Getting back to the Great Hall was a world of difference after disappearing for the whole day with Hermione. They both agreed to keep being friends, and even when Hermione wasn't sure how well that would go in Slytherin, Harry was adamant that he didn't want to hide his friendship with her. Hermione was practically his sister, so the Slytherin's would be in for a treat if they would say a bad thing about her.
Hermione just shook her head fondly and didn't say anything, but Harry could tell that she was secretly pleased.
The Slytherin seventh years didn't mind when Harry sat with them again, even if some of them were uncomfortable. Izzy clearly didn't care because she immediately started asking him what he had done today.
''My, it feels a little like the Spanish inquisition. I had some loose ends that needed to be tied up. Is that okay?'' He replies sarcastically. Izzy merely beams at him. ''Atta boy, never answer a question directly as a Slytherin. You're already learning.'' She pats him on the arm, and he rolls his eyes.
''I did have an excellent teacher.'' He drawled with a smirk, thinking back at Lady Magic that surely had been a Slytherin if she ever would've been sorted at Hogwarts.
At that moment, Snape descends on him. He smirks at the man, and Snape sneers back. ''Potter, with me.'' He then turns around, and Harry lets out a put-out sigh, making the seventh years snigger around him.
He quickly follows Snape to the room next to the Great Hall, where the champions should've been gathered the day before. He sees Cedric making his way, too, with Sprout by his side.
When he steps into the room, he sees the other champions already there with their respective Headmasters.
Harry also sees Mr. Bagman and Crouch standing in a corner, Bagman seems excited, and Crouch looks more like he wants to flee the room and be sick. Harry dismissed them and waited until Cedric took place next to him to talk.
''Hello Cedric, I'm sorry for everything that happened. I really didn't want to steal your thunder or anything. If it were up to me, I wouldn't have competed at all. And like I said yesterday, I will be contesting under a 'fourth school' so you're still the Hogwarts champion, you deserve that.'' Harry tells the blonde wizard seriously.
Cedric looks at him incredulously before he grins at Harry. ''Thank you, Harry, that means a lot. I - well, I wanted to ask if you're okay, because yesterday-''
Harry waves his question away. ''I'm fine. I got adopted and had three calm years with a lot of training and studying. Instead of being constantly on the edge of dying, it was a nice change of pace.'' Harry replies with a smirk when Cedric's eyes widen, and the laugh he lets out seems a little strained.
''Adopted?'' Fleur suddenly interrupts, clearly having overheard the conversation. ''My clazzmates told me that you were taken by Death.'' She looks at Harry curiously, and Harry smiles at her.
''Death did tell everyone that I'm his chosen child, sounds like adoption to me,'' Harry replies with a wink, making Fleur blush and look away.
''The Prophet will have a field day tomorrow! The Triwizard Tournament will be known all over the world, especially with the boy who lived adopted by Death himself!'' Bagman exclaims excitedly.
Harry barely represses a sneer aimed at the man, but then Dumbledore walks in, and Harry straightens a little. It won't surprise him if Dumbledore wants to speak with him after this.
Bagman then claps Crouch harshly on the shoulder, making the older wizard wince. ''Barty! Please have the honors, tell them about the first task!''
''Yes- yes, the first task.'' Harry again can't help but think that the man looks sick.
"The first task is designed to test your daring," Crouch tells Harry, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard-'' Crouch seems to be lost in thoughts for a moment before he mumbles ''very important.'' Harry frowns at the strange behavior of the man but dismisses it for now.
"The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges.'' Bagman then chimes in.
"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. And of course, all champions are excused from exams this year, but you already knew this.''
Harry nods because he did indeed know this, Cedric seems lost for a moment, and Harry can understand. It's also Cedric NEWT year. So he leans over to the wizard while whispering. ''You can take your NEWTS at the Ministry in the summer, so you can still qualify for the job you want to get.'' Cedric looks startled for a moment before smiling at Harry, seeming relieved with information.
''Now-'' Bagman said with a clap of his hands, and the door from the side chamber opened again. Rita Skeeter comes in with a wizard that is flashing away with his camera. She immediately leveled her gaze on Harry and strode towards him until Snape stepped in front of Harry. Harry had never been so relieved for Snape's Snapeness. ''-The weighing of the wands! And of course the interviews after!'' Bagman finishes with a cheer.
Harry looked around Snape to see him in a staring contest with Rita Skeeter while Ollivander walked into the chamber.
Ollivander made his way to Fleur first and inspected her wand while talking about what it was made from. Then he conjured flowers with the wand before gifting them to Fleur. Then he made his way to Cedric. He did the same tests and also declared Cedric's wand in good working order. The same it went with Viktor, and then it was Harry's turn.
He handed over his wand with trepidation, and as soon as Ollivander held the wand, his eyes snapped to Harry's. But Dumbledore was right there. Harry couldn't say anything, and he really, really, really, hoped that Ollivander would understand Harry's intent gaze and wouldn't say anything about it. Thankfully, the old wizard seemed not inclined to tell Harry's secret.
''Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember—another wand from my own. Everything seems in working order. Moving on-'' Harry could've sagged in relief, but he couldn't show it. He already could feel Snape's gaze on him. Thankfully, Dumbledore didn't seem to notice anything, talking with Madam Maxime.
Pictures were taken, and just when Harry wanted to bolt out of the chamber, Rita Skeeter blocked his way.
''Harry! Please, can I have an interview? Yesterday was-'' She waved her hand in front of her face in a way to cool her face. ''-intense, can you explain what happened? How Lord Death suddenly took an interest in you, and how you're suddenly older-'' She looked him up and down, and Harry curled his lip in disgust. ''-and so handsome.'' Rita purred, making Harry shiver.
Thankfully, help came before he hexed her into oblivion. ''Harry! It's getting pretty late. You don't mind walking with me back to the common room, right?'' Cedric asked with an innocent smile.
''Of course not, Cedric-'' Harry replied maybe a little too quickly, but anything to get him out of this. ''-I'm sorry, miss Skeeter, but it has been a tiring day. Everything I wanted to share I've already told. Now, if you excuse me-'' He then ducked around her and pulled Cedric with him.
They made it back to the corridors before they burst out laughing.
''That woman is awful,'' Cedric said with a big smile.
''You have no idea. Be careful what you say around her. She will twist it-'' Harry replied while they started walking towards the Hufflepuff common room. Harry didn't know exactly where they were, but he did know it was somewhere near the kitchens.
''So-'' Cedric said a little awkwardly. ''-You didn't want to join the Tournament at all, did you?''
''No, but it would've been more awful if I was still the same fourteen-year-old. Can you imagine? A fourteen-year-old against three tasks that were designed for seventeen-year-olds. Now I'm at least at the same level as you all.'' Harry responded with a shrug. He had made his peace with it while being away with Death. He was also glad that he made a wizarding oath so everybody couldn't do anything else but believe him.
Shit, he should write to Sirius. If he reads all of this in the paper, he will come back to Hogwarts, which was way too dangerous for him.
Cedric barked out a laugh and shook his head. ''At the same level, please, Harry, we both know that you wouldn't even be on the same level if you were still fourteen years old. You are going to wipe the floor with us.''
Harry scrunched up his nose, ''It's not like I wanted all of this. I really don't care about the prize money or the fame. I have both of that already.'' Harry replied utterly sincerely.
Cedric looked at him incredulously before laughing again. ''I guess you're right. I'm actually glad we're competing against each other again. I always liked playing against you during Quidditch. However, I'm glad you can't join the Slytherins this year. I rather lose from Gryffindor than from Slytherin.'' Cedric said with a wink.
Harry stopped walking suddenly when he came up with an idea. ''Let's make a pact, Cedric.''
Cedric stopped walking too and turned to Harry with a confused expression. ''What do you mean?''
''Let's help each other during the tasks. It's the least we could do, right? Even the playing field as much as possible. I will offer the same to the other champions tomorrow. We can't get help from the teachers, but we can help each other.''
Cedric looked taken aback for a moment before a grin took over his face. ''How very Hufflepuff of you, Harry, are you sure the hat placed you in the right house?''
Harry tried to hide his grimace, but Cedric still laughed at his expression. They said their goodbyes when Cedric was in the right corridor, and Harry made his way to the Slytherin dorms.
There he saw that the Slytherin's were divided into groups. All the Slytherin's were sitting by their own year mates, so Harry made his way to the seventh years.
He sat next to Gudgeon, who only raised an eyebrow at him that Harry simply ignored. Izzy made her way to Harry and dropped promptly in his lap, making Septima and Harry roll their eyes.
They talked about classes, and Izzy refused to move, but Septima didn't seem bothered by it. She seemed more resigned, probably used to Izzy and her antics.
Harry was just in discussion with Septima and Volkov about Magical Theory when he heard a familiar drawl behind him again.
''Already taking other people's witches, Potter?''
Harry rolled his head against the couch, so he was looking upside down at Malfoy, he was in a vulnerable position, but he knew that he could take Malfoy easily.
''You give me too much credit, Malfoy. And not enough to Izzy and Septima that you even think I could steal her from Septima is laughable.'' Harry drawled.
Malfoy sneered at Harry, but then Izzy stood.
''Draco-'' She purred, but Harry could hear the threat behind in and just smiled lazily. ''-you aren't assuming that I'm cheating on my girlfriend, are you?''
Malfoy seemed to pale a little, making him look like a ghost with his already pale expression. ''No, no, of course not Izzy-''
''Good, because I wouldn't. I just think Harry is interesting enough to be close to him. Maybe you should learn from that.''
Malfoy sneered again. ''So you think he's special? Why? Because he has a mudblood for a moth-''
Quicker than everybody could understand and especially quicker than anybody could react to, Draco Malfoy hung upside down in front of the seventh years, shrieking like a pig.
''Malfoy-'' Harry purred, ''-if I'm not allowed to talk about your father, why do you think you can talk about my mother?''
Harry was still sitting on his spot on the couch, his wand still in his holster, and his hands in a seemingly relaxed position on the couch. But everyone in the common room had grown silent and knew that Harry was the one using magic.
Malfoy was turning red in his face from hanging upside down, but Harry didn't care.
Then suddenly, Malfoy was released, and he fell down on the floor, not too hard. Harry didn't want to explain any bruises after all, but hard enough to make a sound.
Harry then stood and walked over to Malfoy, who was lying on the floor panting and watching Harry walk towards him warily.
Harry then kneeled down next to him. ''Let me be very, very, clear. I don't bloody care what your beliefs are-'' He looked at Malfoy first before looking up and looking around the entire Slytherin common room. ''But keep them to yourself. That goes for every single one of you. I am going to do something about this racism you all express-'' He said with a scoff before standing and holding out his hand to Malfoy, who eyed it warily before grasping Harry's hand. Harry pulled Malfoy to his feet before turning towards the entire room again.
''Who here is a half-blood?''
Several hands went up into the air, and Harry smiled at them.
''How do you feel when your friends and classmates make fun of muggle-borns, with other words, your parents or grandparents?''
Almost every Slytherin who hadn't raised their hands froze and seemed shocked. Malfoy was openly gaping, especially when he looked back to his own classmates, where two of them had raised their hands.
''Awful, but you can't really say anything about it. Otherwise, they would turn on you.'' Izzy spoke behind him. Harry hadn't even known that she was a half-blood, but he still nodded in her direction.
''Peer pressure, you don't want to fall out, so you follow the herd. But with it, you are hurting your own friends. As I said, I don't care what you believe. But fifty years ago, there was a muggle who thought that people who believed in a certain religion or had a certain color, or were gay, were less than him. And he executed them. Killing 75 million people with it.''
Harry looked around the room and saw shocked and aghast faces. Only the ones that had raised their hands when he asked who was half-blood seemed to have already known this.
''But those were muggles! They are less than us. We would never-'' A sixth year started, but Harry held up his hand, and the wizard stopped talking.
''What was Voldemort doing then? What were Death Eaters doing then? And that was just thirteen years ago.'' He said while looking around the room again. Silence had never been quite this loud. He glanced at Draco beside him for a moment, who was, too, shocked into silence.
''Or what were they doing just this summer, at the world cup? Hmm? You are judging people for something they can't help. Some of you think that because someone's parents aren't magic that they don't deserve magic. But they can't help how they are born. Magic can't be stolen. I know this for a fact being told by Lady Magic herself. Hating people because their parents aren't what you want is like hating Malfoy here because he's blonde.'' Harry says while waving at Malfoy's hair.
''Hey!'' Draco says indignantly while petting his hair.
''I do understand that most of you believe what they believe because they are told to do so by their parents. But do you all even know why people started to hate muggle-borns?''
Nobody seemed to know the answer, and Harry couldn't believe that he had everyone's attention like this. But it couldn't have worked out better.
''Who knows what affinity they have?'' He then suddenly asked, and as expected, every Slytherin raised their hand. He himself included making people around him gasp.
''My affinity is Dark-'' Harry wished he could've taken a picture, the gaping Slytherins were truly a sight to behold. ''-There I said it. I, Harry James Potter-Peverell, am a Dark wizard. I found out when I was in Death's realm. The reason people started to hate muggle-borns is because muggle-borns don't understand Dark magic. After all, it's never explained to them. And the first thing they hear when they enter a Magic school is that all Dark magic is bad. Of course, they will side with the Light side point of view because they don't want to lose their place in a whole new exciting world.'' He scoffs.
''Potter-'' Nott started while still holding up his hand from the last question. ''-are - what are you telling us exactly?''
Harry is glad for the question because he did almost spiral into a complete rant, and that would nullify any progress he may have made.
''What I'm saying is that there is a need for change. And I think that we need to be the start of that. So, go, think about what I said tonight. I'm not lying because I don't see the point in lying. And I have it from very reliable people, like Lord Death and Lady Magic-'' Harry drawled with a glare. ''And try not to bully muggle-borns just for existing, and for Salazar's sake, talk to your classmates or friends that are half-bloods, ask them for their opinion. Ask them how you have made them feel the last couple of years.'' He adds with a sneer.
The Slytherins are still hanging on his lips, and Harry feels empowered but also a little awkward for being in the spotlight.
''Let whole fucking Hogwarts see that even if we are Dark wizards, that we're not evil. Because that's what everyone thinks now, Slytherins are evil because that's where the Dark wizards are. But are we evil simply because we're Dark wizards?'' Harry looks around the room and sees multiple people shake their heads, almost everyone. He makes a mental note of that. ''No, we're not. We're evil because of our actions. Not because of our affinity. So stop hating on muggle-borns because they aren't born into a family with magic. I know I'm asking a lot from some of you-'' Harry glances at Draco again, who is looking at the floor with a contrite expression. ''but try. And again, if you keep hating them because of your own principles, I don't care, but think for yourself, not what your parents expect from you. And don't show it to the fucking world. Or you're not better than a muggle who killed 75 million people, or Lord Voldemort.'' Harry ends with a sneer.
Harry looks around the room one more time and freezes when he sees Snape standing in the entrance for his private chambers, but Snape only nods once at him before disappearing back into his chambers.
Harry then turns back to Malfoy, who is watching him with a wary expression.
''You've changed.'' Malfoy states and Harry rolls his eyes.
''Yes, I have. Are you going to do the same, or are you still going to be a prat?'' Harry retorts. Making Malfoy inhale through his nose roughly.
''This isn't going to be easy.''
''I didn't expect it to be.'' Harry readily replies.
Malfoy shakes his head before nodding. ''I have some things to think about. For what it's worth. I'm sorry for insulting your mother.'' Malfoy grits out, but even with the grimace he's sporting, he seems sincere.
''And I shall keep your father out of every discussion we will have from now on. I do apologize for hexing you upside down.'' Harry replies before holding out his hand.
Malfoy eyes his hand warily but takes it nonetheless.
''To be honest, Potter, I don't want to have arguments with you. I have the feeling that I will get hexed again if I try.''
''Only if you deserve it,'' Harry smirks.
Malfoy rolls his eyes and starts to walk away before Harry calls him again.
''One more thing, Malfoy, Hermione is off-limits, no taunts, jibes, name-calling, nothing. She is basically my sister, and I will hurt you if you hurt her. Am I clear?''
Malfoy purses his lips but nods nonetheless before walking away. Harry turns back to the seventh years, and Nott begins to slow clap making Harry roll his eyes and sitting back in his seat.
''So, who has Charms with me in the morning?'' Harry says, not wanting to discuss anything further this evening.
The next day Harry can't help but sneer at the Daily Prophet. They have covered the whole story, so Harry is glad for that fact, but Rita still somehow made it seem more dramatic than it had been, which is pretty astounding since it was already pretty dramatic to begin with.
''I did not fell into Death's arms crying like a baby because of my dead parents. Seriously, who believes this rubbish?'' He exclaims while slamming the Prophet down and rubbing his eyes.
Izzy pats him on the back in fake sympathy. ''Yes, no one will believe this rubbish. I mean, come on - Lord Death, who kidnaps a child only to return him seemingly five minutes later only for the child to have aged three years and completely badass? Tssk, that's utterly unbelievable.''
Harry chuckles at Izzy's observations because she has a point. Who is going to believe this at all?
''Well, most parents will probably believe their children,'' Nott adds while grimacing at the awkward photos they took of the champions.
Harry hums at that. He hadn't considered it that the children would write to their parents. But maybe that would work to his advantage.
It was going to be the talk of the wizarding world, that's for sure. Harry glances at the Head table, a little surprised that Dumbledore hasn't called him to his office yet, not that Harry minds, but it's odd.
Dumbledore seems in a heated conversation with McGonagall, so Harry quickly looks away.
He then sees the Bulgarians walk into the Great Hall, which is perfect for what he talked about with Cedric. Viktor seems almost protected by his classmates, and Harry feels a little sorry for him.
But when he looks around the Hall and sees starstruck eyes staring at him, he does understand. Viktor catches Harry's eye, and Harry nods to the place next to him. Viktor frowns but nods and makes his way to Harry's side.
''Krum, nice to meet you officially,'' Harry says while reaching out his hand. Viktor grabs his hand with a nod. ''Potter-Peverell, well met,'' Viktor replies with a thick accent.
Harry smiles at him while Viktor starts to load his plate with eggs and bacon.
''So, I've been thinking. Cedric told me yesterday that now I've been trained by Death, that it seems like I have an advantage. That's something I want to even out. So I wanted to ask you and Fleur if you would be interested in a pact.'' Harry says bluntly, thinking that it would work better with the Bulgarian.
The Slytherins around Harry have gone silent, listening in to the conversation.
''Pact?'' Krum asks, sounding confused.
''Yes, a pact. Teachers can't help us with the tasks, but why not help each other? We could train together and maybe swap clues. If you don't want to because you want to do it yourself for ever glory-'' Harry says with extreme sarcasm, Krum grimaces in return. ''-or, we even out the field, and the one with the most skill wins. Simple as that.''
Krum looks at Harry intensely, and Harry just stares back. Not the least bit intimidated. Kind of hard after three years in Death's realm where you've met real hellhounds.
''I will think about it,'' Krum replies. Harry nods. He had been expecting that.
''Great, I'm going to talk to Fleur to offer her the same.'' Harry then says before nodding his goodbye and standing to walk after Fleur, who just exited the Great Hall.
''Miss Delacour!'' He calls after her when she's almost at the steps. Fleur turns around and seems confused as to why Harry is calling her. He strides quickly towards her and offers his arm. Fleur seems even more puzzled but takes his arm.
He immediately starts explaining his plan for the pact, and she listens intently.
''Why are you doing this?'' She asks in a thick French accent when they have almost reached the carrier where the Beauxbatons dorms are.
''Because I want to even the playing field,'' He replies honestly.
''Don't you want to win?''
Harry grins at her, liking the directness in her questions. ''Au contraire, I want to win. But I will not be accused of cheating only because I now have the same education as you and the other champions.''
Fleur giggled, and Harry sees a couple of blokes who walked by practically swoon, and he frowns.
''My apologies if I'm too direct. But are you part Veela?'' Harry asks when the blokes are drooling in Fleur's direction.
''My grandmother was a Veela, yes,'' Fleur replies, and she seems to close off. So Harry quickly starts talking again. ''How wonderful. I'm glad that it's better in France than here for Veela's and other creatures.'' Harry replies with a smile.
Fleur seems taken aback before beaming at Harry.
''Thank you. Good to know that they're not only thunderheads at Hogwarts.''
Harry throws his head back and laughs. ''Nice meeting you, miss Delacour. I need to go to my classes, but please let me know what you think of the pact.'' He says before kissing her knuckles.
''Please call me Fleur.'' She replies with a smile before going inside. Harry quickly makes his way back to Hogwarts for his first class.
He now remembers why he never was very social with others except for his close friend circle in Gryffindor. It's utterly exhausting.
He finally gets the summons to talk with the Headmaster after his second period. He still has two classes, and even if there is not a time mentioned on the invite, Harry is pretty sure that Dumbledore wants him in his office during those classes. Maybe Gryffindor Harry would've done exactly that, glad to skip a couple of classes in favor of doing something else, but Slytherin Harry, and especially seventh year Harry, isn't going to skip his classes just to humor his Headmaster.
So he still goes to his Transfiguration class and nods at McGonagall when she starts the class.
The next couple of hours are dreadfully boring. The things he is learning are not new to him, and maybe Cedric was right in some aspects. He isn't exactly in league with the rest of the champions. He knew this, of course, but still, he doesn't like people assuming. He worked hard for the last couple of years with Death and Lady Magic. It's not as if it was just thrown in his lap or anything.
His fame is something that was practically thrown at him. When the Dark Lord returns, he will make sure that the arsehole knows exactly how much Harry appreciated his 'fame'.
When his last class is finally done, he checks his bag to see if he hasn't forgotten anything before making his way up to Dumbledore's office.
He doesn't meet anyone else on his way up and is secretly glad. Social interactions are tiring, and he has already had enough for today, but Harry has evaded Izzy and the other seventh years the whole day after running after Fleur this morning. Not wanting to explain himself.
He knows they will have opinions about it and call it stupid for his chance in the tournament. But Harry really doesn't care.
Harry arrives at the statue and breaths deeply to calm his mind. He thanks Death silently for the lessons he has gotten in warding your mind before looking at the statue at the entrance of Dumbledore's office and simply says ''Butterscotch nougat.''
He climbs the stairs towards the office and knocks, knowing that Dumbledore already knows he's there.
''Come in!'' The enthusiastic response comes from inside.
''Hello Headmaster,'' Harry greets politely.
''Harry! My boy!'' Dumbledore greets with a broad smile and a twinkling in his eyes.
Harry just smiles back at the man and keeps standing for the moment. He looks around the room and sees Fawkes looking at him with an intense look. Harry knows exactly why and quickly looks further around the room.
''You wanted to speak to me, sir?''
Dumbledore nods his head and waves his hand at the chair on the opposite side of his desk. Harry sits down and crosses his legs, sitting straight and his face impassive.
Dumbledore seems taken aback for a moment but quickly recovers.
''Lemon drop?'' He offers, and it takes everything from Harry to not scowl at the bowl of disgusting candies.
''No, thank you, I'm just curious about what I can do for you.''
Harry looks at the mole just beneath Dumbledore's right eye, never straight in his eyes, Harry is maybe trained in blocking his mind, but still, he doesn't want to be exposed in any way to the Headmaster.
''Ah, well, as you can understand, Harry, I wanted to talk about what has happened exactly.''
Harry cocks his head in an innocent manner. ''What do you mean, sir?''
The little twitch Dumbledore has in his left eye is the only emotion he displays, but Harry catches it.
''Well, after your name came out of the goblet, dear boy, what happened exactly when Lord Death took you? Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?''
Oh, he's good. Harry muses inside his head. ''Sir, to be honest, to be taken by Death was the best thing that has ever happened to me.''
This time Dumbledore can't hide his shock quick enough. ''What do you mean?'' And Harry represses the urge to smirk.
''Well, Death taught me and helped me with everything that has happened to me, he explained so much what I didn't understand about the wizarding world, and Lady Magic herself blessed me. Did you know, sir, that I'm the heir of two Noble houses?'' Harry says with fake excitement, knowing exactly that Dumbledore hates every moment of this.
He sees Dumbledore grit his teeth, but he still forces a smile. ''No, I don't think I did. But it sounds very exciting, my boy.''
''It is!'' Harry exclaims, acting like a hyperactive young boy. ''It means that because I'm now an adult in the wizarding world, I can claim the lordships, and with that, I will get the properties with it, and will never have to live with the Dursleys, again!''
Dumbledore seems like he's close to having an aneurysm.
''But-Harry, they're your family, surely you want to be with them, they love you.''
Immediately Harry's facade drops, and with it, the room temperature.
''Love me?'' Harry scoffs. ''Don't be ridiculous. They have never loved me, but I'm okay with that now. I have Death and Lady Magic. They care for me. They love me.'' Harry's voice doesn't waver, and he isn't lying. He knows the two deities care for him. Death sees him as his own son and Lady Magic as her nephew.
''Harry-'' Dumbledore starts, making Harry tense up. ''-You can't expect Lord Death and Lady Magic to take care of you. They aren't even in this world.''
''They have cared for me for over three years, sir. If I want, I could go back right now and stay with them. They actually preferred that. It was me that wanted to come back to this realm. And I only wanted to come back so nobody could accuse me of cheating if I were older than the other champions.'' Harry spat.
Dumbledore pales. ''But, Harry, when your parents were killed, I drew up special wards around the house of your aunt and uncle. You need to go back there so you will be safe.''
Harry bristled at that. No fucking way he's going back to the Dursleys!
''I will be safe in any of the hidden properties from the Potter's or Peverell's, hell even the Black's, and I would be safer there than I have ever been on Privet Drive. Because the blood wards kept the bad wizards indeed out, but not all the bad people because those were already living there.'' Harry fumed. Thinking back on all the abuse he had suffered from the Dursleys. How small and broken he was because of his aunt, uncle, and cousin. ''If that's all, sir. I'm going back to my dorm before supper. Good evening.'' Harry tells the man, not even waiting on a response before storming out of the office.
He needs to calm down, especially because he feels his magic reacting to his mood, so he quickly makes his way to the seventh floor and paces in front of the Room of Requirement. As soon as the room opens, he throws the door open and starts shooting spells at all the targets that have appeared along the walls.
Harry only didn't notice two sets of eyes following him and making their way quickly inside the rapidly closing door.
When Harry has blasted the last target and asks the room for more, he finally notices the two other people in the room and swirls around—aiming a hex at both of the intruders.
Only when he has already fired the spells, he sees who the intruders are and curses himself.
Two yelps are heard when the hexes connect, and Harry quickly makes his way over to the twins to lift the spells.
''I'm sorry! I didn't know you had followed me.'' He apologizes, cursing himself again that he hadn't noticed that he had been followed. He's always careful, but the rage Dumbledore had brought on by making him think back to his abusive childhood had made Harry reckless.
''Oi! It's fine. Nothing is broken. Or are you George?'' Fred says while smirking.
''No, I'm fine, bloody good jelly legs jinx, though,'' George responds with a smirk of his own.
Harry rolls his eyes. Of course, the Weasley twins have followed him. Why did Harry expect anything else?
Fred brushes himself off while looking through the room while George waggles his eyebrows at Harry making Harry snort.
''So our little Harrykins, all grown up now-''
''Oh, how the good times fly-''
''I can still see icky little Harry asking for the way-''
''To a whole new world!'' George and Fred say in unison, wiping away fake tears.
Harry rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. ''What do you two want?'' He sighs.
''We just wanted to know how our dear Harry is now in Slytherin, the house of snakes,'' Fred asks while walking around Harry—making Harry stiffen for a moment until he sees the teasing glint in their eyes.
''Actually, I would've been in Slytherin in my first year if I had wanted to. I just asked the hat not to put me there.'' Harry replies with a smirk of his own.
The twin's gasp and fake swoon in each other arms. ''He's even more Slytherin than we thought!''
Harry chuckles at their antics and asks the room silently for a couch so he can sit down comfortably, expecting to be there for a while.
The twins see the couch appear and immediately start asking Harry about the room, to which Harry answers honestly. He doesn't mind if he shares this room with Hermione and the twins. They have been his friends for the last couple of years.
They talk some more, and Harry is relieved that they aren't bothered at all with the fact that he's in Slytherin.
It doesn't take long for the twins to pull out their new product for their joke shop. Something Harry is rather curious about.
''So, are the products tested?'' Harry asks them, and they both avoid his gaze.
''Well, we tested them on ourselves-''
''And we asked a couple of-''
''First and second years-''
''To help us-''
''For payment, of course!''
''Only we don't have a lot-''
''Of funds.'' They both say, sounding a little morose. Harry nods.
''How about this, you stop testing on little kids, but more on older kids, who actually know what they're agreeing to-'' Harry proposes with a hard look, making the twins gulp. ''And I will fund you. I will be a silent partner in your new shop.''
The twins look shocked before they throw themselves at Harry. ''Thank you!'' They yell, making Harry almost go deaf.
''Oi! Let go of me, you wankers!'' Harry says, but he's laughing too. They both agree to Harry's proposition, and soon after, they leave the Room for dinner.
The rest of the week goes by quickly. The only mentionable thing that happens is that Harry receives his answers for the pact from Viktor and Fleur, who both agree. They are planning a training the next week. Harry already knows that he will take them to the ROR for some training. He only needs to make sure that he and Viktor aren't followed.
At the end of the week, he also finally gets an answer from Sirius, only he had hoped that his godfather was a little less reckless.
Harry groans after reading the letter and bumps his head on the table he's seated at in the library with Hermione.
''What's wrong, Harry?'' She asks while glaring at the tittering crowd surrounding Viktor.
''Padfoot is back in the UK,'' Harry groans at the table.
''You're kidding me! You did tell him how dangerous it was?''
''Of course, I did! But did he listen? No! Reckless Gryffindor.'' Harry grumbles, making Hermione wack him on the head with her book, which kind of hurts because the bloody thing is as thick as his fist.
''Do I need to remind you that you were a 'reckless Gryffindor' just two weeks ago.'' She says with a glare.
''No, but I still felt it was a justified remark.''
Hermione rolls her eyes, and Harry smirks at her. ''What did he want?''
''He wants to meet me outside Hogsmeade next weekend and for me to bring food.''
Hermione looks a little troubled.
''Do you think it's smart to meet up with him? You are going to be followed. And it will not end well for the both of you if you two are discovered.'' She sounds worried, and Harry can understand.
''I will think of something because I do want to see him, and maybe I can arrange something, so he doesn't have to be on the run anymore.'' Harry is already thinking of several ideas he could follow to give Sirius some kind of peace until at least the summer.
Hermione narrows her eyes at him. ''Are you plotting something, Harry?''
Harry just smirks at her, ''Maybe I am.'' He then looks at his watch and feels excitement bubble up.
''I need to go, Mione. See you tomorrow.'' He then kisses the top of her head before almost running out of the library.
He makes a quick detour to the Slytherin dorms to retrieve his invisibility cloak and then makes his way outside.
Harry walks briskly underneath his cloak towards the edge of the Forbidden Forrest. He's a little distracted when after fifteen minutes of walking, he hears a lot of noise coming from a clearing, so he swiftly walks towards the noise before returning to his own endpoint for tonight.
Harry groans out loud when he sees what is making the noise. Multiple people are running around because of fucking Dragons! Of course, they let the champions go against Dragons!
''Bugger,'' Harry says before turning back and going further into the forest for his own meeting.
It doesn't take long before he reaches the spot they had agreed to meet on. He places the warding stones he had shrunken in his pocket around the area and rolls his neck in preparation for the next part.
Then he raises his hands up to the sky and starts to chant in the language of the dead.
The dark power that goes through his body feels like the first breath after being underwater for multiple minutes, refreshing and powerful in his own way.
The circle he's standing in darkens, and shadows erupt all around him until a man steps forward from the shadows, and Harry stops his chant to beam at him.
''Dad!'' He says before pulling the man in a big hug. Death chuckles and hugs Harry back. ''How are you, little one? Are you driving them crazy yet?'' Death taunts, making Harry roll his eyes.
''You should've seen their faces when I was resorted in Slytherin,'' Harry then tells Death everything about what happened the last week, making Death chuckle and groan at everything that happened.
''Sirius wants to see me next weekend,'' Harry says while pulling out the letter he had gotten from his godfather.
Death takes the letter and studies it before his eyes go vacant for a while. Harry is used to it, but he still feels a shiver running down his spine.
''You should help him out of the situation, which I know you're already thinking about, but it's important for his survival, especially his mental health.''
Harry nods, ''Can I tell him about what we are planning to do?''
''We? Little one, most things are coming from you, and you alone, maybe with some help from Lady Magic, but they're still your ideas.''
Harry smiles bashfully and ducks his head, but Death pulls him in a one-armed embrace. ''But you should tell him, you are going to throw the whole wizarding world a curveball, so maybe a heads up to your godfather and your honorary werewolf uncle is a smart thing to do.''
Harry hadn't even thought about Remus, but Death's right. He should be involved with the plan. They're silent for a moment until Harry talks again.
''Why did I have to perform this ritual before you could be here?'' Harry then asks. He has kind of forgotten the details about why he needed to do this, especially because Death could appear in front of all of them just a week/three years ago.
''Because it's tiring to appear in the mortal realm without being anchored. The last time I had a good enough reason to do so because you were stupid enough to almost renounce your magic.'' Death responds with a glare making Harry blush. ''With your magic calling to me, it's easier to step across the border and talk to you.''
''I'm glad that we can still see each other. It's weird being back here. I miss Brutus.'' Harry says with a pout, making Death laugh.
''He misses you too, he whined for a whole three days. The poor dog doesn't even understand that he will see you again eventually.''
Harry laughed, thinking back at the hellhound he had befriended while in Death's realm.
''Can he cross the border too?''
''Only if I wish it, but I wanted you for myself tonight.'' Death replies seriously. ''Awh, you sap.'' Harry teases, but he's pleased that his adoptive father wants him for himself and just talk to him.
They talk some more before Harry tells him about the Dragons for the first task.
''What are you planning on doing with them?'' Death hums.
''I don't know what they're expecting from us, but it's probably something stupid, like racing them or at least running from them,'' Harry says sarcastically.
Death rolls his eyes and cuffs Harry on the back of his head. ''Don't be stupid, little one. Running away from a Dragon will only anger it more. If they want you to do that, call Lady Magic, she will scold the judges until they shake on their legs.''
Harry laughs at the image of a small blonde-haired woman scolding Crouch, Dumbledore, and Bagman until they piss their pants. She is still more powerful than them all bound together, but that doesn't matter for the image.
Death sighs and stands before helping Harry up. ''I need to go back, little one. The dead are getting restless without me being home.''
Harry frowns, not wanting to part with Death just yet, but he knows he can't hold Death much longer from his own realm.
''Are you coming to watch the first task?'' Harry asks, feeling a little stupid for sounding like a little kid.
''Of course! Lady and I will be there, incognito, of course, but I have no doubt that you will recognize us. Especially with Lady jumping up and down for seeing you again.''
Harry smiles and hugs his adoptive father before he closes his eyes when the shadows erupt around them again. When he opens his eyes again, Death is gone, and Harry feels a little ache inside of him.
The next week flies by with nothing too mentionable. He studies with the Slytherin seventh years, talks with Hermione, George, and Fred, oh, and he informs the other champions about the first task.
''Dragons?'' Cedric's face is rapidly losing color while Harry is twirling his wand in his hand while lying on the couch.
Fleur seems to almost collapse, so Harry quickly asks the ROR for a chair. It obliges, and she sinks down in it. Viktor seems utterly unaffected.
''Yup.'' Harry says while popping the 'p'.
''Ridiculous, isn't it? They actually expect us to fight a Dragon, or at least do something with it. They had four of them, so one for each of us.'' Harry tells them, seemingly unbothered. He has gotten used to the idea of the Dragons after wandering another night into the forest to check them out beneath his cloak.
They seemed fierce, yes, but Harry is already thinking of a couple of plans he could do. Of course, it all depends on what they expect from them. But that will probably be revealed when the task is going to start.
''Which kinds?'' Krum asks the only one not quietly panicking.
Harry thinks about it, but he doesn't actually know a lot about Dragons.
''I could show you? Because I'm a little clueless.''
The room immediately provides a Pensieve, and Harry gracefully jumps up from the couch he was lying on to walk to the Pensieve to put his memory of the Dragons in it. Cedric and Fleur join them, not wanting to pass the opportunity to see the Dragons with their own eyes. It may also ease some of their worries or maybe enhance them.
They drop into the memory, and Harry hears the other champions gasp when they see the Dragons.
Viktor points at the green dragon and tells them it's a Welsh Green. Cedric then announces that the red one is the Chinese Fireball, and Viktor tells them about the Hungarian Horntail and the Swedish Short-Snout.
''Okay, good to know, good to know, so do you also know their weaknesses?'' Harry says while clapping his hands and looking at Viktor and Cedric.
Cedric and Fleur seem a little better now after seeing the Dragons for themselves.
''No, but we could use the next couple of weeks to research them, right?'' Cedric proposes, and Harry agrees, just as Fleur and Viktor.
Now a couple of days later, it's time for Harry to meet with Padfoot outside Hogsmeade. He used his cloak again, avoiding the irritating fangirls that asked him out on a date to Hogsmeade. Being the Boy-who-lived, and a champion, and now of age, apparently raised his appeal, much to his dismay and Izzy's endless glee.
Hermione just huffed when he complained to her about it and told him to grow up, to which he, of course, replied that he already did and that it was part of the problem. Only to be wacked on his head again, with love, of course...
Izzy just teased him and fake swooned as soon as another girl tried to woo him. He almost hexed her, but he can't do that outside the Slytherin dorms. Bugger rules.
He was walking to the abandoned road and spotted the cave they had agreed to meet in, but he also saw a big black dog bounding up to him.
The dog froze when Harry removed his cloak, and Harry just smirked. ''Hello Padfoot, missed me?''
Sirius didn't seem to know how to respond, run away or jump on Harry, so Harry lowered himself to his knees to pull the mutt in his arms.
''I'm still me, Sirius. Just a little older,'' He whispered, making the dog whine.
Harry petted the big dog and guided them to the cave they had agreed to meet in. Sirius immediately changed back to his human form and pulled Harry in for a hug. Before pulling back and looking at Harry with a wistful look.
''You look just like your father.''
Harry swallowed heavily. ''I know. I know, now come on, I'm going to take you to some other place.''
Harry then pulled out the Portkey he had gotten from Gringrotts after contacting them. He had asked for a Portkey to one of the Peverell houses that was still in good condition. It would be the perfect safe place for Sirius. Nobody but Harry and the people he had invited could get inside the wards, and he had asked Dobby to work for him. The little guy had been ecstatic to work for Harry.
Sirius eyed the Portkey warily but nodded nonetheless. Harry activated the Portkey, and with a whirl, they landed inside the foyer of the Peverell house.
''Master Harry Potter, sir! And his Godwoofy!'' Dobby exclaimed before launching himself against Harry's legs.
''Godwoofy?'' Sirius said with a frown. But Harry just laughed, and it seemed to relax Sirius.
''Dobby, can you make us something to eat? Sirius hasn't eaten anything good in a while.'' Dobby saluted and immediately popped out of existence. Harry guided Sirius to the dining room, or at least in the general direction of the dining room. He hadn't explored this house yet, but he had a feeling he was going the right way.
There he put a disgruntled Sirius in a chair. ''I'm not an invalid!''
Harry rolled his eyes. ''I know, but you are a half-starved, a mentally abused man that needs some care. Let me be the one that takes care of you, Sirius.'' Harry said seriously.
Sirius sagged in the chair like a petulant child but perked up when food appeared in front of him. Dobby had made soup and some bread. A little light, but Sirius really shouldn't eat more. Or otherwise, it would all come back up.
Harry also ate some soup and was curious about the rest of the house. When Sirius started to look a little green, Harry asked Dobby to take the food away. Sirius seemed disgruntled but seemed to understand why.
''Dobby, could you please show us some of the guestrooms?'' Harry asked, and Dobby guided them through the house, seemingly extremely proud that he was there to take care of his Master Harry and his Godwoofy.
''Harry-'' Sirius started when they walked into the wide space that was a guestroom. ''-I-I can't stay here,'' Sirius said, sounding pained.
Harry scoffed. ''Of course, you can, it's unplottable, and only me, Dobby, and you have access. When I get a hold of Remus, he will be invited here too.''
Sirius shook his head. ''Potter lands are-''
''It's not Potter. It's Peverell.'' Harry interrupted. Sirius gaped at Harry.
''Okay. I think that now is a good time for telling me what the actual fuck is happening. You are suddenly older and in Slytherin! And in one of the deadliest Tournaments on the globe! In some of the papers I read was a story that you were taken by Lord Death, THE LORD DEATH! Pup, please- what is going on?'' Sirius was raging but ended in a whisper, and Harry scrubbed his hands through his hair with an agitated sigh.
''Yes, yes, you're right. I will tell you, and after you can shower and rest because I need to go back to school-''
Sirius's face immediately crumpled, knowing that he would be alone again soon. ''As I told you, Remus will be invited here too, then you won't be alone, and you both will be safe!'' Harry said quickly, not liking the fact that Sirius looked so down.
Then Harry started to tell his story. He excluded a lot of things he had learned in Death's realm, but it wasn't the time for that, not when Sirius was still this vulnerable. But he did tell Sirius about how his name had come out of the Goblet, and how he had made an oath that he hadn't put his own name in it, and how he was ready to live as a Squib if he would be forced to participate, but that Death had stopped him.
Then he tells Sirius a little about his life in Death's realm. Sirius looks captivated by the stories of Death and Lady Magic, he did wince when Harry tells him that Death has been like an adoptive father, and Harry can almost see the sadness in his eyes.
Then he tells Sirius about his resorting and how it is to be in Slytherin. He doesn't tell Sirius that he has some kind of understanding with Snape now. He doesn't think Sirius is ready for that either.
Sirius listens to all of it without interrupting Harry, then Harry tells Sirius about the Dragons, and he loses it for a bit.
''DRAGONS!? I'm going to tear Dumbledore apart! How the hell does that man still look after a school of children when he brings them in danger every fucking year?!'' Sirius growls. Sounding more like an angry dog than a human.
Harry blinks for a moment before starting to laugh. Sirius huffs and crosses his arms. ''It's not funny!''
''No, no, it's absolutely not, but the student most in danger at that school is me, and I will be done with Hogwarts after this year now I'm a seventh year.''
''Thank fuck for that, pup!'' Sirius exclaims, making Harry laugh again.
They calm down after a couple of moments, and Sirius seems to turn serious again. ''What are you going to do against a Dragon?''
''Not sure yet. I don't know what they want us to do. Like a race seems improbable, but I don't know what else we could do with Dragons,'' Harry says, a little frustrated.
''The first task was always something to get a clue for the second one if I remember correctly.'' Sirius mumbles, seeming lost in thought.
''So getting a clue from a Dragon- so that probably means the Dragons will guard something, and we need to take it.'' Harry summarizes.
Sirius starts to pale rapidly. ''Do you know if the Dragons are female?''
Harry, not understanding yet, looks confused. ''According to Viktor, at least two of them were. Why?''
''Eggs, they're probably hatching mother Dragons,'' Sirius says in a whisper. ''Bugger.''
''You could say that,'' Sirius says faintly, and Harry notices how tired the man seems.
''Go take a bath or shower, Sirius. And get some rest. Dobby will take care of you, and I will contact Remus as soon as possible so he can be here for you too. I'm sorry that I already need to go, but you need your rest, and I will come here for Christmas break, okay?'' Harry says carefully.
Sirius looks heartbroken and pulls Harry in a hug. ''I'm sorry I haven't been there for you.'' He rasps out, and Harry hugs him tighter.
''It's okay, I've been taken care of, now it's your turn. Okay?'' He feels Sirius nod against his shoulder. They're practically the same height now.
Dobby pops in to hug Harry goodbye too, and then Harry apparates back to Hogsmeade. He should probably get a license for that, but it isn't that high on his list.
When he goes over his list mentally, he winces with everything he still needs to do. It's going to be a long couple of years. The upcoming the most eventful, he's sure of that.
After all, bringing back the Dark Lord for balance in the world is probably the most memorable thing on his list.