After a visit from Minister Fudge, in which Percy Weasley attended as Crouches assistant (Harry could smell Fudges scent all over Percy and saw the old mans boxers peeking out through his trousers one day and Percy's hair disheveled,) Harry, Fleur and Viktor Where left to their own devices until they would be notified of the Third Task, a giant maze being constructed in the Quidditch Pitch.
"It is done milord. Our goal is nearly insight. I am truly sorry for the loss of Barty. I cannot believe he was discovered so easily by the boy."
"I was a fool. I should have realized scent does not get eliminated with Polyjuice potion but as we don't normally associate with creatures of enhanced senses, oh well. No use crying over spilt potion. Barty is gone, down in the depths of Hell if my sources are accurate. Yes, losing Barty is a great sorrow, he was one of my most devoted followers. However, we still have control of-"
Harry suddenly woke up.
Voldemort is plotting again. Harry thought. He sat up with a groan. He thought to his own Grimoire on his bedside table . Given to him by his Grandfather Paimon as a Both peace offering and acknowledgement of his own accomplishments. He still hated him though but would agree to be curt toward the older man. He was his Grandfather and the King of Pride after all. He now studied the Grimoire daily.
"You my grandson, like your father before you, shall study the movements of the planets, the stars and the prophecies they foretell. You will study the precious minerals and plants of the Earth and how they interact with each other, creating delicate potions, poisons and even herbal remedies the likes of which the mortals have never seen, not even the pretentious wizards." Paimon said as he towered over the fourteen year old boy. He levitated an emerald green Grimoire down to Harry who accepted it in awe. "I know you'll do great things in your lifetime Harry-Boy." He said.
Harry Hugs the Grimoire to his body feeling a great warmth flowing through him.
"Is it normal to feel like your saying hi to an old friend?" Harry asked Stolas who smiled.
"Completely normal." Stolas assured him putting hands on his sons shoulders. "I'm so proud of you my starlight."
"Thank you sir, I won't disappoint you." Harry said to Paimon.
"I know you won't."
Harry yawned and opened his Grimoire. A skill he had discovered within the book was a teleportation spell. He lipped he pages to it and poured Magic into the spell as the air around Harry started glowing with Hellborn script. He vanished and reappeared in his Dads quarters in the castle.
"Dad are you up?" He called out. "We need to talk."
"No I didn't just get done grading papers at 2 am." Blitzo yawned and walked in. "What's on your mind bud?" The bathrobed imp asked as he sat in one of his armchairs by his fireplace. The imp poured himself a glass of fire whiskey given to him by The Headmaster for Yule.
Harry told him about his most recent Voldemort dream.
Blitzo started pacing.
"So the most startling information isn't that he still has control of someone on the inside we figured as much, He's got a mole feeding him information only students and teachers know."
"Right because we didn't exactly let the Ministry know that Barty Crouch is now a permanent visitor in Grandfathers Dungeons."
"So we need to find the mole. We find the mole, we find the traitor."
"It doesn't have to be Nefarious." Harry pointed out. "I don't believe any of my friends would voluntarily betray me at this point. We know Draco and the Malfoys would never betray me. It could just as well be a student telling their parents who are Tom's supporters."
In the Slytherin Dorms, Pansy wrote to her mother as she did once a week telling her about the weeks happenings. How Harry returned to school with his own Grimoire and explained what it did...
"But we cant be too sure in your safety now." Blitzo said. "Your going to be escorted to and from class from now on."
"By who?"
It was unusual seeing Harry looking so flustered. But other students couldn't help but hide giggles particularly the female population of the student body as Harry was escorted by his fiancé Francesco to and from classes and meals with a great red blush in his cheeks.
"As your future husband and father of our children it is mine honor bound duty to provide you with protection mi amore." The parrot said as he carried a Glock 22 pistol on his hip.
"He's been learning to shoot with Moxxie. From what Moxx has told me he's a fast learner you might have competition." Blitzo had said to his oldest boy. He held baby Andrealphus in a baby carrier on his chest. "Isn't That right Andrealphus? Boop!" He asked the baby in baby talk making the baby peacock laugh as his Daddy booped his nose.
luckily for the population of Hogwarts Francesco was not as Trigger Happy as some of Harry's family where and the green parrot demon took Gun Safety very seriously. Not allowing curious young wizards and witches to ever touch his weapon. Once he had aimed it at a seventh year student who had tried to take it from him.
"Would you tolerate someone taking your wand?" Francesco has asked aiming with both hands on the handle. His finger on the trigger. Click. "Safety off." He announced.
"Mine was never on." Harry said as he held The Jackal in Daives forehead.
"Ac-"
Bang!
Francesco fires a warning shot at the students feet.
"Last warning." Francesco insisted. "I'm a demon. Heir to the Archduke Zepar. Your mortal laws don't apply to me. I'm doing all this as a courtesy to my fiancé."
"Please Francy, don't." Harry said as he held The Jackal out. "Personally I never liked Daives he's a self righteous dickhead."
"Daives!"
Cedric Diggory had turned the corner. "Go back to the Common Room And Wait for Professor Sprout. You'll be lucky if your not expelled."
"You don't have the authority to Expell me Diggory." Roger Daives, a fellow Seventh Year Hufflepuff said in defiance.
"No but he does." Harry said pointing behind Daives.
It was Headmaster Dumbledore on his way to Lunch.
"Mr. Daives why are you harassing Mr Goetia and his Guardian?"
"He objected to our weapons Professor Dumbledore." Francesco said calmly as he clicked the safety on and holstered his weapon.
"My Sister was killed by muggle thugs in a park using one of them things." Daives protested.
"To my office, now." Dumbledore ordered Daives Who begrudgingly left the hallway.
Harry blew the older student a raspberry with his hands to his ears. Or where ears would have been if he was human.
Francesco smiles at his fiancés antics and they continue onward to Harry's next class, Double Potions down in the Dungeons. Francesco sat at the back of the class with his own schoolwork for Overlord Rosie's School of Finance.
Even if they didn't go to the school full time, Many demons made their children take classes at the school so they could learn to budget and run their respective households. Even Sinners where welcome to take classes at Rosie's school to learn what they never did in life like how to balance a check book. He was also teaching Harry what he was learning in their spare time together as they would both need to know how to run their household budget.
"Fuck I can't get this problem solved." Harry said in frustration one day as Francesco had given him a set of calculus problems to complete for his own brand of Homework. "Sure you don't want to become an Arithmancy teacher?"
"Magic with Math." Francesco said in thought. "Sounds entertaining. I bet modern wizards have never thought of what they could accomplish with Calculous and Geometry."
"Mommy! Daddy! Professor Francy has impossible standards!" Harry imitated making them both laugh.
Francesco gently put a hand to Harry's face and pulled him close. Their lips connected.
Wildfires went off in Harry's head.
"Was it bad? Should I not?" The Italian parrot asked nervously.
"Yes you should, do it again." Harry insisted and they kissed one more time.
AIRHORN!*
Harry grabbed Blitzos airhorn and expanded it with hellborn magic until BOOM!
"Dad I love you." Harry said. "But I swear to Lucifer if you ever, blow an airhorn in my ear again I will not rest until I find your stash of them and use them on you and Papa until I drive you insane from lack of sleep. So please, ENOUGH OF THE CAPTAIN COCK BLOCK ROUTINE!" Harry pouted angrily and folded his arms in frustration.
"First of all, your fourteen, stop thinking with your bird puss kiddo, cause it's not gonna happen until your wedding night. Not if I have anything to say about it." Blitzo the imp came around the corner from behind where Harry and Francesco sat in the library. "But I suppose your right, just cause I thought with my own little soldier when I was you guys age doesn't mean Franc is."
"Just because mine Papa is a Letch doesn't mean I am." Francesco added.
"Exactly, so I'll talk to Stolas and Zepar and see if we can't work out some ground rules for minor intimacy." Blitzo said as he pulled a book on magical equines out of his bag and sat at their table.
From around the corner a few hours of studying later came a surprising guest in the form of a Bulgarian seeker.
"Good afternoon." Viktor said as Blitzo laid back in his chair snoring.
"Hello Viktor." Harry said. "Something up with Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Will you walk with me?" Viktor asked. "I want to talk about the coming Task."
"I'll be fine. Harry said kissing the green parrots cheek. "I trust Viktor."
"All right mi amore, I shall be here burning two candles at an end."
Harry giggles. "It's burning the candle at both ends Francy." Harry said.
"That makes no sense." The bird said in thought as the two left.
Harry giggles again as he hears "burning at both ends." While he and Viktor where leaving.
"What is Hell actually like?" Viktor asked in genuine curiosity. "I haven't had many opportunities to ask."
"It's a lot like the Living World really." Harry said. "Just imagine the most chaos you could possibly commit and you can do it usually with no great penalties unless you start effecting the higher Nobility like my family the Ars Goetia or the Overlords business bottom lines."
The bushes rustled. Harry immediately brought out the Jackal and Viktor his wand.
"We know your there, come out." Harry ordered.
"Yes Weatherby, Ten OWLs my wife and I couldn't be more proud of Barty."
"What The fuck? Mr. Crouch?" Harry asked the bush. The owl boy cautiously bent on his gangly legs and parted the bush to reveal a rather disheveled and filthy Bartemious Crouch senior looking like he'd been in the forest for weeks.
"What is he doing here and why does he look like he hasn't bathed in a month?" Viktor asked. "Smells like it too." He added. "Doesn't he work for your Ministry and help organize the Tournament?"
"Yes this doesn't make any sense." Harry muttered to himself. Cursing himself for leaving his Grimoire with his Dad.
"You've got to help."
Crouch suddenly looked manic. He grabbed Harry desperately making Viktor trail his wand back to Crouch. "I didn't want to, he made me. Poor Bertha oh God!" His once fine work clothes where covered in mud, blood and Satan knew what else it was clear the man had been through some ordeal and managed to make it to the Forbidden Forest.
Harry had seen many disturbing things in his life in Hell but never something like this. "Perhaps you could start from the beginning Mr. Crouch?" Harry sighed trying to be respectful. He was genuinely disturbed by the mans behavior.
"Oh yes dear Weatherby, send Miss Jorkins a get Well bouquet and a fine bottle of Fire Whiskey."
"He's been cursed by something." Viktor said.
"Or someone." The owl Agreed. Harry checked his jackets pockets.
"DAMN!" Harry swore. "I left my Phone too. I can't even call my Dad for help. Can you look after Mr. Crouch while I go get Headmaster Dumbledore?"
"Of course."
"NO!" Crouch grabbed at Harry again. "I have to warn him! Dumbledore! Harry Potter is in danger! He's got a plan!"
Viktor grabbed Crouch by the shoulders. "Go." He insisted.
"Watch your six." Harry said looking around the forest. He didn't like this situation one bit. Without his Grimoire or even his Hellphone he felt Vulnerable even if he had The Jackal with him. It only carried 9 bullets in the Mag and he left his spare in his dorm.
Tethering Crouch to his wand like a leash Viktor leant back against a tree. "You as well friend." He said.
Harry left quickly. It was getting dark now. But he could see Hagrids hut was lit up and smoking through the chimney and saw shadows. Perhaps Dumbledore was visiting Hagrid for a cuppa.
A scream shook the forest trees. Birds flew in fright.
"Viktor?!" Harry shouted. . He turned around to see Ludo Bagman coming out from behind Hagrids Hut. "Mr Bagman?" Harry asked in confusion. What are you doing here?"
"Chatting with Dumbledore and Hagrid about the creatures we're using for the Third Task Maze." Bagman said. "I just had to use the outhouse and heard that scream in the middle of my piss stream."
They immediately got Dumbledore and Hagrid left to find Headmaster Karkaroff.
"Viktor?!" Harry shouted.
"Calm yourself Harry. Lumos." Dumbledore lit up his wand. He saw legs sticking out of the same bush Harry and Viktor found Crouch in.
It was Viktor. Unconscious. Harry pulled out the human teenager by his feet and checked his breathing and pulse.
"Easy Harry." Dumbledore said. "He's not dead, he's been Stunned."
It was here Karkaroff came running. "Viktor? What happened?!"
"We where just about to revive him." Dumbledore assures his fellow Headmaster. "Rennervate." Dumbledore said as a flash flew from his wand to Viktors body.
"He attacked me." Viktor groaned. sitting up in an undignified manner in front of the bush.
"Who attacked you Viktor?" Karkaroff asked as he assisted his student on his feet.
"Mr. Crouch attacked you?" Harry asked in confusion. He doubted the man was in condition to attack anybody. He scanned the treelines and listened for unusual sounds. "But he wasn't in any condition to attack anybody when I left."
"He tried to escape the Leash Hex I had him under and then he launched himself at me. I fell to the ground and was knocked out." Viktor said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Karkaroff grew enraged. "Treachery!" He shouted pointing at Dumbledore. Accusing him of plotting with his Ministry to attack Viktor with the Forces of Hell even pointing his wand at Harry.
"Back the fuck up!" Harry shouted. Holding the Jackal out. Very much freaked out with the whole situation. Viktor didn't mention that he screamed. So who let out that scream? Was it Crouch? Why would he scream? He was in familiar territory.
"Igor I'm warning you you attack Mr Goetia you invite the wrath of Prince Stolas' Legions."
"And Archduke Zepars." Harry added. "Put the wand away." He ordered. "Go on." He motioned with Jackal to drop the weapon.
Reluctantly, Igor put his wand back in his robes.
"Where's Mr Crouch?" Harry asked. Looking around.
"He couldna gotten far." Hagrid said. "I'll search the Forest Headmaster."
"Point me Barty Crouch." Dumbledore ordered his wand as he laid it flat on his open palm. The wand spun around crazily. "This is concerning." Dumbledore said. "I'll gather the teachers."
"Never again." Blitzo scolded Harry. "That was incredibly stupid. I can't believe Francesco Let you go off with some strange foreign wizard!" The imp reached up and slapped the back of Francesco's head who looked down in shame.
"Never mind that now." Harry insisted.
He told Blitzo what Crouch was like and what he said in his moments of sanity.
"Sounds like he's been under the Imperious Curse." Blitzy said scratching his chin. "For some time too. I've read that prolonged exposure to the Imperious and Cruciatus curses can leave a human brain damaged."
"The question is who, why and for how long." Harry said. "And where is he now? I was right at the Forests edge near Hagrids hut and never saw him or anyone suspicious leave the forest."
"We need to be on guard even more now. We have Ministry Officials showing up after being AWOL for months then vanishing without a trace. I know just the lady."
Barbie Wire joined Francesco as Harry's guardian between classes and meals.
"I would have loved to go to a school like this." Barbie said dreamily with her war hammer mallet on her back. "But you know, the circus, Hell and all."
"As long as Professor Blitzo vouches for you, you are welcome in these ancient Halls Miss Wire." Dumbledore said as he gave the female imp a guided tour.
"Oh please Headmaster, call me Barbie. So what possessed you to hire Blitzy as a teacher?" The imp asked as she and the Headmaster made their way back to her brother, nephew and future nephew in law.
To Be Continued...
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and we're coming up on the climax in a few chapters.
