Chapter EIGHTEEN
Chaos at the World Cup
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Following the trend of the past year the summer holidays have been undisturbed by anything related to Voldemort and Prophesies, or anything else stressful, thus making them nice and relaxing.
Harrison having received his Muggle Diploma at the end of June in the mail, - where he was happy to note that he had received top marks- had decided that he would relax his schedule a bit as he waited for his OWL results to arrive. Thus, his days were spent running, and playing quidditch; or just flying lazily around the pitch, relaxing with a book just for pleasure, visiting his friends, spending time with his dad, or going to his now 3 nights a week mixed martial arts classis. Of which his dad had finally decided to join him.
With his days still Busy, even if he didn't spend hours studying each day, the summer passed by relatively quickly and before he knew it, it was nearing the middle of July and his OWL results were expected to arrive any day.
So, each morning he eagerly waited for the morning post while they ate breakfast, and as the days passed with no delivery, his anticipation only grew, until one day when he happened to be late to breakfast, as he had to stop off at the library on his way to the dining hall to pen a quick response to his account manager at Gringotts, he was happy to notice the stack of mail sat on the table at his usual spot.
"Morning Dad, sorry for being late," he apologized as he sat down. "I had to send Sharpclaw a response immediately."
Sirius just waved his son off, as he waited patiently for him to settle in his chair and pick up the top letter in his small pile. This letter was undoubtedly his OWL results, as it was thicker than any of the others.
Taking a deep breath as he quickly opened the letter, Harrison scanned the results first, before a smile broke out upon his face and he proceeded to read them aloud.
HPSBHP
Ordinary Wizarding Level Results
Passing Grades Failing Grades
Outstanding (O) Poor (P)
Exceeds Expectations (E) Dreadful (D)
Acceptable (A) Troll (T)
Harrison James Potter-Black has received the Following:
Ancient Runes - O
Arithmancy - O
Astronomy - O
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Charms - EE
Defense Against the Dark Arts - OO+
Herbology - EE
History of Magic - O
Magical Theory - O
Magical Law - O
Potions - O
Transfiguration - O
Students receiving the OO+ have achieved the highest grades possible in the subject and are automatically awarded both an OWL score and a NEWT Score.
Professor Griselda Marchbanks
Governor, Wizarding Examination Authority.
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Once he was finished, Sirius had immediately jumped up and grabbed his son in a hug. "Congratulation's pup, 12 OWLS, and on top of completing your Muggle schooling with top marks, I am so unbelievably proud of you." He told him as he pulled away.
"And you received top marks in Defense, but I didn't know you were also taking the exams for Magical Law and Theory, when did you decide that?" he asked curiously.
"The week before, I wrote ahead and asked if I could sit those ones too, as they could be done in between a couple of my other exams. I figure it would be good to have them." Harrison told him shrugging.
Sirius just shook his head and hugged his son one last time before they pulled apart to finally eat their meal. Thankful for heating charms, their food was still nice and hot when they dug in.
HPSMHP
For Harrison's fourteenth birthday, Sirius had gifted him with tickets to the Quidditch World cup, happening in the middle of August. Harrison couldn't wait to watch Bulgaria vs Ireland. He was rooting for Bulgaria to win, though could admit that the Ireland team had some superb chasers so, anyone could easily take the game.
On the morning of the 11 or August, Sirius, and Harrison, were up bright and early, excitedly discussing the upcoming game and predicting how they each hope it would go, over a filling English breakfast.
As soon as they were finished breakfast Sirius would be taking Harrison by side-along apparition to the field where they would set up the family tent and spend the entire weekend enjoying the experience of the Match as well as with their respective friends.
Remus along with Sirius's cousin Andy her, husband Ted and their daughter Dora would be joining them later in the afternoon as part of a late birthday celebration for Harrison, as the Tonks' had been away at the end of July and were unable to attend his birthday dinner at home.
Standing from the table after the dishes had been cleared away by the houseelves, Sirius manipulated the Wards as he grabbed a hold of his sons' shoulder, and turning on the spot, apparated them to the designated apparition spot, on top of a hill facing a field bustling with witches and Wizards dressed in all sorts of ridiculous muggle clothing. 'Honestly, couldn't they have done at least a little research into the muggle world.' Harrison thought rolling his eyes. Especially after seeing one particular man wearing women's nightgown and nothing else.
Making quick work, they descended the hill, and made their way over to the teller to the left to pay and get their camping location, before making their way in the direction given. They were greeted by many people who recognized them as they walked, Harrison's schoolmates, or former work mates of Sirius', but soon enough they made it to their destination and made quick work of setting up the tent and stepping inside.
Whereas the outside appeared as nothing more than seemingly normal looking 2-man tent, the inside revealed a large flat, with three bedrooms, a bathroom, sitting, full kitchen and dining area.
After straightening up and looking around, Harrison grinned before turning to his dad, and breathed out an awed, "I Love Magic!"
Sirius just laughed before ruffling his hair, much to his son annoyance and his own immense amusement before making his way back outside to start of the fire.
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The others had arrived a few hours later, and they had spent the afternoon after laughing, and celebrating and before they knew it, the evening had come, and lights were being lit, creating a path through the woods behind the campsite, taking them to the large stadium where the game was about to begin.
They quickly made their way and settled in the top box, where they were unfortunately sharing with the Malfoys, and a few others. But when they noticed the Weasleys, filing in to take their seats, they made sure to nod in greeting. Harrison was surprised but not upset when he noticed the twins take the two seats directly beside him, leaving the last seat of their row for their younger brother to take.
As everyone finally got settles and Ludo Bagman addressed the crowd, to begin the 467th annual world cup, then proceeding to announce the two teams who came out in a grand show of talent and showmanship. Finally, with a last call for the teams to take their places, the game began.
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The game had been an exciting affair. As expected, the Ireland chasers were top notch, and had held the lead in points for the majority of the game.
Harrison had been on the edge of his seat at one point when he witnessed Victor Krum pull off the perfect Wronski Feint minovery, resulting in the Ireland seeker being taken out of the remainder of the game, after crashing full speed into the hard ground.
Harrison had hoped with the Ireland seeker out of the running for the snitch, that Bulgaria just might take the game, but in a move that was predicted by so few, Victor Krum had caught the snitch, leaving Ireland to win with 460 points to Bulgaria's 420.
Harrison had laughed as Fred and George had jumped up and began doing some kind of victory dance beside him. After which they explained they had bet Bagman that this exact outcome would occur and with their winnings they now had enough to open up their joke shop, which was their dream.
After the teams had shaken hands and congratulated each other, they made their way to the top box as was tradition to shake the hands of the men and woman who put the event together. When they made it close to where Harrison and his family stood waiting to be able to leave the box and continue celebrating, Harrison after catching the seventeen-year-old Bulgarian seekers eye, congratulated him on a spectacular Wronski Feint in his native tongue, surprising the teen and those around him, who didn't know he spoke the language.
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Much later that evening, when most were sound asleep after hours of celebrating, one word was uttered, a spell cast with a stolen wand and in the air appeared a skull and snake in a deep vivid green.
Soon enough screams were heard all around the campground waking those that were once asleep. Harrison and Sirius rushed out of their tent's wands raised, as stared in horror at the image in the sky, before their attention was drawn to where three masked individuals were laughing as they floated the muggle man from the check in station and his family high above the screaming crowed.
"Harrison, go with Dora back to the house, I'm going to see if I can help." Sirius told him, firmly, not allowing for the argument he could the teen gearing up for. "I'll concentrate better, if I don't have to worry about you out here alright?"
Clenching his jaw, Harrison nodded once before following the older woman back towards the Apparition spot. However, on their way, they came across a large, panicked group and found themselves being shuffled into the woods back towards the stadium instead.
After watching the two leave, Sirius along with Remus, Andy and Ted made their way towards the mask individuals along with a few notable ministry workers. Working together they made quick work to subdue them, and safely lowered the muggle family to the ground, where they were hit with a couple stupify's and taken away to have their memories altered. When they wake again in the morning, it will have been nothing more than a bad dream.
The three attackers were taken into custody by a couple Aurors, who had unmasked them revealing to the shock of those present, Lucius Malfoy, Thaddeus Crabbe, and Gideon Goyle, three people who had all claimed to be imperiused during the last war.
Sirius hoped that with the new members of the government, and the DMLE being run by Amelia, this time they would be forced to be questioned under Veritaserum and would finally be sent to Azkaban where they should have been for the past thirteen years.
After the attack had been dealt with, the others not needed to escort the three men to the ministry holding cells to await trial, split up in search of the source of the spell for the dark mark.
Sirius had ended up running into Arthur as he searched the forest, the man in a panic as he was looking for his missing children. Sighing in relief that he at least knew his son was home safe, he had decided to help in the man's search while he kept an eye out for the potential culprit of the dark mark.
It took them nearly an hour of searching before their attention was drawn to a small clearing not far from them. They quickly made their way over, when suddenly Arthur noticed something amongst all the spells flying around.
"STOP…STOP" he yelled running forward. "those are my sons!"
Sure, enough crouched on the ground in the middle of the clearing were his three youngest sons, and to Sirius utter horror, Harrison, and Dora.
"Harrison, what are you doing here?" he demanded shocked, as he rushed to his cousin and son. "I thought I told you both to go home."
"We were, but we got caught in a crowd and couldn't make it through, next thing we knew we were being pushed further into the forest in the panic." Harrison told him immediately, not wanting to anger the clearly worried man.
"Which one of you did it?" Was suddenly yelled as a man in bowler hat stormed forward wand raised. "Which one?"
"Crouch they are just kids, "his companion stated firmly, getting in between the irate man and the others.
Hearing the name of the man who had once, imprisoned Sirius without a trial Harrison stepped forward angrily only to be stopped by the hand his father had placed on his shoulder, to keep him in place. Looking up at him, Harrison could see the man's jaw was clenched as he glared at Crouch in front of them.
Their lawyer had hit the members of the old government who were still around with lawsuit after lawsuit, in retribution for the injustice Sirius had endured at their hands, thus forcing them all to lose their prestigious jobs -Crouch included- and pay a hefty settlement along with their reputations ruined. But sometimes Harrison believed it wasn't enough. Sometimes, the old Harrison who had endured the abuse of his relatives, and wanted them to pay, to hurt would rise up, and he would wish for more, for them to get what they dished out. Sometimes he wanted them to spend 12 years behind Azkaban's walls and experience the hell his dad had gone though.
But then he would take a breath and count down from 10 in as many languages as he knew, until his temper cooled, and he was able to put an indifferent expression on his face once more, and relish in the knowledge that they got what they deserved and would have to live with it for the rest of their lives.
Deciding, he had done enough, Sirius had escorted his son and cousin away from the group, and apparated them both back home as soon as he was free of the anti-apparition wards.
He would learn in the morning addition of the Dailey prophet, that a house-elf by the name of Winky, was found with the youngest Weasley boys stolen wand, at the site where the dark mark had been cast.
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The last few weeks of summer passed quietly.
Now, the school year had been underway for almost two months, as they were coming into the last week of October.
Tonight, as they sat in the great all eating dinner, the normalcy was interrupted as the headmaster stood for his chair, to address the student body.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as you sit and enjoy your meal, I would like to make an announcement. It is my honor and privilege to announce that for the first time in more than a century, Hogwarts will be hosts to the Triwizard tournament.
Tomorrow evening will be greeting the students of both Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute. Where we will then host them for the remainder of the year. More details will be given tomorrow evening."
Hushed whispers took over the room, as the students began to excitedly discuss the tournament.
And sure enough, the very next night found every student, and staff member stood on the grounds of the school watching in amazement as a large flying horse drawn carriage appeared over the mountains, and from the center of the black lake, a dark ship suddenly broke the water's surface before sailing and docking near the shore.
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As the spectacle that was the two foreign schools' entrance had calmed down, they finally found themselves sat in the great hall for a late dinner. The new students settling themselves amongst the four house tables, taking things in with critical eyes.
When the meal was coming to an end, Dumbledore stood to address the hall at large once more.
"Students, both of Hogwarts, and visiting. It is time to lay down a few rules. At midnight tonight, the Goblet of fire will be placed in the entrance hall, and an age line cast by myself, will be place around its perimeter. Anyone over the age of seventeen may enter the tournament, however, know this, if you enter your name, there will be no turning back, so be sure it is what you desire.
There will be three tasks over the next few months, at the end the one who receives the golden cup, will with themselves 1000 galleons, and Glory for themselves and their respective school.
While the tournament goes on, I want you all to participate in interschool cooperation. Get to know the students at each school, make friends, and allies. But most of all, enjoy the excitement that is sure to come.
So now, it is my great honor to announce that the TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT HAS BEGUN!"