(Hogwarts: Snape's office)
"So, the clue from the egg" Pondered Snape as Harry had a piece of parchment in his hand
"Yeah, it gave a poem to me. I wrote it down" admitted Harry
"What do you think the poem is saying?" asked Snape
"Well, it says something about seeking where their voices sound and it is not above ground. Since it is Mermish, it might be in the lake" Stated Harry
"A good theory" Stated Snape
"It also says that they will take what I will sorely miss, and I have an hour to retrieve it before I lose it forever" Explained Harry
"Hmm" Stated Snape as he looked at the parchment
"So, what do you think the task will entail?" asked Snape
"I have an hour to retrieve something from underwater before I lose it forever" admitted Harry
"I was thinking the same thing, except they wouldn't put some material object underwater. There is a chance that whatever the object is could get ruined" Stated Snape
"So, it is someone, not something" Guessed Harry
"Yes. We have plenty of time to prepare for this. Can you Swim?" asked Snape
"No" admitted Harry hesitantly
"Then that is what you need to work on first. As for breathing underwater, there are many ways to do so that could work. One that I think that could be difficult would be a partial human transfiguration or turning yourself into an animal" Explained Snape
"So, an Animagus wouldn't help here" admitted Harry
"Unless your form is a water animal, which there is no way of telling before we attempted it. Then it is useless. That is even if we could perform it before the end of February" Explained Snape
"Alright" Conceded Harry
"I will leave the research on how to breathe underwater to you, should you have trouble I will provide help" Stated Snape
"Ok. Professor McGonagall told me that I would have to start the Yule Ball." Stated Harry
"Indeed, as a champion you will have to" Stated Snape
"I was thinking about asking Astoria" admitted Harry
"That is a tricky situation. It would reveal that you are seeing each other and could reveal your betrothal if you are not careful. However, you should bring her if you are her betrothed." Stated Snape
"Is it … Is it proper for me to ask her to help me to learn how to dance?" asked Harry as Snape sat back thinking for a minute
"No, it is not. It is custom for someone older to teach you. And no, I am not teaching you. However, I can find a tutor for you" Stated Snape
"Would I have to pay them? I just have enough for robes" admitted Harry with a wince
"Where did all your money go?" demanded Snape
"I still have some in Gringotts, but I took out too little when I went there over the summer" Argued Harry
"I have a person in mind, I shall have to talk to Flitwick to have him contact her to not have any ties between me and you. You are not to mention anything about being Heir Black or negotiations with the Greengrass's" Stated Snape
"Who is it?" asked Harry
"Lady Malfoy, I know it is not ideal however she does know her stuff" Explained Snape
"That works, I guess" Stated Harry
"Did Black every respond about the map?" asked Snape
"Yeah, he said that the map does not tell the difference between Seniors and Juniors." Stated Harry
"I see. This does not give us a lot of evidence" Stated Snape
"No, I will have to wait for Dobby to get back to me" admitted Harry
"Dobby? The Malfoy house elf" Demanded Snape
"Yeah, he isn't a Malfoy anymore. I kind of sort of tricked Draco's dad to free him." Admitted Harry sheepishly
"And how pray-tell did you do that?" asked Snape intrigued
"He was behind the Chambers opening, well not directly. He gave Ginny a diary that belonged to you-know-who, and it possessed her. He took the diary back, but I put a sock inside and he gave it to Dobby, which freed him" Explained Harry
"That was sneaky" Praised Snape
"Thank you" Stated Harry
"I know that he wasn't too happy about that was he?" asked Snape
"No, he tried to cast the killing curse at me" admitted Harry as Snape stood up angry
"He did what?" demanded Snape
"He tried to cast the killing curse at me, but Dobby stopped him" admitted Harry
"I want that memory; it shall solve many problems that we will have with Lucius." Demanded Snape
"Do you have a pensive?" asked Harry
"Yes, I do." Stated Snape
"Do you plan to turn it into the aurors?" asked Harry
"I might" Stated Snape
"Will that endanger me?" admitted Harry
"I am sure Lady Malfoy will set Draco straight, if not I will have words with him. This would change things in the ministry for the better if we did. Lucius has the Minister in his pocket" Explained Snape
"Wouldn't that allow someone worse to influence him?" asked Harry
"That is a possibility, however we can use this to our advantage. If you still want your godfather to get a trial" Admitted Snape
"I do" admitted Harry
"Right, I can offer the memory to Lady Malfoy for her support in getting Sirius a trial. I will hold off until after the contract is signed if you feel that Sirius would not agree" Stated Snape
"I don't want him to wait too long" Stated Harry
"Would you rather him forbade you from making it in the first place. And if we are lucky, we can sign it by the end of the school year and set his trial to be in April. Plenty of time for him to recover before term ends. And if Dumbledore says that you have to return then you have a backup plan" Stated Snape
"Yeah, let us do that" Stated Harry as Snape fetched his pensive and put it in front of Harry who put in the memory.
"I suggest meeting with Ms. Greengrass some time tomorrow to start to get to know her" Stated Snape
"Alright" Conceded Harry
(Hogwarts: Unused Classroom)
Astoria was standing outside of the classroom that Harry had designated in his letter to her that Professor Snape had given her, of course Daphne had to accompany her as a Chaperone. As she took a breath and entered the room to see Harry sitting at a table.
"Miss Greengrass, Heiress Greengrass" Greeted Harry
"Heir Black" Greeted Daphne and Astoria
"Is it alright to call me Heir Potter?" asked Harry as Daphne and Astoria took a seat
"You are here in your role as Heir Black, so we will address you as such" Stated Daphne
"Is it alright if you call me Heir Potter, in public. I do not want the public to know that I am Heir Black right now" Suggested Harry
"Are you ashamed to be marrying into my family" Hissed Daphne
"No, I am not. I am more concerned that Heir Malfoy might challenge my heirship should he learn of it before the contract is signed" Defended Harry
"I think it is acceptable" Stated Astoria as Daphne huffed
"Thank you" Stated Harry with a smile which Astoria returned
"To know each other better, why we do not take turns asking each other questions" Suggested Harry
"Alright" Stated Astoria
"Why don't you go first" Encouraged Harry
"Why are you Heir Black?" asked Astoria as Harry blinked, thinking it would be more along the lines of favorite class as an opener
"My godfather, Sirius Black who is innocent and was illegal sentenced to Azkaban without a trial, made me his heir" Revealed Harry
"And how do you know that he is innocent, Black" Stated Daphne
"I ran into him last year; he was chasing the real traitor who was hiding as a rat Animagus belonging to Weasley. The Traitor got away and we tried telling the Minister, but he didn't believe us" Explained Harry
"It is your turn, Heir Black" Stated Daphne
"What is your favorite class?" asked Harry
"I love charms, I would like to maybe go on to a Charms Mastery. If that is acceptable to you" Stated Astoria
"If you want to go for a charm mastery, do not let me stop you." Stated Harry
"Thank you, Heir Black" Stated Astoria with a smile
"You don't need to thank me; I am not going to control how you live your life." Stated Harry
"So, you will not be like some of the other lords and control her life?" inquired Daphne
"No, I will not." Promised Harry as Daphne studied him
"Did the sorting hat consider any other houses for you during your original sorting?" asked Astoria
"The hat did consider Slytherin, due to some … forces. I was younger and misinformed about the house by others. Plus, I had met Draco and he reminded me of someone from back home" Explained Harry
"I wonder how people of reacted if you did get sorted into Slytherin" Stated Astoria
"Probably think that I was becoming a dark wizard, like when they found out I was a parselmouth in second year" Explained Harry
"Did the sorting house think of any other house for you?" asked Harry
"The Hat did consider Ravenclaw, but I wanted to follow in my family's footsteps and get sorted into Slytherin" admitted Astoria
"That is sort of why I got sorted into Gryffindor, I was told my parents were both Gryffindor" Stated Harry
"Why did you get resorted?" Asked Astoria
"Professor McGonagall was not supporting me and allowing the other houses to harass me without any help. She also blamed me for two separate incidents that were not my fault. One involved Malfoy trying to cast a spell at my back, and I attempted to walk away. The Other involved Weasley was blaming me for him carving the word cheater in my mattress" Explained Harry
"Weasley does not sound like a good friend" Stated Astoria
"I know that now … what is your favorite color?" Stated Harry
"It is greenish blue" Stated Astoria
"Mine is red" admitted Harry
"I do have a question, if I may" Stated Daphne
"Go ahead" Stated Harry
"Speaking truthfully, did you enter yourself in the tournament" Stated Daphne
"No, I did not, I wanted a normal year when nothing exciting happened around me. I know that someone entered me, I am still trying to find out who" Shared Harry
"When did you discover magic?" asked Astoria
"When my letter to Hogwarts arrived, I always did weird things, accidental magic, before but I never knew what it was" Revealed Harry
"Did your relatives not explain it to you?" asked Daphne shocked
"My relatives are muggles and are not found of magic." Explained Harry as both Astoria and Daphne were shocked
"You didn't grow up with wizards?" asked Daphne
"No" Stated Harry
"I see, that explains a lot" Stated Daphne as Harry was tempted to push on what she meant
"Can you teach me the Patronus?" asked Astoria as Daphne shot her a look
"It is a difficult spell; it took me a couple of attempts to get it right. The spell itself is not hard, the incantation is Expecto Patronum … and the wand movement is like so. It requires a happy memory to function" Explained Harry
"Oh" Stated Astoria
"I am sure you can try later, Tori" Stated Daphne as she glanced at the clock
"Is it alright if I take you to the Yule Ball?" asked Harry as Astoria gasped, and Daphne looked at him
"I um … I shall need to speak with Father, but I am sure he will agree" Stated Astoria
"Should I send the letter? I will admit I am still learning all these customs" asked Harry
"If you are betrothed, then you would not. However, it is considered polite to send a letter" Stated Daphne
"Alright, I will send it later today. We will be opening the ball, as the champions are required to do so, I hope that is fine" Stated Harry
"That is fine, do you know how to dance?" asked Astoria
"I am going to find a tutor to teach me" Stated Harry
"And who is your tutor?" asked Daphne
"Professor Snape recommended Lady Malfoy" Stated Harry
"I see" Stated Daphne
"Why is Professor Snape helping you?" asked Astoria
"No one else was, he said he would help me so I wouldn't die in this tournament. I would appreciate if you didn't tell anyone." Stated Harry
"I shall not tell anyone" Promised Astoria
"I shall keep quiet as long as you treat Astoria right" Stated Daphne
"I wouldn't dare hurt her, if I could help it" Stated Harry
"That remains to be seen." Stated Daphne
"Will ... Will you promise to not endanger yourself or you get yourself killed?" asked Astoria
"I promise" Stated Harry
"Say the whole thing?" Pleaded Astoria
"I promise you that I will not endanger myself or get myself killed if I can help it" Promised Harry as Astoria gave him a hug
"We need to get to dinner before are noticed." Stated Daphne as she stood
"Goodbye Ms. Greengrass, Heiress Greengrass" Stated Harry
"Heir Black" Stated Daphne as she nodded
"Until next time, Heir Black" Stated Astoria as she and Daphne left the room