Chapter Thirteen:

Dumbledore and the Tournament

A/N: What will Dumbledore tell Harry? Will he reveal all or will secrets be kept? How will the changes that Harry has gone through further affect his powers? Will Harry be caught up in another spiral of events that will forever alter the course of the Wizarding World once again?

They proceeded to inform everyone that Harry was alright. He also assured everyone that he would be fine to enter the World Tournament. To ensure this Draco had started to help Harry work on controlling his powers. Meanwhile, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny continued their regular training regimen under Moody. Harry and Ginny would have nightly sparring matches so that Harry could improve on his technique and Ginny could work on increasing her power. Harry had also managed to set up a meeting at Hogwarts with the headmistress and a portrait of a certain former headmaster.

As he walked through the halls, he couldn't help but remember all the time he had spent there, the good and the bad. He made his way to the familiar gargoyle that guarded the headmistress' office. "Phoenix Tear," he said to it and it opened the way to him. He knocked on the door and he heard Headmistress McGonagall telling him to enter. As he entered Dumbledore's portrait greeted him with a small smile, even after all this time, it was still strange to see his former mentor like this when Harry knew he was dead.

"So Harry, I take it you've been noticing some interesting changes that you've been undergoing," Dumbledore said calmly. Harry was a bit confused and angry.

"So you knew," Harry asked angrily, "You knew and what was going to be happening to me and once again you never thought to tell me?"

"No Harry, I did not know, or at least I was not certain, but I admit when Minerva told me about what had happened to you when you finally defeated Tom Riddle, I had my suspicions. Such an occurrence is rare and I knew it could possibly mean anything," Dumbledore said calmly.

"So can you tell me what's going on and why?" asked Harry, "My powers have been increasing, I can't control them like I used to, and also according to Draco my aura has completely changed!"

"A wizard's magical power will increase until a wizard reaches a certain age. Usually this is between a wizard or witches' 18th to 25th birthday. However, certain circumstances can change when a person actually comes into the mantle of their full power. The stronger the wizard the longer it takes. Certain traumatic events can also change what a persons full potential will be." Dumbledore explained.

"Do keep in mind Harry that your… unique… situation may not only cause certain abnormalities with your power, but may also grant you certain abilities as well," added McGonagall.

Harry was confused. "What Minerva is trying to tell you, is the bond between you and Fawkes, may or may not, grant you special abilities unique to that of a phoenix." Harry was star struck at this new revelation.

"What does it mean?" asked Harry eagerly.

"I am not sure, this has not happened for some time, definitely not in my time," said Dumbledore, "The last person to undergo this transformation kept a small journal about how he adapted to his new powers, which I will now leave in your care. Though I must sadly tell you it is incomplete."

"Something is better than nothing…" said Harry taking the torn journal for McGonagall.

"It should be able to help you and Mr. Malfoy in teaching you how to use and control some of your new abilities and powers," McGonagall said to Harry handing him the journal.

"How…" Harry began to ask.

"Just because you can't pick up a quill once in a while Mr. Potter, doesn't mean we don't correspond with anyone else on a regular basis. Alastor and Miss Granger told us around the time you left St. Mungo's."

"Now as to why you can't control your powers as you used to, I'd have thought the answer to be obvious," said Dumbledore in a half surprised voice, "You haven't been using the full extent of your powers as you once had when you were hunting down Lord Voldemort and his Horcruxes. The constant use of your powers allowed you to maintain your mastery of them. Since defeating Lord Voldemort, you have barely scratched the surface of your powers and now that they have increased far beyond their original limitations in such a short time, they are much more difficult to control."

"What about the change in my magic aura?" asked Harry.

"That, I believe, has something to do with your transformation," said Dumbledore, once again confusing Harry.

"Miss Granger told us of what Winky said transpired at your home," said McGonagall, "We believe that when you finally reached you're full potential, you brought out a form of magical metamorphosis that allowed you to exceed the normal boundaries of your limitations. As we were told you had apparently burst into flames, much like a phoenix."

"That is why we believe that you may have the added abilities of a phoenix in addition to your own natural talents and the ones that Voldemort marked you with," said Dumbledore. Harry looked at both McGonagall and Dumbledore as if trying to be certain of something.

"Thank you professors," said Harry leaving the headmistress' office.

"Albus, he knows were hiding something, are you sure we shouldn't tell him?" asked a concerned McGonagall.

"Yes Minerva, this time I am certain," said Dumbledore, "The weight of everything could crush him. We should at least wait until he masters some of his new abilities and can bring his powers under his full control."

A/N: Did you really think Dumbledore of all people would reveal everything?

Several more weeks went by as the Worldwide Wizard's Dueling Tournament drew near. The Tournament was being held in Greenland and the Daily Prophet had reported that a total of 329 wizards and witches would be competing this year, including the likes of Han Tzu, a great wizard who had narrowly lost to Albus Dumbledore in the previous tournament, Arcturias Hall, James Collins, Lord Grego Draconis, Antonio Romero, and Harry Potter.

The week of the tournament saw Fleur Weasley, as well as Ron and Hermione staying with Harry and Ginny as 12 Grimmauld Place. With the exception of Harry, who didn't work, they had all taken vacations from their jobs so they could mentally prepare themselves for the tournament. The Potters, Weasleys, Hermione, and Draco had a few friendly sparring matches that would consist of a few team duels, and the traditional one-on-one duels, which saw both Harry and Ron, get into trouble with both of their significant others. Fleur had managed to best Hermione and was now squaring off against Ron. Both seemed to be evenly matched until Fleur used her veela charm to win the match by forfeit. A furious Hermione sent multiple curses towards an unsuspecting Fleur and dazed Ron, only to have them all reflected back at her by Harry. When Hermione came to she immediately stormed off without talking to anyone. Ginny understood Hermione's jealousy and could almost sympathize with her, but couldn't due to the fact that Harry always seemed to be unaffected by Fleur's veela wilds.

"Potter, why didn't you just use a shield charm?" asked Draco.

"It was a reflex; I was doing pretty well resisting Fleur's sudden use of her veela charm when Hermione decided to hex Ron. The first thought that came into mind was that I had to protect Fleur. Luckily, I put enough power to protect them both with the Reflectis Charm." Harry confided in Draco.

Ginny became instantly jealous. 'He didn't even think about protecting Ron, Fleur was the only thought one his mind!' she was fuming as these thoughts crossed her mind, but she kept the thoughts hidden from Harry. She knew she was being irrational, but she didn't care. She too stormed out of the room, and Harry picked up on her current emotions as she left. Her thoughts about how angry she was with Harry were so loud that both Harry and Draco 'heard' them.

"I think I'll take my leave, and meet up with you all tomorrow," said Draco apparating back to Malfoy Manor, while Harry went after his furious wife.