Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 6
"Crowded Tent"
Harry walked onto the school grounds and headed straight toward the Quidditch Pitch. It was a rather cold and windy day, so Harry had his cool weather robe tightly pulled around his frame. The week had passed quickly, and Friday's events at the school had snuck up on him. He was running a bit late as he entered the field through the Gryffindor Locker Room, old habit. He noticed two large white tents set up in the middle of the field. They were open on all sides, more of a very large tarp held apart by five poles, four pole of equally length at the corners and one taller pole in the middle. Harry stayed very clear of the crowded tent, and walked into the nearly empty one. As he stepped under the covering he instantly grew warmer and noticed no wind at all.
"Flitwick did a rather nice job of charming the tents, wouldn't you say, Harry."
Fred said, as he warmly greeted Harry with a brotherly hug. George turned his attention away from three small screens that sat alone in the middle of the other wise bare tent. He greeted Harry as well.
"Glad you made it, Harry, starting to think you were going to miss out on your private show. I think you we find everything in order and already under way."
Harry thanked them both and looked in on the three screens. Each screen represented the view of each champions Humming Bird Spy Device. The sound for all three were Bleeding over one another though, making it very hard to hear anything clearly. George handed Harry what looked like a set of muggle headphones. On the right ear was a small dial with an H, D, and B listed. Fred explained.
"During the actual event people in the stands will be able to use these to listen in to the events while they watch the champions on the screens, for a somewhat modest sum. The letter represents the champions' schools, give it a try there partner."
Harry placed the ear phones over his head and was immediately listening to the French reporter interviewing Gabrielle Hinault, the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic Champion. He looked up at the twins, and eased one earphone off.
"No translation available with these?"
The twins looked at Harry, then each other, then back to Harry.
"That's brilliant Harry. We can set a dial on the left earphone for Russian, French, and English." George said.
"Right you are brother, and sell them as a deluxe model, for a bit more money."
Added Fred, finishing his brothers sentence for him
Harry put the set back on and returned to the screens, flipping his dial to H, and catching the end of Skeeter's interview with Titus Ogden, the Hogwarts Champion.
Time had not been very kind to Rita Skeeter. She had always been rather attractive when Harry had first crossed her path, over 15 years ago. Today, she looked more like her personality; her face had become angular, very leathery, and had a very distinct look of cold disinterest.
Standing around the table where she was asking Titus questions was a rather large group of people. Harry recognized most of them. He noticed Tiberius Ogden, head of the Wizengamot & uncle to Titus. Next to him stood Professor Tofty the current Librarian at Hogwarts. Next to her was a witch that Harry did not know. She was medium height, plain and pleasant looking at the same time. She appeared a bit round in shape, and had a rather benign smile on her face. She would have been the right age to be Titus' mother. Next to her stood Josephine Weasley, daughter of Bill and Fleur Weasley. She was a stunning fourth year Ravenclaw, the first Weasley not to be sorted into Gryffindor that anyone knew of, unfortunately not the last.
Harry then noticed the second Weasley not sorted in Gryffindor standing just off from the table as the humming bird changed angles, marvelous invention Harry thought to himself. Cornelius Weasley, son of Percy Weasley, head of International Magical Cooperation for the Ministry of Magic, and Penelope Weasley (nee Clearwater). Harry felt quite bad for Cornelius. He was a second year Slytherin, which made his life rather difficult allover. He was not well accepted in his school house, as his mother was muggle born and the Weasley's, though a purebred Wizarding Family, were not held in very high regard by most of the rather prejudice students in Slytherin. Though the adults in the greater Weasley family tried very hard to make sure he was treated the same as the rest of the family, the kids were another story. Cornelius had always been a bit different and had always been teased. When he got sorted into the Slytherin he became ostracized. Today he was being led around by his father, making sure that he met all the right people.
Harry focused in on Skeeter and the tale end of the interview. Rita was looking down at her notes, her quick quill bending and manipulating words as well as ever.
"So Titus, you're a 6th year Ravenclaw I see, 16 or 17 years old, dear boy?"
"16, I turn 17 in December." Titus said confidently.
"And your parents are?"
Rita said looking up at the people behind him. Titus glanced back at took his mother's hand in his.
"This is my mother Agrippina, my father Claudius died during the war."
"One which side?" the awful woman asked.
"He was killed by death eaters, during a random attack in Diagon Alley."
Thankfully that was about the end of the interview. Harry noticed Percy squeezing in to make a few un-requested statements to Skeeter as the group moved on. Harry noticed Gabrielle Hinault's screen begin to pick up Rita Skeeter. Harry switched his earphone dial to B.
"Ah Miss. Hinault." Skeeter said, "Rita looked around and summoned, "TRANSLATOR!"
"That will not be necessary, I speak English, of course." Said the young girl, a bit put off.
With Gabrielle, who Harry discovered from the interview, were her mother and father. They were both tall and thin, they both hand blond hair and blue eyes and both appeared very much focused on their daughter. Harry noticed that Madame Maxime, the Beauxbatons Headmistress was no where in sight. The interview it self was uneventful. Rita spent an inordinate amount of time trying to pry into the young girl's love life; Boyfriends back home? Anyone catching her eye here at Hogwarts? She was 17 and in her last year of schooling. She had mentioned how excited she was to have met Harry Potter, but Rita had quickly moved past that topic.
Harry was relieved to see on Tormes Meliflua screen that he was waiting to be Skeeter's next interview. As Gabrielle got up and Tormes silently passed her, Harry noticed him look at her hard, as if he was sizing her up. As he took a seat across from Rita Skeeter, he announced.
"I'm ready for the interview, and I obviously do not require a translator."
Harry at first thought that he was unaccompanied until he heard Skeeter say,
"Good to see you Narcissa."
Harry saw Narcissa Malfoy standing just off to the side, almost out of the bird's view.
"Are you related to the boy Narcissa?"
"No, I'm simply escorting him, as Headmaster Vulchanov is unavailable."
Narcissa Malfoy appeared bothered by the Question. Tormes immediately cut in.
"I thought you intended to interview me? If I'm not needed I would be glad to leave."
Skeeter was visibly angered by his words, and launched into a rather unpleasant line of questions.
"So Mr. Meliflua, no one interested in coming today?"
Tormes answered with-out flinching.
"I'm very capable of doing an interview alone, thank you."
Skeeter changed her wording, but not her question.
"Would you tell me about your parents, please dear boy?"
"I never knew my parents I was raised by and adopted by Araminta Meliflua."
Skeeter waited for him to continue, but after a bit she realized he had finished his answer and tried again.
"And Ms. Meliflua? Could she not make it here today?"
It appeared that Tormes was no longer enjoying his game with the reporter, as his demeanor changed. He went from stone faced and curt to informative in a flash.
"Ms. Meliflua passed on during my first year at Drumstrang. Since then I have been a ward of the school. I'm currently in my final year of school, 17 years old. I plan to travel once I graduate using the winnings from this tournament. I admire Nikola Vulchanov our Headmaster. I do not have any love interest. I imagine that's all that you need, no?"
Skeeter was far from satisfied.
"What do you know of your parents? How were they related to Ms. Meliflua?"
Tormes had an expression of boredom and mild annoyance.
"I was brought to Russia to live with Ms. Meliflua, a family friend, during your war with the Dark Lord. My parents thought I would be safer there. I was told that they were assumed dead when the war was over. I was never told their names. I really have nothing else for you."
Skeeter was determined to finish the interview on her own terms not those of an arrogant 17 year old.
"So you are British then, not Russian?"
"My parents lived in England during the war; I'm Russian, thank you."
"So your parents were Russian then?"
Skeeter continued.
"I would not know, I was never told anything about them. Actually that is not entirely accurate. I was told that they were pureblood from good pureblood families, but little else. Professor Malfoy is it required that I stay for this interview."
Harry noticed that Narcissa Malfoy seemed delighted with the boy's attitude.
"Not at all, Tormes, you are free to leave at anytime."
Just as Harry saw Narcissa, looking rather threatening, lean in to say something to Rita Skinner. Harry heard "Finite Incantatem!" The picture and sound to Tormes Bird went dead. Harry looked across the pitch to see Malfoy and Meliflua walking back toward the school.
After thanking Fred and George for their help he was about to leave when the tent was descended upon by a gang of young students, most were red heads, all were dressed in Gryffindor colors
Fred and Angelina's two boys Pryor, a third year, and Murphy a first year, hugged their dad and searched his pockets at the same time. They knew he had brought something new, "mom couldn't know about", with him. Pryor and Murphy were both of a very light brown complexion with green eyes, light brown curly hair, and far more handsome then their father. Pryor had made the Quidditch team as a reserve keeper.
Two of George and Verity's children were in the group as well. Their oldest, a daughter named Gilda, was as much a typical Weasley as one could find. She was a 3rd year student as tall as most 5th and 6th year boys. She had long wavy red hair, brown eyes and was a chaser on the Quidditch team. Her younger brother Chevy was in his second year, he too was tall red haired, but a bit of a thicker build, and looking to be a rather intimidating lad. Their youngest brother, Carlin, was not due to attend Hogwarts for another two years. They both were immediately curious about the three screens in the tent.
Ron and Hermione's oldest son Richard, in his first year, warmly walked up and received a hug from his uncle Harry. His younger sister Victoria, whose name Ron had gotten over eventually, was due to attend Hogwarts with Harry's son James next year.
Rounding out the redheads was Louis Weasley age 12 and in his second year. He was Fleur and Bills son, and a he looked much like the pictures of Bill from before the war. He did have his mothers blue eyes along with red hair; he wore in a pony tail. He was tall, strong and already a reserve chaser on the Quidditch team.
The final three students, of the bunch, though not related all referred to Harry as Uncle Harry and all were his godchildren. The Twins were Neville and Luna's daughters, first year students, Daisy and Iris. They had long straight black Hair, dark eyes and were not the most coordinated of kids, but bright and sweet just the same. They caught Harry up to their school work, classes and friends at school. They both were adjusting well.
Standing in the back of the group confidently waiting to be noticed was Lilly. She was Remus and Tonks only child. A third year student who was at the current moment sporting red hair and green eyes. Harry walked over to her and bent down to give her a big hug. Lilly, Harry, and all his Nieces, Nephews, and Godchildren knew she was his favorite.
All the kids spent a couple of minutes with Harry, George and Fred, before they had to make their way back up to the Castle for dinner. They were filled in on the Humming Bird Spy Devices. Pryor, Murphy, Gilda and Chevy, would be watching out for humming birds at home for the next several years. The curtains to the kids rooms at Fred and Georges houses would be kept pulled shut out of paranoia. The whole group headed back with a few extra Galleons in their pockets, as was Harry's habit of doing.
Fred, George and Harry remarked about the potential for an all Weasley Gryffindor Quidditch team in the near future. They laughed that they would have better brooms then any professional team. As Harry started to walk out of the stadium and towards Hogsmead to apparate home, he realized he had not learned all that much about the eerily familiar Tormes Meliflua. He also realized that maybe after seeing some many happy and carefree Nieces, Nephews, and Godchildren, that maybe he was really worrying about nothing. He had not had another headache, and a 17 arrogant boy from Drumstrang Institute had him spying on interviews. He felt rather foolish and was very glad no one but Fred and George knew about the fuss he had made.
Please feel free to review, criticize and correct as much as you want. This is a first for me and just some fun.