Blood was still pounding in his ears and he could barely hear the distant shouts and coughing of the crowds in the arena.
Flying does that to him.
It's been one of his few passions ever since he first got on a broom. Challenging an apex predator with the natural ability to soar in the skies to an impromptu game of tag on his trusty Firebolt is just an extra bit of spice for him.
He loved flying and the adrenaline rush was intoxicating.
On the 'subtle' comments made by Professor Moody, Harry had decided that any chance to fly on his broom was welcomed especially when the Quidditch tournament has been cancelled for the year.
He has prepared a litany of spells after his discovery of dragons in the forest, but the option of not having to face the dragon in a direct confrontation was preferable.
Yes, options.
What a novel idea. Harry was usually thrusted into do-or-die situations that really gave him not much choice in what he would like to do. He could, of course, choose to stick his head in the sand and pretend nothing was happening but there is a hero living in Harry.
A tired and thoroughly battered hero. But a hero nonetheless.
He will face his problems with his head held high.
Yet, he despises the fact that the hero is standing alone shouldering the burden, with everyone else cheering on the sidelines.
A peanut gallery. Just what he needed.
Rolling his shoulders to work out any kinks, Harry reflected on his performance in the first task as Madam Pomfrey fussed over him.
It went swimmingly.
In the initial engagement, Harry dodged the onslaught of flames as he entered the arena. His heart beating rapidly as he dived behind a large rock formation to take cover.
A silent accio had his Firebolt laid outside the champions' tent zipping into his hands.
Then the baiting process. He had to divert the dragon's attention away from its nest.
Flying circles around the dragon made it wary, but it was prioritizing the safety of the eggs in her nest.
A brief spark of inspiration had him diving towards the nest and casting a blanket disillusionment charm on the eggs before he pulled up and rocketed to safety.
It took the Horntail a few seconds to react. Seeing the eggs in her clutch missing, the dragon released a devastating roar before tearing after Harry.
Mighty flaps of her wings made quick work of the single chain keeping it earthbound. A groan of metal and shrill cry later, the dragon was free.
Contestant and dragon were both gaining speed and altitude as they left the arena behind them. The audience and the dragon keepers were panicking and shouting. Whilst a few of them were chanting and cheering the dragon on.
All that was behind Harry though. His attention has been fully occupied with six tonnes of muscle and gnashing fangs barreling towards him. Adopting a sloth grip, Harry narrowly dodged the incoming dragon. Exhaling the breath that he had held unknowingly, Harry righted himself in his broom and nudged it in a new direction.
Harry kept the Horntail at a respectable distance, diving and swerving whenever it got too close, using his maneuverability to his advantage; never going too far for it to lose its interest. Followed by the judicious use of transfiguration spells to set a flock of flamingos on the Horntail when they have gained enough distance from its nest as a distraction as Harry dived for the golden egg. The bright color and size of the flock was enough to catch the dragon's attention and hide Harry's figure.
Why flamingos? Harry had asked.
"It's all in the showmanship, Harry. If you have to do something. Do it with flair," was Sirius's sound advice. "You want to leave the audience stunned. Flabbergasted. Keep them guessing. Oh, and don't forget the surprise."
Harry slowly pulled up his broom after retrieving the egg and watched as the flamingos spread out and mount an offensive on the dragon. Pulling out his wand, he aimed at the flamingo closest to the dragon and cast a silent bombarda to detonate the package the flamingo was carrying, causing an explosive chain reaction.
And yes, there were dungbombs tied to the feet of the flamingos.
Harry thought it was a good idea to block out the dragon's sense of smell.
It was partly why Harry has made his hasty exit after retrieving the egg.
Let the audience and judging panel sit there and suffer through the point awarding. He had Sirius spelling the dungbombs, so the odor would cling to their clothes and had to be cleaned the old-fashioned way. Sirius called it a 'Padfoot Double Whammy'.
Oh, that's right.
He forgot to mention the Horntail is still up there, spewing flames from the skies. More mayhem, as the dragon keepers are running around grabbing whatever brooms they could to face off the enraged dragon. Ducking and swearing all the while as the dragon dive-bombed them.
'The crowds aren't cheering now. Can't have them enjoying themselves as I'm out there struggling for my life.' Harry was starting to relax, and he could feel a grin pulling at his lips.
Harry Potter – 1, Magical Morons – 0
Harry did not find the Triwizard Tournament to be fun and exciting; ergo, the audience should not be having fun either.
With the impending doom of the first task done and dealt with, Harry can now focus his time and effort into setting up his plans for the Slytherins. They have successfully gained his attention with their magical 'Potter Stinks' badges earlier during breakfast.
Harry couldn't help but snicker in his mind at the irony, after showering the audience stands with the modified dungbombs. It would have been a bonus if he managed to catch the judges unaware, but they had defenses set up around the judges' platform.
Before long, Madam Pomfrey had sent Harry on his way after giving him a clean bill of health. Departing the champions' tent, Harry trekked back towards the castle. He wasn't planning to wait on the panel of judges to award him points for his performance. Harry's only care was to survive through the tournament.
Noting that the castle was mostly empty, Harry directed his feet towards his new base of operations. Best to strike the metal while it's hot. The students are still tied up in the audience stands and busy with preparations for the after party.
The first piece of his retaliation will pit the badgers against the snakes.
The insulting badges were a combined efforts of Malfoy and several of the upper year students in Slytherin, or so he bragged. His plan was to make further modifications to the badges and have the Slytherins take the blame for it.
The badgers weren't his only target, but in their show of unity and loyalty, they certainly were the only ones with every single member sporting them. Yes, even Professor Sprout. Harry had noticed the badge displayed proudly on the front of her robes before leaving the Great Hall.
The cries of outrage from the Gryffindor members will compound the underlying animosity and rivalry between the two houses. If he was lucky, Fred and George might even retaliate against the snakes with more pranks.
He was looking forward to breakfast tomorrow morning.
Looking down at the badge in his hands, Harry began tinkering with the enchantments. According to Sirius, he should be able to lay his own enchantments on the badge in his possession and infect the other badges when they are in close proximity. A journal filled with the Marauder's inventions sent Harry's way, courtesy of Sirius, gave him the necessary spells for his task.
Harry spent the next two hours tinkering with the enchantments on the badge, specifying the effects he wanted. Only taking a short break, when Dobby came with refreshments.
Wiping off the sweat on his brow, Harry looked down at the badge proudly. It was hardly recognizable. He casted one final spell to lock the configuration under a passphrase, so no further modifications can be made. The badges were now tamper-proof without the passphrase, and they won't be able to reverse the changes once the badges were infected.
He still has to sneak into the Great Hall after curfew to lay additional charms on Professor Sprout's seat for what he had in mind for the professor. She really should have known better. Harry would have to ask Dobby to take pictures for him when the professor realizes that her plants have taken on snake-like mannerisms.
Satisfied with his work, Harry settled back into the armchair.
It was humid in here. The air was stale and damp. He would have to remove the water pooling in the chamber and look up air refreshment charms. Still decked out in his tournament gear, Harry could feel his sweat pooling around his collar and dripping down his back. Thankfully, Dobby had served him with icy cold drinks as he slaved away at his task.
Kicking off his boots, Harry leaned further back and stretched languidly.
Now, he just has to wait patiently.
Come morning, he will have his entertainment and a story to dazzle his godfather with. He will be working hard the entire year to earn his Marauder's badge of honour.
Early next morning,
Harry had woken up before the first light of dawn. He was eager to get down to breakfast so he can eat in peace without the student body staring at him.
It really was an appetite killer. People watching you eat.
He also wanted to grab the best seat to watch the chaos unfold. Dobby has been tasked to remain hidden and take photos of the pranks so he could send them to his godfather.
Rising from his four-poster bed, Harry gathered his stuff and headed into the shower stalls.
Half an hour later, he was fully clothed in his school robes and pocketed his modified badge. It feels like he was about to release a virus into the world. Some of the badges in the Gryffindor dorms has already been infected, sitting innocently on their bed-side tables, prepped and ready for him to activate at the best possible moment in the Great Hall.
Having arrived early in the Great Hall, Harry settled down into one of the benches at the Gryffindor table with his back facing the wall. He can see the rest of the house tables from this angle and had a clear view of the professor's table. He was still situated near the end of the table, so he could avoid being dragged into the mess.
Harry scooped some scrambled eggs and waffles onto his plates with a side of bangers. It was still early in the morning, so most of the students are still preparing for the day. He made short work of his breakfast and was nursing a goblet of chilled freshly squeezed orange juice, à la Dobby.
As the morning progressed, students slowly filtered into the Great Hall and began serving themselves. A furtive glance around the room gave him the answer he was looking for.
Most of them were still wearing the badges.
Harry just has to wait for the magic to spread around.
'Share the magic. After all, sharing is caring.' he snarked internally.
Before long, the opportune moment came. Malfoy was standing up from the Slytherin table and making his way towards Harry.
Harry just glanced in his direction and he could feel the mounting anticipation and excitement swelling in him.
Malfoy began with his usual witticism and Harry just stared at him unblinkingly. Not getting the results he wanted, Malfoy went for his fallback plan.
"Hey Potter, need me to remind you of something?" Draco smirked. Raising his hands, Malfoy pressed the badge on his chest.
Harry silently activated the enchantments on his own badge he had hidden under his robes, and a wave of magic swept across the hall.
Instead of the flashing badge, proclaiming "Potter Stinks", a flurry of action and shouts can be heard as the students cried out in dismay and shock.
Looking up towards the other tables, Harry could see that the colour green has become the predominant theme over at the Hufflepuff table. Their robes and house sigil has been augmented with snake motifs. Students with longer hair found their hair trying to bite at their ears and noses, and those with shorter hair had turned green with envy.
As the students turned to complain to their neighbors, their words were butchered up by the sibilant hisses that has begun to fill the Great Hall. Some were shocked and froze where they were and stared at their neighbours. Most were shivering from the hisses that reminded them of a nest of slithering snakes.
'Hah! A dark wizard huh? Now, you can all be aspirant dark lords and ladies.' Harry grinned savagely.
The responses from the Gryffindors were the most explosive. Those affected by the enchantments stood up in anger and started cussing at the Slytherin table for their mishap. Ron was one of the most noticeable with his startlingly green hair and remains of his breakfast slobbered on the front of his robes. He was pointing fingers at Malfoy and accusing him of booby-trapping the badges.
Ron's accusation quickly gathered steam as his voice rose in volume and garnered the attention of everyone in the hall.
Malfoy was spluttering.
Shaking his head in rapid denial of his involvement in the morning's pandemonium. He liked being in the limelight, but not when they were staring at him like he was prey.
As per usual, Malfoy was quick to accuse Harry instead.
"It wasn't me. Potter did it!"
"Excuse me?" Harry adopted a look of innocence and confusion. "I was just eating breakfast and you were the one who came up to me and pressed your stupid little badge. I seem to remember someone bragging about their part in creating the badges not that long ago." Harry hissed the last part out venomously.
Harry displayed his animosity by standing up and glaring at Malfoy, as has come to be expected of him over the years of bitter rivalry.
Before things could escalate, Professor Snape marched down towards them at a brisk pace.
"Potter! I know you did this." His black eyes glimmering with disdain and malice. "Fifty points from Gryffindor!" his icy tone clear to the rest of the hall.
"I did not!" Harry protested.
Harry activated a second signal through his badge as he engaged Professor Snape in a staredown.
Their little contest was soon broken up by gasps and angry mutterings from the professors' table.
Everyone turned to look at the table and saw Professor Sprout sporting similar snake motifs over her robes and her badge was flashing 'I AM A SLIMY SNAKE LOVER'. When she opened her mouth to protest, a long thin tongue could be seen snaking out. The professor was apoplectic with rage and hissed out venomously "FIX THISSSS AT ONCE! IF I FIND OUT WHO IT ISSSS, THEY WILL BE IN DENTENTION FOR THE RESSSST OF THE YEAR DIGGING DRAGON DUNG IN MY GREENHOUSESSSS!"
She was met with looks of disbelief and horror. Seeing as no one was interested in admitting anything, she stormed out of the Great Hall in a huff towards the infirmary hoping for a quick fix.
Harry just looked on in amusement. The professor's changes can be easily fixed by the matron but his retribution has yet to come. She would trip the secondary enchantments when she enters her greenhouses and Dobby would be waiting.
"Potter! Detention with me for the rest of the week." Professor Snape brought the attention back on Harry.
"That's enough, Severus!" Professor McGonagall interjected. "You have no proof that he did anything. Mr. Malfoy here was the one distributing the badges yesterday, and he was the one who activated his badge just now. Everyone here saw what happened."
Turning to Malfoy, she spoke in a clear tone, "Detention with me for the rest of the week. I want those badges disposed of by dinnertime."
Nodding to Harry, Professor McGonagall in an impressive imitation of Professor Snape's usual theatrics, spun on her heels and the tail end of her robes flared out.
"Oh, the point deductions have been revoked." She left behind her as she walked back to the professors' table.
The Gryffindors were staring at the professor in fascination and amazement at her dominating power play.
Harry smirked at the Transfiguration professor's obvious support for him.
Looking to his side, he could spot the Weasley twins caught up in the unique predicament of appreciating the professor and mourning their misfortune at missing out on a massive prank. They would have to step up their game it seems. There is a disturbance in the force.
"If you don't mind, I have to prepare for my morning classes." Harry shot an inquiring look at Professor Snape.
Professor Snape just glared at him with a look promising a painful death. Gritting his teeth, he stormed back to his seat.
Harry summarily picked up his belongings and left the Great Hall, whistling to himself in a jaunty tune.
As soon as Harry left the Great Hall, the twins snapped out of their funk and with a pointed look at each other, nodded and exited with great haste and determination.
Harry was halfway up the staircase leading to the seventh floor when the twins caught up to him.
"Harry!" The twins called out. "My word! You've been holding back on us haven't you."
"I'm sure I have no idea what you both are talking about." Harry deadpanned.
"Tsk, tsk! Harry, we are connoisseurs in art of mischief and pranking. We can tell mischief runs in your blood. You've just always been bogged down by Hermione and our ickle Ronniekins" Fred pointed out astutely.
"Fred and I knew what we were doing when we handed you the Marauder's Map last year. We were hoping to inspire you cause some mischief of your own." George grinned, as he brought Harry into a side hug.
"Indeed, we do, brother of mine!" came the cheery reply of the other red-headed twin.
"Now, what is this about causing mischief without including us?" The twins spoke in unison.
Harry considered them for a long moment before sighing.
"Look guys, let's talk somewhere more private."
Harry did not wait for them as he turned around and went back down the stairs. The twins looked at each other again and gave a quick shrug before following in Harry's footsteps.
A quick shortcut later, Harry and the twins were standing in the second-floor girls' lavatory.
"Uh, Harry? Did you have to use the loo really quick? I think we are conspicuously of the wrong gender assignment to be using this particular one" Fred teased in a joking tone.
"No. This is Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom." A cautious look around, Harry was satisfied that they were alone in the toilet. "This is where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is located. I thought Ron told you guys about it?"
"Oh, ronniekins can be the jealous type, you know?" George quipped. "He really enjoyed the fact that he knew something about the castle that we didn't and we have yet to pry the answers out of him."
"Huh, I see. Why am I not surprised?" Harry shook his head. "Well, let's head down and we can talk."
Open! Harry hissed.
Fred and George gaped in amazement as the sink shifted sideways and opened up into a steep tunnel.
"Whoa! That's pretty cool."
"Ladies first," Harry beckoned towards the entrance.
"Cheeky bugger." Came the twins' reply.
Without further ado, the twins clambered into the hole and with a loud exclamation of "WHEEEEEE", they were both gone.
Shaking his head in exasperation, Harry followed them down into the chambers.
A few minutes later, Harry had the twins situated in Salazar's private study. A quick conjuration provided them with proper accommodations.
"Wow! You've been practicing Harry. Conjuration is N.E.W.T.-level stuff" George appraised the chair he was perched in.
Harry just gave them a shrug in response.
"So, what were you saying? Why the secrecy?" The twins looked at Harry in askance.
"Well, I'll be honest with you guys. You guys busted me out the summer before my second year and gave me my father's map last year, so I owe you guys for at least that."
Twin squeaks of excitement, "Your father!?"
"You mean your dad is one of the marauders?"
"For real?"
"Which one?"
"Whoa, slow down guys. Yes, my dad is one of the marauders, and he was known as Prongs." Harry replied calmly.
"It is a real honor!" The twins bowed deeply, before falling into chuckles.
"Well, we were right in that mischief runs in your blood. And you don't owe us anything Harry. The map was yours rightfully, and we don't need an excuse to help out a friend." Fred said solemnly.
"Thanks guys," Harry beamed at them.
"Now, as I was saying. The truth is, I'm not doing this because my 'best friends' are no longer holding me back or I was bored. I am doing this to get back at the wizarding world for the poor treatment I have suffered the past three years." Harry gave each of them a firm look. Intertwining his fingers, Harry considered his next words.
"I am giving them a taste of what they have done to me. I consider it retribution. After my name came out of the goblet, I knew it was another one of Voldemort's plots to kill me. But when I looked around, I found that I had no support from my friends, my peers, or the staff members."
Harry proceeded to give them a quick rundown of what he felt and the plans he had in the making. At the end of his spiel, Harry settled back down and took a sip of the tea Dobby had provided. He gave the twins some time to consider his revelations.
The twins were debating furiously in hushed tones.
A few minutes later, they gave Harry their verdict.
"Don't worry mate! You have our support in this." Fred pledged solemnly.
"We are at your disposal for all mayhem and mischief making. Pranking Dumbledore, the ministry, and You-Know-Who at the same time is very ambitious of you. We can provide you help in whatever you may need." George continued where his twin left off.
"We have only one condition."
"Well, two really…"
"First, we won't help you prank any of our family members. If you want to get back at Ron, you will have to come up with your own pranks."
"As for the second condition… do you know who the other marauders are?"
"Uh, sure…" Harry said.
After a moment's hesitation, Harry explained about his godfather's situation and the identity of the two remaining marauders.
"We had a marauder teaching us for the past year, and we had no idea?" The twins' eyes were wide in disbelief.
"Oh, the missed opportunities!" Fred lamented.
"The grave injustice! You have our unconditional support going forward. We will see to it that your godfather's innocence is brought to light!" George exclaimed.
The twins were indignant at the injustice that has befallen one of their heroes. As the son and godson of two of the marauders, the twins regarded Harry as prankster royalty.
"Now, show us what you have planned and let's get to mischief making." They declared in unison.
Harry laughed out at the twins' antics.
"Maybe we should start off with a quick introduction to the original marauders?" Harry suggested before pulling out his two-way mirror.
The twins' dumbfounded looks made Harry laugh even more.
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" the twins crooned at the same time.