CHAPTER SIXTEEN
This is JKR's sandbox, I'm just playing in it
The path to hell is paved with good intentions
-o0o0o0o-
Albus Dumbledore was infuriated as he threw down the Daily Prophet the morning after the attack at the World Cup.
Sources were saying that students –Harry Potter– fought and killed death eaters with his friends. The Diggory boy as well.
He tried to quell his rising anger, but he failed to do so. The boy was slipping from his grasp. He couldn't allow it to go on any further. He had ceased his meddling as much as he could since the boy entered the school, if only to lull them into thinking he had given up.
Allow him to become an ally and have his influence over the boy once and for all but that was not meant to be.
Albus Dumbledore had gotten far too secure in his positions, and had let them corrupt the idealistic young boy and enthusiastic teacher he had once been.
Albus had never wanted glory or fame. He never wanted power. But it was handed to him on a silver platter and he had let it corrupt him from the inside out.
Some would pity him. He had become the very thing he used to despise. He buried his head in his hands, thoughts and emotions whirling within him.
The power hungry Albus trying so hard to keep his youthful self, his sense of justice and humanity, locked away.
It was for the greater good.
Maybe one day, he'll actually believe that.
-o0o0o0o-
Sirius Black personally took Cedric Diggory to their home, if only to assure Amos that his son was alright and well.
"Thank you, Lord Black," Cedric said gratefully, with a bow of his head. Sirius shook his head with a smile, a youthful glow in his storm grey eyes.
"No need to thank me, Cedric. And please, call me Sirius, or padfoot."
"Padfoot?" Cedric asked with slight confusion. "Like..the marauder thing they were talking about?"
Sirius laughed a hearty chuckle as they walked up to a humble yet beautiful home.
"Yes, exactly like that."
"Well, either way," Cedric blundered on, a blush coating his cheeks. "Thank you, for everything. I was a stranger when you found me in that..battle." He said, for lack of a better word.
"Stranger or not, you are just a boy." Sirius admonished. "I would not have left you there."
Cedric smiled widely. His own hazel eyes danced with amusement and comfort. He felt very at ease with the Lord Black, which was something not many people could say. He was proud to say he was one of the few that could.
Sirius knocked on the door, which was immediately opened. A blurred figure threw themselves at Cedric with such speed that it made Sirius almost draw his wand.
Amos Diggory hugged his son with a fervour, Katherine Diggory not far behind.
Sirius awkwardly looked away during the family reunion.
"Mum, dad, this is Lord Black." Cedric introduced.
Sirius held out his hand for them to shake, and he smiled. "You have raised an incredible son."
"A foolish one too," Amos sighed, rolling his eyes fondly. "But, thank you. For looking out for our boy."
Sirius laughed. "There is a fine line between brave and foolish," he agreed. "And of course. He's one of ours now."
"One of yours?" Katherine asked softly.
"Yes, the boys have taken quite a shine to your boy here." Sirius said fondly. "I can see why. We'll be happy to have him over anytime."
"Thanks, Sirius!" Cedric said cheerfully. "I'll take you up on that."
"You better," Sirius glared playfully. "I shall see you at Hogwarts." He finished with a wink, and with one final nod to the Diggory family, apparated home.
-o0o0o0o-
Diagon Alley was a tense affair. Not just for the family, but for the Wizarding World of Britain.
The rumours had been circulating, Voldemort was back. It was difficult for everyone to comprehend, shrouded in doubt and fear. There's no possible way a dead man could be back, people said.
But what if he never truly died?
And that was the question indeed. Select few knew that he didn't truly die in Godric's Hollow that fateful night. The Prophet and Ministry were sowing the seeds of the announcement that he was back, lurking.
It was only a matter of time before he reached full power.
But it was tense for the family for different reasons. Lucius, Sirius, Harry and Blaise were accompanying Theo to Gringotts whilst everyone else went to do the school shopping.
Theo was going to take up the mantle of Lord Nott today.
Harry had his arm around Theo's shoulders in solidarity, for he was a young Lord as well, and an orphan.
He knew how Theo felt. But it truly broke Harry that he was the one who robbed Theo of his father.
He knew in his logical mind that it wasn't his fault. That if anything, Theo was glad his dad was dead, but that nagging guilt was in the back of his mind, and would always be.
Tiberius Nott was the first life taken by Harry's hands. He would not be the last.
They walked into the gilded doors of Gringotts, quietly stood as Theo asked if he could see the Nott family Account Manager.
Sat quietly as Theo took the oath, signed the blood contract, and wore the ring.
Watched the Nott family magic accept him as its new Lord.
None looked at the boy with pity. Harry stood, bowed his head. "Lord Nott," he murmured.
Theo inclined his head as Harry did. "Lord Potter."
Theo had been impassive throughout the whole ordeal. His face the perfect mask of a pureblooded prince, his back straight, his body language tense. His jaw was clenched, not a hint of emotion in his baby blue eyes.
Blaise gripped Theo's arm softly, his eyes conveying everything he couldn't say with words. Theo nodded, his eyes showing he understood.
Lucius and Sirius watched the three boys silently, their hearts tugging. Sirius saw himself, Remus, and James when James' parents passed in their seventh year, and he had to become Lord Potter.
Lucius in turn, was wishing he had a bond like the one the boys shared in his formative years.
If he did, perhaps he wouldn't spend his adult years atoning for his mistakes.
For his misguidedness.
Sirius and Lucius put their arms around the boys, after thanking the goblin, and steered them out of Gringotts.
Theo moved into Potter Manor full time that night.
He couldn't stay in that large, cold manor by himself.
Perhaps he'd move back in after some redecorating when he had a family.
If he survived, that is.
-o0o0o0o-
The train ride with their friends was just as tense as Diagon Alley.
"It's really happening," Hermione mused dully, her eyes scanning the same page of the book that she had been reading for the past forty five minutes. The words blurring, as she stared at the page unseeing.
"Yeah," Daphne muttered, "it is. Are we really surprised, though?"
"No," George said. "I just thought that we.." he trailed off, not knowing what to say. Or even how to finish that thought. The countryside zoomed past them in a blur of greenery and blue skies.
"That we'd have more time?" Fred offered. George nodded in agreement.
Blaise snorted. "More time before the evil maniac rose officially from the dead?"
Cedric observed the group of friends, eyes inquisitive. The way Daphne had a nervous tick of twirling her raven hair around her finger and biting her inner cheek.
The way Hermione twiddled with her thumbs and bit her lower lip.
The way Harry would tense, and clench his jaw and flex his hands, as if going toward his wand.
The way Fred and George would near each other, needing comfort from their twin.
The way Blaise's eyes would go unfocused for a moment, as if reliving old memories.
The way Theo would fiddle with his lord ring, and twirl his wand rapidly.
The way Draco would immediately look to Harry in concern, and reach for his wand.
The way Neville, kind, pure Neville, balled his hands into fists so tight his knuckles turned white.
"We've been fighting him since we were eleven," Theo mused. "Some of us even longer." He said with a side glance to Harry.
"Does it matter?" Neville muttered. "We all knew he was going to come back. It was only a matter of time. When he realises he doesn't have access to the prophecy he'll get angry. Automatically come after Harry."
Harry snorted, his face blank but his tone when he spoke was scornful. "All of this over a stupid crystal ball. This bloodshed, coming after children." he spat.
Cedric nearly flinched at the pure wrath in his tone. But he kept his face impassive.
"The way I see it," Cedric spoke, everyone turning to him. "We all have something he doesn't."
Nobody missed the way he said 'We' instead of 'You.'
"And what's that?" Draco asked, ruffling his platinum hair and sighing.
"Something worth fighting for."
The cart went silent as they pondered his words.
Each of their faces and faces of their family popping into their minds.
Something worth fighting for.
A small but genuine smile spread across Harry's face.
He liked the sound of that, as the words rang through his mind.
Something worth fighting for indeed, he thought, his gaze on his friends.
-o0o0o0o-
The castle was as warm, beautiful, and mystical as ever as everyone sat for the welcome feast. They listened to the sorting hat's song, haunting and foreboding as ever, but more so as of late.
The firsties were sorted as always, and the announcements began. Everyone was bustling with excitement, waiting impatiently for the standard announcements to be over and done with, waiting for the real fun part.
Dumbledore was going to announce the Triwizard Tournament.
"The Triwizard Tournament has not occurred in a very long time, and it is my honour to announce that it is going to be hosted once more at our very school! We will have representatives from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons arrive on the thirtieth of October, and the names of the competitors will be pulled out of this!"
He gestured to the ancient, large, and beautiful stone goblet behind him, lit with a beautiful blue fire.
It was then that Harry recognized a foreign magical presence, and whipped his head just in time to see Mad-Eye Moody stop the malfunction of the enchanted ceiling, which was imitating the storm brewing outside Hogwarts' hallowed walls.
Everyone stared at him and his wandering magical eye. Harry was unnerved as both eyes rested on him, but he stared back, unflinchingly.
Dumbledore continued. "The Goblet of Fire. Contestants will put their name on a parchment and throw it into the Goblet, and it will choose its champions. But, there will be an age restriction. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be allowed to enter."
There were raucous boo's and groans at this. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he shushed the audience of attentive listeners.
Harry tuned the rest of it out, wanting nothing more than to just get into bed.
"You alright?" Daphne asked Harry in concern, softly brushing hair out of his forehead. He smiled, leaning into her touch slightly and nodded.
"Yeah, just tired."
Her concern didn't leave her gaze as she nodded, holding his hand under the table and rubbing calming circles into his skin.
He smiled as he revelled in the comfort of Daphne Greengrass.
-o0o0o0o-
The first defence against the dark arts class of the year was upon the fourth year students as they piled outside the door waiting for their new professor to let them in.
Harry stood with his friends, discussing Mad-Eye.
"What do you think he's going to be like?" Theo asked, his eyes on his wand as he did some silent charm and watched as little flakes of fire played in the air, taking on the form of a Dragon.
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I know of him, but as he was Dumbledore's friend and ally, I obviously didn't spend much time with Moody."
"Alastor Moody," Hermione began. Harry already smiled fondly, she was going to be reciting a book any moment now. "He's one of the most powerful wizards in the last wizarding war, he trained Fabian and Gideon Prewett, Alice and Frank Longbottom, James and Lily Potter, Sirius Black, Marlene McKinnon, Remus Lupin, Dorcas Meadowes, Edgar Bones, and Amelia Bones, the best wizards of the last wizarding war."
Harry felt a slight pang in his chest at Marlene's name. She was featured in many of the memories he had, and he really wished he had met her.
She was a wonderful woman, and an even better witch.
And she was his dad's best friend. Ranking perhaps slightly above Sirius.
Before she died, she was Sirius' fiancé, and more than likely, Sirius never got over her.
Harry knew that Sirius had to produce an heir, to keep the Black line alive, just as Sirius knew it too. Maybe he felt he could not yet betray her memory, or he just hadn't found the right person.
Harry shook himself free of his thoughts.
"He's a very good wizard," Harry acknowledged. "But obviously shite at dodging."
This caused Draco to snort loudly.
"Think you can do better?" A gruff voice asked from behind the group of friends. They immediately whirled around, wands trained on the man.
It was Mad-Eye. He eyed them all appreciatively.
"Fast. Quick reflexes. I like that."
They walked into class.
Everyone was whispering as the marred and mauled looking man walked in, limping on his peg leg.
"The Unforgivable Curses." He said, jumping right into the lesson, an enchanted stick of chalk writing down what he said on the chalkboard behind him.
Everyone stared with rapt attention.
"What are they, and why are they called Unforgivable?" Nobody raised a hand.
"Malfoy." He growled. "Let's see what your upstanding father taught you," he spat. Draco tensed, narrowing his eyes.
"They're called Unforgivable because they cannot be defended against. No shield can block them."
"Correct!" Moody growled. "But what can one do to avoid getting hit by one?"
"Dodge." Draco answered calmly, his visage the perfect pureblood prince. "Or conjure a stone barrier."
"Most people don't have the power to do that." Moody said, eyeing the boy appreciatively. Draco shrugged.
"What are the curses? Granger. Name one."
"The Imperius Curse, sir." She said stonily, staring ahead and sitting ram-rod straight in her chair.
"And what does that curse do?"
"It allows the caster to take control of one's mind." She answered, her voice and face carefully neutral.
"Aha! Yes, it does." He said, gently levitating a spider from a jar. "Look at her, isn't she a beauty?" He said, almost reverently.
"Imperio." He whispered, and a flash of light enveloped the spider, who was now under Moody's control.
He made the spider jump, dance, and go onto people's faces in the class. Everyone was laughing. They didn't understand. They were all still children. They had never seen these curses in their true, unfiltered evil form.
Few people in the classroom had.
And they were the only ones not laughing.
They stayed carefully stone faced as Moody's demeanour changed.
"Find it funny, don't you?" He said. "Jump out the window."
The laughter and smiles faded instantly. "Drown yourself?"
They watched as the spider squirmed, terrified over a bowl of water.
"Complete control over someone's actions, body, and mind. Only a few can resist it."
He surveyed the silence of the class before moving on abruptly. His eyes, magical and non magical, narrowed in on one Daphne Greengrass.
"Greengrass. Next curse." He said loudly. She didn't even flinch.
"The Cruciatus Curse." She said, a steely glint in her eyes and voice.
"The torture curse." He hummed, and engorged the spider. "Come, stand with me."
Daphne, ever the princess, glided out of her seat smoothly, and walked over to Moody's desk.
"Crucio!" He growled, and watched with giddy delight as the spider squirmed and screamed on the table.
Daphne kept her face carefully neutral, but her posture was stiff and her eyes were ice cold.
Hermione clenched her jaw.
"You've tortured the poor thing long enough." Blaise growled.
It seemed Moody did not want to stop. He was enthralled by the pain he was causing.
Theo held his wand out and silently disarmed the man. Everyone watched as the wand careened through the air and landed in Theo's hand.
Moody looked up and guffawed. "It's been a long time since someone's caught me off guard." He said, taking back his wand. "Care to tell me the last curse?" His voice was gentle, as if he was coaxing it out of the boy.
Theo clenched his jaw and stonily, defiantly stared ahead, not answering.
"The Killing Curse." Neville supplied instead, his gaze warning and anger in his hazel eyes.
"The killing curse." Moody echoed, placing the spider directly in front of Harry, who stared at him with no expression on his face. No reaction. "It kills instantly, there is no way to block it, and no way to survive it. Nobody has ever survived it, except one person."
He licked his lips, limping closer to Harry, his eyes locked on Harry's emerald green. "And he's sitting right in front of me."
He looked at the spider, the atmosphere in the class was tense and silent. They were all holding their breaths, waiting to see if the Slytherin Prince would react.
He did not.
"Avada Kedavra!" A jet of pure, emerald green light, and the spider was dead. Its suffering was over.
People couldn't help but notice, grimly, that the colour of the spell was eerily similar to the colour of Harry's eyes.
It was silent for a beat, before Moody moved away.
"The next class period, I will teach you all how to resist the Imperius Curse, by placing you under it. Class dismissed."
They all filed out of the classroom, whispers and gossip already making its way through Hogwarts' hallowed walls.
It was a couple hours later in the room of requirement when they reconvened, a letter drafted to the family, that they spoke with the whole group present.
They had discussed the events of the day, sharing a pensieve memory with Fred, George, and Cedric so they could get the full effect.
Once the three older boys were out of the memory, they were outraged by the sheer gall of the man.
The comfortable plush couches and chairs that mimicked their meeting room in Potter Manor brought little comfort to them all as they watched Harry, pacing with barely contained rage.
For Harry was not the heated type of angry, he rarely ever was. No, this was cold, silent, fury. This was not Harry Potter. This was the Chosen One. The Boy-Who-Lived, the Defeater of the Dark Lord. This was Lord Hadrian Potter, Heir of Slytherin by right of conquest.
The wrath was rolling off him in waves, cowing everything in its path and filling the room with ice. The temperature dropped, despite the roaring fire they sat in front of.
"I don't know who that is," Harry spoke with the very same frigid, piercing fury they felt in the air, dripping off his normally silver tongue. "But that is not Mad-Eye Moody."
The atmosphere seemed to get even more tense, the air seemed to cool even more.
"What are we going to do?" Neville asked. Ever the unwavering, the loyal, and fierce brother.
Harry smiled a sharp smile. It chilled Daphne down to her very bone. It was a smile that was dripping malice, and for a moment, she imagined it was the way Lucifer may have smiled, minutes before he fell from heaven.
"We're going to fight, of course." Harry answered.
They nodded resolutely. Whoever was impersonating Mad-Eye was no friend. And if he was not a friend, then he was a foe. May the deities above help whomever was a foe of Hadrian Potter.
a/n: hiiii! We are finalllllyyyy getting to the meat of this story and i for one am so excited. I have many many things planned. And yes, I threw some past blackinnon in there, i miss the old marauders fandom, when everyone didn't care and just read fanfictions and headcanons and it wasn't toxic. But as I am the one writing this story and I have creative liberty I can do as a please. Anyways, tell me what you guys think! Please review and tell me your thoughts. I'm trying to change up my writing style and make it more poetic and prose-y but i lack the creativity to do so, but i'm trying haha! so please review and tell me your thoughts!