Beauxbatons

Delphine Lestrange

2 June 1993

Harry's second term had flown by. Between Karkaroff, Thanos, and his schoolwork, he had very little free time, which he had no problem filling. He'd spent the last few months trying to work himself to death. He ran hard and fast in the mornings and did extra curricular schoolwork in the evenings. By the time he'd went to bed each night, he was exhausted.

Cygnus had died before the new year. Harry had gone to the funeral, missing the first day of term. It had been a small affair and Harry had only stayed long for Nymphadora. They had both been tense with Cygnus' old friends and Delphine in the room.

Sometime in February, Thanos had offered her ear and shoulder.

"Would you like to speak?" she asked as he brewed Felix Felicis in her office.

Harry had raised his eyebrows. "About?"

"Your grandfather wrote to me and I've watched you all month," she'd said. "Working yourself to death isn't healthy. Would you like to discuss your loss?"

Harry had glared. "No, Madam, I wouldn't. Thank you."

However, she kept needling him until he didn't show up one Thursday evening. After retrieving him from his room, she let it go.

That March saw Harry compete and make a case for a trip to Castelobruxo next fall for the potions tournament. This year had been a little more exciting as he was competing against the best of the older students. Not just Phobos, Deimos, and Sofia.

"I can't believe this," Neha Quatri said as they looked at board. She was a sixth year with tanned skin and long, brown hair. "You're twelve!"

He'd come in second to Freya Heimir by all of three points. He'd have to clean a few things up this summer, but he felt good about next June.

In April, he sat down with Karkaroff to discuss electives.

"You have presented us with a dilemma. A great challenge as you have always been. Annoying," he drawled. "You will be largely absent for the next two years, but next year, you are to begin with your electives. Castelobruxo has no Arts and Crafts equivalent and they do not teach Old Norse, the language or the alphabet. However, their Amerindian Course would help a lot in our Ancient Alphabets course."

"Ok?"

Karkaroff sighed. "What classes do you wish to take, Potter?"

"Arithmancy, Old Norse, Creature Care, Ancient Alphabets, and Arts and Crafts."

"Why not just go for thirteen?"

Harry shrugged. "Don't want to."

"You'll do the thirteen and like it."

Harry shook his head. "Whatever."

In May, he, once again, came in second in a tournament. This time, he'd failed against Neha.

"Okay, Potter, I get it," she'd said after their duel. "You're good."

Harry had smiled. "Thank you."

In all this time, Susan Bones hadn't been found. Harry knew she wouldn't be and felt like a sitting duck waiting for another shoe to drop.

Now, though, those feelings had been set aside for they were entering Beauxbatons. It was a three story, stone palace that was much longer than it was tall. Beautiful, colorful gardens surrounded the building and stretched across the grounds. Stone pathways were woven in them leading to benches, a large lake, a quidditch pitch, greenhouses and orangeries.

"Welcome to Beauxbatons, Durmstrang," a large, beautiful woman with inky, black eyes and olive skin greeted. "I'm her Headmistress, Madam Maxime."

Another woman, Professor Gauthier, a slender woman with smooth, brown skin and thick, curly hair, led them to the Dining Chamber. It was impossibly large with French blue walls and silver motifs and tables covered with pale gray cloths.

A band of beautiful, young women – nymphs, he realized – were entertaining the hall. Most of the boys were gaping while the girls were either laughing or rolling their eyes beside them.

"You may fill in any tables you want," Professor Gauthier said.

Most of Durmstrang took tables with each other, but Harry spotted a few other tables he'd like to sit at. One was with Fleur Delacour. She waved at him and he waved back

Warrington sat at a table with most of Hogwarts, but he raised his hand and pointed to another table. Marchbanks, Ogden, and McLaggen's friend, Eddie Carmichael sat together. Another girl, a pretty, east Asian, sat with them. There was an empty seat for him, though.

However, Harry espied a beautiful girl with long, dark brown hair and heavy-lidded, blue eyes sitting at a table by herself. He looked at the ceiling then swaggered over there.

Delphine Lestrange smirked at him when she met his eyes.

"Hello, baby," she said when he sat down.

He snorted. "Don't call me that, dear, people may get the wrong idea."

He looked around for a second. Warrington was grinning at him with Audrey Rosier, a beautiful seventh year with golden blonde hair and green eyes, standing at his shoulder. Fleur had her eyebrows raised while Andrei and the twins watched him with no small amount of curiosity.

"How did you get here, Potter?" she asked.

"By ship."

She made a face. "Ha ha ha."

"I'm the best duelist in the room," Harry said. He leaned forward and licked his teeth at her, which made her sit forward and bare her own. "Who here can beat me?"

"I guess we'll find out, won't we, Potter?"

••

Cedric Diggory

5 June 1993

After two days of preliminary duels, Harry now stood on a platform facing Cedric Diggory. He was a handsome, fourth year with a rectangular face. His hair was brown, his eyes were gray, and both his cheeks had dimples. Harry caught sight of them in his amusement.

He stamped down his own smile. Another Hogwarts pretty boy. He wondered if the girls would cry over this one, too.

They bowed.

Beep.

Beep.

Buzz.

Harry came up with the Conjunctivitis Curse on his lips. A barrage of offensive spells followed. Diggory was good. He batted them away, but not with ease.

"Mittentus," he whispered.

Diggory was thrown back and he landed on his face. Harry summoned his wand and that was the end of that. He handed Diggory's wand over and walked off the platform to swagger back to the Dining Chamber.

Diggory entered moments later with a red face.

Andrew Bones, a burly redhead with cornflower blue eyes, looked at Cedric then at Harry. Harry wiggled his fingers and winked. Andrew's mouth fell open.

"You lost? He's nine!"

Diggory lunged for Andrew, who jumped back. The few students in the chamber laughed. Harry grinned all the while hoping he got a crack at that big oaf, too.

The rest of Durmstrang trickled in, each member of the contingent swaggering or strutting as they did so.

"Ah, another day's work," Vladimir Borkov said as he sat down. "I take it we all won?"

"Aye," they answered.

Borkov looked at Harry. "Whose life did you ruin?"

Harry nodded at Cedric Diggory. Many of Hogwarts' students had surrounded him. The girls were all blushing and cooing by the looks of it. Cassius, and Carmichael, however, were off to the side, amused in their corner.

"A fourth year and one of their best," Mia said. "Good job."

"Thank you."

••

Cho Chang

6 June 1993

"Are you getting work done?" Cassius asked in French as he sat down.

"Yes."

Cassius sat down. "Swot."

"Can we sit?" someone – a girl – asked.

Harry shrugged. "Don't care."

"You don't have to ask, Chang. Potter is no one."

Harry paused, but decided not to give Cassius the satisfaction he was looking for.

"Some of us like to be polite, Warrington," Chang said. "Hi – err – Potter? What are you doing?"

Harry still didn't look up as he said, "Reading about antidotes and antivenins."

"You'll be a third year?" Chang asked.

"Durmstrang's curriculum was modeled after Almalja and Uagadou's," Harry answered. "They teach antidotes and antivenins early because we brew poisons and venoms later."

Hogwarts studied those, but didn't brew them.

Chang leaned over to look at his Durmstrang book. Harry paused as he inhaled a faint cherry blossom scent. "Well this is nice. This is your syllabus for next year? Oh wow. You get one for each class."

Harry nodded. "I got them a little early as I'll be gone for most of the next two years."

"You'll be at Hogwarts?" Warrington asked. "Can't wait to see a proud Potter in action in England. You against Fawley, MacMillan, Smith, and Bones. Oh and Parkinson, Evermond, and Prince. I cannot wait."

Harry, at last, looked up. "Careful, Warrington, you may spill at the table."

Cassius snorted.

"So you have to write big assignments and do all these little assignments?" Chang asked.

Harry looked at her and paused once again. She was…beautiful with glittering, dark and eyes and soft-looking, black hair. She had a face like a diamond and pink, bow-shaped lips "Err – what did you say your name was again?"

She smiled. "Cho."

"Beautiful Chang? A shot in the dark that worked out perfectly."

Behind him, Cassius coughed.

Her smile brightened. "Autumn Chang, but thank you."

He looked at the book. "I only have to do the small assignments for certain classes. Everyone else has one big assignment that's due in September and December. My elective professors were nice enough to give me the assignments they want in December."

"Why are you taking so many classes?"

"Because Karkaroff is a prick."

Cassius snorted. "He's your what? Head of house?"

"Advisor."

Harry then went on to explain the ins and outs of Durmstrang. Somehow the conversation turned to Charms, which seemed to be a favorite of Cho's.

"You're a Ravenclaw?"

"How could you tell?" Cassius asked. "The hundreds of questions or the squeal at charms?"

Harry looked at him. "Maybe if you learned to read without your finger you'd enjoy a theoretical discussion as well."

"I so want to make a quip about you being a loser who will only ever get love from a book," Cassius said as he finished his sandwich. He then got to his feet. "But you snogging Chang will be far more entertaining than stopping you. So enjoy."

"You want to watch?"

Cassius smiled at him. "No, but I want to watch something." He tapped the table. "Davies is throwing a party this summer. You should come with me."

"The one I tossed last year? That Davies?"

Cassius nodded. "Exactly. I'll tell you the details later. Enjoy your snog. Tata."

Harry turned back to Cho and she said, "Would you like to snog, Harry?"

"Yeah – err – huh?"

She laughed and he felt his face warm as he ran his hands through his hair.

••

Hoshi Botan

12 June 1993

Hoshi Botan, a tall, Japanese teen, had tanned skin and shiny, black hair that fell to his waist. He stood on the opposite end of the platform in golden robes. Legend had it his robes had turned from pink to gold his first week at Mahoutokoro.

They bowed then came up swinging in a duel that lasted for what felt like hours. Harry allowed Hoshi to work up a sweat. He attacked and attacked, but at some point during the school year Harry's defensive charms had become impenetrable and almost undoable.

When Harry decided to step out from behind his shields, he sent a barrage of offensive spells, but Hoshi could still engage him and with an unexpected fury.

So Harry decided to try something.

"Resurgus Pefendus!"

The fiery stags that erupted from his wand were too great and too many, but he wasn't incapable of stopping the spell or dispelling the fire.

Hoshi, however, was incapable of the later.

He froze up and the stags turned to a fiery whip Harry used to sweep his legs out from under him.

"Expelliarmus."

Harry caught the wand out of the air then turned to find the stadium was full of onlookers. A lot were gaping, but the Durmstrang contingent was cheering.

Harry handed the wand to a professor then walked into the locker room, which was full of French blue and silver lockers.

He met Heimir in the corridor, but all she could do was stare.

Andrei, Cassius, and Viktor followed.

"Bloody fuck, Potter!" Cassius said. "No way can you leave this school without a win. Let's go Durmstrang!"

Harry laughed. "Thanks, Cassius."

He met Morozov in the entrance. His headmaster didn't look him in his face, choosing to look ahead instead. "Have you ever tried that spell before, Potter?"

"No, sir."

"Don't do that again."

Harry nodded. "No one from Mahoutokoro or Hogwarts is that good, so I won't have to exploit the weakness again."

Morozov paused then said, "At least that wasn't just an unnecessary showing of magical power."

"Oh, no, sir," Harry drawled. "I was taught to make everything a moment and to do nothing without reason. Symbolism and all that."

Morozov squeezed his shoulder then walked away shaking his head.

Harry made to move them he heard, "Still a daddy's boy?"

Harry found Delphine lurking near the staircase. "Well, dear, Dolphin," Harry said, "I have to make him and Mother proud. Eve-ry-one else has been such disappointments."

••

Albus Dumbledore

16 June 1993

Someone threw themselves in the chair beside Harry, who was eating ratatouille and reading about space and distance in magic for Veen. By the scent of periwinkle and iris, he knew it to be Fleur.

"Cedric hates you."

Harry waved a dismissive hand. "Understandable. These things take time to get over."

"He's annoyed with our banter, so I'm here to ruin your good time."

Harry snorted. "Being seen with one of the most beautiful people – "

"I am the most beautiful person you have ever met and will ever meet."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Being seen with you isn't the worst thing in the world. Talking to you, however…"

She huffed. "This is backfiring. Your girlfriend isn't here and I'm in the company of an ugly midget."

Harry turned to face her. "I am beautiful, you self-absorbed brat."

She gaped. "You are hideous, you arrogant twit."

"Arrogant! Said the pot to the cauldron. You wouldn't know modesty if it was wearing Diggory's face."

She reached over to snatch a hair out of his arm.

"Ouch."

"You're boring me," she said before slapping his forearm and marching away with her nose in the air.

Harry laughed and turned back to his book as she walked away. Unfortunately, someone took her unoccupied seat.

Lavender.

Dumbledore.

"Good afternoon, sir." He made to stand and bow, but, when he realized Dumbledore wasn't going to graciously stop him, he stopped himself.

Dumbledore looked amused. "Why pretend?"

"Because we're in public. I do like to keep up appearances."

Dumbledore looked at the sky. "Have you read through Secrets of the Darkest Art?"

Harry exhaled. "Yes. I planned on asking Thanos about them this summer."

"Oh, you are clever," Dumbledore said.

Harry inclined his head. "Why did you have me find the basilisk in November?"

Dumbledore took a moment to answer. "I weighed my options. The chances of me finding the book was small. Astronomically so. I looked Miss Bones in her face everyday. I paid special attention to such children; Bones, McKinnon, Potter. Children with parents Lucius would wish to retaliate against. Nothing." He paused then said, "I would appreciate it if you swept the dungeons while experimenting with Nicolas this summer."

Harry nodded. "I can do that." He slouched in his seat and stretched. "So – err – how many do you think he has?"

Dumbledore hummed. "That is what you will find out for me." He leaned forward to look at Harry's book. "Far and Wide. What do you make of it?"

"What I make of everything: someone like you could wrangle in the moon, Venus might be a little difficult, but you'd get her. You'd have no chance with Jupiter, though."

"Thank you for your faith."

••

Freya Heimir

19 June 1993

Fate was making him earn this.

It was all he could think as he bowed to Heimir.

Beep.

Beep.

Buzz.

They both put up shields. When she didn't move, Harry laughed.

Well played, Heimir. Well played.

He dropped his and stepped forward, slashing and twirling his wand. Heimir's weakness was charms and very few people knew it to truly be his strength.

Excellent.

He moved his wand as fast he could without losing his grip. Heimir for all her skill was having one hell of a time. Her shields wouldn't stick and she couldn't get any conjurations off.

Harry ducked and sickly, yellow curse flew overhead.

"Flucto. Incarcerus. Glacius. Flucto."

Heimir jumped into the air as the floor rippled. She transformed the ropes into fire that melted the ice, but she landed on her back when the floor rippled once more from behind her.

"Stupefy."

She stiffened on the floor and Harry summoned her wand. He handed her wand to a professor then turned to the cheering stands. He met Delphine's eyes and he blew her a fiery heart.

He walked out of the stadium and met her in the corridors.

"I didn't know you were so good at charms, brother."

"Well, dear dolphin, most people didn't."

She leaned against the wall. "You showed me your hand."

"Does it matter. Your weakness is mine and so is your strength," Harry said. He stepped to the side to walk past her. "I look forward to learning new curses from you, though, sister."

She laughed. "My strength is that I know more magic than you. More of the Dark Arts." She winked. "I'm here and I can beat you."

••

The Dolphin and the Stag

26 June 1993

Saturday morning Harry did something he hadn't done in years: meditate for hours. Every other day he did so for fifteen minutes after waking up and before bed, but on this day he chose to do nothing else but meditate, read, and eat.

He had to for he chose not to run, swim, fly or do anything active. He needed something to calm himself.

Around lunchtime, one of the professors led him to a room where he found the Flamels. Fleur joined them and the four had lunch.

"I didn't know you knew each other," Fleur said. "Can I have no one to myself?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope."

As the day went on more people trickled in. The Delacours showed up first with Bartemius and Emmeline.

"You and I will have a long conversation very soon," Bartemius said.

Harry looked him up and down then snorted. He wondered how much Dumbledore had told him.

Bartemius leaned over to whisper in his ear. "The thirty-first is a few short weeks away. Gifting you may slip my mind as important information did yours."

"You're a mean, old man."

Mrs. Delacour, a tall, beautiful blonde, shooed Bartemius away before latching onto Harry. They fell into a discussion in French. The topic? Harry holidaying at their house and soon.

"At least for your Christmas holiday. We have missed you so."

"Yes, and we can spend some time in the Alps," Mr. Delacour said. René was almost a head shorter than his wife, which he attempted to make up for with heeled boots. He was dark-haired with a pointed beard and was a little round in the middle.

Fleur cleared her throat. "Hello, Maman, Papa.."

"Hello, sweetheart," Mrs. Delacour said. She turned back to Harry with an amused smile as he winked at Fleur. "We have seen so very little of you," she continued, "and have missed your company so. You don't even know Gabrielle."

"And how is she? Different from her awful sister, I hope?"

Mrs. Delacour nodded. "Oh, yes, she's a very sweet child – "

"Maman!"

Mrs. Delacour's eyes widened as Harry laughed. He laughed harder when he realized she hadn't meant to say that.

"Yes, your eldest is sour."

Fleur punched his arm.

Later, Nymphadora showed up with her mother and their cousin, Auriel, who looked a lot like his sister but with a beard. Narcissa, Draco, and the rest of the Rosiers weren't far behind.

"Well, Potter," Draco said, "You're welcome."

Harry raised his eyebrows.

"If I, the twins, and Delphine didn't have you tossed around, you wouldn't be here." He raised his chin. "You're welcome."

Narcissa looked at Draco with wide eyes and Auriel stepped between them.

"Move, you quidditch post," Harry said to Auriel.

Audrey laughed.

"Everyone else may bow to the midget of Gloucestershire, but I won't."

Harry rolled his eyes and leaned over to see Draco. "I wish I had a retort for that, but I tell you what no one named Rosier, Snape, Lestrange, or Malfoy will take credit for this."

A cane poked him in the side. He turned and found himself looking into the abdomen of Laurent Rosier. He stepped back for Laurent was tall and broad; a big man with white hair and heavy-lidded blue eyes.

"You look more and more like Evan everyday," Harry said. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

Narcissa coughed.

Laurent stepped forward and Harry stepped back.

"How often did I and Timothé labor teaching you how to hone your reflexes with a sword? Who helped you with the Dark Arts? You would deny me credit for my molding? How dare you?"

"Because I'm a Potter."

Laurent curled his lip. "That you are and how unfortunate it is."

Harry pointed to the door. "Grandfather Henry."

Laurent jumped and spun around. Laughing, Harry ducked behind Celestine, a beautiful woman with gray hair and green eyes.

"You are terrible," she said as she kissed his temple.

"Thank you, Gran."

Laurent cleared his throat as Harry grinned up at him. "Either way, this is a win for Rosier."

"And Black," Narcissa said.

Harry and Laurent looked at her with no small amount of distaste.

"Let's not push it, dear," Laurent said.

"Fine," Harry said to her, "but only because I like Reg and Aunt Cass. Oh, and Andromeda."

Narcissa narrowed her eyes.

"I thought we established you're a Rosier?"

Later, Harry and his cousins took a walk around the grounds. They returned to find the Potters, among others, had arrived.

Jason Potter, a small, thin boy with messy, brown hair, was sitting beside his grandfather, Frederick, a tall, thin man with dark gray hair and a jagged scar on his cheek. They were speaking with Morozov.

Mr. Waffling and the Flamels were sitting with Fleamont and Euphemia was in conversation with Celestine.

Charlus, and Darius, were standing with the Delacours and Bartemius. Darius was off to the side doing his best not to stare at Fleur too hard. James was in conversation with Narcissa and Andromeda. The new, wild beard James sported was hard to miss. As was the amount of gray in his hair.

Emmeline was off to the side. She and Thanos were rolling their eyes at Sirius while Bartemius glared at his back.

"You know," Mia said. "I get it now. I get why you're working so hard. If you didn't you'd, at best, be lost in the crowd. At worst you'd look like a failure."

Harry snorted. "Thank you for your understanding."

The others laughed as she chirped, "You're welcome."

Cho waved at him as he walked over to his family and Harry waved back.

"Oh, Mr. Potter," Harry heard Fleur call.

Harry, James, Fleamont, and Charlus looked at her.

Loudly, she said, "Harry has a girlfriend."

Harry felt his face warm as several jumped forward to get the details. Sirius nearly ran over. Harry closed his eyes, but that didn't stop the laughter, so he spun on his heel. Unfortunately, Veen, Winter, and Karkaroff were behind him.

Winter stepped forward first. "You and I will work on Fiendfyre and I expect to have your full attention in your fourth year."

"I won't be there."

Winter shrugged. "You'll still be mine."

"Yes, sir."

Veen clapped his shoulder. "My favorite student. Win or lose, I expect to be entertained."

"Of course."

Karkaroff stepped forward and placed both hands on his shoulders. He squeezed them and Harry grimaced.

"You know, Professor, you could simply say 'hello.'"

"Repeat after me: protect, defend, attack."

Harry laughed. "Protect. Defend. Attack."

"You will be miserable if you lose because you, once again, failed to protect yourself before attacking."

"Can you repeat that? I didn't get all of it. Ouch. This is child abuse. You've let me suffer too much of that, don't you think?"

Karkaroff squeezed his shoulders. "Munter has nothing on me."

Harry yanked himself out of Karkaroff's grip. "You know they say the third time's the charm? And I've been told I'm rather good with charms."

"Third time for what?" James asked.

"For your son to learn the meaning of patience. Don't play with me," he told Harry before moving to speak to Morozov.

Charlus' eyes followed Karkaroff then he looked at Harry. "'Munter has nothing on me.' Explain that."

Harry looked at his watch. "Will you look at the time. I must go somewhere that won't fray my nerves. Excuse me."

He hurried out the castle then rushed to his room on the ship. He wasn't there long before someone knocked on his door. He opened it to find Cho outside.

With pink cheeks, she waved her hand. "Hi. Err – can I come in?"

He stepped aside and allowed her to enter.

She stooped down to look at Diana. "Aww, she's pretty. Name?"

"Diana. Roman equivalent of the huntress. A moon goddess. Silver. It works," he rambled. He ran a hand through his hair. "How can I help you? Not that I don't want, but – uhh…"

What was wrong with him?

She stood up and placed some hair behind her ears as she stepped closer. "Oh, I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Perfect."

She stepped closer to him. "So you're fine?"

"Yup."

She nodded as she stepped a little closer. "I just wanted to – "

"Make sure I was okay?"

She shook her head, but said, "Well, yes, but I wanted to wish you good luck and say I wouldn't mind having that snog."

She was impossibly close. He glanced at her lips then looked back into her eyes. "Huh?"

Cho bent her head then pressed her lips against his. The tension left his body and he placed a hand in her hair. It was as soft as it looked.

He didn't know how long they stood there, but he was highly annoyed by the knock on his door. They jumped apart and Harry spun around to open the door.

"What?!"

Henry raised his eyebrows. "Is that anyway to greet me, Harry…James," he finished as his eyes found Cho. "Good afternoon, young lady."

"H-hi," Cho stammered. Her face was on fire. "I-I'll see you later."

With that, she slipped past Henry and nearly ran from the room.

"Well done, Potter!" he heard as she ran across the lawn.

"Shut up, Borkov." He closed the door then turned to Henry. "Hello, Grandad."

Henry sighed. "Someone will have to have a conversation with you this summer." He shook his head. "I might have to do it given your father's behavior thirteen years ago and Charlus' proclivities."

Harry snorted.

Henry tossed a box on the bed. "I require you wear that if you wish to remain in my will."

"I don't get a choice?"

"No."

Harry tossed the lid off the box then looked at Henry. "Lucky for you, I like it or you'd be very much out of luck."

Harry sat with Henry for some time. With Henry questioning him about Cho and asking about his time at Beauxbatons.

As Harry got dressed, Henry said, "Remember what I said last September. Win or lose, you're not worthless."

"I know."

Henry got to his feet and placed a hand on Harry's head. "You're a very special little boy and I love you with all of me."

Harry exhaled. "I love you, too, Grandad."

Less than an hour later, Harry made his way back into the school. Clouds were overhead and thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance.

His clothes, a polyester mesh shirt and trousers, attracted attention.

"Strut, Potter, strut," Cassius called.

"For Merlin's sake," Laurent said. He grimaced. "Where did you get such ghastly clothing?"

Harry pointed behind him. "Grandad."

"I have never been so disgusted with you," Laurent said. "You are a Potter. How awful."

Harry sighed. "Aren't you trying to get me to marry one of your daughters?"

Laurent curled his lip. "You think you're so smart. And, yes, Eugenie or Camille. Audrey works, too."

"I am right here."

Harry grinned and Laurent winked at him. Celestine and the rest of the Rosiers wished him luck before walking away.

Charlus and James stepped forward.

James placed his hands on Harry's shoulder. "Look, no matter what, you're fantastic."

He nodded. "I know."

"But Charlus and Luella are your parents, right?"

Charlus started and Harry made a face. "That's just so unnecessary. Of all the times to bring that up."

"I wish you would stop spreading that heinous lie," Charlus said.

Harry waved him off. "Don't you have something encouraging to say?"

"No," he barked. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Don't embarrass me or the family, alright? You're from a family of excellent duelists, including that old bastard he calls father. You lose? Fine. We'll live another day, but don't bring shame upon us."

James turned away to laugh.

Charlus grinned in the face of his scowl. "Alright…you've done some incredible things to not even be thirteen. There's one more very incredible thing you can do and you will do it. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good luck and you are fantastic."

Harry nodded. "I know."

James and Charlus laughed as they walked away. He headed to the locker room where he met Morozov and Karkaroff.

Morozov smirked at his clothes then placed a hand on his shoulder. "Breathe."

Harry took a deep breath and released it slowly.

"Do remember to play to your strengths and take your time. Don't try to win it when you can't." Morozov squeezed his shoulder. "I don't believe you will, but if you lose don't do so because of a mistake. Simply being outplayed is easier to swallow."

Harry took another deep breath. "Yes, sir."

Morozov patted his shoulder. "Good luck," he said before heading outside.

Karkaroff stood in front of him and held up a finger. "Protect." Another finger. "Defend." A third finger. "Then, after you have properly protected yourself, do you attack. Do you understand this? Did you hear what he said? Take your fucking time!"

Harry snorted. "That's not exactly what he said."

"If you think I won't harm you just because these people are here…"

"No, I don't think that. I know you won't harm me 'cause glory is on the other side of that door."

Karkaroff spun on his heel. "Attack third or I swear you'll suffer."

A minute or so later, he heard his name and he made his way outside. Thunder rumbled and Harry watched as lightning struck somewhere in the distance. As he neared the platform, he heard banging and chanting in German.

'I can hear the mighty Thor;

In the thunder, hear him roar.'

Bang! Bang!

'Let it flame your his desire;

Oh, great child of fire.'

Harry laughed and looked around. He spotted Regulus and Grindelwald sitting with Dumbledore. Bartemius and Mr. Delacour weren't too far from them. He found the Durmstrang contingent and laughed harder at Winter getting Veen to chant with them. Thanos was chanting, too, and encouraging Yeboah.

Rolf waved at him beside Mafalda. His grandparents were sitting with the Flamels, Frederick, Henry, and Laurent. Lysandra was next to Celestine.

He was touched. Really, he was.

The shields around the platform fell and he stepped onto it.

Delphine blew him a kiss. Harry caught it and touched his lips.

Then they bowed.

Beep.

Beep.

Buzz.

Their spells collided dead center with a bang and a small burst of fire. Then Harry was twirling and slashing and flicking his wand; protecting, defending, and sometimes attacking. He concentrated on protecting his mind and his wand and arm moved faster than he'd thought possible.

It was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do.

And he was grinning from ear to ear.

He'd never felt so alive; so exhilarated.

He was truly Bella's child.

The air was thick with energy. The wood of the platform showed cracks. His concentration was solely on defending and protecting, so it took him some time to see the black mist.

He attempted to dispel it a few times, but it refused to budge. In fact, it grew in size and density with each attempt.

So he concentrated on protecting and defending. He kept his wits about him, but part of him acknowledged it might be over.

Still he kept pushing.

'You're nothing if not determined.'

Then he heard the screaming. His mind slipped for just a second.

'Please, stop! Help me! I'm sorry, Evan! PLEASE!'

In between the screaming and pleading he heard, 'Don't show them fear, Harry.'

He hadn't. He'd met every challenge with all the arrogance and audacity he possessed. He wouldn't – he couldn't – stop now.

The fog grew closer. Harry put up his strongest shields as it encased him in a haze of misery.

How did one beat misery?

"You are well acquainted with pure misery. Since you smile, you, therefore, know the meaning of true happiness…Think of the happiest memory associated with those that helped you find the light in your darkest hour."

Cassiopeia's face burst through his mind unbidden. "Expec - " For a fraction of second, he hesitated, then said, "Munio." He saw the shield then he, once again, thought of Cassiopeia, her very last words to him at the forefront of his mind. "Expecto Patronum!"

From his wand burst a great stag. It pierced the mist with its antlers and stomped the rest out with its hooves. The stag rushed down the platform as Delphine's spell rebounded off the shield.

She gaped at the stag, which was all the opportunity he needed.

"Transvertus! Oppugno!"

Lightning rushed from his wand and struck Delphine. She flew backwards as he summoned her wand. Harry caught it out of the air as her head slammed against the opposite end of the platform.

The stag faced Harry and bowed to him before disappearing.

He kept his wand at the ready as the timer went off.

Ten!

Nine!

Eight!

The crowd chanted the numbers. Harry started to laugh, but he didn't move out of his stance. Not that he thought she was getting up, but anything was possible. Delphine was more skilled in wandless magic than he and no one would forgive him if he lost in such a way.

Three!

Two!

The crowd began to cheer just as the buzzer went off.

"Pot-ter! Pot-ter! Pot-ter!"

Harry fell to his knees and broke out into a fit of hysterical laughter.

Someone touched his head and he looked up to see Morozov beside him. He ruffled his hair.

"Well done, son."

Harry laughed harder. Or maybe he was crying. He truly didn't know.

Morozov snorted then handed him a Calming Draught. "You've earned it."