he thought to his mother. 'Perhaps, I should see if I can buy another basilisk for her to have some company.'
'That might be a good idea, but concentrate on the tournament first. We'll ask Santa, when we return home for Christmas. I know for a fact that there is a snow basilisk on the North pole, who always seemed lonely to me, too.'
'A snow basilisk?' Harry thought in surprise. 'I wonder why no one ever introduced him to me, although they've known that I'm a Parselmouth for at least two years now.'
HP
Back in the common room, Harry scribbled a message, which he copied three times, before he asked Hedwig to deliver them to the three champions.
Punctually at seven o'clock the following morning, the four champions gathered at a spot next to the lake, which Harry had indicated in his message.
"Why iz it zat we had to come 'ere zis early in ze morning?" Fleur Delacour cast him a look of pure irritation.
Harry looked at the French girl, apologetically. "I'm sorry. It's just that by chance, I have found out that they recently brought some dragons to Hogwarts. Apparently, they are young mothers, and I thought that the only reason to possibly bring such animals to Hogwarts would be for the tournament.
"You mean that we're going to have to fight dragons with babies?" Cedric cast him a horrified look.
"Of course, I am not sure, but I thought you should at least be forewarned."
"Zat was very kind of you, and I zank you very much." Cedric and Viktor nodded in apparent agreement.
Harry shrugged. "I thought it was only fair. Perhaps, it's just a false alarm. I'm sorry then."
"Zere is no need to be sorry. Zank you for telling us." Harry stepped a few steps away, as the Veela came too close to him for his liking.
'I don't know why the Gryffindor boys all fawn about the Veelas. Daphne is much prettier,' he thought in annoyance at the girl's scent that was too sweet for his liking.
"We should work together in this, anyway. Yes, I know that we need a winner, but the most important point is that we all get out of this alive." Cedric cast the others a questioning look.
"Yes, ve can do that." Viktor returned a sharp nod.
'Perhaps, I could outfly a dragon on my broom,' Harry mused, when he returned to the castle after separating from the others.
HP
His musings came to an abrupt end, when he almost ran into Luna, who seemed to be on her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. The thought 'Even Luna is much more beautiful than Fleur,' crossed his mind, as he listened to the younger girl's babbling.
"Your familiars will be able to help you with the task," she told him, giving him an airy smile.
"Won't I be disqualified then?" Harry looked at her in surprise.
"I don't think so, and at least, you'll survive," she replied, smiling.
"That's true."
"Yes, and that's what matters most."
The thought 'Luna is always right' crossed Harry's mind, when an unpleasant voice penetrated his ears.
"Potter, don't you have enough fame already? What else do you need? Cedric is Hogwarts' champion, not you."
"Of course he is." Harry was taken by surprise.
"Ronald Weasley, are you sure that you're not related to a troll? Your behaviour including your table manners and your talking surely suggests a connection there. Harry is the champion of Merlin's academy, not Hogwarts."
"Better a troll than a brainless looser." With that, Ronald strode ahead into the Great Hall, smashing the door with a loud bang.
"Idiot," Harry muttered, casting Luna a concerned look. "Don't listen to him."
"I don't." Luna smiled. "His brain has been clouded by wrackspurts, ever since he came to Hogwarts. Shall we have breakfast with his sister? She is much more alert."
"All right," Harry replied, wondering how Luna knew that Ginny was strangely early for breakfast and sitting at the Slytherin table just by herself. 'Oh well, she just knows things,' he recalled what he had realised several times before. He grinned in amusement upon hearing that Minerva was still scolding Ronald for banging the door earlier.
HP
The day of the first task began bright and sunny, even if it was a cold morning. The whole school was bustling with excitement – much to Harry's annoyance, as he would have preferred to be distracted from the task ahead. Instead, each of his housemates came by to wish him good luck and to remind him that surviving the task was the most important thing.
His suspicion that the first task had something to do with dragons had neither been confirmed nor denied by his trainers, as Merlin pointed out that he and Remus were not allowed to help him beyond their weekly training, and Severus and Moody could not relay any information about the task either. Nevertheless, due to his training sessions during the weekends, he felt prepared for whatever the tournament was going to throw at him.
'Harry! Santa, Claire, Merlin, Remus, Sirius, Cassiopeia and all the teachers from the academy are here to watch the task,' Hedwig informed him in apparent excitement, when Harry readied himself to head to the champions' tent.
'Cool, please tell them I said hello,' he thought back, feeling very happy that everyone had come to observe him do the first task. 'They really seem to care for me,' he thought, still not taking such things for granted after what he remembered from his early childhood.
When he entered the tent, Merlin was gathered together with the other three heads of the schools, and he felt delighted that the ancient wizard had so easily accepted him as the champion for his school, even if they both wished that he would not have to compete at all.
When Bagman explained everything about the first task to them, the other three champions cast him appreciative looks. 'Thanksss Amaterasssu for the warning about the dragonsss. I have to take a fake egg from the Hungarian Horntail,' he thought to the largest of his familiars.
'Don't worry, the dragonsss are really niccce' was the telepathic response from the reptile that almost made Harry snort. 'I wonder how nice they are if they believe their babies to be in danger,' he thought to himself.
HP
Harry impatiently paced the tent, as his familiars had been shooed out and were probably spending the time with the family in the spectator seats. He listened to the sounds coming from outside, however, could only guess how his fellow champions were fairing. It seemed to take ages, before he was called outside to finally meet his dragon. He curiously stepped out with his wand drawn, ready to summon his broomstick, when the dragon lady blew a huge bout of fire at him.
"Pleassse wait, I haven't done anything to you, and I promissse that I won't hurt you or your babiesss."
His attempt at communicating in Parsel tongue did not go well with the dragon, who blew another blast of fire that hit him in his right arm. To Harry's surprise, a cooling sensation engulfed his arm just an instant later, which unfortunately distracted him, as he turned his eyes to a nearby tree, only to realise that Hedwig was perched there.
'Don't worry, I am invisible to everyone else,' she thought to him.
He looked back at the dragon right on time to be just able to sidestep a third bout of fire, when help approached in form of a large basilisk's head.
"Amaterasu." His eyes widened in surprise, and he listened eagerly, as the serpent quickly explained to the dragon that Harry needed the golden egg, but would not harm her babies in any way.
He could not believe his luck, when the dragon nodded in apparent understanding and turned around, apparently to inspect her babies. During the following minute of suspense, he sent quick thank you thoughts to Amaterasu and Hedwig.
Finally, the dragon turned back to him and kicked the golden egg into his direction.
"You should have sssaid ssso right away. Now go and leave my babiesss in peaccce."
"Thank you ssso very much," Harry replied, as he picked up the golden egg and hurriedly left through the exit, where huge applause greeted him. To his relief, Amaterasu was nowhere to be seen. 'Thank Merlin, who knows what they might do to her,' he thought. 'Oh well, she's not stupid and knows to not show herself in front of everyone. It was really courageous that she came to save me in any case.'
Inwardly groaning, he endured Madam Pomfrey's fussing, stating that he was completely all right. Without even waiting for the points to be awarded, after a short greeting to his family and visitors from the SAMS, he excused himself to visit the basilisk and spend the rest of the day with her.
HP
Only on time for dinner, he showed up in the Great Hall.
"Where have you been?" Daphne cast him a worried look. "Everyone has been looking for you."
"I went to thank Amaterasu and spent some time with her." Harry cast his friends a sheepish look. "You could have asked Paws."
To his surprise, his friends either snorted or laughed at his suggestion. "What?"
"Paws saw fit to make all the visitors from the North pole transform into their canine forms and play with him." Annika rolled her eyes in apparent exasperation. "We all joined them in a mock fight that only ended, when Santa called everyone back to return home."
"Oh, sorry. I missed that then." Harry shrugged, not in the slightest regretting that he had spent the afternoon with the basilisk. "I need to ask Alicia for her recipe of herb drops, which she brewed for Amaterasu before. Thank Merlin we're going to go home for Christmas next month."
HP
To his absolute disgust, the headmaster informed them just a few days later that everyone from fourth year onwards was going to remain at Hogwarts during the Christmas holidays.
"In the evening of Christmas Day, we're going to have a Yule Ball, which the champions must attend and everyone else from fourth year onwards should attend."
"Excuse me sir." Harry rose from his chair. "If this ball is only going to take place on Christmas Day, I suppose that there is no reason for us to remain at Hogwarts during the whole holidays."
"Of course not, my boy. I will see to it that the Hogwarts Express will run on Christmas morning and will take everyone back the following morning."
Harry nodded, contentedly, knowing that he was not going to ride the train that time. He looked up in surprise, when Neville uttered, "Please excuse me for a moment." Following his friend with his eyes, he saw that he made a beeline to the Hufflepuff table and talked with Susan.
Apparently, others had watched Neville as well, and Draco was the first to act.
"Ginny, will you please accompany me to the Yule Ball?"
"With pleasure." The redhead grinned in apparent happiness. "Thanks Draco."
"Will you?" Harr mouthed in Daphne's direction, inwardly sighing in relief, when the girl returned an unobtrusive nod.
HP
However, two weeks later, on the day before everyone who wished to spend their holidays at home would leave, Daphne pulled him into a broom cupboard.
When Harry leaned over to kiss her, however, she held him back. "Sorry Harry, I didn't take you here to snog. I just wanted to discuss something first."
"What is it?" Harry gave the girl, who practically was his girlfriend, although they had never outright spoken about the matter, a concerned look.
"I was wondering if it wouldn't be better if you invited Luna for the Yule Ball. Otherwise, she might not be able to attend, as she's only a third-year."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "And you?"
Daphne chuckled. "Didn't you listen to the conversation in the common room last night? Almost half of the boys don't have dates yet. I can easily go with someone else, and we can still dance together. I'm sure Luna will be willing to share."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I'll go and ask her then."
Daphne smiled, before she leaned over and pulled him into a passionate kiss. "I knew that you'd understand. Please tell me, when you've asked her. Only then, I'm going to tell the boys that I'm free for them to fight over me."
Casting her a surprised look, Harry realised that she seemed highly amused by the matter. They spent a while cuddling together, before they left the cupboard. He then called Hedwig and asked her to fetch Luna.
HP
"Harry, did something happen?" Luna cast him a wide-eyed look.
Harry inwardly chuckled, as he could not help thinking that she looked like an angel in her light blue night dress with the embroideries of all kinds of animals. "Not really. I just wanted to ask you if you would perhaps like to accompany me to the Yule Ball."
Luna's eyes widened. "Are you not going with Daphne?"
Harry shook his head. "She told me to take you to the ball, as she could simply go with any of the other Slytherins. Most of them don't have a date yet. You'd still have to share me, as I'd still want to dance with her a few times."
Luna unexpectedly threw herself at him and captured his lips with her mouth. "Thank you, Harry. I'd really like that, as otherwise, I wouldn't be able to attend the ball at all. That was very thoughtful of Daphne. Please tell her that I appreciate it very much."
Harry nodded, smiling. "Thanks Luna, I'll tell her, and I'm looking forward to attending the ball with you. I'll see you tomorrow then. Holly will bring the sleigh here, as soon as the carriages have departed."
"Thank you, Harry," Luna replied, seemingly happy, as she skipped away like a young foal.
HP
In the evening of Christmas Eve, everyone including the teachers of the SAMS was assembled in the screen room enjoying dinner together. The only persons missing were Santa and Claire as well as the elves, who were busily delivering Christmas presents all over the world.
"Harry, did you bring the golden egg that you received during the first task?"
Harry cast Merlin a surprised look. "Yes sir, I don't have a clue what it means though. It only makes a huge amount of noise, when I open it."
"Show us," Torwald demanded.
Harry cast the dwarf a grateful look. "Yes sir," he replied and hurriedly left for his own room to fetch the egg.
"I believe that it could be Mermish," Tobi, the Yeti, said, seemingly pensive. With a flick of his hand, he conjured a small pool right next to the Christmas tree. "Put it in there."
Harry complied, only to realise that nothing happened. Only when Merlin cast a spell at the pool that amplified the sounds from within the water, they could hear a voice sing. It was a song about something hidden in the water that he would sorely miss.
"There is a whole mermaid village in the black lake," Remus spoke up.
Merlin nodded. "Which means that the second task is going to take place in the lake. Harry, are you good at swimming?"
Harry shook his head.
"As soon as Christmas is over, we'll ask Santa to provide you with a swimming pool, so you can practise. It shouldn't be a problem for you then. How Dumbledore could allow something like that, when a Veela is among the champions, is beyond my understanding. Veela are fire people. They don't do well in water."
Harry let out a deep sigh. "Merlin, is there anything that we can do to help Fleur? She's really nice, and we four champions decided to help each other survive that thing."
The Yeti nodded. "That's very generous of you, and I promise you now that we'll think of something to help your friend."
"Oh, that reminds me. I would like to get a basilisk to keep my familiar at Hogwarts company," Harry recalled, before he thanked the Yeti.
"You may take Diablo with you to Hogwarts if you wish," Santa said, as he strode into the room. "I wanted to ask Severus if he would like him to become his familiar anyway."
"Diablo? Severus?" Harry stared at the older wizard, wide-eyed.
"Diablo is one of my white animals. He's a basilisk. There is only one of them here on the North Pole, and I believe that he's quite lonely. Remus has tried teaching him to become a canine Animagus with me acting as the translator, but he's too stubborn for his own good and refused to become a lowly canine."
"I'm sure Amaterasu would appreciate having him at Hogwarts," Harry replied, eagerly. "May I perhaps meet him and speak with him tomorrow?"
=Would it be safe for Harry to meet with him? Won't anything happen to him if he looks into the basilisk's eyes?=
"Paws," Santa groaned. "Do you really believe that I'd endanger Harry like that?"
Paws carefully licked Santa's hand in silent apology, and Santa continued. "Diablo does not have the usual basilisk's yellow eyes. His eyes are white, and it's absolutely safe to meet him. I'm even sure that you've met him before. It's just that he turns invisible from time to time. Don't ask me why. He really is thick-headed. I'll tell him to meet you in the morning," he promised, before he excused himself to deliver Christmas presents to Japan.
"Good luck with that basilisk, Harry. He was not very forthcoming."
"Ah but Remus, it'll surely help that Harry will be able to directly communicate with him." Merlin cast Harry a reassuring look. "I am going to accompany you to the Yule Ball tomorrow, by the way."
Harry cast the older wizard a questioning look.
"Well, the other headmasters are present as well, and I even have a date," Merlin replied to the unasked question, causing everyone assembled to gasp.
tbc...
Thanks to the kind readers for your feedback for the previous chapter. I appreciate it very much.
Next chapter: "The White Basilisk".