CHAPTER TWENTY
Harry Potter and the world and its characters all belong to JKR
Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
-o0o0o0o-
The very same day before Harry was called to Malfoy Manor started out normal for the young Potter Lord until his potions class. The champions were driven out of their classes by something called the Weighing of the Wand Ceremony.
Harry was taken from potions, the sneering of Snape and the jeering of the Gryffindors not doing anything to him as he held his head up high. Hermione and Neville smiled weakly, as they and Draco, Theo, Blaise, and Daphne began to rhythmically tap on the table as he walked out.
He smiled at his friends, and met with Fleur, Cedric, and Viktor outside where the ceremony was supposed to take place.
They thought it would be best to present a united front, to the Headmasters and to the public. They walked in together, heads held high and talking amicably.
Rita Skeeter of the Daily Prophet, specialising in writing rags and gossip articles, narrowed her eyes in delight the moment she spotted Harry.
Harry narrowed his eyes imperceptibly at her, and looked at his friends. "Be careful with her," he whispered. "Do not let her drag you into a solo interview."
"Why?" Viktor whispered back.
"She will take any chance she has to defame you." Cedric answered, having read one of her articles and was truly disgusted with what she wrote.
Fleur and Viktor nodded, making their way over to Ollivander.
Ollivander examined their wands and made sure they were fit to be able to compete. He lingered with Harry's wand, proclaiming it was one of his best works.
After the pictures and the ceremony, in which Skeeter tried to get Harry to be the centre of attention. He saw right through her, though.
"Mr. Potter, let's put you in the centre, where everyone can see you, hm?" She said, her voice sickeningly sweet, with a sharper tone hidden underneath the faux politeness.
Her eyes glinted with steel when Harry responded.
"I'd rather not, Fleur is much prettier than I." He grinned at the silvery haired blonde who laughed slightly. Harry positioned himself at the very edge, and forced the photographer to take the pictures, much to the chagrin of Skeeter.
She then tried to take Harry for an individual interview, but by the time the thought was even fully formed from her mouth, the Champions were gone.
-o0o0o0o-
The first task of the tournament was set to begin soon. Each of the champions had figured out their plans, and had been working at them tirelessly, each having a unique point of view when it comes to magic, and offering suggestions and aid to the others.
It was quite the bonding experience, in Viktor Krum's opinion. He had never had true friends. At Durmstrang, everything was about competition. There were no opportunities to make friends, as they are all pit against one another since the very beginning of their schooling.
And he had become one of the most famous people in the Wizarding World because of his Quidditch ability. He never knew if someone wanted to know him for his status in their community or for genuine interest.
He had found a form of a kindred spirit in Harry Potter, though their situations were completely different. Viktor was famous for his own achievement, of something he worked at tirelessly.
Harry was famous for an event that caused the death of his parents. It was glaringly obvious the boy cared not for his fame, even outright loathed it sometimes.
But Harry arrived in the Room of Requirement a bit later than usual.
"Where were you?" Theo asked their friend as Harry entered the room.
His eyes looked a bit bleary and he seemed sleep-addled.
"I was at Malfoy Manor." Harry said, fighting a yawn.
"Why?" Draco asked, eyebrows furrowed. "Is everything okay?" Viktor noticed he looked slightly frantic, but hid it well.
Harry nodded with a smile. "Sirius called me over, for a favour."
"Well, spit it out." Daphne muttered. "The suspense is killing me."
"Seriously, Harry." Hermione agreed, eyes alit with curiosity.
Neville, the twins, Cedric, and Fleur were also listening intently.
"I removed your fathers Dark Mark, Draco." Harry said, smile widening.
Neville's eyes grew wide, and a grin spread across his face.
Draco's eyes started to water slightly. "You're serious?" He croaked.
"No, I'm his godson." Harry said immediately. Hermione hit him on the shoulder lightly.
Draco laughed, disbelief in his eyes. He ran to Harry and hugged him fiercely, Neville not far behind.
The three boys embraced. "Thank you." Draco murmured over and over again. Harry and Neville pulled away, Neville with an arm around both of their shoulders. Harry turned towards Draco and rested his forehead against the blonde's.
"Anything for family." Harry murmured.
They embraced once more, and Viktor was struck with the brotherly bond that the three had.
It was obvious that everyone in this group loved each other fiercely and equally, but Neville, Draco, and Harry were somewhat different.
He knew the boys were raised together as brothers, and he had never seen a bond quite like theirs before. He admired it, and hoped one day he'd have something similar. He and Cedric shared a half smile as the boys pulled away from a familial moment and everyone congratulated Draco and Harry.
"Now. Let's get to training." Fleur said, her accent thick and her voice melodic. "We have to fight dragons soon, after all."
And so, the room enlarged into their training room, and they began training once more.
-o0o0o0o-
"What did you call us here for, Sirius?" Frank asked, walking into the family room and sitting down on the soft armchair in front of the fire.
Sirius had called for Frank, Ted, Remus, and Lucius.
"We haven't had an opportunity for a stag night in a long time." Sirius said simply, his eyes slightly sad at his use of the words 'stag night' which was what James used to call it.
"And what do you suggest we do?" Lucius asked, raising a brow.
Sirius grinned mischievously. "I called it for you, Lucy."
Lucius groaned. "I'm not going to like this, am I?"
And that's how the five grown men ended up at the muggle tattoo parlour in London.
It was in a nice area, and the parlour itself was grand and spacious.
"So," the artist began. "What are you kind gentlemen looking for?"
Sirius spoke first. He is the one with the most tattoos, after all. The only one with tattoos.
"I want the constellation Leo, but with the Regulus star brighter than the others." Sirius responded.
Lucius, Frank, Remus, and Ted shared a sad yet fond glance with one another.
Remus then spoke up. "I want a small silhouette of a stag and a doe together, with a smaller foal by their side."
The tattoo artist obviously found these requests strange, but they knew what these meant. They knew that if there was going to be something on their bodies forever, it would be this.
Sirius smiled, remembering his own tattoo he got in commemoration of James and Lily.
It was an exact replica of a snitch James once drew on a piece of parchment, but instead of just L.E. as the initials inside, it was J.P+L.E. He felt it was fitting.
He had ribbed into James so many times for that drawing, calling him a hopeless sod. It was a painful irony that he ended up getting it inked on his body forever.
Frank didn't need much thinking, truly. He was going to get his wife and sons initials underneath the Longbottom family motto.
Fight for what is right, even if that means fighting alone.
Ted was unsure what to get for his own, but he settled on the Andromeda constellation that appears to be carved on an ancient Greek pillar. Nymphadora, after all, is of Greek origin, translating to beloved young girl.
Lucius was the most picky about his tattoo, which would be placed where his Dark Mark used to be.
He smiled fondly, as of course this would be Sirius' line of thought. He had finally gotten rid of something that marred his skin since he was a young adult. It would only make sense to replace it with something that he loved.
He then decided that he could not just choose one. He decided to draw a sketch that melded the Malfoy, Black, Longbottom, and Potter family crests into one.
The dragon of the Malfoys, the mighty and noble griffon of the Potters, the Raven of the Blacks, and the Bear of the Longbottoms. Each animal on the sides of the Coat of Arms. The escutcheon was elaborate, with beautiful symbolic elements of each family twirling on it. The griffon and dragon were roaring on the sides, standing tall and beautiful. The bear was resting at the bottom, and though the position of the bear seems as if it's docile, or harmless, it is waiting for the prey to get closer and strike. The ravens sat atop the ornate shield, an omen of death.
Lucius' tattoo took the longest, and so the men had secretly applied all the numbing charms needed.
"That's quite a coat of arms," the tattoo artist remarked amiably, "It has elements of a couple that I have seen in my life before."
"It's a blend." Lucius replied, not even noticing the sting of the needle as it pushed the ink into his skin. Despite Ted Tonks not having a family crest that he could have incorporated, Lucius considered him a Black. Remus Lupin similarly was considered a Potter.
As did everyone else in the family, despite their surnames, they embodied everything a man should be. They were kind, honest, loyal, brave, noble, and incredibly intelligent.
It completely mind-boggled Lucius that mere years ago, he would have considered Ted and Remus inferior to him. It just proves that all it takes is the right people to show him just how wrong he was in his rigid views.
"Those men over there," Lucius continued, inclining his head to the only people he has ever considered friends, brothers, before. "They entered my life, changed it completely in the best ways. It incorporates each of our family crests."
"Say," the tattoo artist asked softly, as he was putting on the finishing touches to the tattoo. "What were your names again?"
"I'm Lucius Malfoy."
The man nearly choked on air. "Y-You're Lucius Malfoy?"
Lucius furrowed his brows, the others hearing the end of the conversation and frowning, making their way over.
"Do you know me?" Lucius asked in confusion. "Have we met before?"
"No, it's just..I was a couple years behind you in Hogwarts." The tattoo artist admitted.
Sirius' eyebrows shot up. "What's your name?"
"Oliver, sir. Oliver Barlowe."
"I'm afraid I'm not familiar–" Lucius began, but was cut off by Remus.
"Ollie?" He asked, eyes wide. Sirius' eyes lit up in recognition.
"Holy shit. I didn't know you went into the muggle world!" Sirius added, smiling. He then went to explain to the others.
"Oliver here was a Ravenclaw in our year. He and Lily went on a couple dates in our sixth year, and James wanted us to all to terrorize him but in the end we couldn't go through with it. He was just too damned likeable." Sirius explained, smiling sadly.
Oliver sighed, eyes clouding over. "I left the Wizarding World after what happened to them." He admitted. "Lily and James were amazing people. They…they didn't deserve that." he said, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"They didn't." Sirius agreed. "Harry is wonderful, though."
Oliver grinned. "How is he doing? I remember James writing to me and telling me Lily gave birth. He was gushing about the little tyke."
"I didn't know you kept in contact with James and Lily." Remus muttered, eyebrows furrowed.
"Before I left, I was doing some…freelance work with the Auror Department." Oliver said carefully. "I was assigned to report to James, and James would inform the Head Auror of my assignments. It was safer that way, nobody could connect me to the Auror's and they would think it's just old friends catching up."
It was silent for a moment, the only sound heard being the buzzing of the needle as he finished up the tattoo. "I heard that…He's coming back."
"Aye." Ted agreed. "He is."
"Bugger." Oliver cursed. "Haven't enough lives already been lost?" He lamented, most likely to himself than anyone else in the room.
The tattoos were finished and everybody began paying for their work, they had already taken up hours of Oliver's time. Before Sirius left, he turned to Oliver.
"If you ever want to come back to the Wizarding side of the world, you know how to use an owl." He said, half smiling at his old acquaintance.
Oliver smiled back. "I will definitely let you know."
-o0o0o0o-
The first task was set to begin. Harry, though he and his friends were thoroughly prepared, was still nervous. Nobody in their right mind would voluntarily, knowingly, go fight a dragon.
Cedric was pacing nervously. Viktor simply sat still, his face stoic and blank. Fleur was wringing her hands nervously, and Harry truly wished his friends could be here. He heard it then. The whisper.
"Harry!" It was a female voice, coming from outside of the tent. He leaned in closer, and on the other end of the cloth was Hermione.
"'Mione?" He whispered.
"Harry." She said, relief in her voice. She gulped. "How..how are you feeling?"
"Okay." He said slightly sardonically. "Where are the others?"
"They thought it'd be less likely we would get caught if only one of us came up here. I gave Draco a bruise fighting for it to be me."
Harry let out a wry chuckle, a part of him glad it was Hermione. He loved all his friends, truly, but Hermione would be the closest thing to a little sister he would ever have. Even though she's older than him, he felt the fiercest wave to protect her from everything or anything that might cause her harm.
"You need to be calm." She whispered, fear in her voice. "The key is to concentrate. After that you just have to—"
"Battle a dragon?" Harry cut off, slightly sarcastic and slightly worried.
Hermione whimpered, and threw the cloth of the tend aside and jumped on him, pulling him into a fierce hug.
Harry held her just as tightly, taking in the comfort of her familiar bushy hair and scent.
"It's going to be okay, Hermione." He whispered into her long, chestnut locks. "I'll be okay."
They were driven apart by a blinding flash, as Rita Skeeter walked in.
Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Young love," she crooned. "How wonderful."
"What are you doing here?" Viktor snapped. "This tent is for Champions and family only." His teeth were bared, as if the predator was about to pounce on its prey.
"Now now, let's not get…angry." She said, trying to pick the correct words.
Arcturus and Sirius walked in. Remus in tow. The rest were sitting in the stands with the children.
Arcturus snarled at Skeeter. "What the bloody hell are you doing?"
Skeeter startled, and paled. "I-sir..I don't.."
"Stay the fuck away from my godson and his friends." Sirius spat. She paled even further, and nodded mutely before briskly walking away.
"She's going to print something about Hermione." Viktor said simply, watching as the woman in acid green was looking at Hermione with something akin to malice.
"I can't even imagine why." Hermione sighed. "I've done nothing to her."
"You wouldn't need to." Cedric scoffed, looking at the woman with disdain, wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulders and shielding the girl from sight.
"I don't like her." Fleur declared. Before anything further could be said, Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch surrounded the Champions.
"In this bag is a replica of the dragons each of you will be facing." Ludo said happily. "Just reach in. Lady's first."
Fleur nervously reached into the bag. "A common Welsh Green."
Harry thanked Merlin for the twins having a brother that works at the dragon reserves.
Cedric then put his hand in and selected a Swedish Short-Snout.
Viktor then had the Chinese Fireball. They looked at Harry with apprehension. He'd have the worst dragon.
The Hungarian Horntail. He snorted. "Just my luck."
The family left the tent after bidding the kids all goodluck, and with one final look to Harry, Sirius ducked out of the tent.
"Cedric, you're going first." Harry muttered. "Is your plan well in place?"
Cedric nodded firmly, his eyes glazing over with determination as he exited the tent.
The three friends sat in apprehension, listening to the commentary.
Cedric transfigured three different boulders into large wolves. The dragon went after the wolves immediately, allowing Cedric to use scent masking charms, silencing spells and disillusionment charms so he could quietly creep towards the eggs.
The golden egg lay a hairsbreadth away from his grasp when the dragon realised, after chomping into the neck of the wolves, that it was simply rocks.
The welsh green turned around with a shriek, and a hot lick of fire was sent in Cedric's general direction. He jumped, grabbed the egg and rolled onto his side, having only a minor burn on his back.
Fleur was next, and Harry gave her a hug before bidding her goodluck.
She was going to enchant the dragon to sleep. It began with a series of complex charms, arithmancy, and runes knowledge. She was chanting a spell in French, her eyes were glowing with the Veela power as she pushed every ounce of power into it, including her allure.
Everyone watched in awe as the Dragon's eyes began to droop, and it curled up into itself, snoring away in a way only a dragon could.
Fleur made quick work of grabbing the golden egg, but not before a snort from the dragon caused a burst of fire to singe her skirt.
Viktor was next, and though Harry approved of the conjunctivitis curse on the eyes, he told Viktor to make sure that the eggs did not break.
They worked a way around it. Viktor walked into the arena, his large stature stiff and his face blank as he stared into the eyes of his dragon.
He immediately cast an obscure ward on the eggs that Harry taught him. He did not know if the magic would be anywhere near effective on a dragon, however. But it was worth a try in his mind. Immediately a golden dome surrounded the eggs, protecting them from whatever harm could come to them.
He then focused his wand in the area right between the dragon's eyes. He didn't want to injure the dragon so fully that it would never see again, so instead of the conjunctivitis that he decided he was going to use, he used a temporary blinding spell.
The dragon, for however long Viktor could keep the spell active, would not be able to see him.
It was irate, stumbling around, breathing fire everywhere it could, and it was going to stumble onto the eggs, nearly smashing them, but thankfully the ward interfered as it was supposed to. The eggs were safe, and so was Viktor as he walked over to the nest, ignoring the fire that was sporadically splayed around the arena, and undid the ward, grabbed the golden egg, and gave the poor dragon its sight back.
Harry was next. And he had two plans. One of them being simply talk to the dragon. People were going to find out that he's a parselmouth one way or another when he faced Voldemort, so who cares if the public and media find out now. It will be the least harmful way to go about it.
He didn't want to think about the second option if the first were not to work.
Once he entered the arena, immediately a hot wave of fire was aimed at him.
He conjured a big dome of water, putting it out immediately only for a second burst to make itself known.
"SONORUS!" He cast, his wand at his throat as he jumped to move away from another wave of white, hot, fire.
The dragon was close enough to him at that point so he could jump onto the neck, holding onto its sturdy scales.
He could have sworn he saw his family nearly faint at the sight of it.
"Ssstop!" He hissed, his voice drowning out Bagman's dramatic narration. Everyone in the stands went silent. They watched as the dragon stilled, not trying to buck the boy off its back anymore.
"I'm not trying to hurt you." He hissed to the dragon, who's eyes grew irate with rage as Harry jumped off so he could look at the mystical animal.
"And yet you are trying to ssteal my eggsss." The dragon hissed back.
"No..err..what isss your name?"
The dragon snorted in bemusement.
"My name is Aine, youngling."
"Aine, one of thosssse eggsss are not yoursss. The golden one, I must get it for a tournament or I will lossse my magic."
"Wand wielders, attempting to trick me?" She hissed, eyes growing furious and smoke leaving her gaping nostrils. She zoomed over to her eggs, smelling them, before realising the boy was right.
The golden egg was not hers. She picked it up gently, the egg encased in her sharp teeth, and walked back over to Harry, dropping the egg in his hand, and bowing her head to him.
He bowed his head back, and began to pet her on the snout. The dragon huffed what seemed to be a laugh, with a bit of fire escaping her nose, causing Harry to jump back and the audience to shriek.
She gave him an apologetic look, and licked him. He smiled, and walked off.
The crowd that was stunned into silence was now booming, cheering, and whistling for Harry.
He walked into the Nurse's tent, and Fleur spoke. "You just had to outdo us all, didn't you?" She said sarcastically with a grin.
Harry grinned back.
"It's just my luck." He quipped back. The champions were interrupted by the bustle of everyone's friends and family trying to enter the healing tent all at once. He sighed, it was time to face the music.
A/N: Helllllooo! So this was very info-dumpy and plot heavy in my opinion, leaving little time for character development. I love character driven stories, so the next chapter will most likely be very character heavy instead of plot heavy. Anyways! How did you like the chapter? The changes I made were subtle enough that nothing was really messed with but enough to show the influence the friends have on one another haha. Please review and all that jazz and let me know what you liked, what you disliked, how we felt about the muggle tattoos and the new original character of mine popping up. three guesses what he did for the auror department haha! Let me know your thoughts! Until next time, xoxo