The Darkseid of Magic
Disclaimer/Plot/Challenge Information/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Recommended Reads: I Want It All And More by Winged Seer Wolf, Harry Potter and the Unforgivable Tournament by questionablequotation, Do Not Meddle In The Affairs Of Wizards by Corwalch, Earl of the North by Lord Silvere, An Old and New World by Lens of Sanity, Child of Azkaban by Fire and Starlight, Deliver Me by Guardian of the Phoenix, Lord Thanatos by Scarlette-Moon-Howl, Apex, Pet Death and Dark Lord Potter by JustBored21, Never Cross a Potter by Kourtney Uzu Yato and Ignore the Dementor by NinjaPandaScholar
Key Pairing: Evil Harry/Bellatrix/Luna/Human-Hedwig
Other Pairings: To be determined
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
A10riddick: Let's just say Harry's new powers have something to do with it, as well as one of the oldest laws of magic and a classic trope for stories such as this;
Winged Seer Wolf: Given the actress I have in mind for her, I have to say that definitely fits my image too, so thanks for the unasked aid, my old and dear friend: also, get ready for some mind games and some serious WTFery;
"You fools thought you could get away with making him feel weak? Death is too good for you freaks…"
"Actually, my dear Bella…"
Suddenly, Bellatrix's eyes widened with disbelief, if not delight and no small amount of shock, as she looked down…
And saw the most-beautiful, bedazzling emerald-green eyes she had ever laid eyes on looking up at her with a cold, crazed, but also confident air all his own, as well as a smile that could definitely put the fear of God into so many people.
"I'd say Death was a release, not a punishment…and, speaking of release; what was that you said about giving me a second taste of the Bellatrix Lestrange Pie?"
Chapter 2: Did You Miss Me?
"…and so, it is with a heavy heart that we lay Harry Potter to rest. A poor, unfortunate soul whom, I am sorry to say, found himself corrupted by the curse of Dark Magic. But as we lay our fallen hero to rest, let his death serve as a reminder of why we continue to fight against the stench of Dark Magic and all those who would threaten the harmony brought to you all by the grace of the Ministry…"
"Ah, perfect, Minister," sniggered Dolores Umbridge – aka Britain's record-holder of the Most-Hated Witch in History – as she walked alongside the British Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, both of them heading for the lone cell where, as far as they knew, the dead body of the Boy-Who-Lived awaited them.
Despite the sorrow that Fudge seemed to be practicing for his consolation speech to the masses, both of them were remarkably stone-faced – though anyone who had the misfortune of knowing her would know Umbridge couldn't cry – and, even as he rehearsed his speech, Fudge felt a great weight lifting from his shoulders.
He didn't need Umbridge, or even Lucius, to tell him that he'd really dodged a bullet with this one, having Harry sent to Azkaban when word had reached the Ministry that he'd used the Cruciatus Curse on another student; the fact that he was supposed to be a Champion in the Tournament had left a foul taste in a lot of mouths, but, with the boy's arrest and his soon-to-be-official death, at least this way, the Ministry was spared any further humiliation.
Cedric Diggory would represent Great Britain and her assets, working with the Ministry's officials to remind everyone why they were so great, especially under the care and watch of a great leader like Cornelius Fudge.
And, as his well-rehearsed speech said, Fudge would also play on the idea that Harry had been cursed by Dark Magic; this way, the heroes from thirteen years ago would not be too forgotten, or hated, and Fudge would be seen as a forgiving man whom left the spirit of their nation's hero blessed on his deathbed.
As for Umbridge, she was just looking forwards to being able to torment all the supporters of the Brat-Who-Lied with the fact that their idol was now a dim and distant memory. Without him, the Mudbloods didn't stand a chance, even less-so in the case of those filthy half-breeds who poisoned Umbridge's perfect world.
And, when she became Minister, she would make the pathetic little half-blood's name mud, and then pin the delusion of a hero on Fudge, while even going as far as invoking the rite of Damnatio Memoriae, which would make his memory and fame become forbidden to even mention, right up to the point where he would be forgotten by history.
Yes, this all worked out well enough…for her.
As she walked alongside Fudge, both of them heading for the cell they'd been referred to, in order to collect what was left of Harry Potter, Umbridge showed her vile side even more than normal as she asked, "So, are we sure that this is the end of such…unfortunate evil occurring, Minister? I mean, you heard the vicious lies about the so-called Death Eaters at the World Cup…and there's that former Dark Wizard Karkaroff being in the country. How do we know Potter wasn't behind those as well?"
"We don't know anything about that, Dolores," replied Fudge, twirling his bowler hat in his hands as he explained, "All we do know is that we have lost a truly-great soul to this affliction…"
"Aww, Minister…I didn't know you thought so highly of me!"
Suddenly, both Fudge and Umbridge went white with horror, disbelief and no small amount of alarm, if not pure-bred terror when they stopped outside the cell door, only to see none other than their quarry sitting with his back to the wall, looking right at them, his emerald-green eyes so full of life that it was impossible to assume that he had even been put to death.
Harry James Potter, alive, and looking very relaxed and refreshed, looked right at the Minister and his toad of a toady before he waved mockingly as he asked, "Did you come all this way just to speak to little old me, Fudgie? I am honoured…and you even brought a guest too…mind you, I know it's dark and drab in here, but don't you think a shade of pink worthy of the Las Vegas strip is kind of overkill, Minister?"
"P-P-P-P-P-P-Potter?" asked Fudge, earning a cold smile from Harry.
"That's my name, Corny; don't wear it out…mind you, what's with the Potter? Last time we spoke like this, I thought we were like family, sir? I mean, isn't that why you called me Harry and not Potter?"
"Impossible!" exclaimed Umbridge, earning a shrug from Harry.
"Yeah, that's kind of my middle name, Pinkie Pie; Harry Impossible James Potter…and, speaking of impossible, I suppose you came all the way out here to release me, yes?"
"WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?" Shrieked Umbridge, earning a wide-eyed look from Harry, while, all along the corridor, the other prisoners of Azkaban crowed, laughed and shouted obscenities as they too recognised the shrieker for who she was.
"Wow," drawled Harry, mockingly cleaning his ear out with a finger as he asked, "So there is someone else who can go that high, is there? Tell me; are you related to Molly Weasley, Madame? I can certainly see the resemblance in your big mouth, your corpulent forms and your terrible taste in men and clothes."
"You shut your mouth, you filthy half-blood!"
"Filthy?" asked Harry, adopting a look of apparent confusion before, humming softly, he looked to his right as he asked in a voice that was thick with mocking disappointment and worry, "Bella-darling; would you call my blood filthy?"
"Oh no, my sweet," replied Bellatrix Lestrange, the sight of whom made Cornelius' eyes widen with new levels of horror as said witch sidled right up to Harry, wrapping him in her embrace as she kissed his cheek before she added, "I've tasted your blood and, were I a vampire, I'd call it the yummiest, scrummiest, warming-up-my-tummiest treat I'd ever eaten…but, for now, let's just call it a nice appetiser to the creamy treat you gave your loving Bella before you…um…"
"Went through my botched execution courtesy of the Goblet of Fire?" asked Harry, earning a dismissive hum from Bellatrix, while Harry gently patted her hand, forcing Bellatrix to let him up.
As he rose, he sighed softly before, looking again to the horrified Fudge and Umbridge, Harry clicked his tongue as he explained, "Yeah; you see, I did go through the whole Goblet's punishment thing, Minister. And, let me tell you; compared to Dementors, werewolves, Basilisks, Boggarts and, of course, You-Know-Who himself…well, I'd sooner take a Killing Curse to the chest."
"That can be arranged…"
"Is that a threat, Madame Um-bitch?" asked Bellatrix, earning a snort of amusement from Harry at the way he guessed she'd just insulted this pink thing's name, before Bellatrix chuckled maniacally as she added, "And they call me insane, eh, Fudgey? I mean, threatening your big hero in the presence of the benevolent Minister when it's bloody-well obvious to anyone with half a brain that Death itself has tried to gobble him up, only to spit him out again…hmm…guess the old Reaper doesn't quite like my Harrykins' yumminess…sorry, pet."
"Meh, just call me Marmite," drawled Harry, earning another laugh from Bellatrix, before Harry looked back to Fudge as he explained, "Anyway, getting back to the big picture here, Corny; since my execution was botched…painful to the point of having me beg for death, but botched all the same…but I digress. Since I'm still hanging around, I guess this means I can go back to old Hogwarts and be the Champion I am, yes?"
"You are insane!"
"Why is the pink cloud still talking?" asked Harry, resting his hands against the bars of the cell before he looked right into Fudge's eyes, smiling like a shark smelling blood in the water as he explained, "After all, you know I'm right, Minister. Thanks to your guards…wonder what happened to them, but thanks to them, I've spent the past few weeks in some really pleasurable company and, weird thing here, but, over time, I came to sympathise with this vision of delicious insanity behind me…so much so that I asked her about Ts and Cs of being here in Casa Azkabana; and guess what she told me?"
"In the event of a failed Dementor's Kiss, an execution order botched or in light of evidence and circumstances that demand otherwise, a prisoner has the right to a full pardon," explained Bellatrix, earning a horrified look from Umbridge.
Harry, meanwhile, licked his lips in a provocative, predatory manner, as he explained, "But, I know you, Minister; I know how you think and I know that you only want what's best for the rest of your world…but, on the other hand…"
Here, he turned his back on Fudge, mostly so the guy couldn't see Harry wink at Bellatrix, making her giggle knowingly, before Harry went on, "I suppose if you want Albus Dumbledore to win in his quest to take your job right out from under your nose…"
"WHAT?"
Now, it was Fudge's voice that received the crowded din treatment from the other prisoners, while Harry looked back to the Minister with a look of apparent curiosity and confusion as he asked, "Oh, you mean you didn't know, Minister? I mean, I'd have thought it was obvious: set up the hero of the magical world with a claim from a Squib and a blood traitor who, let's face it, might as well have his Mummy, Umbitch's sister here, in his pocket anyway. Why else would the Chief Warlock allow such a…urp…lovely lady…"
He actually retched as he went to say the last part, before Harry swallowed heavily as he added, "Wow, I think I actually swallowed bile there, but I digress. If Dumbledore wasn't out for the ultimate power in the Ministry, why allow a blood traitor like Weasley and his Mummy to break and threaten the Statute of Secrecy? First with screaming down King's Cross Station just to get my attention, only after sending Rubeus Hagrid to fetch me, using magic on a Muggle in the process…"
"WHAT?"
Even as Fudge screamed bloody murder, Harry went on, "And then, well, I'm sure you heard all about the flying car that was seen by more than half of London, right? Guess who owned that car? Hint: he's got red hair and is obsessed with Muggles, just like his wife's favourite shag partner…"
"Blech, Harry; limits, please!" gasped Bellatrix, earning a soft laugh from Harry.
"Sorry, darling."
"You…you…you're lying…"
"Well," said Harry, shrugging ruefully before he looked to Umbridge as he added, "You do know about Mr Crouch the Senior's little yes-man, Wetherby, don't you, Madame Um…sorry, what is your real name?"
"Dolores Umbridge, Harry…" whispered Fudge, a mixture of fear, rage and disbelief lacing the last word, while Harry looked back to the Minister with another dismissive shrug, as though he expected the man to put the pieces together himself.
"Don't you wonder how a Weasley got such a big job when his Father would rather curse Muggles and threaten the Statute of Secrecy with a flying car? Oh, and then there's his wife, who screams down the biggest train station in the UK, just so Dumbledore can say he did help the Boy-Who-Lived after his half-breed servant got drunk and accidentally forgot about the platform…I mean, really. Anyone would think old Dumbles doesn't want me there…"
As he said this bit, Harry adopted a look of curiosity as he mused, "Then again, he did nearly get Hogwarts closed when Muggle-borns were being attacked, and he had a forbidden corridor with a Cerberus…and he lets his pet giant raise a dragon…and he basically waved you on when you had Dementors at Hogwarts, even around…oh…I don't know…Lucius Malfoy's son!"
Finally, the light seemed to switch on for Fudge, while Harry adopted a look of pained sorrow as he explained, "I know I never got the chance to say it in the Ministry, sir, so I'll say it now. I'm sorry for what my magic did to Weasley, but, to be honest, I am a fourteen-year-old wizard who, suddenly, through no will or fault of his own, was forced to undergo a magical maturity, flooding my body with more magic than I could control…and I did get angry, because, once again, he was expecting me to just take it up the shitter and like it…"
"Are…are you saying…what you did…was…"
"Accidental Magic," said Bellatrix, stretching up tall before she went on, "After all, Fudgey; do you honestly believe the Boy-Who-Lived could actually Crucio someone? The guy flinches at the mention of the Avada Kedavra Curse…"
Harry did flinch as he heard the curse, his hand subconsciously going to his forehead, earning a shocked, if not amazed look from Fudge, while Harry quickly lowered a now-shaking hand as he explained, "And now, Minister, I…I was meant to die; I'd bet he was counting on it…because, with me dead…well, who knows what benefits Dumbledore might reap? My family's wealth? Our power? Our influence?"
To Fudge's surprise, Dolores didn't say anything back about that, while Harry seemed intent on listening now, as the Minister gulped before he asked, "You…you know all about your…your family, Harry?"
"Thanks to Bellatrix," said Harry, running a hand through his shaggy black hair as he continued, "So, for instance, I also know that no Potter forgets a debt once owed to another for their assistance…not even if that person is a good friend, like, say, the Minister himself."
Bellatrix had to bite her tongue, as well as her cheek, when she saw Fudge's eyes light up, the greed and surprise evident in them, as Harry inclined his head before he continued, "Sir, I say this with all due honesty: I am not your enemy. I have absolutely nothing, except sheer respect and admiration for you, and for the Ministry and what it does. Even when you allow the old man to use his Head of Slytherin Death Eater to condemn another who basically knows what Dumbledore is capable of and seeks to stop it…"
"Black?"
Nodding in response, Harry licked his lips again as he asked, "Did you never wonder who cast the Fidelius on my family, sir? Who could have possibly had a reason to convince them not to use my oath-sworn, die-for-me godfather and, instead, use a coward whom, if only you'd given me half a chance, I could have convinced you was still alive and not, as Snape said, and Dumbledore let him say, was under a Confundus?"
Fudge's face was turning red as the realisation set in, while Harry shrugged as he asked, "And sir, how long do you think it'll take that same person to make sure I am dead, once he learns I survived because of…well, I guess we'll just call it sheer dumb luck?"
"I…Harry…you…you need to understand…"
"I can't just return to Hogwarts, sir, I know," replied Harry, once again leaning in close before he smiled knowingly, his green eyes shining as he looked right into Fudge's pale features.
"At least…not as a student, Minister…"
Darkseid
"NOW! OUR THREE CHAMPIONS HAVE FACED THEIR DRAGONS AND CLAIMED THEIR EGGS FOR THE NEXT TASK! AND, AS YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE HAD A FOURTH CHAMPION, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY…"
"HOLD EVERYTHING, DUMBLEDORE!"
Suffice to say, even Albus Dumbledore was left speechless, if not alarmed and a little surprised, to see Minister Fudge suddenly making an appearance at the First Task, especially since Dumbledore had hoped the man would care more for his ego and dispose of his sadly-fallen pawn before it was too late.
However, Fudge was there, standing at the opposite side of the dragon pit, a wand held to his throat as he addressed not only Dumbledore, but the crowd of curious, suspicious and surprised faces as well.
"I APOLOGISE FOR MY LATE ARRIVAL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I GOT HERE JUST IN TIME TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT! SOME TIME AGO, A GRAVE INJUSTICE WAS HANDED TO A POOR, UNFORTUNATE SOUL WHOM, IT SEEMS, HAS BECOME A PAWN IN A LONG GAME BETWEEN TWO OPPOSING SIDES!"
Dumbledore suddenly had a very bad feeling, especially since Fudge's eyes looked right at him as he said the last part, before the Minister went on.
"HOWEVER, FORTUNATELY, THIS INJUSTICE WAS REVEALED TO ME AND NOW, I AM PLEASED TO SAY, AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION AND CONSULTING WITH OUTSIDE PARTIES, THIS INJUSTICE CAN BE RECTIFIED, AS WELL AS IMPROVED UPON: AS I NOW PRESENT TO YOU ALL, A CHAMPION NOT OF YOUR SCHOOLS, BUT THE HONOUR AND GLORY OF ALBION ITSELF…"
"No…" whispered Albus, a mixture of rage and disbelieving alarm in his voice while, at the same time, he was thankful he'd removed his own wand from his neck, so his voice was low and unheard by the others present, as he hissed, "It can't be…he's dead! I felt it…my instruments detected it…I was sure this would make this right…it can't be him!"
It couldn't be…
But it was.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER, CHAMPION OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC!"
Horrified, outraged and fierce, alarming screams filled the arena, all of which only grew in force and fury as the former hero and ex-Golden Prince of Gryffindor walked out past the Minister, dressed in a suit of black battle robes that were emblazoned with the Ministry's Crest, as well as a crown and a sword – which the old family members present recognised as a symbol of one representing Magical Britain, aka Albion, herself.
To the alarm of the watchers, both young and old, Harry then shook hands with the Minister before, walking into the arena, he looked around with a curious, but amused air.
"So…did you miss me? Because I sure missed…"
Suddenly, a loud roar filled the air, cutting Harry off instantly.
This, however, seemed to enrage the young boy as he spun around, meeting the gaze of a dragon whom, originally, was meant to be caged up since there was no need for a fourth dragon – though, as Dumbledore had learned, it was too late to take back the request, hence why said dragon was at Hogwarts to begin with.
As the dragon, the Hungarian Horntail, flared its wings and roared like thunder, Harry's eyes darkened as he stared down the great beast.
"Erm…excuse me: I was talking, you great ugly brute…"
A stream of fire cut Harry off, earning cheers from everyone who'd hoped they'd seen the last of the young man.
However, when the flames died down, Harry surprised them all when they saw he was still standing!
And he looked pissed!
"Interrupting me again, beastie? I think someone needs a timeout…a permanent one…"
"What is he doing?" asked Hermione Granger, as Harry flicked his wrist, summoning a wand from his left wrist – and not the wand he used to own, which even Fudge had admitted was smashed and broken by so many, who'd believed he had truly fallen.
With his new wand in hand, Harry smiled viciously before he asked, "Now, let's see how you handle this, shall we, slug?"
Lifting the wand, Harry's eyes flashed with maniacal intent before, all around the arena, a dead silence followed his choice of spell;
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The trademark green flash flew out of Harry's wand like a tidal wave of deathly magic.
When it hit the dragon, the Horntail roared for only a split second before it hit the ground…
And did not get up.
"Wow," said Harry, his voice echoing through the dead silence as he smiled at the corpse, "I guess you won't be known as the Dragon-Who-Lived, then? Good thing too; I really hate having to share the spotlight with anyone else…yowch!"
As he seemed content crowing about his own ideals, so too did Harry cry out in pain as he dropped the wand he'd used to cast the Killing Curse on the dragon. The reason being that, as Harry looked down at his hand and then at the wand, he saw it glowing red-hot, then white-hot before, with an audible snap and a loud bang that could have put cannon fire to shame, his wand seemed content to commit wand-icide.
"Damn," muttered Harry, shaking his hand in a bid to deal with the pain he felt there, "And that was a really good wand too."
"What…what…what have you done?"
Looking up at the sea of shocked faces, Harry focused mainly on the white-faced Dumbledore, the equally-terrified Hermione and, to his curiosity, the suspicious, if not interested-looking Snape, who seemed to look right into Harry's eyes, even as the young boy shrugged ruefully. "Hey, the rules of this Tournament are quite clear: as long as they're not used on each other, even the Unforgivables are permitted and…well, you know me and rules, right, Headmaster? We don't much get on unless it benefits the most-important person in my life…"
As he walked over to the dragon's corpse, placing his hand on it, in a sign of claiming, Harry sniffed once before he looked to the crowd again.
"And, in case you didn't get the hint, the most important person in my life…is me!"
Chapter 2 and it looks like the Boy-Who-Lived is back with a vengeance, but with a dragon as the first of many victims, what's his next move, especially since he seems willing to play ball with a guy who couldn't play marbles, because he doesn't have any to spare?
Also, if Harry's out of Azkaban representing the Ministry, what about Bellatrix?
What is the Fallen One up to?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harry faces the mob again, but, this time, he's ready with some riot gear of his own;
Please Read and Review
AN: AK
So, in case you're wondering, the idea to use the AK on the dragon was inspired by one of my recommended reads – Harry Potter and the Unforgivable Tournament by questionablequotation – which is a fun, different sort of read and a load of funny at the same time.
Besides, Harry's back, beyond-crazy and not exactly willing to play well with others.
What did you think he was going to do? Summon a broom? Summon the egg? Talk to the dragon?
Sorry; this ain't that sort of story, bruv…