He Has Risen Above

Chapter 30

magnoliarossa: Yeah that was kind of what I was going for.

spitfyre1: So I looked over I'm Not A Hero and while I admit there are a few similarities, my story is gonna go down a different path to that one.

teachergirl: Daphne's more annoyed at Harry than anything (only temporarily) and that's because he left her to get pestered by questions from his parents. She still agree's with him about James and Lily though.

supersandman86: I couldn't exactly have Harry punch a dragon- he's not powerful enough to do that yet, and as for Crouch you'll find out who he is in the next couple chapters or so.

Dumbledore currently sat in his office waiting for Daniel so he could question the boy on his preparation for the tournament. Truth be told, he found it quite ingenious that Daniel chose the summoning charm to simply summon the egg, but what he was more concerned about was his brother Hadrian. He'd seen the elder Slytherin's strategy towards the Horntail when it had attacked him and he was left impressed that a 4th year could go toe to toe with a dragon and come out alive, but he was also very concerned.

He suspected Hadrian was using dark magic and although his way of slamming the rocks against the dragons didn't display any uses of dark magic, he was still worried the boy had gone dark. He wasn't stupid enough to question Hadrian himself, since the boy hated him and would obviously not admit he had been using dark magic, but he had heard that Daniel and Hadrian had been practising together for the tournament. Perhaps he could use Daniel to figure out training he had been receiving from Hadrian.

"Professor," said a voice at the door making Dumbledore jump. He'd been so preoccupied with his thoughts that he hadn't noticed Daniel come into his office.

"Daniel dear boy," smiled Dumbledore. "Come in, take a seat." Daniel walked into Dumbledore's office and took a seat, but then Hadrian Potter followed him. "Mr Potter, you can go now," suggested Dumbledore slightly panicked now that the person he didn't want was here.

"Harry, can you stay?" asked Daniel stopping Harry from leaving.

"Um, yeah sure," agreed Harry taking a seat. "That is of course, if you have no problems with it, Professor?" he asked innocently.

"None at all," laughed Dumbledore as convincingly as he could- he needed Daniel in a good mood and hopefully his brother's presence wouldn't make too much a difference to which questions he would answer.

Harry scooted his chair slightly away from the Headmaster, very confused as to why he was being so friendly. "So, what did you need Professor?" he asked.

"I was very impressed with both your tactics in the first task, especially yours Hadrian," explained Dumbledore. "I was wondering what you two did to prepare."

Harry looked blankly at Dumbledore, waiting expectantly, whilst it's was the old man's turn to look confused. "You haven't asked me a question yet," remarked Harry after a minute of awkward silence.

Dumbledore resisted the urge to hex the boy in front of him and continued with grace. "My apologies- how did you prepare?"

"We practised magic," explained Harry vaguely whilst Daniel nodded as confirmation.

"Yes...but what magic?" asked Dumbledore.

It was Daniel who talked this time. "The summoning charm," he answered simply.

"I know you used the summoning charm to summon the egg, what about the rocks?" he asked looking towards Harry.

"That was the summoning charm as well- I simply summoned the rocks into the dragon," said Harry.

"Are you sure?" asked Dumbledore, trying his best not to accuse him of using dark magic. "That looked like very advanced magic."

"Yes we're sure- why use complex magic if a simple summoning charm does the trick?" asked Harry.

Dumbledore looked at him for a moment or two, choosing not to use legilimency on the boy since he didn't want several powerful families at his throat and eventually broke the stare. "Very well," he admitted slowly. "That was all I wanted to ask you two about. You may go."

Harry and Daniel stood up from their seats and left the Headmaster feeling very confused. "Told that's what he would ask," said Harry once they were far away from Dumbledore's office.

"But-how?" asked Daniel disbelievingly.

"I have my ways," replied Harry mysteriously. "I have my ways."

"You're not gonna sneak off into the shadows, are you?" Daniel asked interrupting Harry's moment of glory.

"No," said Harry simply. "I'm too cool to need to do that."

Severus Snape stood in front of the 4th years in the Common Room, having already told the years above about the Yule Ball.

"The Yule Ball is approaching — a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish," he said dryly. "The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to...relax," he said, in a disapproving voice.

Several students snorted at this, seeing the funny side since they doubted Snape had ever relaxed in a daty of his life.

"But that does NOT mean," Professor Snape went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. Any student that embarasses the school, and more importantly Slytherin House, in any way can expect to suffer my...severe displeasure," warned Snape threateningly. "That will be all," he said and the students began to disperse.

"Potter," called Snape in barely a whisper. "In my office."

"What did you do?" asked Daphne.

"Apart from being too handsome for my own good, nothing," shrugged Harry as he proceeded confusedly to Snape's office.

"Potter, the champions and their partners —" began Snape instantly like he just wanted to get the conversation over.

"What partners?" said Harry.

Snape looked suspiciously at him, as though she thought he was trying to be funny. "Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," he drawled. "Your dance partners."

Harry let out long groan and slumped into a chair. "Dance partners?" he asked disbelievingly. "I hate dancing."

"Well you'll have to suck up and deal with it," said Snape. "Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball."

"No way am I dancing," said Harry stubbornly. "Not in a million years."

"It is traditional," said Snape firmly. "You are a member of Slytherin House, and I will not have you embarassing us in front of the rest of the school and Beauxbaxtons and Durmstrang. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter."

"Fine," said Harry unhappily getting up from his chair and walking out of Snape's office.

The next day Harry sat in the Common Room, having asked Daphne to the ball the previous day, currently talking with Daphne and Astoria, the latter of whom was complaining about the fact that she couldn't go to the Yule Ball.

"Why did they have to make it for 4th years and above only?" she asked grumpily.

"Because anyone under that age is not mature enough," answered Daphne flippantly, well used to her sister's grumpy moods.

"Why don't you ask someone in our year to go to the ball with you?" Harry suggested leaning over to see what Daphne was writing, and was thoroughly disappointed when it ended up being homework. "Really," he said her whilst Astoria was thinking hard. "You're actually doing the optional assignment?" he asked almost disappointedly.

"Yeah well after 3 Poors on my End of Year History Tests in a row, my parents said they'll force me to share a room with her," Daphne pointed at Astoria despairingly, "unless I get my grades up."

"I'm glad my grandparents have acknowledged History's useless and don't care what I get in it unless it's a Dreadful or a Troll," said Harry happily. "Which means I only have to do the bare minimum."

"Lucky you," grumbled Daphne. "Oh and Harry's idea's not gonna work," she said to a still thinking Astoria. "A 4th year or above has to ask YOU out, not the other way round."

"Damn it," cursed Astoria. "And there's no way in hell I'm gonna get asked out by-" She suddenly realised she was thinking aloud and clamped her hand over her mouth to shut herself up.

"Asked out by who?" asked Daphne.

"I am not telling," snapped Astoria. "You're gonna make fun of me!"

"We will not!" gasped Daphne incredulously, as if she was shocked her sister would even suggest that.

"You will."

"We won't."

"You will."

"We won't."

"You WILL!"

"We WON'T!"

"Ladies," said Harry placatingly before it turned into a shouting match. "Calm down, both of you. Daphne, it doesn't even matter if Astoria won't tell you who she has a crush on."

"It doesn't?" asked Daphne and Astoria at the same time.

"No," said Harry simply. "Because I already know."

Astoria's jaw dropped at this. "Wh-how?"

"Never mind how," snapped Daphne. "Who is it?"

Harry looked between them both, choosing to answer Astoria's question first just to annoy Daphne. "Your friends gossip way too much Tori," said Harry whilst Astoria remained stunned. "And anyway, if Astoria doesn't want me to tell you, I won't."

"It's fine," muttered Astoria, silently enraged at her friends. "You can tell her- I was going to anyway, just after the Yule Ball."

"Really?" asked Harry and Astoria nodded. "It's-"

"Hey guys," said Draco walking up to them. "Hi Tori."

"Hey," said Harry and Daphne together whilst Astoria's eyes widened.

"Hi Draco," she stammered out.

"Um," said Draco, just now realising what he was about to do. "Can I speak with you privately?" he asked Astoria.

Daphne's eyes widened having a suspicion of what he was about to ask Astoria. "Just do it here Draco," she smiled sweetly. "We're friends, aren't we?"

"Yeah I'm sure Harry and Daphne won't mind," shrugged Astoria not having caught onto what Draco was going to ask her.

Draco cursed her his breath but steeled his nerves. "Astoria," he said nervously. "Will you go to the Yule Ball with me?" Astoria smiled happily, blushing for a few seconds before she regained her compusure.

"Um...yeah sure!" she agreed with a smile.

Draco blinked like he hadn't been expecting this. "Cool," he managed to say. "Cool."

"We can talk about we're gonna wear so we can get it to match later," said Astoria.

"Yeah sure, definitely," agreed Draco happily, still slightly in shock. "I'm gonna go now," he said walking off back to where he had come from.

"Wait here," said Daphen following him a few seconds after he had left.

"You know," said Harry standing up as well. "I should probably go to make sure she doesn't curse him too badly."

Harry found Daphne pointing her wand at a very scared and confused Draco.

"Harry!" yelped Draco when he saw him. "Help me!"

"Yeah," sighed Harry. "Can't exactly do that."

"What! Why?"

"It's just, it's kind of a thing siblings do," Harry explained to him. "Tori did the exact same thing to me when I first started dating Daphne, only it was way more adorable since she's a foot shorter and a year younger."

"See," agreed Daphne. "Told you I wasn't being too unreasonable."

"You may want to remove your wand from his crotch though Daph," amended Harry.

"Fine," conceded Daphne. "I just wanted to know your intentions with Astoria."

"Daphne!" said Draco disbelievingly, waving his hand in front of her eyes. "We've known each other for what, almost 10 years. Do you really think I'm gonna take advantage of your sister?"

"Well, no," said Daphne. "Just wanted to make sure. What do you even see in her anyway?"

"For starters, she's nice, unlike YOU!" Draco yelped on the last word, feeling the stinging hex in his nether regions.

"Oops," said Daphne putting her wand back into her holster whilst Harry sniggered. "My wand slipped."

"Ow," complained Draco. "Anyway, she's also quite pretty, and I'm friends with her."

Daphne contemplated the situation in her head for a few seconds, knowing that Astoria would be very annoyed at her if she hexed her date. "You can go to the Ball with Astoria," said Daphne stepping away from Draco.

"Look I get you want to protect your sister," began Draco and Daphne's face softened a little.

"Yes, yes, I won't hex you in the future of anything," agreed Daphne.

"This is the moment where you're meant to hug or shake hands or something," suggested Harry.

Daphne and Draco both looked at Harry and then each other, choosing to give each other a simple nod of acknowledgement.

Harry sat in the library reading a book when Daniel came down and hastily sat next to him. "Hey Daniel," said Harry looking up from his book.

"Harry, I need a date for the Ball," said Daniel jumping right into the conversation.

"And?" prompted Harry.

"Well you've already got one, so I assumed you can help me find one as well," Daniel said.

"Wait how do you know I already have a date?" asked Harry. As far as he could remember, he hadn't told Daniel he was going with Daphne yet.

Daniel looked at Harry with a very doubtful expression. "Who else would you take other than Daphne?"

"Good point," agreed Harry. "So...what are you looking for in a girl? Unless you swing the other way?"

"Only girls," confirmed Daniel with a small glare. "I don't really know- someone pretty but nice as well, and not someone I've never talked to in my life," said Daniel somewhat unsurely.

"Hmmm," thought Harry. "No one comes to mind, but I'll help you find a girl."

"You will?" said Daniel, surprised.

"Of course," said Harry. "You're my brother, and you kind of have to have a date. Also, you're gonna have to dance at the Ball."

"But I don't know how to dance," complained Daniel.

"Get lessons from your parents- I'm sure Lily or James know how to dance." Daniel noted how Harry refused to acknowledge Lily and James as his parents but chose not to bring it up.

"Thanks Harry- you're the best."

"And don't you forget it," replied Harry smugly.

Soon it was the day of the Yule Ball. Harry waited calmly upstairs with a much more nervous Daniel, both of them having gotten ready for the Yule Ball. Daniel was wearing some plain black dress robes whilst Harry was wearing dark green robes with a silver lining.

Daniel had somehow managed to convince Ginny Weasley to go the Ball with him, though Harry may have had a hand in it since he'd gotten to know Ginny quite well in his 2nd year. Ron, however, had not been happy with the fact that his little sister was going with his best friend but had eventually accepted it far from graciously after Ginny threatened to tell their mother.

"Oh look," pointed Harry. "There come our dates."

Daniel turned towards the 2 girls that were walking towards them. Ginny was wearing a pale blue dress with matching earrings that complimented her vivid red hair, Daniel having managed to rent out the dress and earrings for her for the night. Daphne on the other hand was wearing a silver dress with a cut down one side to allow for easy movement, along with sapphire earings that went well with her bright blue eyes.

Harry and Daniel both took their dates arms and began walking towards the Great Hall. "You're looking beautiful," said Harry pecking Daphne on the lips.

"You clean up well yourself," smiled Daphne adjusting his collar slightly.

"I was going to wear a tuxedo," Harry sighed. "But it was apparently against the rules or something."

"You'd think in a school where they promote Muggle relations they'd allow Muggle clothes at a ball," remarked Daphne.

"Oh well- at least I managed to get dress robes that don't flap around too much. Also, don't they look adorable?" asked Harry looking towards the very shy pair of Daniel and Ginny, who were walking together quite awkwardly in silence.

"Merlin's beard they do," agreed Daphne. "You don't need to be so stiff," Daphne reminded them gently. "It's not a date or anything- think of it as 2 friends just dancing for a while."

Daniel and Ginny visibly calmed down at this, and slowly began to talk, if a little hesistantly at first. Eventually they reached the gates to the Great Hall, which had been transformed into a Winter-themed Ball. There were already many people dancing in the Hall and there was a red carpet of sorts most likely for the Champions.

Flitwick was stationed at the gates of the Hall, tasked with vetting and letting people in. "Champions!" he called out once he spotted Harry and Daniel. "Over here with your dates please!"

Harry and Daniel went over to Flitwick with their dates and saw that the 2 other Champions were already there with their dates. Krum was going with Hermione of all people, and Harry had to admit she looked quite nice though not as good as Daphne. Fleur on the other hand was going with Roger Davies, the 7th year Ravenclaw, but he had been reduced to a gaping mess, mainly due to Fleur's Veela Allure.

"You'll be entering once everyone else has entered the Hall and calmed down a little," said Flitwick excitedly. After a few minutes, it was viisbly time and Flitwick ordered the Champions to get into pairs with their dates and follow him into the Hall. There were quite a few whispers and hushed talk as they went through the parting in the Hall, and Harry spotted Ron Weasley wearing the uglies robes he'd ever seen. The boy's face reddened when he saw his sister's dress, enraged at how she had managed to get such a good one when he wast stuck with frilly robes but he said nothing.

They sat down at the High Table with the judges along with a few important people, and when Percy Weasley opened his mouth to speak Harry knew this was going to be a long night.

Harry stood up with Daphne after a while of having to listen to boring conversation, and lead her out to dance. The champions were the ones opening, which meant all eyes were on them but eventually more and more people came to dance. He could see Dumbledore waltizing with Maxime of all people, and Whitman graciously dancing with a blushing Sinistra. Daniel was dancing awkwardly with Ginny, both of trying not to step on each other, but they were having fun- well, sort of.

"This is fun," said Harry as he gently twirled Daphne around, making sure not to step on her dress.

"You're actually a really good dancer," Daphne said slightly taken back.

"Well just because I didn't practise with you doesn't mean I didn't practise at all," retorted Harry curling an arm around her waist.

"Touché Potter."

"I think everyone's a bit jealous though," Harry pointed out, with quite a few eyes on them.

"Let them look," said Daphne unconcerned. "It's not our fault we're that brilliant."

"We're gonna get a big head from this," said Harry.

"Maybe, but it'll be worth it."

"Have you seen Astoria?" Harry asked looking towards where Draco and Astoria were gently swaying together with massive smiles on their face.

"I've got to admit- they actually look so cute together," smiled Daphne, well at least until Draco gently pecked her sister on the lips. Harry saw this as well and pulled Daphne into another twirl to stop her from breaking up the duo. "What are you doing?" she whispered furiously.

"Distracting you," replied Harry performing more and more complex moves to keep her attention on dancing and not her sister. "Is it working?" he asked.

"Maybe," said Daphne quickly. "Now stop so I can go over there and stop Draco from-"

"Just let them be," mused Harry. "they were gonna get together sooner or later- it was kind of obvious. And I don't think Astoria will like you ruining the Ball for her."

"Fine," agreed Daphne unhappily.. Suddenly, the music changed to something far faster that she didn't quite recognise. "My feet are gonna kill me after this song," she complained.

"I mean, you could always let me dance with someone else," teased Harry.

"Shut up and dance Potter," retorted Daphne grabbing his hand.

Harry and Daphne walked back from the Great Hall towards the Slytherin Common Room, the Yule Ball having finished.

"Surprisingly, I had fun tonight," said Harry as they walked back.

"Well, you were dancing with me," replied Daphne without missing a bit.

"I feel like we should celebrate," suggested Harry coyly.

"Oh yeah? How?" asked Daphne.

"Like this," said Harry putting his arms around her waist and pulling her into a deep kiss. Daphne happily kissed him back but pulled away a few seconds later after realising where they were.

"Are you mad?" she asked in between kisses. "What if someone see's us?"

"I know," said Harry assuredly bringing both of them into a broom cupboard nearby, and shutting it with several locking and privacy charms. "How about now?" he asked.

"Perfect," smiled Daphne putting her arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss this time.

AN/ New chapter! Yule Ball done! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be the 2nd task, though I have some plans for before it.

I've chosen to do the Destiny Reboot as my first new story, and that'll be going up as soon as I finish the first chapter or so of the story. When I'm finished with this story, I'll upload the Homeless Harry story. I think 2 stories is manageable for me, with most likely weekly updates on both of them.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed and please leave a review!