Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
Smirking, Harry swiftly transformed into his phoenix form and flew up to Fawkes' perch, happily fluffing his feathers, when the fire phoenix immediately made space for him.
#A water phoenix. My, aren't you beautiful.#
#Thank you, Fawkes. My little brother is a wind phoenix, by the way.#
#The nesting is already able to transform?#
Harry nodded at Godric. #Yes, sir. He's my brother after all,# he added, feeling incredibly proud of three-year-old Felix.
From the corners of his eyes, Harry saw that Dumbledore was staring at him in apparent disbelief, and he felt extremely grateful to his father, when he spoke up in a no-nonsense voice.
"I believe that the purpose of our visit has been fulfilled and suggest that we take our leave considering that it is quite late. Thank you, Whisker, for giving in to my son's request. Good night, everyone."
To Harry's amazement, Severus held out his right arm to him in apparent invitation, quirking an eyebrow, while his colleagues watched the scene in apparent amusement.
#Good night, Godric and Fawkes.# With that, Harry stepped onto his father's arm, letting out a few trills of happiness, when they left the headmaster's office together, leaving a quiet Albus Dumbledore behind.
HP
If Albus Dumbledore felt relief, when Harry, the four heads of the houses and the Unspeakable left his office, even if he was not pleased at all with the result of their conversation, he should realise soon that more trouble was to come.
Exactly ten hours later, two enraged ministry workers stepped through the fireplace into his office.
"Dumbledore," Bagman all but growled. "What's happening at your school? One of the Unspeakables came to enquire about the planned tasks only to tell us to screw them all?"
"Just because a boy of thirteen or whatever told him to?" Crouch was wearing a similarly upset expression.
Albus let out a deep sigh, impatiently waving his hand to make them sit down. "Twinkle, tea please." Quickly pondering what and how to explain, he sighed again. "Harry Prince is the heir of all four founders of Hogwarts, and they have declared him the owner of the school." He swiftly told them about the previous night's conversation, only to add in as he hoped convincing regret, "I am afraid that there's nothing that I can do about it."
The thought 'Perhaps, I can somehow manipulate the tournament, so that it'll come down on Harry' crossed his mind; however, he knew better than to admit that idea to the ministry workers in charge of the event.
HP
"We have decided on the three tasks by now," Whisker informed Harry, when he and his friends returned from Hogsmeade after seeing off their friends on the first day of the summer holidays.
"Cool. Nothing life-threatening and not on the Quidditch pitch?"
Whisker sighed. "The first and the second task both take place on the grounds. Perhaps, this will even involve the Quidditch pitch, but it's a matter of three hours at the most, and the third task will take place on the roof."
Harry nodded in understanding. "That's fine then, Whisker. Thank you very much for handling this for me."
"Do you want me to explain the tasks to you?"
Harry shook his head. "No, sir. Thank you. I wish to be surprised just like everyone else, and I trust you to have the students' best interest at mind."
Whisker nodded. "I'll be on my way then," he replied, before he popped away.
"Thank Merlin Hermione already returned home. Otherwise, she'd bother us the rest of the afternoon how someone was able to apparate within Hogwarts." Draco smirked.
"Draco! Don't be so mean. Hermione knows that elves can pop, too. Even Harry and I can pop and have taken all of you with us multiple times."
"It's all right, Teddy." Draco grinned. "I was only joking. Hermione's not too bad."
Teddy nodded, before he sighed.
'Poor Teddy,' Harry thought to his best friend. 'Are you already missing her?'
'Yes.' Aloud, he said, "I want to intensely practise the Animagus transformation during the holidays. Is anyone going to practise with me?"
Everyone agreed. They all knew that Teddy was desperate to transform into a human, assuming that only then he could ask Hermione to become his girl-friend.
That reminded Harry that he did not have a plan what to try next. He had already managed the transformation into his canine form as well as into a majaroo, a phoenix, an elf and a fairy, although he had not shown his fairy form to anyone yet. 'What else would be useful?' he wondered. He shrugged. "I'm out of ideas into what else to transform," he admitted.
"What about, for example, a goblin?" Harry stared at Draco in surprise.
"That makes sense if I wish to work for the freedom of all magical beings, not only elves," he admitted. "Thanks, Draco. That's a good idea, albeit difficult."
"Harry." Ginny groaned. "You need difficult. Choosing a cat, for example, wouldn't even be a challenge for you."
'That's true,' Harry thought, resolving to study Flitwick's features closely during the next meal in the Great Hall.
HP
Unfortunately, before he could even properly concentrate on the half-goblin's features, the headmaster addressed him.
"Harry, as I suppose that you have time during the holidays, I wish to teach you in private."
"What about?" Harry enquired, not caring that he might sound rude.
"I wish to show you a few memories, which will give you some insight. Will you please come to my office every Sunday morning after breakfast?"
"I am sorry, sir, but I am going to travel to the Isle of Elves for two weeks tomorrow morning," Harry replied, feeling certain that Anastasia would be ready to accommodate him whenever he showed up. 'In the worst case, Teddy and his parents will only follow next Saturday as planned,' he thought, inwardly groaning in annoyance at the prospect of spending time with the headmaster.
"Me too," Teddy quickly confirmed, grinning broadly.
"As soon as Harry returns, we will go on a family holiday." Regina smiled at the headmaster, who glared at Harry in apparent anger.
"Very well, then please come to my office every Sunday evening after dinner once school commences again."
"Yes sir."
'Granny Anastasia, would it be all right for Teddy and me to come to the Isle of Elves tomorrow morning?'
'Of course, dear. I'll be happy to have the two of you here at any time.'
'Teddy, are you going to come with me tomorrow?'
Teddy nodded in apparent eagerness. "Of course."
HP
On his third day on the Isle of Elves, his father informed him, telepathically, that his baby sister Eileen had been born.
'Oh no, and I am missing it,' Harry thought, horrified. "Granny Anastasia, do you think I'd be able to pop home just by myself or flash home in my phoenix form?"
Anastasia shook her head. "No, Harry, your magic will only be complete, when you're sixteen or seventeen years old. It's not much different for elves. If you wish to return home, I can take you home at any time though."
Harry shook his head. "No, of course not. I'd just want to go home for an hour to see my baby sister. She has been born this morning."
Anastasia smiled. "I'll tell you something. Let me take you home, and I will spend a few hours in the human world. Later on, we'll return here together. Teddy, would you mind spending some time alone?"
"Of course not. Harry, don't forget to give Eileen the unicorn you made for her."
"I won't." Harry had spent countless hours to make a stuffed unicorn for his sister that was equipped with all possible features he had been able to think of. It was similar to the teddy he had made for Felix, but naturally, more extravagant, as he had much more experience now than three and a half years ago.
HP
His parents and Felix were happy to have him at home, even if Felix just did not want to let him go, when Anastasia came to pick him up and admire the baby at the same time.
While Felix looked a lot like Regina, Eileen was the spitting image of Severus, even if her eyes were blue.
"Most babies have blue eyes." Regina smiled at her oldest. "They will probably change to either your green, your father's black or my brown colour."
'She's so cute,' he thought, feeling very happy.
"I'm big now. I'm a big bwother."
"That you are." Anastasia smiled fondly at the little boy, who was exactly the same age as her younger grandson.
HP
Harry spent most of his holidays on the Isle of Elves as well as on Inis Rún, where he studied for the Potions mastery together with the twins in the mornings and worked on his assignment for the Unspeakables for two hours after lunch.
While the three students efficiently passed the mastery exam in the middle of August, however, his research for an enhanced floo powder remained unfruitful.
On the day after his birthday, his parents had to return to the school, and Harry invited his friends to spend the last two weeks of the holidays with him on Inis Rún, and only on September 1, they all took the floo back to Hogwarts.
"I wonder if Dumbledorks is going to inform us about the Triwizard tournament tonight." Draco cast Harry a questioning look.
"If not, perhaps Harry should inform everyone." Hermione shrugged. "The sooner everyone knows the better."
Harry nodded. "Let's give him at least a chance to play the good headmaster he claims to be."
HP
To Harry's relief, the headmaster decided to announce the Triwizard tournament himself. When the elves cleared the table after the main course, Dumbledore rose from his chair.
"Dear students, before we indulge in our desserts, I wish to make an announcement. During this school year, Hogwarts will host the so-called Triwizard tournament. It has taken place as a tournament between three magical schools in regular turns of three years, before it was abandoned due to the tasks being too dangerous to handle at a school with teenagers. This time, the Unspeakables have seen to it that the tasks will be more adequate, and above all, there will be an age limit…"
Excitement spread through the Great Hall, and Dumbledore interrupted himself at the noise, before Minerva banged a teaspoon against her glass, causing the students to quieten down instantly.
"What I was going to say," Dumbledore let his hand wander over his beard, "is that only students who are of age are allowed to participate in the tournament." He then explained about the students who were going to arrive from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang and about the Goblet of Fire, a powerful magical artefact that would make the final decision who was going to be the champion of each of the schools."
As soon as Dumbledore finished speaking and sat down again, Harry rose from his chair.
"Please let me add one thing. The students coming from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are our guests, and I want that they'll feel very welcome here at Hogwarts. As Professor Dumbledore said that we can expect fifteen girls from Beauxbatons and fifteen boys from Durmstrang, I'd like to have fifteen girls and boys each, who will personally care for them, preferably from third-year, fourth-year and sixth-year, as the fifth and seventh-years will be busy with their OWLs and NEWTs." Again, noise of excitement spread through the Great Hall, and, rolling his eyes in annoyance, Harry finished, "Those who are interested in looking after one of the foreign students please join me here in the Great Hall after dinner tomorrow."
Huge applause followed his announcement, making Harry wonder if there would be too many students willing to care for their guests. 'In that case, I'll need to discuss the criteria for becoming a volunteer with Minerva and Dad,' he resolved.
HP
To his relief, all four heads of the houses joined him in the Great Hall the following day, and they chose the thirty best girls and boys from the roughly fifty students who had come to see him.
"Perhaps, we will need more volunteers at some stage. Anyway, thank you very much for your offer to assist. I appreciate it," Harry told those who had not been chosen by the professors, among them, for example, Ronald Weasley, who just did not have good grades.
From Harry's friends, Hermione, Ginny, Daphne, Draco, Teddy and Luna had been chosen. The twins had volunteered as well; however, Severus had told them firmly that as his student assistants they would not have enough time to care for two students. Neville had not volunteered, stating that he was a little frightened considering that Durmstrang had not the best reputation. Teddy had similar fears, however, consoled himself with the fact that he had finally managed to complete the transformation into a human.
HP
Very early in the morning of the day, on which the guests were supposed to arrive, Harry popped into the Great Hall and laid his hand against the wall. "Hogwarts?"
"Good morning, my boy. You're up and about very early."
"Could you please add a fifth table to the Great Hall for the students from the other schools to sit together with the thirty Hogwarts students to socialize?"
"That is a brilliant idea. Please give me a moment."
A short while later, the four house-tables moved just a little bit closer to each other, which was not even noticeable if one was not aware about it, and a fifth house-table popped into existence at the far end of the Great Hall.
Harry profusely thanked the castle, before he pulled two tissues out of his robe pocket, which he transfigured into two signs, one of them stating "Beauxbatons" and the other "Durmstrang". He placed them onto the opposite sides of the fifth table, nodding contentedly. 'I think I'm going to join them, too. At least for tonight's dinner,' he resolved. 'I just hope that they're all nice, and that there won't be any pseudo Death Eaters like Neville told me.'
HP
At least from the first dinner, Harry had the impression as if everyone was very friendly. At some house-tables, the boys made a huge ruckus, when the Veelas entered the Great Hall. At the fifth table, however, where the thirty Hogwarts students were seated with always one empty seat between them, everyone seemed to be very level-headed. Harry sat in the middle between the girls and the boys with Teddy on his one side and a Beauxbatons girl called Fleur on his other side. Luna had taken the seat between Fleur and Marie, another girl from Beauxbatons. Opposite of him, Hermione was eagerly chattering with two girls in fluent French, seemingly enjoying herself.
"Everything went just well, and everyone seems to be nice and get along well," he told his parents, when he returned home that evening, feeling extremely relieved.
Regina smiled. "Harry, I must commend you on the organisation. The guests will probably feel very welcomed here."
"I hope so." Harry returned the smile.
"Did I understand it correctly that you're not responsible for one specific student?" Severus quirked an eyebrow.
"No." Harry shook his head. "I've told our guests that I'm the owner of Hogwarts and a fourth-year, and that they can come to me if they have any questions or problems at any time. What I am wondering about though…" He remained pensive for a moment. "What are we going to do with the Hogwarts champion? Shouldn't he or she sit at the fifth table as well to be in contact with the other champions?"
His parents nodded. "That's a good idea, but you can simply invite the Hogwarts champion and then let him or her decide for themselves, where they wish to sit."
"Thanks, Dad. I'll do so." Harry smiled, before he woke up Lucy and bade his parents good night. "I hope Cedric will become the champion. He's the nicest of everyone who put their name into the goblet."
HP
Most of the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were really nice. During the day, they had their own classes together with their school, but in the evenings, they were allowed to do as they pleased and often joined the Hogwarts students responsible for the guests in their study rooms.
Harry even got around to have a Seeker scrimmage with Viktor Krum, who was the official Seeker in the Bulgarian national team and seemed thoroughly shocked to be beaten by a normal fourth-year student.
The whole school was busting with excitement during the few days, before the Goblet of Fire was going to announce the champions. The event was scheduled for Halloween, and so far, the goblet was being kept in the entrance hall – which only fuelled the students' excitement.
'Harry, I'm going to have a final look at the Goblet of Fire,' Artemis thought to him, when he had just returned home on time for curfew on the evening before Halloween. 'Do you want to watch?'
'Yes, sir. I'm coming.' Harry quickly informed his parents, before he turned invisible and popped right into the entrance hall.
"Hi Whisker."
"Paws. Don't give me a heart failure. Turn visible, before you talk to me."
"Ah, sorry, sir." Harry quickly made himself visible, knowing that they were alone anyway.
Artemis waved his wand over the goblet and mumbled something which Harry did not understand, before a small parchment emerged from the tip of his wand. It held the names of the three schools with several students' names underneath. Harry closely looked at the names of the Hogwarts students. There were Cedric Diggory and Susan Summers from Hufflepuff, Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor, Samuel Fawcett from Ravenclaw and Cassius Warrington from Slytherin.
'Oh, I didn't know that Cassius entered his name. He didn't say anything,' he thought in surprise.
"Okay, everything seems to be all right." Artemis nodded, seemingly contented, as he slid his wand back into his robes. "I just wanted to make sure that no one was trying to somehow manipulate the goblet."
"I hope it's going to be either Cedric or Angelina." Harry smiled in anticipation.
"We'll see. At least, we'll all have some interesting tasks to watch."
"That's great. Thanks for making sure that they're not dangerous."
"You're welcome, Harry. Good night."
"Night, Artemis."
HP
On Halloween, Harry decided to once again sit between Luna and Fleur on his left and Teddy on his right side at the fifth table. The Goblet of Fire was now sitting on a small table in the middle of the Great Hall, and during dinner, all students were eyeing the artefact with obvious interest.
Finally, Dumbledore stepped in front of the goblet and waved his wand in a complicated movement. It took almost a minute, and Harry was just about to wonder why it had to be so complicated, when finally, flames emerged from the top of the goblet.
Everyone watched in excitement how a small parchment was spat out of the goblet. Dumbledore quickly caught it in his right hand.
"Fleur Delacour is the champion for Beauxbatons," the headmaster announced.
Huge applause followed his statement, and Madam Maxime, the oversized headmistress of Beauxbatons ushered Fleur to the front of the Great Hall, where Bagman, Crouch and Artemis in his Unspeakable Whisker form were waiting for the champions.
When everyone returned their attention to the goblet, a second parchment was spat out, which Dumbledore caught as well.
"Viktor Krum from Durmstrang."
Again, huge applause accompanied the young wizard, as he made his way to where the others were waiting.
Finally, the goblet spat out a third parchment. Harry already had a bad feeling, when Dumbledore stared at the parchment for a moment.
"Harry Prince-Potter for Hogwarts."
"What? No, I didn't put my name in."
"Harry, you need to go," Hermione urged him from her spot opposite of him.
"No. I don't want to."
"Harry Prince-Potter," Dumbledore all but shouted.
Reluctantly, Harry rose from his seat and turned around to face the headmaster, raising his wand as he did so. "I swear on my magic that I did not put my name in nor did I ask anyone to do it for me. So mote it be."
A golden glow surrounded him, as his oath took effect.
Artemis raised his wand as well. "I can confirm that Harry's name was not in the goblet last night, when I did a last check."
Dumbledore shook his head in apparent confusion. "Nevertheless, I'm afraid that a binding contract has been made between the Goblet of Fire and Harry, so if you don't want to lose your magic, you'll have to participate."
'Artemis, do you believe that I'll have to participate?'
'I'm sorry, Harry, but I'm not sure, neither about what might have happened, nor if you'll lose your magic if you don't participate. I suggest that you'll do it. Don't worry, you'll do well, and it won't be dangerous.'
Very reluctantly, Harry made his way over to where everyone was waiting for him.
"Cedric, Angelina, Cassius, Susan, Samuel and whoever really put their names in, I am very sorry," Harry said, as he stepped next to Fleur and Viktor, who greeted him in apparent confusion mixed with excitement.
"Harry." He turned around to face Cedric. "I believe that its not your fault and that you didn't even want to participate. But still, you're now Hogwarts champion, and we'll all support you."
To Harry's relief, huge applause followed Cedric's announcement. 'I still wonder why anyone would want me in the tournament. I'm only a fourth-year. I won't even have a chance against the older students,' he thought, as he followed the others into the antechamber in a daze.
'Harry, do you have any idea what might have happened?'
'No Dad. Artemis and I checked the goblet last night, and my name was not in it. Everything was all right. But I suppose that I'll have to fight for Hogwarts.'
HP
"Harry?" Fleur and Viktor cast him questioning looks.
Harry shook his head. "I didn't put my name in, and I don't know who did."
Madam Maxime chuckled, as Lucy ran around the room and licked Fleur's, Viktor's and the Unspeakable's hands in apparent greeting, before she returned to Harry's side. "Ze canine seems to 'ave set 'er priorities."
Harry nodded, gently ruffling his familiar's ears.
"On the one hand, you could wait and see what is going to happen if you don't compete." Whisker's voice was calm and gentle as always. "Frankly speaking, I believe that you would not lose your magic, but the person who put your name in would lose his or hers."
Harry remained pensive for a moment.
"On the other hand, my boy, you probably don't wish Hogwarts to be without a champion?"
Harry glared at Dumbledore, however, nodded. "Of course not. Would it be possible to have someone else participate instead of me?" He smiled upon realising that Minerva and Severus joined them in the antechamber only to glare at the headmaster as well.
Whisker, Crouch and Bagman shook their heads. "No. That would only be possible if a healer could attest that you won't be able to attend for medical reasons."
"All right. In that case, I will participate." 'Whisker, I think that it was Dumbledore who manipulated the goblet. I could sense some very strong, strange magic, when he activated the goblet earlier. I'm not sure though, and I can't prove it anyway.' While he sent the same thought to his father, Whisker cast him an unobtrusive nod of understanding.
"Just one more thing," the Unspeakable said in a soothing voice. "I believe that in contrary to the original plan for the tasks, you'll like the tasks. It will be a challenge for the three of you, especially for you, Harry, as you're the youngest, but you're most likely going to have fun. The only problem I can see is that we don't know who added Harry's name to the goblet and why."
"What I don't understand is how anyone could add my son to the goblet in spite of the age limit? Harry is not of age yet." Severus quirked an eyebrow at Whisker.
"Unfortunately in this case, he is. As he passed his Potions master exam, the magical world automatically recognises him as an adult."
"Harry is a Potions master?" Dumbledore stared at the Unspeakable in apparent disbelief.
"Ah Albus, did we forget to inform you?" Minerva cast the headmaster a pitying smile. "He and the Weasley twins passed their exams at the end of the summer holidays."
Dumbledore merely nodded, however, to Harry's relief, did not comment on the matter anymore.
