Chapter 4 More Luck
AN: Thanks to my betas, darrelldeam, alix33 and poisonivy9675, for looking this over. All mistakes are my own.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
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The next morning Harry got up, did his morning rituals and after he dressed he went to find McGonagall. He found her chastising a group of five or so Hufflepuff students that still wore the hated 'Potter stinks' buttons.
"I am appalled that students are still wearing these, even after the announcement that Mr. Potter did not enter. Come to my office after breakfast to discuss your detention and ten points from Hufflepuff, each," she was saying as she placed the removed pins in her robe. She spotted Harry and gave a weak smile. "Good morning, Mr. Potter. I trust you slept well." The students ran as soon as her ire was off them.
"Not really, Professor, and I wanted to talk to you about that. Can we meet after you are done with those guys?" he asked, a smirk playing on his face. He was glad to see someone on staff standing up for him.
"Yes, I should be done with those students around ten. Can you be at my office at that time?" she asked, a sad look in her eye. She would talk to him about her past actions when they were alone. She had not shared her views the day before, because that was a time for happy news.
"Yeah, it's not like we have class right now," Harry said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Until then, Mr. Potter." And she turned and walked over to the staff entrance of the Great Hall.
Harry made his way to the Gryffindor table and sat with Neville and the Quidditch team. The team looked like they were in shock. "What's up with them?" he asked, nudging Neville.
"Don't know, they were like that when I got here," the sandy haired boy replied with a shake of his head.
"Fred, George," Harry practically yelled as he snapped his fingers in their faces. "What's got into you guys?"
The twins jerked back to reality and George pulled out a letter from his robe and handed it over. "We, the whole team, got an offer to go pro," he said and his eyes got vacant again.
Harry just shook his head and read the letter. It was just like they said; an offer to go professional for the English under-17 Quidditch team. He wondered if Oliver got an offer. "What about Wood?" Harry said, getting George's attention again.
"He has an offer from Puddlemere United, they're the ones that let the under-17 team know about the rest of us. Are you going to go for it, Harry?" George asked focusing on his young friend. The youngest on the team.
"No, I think I'm going to try and be an Auror or a curse breaker or something exciting when I graduate," Harry said, handing the letter back. It dawned on him that he needed to do some self-studying if that was going to happen. "Besides, I haven't received a letter. It's brilliant for you guys though. Ron's going to be in a right twist when he hears."
"Let that sneaky brat think what he likes. Do you know he thinks he's better than us now? Always flaunting his winnings around, talking about all the things he's going to buy. Doesn't once say anything about the family," George snarled and glared at his youngest brother, who was sitting a few people down and eating like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Figures," Harry said sadly, and then he got a small smile and looked at the twins. "I heard from a little bird that your family won't need his money soon. So don't worry about that prat, karma will kick him right soon."
"What do you know, ickle Harrykins?" Fred asked, joining the conversation.
"Oh, this and that," Harry said with mischief playing in his green eyes. "You'll just have to wait and see, and trust me, it is good news."
"I hope so. Mum and Dad could use some good news for a change. After Ginny's first year, they've been hard-pressed to keep afloat. Counseling cost a pretty Knut, let me tell ya," George said. The last few years had been trying for the Weasley family, but anything to help their sister was bore with good grace; well, for most of them. Bill and Charlie helped where they could. So good news was… well, good news.
"Don't worry. They'll get every good thing they deserve. Being the wonderful family you guys are, that's a lot," Harry placated, reaching over and putting his hand on George's shoulder and then patting Fred on the arm. "So are you guys going to take the offer?"
"Nay, we want to open a joke shop, can't do that if we're playing Quidditch," Fred said with a shrug and George nodded his agreement. "I think Katie and Oliver are going to though. Everyone knows it's Oliver's dream to play for Puddlemere." They all wished they could've seen the face of their ex-team captain when he got that offer.
"I think you're right about that," the black-haired boy said, sending a silent thanks to Hallie for helping his friends. "You know you could play for a year or two and get the money to start your shop."
The twins looked thoughtful at that and a calculating glint came to their eyes.
Just then a parliament of owls came through the delivery hole and swooped the tables, dropping the Quibbler. The headline read: Rita Skeeter an Animagus — Will you be joining the suit? The story went that she was outed as an unregistered beetle Animagus and that was how she got all her stories. Now many people were suing her for invasion of privacy, not to mention the Ministry fining her for being unregistered.
Harry laughed so hard he fell off the bench. Neville and the twins just looked on indulgently, while the rest of the table looked at him strangely. After a few minutes of snickering the dark haired boy pulled himself off the floor and back to his seat and between chuckles resumed his meal. 'Oh, how this is going to hurt the Prophet,' Harry mused to himself gleefully.
"What about you, Harry?" Neville asked after the other teen got control of himself. "She did a right nasty piece on you. You should join the lawsuit."
"Yeah, Harrykins, if you sue her then more people will too," George added his two Knuts worth.
Fred just nodded, still looking at the article.
"I'll think about it, it's not like I need the money," Harry stated with a casual lift of his shoulder.
"It's the principle of the thing," Neville said sagely, wanting what was best for his friend.
"You may be right. Do you think I should get a solicitor?" Harry asked his chubby friend.
"I'll talk to Gran, she'll know someone," Neville offered.
"Okay," Harry said and then he resumed his breakfast.
Towards the end of breakfast three people approached the ex-fourth champion. It was the true contenders. They looked nervous. Cedric decided to be the spokesperson. "Harry, can we talk to you for a minute?" the tall blonde asked shuffling his feet a little, like Harry was going to bite his head off.
Harry looked at them warily. While they didn't out and out accuse him of cheating— only backed the Heads of their schools— they never really believed him either. "Why?" he asked, tilting his head to the side, his green eyes narrowed behind his glasses. Neville and the twins glared at the trio. Others at the Gryffindor table looked up from their meals to see what was going on, and more scowls were sent their way.
"Just for a minute, I promise it's not bad," Cedric said, putting his hands up in a pacifying gesture.
Looking at their nervous faces Harry nodded his head and got up from the table. "Sure, why not. Don't worry, guys," he said, looking at his currently-in-defense-mode friends, "it'll be okay."
The boys were still glaring at the champions, but nodded to Harry. The quartet left the Great Hall and stopped just inside the Entrance Hall. "So what's up?" Harry inquired, leaning against a wall, arms folded defensively.
"Ve vanted to apologize," Krum said in his deep voice, there was something else there, but Harry couldn't place it. "Ve vere wrong in believing you cheated."
"Et was… incorrect of us," Fleur nodded in agreement. "I also wanted to say I am sorry for calling you a little boy. I was confused; et was a surprise to 'ear about your name coming out of ze goblet."
"Yeah, and Harry, I tried to get them to quit wearing those buttons, but they wouldn't listen to me," Cedric added, looking earnest.
"Okay, I accept your apologies," Harry responded, looking at the sincere faces in front of him. "So, what now?"
"Ve vanted to see if you vanted to learn… spells, ve vill teach," the Bulgarian said with sincerity.
"You guys want to teach me?" the green-eyed boy asked, shocked at this turn of events.
"Yeah, we figured that we'd band together against the imposter and teach you at the same time," the seventh year Hufflepuff said. "We thought maybe you'd like that."
"Okay, that sounds great. When did you want to do this?" Harry asked, glad that these guys would be teaming together.
"We'll have to go over some schedules, but right now we all have Saturday afternoons open," Cedric said, glancing at the other two champions for confirmation. They nodded and looked back to Harry to see if that was okay with him. Harry nodded his consent and they talked a few more minutes about where to meet.
"Hey, Krum, where is Karkaroff?" Harry asked, not really caring, but a bit curious.
"He vus found guilty of cheating," Viktor said looking at the floor, "it is said he… confused the Goblet to picking my name."
"Oh, well, now you understand a bit how I felt," Harry said, a bit happy that Krum got a taste of his own medicine and Karkaroff was accused of cheating— that man was the worst of the Heads in his accusations. He wondered if Fleur and Madame Maxime were getting flak from their school as well. He looked to Fleur and saw no guilt, so he figured not. "Cheer up, Krum, it'll get better," he offered, because Krum had apologized.
"You do not understand, I thought I vus the best, but now…" he trailed off, a distraught look on his normally stoic face. The brooding boy just shrugged and didn't say anymore.
There wasn't much to say after that, so they broke apart, going their separate ways. Harry went back into the Great Hall to see if McGonagall had left yet. Seeing she was still at the Staff Table, he retook his seat next to Neville.
"So what did they want?" Neville asked as the twins leaned forward to hear.
"They wanted to apologize and help me train," Harry said with a smile.
"But… why? You're not in the tournament anymore," George asked, confused.
"They felt that I needed some coaching, I guess," Harry said rubbing the back of his head, not sure how to explain it. He was pretty sure that it was part of his wish, for them thinking he was unprepared, but he couldn't tell them that.
"That's great," Hermione butted in, "maybe I can help…"
Harry interrupted her. "You weren't invited," he said bluntly.
Her face fell and then she got a determined look and glanced at the Hufflepuff table. Harry was positive that she was going to impose herself on the Hogwarts Champion. He only hoped the boy stood firm. While she was still his friend, mostly, she needed to learn that not everyone was going to listen to her.
The rest of breakfast was spent talking about what they were going to do with their free time. Harry wanted to do some flying and he needed to get his homework done. Now that Hermione was on a mission he knew he could get it done without interference. But first he needed to talk to McGonagall; he looked up at the staff and saw she was gone. He glanced at his watch and noted it was only nine. So he got up and went to the dorm room to grab his books. The dark-haired teen worked on his Charms essay for a half an hour and when it turned a quarter till ten he put his books in his bag and set off to the professor's office.
After her bid to enter he went in and sat on the same chair as before. There was a tea service on the table, but he declined any for the moment.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Potter?" the stern teacher asked.
"I have reason to believe that Voldemort," —he ignored her flinch— "is at the same house that the Aurors picked up Pettigrew," he stated, looking her straight in the eye so she would realize this was not a prank.
"And just how would you know this, young man?" McGonagall asked, her lips all but disappearing as she pressed them together. This was stuff Albus usually handled.
"I killed him in a dream last night," Harry said causally, then seeing her disbelief he added, "We share a connection. This is the second dream I've had about him, only this time I was in a snake and sent it to kill him," he stated still in the calm voice, like it was not big deal to be sharing your mind with a Dark Lord. "Too bad he didn't stay dead," he groused. "I didn't tell you before, because I didn't think you'd believe me, but now I have no choice."
"Mr. Potter, I am unsure as to what you want me to do with this information," the Transfiguration teacher replied, bewildered.
"Tell Professor Dumbledore or the Aurors. Madam Bones would be a good person to inform," Harry said as if it was obvious. And to him it was. Now that most of Hufflepuff was making amends he knew more students from that house and Susan was getting to be a friend. It still tickled him that Tom had gone to an orphanage, and he had no idea how the Dark Lord got away so quickly, but someone really needed to deal with him. "I am sure he is the baby they put in the orphanage, he is a homunculus, so whoever goes after him needs to be careful with him," he explained further, not wanting them to make the same mistake. Though he was sure they had taken Voldemort's wand the last time, he was still a Dark Lord.
"Yes, I do believe that would be the best course of action," McGonagall mumbled nodding to herself; she'd let Albus deal with this. "If I cannot inform the Headmaster, I will call Amelia."
"Well, that's all I had to say," Harry said, retrieving his things and getting ready to leave.
"Oh, Mr. Potter, please sit. There was something else I wanted to discuss with you," McGonagall said, coming back to the present.
Harry sat and gave her a curious look.
"I wanted to apologize about not stepping in to stop those buttons before. The Headmaster told us not to interfere," she explained with a small look of remorse on her face.
"Did he threaten your job if you did anything?" Harry asked, starting to get angry on the staff's behalf.
"Well, no, he just asked us to leave it be. He said something about it building character," she answered, confused as to why this young man would think that of the Headmaster.
"If it had been anyone else, besides me, would you have acted the same?" he ground out, his voice getting tight with anger. Now that he knew they were just blindly following their leader, his ire switched to her. That must have been why they didn't stop the rumors in second year as well.
"I am not sure," she said a bit sheepishly. Albus always said how important it was that Harry not get a swollen head from his fame.
"Then before I accept your apology, I'll leave you to think about why I, out of all your students, deserve to be treated so badly by the Headmaster and the staff of this school," he snarked, grabbing his bag and taking his leave before he blew up her office. "Maybe you should also think about whether or not you have too many positions, it might be clouding your judgment as to who you should be trusting," he threw behind him as he exited the door. Leaving a very thoughtful woman behind.
Harry stormed into the dorm room and threw his bag on his bed. Neville, who was sitting on his own bed reading his potions book, started at this and wondered what happened to make the cheery boy he had seen at breakfast so mad so fast.
"What happened now?" the shy boy asked, sitting up on his bed. Harry told him what McGonagall had said about Dumbledore, biting out each word at the injustice. Neville nodded along and he got angry on Harry's behalf. "That is not fair to you," he said, taking the other boy by the shoulder and sitting him next to himself. "I think we need to think of a way to get back at them."
"Well, to tell you the truth, that's what the Quibbler article was mostly about," Harry said calming down at the show of support. "Let's just say magic is involved and they will get theirs soon."
"Harry, tell me you didn't do what I think you did," Neville said, slightly scared, but thoughtful. He had hoped to meet those demons in the past, when everyone thought him a squib.
"Ummm, what do you think I might have done?" the dark-haired teen asked evasively.
Neville looked his friend right in the eye and asked, "Which one? Which demon did you make a wish with?"
Harry was shocked; he didn't think Neville, of all people, would have figured it out. "Halfrek. I couldn't help it. She was right there. And I figured that I needed the help. So I just, you know, wished everyone would know how I felt," he quickly defended himself, glad it wasn't Hermione who figured it out.
Neville let out a sigh; that wasn't so bad. At least she took care of children. It did explain his parents though. "Do you have any idea why she included me?"
"I think it had to do with my wording, and you always stood by me, even if it was in the shadows," Harry said, suddenly concerned with how Neville might be treated by his parents. He shook it off and clapped the boy on the back. "Come on, it's time you learn how to fly," he announced as he stood up to grab his broom.
Neville shook his head at his friend's change of subject, and then realized what he had just said. "Harry, I don't know. I always seem to fall off a broom." He held up his hands to ward off the black-haired teen approaching him and his face paled at the thought.
"Like I said, it's time you learn not to," Harry reiterated, and grabbed the other boy by his robes and pulled him behind him. Not taking 'no' for an answer. The chubby boy reluctantly complied. The two spent the rest of the day training Neville not to fall off a broom. He would never be good at flying, but at least now he wouldn't hurt himself.
That night Harry dreamed again; once again he was in the snake. He was listening to Voldemort rant about his little hands and how hard it was to make the potion that kept him whole. Suddenly there was a ruckus outside the room and the baby-like Dark Lord hid behind the chair. Harry listened as he cursed the Aurors for taking his wand.
"Nagini," Voldemort hissed, "kill the interlopers."
The snake started to go out of the room when the door swung open and five men entered, their wands raised. They looked around the room and saw only the snake. They started casting blasting curses at the reptile, but it was too fast and left out a hole in the wall. The snake turned to see what would become of her master, giving Harry a view of the room.
The men looked around the room and started looking under the furniture. The Dark Lord quickly made his way to the same hole in the wall and crunched down as tiny as he could. He hid himself under a curtain nearby and stayed as silent as possible, knowing as weak as he was he was no match for full grown wizards with wands. Damn his weakened state. Here he was the most feared Dark Lord, hiding from a bunch of pathetic wizards.
"I don't think there is anything here," a tall man said as he looked under the chair Tom had just vacated.
"Someone was 'ere, look, there's a potion brewin'," another man said, pointing to the cauldron on the fire.
"Maybe they left when you two morons were making so much noise," an angry looking man barked.
"Not our fault this place is about to fall apart," the tall man said.
"Let's just ruin the potion and be done with it," the angry man said, taking one last look around the room.
"We'll check out the rest of the house," said a fat man in a top hat.
"I think Albus is getting right twisted," the tall man mumbled. Three of the five nodded in agreement.
So the angry man took the potion and poured it out on the already dirty floor, causing the dust to bubble and streak. The group left the room and Voldemort and Nagini stayed until they heard them leave the house. The two Dark creatures came out of their hiding spaces.
"Blast and Damnation," Voldemort cursed loudly, his tiny hands in fist of frustration. "Now I need to make up another potion. I need to get more followers. Blast Wormtail for getting caught."
"Master, do you wish for me to find someone for you?" Nagini hissed, trying to sooth her master's anger.
"No, my pet, none of the others know about you," he said back. Then he started the potion again. He would hopefully make it on time, he was already weak. Still cursing his little hands and stature, he cut and chopped as fast as he could, lamenting on his missing spy. He got to where the potion had to cool and then dropped as if dead.
Harry held his metaphorical breath and waited, not seeing the baby-like body breathing. Again he was disappointed when the homunculus took a breath and rose. When he sighed in frustration the snake once again repelled him back to his own body.
Unnoticed by anyone at Hogwarts a diadem melted and a vengeance demon smiled.
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Remember this is a wish verse, things are going to happen for no reason other than magic. Logic need not apply.
