Chapter Three
At dinner that night in the Great Hall, Moody showed up a little late. He had been to his quarters to stow away his staff. He planned to just use his wand for now. While there he used the mirror to see how he looked.
He was shocked. All of his scars were gone and his nose was whole again. Potter never mentioned he fixed that. Suddenly he started removing his clothes. He began checking everywhere he had a scar on his body. They were all gone. No wonder he felt better than he ever did. The boy healed him completely.
That's when Mad-Eye Moody, the tough, legendary auror and dark wizard catcher, broke down and cried.
When Moody walked quickly into the Great Hall, he headed straight for Harry. Dumbledore and several others were shocked at how he looked now.
"Mr. Potter? Might I have a word?" he asked standing a few feet behind Harry.
"Sure, Professor," he replied standing up and crossing to Mad-Eye.
That's when Moody grabbed him in a big hug and pulled the tall boy close. He then let him go and stood back.
"You never mentioned about the scars, Mr. Potter. You fixed everything."
"Surprise!" Harry told him with a smile.
"Thank you, Harry. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome and since I'm your personal healer now, be sure and let me know if you get damaged again chasing dark wizards."
"You'll be the first one to know," he said smiling from ear to ear.
oOo
Sleeping in the fourth year boys dorm rooms had become an issue for Harry. While he slept he tended to release his hold on his magic so the glow came back full force. He could draw his curtains around the bed but light still seeped out anywhere it could.
He noticed that Seamus and Dean were afraid of him and were uncomfortable sleeping in the same room with him. Harry decided it was unfair to them and also Ron and Neville. He could make adjustments so the glow would not be a problem, but it wouldn't address Seamus and Dean's fear of sleeping in the same room with him.
Harry headed out of the common room and into the hall as he communicated with Hogwarts. The castle was telling him that he could have his own room close to the Gryffindor entrance if he wanted.
Harry turned left and started walking slowly. He stopped when Hogwarts told him to stop. He then turned left and looked at the wall in front of him. His eyes took on the fully bright green glow and he could see beyond the wall.
The wall where he was looking had been changed into a portal by the castle, similar to the entrance in King's Cross to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. However, only Harry was allowed entrance through this portal.
Harry started walking again and passed through the wall.
Hermione saw him leave the common room just a few seconds ago so decided to see what he was up to. He looked to be pre-occupied with something. She was just wondering what he was thinking about.
She left through the entrance and went into the hall where she stopped. She looked forward down the stairs, then right, and finally left. That's when she saw Harry as he walked right toward a solid wall and passed easily through it.
She forgot for a while to close her open mouth, even after she checked the wall where he entered and found it to be solid. She then went back into the common room and sat down heavily on the couch.
"Are you okay there, Hermione?" asked Ginny who was working on some homework.
"I just saw Harry walk through a wall," she said stunned.
Ginny laughed. "You better get used to it, Hermione. Harry doing impossible things is going to be the norm from now on."
Hermione just nodded her head.
"Besides," Ginny added, "we walk through a wall at King's Cross to get onto the platform. Who's to say he didn't just do something similar?"
"I tested the wall and it was solid," she insisted.
"Maybe that portal only allows him to go through it? You'll just have to ask Harry the next time you see him to find out for sure."
"Yes, I'll do that. Perhaps your right. Maybe he didn't walk through a solid wall."
"Not to make things worse for you, Hermione, given the shock you just experienced, but I wouldn't be surprised if Harry could walk through a solid wall."
Just then they both saw movement out of the corner of their eyes. A door started forming on the side wall. Then when it completed, Harry walked through the door and approached them.
"Hey there!" he said.
"Harry?" asked Hermione.
"I've got a new room. Do you guys want to see it?"
"Why do you need a new room?" asked Hermione.
Harry looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear him.
"Don't tell anyone but Dean and Seamus were uncomfortable sleeping in the same room with me."
"What did they say?" asked Ginny as she sat up and looked furious.
"They didn't say anything, Ginny. They didn't have to because I could sense it."
"Okay," she said calming back down.
"I spoke to Hogwarts and she showed me the room behind me," he said gesturing with his thumb.
"Wait!" said Hermione stopping him. "You can talk to the castle?"
"Sure. The castle is sentient. We all know that and I can talk to sentient things. You saw me talk to the goblet when I fixed it. I've been communicating with Hogwarts since I left the hospital wing. She's seems to be quite fond of me. It's probably only because I can communicate easily with her."
Harry stepped over and put his finger under Hermione's chin and closed her mouth for her. Ginny giggled.
"Anyway, the castle and I created a door into the common room so people can knock if they need to get my attention when I'm in there. There's a front portal entry the castle created in the hall, but it only allows me entrance."
Both the girls looked at each other briefly with a nod before turning back to Harry.
"Do you need any help getting all your things moved?" asked Ginny.
"No thanks. I've already moved them."
"Of course you did," Hermione replied realizing there was not enough time for a normal magical person to do that. "So what does this new room look like?" she asked standing up.
"Come on and I'll show you. You come too, Ginny," he said gesturing for her to follow.
Harry went back to the door and held it open for them.
"Go on in and look around all you want."
Harry joined them and closed the door after they were both in the room.
The room was quite large and that was just the front area. He had his own kitchen, a large guest bathroom, and a huge separate bedroom with its own full loo, including a shower and a tub. There was a nice work area with a big desk and chair over on the far wall. The floors were polished wood with area throw rugs where needed.
"What do you think?" asked Harry after they finished the tour.
"Hogwarts provided this for you?" asked Hermione incredulously.
"Yes, the castle is very nice isn't she?"
oOo
It was time for the first task of the tournament and the three champions were going to have to face dragons, specifically nesting mothers. Harry was sitting in the stands with his friends ready to watch when he heard that announcement. He was starting to wonder if the people in the magical world had any sense at all.
Cedric Diggory came out first against the Swedish Short-Snout. He used transfiguration really well but still managed to get burnt a little before retrieving the golden egg and finishing the task. Madam Pomfrey had to heal him up.
Viktor Krum was next and he faced the Chinese Fireball. He used the Conjunctivitis Curse on the dragon and hit it right in the eyes to blind it. He retrieved his golden egg but unfortunately, the dragon started stumbling around and when it was going to step on some of the real eggs, Harry temporarily protected them so the mother dragon would not harm her babies. However, no one would know the baby dragons were okay until they checked the eggs.
Krum was docked points though for causing the dragon to step on her eggs and the dragon handlers were later scratching their heads after they checked them. They were wondering how the eggs were not harmed at all.
Fleur Delacour, the last contestant, had to face the Common Welsh Green. She used her Veela powers and enchanting ability to put the dragon to sleep. It didn't work long enough however because the dragon awoke while Fleur was reaching to pick up the golden egg. The dragon used her tail to swat the witch and she went flying several feet away from the eggs, landing roughly on the hard rocky ground.
Then the dragon walked toward the injured witch and was just about to roast her alive when Harry decided he had seen enough. Suddenly Harry disappeared from the stands and appeared between the dragon and Fleur Delacour.
The crowd let out a loud noise of shock when that happened. While Harry was a big man now at 6'10", he looked tiny in front of that mother dragon.
The dragon stopped and looked at the newcomer, then decided she would just roast them both. Suddenly the newcomer was glowing rather brightly and his eyes were even brighter like two orbs of green light shining right into hers. She had to blink a few times since his eyes were so bright.
The ones in the audience who had never seen Harry's glow before or how bright his eyes could be, let out a joint gasp.
Before the dragon could take a breath, the shiny man spoke to her mind.
"Great Dragon, this is merely a contest for wizards. No one here wants to harm your eggs. As a matter of fact, a fake egg has been planted with your real ones and the contestant has to retrieve it without harming any of the real eggs. You can see it there and how it looks different," Harry told her pointing at the fake one.
"I need you to let the witch collect the golden egg without any further trouble. That is all that needs to be done before the contest is over. You and your eggs will then be able to go back home."
She had never spoken to a wizard like this before. It was different and she wasn't sure if she should agree. While the dragon was considering his proposition, Harry used his magic to heal Fleur, who had actually been hurt very badly.
Harry could tell the dragon was not fully convinced to cooperate. She had a bad week and wanted to burn something.
"It will be best if you comply with my wishes, Great Dragon, otherwise I will have to stop you if you try to hurt the witch again," Harry warned her.
"What makes you think you can stop me?" the dragon asked.
Harry used his magic without anyone knowing and the dragon could no longer move or open her mouth.
"Does that answer your question?" Harry asked her back.
The Welsh Green dragon agreed to comply so Harry released her but kept an eye on the dragon anyway.
"Miss Delacour?" he called for her behind him. "You need to stand up and collect your egg. The dragon will not harm you further."
Fleur stood up, having a hard time believing she actually could, but somehow she felt fine. She wasn't sure who this person was but she went ahead and carried out the task as the dragon simply watched her collect her golden egg and leave. Harry floated up to the dragon's head and gave her a good pat on the nose.
There were more gasps from the audience.
"Thank you, Great Dragon. I must be going now."
Harry made his glow go away and his eyes dimmed way back down. Suddenly he disappeared from the arena and reappeared in his seat in the stands.
Hermione and Ron, who had been sitting on each side of him jumped back in surprise, much like they did when he left earlier.
That's when the crowd went wild over what they saw. They were sure the French champion was going to die, but Harry stopped it somehow. They were in awe of what he was able to do. Only Hermione and Ginny recalled what he had told them about being able to communicate with anything that was sentient.
Nevertheless, it was still amazing to see.
After the scores were handed out, Harry disappeared once more and reappeared in front of the judges. He was floating on the air again.
"Yes, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"I would just like to know from the judges and organizers if I jumped in too soon before contingency plans could activate. That dragon was about to kill Miss Delacour. What are your contingency plans to prevent death in this tournament?" Harry asked. "It didn't look like you were going to do anything at all, which is why I stepped in."
"Mr. Potter," said Crouch, "this tournament is very dangerous which is why you have to be seventeen or older and volunteer to compete. There are no contingency plans to protect the competitors from death during the tasks. They are expected to prepare and make it through on their own, which is why Miss Delacour received a lower score."
"We are still very appreciative though, Harry," Dumbledore said with more tact as his eyes slid over to Crouch for a second, "for you saving Miss Delacour's life. It would be a tragedy if she had died."
"Very well, then I will promise you all this. If it is in my power then I will make sure no one dies in this tournament. You have my word on that and if they get a lower score because I stepped in then that's too bad. At least they'll still be alive."
With that he disappeared and reappeared part of the way back to the castle and fell in line walking next to Hermione and Ron. They thought they heard Harry mumble something about idiots when he arrived but they weren't positive.
oOo
During Harry's next Transfiguration class, McGonagall was insisting that Harry show he could do the spell with his wand and using the proper wand movements. He replied by pulling out his wand and tried the spell. Unfortunately, he ended up burning out his wand when too much magic tried to go through it.
"Oh no!" Harry cried. "I'm sorry," he told his wand. "That was too much power for you. Here, I'll fix it."
Everyone watched as his wand became good as new. He then concentrated and used it again. This time the wand did not burn out and his transfiguration spell worked perfectly with the correct wand movements.
"Very well done, Mr. Potter," said McGonagall. "Five points to Gryffindor."
Harry smiled as his wand thanked him for making it indestructible and able to handle Harry's extra power.
When Harry found himself back in Defense class, he accidentally overheard Mad-Eye's thoughts when he looked at Neville. Mad-Eye was commiserating with Neville over his parents thinking how sad it was for the boy to have his parents still alive but not able to even recognize him.
Harry quickly gathered all the information he could find about Neville's parents from Neville who never knew his memories were being viewed at all. Harry found out that Death Eaters tortured Neville's parents until their minds snapped. They were now in the Janus Thicke Ward at St. Mungo's for permanent spell damage and had been there for years.
Turns out Neville's parents were attacked a few days after Harry's parents were killed. So they had been in the hospital for thirteen years.
Harry thought about that for a minute and consulted his magic. Then a smile came over his face. Suddenly Harry projected himself to the hospital while his body stayed put at his desk and continued on in class.
The astral projection of his body appeared in the Janus Thicke Ward and frightened a healer tending to the patients. He thought he was seeing a very tall ghost at first but it was too bright and solid looking. Then it spoke to him.
"I'm Harry Potter and I'm good friends with Neville Longbottom. He wants his parents back so I thought I would help him out."
"Th-Th-They can't be helped. They're too far gone," the healer replied.
"Nonsense. I've found that magic can do just about anything," Harry said to the healer and then turned to the Longbottoms.
The healer turned and looked at the Longbottoms as well. He watched as they stirred, shook their heads as if trying to clear them, then both stood up and looked at each other. The healer also noticed that the devastation their bodies suffered over the thirteen years of being sick, plus all the premature grey hair, had disappeared completely. Then suddenly they were both in nice robes instead of the hospital gowns.
As the married couple hugged each other and cried, Harry turned to the healer.
"Go ahead. Cast some diagnostic charms. You'll see that they are perfectly healed and can now go home."
The Longbottoms looked over at the healer and the bright visitor. They recognized the resemblance to their old friend James Potter in the tall boy's face. They had heard him introduce himself earlier as Harry Potter but they were just now understanding that since their minds were now back to normal.
"This healer," Harry addressed them, "will not stop you from leaving, nor will any others here at the hospital. Please check out of St. Mungo's and go home to see your mother. Then I would like you to show up at Hogwarts during dinner time. My friend Neville would love to see his parents again."
"Oh, Harry, thank you," said Alice. "Did you know I'm your godmother? I held you as a baby. Can I hug you now?"
"I would like that but I'd prefer you wait until this evening, Alice. You see, I'm not actually here. I'm in Defense class with your son. This is just a projection of myself."
Their eyes grew big at that pronouncement, pondering how in Merlin's name he was able to accomplish that.
"See you both tonight." Harry said then disappeared.
The healer looked around and all the other patients looked healed as well. He checked through the other permanent spell damage rooms and found all of them waking up and looking back to normal. The only exception he found was a patient that remained the same and still lost as ever from an obliviation accident. It was Gilderoy Lockhart. He wondered why Harry Potter didn't heal him. He also didn't heal the regular patients, just the ones St. Mungo's couldn't cure.
Meanwhile the Longbottoms surprised everyone and checked out of St. Mungo's. They then took the floo home and Alice was able to get her wand back. Frank's was being used by Neville so he had to wait until later to get his back. Meanwhile, he used an old ancestor's wand that would work decently for him until then.
At dinner that night at Hogwarts, they were all eating when in walked Augusta Longbottom through the doors of the Great Hall. Neville stiffened. He was not expecting his grandmother. She didn't send him an owl or anything like that. He hoped everything was okay.
"Madam Longbottom," Dumbledore addressed her as he stood. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"I need a word with my grandson."
"Certainly," he agreed. "I hope everything is okay."
"Everything is perfect, Headmaster," she replied. "Come, Neville. I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" he asked standing.
"Yes. A great surprise. Let's talk about it outside where we will have some privacy."
Neville obeyed and walked out the doors. Augusta looked over at Harry.
"Give us about five minutes and then join us, Mr. Potter."
Harry nodded with a smile.
"What did you do, Harry?" asked Hermione suspiciously.
"Sorry, but it's a Longbottom family secret ...at least for now."
"Then how do you know?" she asked. "You're a Potter, not a Longbottom."
"Neville's mother is my godmother so I'm part of the family somewhat," he explained as if it made perfect sense.
Hermione looked at him like she was sure there was more to it, but let it go anyway.
When Neville went through the doors of the Great Hall he didn't know what to expect. He slowly started walking toward the front doors as he waited for his grandmother to catch up with him. When she did, she led him outside and onto the grass before they stopped.
She took her grandson by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes.
"I have the best surprise for you, Neville. All you have to do is turn around."
Frank and Alice had been hidden but they removed the spell and quietly walked up behind their son as Augusta spoke to him.
Neville nodded nervously and turned around. His eyes grew big and started welling up with tears when he not only saw his parents but could tell they were okay somehow.
"Mum? Dad?" he said as tears fell down his face.
He then hugged them both close as all three cried. Augusta had to wipe a couple of tears away herself.
Harry walked out a little later and put his arm around Augusta's shoulders. The parents and son were still hugging and talking to each other.
"Now that's what I like to see," Harry said as Augusta put her arms around his waist and hugged him.
The trio broke up and looked at Harry. Neville was standing between his parents. Alice had her arm around his shoulders and Frank was ruffling his hair. Neville was smiling to beat the band.
"Did you really do this, Harry?" he asked.
"I did, Neville."
"But why? I didn't even think you knew."
"Why? Because I can. You needed your parents and they needed you. It's that simple, Nev. Besides, you never told me your mother was my godmother. Shame on you."
"Can I hug my godson now?" asked Alice as Neville looked embarrassed.
"Of course."
While Alice was hugging Harry, Frank started talking to his son.
"I hear you are using my wand?"
"Yes, but I think something's wrong with it. It never seems to work right for me."
"Let me look at it."
Neville handed his father his wand and Frank felt the same warmth as when it first chose him in Ollivander's shop. He conjured a dozen red roses and then vanished them.
"The wand is fine, Neville."
"I knew it! Then I'm the problem. My magic doesn't work right!"
"No, son. It's not your magic at all. This wand chose me and it's still choosing me. It never chose you. We just need to take you to Ollivander's so we can buy you a new wand, one that chooses you."
"I'm so sorry, Neville," said Augusta who was paying attention to their conversation. "I completely forgot what Ollivander says, 'the wand chooses the wizard.' I can't believe I forgot that. I guess I was so distraught over not having your parents around, I wasn't thinking straight.
"We'll take you on Saturday and get you a new wand like your father said, Neville," she told him. "Ollivander's is closed right now and you have classes tomorrow."
"What will I do for a wand?" he asked. "I need a wand for classes."
"Here. Try this one," Frank told him holding up the old wand he'd been using temporarily."
Neville tried but it barely worked. He looked disappointed.
Suddenly a plain looking wand appeared in Harry's hand, so he walked up to Neville and handed it to him.
"Try this one," Harry suggested.
Neville tried it and it worked perfectly when he changed his robe to a bright red, to yellow, then back to black. He barely had to concentrate on the spells.
"Wow! Look at that! It works great!" he said excitedly.
The adults all looked at Harry wondering how he did that.
"You'll still need to buy a new wand on Saturday when your parents and grandmother take you to Ollivander's. That wand will work fine for you until you are chosen by your own wand. It will then disappear."
"Thanks, Harry, but why didn't you make it permanent so I didn't have to go buy one? I know you can."
"It's because I didn't want to solve a problem but then cause another."
"I'm sorry, Harry. I don't understand," Neville said confused.
"It's the same reason I didn't heal everyone at St. Mungo's, Neville. I cured your parents and all the other patients in the permanent spell damage ward. Well, all except one. The rest of the patients I left alone.
"St. Mungo's could not cure those in the permanent spell damage ward so I helped them out while helping your parents. St. Mungo's can cure the other patients without my help and that's how they make a living. They help people but they have to charge for their services so everyone keeps their job and makes money to live on.
"Likewise, Ollivander makes his living creating and selling wands. If I made your wand permanent then he would lose out on some profit. His business is how he provides for his needs.
"Now, I suggest you spend a little more time with your family then I think it would be best that all of you go back in and let the staff know you'll be picking up Neville on Saturday for his outing."
"I think that's a good suggestion, Harry," said Frank. "There are a few people in there that need to know we're back."
"My thoughts exactly. See you shortly," he told them then walked back into the Great Hall to sit back down and have dessert.
When all the Longbottoms entered the Great Hall together, the professors were having a difficult time coming to grips with the fact Frank and Alice Longbottom were back to normal. In fact, all the professors, except for Snape, were so excited they didn't finish eating. They left their seats and came around to talk to them.
Neville couldn't seem to wipe the smile off his face.