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.

A.N. If you have not read chapter 34 yet, which I only posted 24 hours ago, please go back so you won't miss it :)

"May I ask who your date is?" Remus asked what everyone wanted to know.

"Why Minerva McGonagall of course," Merlin replied, causing Harry, Annika and Dudley to stare at the older wizard in shock. Merely Luna quietly smiled to herself.

'Of course, Luna knew already,' Harry thought with a combination of annoyance and amazement. "Oh well, congratulations I guess," he said, wide-eyed.

"Thank you, Harry."

"I wonder if Severus has a date." Annika let out a deep sigh.

Harry cast his cousin a compassionate look. "It doesn't matter if he has a date or not, as he can't take a student to the ball anyway. I don't think that he has a date, and you can still dance with him in any case."

"Don't you think he'll mind?"

"I'm sure he'd like to dance with you." Luna gave her friend a dreamy look.

"Thank Merlin." Annika smiled in apparent happiness.

"You're welcome," Merlin quipped, causing the four teenagers to roll their eyes at the older wizard.

HP

Early on Christmas morning, Harry woke up to a hissing voice accompanied by slithering sounds.

"Good morning, lazybonessss. Do you really ssspeak my tongue?"

"Yesss," Harry replied, sleepily rubbing his eyes. "You mussst be Diablo."

The basilisk slithered nearer, flicking his tongue in apparent excitement, and Harry gently caressed the cool, white skin with his left hand, knowing from Amaterasu how she liked to be petted.

"I heard that you were lonely here, and I wasss wondering if you'd come with me to Hogwartssss, where my basilisssk familiar Amaterasssu isss living. Santa alssso suggested that you become Professor Snape's familiar."

"Isss he a ssspeaker like you?"

"No, but with you asss hisss familiar, he would surely try to become a sssnake Animagus. Now that Remusss hasss found out how to efficiently gain second or even third Animagi formsss, it should not be a problem. Plussss, if you bond with him, he will be able to underssstand you anyway."

"Will I sssstill be able to return home?"

"Yessss, of course."

"When will we leave?"

"Well, my friendsss and I will leave right after breakfassst, but we'll return home late tonight."

"I'll come."

With that, the overly large snake slithered away, turning invisible as he went. 'Somehow, he seems strange in comparison to Amaterasu,' Harry thought, before he telepathically relayed the good news to his overgrown familiar. Sensing her happiness through the bond, he decided to get ready to enjoy Christmas morning at home as much as possible before having to go to Hogwarts for the day.

HP

Half-way through his breakfast, Holly appeared and informed them, "Everyone who wants to go to Hogwarts, we can make a quick drive when Claire returns in about twenty minutes. Please be ready by then."

"Err, Holly? You know that we're going to take Diablo, right?"

"Yes, and he is already waiting outside. He's a good guy, even if he appears to be slightly grumpy."

"Are you able to communicate with him?"

Holly smirked. "As the head elf of the North Pole, I am able to communicate with all the white animals, just like Santa and Claire. Plus, like all the other white animals, he is able to understand human talking."

"Oh well, that makes sense," Harry muttered. "Annika, when we arrive at Hogwarts, could you please go to see Professor Snape and ask him to come into the Chamber of Secrets?"

=I will accompany Annika and flash him there.=

"Thanks Hedwig," Harry replied and quickly translated for his cousin.

"Harry, may Alicia and I join you in the chamber?" Luna smiled, looking very happy.

"Of course, but Alicia? Is she going to accompany us?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Yesterday morning, we had a long conversation, and she is my familiar now. When I told her my suspicion about who Diablo is, she insisted to join us."

"Who Diablo is?" Harry stared at the girl in bewilderment, as he pondered the matter. Suddenly, he let out a groan, slapping his right hand against his forehead, as realisation set in. "That's one of the reasons why Santa wanted him to become a canine Animagus and also Severus' familiar. Isn't it? He's Salazar Slytherin; is that correct?"

Merlin chuckled. "I thought that was obvious."

Harry shook his head and nodded in agreement, when Annika replied on his behalf. "No sir, not at all."

"Alicia has been looking for him for a long time. I wonder why no one told her." Harry's voice was more reproachful than intended.

Merlin sighed. "Well, I can't talk for my brother here, but the fact that the white animals are able to have their own Animagus form is a fairly recent discovery." He glanced at Hedwig, who used to spend ninety percent of the time in her canine form after finding Paws and having children with him. "I believe that Diablo has not realized his former identity yet. I was only certain about it after re-gaining my human form. Perhaps, meeting his former familiar at Hogwarts will help him realise who he was, especially if Alicia tries to bond with him as well."

=Somehow, I feel stupid, because it took me so long to become aware of my former identity – in spite of the fact that Hedwig and Harry were around and even bonded to me.=

Smiling, Harry gently caressed the canine's ears. "Don't worry, Paws. You're not stupid at all," he reassured his familiar in a soft voice, grinning when Lucy and Regulus set to attack their father.

"Please get ready now." Everyone looked at Holly in understanding and readied themselves to travel to Hogwarts for the remainder of the day. "Please keep in mind that I will be on the Hogwarts grounds again to pick you up at midnight British time."

=Harry, I'm going to remain here with the twins. Only your mother will accompany you. Have fun and do nothing that I wouldn't do.=

Harry let out a snort. "Sure Paws, see to it that the three of you behave yourselves and don't get into Santa's way today. I'll see you tonight."

'Oh well, the Yule Ball certainly isn't a place for three puppies to play,' he thought. 'Mum on the other hand can easily sit on one of the torches along the wall and still have fun.'

"Harry," Tobi, the Yeti, addressed him boarding the sleigh right behind him. "I'm going to join Merlin at Hogwarts today. Please find a chance to introduce me to the French champion. I have an idea how to help her, but I need to talk to her about the matter and receive her consent as soon as possible."

Harry smiled in relief. "All right, Tobi. Thank you so very much. I really appreciate it. I wouldn't want her to be in danger."

HP

To Harry's relief, it was no problem at all to take the basilisk with them. He willingly slithered onto the sleigh, and Harry observed in amusement how Alicia sniffed his whole body, before she carefully began to lick his skin in apparent affection.

'Amaterasssu, we are on the sleigh now. Will you pleassse come out onto the groundssss to greet Diablo?'

'Yesssss.' Her thought was laced with excitement and happiness that made Harry smile. 'I hope it's going to be a good Christmas for everyone,' he thought, feeling contented.

Ten minutes later, he observed how a black and a white basilisk slithered around each other in an apparent bonding ceremony with a white puppy in their midst. 'I wonder how long it's going to take Alicia to transform into a basilisk. We're sure going to have some basilisk babies in the near future, whoever the mother is going to be.'

"Harry?" Luna's voice brought him out of his musings. "I believe that we're not needed here. Would you care for a walk around the lake?"

Harry nodded, trusting that Annika knew to not send Severus into Salazar's chamber but simply out onto the grounds.

Only late in the afternoon, when Harry was just getting ready for the Yule Ball, Amaterasu informed him that she was bonded to Diablo and Alicia and that the three of them were very happy. Diablo was also bonded to Severus Snape. 'I am so glad to have my Salazzzar and Helga back. Thank you for all you have done for usss.'

'I didn't really do anything. It was Luna who realissed who he wassss, but I am very happy for you. Doesss he know who he isss by the way?'

Harry felt Amaterasu chuckle through the bond. 'No, I don't think that he knowsss, and we only told him who we are. I hope he will underssstand sssoon.'

'I hope sssso, too. Merry Christmasss.'

With that, Harry left his room and quickly crossed the common room, where all the fourth-year boys were already waiting for their girls – except for him and Neville, who had dates from other houses. One of the mostly discussed topics of the day had been the question who the dates of the other champions could be.

Harry knew that Fleur would be accompanied by Brian, the Slytherin Quidditch captain and seventh-year, while Cedric would certainly go together with his girlfriend, Cho Chang from Ravenclaw. He frowned at the thought of the girl, who was surely pretty, however, had been one of the witches who had harassed Luna in her first Hogwarts year.

Harry could not help feeling excited, as he stood next to Neville and many others in the entrance hall waiting for their dates.

To everyone's surprise, Viktor Krum's date was Hermione Granger. She was wearing dark blue robes, and her usually wild hair was pulled up, making her look like an attractive young lady. However, if his Gryffindor classmate looked beautiful, Luna was absolutely breath taking. She was wearing white robes with tone in tone embroideries of puppies, and her hair was also pulled up to a knot that was decorated with white and light pink flowers.

"You're absolutely beautiful," Harry breathed, before he took her hand and gently placed a kiss onto the back.

"Thank you, Harry. You too. These dark green robes really fit you well."

Harry noticed that Minerva cast them an appreciative look, before she informed the champions that they should proceed into the Great Hall and ready themselves to open the dance in a few minutes' time.

HP

During the last four weeks, Luna had come to the Slytherin common room two evenings per week and taught Harry and his housemates Dancing. Therefore, he was well able to dance, and unbeknownst to him, people all over the Great Hall whispered about Harry and Luna being the dream couple of the evening. Every third dance, he paired up with Daphne, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Two hours into the ball, he took Fleur aside and introduced Tobi to her, while Luna pulled Brian onto the dance area.

"You're by far the better dancer," she told Harry, when he returned to the Great Hall with a teary-eyed but very happy Fleur in tow.

Once, he got a glimpse at a sulking Ronald, who was wearing ridiculous pink dress robes. "What is he sulking about?" he asked Luna.

"He's probably upset that Hermione is Viktor's date tonight," the girl informed him, giving him a dreamy look. "Thank you so much, Harry, for taking me tonight."

"Thank you, too," Harry replied, before he led her out onto the grounds to get some fresh air. 'I must not kiss her,' he told himself. 'Daphne is my girlfriend, even if we never officially became girlfriend and boyfriend.' They spent a while sitting on a bench next to the lake, and he thoroughly enjoyed being in the girl's company. He was so smitten by her wit, beauty and scent that he instinctively responded, when she pulled him into a gentle kiss.

Too soon for his liking, the evening passed and everyone knowing that their sleigh to the North Pole was going to arrive at midnight gathered on the far end of the grounds, where Holly usually parked the sleigh.

Merlin approached with Minerva in his arm and led the professor onto the sleigh. Severus, however, remained at Hogwarts, officially to not leave their colleagues alone with their many guests, but practically to spend some time with his new familiar Diablo.

During the short ride home, Harry profusely thanked the Yeti for helping Fleur with the second task.

Tobi merely smiled. "Don't worry, Harry. I am not a master of concealment for nothing. No one will know that she received any help at all."

HP

Two days later, Daphne sent Harry a copy of the Daily Prophet. A photograph of Harry dancing with Luna during the Yule Ball covered the whole front page along with the headline "Hogwarts' New Dream Couple".

"Oh Merlin," Harry groaned, causing the older wizard to complain vehemently, stating that it was not his fault.

'Thank Merlin Daphne doesn't seem to be upset,' Harry thought, when he read her letter later on in private. 'It was her idea that I should invite Luna in the first place anyway.'

HP

It was on a Sunday evening, five days before the second task, that a meeting took place in the headmaster's office at Hogwarts. As soon as it was mentioned that it was about the planning of the second task of the tournament, Merlin in the portrait called Santa, Claire, Merlin and Remus to watch the scene together.

'Why didn't Dumbledore tell me?' Merlin wondered, considering that he had only returned from Hogwarts thirty minutes ago.

When he arrived in front of the screen, Mr. Bagman was just speaking. "For the second task, we need the four persons, whom our champions would miss most."

"Is it necessary to take people as hostages at all?" Minerva asked in apparent disbelief, glaring at the ministry officer.

"Yes, I am afraid that it is necessary for the second task," Bagman replied in a firm voice and explained that the champions would have to swim to the village of the merpeople and rescue their respective hostage.

"Why don't we use ze students, who were zeir dates at ze Yule Ball?" the French headmistress suggested.

"For Mr. Krum, that would work out and for Mr. Diggory, too," Dumbledore said, seemingly pensive. "However, for Mr. Potter, we should choose Ms. Weasley, as Mr. Potter only took Ms. Lovegood to the ball, because she otherwise wouldn't have been able to attend the ball as a third-year. Furthermore, Ms. Fleur's date, Mr. Hall, probably won't be available during the previous evening, as it is the evening after a Quidditch match, when the Slytherins are certainly going to have a party."

"I zink zat ze person Ms. Delacour would miss most is her little sister Gaby," Madame Maxime said.

'That's it,' Merlin thought. He swiftly transformed into his phoenix form and flashed right in front of the headmaster's office at Hogwarts. Immediately changing back, he gave the door a sharp knock, before he entered the office without even waiting for a response.

"Please excuse my tardiness," he said, in spite of the fact that Dumbledore had not even bothered to invite him.

Minerva quickly summarized their previous discussion, causing Merlin to snort.

"If Brian Hall is not able to get away from the Quidditch party, Ms. Weasley won't be either, as she is playing on the team if I am not mistaken."

"Merlin?" Dumbledore cast him a look of pure suspicion. "Why, if I may ask, are you familiar with the Hogwarts Quidditch teams?"

Merlin let out a deep sigh. "First of all, Harry Potter, who has been wrongly entered into the tournament for my school, is very Quidditch obsessed and has been playing since his first Hogwarts year, secondly, my fiancée is equally Quidditch obsessed." From the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Minerva slightly blushed.

"Your fiancée?" Dumbledore's eyes narrowed in apparent confusion.

"That would be me." Everyone stared at Minerva in apparent shock.

"Anyway, Harry would not miss Miss Weasley in the slightest. There are two girls, who are much closer to him. Apart from that, Miss Delacour's sister is a Veela like herself, and you cannot put her under water for an hour or longer. As she is underage, you would need permission from her parents, which I am sure the French Minister of Magic is not willing to give."

"Whom do you suggest then, Headmaster?" Bagman asked.

"Why not her date from the Yule Ball? We should choose these four students for everyone if at all. You should think of a second task that neither involves water, considering that a Veela is among the champions, and you should not take hostages at all."

"Everything has already been decided," Bagman replied, heatedly. "We will use their dates then. Dumbledore, will you please see to it?"

"I will see to it," Dumbledore promised in a firm voice.

The meeting was adjourned, and after giving Minerva a quick peck onto her forehead, Merlin left the headmaster's office.

HP

On Monday morning at breakfast, Harry received a letter from Merlin.

'Harry,
meet me in the founders' quarters tonight after dinner. Bring Luna with you.
Regards
Merlin'

'How strange. I only saw him yesterday and the day before,' Harry thought, however, quickly informed Luna, who was sitting together with him and his friends at the Slytherin table.

When they arrived in the founders' quarters with Hedwig, Paws, Alicia, Lucy and Regulus in tow, Merlin was already waiting for them. He quickly explained what he had learned during the meeting the previous evening.

"Luna, I don't know if Dumbledore is going to ask you beforehand, but are you all right being a hostage for Harry?"

Luna smiled. "Thanks for asking, Merlin. Yes, I am ready. I know that Harry will rescue me."

Merlin pulled a necklace out of his pocket and handed it to the girl. It had a pendant in the form of a puppy, which was filled with a small piece of fir cone from the North Fir Tree – just like the necklaces, which Harry had made for his Slytherin friends a few years ago.

"Put this around your neck please. It is a safety chain, which will protect you from all kinds of attacks, and it will also work as a Portkey. The activation code is written here." He showed Luna a small parchment. 'Home to the North Pole'.

Harry quickly helped Luna to fasten the necklace around her neck, before they both profusely thanked Merlin. Merlin informed them about further details from the conversation that had taken place in Dumbledore's office, and they discussed the matter of the second task for a while, before Merlin uttered something like "Going to see Minerva." He then swiftly transformed into his phoenix form and flashed away.

"He is a brilliant headmaster," Luna said, smiling dreamily. "He really looks out for his students."

"And we aren't even his students," Harry replied, somehow feeling very much cared for.

'Luna seems very happy,' he thought, wondering what could be so pleasant knowing that she was going to be a hostess in five days' time.

HP

'Thank Merlin that Merlin forewarned us,' Harry thought upon realising that Luna was indeed missing at breakfast on Saturday morning. Merlin was sitting at the high table together with the other headmasters of the guest schools. 'Where is Tobi?' he wondered. 'Oh well, he probably won't openly show himself here. I hope he's going to help Fleur. He surely will, as he promised to do so, but I haven't heard anything about it ever since the Yule Ball.'

tbc...

Thanks to the kind readers for your feedback for the previous chapter. I appreciate it very much.

Next chapter: "Concealment Magic".