Chapter Four
Harry Potter dropped the golden egg onto the bed and simply sat down beside it, waiting for Madam Pomfrey to give him her attention. Physically he felt fine, but for some reason his magic felt slightly off, no doubt a side effect of the ritual. He had to say, he was somewhat impressed with the result of the ritual, even though it wasn't completely successful. Despite having succeeded in bringing his soul back in time, the ritual was supposed to have sent him back to July thirty-first, nineteen ninety-one, the summer before he had started at Hogwarts. It didn't quite work, even though he had spent years studying and improving runes to do it. He didn't understand it. Still, he had been sent nearly eighty-six years into the past, to the date when his problems first began. He would have to reminisce later, because Madam Pomfrey had now come to him, a look of amazement, and perhaps wariness etched on her face.
"Good afternoon, Madam Pomfrey," Harry saluted politely, but with no hint of emotion in his voice and giving her no time for chat. "I feel something wrong with my magical core, can you please check?"
While still apprehensive, she nodded and waved her wand in a series of movements, trying not to look into the young wizard's eyes. She was relieved when Dumbledore entered in the tent, followed by McGonagall and the rest of the judges.
Dumbledore's expression appeared a mix of fright and curiosity toward the young wizard, and he seemed to want to talk, but Bagman went ahead before him, excitement clear in his voice.
"An outstanding flight, Mr. Potter, truly amazing, indeed! I have never seen such a thing in my life and I..."
"Harry, my boy, I would like to know, how did you do all that magic?" Dumbledore asked, no traces of a grandfatherly figure in his demeanour or his voice, replaced instead by curiosity and fear. I am also slightly disappointed with you that you chose to kill the dragon."
Harry looked at the older man, and Dumbledore saw the emerald eyes of the Boy-Who-Lived flare with green flames. If looks could kill, Dumbledore would have fallen right there.
"I did what I had to do," Harry snarled, "I can't help but find it amusing that you are so concerned about the dragon's death but paid no mind me being thrown against it, as if I were expendable."
All eyes were on Harry, and they each felt his aura flaring. Madam Pomfrey was so shocked she never noticed that the diagnostic spell had finished, and that the parchment was glowing faintly with a golden light.
"I killed it by accident. I did use an Exploding Charm, but I am pretty sure a Bombarda wouldn't kill a dragon that size, even if it hit the beast in the head. It might knock him out, but it wouldn't kill. The beast opened its jaws and swallowed the spell." Harry simply breathed for a moment before turning back to Madam Pomfrey, looking at her while pointing to the scroll. "What does it say?"
It took a few moments for Madam Pomfrey to realize what he was talking about, and she almost blushed when she noticed the scroll was glowing. She read it and paled.
"In the name of Merlin, this is impossible!" the woman gasped, attracting the attention of everyone.
"What is it, Poppy?" asked McGonagall, noticing her friend pale considerably.
Harry simply picked up the scroll and read it, giving a cold look to the matron afterwards.
"I trust this will be kept under patient-healer confidentiality?" he simply asked. Madam Pomfrey couldn't do anything but nod. "Good."
"Harry, my boy, if there is a problem, I need to know..." Dumbledore started, stopping as he saw the scroll burn to ash in Harry's hands. He knew it had been the young wizard's doing.
"All you need to know is that I am fine and that I need to rest. This won't jeopardize my participation in this pathetic tournament of yours." Most of them gaped at his words and Crouch felt his fury rising. "As Madam Pomfrey could tell you, I am in need of rest and I am not interested in explaining myself now, after almost dying. Twice, I may add."
That seemed to bring Madam Pomfrey back to her usual self and she quickly forced the judges out from the tent, while Harry sat back and smirked. Only then did he look around the tent, noticing the looks the other champions were giving him. Cedric was white as a ghost, Krum was amazed, and that was saying a lot, and Fleur was wide-eyed. He simply ignored them and laid back down on the bed.
According to Madam Pomfrey's spell his magical core had increased, which explained how he cast such a powerful spell without noticing. He had tapped into more magical power than usual, while thinking he was using only the amount necessary to overpower the spell. He smirked again. It had worked perfectly. He suspected it, but having proof left no doubts at all. His soul and magic had come together, resolving a long-held debate about the relation between the soul and magic of magical beings: they were one and the same. Dobby, his most loyal friend and servant was another living example. He came back with him, and they didn't need to bond again this time. The magical link between them changed Dobby immediately, as Dobby's soul merged with his younger self's.
A small pop sounded to his right, and he noticed his best friend.
"Dragonslayer," mock saluted Dobby with a small bow, crossing his arms in an X across his chest. He was grinning, and Harry snorted. Dobby gave him a blue potion, an energy draught.
"No need," Harry replied in a whisper, "It seems that my magical core increased because of the merging, and we are both much more powerful because of it.
"I did notice something..." Dobby replied with a smirk. "I have already claimed the dragon carcass in your name and took it to the Chamber. I will start to harvest it for meat, hide, and ingredients, although it lost a lot of blood," Dobby explained. "I am thinking dragon tail roast for dinner, what do you think?"
"Lovely idea, my friend," Harry said with a smile, thinking on what Dobby had said. "How did people react when you claimed the carcass?"
"I have no idea, I just popped in, shouted loud and clear that 'I, Dobby Elf, claim this dragon's remains in the name of my master, Harry Potter, under the rights of beasts slaying,' and popped out with the dragon. The judges weren't even there then."
Harry smirked. He could expect another visit soon then. He simply thanked his friend, and Dobby popped out, leaving Harry to his thoughts.
"The dragon is done. The next problem is how to invite her to the Yule Ball," Harry thought. He intended to ask his wife from his original timeline, but how to do it without raising suspicions? Last time, he had accepted Gryffindor's pathetic excuses after the first task and returned to the tower. This time, he wouldn't do it. Even if the red waste bin and bucky came groveling as he wanted them to, right in front of the Great Hall (it would be amazing too), he wouldn't do it.
"HARRY!" he heard a hated voice shout, feeling bucky run towards him. He rose quickly and pointed his wand towards her, stopping her in her tracks.
"Harry, mate, what are you..." started the red waste bin, who was right behind her.
"Shut the fuck up, you useless bastard. Get the fuck out from here before I curse you all the way back to your father's balls!" shouted Harry, his anger visible and his aura flaring a dark green around him, attracting the attention of the other champions and Madam Pomfrey.
"Mr. Potter, please refrain from cursing anyone, and mind your language." Apparently, the Matron had recovered from her shock and was back to her old self.
"Then get these useless bastards away from me!" shouted Harry, shocking everyone. They really didn't expect that from the Gryffindor golden boy. Granger and Weasley were the most shocked; Harry had never acted like that before.
McGonagall entered the tent again after her two young lions, intending to inform Harry of his points for the task, and had heard everything. She too was stunned by Harry's words, as she knew him to be a polite and caring boy. She wasn't happy that he was forced from the tower, and she truly expected he would forgive Gryffindor for their actions. She did believe he hadn't put his name in the Goblet, but she admittedly did nothing to help the young man. Now, after seeing him killing a nesting mother dragon, she was prideful and in awe of Harry. She expected to see a tearful reconciliation between the golden trio, certainly not what she was seeing now. The golden trio was finished. Harry Potter hated Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
"Since Halloween, these bastards have insulted me, humiliated me, accused me of being a liar and a traitor, initiated the movement that banished me from Gryffindor tower, and effectively terminated our friendship," Harry announced, loud and clear. He wanted people to know the truth.
"I have no interest in them or in Gryffindor house whatsoever, and I'd rather speak to a Slytherin than to a Gryffindor, and that includes the head of house." That was a surprise. Everyone knew the hate between Snape and Potter.
"Hell, I'd rather become best friends with Malfoy than accept these useless backstabbing traitors in my life again." Harry's magic flared once more, and that was the only warning they would get. "I am angry, I am tired, and I have just needlessly killed a dragon. GET OUT FROM MY SIGHT!"
His two former friends, who were trembling in fear, did so in a hurry, leaving a sour smell where they had stood moments before. Harry cleaned the air with a wave of his wand and went back to the bed, only to be almost immediately disturbed by his former head of house.
"Mr. Potter, I am very..." she started, in an attempt to admonish him, while Harry sighed.
"I don't care," he simply stated, silencing McGonagall into disbelieving shock. "You heard me right, I don't care what you are or what you feel. You were my head of house and allowed this to happen. I am no longer a Gryffindor and I have no interest in becoming one again. For this reason, I really hope you are here as deputy headmistress and not as Gryffindor head of house."
McGonagall felt as if she had been slapped, but she quickly recovered her composure.
"I understand, Mr. Potter," she said, "I came to inform you of your points. Bagman gave you a ten, Crouch gave you a five because you killed the dragon and showed disrespect to the tournament, the headmaster gave you an eight because you killed the dragon, Highmaster Karkaroff gave you a four, not commenting why, and Madame Maxime gave you an eight, also without commenting." As of right now, you are in last." Harry snorted, not hiding his glare.
"Good for them, see if I care. I survived the task, that's all that matters to me."
"Mr. Potter, I..." started McGonagall, before being interrupted again.
"Please leave. As of right now, I respect you only as Transfiguration Mistress and nothing else," Harry said with a cold voice. McGonagall was so shocked by his words that she left immediately, wondering what had happened to the young man. Once again, Harry felt the eyes of every person in the tent looking at him, and noticed that Fleur was actually leering at him. Harry scoffed. Even if she was a Veela, she had nothing on his wife. He allowed himself to slip into his dreams, filled with a blue-eyed, blonde beauty. Only this time, it was a happy, hopeful dream.
At lunch time the following day, everyone knew about the fallout that had happened in the champions tent between Potter and his former best friends. Rita Skeeter somehow had heard everything and had written an exclusive insider report for the Prophet, detailing how Harry Potter, Dark Lord in training, had used Dark magic to kill his dragon and had cut all ties with his former friends, stating that he would rather socialize with the Slytherins. She even commented on Harry's words that he'd rather be Malfoy's best friend than accept them back.
That was what shocked most people. Much like the hate between Potter and Snape, the hate between Malfoy and Potter was legendary, and to say such a thing Potter must really hate his former friends.
~BREAK~
Daphne Greengrass noticed how much of the commotion of the last day had disappeared, replaced by a sense of unease and foreboding. She recalled every moment of Potter's task, and she could say she never felt as awestruck as she had at that moment. Potter used Parseltongue, and a shield spell that stopped dragon's fire, second only to Fiendfyre in terms of danger and power. He put on a show outflying a dragon, and apparently had used a Bombarda to kill it. She, along with everyone else, was shocked, and even felt fear as she witnessed him falling to the earth, only to once again be completely amazed as she watched him fly without a broom.
She never thought he was anything special, and always assumed it was a fluke or a special ritual enacted by the Potters that allowed him to defeat the Dark Lord back on Halloween of nineteen eighty-one. He never showed anything in classes, except Charms and DADA, where he seemed to be at ease. He did have some skill in Transfiguration too, she had noticed. But what Potter had done during the task was beyond amazing. Was he really that powerful? Had he been holding back in classes? Was he doing some kind of special training? Those questions nagged her for the entire afternoon and night. Sleeping was blissful, the only moments when she managed not to think about the task.
Potter had not been seen since he arrived at the castle, well after the task finished. Some Gryffindors approached and surrounded him, intent on convincing him to return to the tower. According to the rumors, Potter summoned his house-elf, saying that he feared he might kill them all if he drew his wand. The house-elf laughed and simply popped the both of them away, back to their secret chambers. Somehow, Daphne believed that if it came to violence, Potter would win.
The reactions of the houses and guests were quite something. Durmstrang now held great respect for Potter, and nearly all the Beauxbatons females developed a crush on him, while the males simply were envious and impressed. Gryffindor wanted him to forgive them and return to their tower, probably to bask in his glory as his house. Hufflepuff started to reconsider their opinion on the Boy-Who-Lived after a performance that outshone their champion, Ravenclaw wanted to know how he had done everything, and Slytherin...well, Slytherin were divided between awe, and fear of the power Harry had shown. They had taunted him for years, and if he ever came out for vengeance they would be in trouble. Of these, Malfoy was the most concerned, and Daphne could only smirk. Malfoy may want to seem like he was being calculating, but she could tell he was terrified of Potter's reaction.
That morning's Daily Prophet simply struck at the wounds of everyone. Potter was portrayed as a Dark Lord in training, out for blood, and everyone knew they needed to tread lightly. They had laughed weeks before, but now they were afraid.
Daphne was taken away from her thoughts when whispers began raising in the Great Hall. She noticed everyone looking at the hall doors, where Harry Potter stood. After the initial moment, everyone started to speak at the same time, even the staff, demanding to know where he had been or begging for his forgiveness.
"SILENCE!" Harry shouted with a Sonorus Charm, glaring at everyone. He looked around the hall before saying anything else. He started by looking to the Slytherin table, where he saw the confused and awe-struck Slytherins. Durmstrang students simply nodded to him in a polite compliment, which surprised him. Ravenclaw house were looking at him, begging for a chance to ask questions. Hufflepuff was afraid of him and what his reaction to their treatment would be.
The staff table was no better. Surprise and awe weren't enough to describe the staff's feelings. Even Dumbledore was extremely impressed by both the magic he had seen and the results. He didn't like what Harry had done, but couldn't deny it was amazing magic. McGonagall didn't know what to think. She had considered Harry's words and felt guilty afterwards, after having shared her thoughts with professors Flitwick and Sprout over a bottle of gin. Her head still hurt.
Flitwick considered offering his help to Harry, but for what? He never tried to help him before, and despite everything he knew, Harry Potter was indeed a smart boy and he would know that he only offered his help to ease his own conscience. Professor Sprout recalled how she had been no better than Snape in Herbology classes, belittling the green-eyed wizard and favoring her house. For his part, Snape simply sneered at Potter, who in his opinion was nothing more than an attention seeking brat.
Harry really didn't want to look at the Gryffindor table. He knew who he would find there, and he didn't trust himself not to kill them. For that reason, he simply ignored the lions.
"I would like to say a couple of words, if I may." As no one stopped him, he continued to speak. "Yesterday, after checking some books, I discovered a very useful spell called a Magical Oath. A very curious spell, it can be given to make sure people speak the truth, or that they will never betray one another, or even to swear that what someone had already spoken is the truth."
He let his words settle with everyone. He noticed some students understood what he was trying to say. "It's a very interesting spell, especially because it is a cultural thing. Everyone knows about it, but no one talks about it, nor are we taught how to perform it at school," Harry said with a sneer, raising his wand.
"I, Harry James Potter, hereby swear on my life and magic that I did not place my name in the Goblet of Fire, nor did I ask or coerce another to do it for me. I did not use spells, or any muggle means to do it either, so mote it be." A flash surrounded Harry and he smirked before everyone's baffled faces. Some started to realize that they should have asked Potter for an oath if they had doubts. Some Slytherins enjoyed the slap Potter was giving everyone; it was almost worthy of their house. Daphne Greengrass was one of those people.
"Now, if I had lied, I would lose my magic and die. As you can see, I am not dead. Regarding my magic..." Harry lifted his wand and cast a Lumos. It was so intense that some people were momentarily blinded. Harry did it on purpose and didn't even blink at their discomfort.
"…I still have it. This means, of course, as any pureblood or adult will tell you, that I spoke the truth while I made my oath, and therefore I am innocent of the crimes of lying and cheating my way into this pathetic tournament," Harry snarled, allowing them to think about it for a couple of moments. Really, how did he not think of the Magical Oath the first time? He'd clearly been wasting too much time with the useless idiots. "Awesome spell, isn't it?" Harry asked in a childlike voice, turning his back to the hall. "I hope next time, people can remember it exists and avoid uncomfortable situations."
"Harry, wait!" shouted Granger. Harry reacted on instinct and turned on her, pointing his wand at her as his eyes flared again. That was not the smartest thing to do, because while Granger yelped and everyone gasped, Harry had to calm down again, having revealed much of his dark green aura.
He knew he shouldn't have turned back, because as soon as he turned back, he saw them, his greatest enemies ever. Greater even than Voldemort, who he defeated at age seventeen, had ever been. Oberon and Titania, the 'Light Lords', the misguided fools that ruined his life along with the lives of thousands of others. The pair that almost ruined the nation, the two he took great pleasure in slaughtering with extreme vengeance. That had been nearly seventy years before, shortly after he turned thirty-three...or was it thirty-five?
Oberon and Titania took their names after the magical king and queen of the fairies in medieval and Renaissance literature. Arrogant and misguided fools, that was what they were. Thinking they knew best, they ruined everything, and everyone turned against them. When the Dark Lord Potter won, all of them cheered for him and willingly gave him the power. So long ago, and yet here they were again.
There they stood, hidden in plain sight, right next to each other and no one was the wiser. It would be so easy simply to kill them...but no, he didn't want to kill them, he wanted to destroy them completely. Destroy their families as they destroyed his, destroy their minds as they attempted to destroy his, torture them, and only then would he kill them.
However, this was not the time for it, and Granger was talking.
"Please, we are sorry, we want you back." Gryffindor house nodded hopefully, and he simply chuckled, ignoring his enemies for a moment. He had just been given a chance on a silver platter. This was going to be fantastic, and would score points with Slytherin.
"Do you, now?" asked Harry, pretending to be thoughtful. "Tell you what, Granger, do something for me and I will consider it." Granger nodded happily, hiding her grin.
"Anything."
Harry snorted, and the Great Hall was left wondering for a few moments.
"I want you to convince everyone in the house of the lions to kneel before me, right here in the Great Hall, and beg me for forgiveness and to return to your tower."
They were all flabbergasted.
"Mr. Potter, that is very unbecoming of you!" shouted McGonagall. Curiously, Dumbledore said nothing. Snape smirked. Something had happened to Potter. He didn't like the boy, but he was enjoying this. At the Slytherin table, people began to snicker and laugh.
"What?!" shouted the Gryffindors in shock.
"You heard me," Harry replied with a smirk, "You want my forgiveness? Beg for it."
Harry didn't believe it when half the house really kneeled and asked for his forgiveness. He simply looked at them with a sneer.
"You people are pathetic!" Harry shouted, scaring everyone again, his voice filled with power. "You really did it? Don't you have any pride? You truly are pathetic. Now, more than ever, I can say that I will never return willingly to Gryffindor house, in fact..." Harry raised his wand. "I, Harry James Potter, hereby swear on my life and magic that I will not return to Gryffindor house again. I'd rather be expelled from Hogwarts. So mote it be." As his magic flashed, Gryffindor house slumped. Some fan girls cried, especially Weaselette, and all were taken aback by Harry's coldness. Even McGonagall slumped in her chair while Dumbledore felt uneasy, his desperation beginning to rise.
"I wonder if I could ask for a resorting," Harry mumbled to himself, though it was heard by all. "Better check Hogwarts rules...meanwhile," Harry turned to Slytherin, "May I ask Slytherin house for their hospitality for the remainder of the meal?"
That effectively silenced the Great Hall, until a single voice was heard.
"Why would we want you to join us, Potter?" asked the Ice Queen, Daphne Greengrass, defiantly. Some people flinched, while Harry simply looked at her and saw those ice-cold blue eyes locked in on him. He saw her doubts and her confusion, and he smirked. Trust her to always ask the right questions. "Why don't you join another house?"
"You can join us, Monsieur Potter," said Fleur. Harry turned to her and felt her allure.
"Veela, you and yours have done nothing but insult me since you arrived, even without knowing me. After the task you started to leer at me, and while I agree you might be fun in bed, mind your allure before I mind you," Harry snarled, shocking Fleur into silence and forcing her to sit down. How could he resist her allure?
"As I was trying to say before I was so rudely interrupted, Slytherin house is the only house that has been honest with me since day one." Everyone gasped. "Sure, you all hate me, or most of you hate me…I don't know, and I don't really care. Unlike the other houses, you have been consistent in your feelings for me and have never gone with the flow, unlike the others. So yes, I trust the snakes to dislike me, and I'd rather have their company than the company of the lions, the badgers, or the ravens, and be caught unaware in the back."
That silenced them all.
"Very Slytherin of you, Potter," someone at Slytherin table said. Harry shrugged.
"Had I never met Malfoy, I would probably be one of you," Harry said. Gasps sounded throughout the hall. "The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, but after meeting the blonde ponce, who essentially declared himself the perfect pureblood and future leader of Slytherin house, I decided that spending seven years in the same house with him or others just like him wasn't an attractive prospect. I believed everyone in Slytherin was like him, so I begged the hat to put me 'anywhere but Slytherin'. So, for four years I crashed in Gryffindor with the red waste bin..." Harry sounded disgusted.
"Not a very pleasant trade, I'll give you that." He saw the shock, the disgust, and the wonderment in everyone in the Great Hall and he smirked. "Oh, very well. I am sorry to have disturbed your meal. See you in class."
With that, Harry Potter left the Great Hall whistling, never noticing the hateful looks half of Slytherin was giving to Malfoy. Moreover, he never noticed the spiteful look Daphne Greengrass gave him. She could forgive him for a lot, but not for comparing her to Malfoy. Powerful or not, Harry Potter would pay for that insult.