How I Changed Fate- 17: My First Howler
I knew this would happen. I should have been more careful, but I knew that no matter what this would have happened eventually. Mhamó* sent me a howler. I remembered what is what like to read when Ron had received a howler in the second book, and I wasn't actually surprised when I received one from her shortly after she had got my letter from that day, and though I expected something from her I never expected what she said.
When the letter opened her stern voice came out of the letter in Irish. "Tá díomá orm ionat. *" That was all she said, and as much as I wanted to be angry or upset with her, I knew that she wouldn't be able to understand why I had to do this anyway. I knew that no matter how disappointed Mhamó* gets with me I had to keep doing this even if it was only for Harry's sake.
I had to keep moving forward, so I made a plan. I knew that for the first task we would be fighting dragons, but I also knew that the change of one champion might have convinced them to change what the tasks would be. I knew that learning about dragons would help and when your best friend is Draco, who at a young age learned about dragons because they shared a name, you get a lot more information than books could. Even though I feared that my presence in the tournament would change the game I was still able to learn about dragons without much effort.
As it got closer to the actual first tournament, I paid closer attention to Ron and Harry. Just like in the book Ron was really angry with Harry for somehow being picked, and I couldn't really approach Ron because he didn't like me for the same reason so watching the two of them was all I could do. Besides, Draco was still livid at the tournament results.
When Harry found out that the first task was dragons (hurray no broken timeline!); Draco was more than happy to tell me everything about dragons. However, he was still mad that my 'plan' didn't work.
"Louise," Draco said a couple days before the first tournament, "you are going to battle a dragon and they aren't saying this is dangerous? Dragons can't even be tamed by the tamers. How can they expect any of you to succeed in doing anything to the dragons?"
As much as I knew Draco was right with his questioning, I also knew that nobody would care what children have to say about it. So, I said "Don't worry so much Draco. You've helped me learn everything there is to know about dragons besides even if we did complain there would be people who would say I deserve to face a dragon for cheating my way in."
It stopped him from continuing the conversation but it didn't stop him from scowling. I could feel his anger and his fear so I turned to him and looked him directly in the eyes. I smirked and spoke. "It would be a shame that if I lost because someone else's anger was so intense that I couldn't focus on the dragon. I wonder what would happen should I be distracted while in front of a dragon?"
If I hadn't been facing him Draco would have snapped his head to look at me. His eyes where molten as he looked at me and said "I'm sorry Louise. I'll calm down before the tournament so that I don't affect you too much."
"Draco, I'm about to be in front of thousands of people who will be feeling thousands of things. I doubt one more will affect me much more."
He gave a dry chuckle. I stood up and began walking away, but Draco began talking so softly that I almost didn't hear him. "Will you promise me you'll come out unharmed?" I turned around and looked at him again. I had forgotten how young we actually were, fourteen-years-old, because when I looked at him in that very moment, I realized just how much I had forgotten about this world.
I froze as I looked at him. Draco, the boy who was my best friend from a young age. Draco, the boy who loved me for just as long. Draco, fourteen-years-old, a boy who was scared of a future he could not see nor control.
As much as I would have loved to give Draco the peace of mind, he was looking for I knew that it wouldn't help him. Instead, I said the first thing that came to my mind. "You know I can't promise you that Draco."
He looked like I had punched him. I turned back around and began to leave when I heard him say. "I know."
I spent the remaining days till the tournament with Hufflepuff after I had decided that it would ensure that I don't mess with the intended story, and that I didn't want to answer a riddle ever day just to get enter Ravenclaw sealed the deal of where I was going to sleep. I decided to center myself on what I knew and what I could remember. The first task was to snatch an egg from a female dragon, the egg gave clues as to what the second task was going to be. In between the two tasks was the Yule Ball and Christmas, since the first task had remained the same from the original story, I figured the second task would most likely remain the same as well. That meant the second task was to save a person you treasure from mermaids within an hour. This had to mean that they would pick someone we either held dear (like Ron or Hermione) or family (like Fleur's sister) but who would they pick for me? When it was Cedric, Cho Chang, his girlfriend, was the one they took so who would they pick…
Shit! Based off how they picked that meant they would most likely take Draco for me. He couldn't get more involved, but he would do it for me. I knew that no matter what I had to convince everybody (possibly including Draco) that Draco isn't someone I hold closest to me. I had till the second task to plan, but I knew I wouldn't like how I did it.
I thought back to the Howler Mhamó sent me. "I am disappointed in you, *" I laughed at it now as I tried to go to sleep before battling a dragon. I laughed and cried as my sanity slipped away. All I could do was whisper these words as I closed my eyes to sleep. "Mise freisin*, Mhamó. Mise freisin."
When it finally came time for the first task, I could feel everyone's emotions. It was almost sickening to feel thousands of emotions at once. I focused on my own as I watched Hermione give Harry a quick hug. It was then that I saw Rita Skeeter take the picture. I approached her shortly after words. I shouted to get her attention "Ms. Skeeter!" When she came up to me, I spoke with venom in my words. "I hope you don't plan on writing anything about Harry because it would be so awful having to deal with the Regan Family lawyer when my grandmother sues both you and your company for slander and for writing about an adolescent without the consent of a parent or guardian. I would be very careful from now on when writing anything that could imply anything that would be seen as detrimental. I do hope you take care as you write about the Triwizard Tournament, Ms. Skeeter."
I walked away knowing that she was scared of what could happen should she not listen to what I had given her.
I watched as something I had only read about in the story began to unfold right in front of me. The bag with miniature dragons made its way through the contestants. I was the first to take a dragon from the bag and just like in the story I got the Swedish Short Snout that was originally for Cedric, Fleur got the Common Welsh Green, Viktor got the Chinese Fireball and Harry got the Hungarian Horntail. I was not excited to fight a dragon and knew that I definitely could not turn a rock to a dog to distract it.
I entered the arena that they had prepared for the tournament after the sound of the cannon. I could feel the trembling earth as the dragon stomped its feet. I could feel everyone's emotions; excitement, fear, anger, greed, pain… Pain? Who was feeling pain? I focused on the feeling of pain. I heard it and found its center.
The dragon was in pain and I could feel it crying out for relief. I looked it in the eyes and just before it breathed fire I spoke. "You're in pain, aren't you?"
Confusion entered its eyes and it spread its wings wide. "If you will promise not to fly away or breath fire, I can stop the pain."
Its wings stopped spreading and it lowered them and shut its mouth closed. "Okay. Good. This will take a minute so don't move." I went to where they had chained the dragon up and did alohomora, the unlocking spell, making sure that the dragon was not going anywhere I took the golden egg and replaced it with a rock. I then disguised the egg into a rock and walked in front of the dragon. "This rock was in the nest with the eggs so I took it out for you." I turned to face the audience and just before I went to the finished area I turned back and said "Also, the dragon handlers will come back to make sure you get home to your family safely so please don't give them too many problems when they come for you ok?"
The dragon appeared to nod at my statement and I showed everyone (but the dragon) that I had gotten the egg and beat the challenge. Even though I had succeeded I had to watch as the others got theirs. I was glad that the story continued as it was intended ending with Harry fighting his dragon in the air. I joined Gryffindor in the excitement watching (and listening) as he opened the egg to the air with loud screeching coming out of it.
I knew that the next two tasks were crucial. I could do the second task no problems, but the third? I wasn't sure how I could do it without me taking Cedric's place permanently. I had to focus on the second task first. I could worry about the third afterwards.
I remembered that the second task is after the Yule Ball. I remembered that those who were taken for the second task were perceived lovers or close family, and all of them were students. This meant that they were not going to try to get my Mhamó to come and be who I save, and that Harry, who was also a contestant, would be safe as well. If my family was out of the question that left my friends. I sighed with the realization that if I took Draco to the ball then that would most definitely mean he would end up in the lake.
I knew that I couldn't just ask him not to because he probably wouldn't listen to me. Besides he is going to the ball with… Cac*. I have accidently made it more difficult on myself.
Draco had come out telling the world he loves me so of course the other girls in Slytherin are going to back off. I not only have to convince one of them to ask him to the ball but I have to convince a teacher to separate us. I guess I have to try. Time for tea.
A week later…
It was now a week after the second task and it was time to join the Slytherins at their table. I had two goals: to convince one of them to ask Draco to the ball, and to get Snape to agree in separating us. It was breakfast when I decided to put my plans into place. I sat with the girls and began talking. "Hello ladies. It has been so long since we all talked together so I was hoping we could have tea time together on Saturday so we could catch up. Would that be alright with everyone?"
Ah, Slytherin code how we love you. I had been planning this for a week and remembered that when there is gossip to be had within the Slytherin girls that 'Saturday tea time' means that all the girls need to be there. It also lets the boys know not to disturb the group meeting. All the girls smiled and shook their heads yes.
With that settled it was now time to convince Snape to do something that might actually be cheating. I approached Professor Snape after a potions class with Ravenclaw.
"Professor Snape, I was wondering if you would help me with something?"
"Miss Regan, I don't think you need any help with your potions seeing as you have the best grades in potions for your year."
This was it, the best method to save Draco. "Professor, what I need help with isn't potions."
"What is it, Miss Regan?"
"Professor, if I discovered a possibility of injuries on a student would it be okay to report the person who plans on injuring said student?"
Snape went quiet, and just before he answered he looked me dead in the eyes. I could both see and feel his rage. "Miss Regan, who plans to hurt a student?"
I was shocked. Snape's reaction made me wonder as to what would happen if I told him more. So, I did. "Professor, I worry if I tell you then I'm technically cheating in the Triwizard Tournament."
I could feel the hot burning anger and rage boiling inside of Snape. I could feel the fire burning. I grabbed his arm and said, "Professor, if you don't calm down, I fear that I will cause a fire."
Snape breathed deeply and like a calm rainy day the fire was squelched and he finally spoke. "Explain."
"The golden egg from the first task had clues for the champions regarding what the second task will entail and I learned what it will happen for the second task. I think they plan to take not only students from Hogwarts but from the other schools and put them in the lake."
"What exactly was the clue you were given?"
"Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground, and while you're searching ponder this; we've taken what you'll sorely miss, an hour long you'll have to look, and to recover what we took, but past an hour, the prospect's black, too late, it's gone, it won't come back."
"And how did you get to the conclusion that meant students were in danger?"
"I was there when Harry opened his egg in the Gryffindor common room. It screeched, but when I took it and put it in water a song came out. Only mermaid voices can do that. So, we are most likely going into the Black Lake. I kept thinking of what something all the champions would miss that is big enough for us to notice it was gone, but also something that can easily be put in the lake. The only thing that made sense was a person, and since we are all students, they will pick people we hold dear and put them in the lake."
Snape pondered the thought process for a moment before he spoke again. "I don't know if there is anything I could do to stop this from happening." He said the sadness in his voice echoing.
"Professor, I know there is nothing you can do but I have an idea."
"What is it, Miss Regan?"
"if I am right then they will pick someone they perceive as someone we'll surely miss. Luckily, the only family I here is Harry and since he is a champion that covers that, but anyone else can be considered as someone I will miss. The best way to make it more difficult and thus probably save those we actually care about, would be if we were forced to interact more with the other schools and houses. If a teacher were to make an assignment, which would be due a few weeks before the second tournament, where the students have to partner up with people in other houses it would be no surprise that there would be more people seem precious to the champions."
"That is smart Miss Regan I will see what I can do." He went silent and I began to head out. "You know," Snape said stopping me in my tracks, "if you wanted me to protect Draco, I could do that. Why ask me to confuse the judges?"
I didn't turn around. "I may know that Draco is your Godson and you would protect him in the face of danger, but wouldn't it look like I cared for him if I asked you to do that? That's why confusion is better because they won't see it coming."
I left with one of my many plans in place to ensure everything works out fine.
Now all I had to prepare for was tea time with the Slytherins.
Mhamó=Grandma, Tá díomá orm ionat= I am disappointed in you, Mise freisin= I am too, Cac= Shit
