Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter Franchise or characters. All characters used are the property of their respective owners.
Special Thanks: tweety-src-clt9 for helping me flesh out the story beats. If you love Harmony (Harry/Hermione) go read, her stories. If you just like excellent writing, go read her stories.
Note: For plot convenience, I have shifted the date of the third task to later than in the books. The third task now takes place in late June.
This is a Horcrux free zone.
Also, for reference, if a location change occurs and there is no accompanying date, those events are taking place on the same day.
Dangerous Part 6
Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft
Black Lake
Wednesday, February 24, 1995
As Harry slumped forward, unconscious, all hell broke loose. Four stunners flew over the heads of the people on the dock to knock out the Merman who had thrown the trident. Hermione continued to scream, struggling in Fleur's arms. Cho had buried her head in Cedric's chest while Marietta, Luna, Susan, and Hannah held each other. The only person who looked pleased was Ron Weasley.
Dumbledore cast a Sonorus on himself. "Poppy, we need you immediately!"
Dumbledore then drew his wand. "Madam Umbridge, stop where you are!"
"Dumbledore, I do not have time, I have work at the Ministry to do!" Umbridge complained as Madam Bones and her Aurors approached Black lake.
"Amelia, what are you doing here?!" Umbridge demanded.
"I was summoned by Minerva, what in Merlin's name happened?" Bones demanded.
Dumbledore was about to speak when Umbridge cut in. "We've had some difficulties, however, if Potter survives, I want him arrested!" Umbridge declared as Poppy Pomfrey ran past Umbridge, Bones and the Aurors to Harry. She quickly cast a cutting curse on the shaft of the trident causing it to fall heavily to the ground. She then cast several diagnostic spells over the wound. "Albus, I can't treat this here, I need to take Mister Potter to St Mungo's."
Dumbledore nodded, picking up a rope that had been leftover from securing the dock to the bank and enchanted it to become a portkey. "This will take you straight to St Mungo's. I'm sure Miss Delacour and Miss Granger will insist on accompanying you."
Pomfrey had just finished sending a messenger Patronus off to the Hospital when she took the rope in her hands, securing one end around Harry's wrist, throwing the other to Fleur who was cradling a sobbing Hermione in her arms. The portkey activated seconds later, and the four disappeared.
Dumbledore then turned to the argument between Delores Umbridge and Amelia Bones. "Delores, what nonsense are you spouting now, arrest Harry Potter for what?"
"Threatening a Ministry employee!" Umbridge declared.
"Madam, Mister Potter did not threaten you." Dumbledore elaborated.
"He tried to attack me!" Umbridge yelled.
Dumbledore turned to Vince Crabbe, and Greg Goyle who had been in conversation with Draco Malfoy as Narcissa held him tight and Lucius stood beside them looking increasingly angry. "Misters Goyle and Crabbe, you were there this morning, did Mister Potter try to attack Madam Umbridge?"
Crabbe and Goyle looked at Draco, who nodded. "Nope."
"Lies! They had to restrain him!" Umbridge protested.
"Nah, we didn't have to restrain him, we grabbed him to stop him from falling down. He was upset you'd put Granger under the lake." Crabbe elaborated.
"You did what?!" Bones spat.
"A muggle-born witch, no one of consequence," Umbridge replied dismissively.
"That's not how you described them when we were in the Great Hall, you said they were mudbloods, foreign witches, creatures and you said Draco wasn't your kind of wizard. Why, because he's gay?" Pansy hissed.
Umbridge paled catching sight of the expression on Lucius Malfoy's face. "He has a duty to his family, he can't be associated with that kind of wizard!"
"I believe it is my son's prerogative who he associates with, Madam Umbridge. And as for your opinions about the future of my family, I would thank you to keep them to yourself," Lucius replied coolly.
"Madam Bones, I insist Delores Umbridge be arrested for threatening the lives of my students. They did not agree to be participants in this task. Miss Granger was ripped from her bed in the middle of the night and left under the lake for several hours. This was not approved by myself nor any of the tournament organisers!"
"Hem, hem, I was appointed by the Minister to represent his interests in place of Mister Crouch. I have full authority to make decisions about how this tournament is run."
"Your made unilateral decisions about the lives of children, children you've clearly stated you do not care about! I suspect you also have something to do with the attempt on Mister Potter's life!"
"What nonsense! Why would I have anything to do with what that creature did, it was probably upset its dinner was being stolen!"
"Because Potter wasn't the target," Draco guessed. "He turned Granger to face the lake, probably to shield her from the wind. That's when the trident was thrown."
"The theory fits the facts," Bones agreed.
"I do not have time for this, I am the Undersecretary for the Minister for Magic, I will be returning to the Ministry at once. And I will be making a formal complaint against Mister Potter if he survives."
Umbridge attempted to march away, but on a signal from Bones, the Aurors surrounded her. "If you touch me, I will see all of you fired!"
"Then the Minister will have to fire me first. Arrest her," Bones ordered casting a silencing charm on a still protesting Umbridge. The older redhead turned to look at Lucius Malfoy. "I assume there will be no ministerial interference?"
"I am not the Minister, but I will seriously weigh the evidence if Madam Umbridge is brought to trial. Her alleged actions put my son in grave danger. No one threatens a Malfoy..."
Bones gave the blonde man a curt nod and proceeded back to the castle. Lucius turned to Viktor. "You are Viktor Krum?"
"I am."
"You saved my son, you have my thanks."
"I wasn't the only person in that lake, Harry, Fleur, Cedric and I saved your son, and the other hostages," Viktor explained curtly.
"I see... I will keep that in mind," Lucius replied evenly.
"See that you do," Viktor stated giving Draco a hug before accompanying Cedric, Cho and the rest of their friends back to the castle. There would be no celebrations tonight, not even points had been awarded, also if they had nobody would care. Harry's life was still in grave danger, it would be a long wait to see if he survived.
St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies
Friday 26 February 1995
It had been a long three days for Hermione Granger after the Portkey deposited Harry, Pomfrey, Fleur, and herself in the emergency ward of St Mungo's, Harry has been carefully levitated to the surgical ward. Hermione had sat waiting and sobbing into Fleur's arms until her body finally exhausted itself and she'd fallen asleep.
By the time Hermione had awakened, Harry was out of surgery. Pomfrey estimated he would be unconscious for a few days to a week until his body had finished knitting itself back together and the strain on his magical core eased.
This gave Hermione time to reflect on her relationship with Harry and how it had changed since the tournament began. It had indeed been a roller coaster, but Harry had made genuine effort to make up for his previous behaviour, and it had reinforced to her that she was definitely in love with the raven-haired boy. But she'd let her fear about Harry leaving her for someone prettier ruin her chance to be with him.
Hermione resolved that once Harry woke up; she would tell him she loved him. The only problem with that plan had just walked back into the room and sat down on the opposite side of the bed. Hermione knew Fleur had developed strong feelings for Harry as well and wasn't likely to give him up.
Fleur smiled. "I see you've finally realised your feelings for Arry?"
Hermione blushed and nodded, looking down at the bed. "Yeah, I love him, not that it changes much. He's still dating you, and he's not going to change his mind about that just because I figured out how I feel about him. I'm about two months too late for that conversation."
Fleur looked at her unconscious boyfriend and then back at Hermione. She picked up Hermione's hand and placed it over Harry's. "it's not though, Arry deserves his happiness."
"But Harry is happy with you!" Hermione protested.
"For the moment, but eventually he will tire of me, all men tire of their Veela playthings eventually," Fleur explained bitterly.
Hermione shook her head, her wild curls flying in front of her face. "No, that won't happen, Harry would never do that to you. He can be a bit of a jerk sometimes and a bit moody, but he's also fiercely loyal and kind, you're not his plaything, you're his girlfriend and maybe one day his w-wife," Hermione spat out reluctantly, trying to ignore the pang of her heart. "He would never tire of you, he's not like that."
Fleur smiled, reaching out to brush some of Harry's hair from his face. "I would like that to be true, but the experience of my people tells me different. And a man in Arry's position needs a certain type of woman at his side, the British Pureblood's would never approve of a creature as Arry's wife. At best, I could hope to be his whore, his mistress. I could never rise above that…"
"And you think I'd have it better? I'm a muggle-born witch, to them I'm only one rung above you. Harry has never cared about class or race, you know that, so why are you so ready to run away from him?!"
"Because I don't want to get my heartbroken! I love him, and I'm going to lose him to the woman he loves, that's you, Hermione. I can feel it, your magic is reaching out for him, you want him. If his magic weren't busy healing him, it would be reaching out for you as well. The witches at Hogwarts aren't just attracted to his money and fame, they also feel the pull of his magic. He is in love with you Hermione, how am I supposed to compete with that?"
Hermione groaned, dropping her head and allowing her wild curls to collect around her face. "I don't want to compete with you Fleur, I just want everyone to be happy."
"This isn't a fairy tale, Hermione, not everyone gets a happy ending," Fleur replied bitterly.
"Why not, why can't for once we get a happy ending? Harry's been treated so poorly by his relatives, and when he's at school, he gets praised or abused depending on what mood the Daily Prophet is in on that day. No, for once we get to win!" Hermione exclaimed grabbing Fleur's hand and putting it together with hers on top of Harry's. "T-this might be a bit uncomfortable at first, a-and it'll take some getting used too, but I want us to be together. All of us."
Fleur raised an eyebrow, to which Hermione smiled and blushed. "There is no rule that says I can't be attracted to another witch, a-and you're a beautiful witch Fleur."
"Merci, Hermione," Fleur replied, leaning over to give her a peck on the lips.
Their moment was interrupted by a cough. "I'll be honest, I can think of a lot worse ways to wake up."
"Arry/Harry!" The girls exclaimed lunging forward to hug his sides.
Harry groaned. "Easy, I got shish kebabbed a recently…"
Hermione smacked him on the chest. "Prat, you made me so worried! What on earth possessed you to throw yourself in front of a trident?!"
Harry gave her a serious look. "I love you, Hermione, I promised I would protect you; I've never lied to you, I've been a complete bastard. But I've never lied. I refuse to let anyone hurt you again. If that means putting myself in harm's way to do it, so be it."
Hermione threw herself forward, burying her head in his chest. "You're so stupid, Harry James Potter, how can you protect me if you're dead!"
Harry leaned his head forward and buried his face in Hermione's bushy curls, taking a deep breath, relishing the smell of parchment and Hermione's shampoo. "I would find a way."
Harry then noticed Fleur trying to slip away. "Fleur, stop."
Fleur looked at Harry tearfully. "Please, don't do this Arry…"
Harry fixed her with a stern look, reaching out with his hand as Hermione watched. "Didn't you hear what Hermione said, she wants the three of us to be together, and so do I."
"But you don't love me Arry," Fleur pointed out agitatedly.
"Let me decide who I love and don't love, I love Hermione, and I love you. I want the three of us to be together, and I don't give a damn what other people say or think. I haven't given a damn what the rest of Wizarding Britain thought for a long damn time. Please Fleur, don't make me get out of this comfortable bed to carry you over here."
Fleur had a mix of mock outrage and amusement on her face. "You wouldn't dare…"
Harry grinned. "Try me."
Fleur laughed and shook her head. "Non, you are still recovering, you're going to need all your strength to cope with two girlfriends."
Harry's face heated up and Hermione frowned. "Harry James Potter, just what are you thinking?"
"Nothing!" Was Harry's strangled reply, which earned him another smack in the chest from his girlfriend.
Fleur laughed as she approached the door, but Harry called her back. "Fleur! What…"
"Harry, shut up, she's going to get a doctor, right?" Hermione asked seriously.
"Oui, I will be back, I promise," Fleur confirmed, to Harry's relief.
Saturday 27 February 1995
Harry woke up late Saturday night and immediately drew his wand, he aimed it at the man standing at the end of his bed, Lucius Malfoy. The man in question only smiled and showed his wand to Harry before placing on the table at the end of the bed, in Harry's eye view. "Peace, Mister Potter, I am not here to harm you."
"You'll forgive me if I don't believe you, based on the last time we were this distance from each other, a House Elf put you on your arse. I suspect Draco learned how to hold a grudge from you."
Lucius snorted a laugh. "I won't deny it, but I am serious about not being here to harm you."
"Fine, but I'm not letting go of my wand."
"I would be insulted if you did."
"Go on then…"
"As surprising as it is to both of us, I owe you thanks for saving Draco's life on Tuesday."
"I wasn't the only person down in that lake, besides Viktor was far more responsible for that than I was, you should thank him."
"I have, but Mister Krum echoed your sentiments, he was not the only… person, down in that lake. There were others, including you. I have, reluctantly, passed my thanks on to the French Champion and Mister Diggory, you were last on my list."
Harry nodded. "Ok, putting aside our history, I appreciate your thanks. Since the Yule Ball Draco and I, I wouldn't say friends, but we have at least not been antagonistic towards each other. It's been a more pleasant way to spend the year rather than butting heads with your son."
"Draco informs me you've been busy making an ass of yourself trying to win the heart of your Mugglesborn friend…"
Harry sighed, looking away. "As much as I would like to deny it, I can't…"
A wry smile appeared on Lucius's face. "Your friend, Granger, is an exceedingly bright woman, or so I'm told, appeal to her intelligence. My wife is similarly bright, and I found it was the easiest way to woo her when I was first pursuing her."
Harry opened and closed his mouth several times. "Thank you, Mister Malfoy, I will keep that in mind."
"See that you do, goodnight Mister Potter."
"Goodnight Mister Malfoy."
Tuesday 28 February 1995
"Are you sure I look ok?" Harry asked, standing in front of the mirror in his room, it was his last day in the hospital and he was about to be discharged. Harry, Hermione, and Fleur were waiting for Dumbledore and McGonagall to escort them back to the castle.
Hermione came up behind him and straightened the new robes Appoline Delacour had bought for him in Paris and sent over via Owl mail to Fleur. They had explained their unique situation and Harry had been slightly surprised when Appoline enthusiastically supported their decision. Harry hoped Missus Granger would be as supportive when it came time to explain it to her. "Harry, you look very handsome and these robes are gorgeous. Arcomantula silk agrees with you."
"It's very comfortable, although it does bring back memories of the last time, I was close to an Acromantula, that's not a memory I like to revisit."
Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek. "My big brave Gryffindor…"
"You enjoy teasing me way too much…" Harry replied with a pout.
"Girlfriend's prerogative," Hermione replied smugly.
"I like the sound of that," Harry observed with a smile.
"Me too."
"You two can make out when we get back to Arry's accommodation," Fleur teased with a smirk.
"You're just jealous it wasn't you…" Hermione bit back, playfully.
"Oui, but I can wait my turn," Fleur replied, giving Harry a kiss on the lips, she then turned and gave Hermione a peck on the lips, which made Harry grin.
"You're such a pervert…" Hermione mumbled.
"I'm a fourteen-year-old boy, and two beautiful witches are kissing in front of me. I can't help it," Harry moaned in reply.
Hermione was about to retort when a knock at the door drew their attention. "Good afternoon Mister Potter, Miss Delacour and Granger, may we enter?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course, Headmaster, are you well?" Harry asked, to which Fleur and Hermione rolled their eyes.
"Never change, Mister Potter, I am fine, thank you. Better now, seeing you up and around. Are we prepared to return to Hogwarts?"
"Yes sir," Harry replied, and the five left his room and began walking towards the public floo. Harry was deep in thought for a few moments before he returned his attention to the Headmaster. "Sir did you find out what happened during the second task, these two wouldn't tell me anything."
"That's because you were in recovery, you didn't need any excitement while you were healing," Hermione replied admonishingly.
"Quite right too Miss Granger," McGonagall agreed.
"Now that you're my girlfriend, you're going to fuss over me even more than usual, aren't you?" Harry asked despairingly, but with a smile on his face.
"Girlfriend's prerogative," Hermione replied.
"Trademark Hermione Granger…" Harry muttered, earning a swat on the arm from Hermione.
Dumbledore sighed, reluctant to sour the mood. "Unfortunately, yes, we did discover what happened. Madam Umbridge drafted in an Auror, John Dawlish, to kidnap Miss Granger, the younger Miss Delacour, Mister Malfoy and Miss Chang and put them at the bottom of the Black Lake. She never intended for them to survive the second task, she felt she would be able to place the blame on the Merperson village. Madam Umbridge's backup plan was for a Merman, bribed by Dawlish, to kill Miss Granger."
Harry frowned. "Why just Hermione…?"
"Madam Umbridge has a long-standing hatred of the Potter family, she feels they have sullied their good name by mixing with Mugglesborns and Blood Traitors, her words. After the stories in the Daily Prophet, she was worried that yet another generation of Potters was taking up with Mugglesborns, she felt that murdering Miss Granger would be a suitable warning against you taking a Mugglesborn witch as a girlfriend and potentially a wife."
Harry stopped, his magic roiling against his skin, Hermione reached out and grabbed a hand, with Fleur taking the other and pulling him towards them. "Harry, it's ok, they convicted her, she's in Azkaban now. She won't hurt us again, I promise."
Harry took several deep breaths and nodded. "Ok, ok… Headmaster, how long will she be in Azkaban for?"
"Life Harry, as soon as the Minister witnessed the memories contributed by me and others who were in the Great Hall, including Mister Malfoy, he, as the muggles put it, 'hung her out to dry'."
"Unfortunately, Delores continued to protest even as she was dragged out of the courtroom. I can't say I am upset; she was a blight on the Ministry, and the only reason she was able to get away with such bigotry was that she was protected by the Minister." McGonagall explained.
"You weren't able to convince the Minister to review… other memories, were you?"
Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "No Harry, I'm sorry, without irrefutable evidence the Minister won't budge on that subject."
"But the memories…" Harry protested.
"The memories weren't submitted as evidence; they were shown to the Minister in private to convince him to give up his defence of Madam Umbridge. For the moment we will have to be patient."
Harry sagged unhappily. "I understand…"
Dumbledore rested a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Have faith Harry, we will archive our goal eventually."
Fleur looked between them, puzzled. "I'll explain later, in private," Harry assured her.
The five finally arrived at the public floo and returned to Hogwarts. Dumbledore and McGonagall accompanied them from the Headmaster's office down to the Great Hall. Dumbledore paused at the doors. "I should warn you, we may have informed the students that you were returning today…"
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Headmaster, what did you do?"
"Me? Nothing, your fellow students, however…" Dumbledore replied with a twinkle in his eyes as he flung the doors open.
"WELCOME BACK HARRY!" The entire hall screamed as fireworks were let off by the Weasley twins. Harry sighed and shook his head with a fond smile on his face, the hall had been decorated with balloons and streamers with a banner at the back at of the room echoing the proclamation of the students.
As Harry walked in a pair of blonde blurs tackled him, causing him to stagger and be caught by Hermione and Fleur. He looked down to find Gabrielle and Luna hugging the stuffing out of him. He gently patted them on the heads. "It's ok you two, I'm back now."
"Dummy, you scared us!" Luna admonished him with Gabrielle echoing her sentiments in French.
"Sorry, I didn't mean too."
"Of course, you did Potter, you had to go and be all Gryffindor and save the girl, who you just got through saving," Daphne Greengrass observed as she approached with Neville.
Harry smiled ruefully. "I can't be anything than what I am."
"Hmph, I should be upset with you, you made my Neville worried sick, but I am relieved you are well."
"Thank you, Daphne, you ok Nev?"
"I am now, glad you're back."
That sentiment resonated through Harry's other friends as he got hugs all around, except the Slytherin contingent, who stood off to the side with Draco. Harry broke off from the others to walk over with Viktor. "I hate to admit it Malfoy, but it's good to see you."
"I feel the same… But I'm glad you survived. Who else am I going to bother daily, Weasley doesn't pose much of an intellectual challenge," Draco replied with a smirk.
"I won't argue with you there, look, I know we'll never be friends, but I hope from now on we can at least not be enemies," Harry stated extending his hand for Draco to shake.
"I can agree to that," Draco replied, accepting Harry's handshake.
Azkaban Prison, North Sea
Delores Umbridge paced her cell glaring angrily at the door, it had been five days since her sentencing, and she'd fully expected the Minister to come to her aid before now. But it was becoming increasingly evident that he really had abandoned her to Dumbledore and his ilk. The Muggles lover had taken great joy in putting her in Azkaban. No one had cared they were only mudbloods, creatures and foreigners, they were nothing compared to the Pureblood wizards of the Wizengamot.
Umbridge was shaken from her internal ranting by the sound of her cell door opening. She brightened when Lucius Malfoy and Auror Williamson entered. "Gentleman, it is good to see you."
"Is it…" Malfoy replied coldly.
"I assume Cornelius sent you, he clearly can't be seen to be letting me escape, it would be bad for his image. I understand."
"You really are as stupid as advertised, I am not here to help you escape," Malfoy explained, drawing his wand.
"Then…" Umbridge began and then paled. "N-no, I was loyal, I supported the Purebloods!"
"Until you tried to murder my son… No one threatens a Malfoy… Avada Kedavra!"
A moment later, Delores Umbridge was dead. Lucius Malfoy snapped the wand he'd used and threw it out the window of her cell. He turned to Williamson, dropping a bag of Galleons in his hand. "Clean this up and meet me on the boat."
To Be Continued…
That chapter didn't quite go as planned, I thought this would reach the Third Task, but I still have some set up to do before we reach that point in the story. But hey, Harry/Fleur/Hermione are officially together now. We are two chapters away from the end, I just hope I don't say that at the end of next chapter…
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