CH 6
Harry - James - Potter - Harry - James - Potter
Harry had returned to England in time to meet up with the Weasley family. He had planned it carefully, so that he could collect his study material and anything needed for his fourth year at Hogwarts.
He'd finally made the grade in this Smithing and Enchanting program at the Canyon School and he was officially the youngest on record to reach the Apprentice Level for Enchanting and Smithing. He reached the Apprentice Levels for the Alteration and Destruction Schools of Magic too. Although he was still a Novice in the Illusion, Conjuration and Restoration Schools, but that couldn't be helped. He mainly used Destruction spells for forging and he'd used Alteration spells, mainly 'Protect' when he was in Morgana's Temple.
Helga had told him that Restoration Magic took a long time to learn and only through repeated use could he improve the skill. It would only work if he was damaged in some way and he refused to damage others by 'absorbing' their skills to improve his own, even if the effect was only temporary. Therefore he mostly only used three of the sixteen spells for that particular school of magic. (...i...) They were, Heal Minor Wounds, Fortify Fatigue, and Minor Respite.
As for the Conjuration school, well that one he figured that he had time to practice on his own, after he'd been able to find a spell book that taught the Bound Dagger spell. It was one that used the least amount of energy when he was planning to use it repeatedly until he could access the larger Summon spells, he'd yet to find.
The reason for the lack of much skill in the Illusions School of Magic was based on the fact that most of those spells were meant to fool the senses. Although, he did enjoy the Illuminate and the Serenity spells, because they calmed him the most when he awoke with a nightmare. He had been able to insert a couple of mixed spells into a pair of earring studs, only it wasn't enough to activate the protective feature that he'd been seeking.
He had, therefore, commissioned a more impressive pair of earring studs with his birthstone gem, from the Mithril-Helm jewellers because he wanted them to be in place before he rejoined the Wizarding Society of UK Witches and Wizards. These devices are perfect since they would prevent photographs from being captured or from him begin recognized when he was out in public, thus protecting him from any type of invasion to his privacy. Also, they were protected from detection due to an added Chameleon Spell attached for a constant effect, making them invisibly undetectable by wand-waving magic.
Harry had just finished shopping for his school robes, which he'd had custom fitted to his needs with many inside pockets of Wizard Space, including one set of formal robes. He'd never seen them listed on his student equipment lists to date, but he wasn't going to show up at school without them. He wasn't comfortable with those robes, but he ensured that they were fitted properly and that the colour suited him. He sincerely hoped that he wouldn't have to wear them any time soon and if he'd had his choice in the matter he wouldn't have purchased the set in the first place.
He still had a few potions ingredients left to buy and then he was prepared to meet with the Weasleys at the Leaky Cauldron. Apparently Ron had been impatient to speak to him, since in his letters he'd informed Harry that his father had managed to obtain tickets to the Quidditch World Cup. There were enough tickets for all the kids present at the Weasley household to attend and his gangly friend had been giddy about it ever since.
The letters Harry received from him contained nothing and everything to do with Quidditch, while Hermione's letters were more about his homework or his study habits. He answered the letters without giving them much information other than to answer their questions about his health and whether they needed to fetch him again.
Luckily he'd been able to stop them from doing anything foolish and told them when and where he'd meet them. He'd been adamant that they were not to go to the muggle house, since he'd inferred that his family had taken a holiday during the summer and that he'd been gone with them, which was why his letters took a long to time get to them.
'Hopefully, that excuse will work again the following year,' he thought, as his back was forcefully slapped by the hand of his male friend. 'Idiot,' he thought. 'I have more important things to think about then some game, even if it is the World Cup. Don't know that I'd be able to enjoy myself too much after learning about those dratted prophecies. At the very least, my mind is protected with the help of my teachers. This school year should be interesting with the Tournament coming, I wonder if they know it.'
Harry composed his expressions and feelings to the point where he unconsciously cast a couple of fast acting, low duration Serenity spells. They calmed him and allowed him to express his gratitude for the invitation and to fool them all into believing that he was glad to see them. He sighed and then put on his proper Gryffindor mask and was prepared to act the part he needed to play in order to ensure that no one found out about his secret abilities or the strange magic that he was learning on the side.
The Weasleys all stopped off at the Burrow to store the school supplies that they'd picked and to pack lightly for their camping trip to the Quidditch World Cup that was taking place in Ireland. The Ministry of Magic had found the location listed as an abandoned moor and had had it completely warded against muggles so that they could put up the official stadium. Unfortunately the camping grounds nearby were run by muggles, so they had officials on sight to deal with the Secrecy situation.
They slept over night, sharing Ron's room with Fred and George since the elder Weasley brothers, Bill and Charlie, were in residence for this apparent once in a lifetime event. The twins whispered some of their plans into the night and Harry overheard much about the boy's plan for their future 'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' joke-shop.
Harry - James - Potter - Harry - James - Potter
Early the following morning, Harry and Hermione were introduced to the wonderful world of long distance magical travel otherwise known as a Portkey. "An innocuous object is spelled with the coordinates, date and time," Mr. Weasley explained to them. "Everyone has to be touching the key and anything they intend to bring with them before being transported to another location."
They met up with Cedric Diggory, a seventh year Hufflepuff student and fellow Quidditch Seeker, with his father, Amos, who bragged that his son had been the only one last year to beat the famous Harry Potter to the snitch the year before. After the bit of bragging the other man, explained the rest about Portkey travel. "You all have to be touching the portkey, one finger will do or else you will be left behind."
Harry paused a moment during the search to sip some water, as they all had to look for the portkey, which they'd been told would look like muggle rubbish. Once it had been found, an old shoe, he wondered if the travel would in any way be similar to the fast-travel method that he'd experienced and learned this summer.
An hour later, as soon as his stomach had settled from the unnatural jolt, he concluded that it was not the same method of travel. He would have much preferred some other method, but had been told that they were too young to Apparate legally. So portkeys were the only method that underage witches and wizards could travel long distances that the witches and wizards knew about. Percy, Charlie and Bill Weasley were going to apparate there later.
Once Harry's senses were settled, he found out they had a muggle campsite reserved. They were able to share the wizard house-tents at their location, but since he had his own with him, he set it up and chose to use it instead of sharing the other one with the Weasley men.
The way he set his up quickly and without magic had impressed Hermione and the others. She had a strange look on her face when she noticed that all three were just pup tents, until the tents had been explained away, as actually being very different on the inside.
The other males, all Weasleys, were confined to the larger one that smelled of cats, while the two girls used a smaller one that was basically just a two, bedroom apartment style tent.
"When did you get that," Ron asked, when his friend had pulled out a similar tent from his back pack, which had been enchanted to have more capacity than it looked.
"Just before the last Hogsmeade weekend," Harry replied, after he'd manually set up his tent. "I received a note from Sirius where he'd given his permission for me to visit the village. Since the Dementors were taken away, McGonagall had no choice, but to accept it." He looked up from his handy work and then said. "I think you were in detention that day."
"You could've told me that you were going there," Ron said in a petulant tone of voice. "I would've asked you to pick me up some chocolate frogs."
"It wasn't a planned trip," Harry told him. "I just went there to browse around and see the place on my own. I wanted to visit it for a bit, without a plan for doing anything. I liked exploring the village, when I found a store that sold a bit of everything. I found this and just had to buy it." He didn't mention that the reason he bought was for summer school, but even if he hadn't gone, he'd have still bought, in case the Dursleys had locked him out of their house again, during the summer.
"Fine then," Ron said, putting it out of his mind, as his father was speaking with Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch. The sporty looking wizard hinted broadly at a particular activity that may be happening at their school this year.
"Do you mean the Triwizard Tournament," Harry asked.
Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch frowned at the Boy-Who-Lived. "Where did you hear about that," Mr. Crouch asked in a tone that indicated he was extremely displeased. "That information is confidential."
"No so much, if you have subscriptions to international magazines and newspapers," Harry said in a cheeky tone. "The Canadian magazine, Maple Magic Saga carried articles about it, the United States paper called the Eagle Courier, had feature stories on past tournaments. Popular Peru, admittedly a gossip rag had the sensational death-toll stats, plus the Aztec Announcer had much the same as the other magazines, not to mention the International Wizard Times Magazine from three different European Countries, each edition had a lot of background information on the tournaments from the past. Also there was mention of it in that new bi-weekly one, The Underground Courier. Just how confidential was that information supposed to be, if all those papers and magazines mentioned it?"
Mr. Crouch was offended by the question and resolved to find out where the leak in his office came from. Mr. Bagman on the other hand, had officially changed the subject.
"So any of you want to make a little flutter on the game today," Mr. Bagman asked, looking around to all the children and adults present.
"Sorry, I only make bets with dwarves or high goblins when invited to so, Mr. Bagman," Harry said, cutting twins off before they could do something foolish. He'd overheard their plans and wanted to give them a fighting chance at gaining some serious money. He'd surprised the man and the others with that statement.
"Why, young Harry," Mr. Bagman had asked him. "Surely you'd believe that I'm honourable enough to pay my debts."
"No sir," Harry said, as he secured his tent against intrusion by activating the runes stitched on the edge of his tent's door. "I don't trust adults anymore than I can levitate them, sir. Besides, goblins and dwarves are contracted to pay up when payment is due. If I were to bet with you, how would I have any guarantee of payment? Would you be willing to sign a magically binding contract?"
"Ah, no," Mr. Bagman said, clearly stumped about it, but he accepted Mr. Weasley's one Galleon bet for Ireland to win.
Fred and George looked at each other and then to Harry, who just looked right back at them. "Little Harry brother..."
"Yes, little brother Harry," continued Fred. "Do you have..."
"Any ideas for us to make oodles from gambling our money..." George asked.
"I might," Harry said. "I have a few connections that I intend to visit before the game begins. Did you want to join me?"
"Harry," Hermione said in a scandalized tone. "Gambling's illegal!"
"Not so young lady," Mr. Bagman said. "It's only Muggles that have those kinds of laws. Gambling is regulated and permitted here, if you'll excuse me, I see someone I must speak with..." He left them since he'd lost his chance to gamble against Mr. Weasley's twin boys. They'd looked like they had more than just a Galleon to bet.
"See," Harry told her in a vindicated tone with his arms crossed against the attack on his morals, that he knew was coming from her direction. "I'm not arguing with you about it. This way you two," he said quickly, as he grabbed the robe sleeves of his friend's twin brothers. He walked away quickly in order to avoid from being followed by the others, who were still gaping open mouthed at their quick exit.
"Oh, Harrykins," George said. "Just where..."
"Do you think you're taking us," Fred finished asking.
"Did you or did you not want to place a legal bet," Harry asked, as he stopped to inspect a vendor's goods. The man was selling something called Omnioculars and the explanation of them reminded him of the muggle version of video recording devices.
"These are genius," Fred said.
"To bad we want to bet our money for our future," George said.
"I'll get them for you," Harry told them. "Tush," he waved away their protests. "If I'm your honorary little brother then that means I owe you all at least one decent and one indecent birthday present within my life time."
"What do you mean," George asked, as he stalled his twin from saying anything more.
"Well that's what my godfather told me in a letter once," Harry said. "He said that he'd missed a lot of birthdays and so it was his job to make sure that I had one real decent present and one really indecent present. He told me I had to wait a couple of years for the indecent one though, but he's the one that bought me my Firebolt."
"Brilliant," Fred said.
"All right then," George added and then asked, "Are you going to get one for Ron and Hermione too?"
"Might as well," Harry said. He picked out a pair of dark green tinted brass oculars for himself, a plain brass set for Ron and a pink tinted brass set for Hermione. "Think I should get a pair for Ginny too?"
"She might feel left out if you didn't," Fred said. "Just don't encourage her notions about you, though, if you're not interested in them."
"Thanks for the warning, I promise I won't," Harry said wryly as he picked out another set of pint tinted brass ones for the girl. "You two can pick some coloured ones out, if you like." Those were about two galleons more, but he encouraged the twins to choose them.
"Right-o," Fred said, as he chose a bright purple pair, while his brother chose a deep dark blue tinted set.
"Thanks Harry," George said, as the younger Gryffindor handed the man the exact change plus 6 sickles for a copy of the instruction manuals, a carrying bag and a length of linked chain, all matching the Omniocular colours that they'd just bought. The chain clicked onto the sides of the oculars securely through magic. The boys bagged their nifty little devices and hung them about their necks in an effort to not lose them.
Harry cast several protection spells on his and those that he'd bought for the others. Then he continued to lead the twins to an area that not many young folk knew about. He'd been told about such locations from the Clan of Mithril-Helm, as they had several representatives at many of magical sporting events that take place around the world. He'd been given, ironically, a self-updating map to those betting locations just in case he'd ever managed to attend such an event.
"Whoa there Harry," Fred said and entered the tent cautiously in front of his young friend and self-adopted little brother.
"I'll follow after you," George said, with a small nudge to Harry's back. The youth just shrugged and let the two older boys act as protectors, if it made them feel better.
They entered the carnival, looking tent, which had several booths set up much like the teller podiums from the magical Banks. The Boy-Who-Lived approached one that contained a particular clan banner that he'd been familiar with since this past summer.
"Hallo," he said with a slight bow with his hand on the hidden short sword that he carried with him everywhere. "My brothers seek to place an honest wager."
"We were not aware you had living family, young Snape," the dwarf said.
Fred and George were wide-eyed with they heard that and turned a questioning look to the saucer-eyed younger boy, who's alias had just been exposed.
"I don't," Harry swallowed his trepidation and said, "I go by the name Potter when in this magical jurisdiction."
The dwarves were shocked. They had no record of the difference in names, but they quickly fixed it and made sure that no slip-ups could occur in the future. In the meantime Harry told the twins that he needed an oath from the two of them to never reveal what they'd just learnt. The alias magic would have protected him anyway, but he didn't want them to know about that spell. It would have been unnatural to not demand that an oath be taken.
"I'll explain later," Harry told them. He turned back to the bookie and said, "These two fine gentlemen wish to wager on the upcoming game."
"Very well," the dwarf said. It then explained the odds on favourite and the different little bets that can take place.
The twins had whispered together and finally Fred said, "We bet that Ireland will win by a Quaffle."
"But that Krum will catch the snitch," George continued.
The dwarves looked to one another and noticed that their booth had attracted attention from their high goblin counterparts, since no one had suggested one of those terms yet.
"Will that be three bets or only one," the dwarf said, writing down the bets listing them.
The twins looked at Harry, who'd only said, "The choice is yours. I'll place mine after you two are done."
The twins exchanged looks and asked, "What are the odds for one whole bet?"
The dwarves looked surprised. They consulted quickly in their own language, coming to the conclusion that this one would be deemed a very long shot bet. It would have to exceed the normal range. They figured that two fifth year Hogwarts students would not have that much money to bet with so they made the boys a fair deal, especially since they were in the company of someone that had aided their clan.
"A-hem," the dwarf at the teller booth noised. "We're willing to give you three thousand, one hundred and twenty to one odds, on that particular bet. Since you've introduced it, we have to mark it on the board. Any other bets on it will decrease the odds, but the contract will let you know about any future changes before the game begins. Payment is made in full by the one placing the bet and if there is a pay out to the bettor should the odds favor a win, then the money will be directly deposited into your personal vault. If you lose, you don't receive anything in return. Think of it like muggle horse racing."
This had the twins cringing since they hadn't been able to open up a personal vault yet.
"Use my Stoneguard vault number," Harry said to the dwarves. "If they win, place the money in a holding box with their name on it until they have their own vault set up or otherwise by written statement from myself to withdraw the box. Guys," he asked the twins. He hoped that the arrangement would be acceptable to them.
"Agreed," Fred said, quickly, handing over thirty-seven Galleons, fifteen Sickles and three Knuts.
George looked at the youth and nodded, while saying, "More to explain later then."
Harry nodded and then told the dwarves the vault number. The twins were handed their betting contract and a stern lecture that if they lose the contract the dwarves would not pay out any winnings. They then waited outside while the younger Gryffindor placed his own bet.
"I want to place 100 Galleons on that large pay-off same as the one they'd just placed and then an additional 25 Galleons as insurance bets on the following," Harry said. "...1) Ireland to win, ...2) Bulgaria to catch the snitch, ...3) Bulgaria to win, ...4) Ireland to catch the snitch, and finally 50 Galleons on a 10 point winning difference between the two teams." He tucked away six small pieces of betting contracts in his pouch for his Omnioculars, since it had already been spelled against theft. Then he left the betting tent. Most were safety bets, but he felt that he wanted support the twins because let's face it they were interesting to be around.
The three slowly made their way back to their tents. They browsed different booths and vendors, stopping at a drinking cart to pick up cool and magically preserved beverages for the three of them to drink at a more secure location.
"Hello Harry," a girl's voice called out to him.
"Oh, hello Luna," Harry said. "I thought you were off chasing Snigglets and Rumpets in India with your father."
"We did," the blue-eyed pale blond haired girl said. "Father had to come back in order to write about the World Cup Game, since his athletic reporter came down with Fairy Flu."
The twins winced at that. "That's a right bad one on for him…"
"Ugh, I hated that one," George replied to his twin with a shudder.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Harry said, as he wondered what Fairy Flu was. "Is your father nearby, I'd like to discuss something with him?"
The strange girl smiled and guided them to where her father had his tent set up. There were fairy flowers and fairies flitting about them. "Charmed to look like hummingbirds," she said. "Father…"
"Yes my girl," the strange old man stepped out. "Ah, you've brought your friends to meet me. You're such a good daughter. Hello boys, I'm Xenophilius Lovegood, but you can call me Xeno or Lovegood, whatever you like, eh?"
"Thank you sir," the twins replied. They were curious about the girl and they looked to their brother by choice for an explanation.
"I met Luna when she was a first year. Remember when the school was shunning me for being the Heir of Slytherin," Harry said with a slight shrug, showing his attitude about that time in his life. "I've helped her to find her shoes from time to time. Always whenever the Wipsas take them away, right Luna?" The girl nodded.
"Really," Fred said with a frown, not having heard of any of the creatures that had been mentioned. He looked to his twin in question and only received a shake of his head and shrug, basically indicating that George didn't know about them either.
"It's okay guys," Harry said. "They're a little hard to see if you don't have the sight for them and besides they're creatures from a different part of magic. How was your summer?" He turned that question to the girl who was pleased that they were taking her father and her seriously.
"It was wonderful, thank you for asking," she said. She looked to the twins and asked, "Can I have one of your trick wands?"
Fred blinked and the looked to Harry who shrugged and nodded that the girl was asking for something she knew existed. "Sure," he said. "We have three types on us now, which would you like to have?"
"Give her the pink parrot one," Harry said. They both looked at him and he explained, "You whispered kind of loudly before falling asleep last night. I overheard what some of your products were. I think they're all bloody brilliant."
"Thank you," Fred said, touched that someone actually believed in their ideas and their seriousness for opening a joke shop.
George pulled out a plain white looking wand and gave it to the girl. She smiled sweetly, waved it and the wand changed into a pink and purple parrot that squawked out, "Polly wanna a cracker."
"I love this, thank you," Luna said and the twins blushed and became flustered because of this wisp of a girl had complimented their works. It was rare that a girl approved of their pranks or tricks. "Harry, I talked with father about it. He's got the contract and luckily you've brought the witnesses."
"Of course," Harry said. He explained to the man which papers he currently subscribed to and the man agreed that they were all fairly good ones, other than the one from Peru, but he admitted that he got that one too for amusement's sake. "So, I just sign this contract and that means your magazine will be the only one to obtain exclusive interviews from me. The only other magazines permitted to interview me will be the ones that I've subscribe to as of this date, should they ever approach me, correct? Any future subscribed paper will not be permitted?"
"Yes, that's how it's been prepared," the man said, pulling out the official looking contract. He pointed out the sections and the conditions. "Now, you're prepared to let my daughter be the primary interviewer too?" The Boy-Who-Lived nodded. "Good, good," the man said and signed the document.
Harry signed, followed by the twins who agreed to be the witnesses. Luna was the last one to sign and she said to him before the left, "Don't worry I'll only ask to write one when it's important."
"Thank you, Luna," Harry said, as he walked away. "Enjoy the game."
Harry and the twins finally arrived at secluded area, near the woods, close their campsite where they had a quick, but privately warded discussion. Harry told the boys about Luna and how they met from time to time at the school in order to just talk about strange creatures, when the twins finally asked about his alias.
"Why that name," Fred asked. He sipped the glacial tea that the younger Gryffindor had bought him.
"It's a common enough name in the Muggle world," Harry explained with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "It's also quite common in other magical communities, so I figured if I had to disappear for some reason or other then it should be with a name that could never be logically linked to one Harry Potter, don't you think?"
"Considering the hostility that we've heard about, between you and that particular Professor," George said.
Fred continued, "Then that name is definitely a logical and a completely unexpected choice."
"Almost...quite Slytherin, I'd say," George returned. "Brother?"
"Yes, quite," Fred said with a calculating look in his eye. "What say you, Harry?"
"The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin," he confessed to them with a shrug, looking away for a bit before turning back to look at them. "It said that I didn't have a bad mind either, which I assume means that I'd have done well in Ravenclaw too, if I wanted to be placed there."
"Bloody hell," George said. "Does Ron know about that?"
"I don't recall ever telling him," Harry said. "Why?"
"Don't tell him about it," Fred advised. "Let him grow up a bit more, since this might be something that he'd blow his stack on, if ever you two have a fight."
"I understand," Harry said. "Shouldn't we be returning to the tents now?"
"Right-o," Fred said. "Let's escort the little man back, what say you Forge?"
"Gred, I agree that we must indeed return him to the red-headed fold, as there are many unsavory types to look out for," George said. They put their arms around Harry and nudged him along in a brotherly fashion until they'd returned to where their tents were located.
Harry - James - Potter - Harry - James - Potter
Harry had managed to hand the Omnioculars to his friends and Ginny without much fuss, after he said that they could be considered Christmas presents for the next ten years. That meant that the remaining coins in the pockets of his friends were spent on bits and bobs, game souvenirs and action figures.
Later that day they made their way up into the stands in order to get to their seats. He encountered the house-elf Winky before being introduced to the Minister of Magic of Bulgaria.
(...Minister, it is an honour to meet you...) Harry said in the man's own language. He startled Minister Fudge and other prominent members of the UK Ministry of Magic by speaking in another language and to someone of import.
(...You've a wonderful grasp of our language...) The man observed. (...I wonder why you weren't recruited by Durmstrang School for Magic...)
(...I did not know how to speak your language before this summer...) Harry explained.
(...You'd best pay attention to your company now...) The man returned with a nod at the curious glances they were receiving. (...They are looking curiously in your direction and the game is about to begin. You do not want to miss how our Viktor Krum plays. It's been a pleasure to meet you, young Mr. Potter...)
(…You as well sir…) Harry bowed to the man, before he turned around in his seat and waited with his friends for the game to start. His friends were too stunned to ask questions about when he had learned the language and he only told them, "While on holiday", which was a reasonable explanation.
"Showing off again for the masses Potter," a snide voice said from behind them.
Harry turned and when he saw who was there, he allowed himself to show a frown, as a normal Gryffindor would do. "I don't have to do that," he said. "I consider it polite to reply in a person's native tongue, if I happen know their language."
"Didn't think you'd develop any social grace," Draco Malfoy said with sniff and tilted up head as though to look down on them. His parents were on either side of him. Lucius Malfoy looking like he wanted nothing more than to attack Mr. Weasley or kill the Potter boy, while the boy's mother looked like she stepped in something foul and it still smelled.
"It's never too late to learn," Harry said and turned his back on the boy, to show that he wasn't impressed by the boy's display of arrogance.
Draco was offended by that, but was held back from doing something petty by the presence of his parents and the others in the top box with them. Besides the game was about to start and he didn't want to miss the mascots' presentation or the actual game.
Harry - James - Potter - Harry - James - Potter
TBC…
(...i...) Oblivion reference