Many thanks to my great beta reader Verlor (id: 11113787) for his, as always, great help!
Chapter 26 – Missing Spectacle
Warmth, comfort, and an overwhelming bliss. That was what Harry felt when he suddenly opened his eyes, awakened from a deep slumber, snatched from a gloomy abyss.
Blinking, he looked at his surroundings. He was lying on their bed at Greengrass Manor, so much he realized, only that the mattress was much softer than he remembered, as soft as a cloud. Through the window, the sun shone into the room, colouring the air into a golden glow, much brighter than Harry had ever seen. And the sky he saw through the pane looked much bluer and more beautiful than it should on a dreary January day; even in the summer months here Harry had not caught such a glimpse of paradise. He felt like a bird in a cage, seeing the wide sky for the first time.
All this Harry noticed without even moving his head. Still, he knew exactly who was lying on the bed next to him: Daphne, his girlfriend, his partner in life, his soulmate. He shivered, before suddenly remembering…
He had been on the verge of relinquishing all hope, surrendering to death's temptation, abandoning Daphne…
A feeling of shame overwhelmed him but was immediately drowned by a wonderful warmth; only the room's temperature hadn't changed. The warmth was not in the room, Harry knew, but inside himself. It was something that Harry had felt multiple times over the past few years, its wellspring all too familiar.
Love.
The greatest power in the world, as Dumbledore had once told him. How right he had been. Harry had seen it himself, over and over again.
Harry did not have to listen to know that Daphne was breathing calmly next to him. He also did not have to check her pulse to feel her heartbeat, feeling all that inside himself, as if it were his breath, his heart in Daphne's chest. Her heart and his heart, they were the same. He was Daphne and she was him. Two lives, two souls, inseparable bound.
Like a small wooden gate that he simply had to push open to enter a beautiful garden, Daphne's mind opened for him. Cautiously, Harry felt his way. It was all so new, so intoxicating for him, he didn't want to go wrong. A familiar scent of oranges and wide sunflower fields surrounded him, filled him, only this time the scent emanated from himself; or rather from Daphne, but that made no difference anymore.
The grass tickled under Daphne's bare feet, a truly wonderful feeling. The warm rays of the sun on her face, the ducks splashing on the lake, everything was just perfect. She loved lying on the flowery meadow, her head in Harry's lap, both of them relaxing, far too seldom allowing themselves these times of peace when they could forget all their worries, mortal dangers, the hatred and contempt of the world for a few, far too short moments.
"Thank you, Harry," Daphne whispered as he stroked her hair. "Thank you for being in my life."
Opening his eyes again, he noticed how exhausted he was. His limbs felt heavy as if he had been hauling stones in the garden for the Dursleys all day, his throat scratching from his screams of pain, his mouth still tasting of blood. He must have bitten his tongue when the agony overwhelmed him.
It now seemed like a long-forgotten dream, fleeting in the light of day. Only Daphne's bloody eyes were so deeply burned into his memory that he would never be able to forget them…
Worried, he straightened up, despite his feeling of feebleness. His soul knew Daphne was fine, but his brain had to see it with his own eyes.
The sight broke his heart.
To call Daphne pale would have been a gross understatement. Her skin was as white as freshly fallen snow, deprived of all color and warmth. Her normally honey-blonde hair had lost its shine, now more gray than blonde. She looked like she did in the Chamber of Secrets, lying unconscious in front of Slytherin's statue. Another time he had failed...
The sleeping Daphne frowned as if she could sense his dark thoughts. Probably she did, Harry thought. Nothing was at it used to, everything had changed for them both.
Sighing, Harry reached out to brush a strand of hair from Daphne's face. As soon as his fingers touched her skin, a stab went through his body, not painful, but surprisingly ecstatic. All of a sudden, Daphne woke up as well, her open eyes radiating like sapphires, like shining stars in the firmament.
"You're so cheesy, Harry," he heard Daphne's giggling voice, but her lips did not move. Only the corners of her mouth twisted into an amused smile.
"Y-You can hear my thoughts?" Harry stammered, his voice sounding incredibly loud as if shattering a sacred silence.
Daphne giggled, but at the same time he heard her bright voice in his head again, like the sorting hat three years ago. "Of course, love. We're one now."
Stunned, Harry dropped onto the mattress. He had expected it, sure, but expecting something and experiencing it were as different as chalk and cheese.
A warm thought brushed his mind, followed by a sense of confusion. "But now it doesn't work anymore," sounded Daphne's hoarse, somewhat disappointed voice.
Harry straightened up again, looking at his partner. True, he felt Daphne's feelings – love, relief, exhaustion – but he could no longer hear her voice in his head. Yet, he had a guess...
Taking Daphne's hand, warm and cool at the same time, her confused thoughts suddenly rained down on him. Daphne's eyes widened as Harry felt her understand. Or maybe she just sensed his own understanding. It was really confusing.
"True," he heard Daphne's thoughts, while at the same time sensing her amusement as if feeling it himself.
Harry laughed as he gently stroked Daphne's palm, his fingers playing with hers. "Yes, but we'll get used to it," he replied in his mind. "It's like I'm the same as you now."
"Right. Oh Harry, I'm so so happy!"
At the same moment Daphne straightened up and threw her arms around his neck, Harry felt himself overwhelmed by a feeling of immeasurable love; Daphne's and his love, to be exact, uniting like two thundery fronts in a mighty storm.
"I didn't know you've such a powerful imagination," Daphne chuckled before Harry suddenly pressed his lips to hers, silencing all clear thoughts.
It felt even warmer and more intoxicating than their previous kisses, which already had been the most magnificent thing on earth for Harry. He felt Daphne thinking exactly the same thing.
"I love you, Daphne," he thought with all his being.
"And I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you!"
The couple indulged in their feelings' frenzy. Love, passion, warmth, security. Their bodies, hearts, souls. All became one in that moment of perfect bliss.
"What have I done to you, love?" Daphne asked, grieved, her fingers brushing the cold sweat on his chest, leaving goosebumps all over his body.
Images flickered through Harry's mind; himself, as Daphne saw him at that moment. His skin was not as pale as hers, but it was a sickly shade of gray. And his hair looked now more dark gray than black, dull and without any shine. Only his eyes shimmered green in the morning sun, a sight Daphne could never get enough of, as Harry read from her mind, making him smile.
"That's not your fault, Daph. It's a price I'm more than happy to pay. And in a few days, we'll both look much better again, I'm sure."
"Still, something went wrong, something we overlooked ... maybe I made a mistake with one of the symbols…"
"Daph, don't blame yourself! Maybe I made the mistake. Or we missed something in our research. It was very, very complicated magic, after all. Or it was part of the ritual, another test..."
Again, Harry felt deep shame. If it had been a test, he had failed miserably, the way he had surrendered to his pain. Once again he'd had to be rescued by Fawkes, being too weak himself. He had et Daphne down, he had betrayed her love, he had –"
A feeling of hot anger swept over Harry, wave after wave, while Daphne glared at him with furious eyes. "And YOU stop blaming yourself! You came back and saved us both, again! Whenever I'm not well, whenever I'm suffering, whenever I'm in danger, you come to save me. You're my knight in shining armor, my Prince Charming!"
"Who's cheesy now?" Harry laughed, although a traitorous feeling remained.
"I'm serious, Harry. Please don't blame yourself. Do you know how many times I wished to die when my parents tortured me? When their curses burned my flesh?"
Daphne's memories reignited a terrible hatred in Harry. If her parents weren't already dead, he would immediately rush off to bleed them to death like ordinary pigs, squealing in agony. Yes, he would have delighted in their torments!
"They're no longer important, Harry. Rotten and forgotten. What matters is only us. And we live! I want us to be together forever..."
"We will, love, we will," Harry replied. She was right. What mattered was the future, their past was behind them. They were no longer Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass, but something new, unique.
"Do you know who else we have to thank, besides Fawkes?" Daphne asked, although Harry immediately saw the answer in her mind. Keeping birthday and Christmas presents a secret from his partner would be a tricky business in the future. Daphne giggled at the thought.
"I'll call him," he replied before shouting "Dobby!" with his voice, even though it now seemed downright primitive to him to communicate in such a blunt way with the outside world.
There was a loud bang before Dobby appeared right in front of their bed, his long ears wiggling with joy. "Masters are awake!" he exulted. "Are masters feeling better? Do you want Dobby to get some food and drink? Dobby made chocolate pudding, just as Mr. Harry Potter Sir likes, and orange juice for Miss Daphne."
"Thanks, Dobby," Daphne replied in a hoarse voice. "That sounds wonderful." Just then, both of their stomachs growled.
"Be right back!" Dobby shouted, disappearing with another loud bang. After only a few seconds, though, he returned with two large bowls of chocolate pudding in his hands. He floated them over to Harry and Daphne before disappearing again. This procedure was repeated several times, until finally several bowls and plates with delicious food were on the bed, along with freshly squeezed orange juice in clay cups. Harry's mouth watered.
Daphne was already one step ahead, gleefully biting into a fried chicken leg. "What?" she quipped when she noticed his amused look. "I'm famished."
Smiling to himself, Harry started to eat as well. However, he also had questions for Dobby, turning to the house-elf with curiosity. "Tell me, Dobby," he said between bites, "did you bring us here?"
Dobby's bat-like ears slackened as he nodded sadly. "Oh yes, the Flaming Bird came to Dobby. At first, Dobby didn't understand, but then went back in the basement." A tremor seized his small body. "It was bad. Masters were passed out, but so pale ... there was old master's blood everywhere ... and other body fluids. Dobby brought masters to the bedroom. And washed them. Dobby couldn't get a healer and so just let masters sleep."
Harry looked at the clock on the wall. It was just 10 o'clock. That was maybe nine hours since the ritual, nothing particularly worrying.
As if Daphne had guessed his thoughts – she probably had caught his feelings – she squeezed his hand before telling him in a soft voice, "Not nine hours, love. More time must have passed..."
"Miss Daphne is right," Dobby confirmed with another troubled nod. "33 hours have passed since Dobby found both masters. Eventually, Dobby gave some potions. Masters were so weak ... Dobby didn't know what else to do..."
They had slept for more than a day? Harry looked at the house-elf in disbelief. Was that possible? And that would also mean –
"The Hogwarts Express!" he yelled. "It's about to leave! We must –"
"Harry!" Daphne interrupted him before looking firmly in his eyes, continuing in thought, "We couldn't care less about the damn train. It'll take the whole day anyway. You can still apparate us to Hogsmeade in the evening, or Dobby, and no one would notice. We have enough time."
Harry couldn't deny Daphne's logic. Kissing the corners of her mouth, he let her feel his approval, receiving a loving smile in return.
"You did everything perfectly," Harry then praised Dobby, whose body straightened up in relief, as if his worries had previously weighed heavily on his shoulders. "You're the best house-elf in the world. But I still have one question left." A mocking smile crept onto his and Daphne's lips. "What did you do with Malfoy?"
"Disposed," Dobby replied happily. "Nobody will ever find a trace of him again."
"Again, I am sorry, Mrs. Malfoy," Madam Bones concluded. "If there is any news, we will contact you immediately."
Narcissa Malfoy nodded her head slightly. It did not surprise her that the Aurors had found no trace of her husband; presumably his body had already been fed to that hideous snake. As if in a trance, she said goodbye to the Ministry wizards while planning the next steps in her head.
She had to do everything she could to regain the Dark Lord's favor, which Lucius had apparently recklessly squandered. His punishment had not yet been extended to her and Draco, the Dark Lord even sending his condolences through his fanatical servant – damn mind games. He didn't even have to say it, they all knew their life – and death – was in his hands alone. He was the master and they were his slaves; how far she, a daughter of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, had fallen. However, to save Draco, she would endure anything, even total submission and humiliation by a megalomaniac.
Her son had admired his father far too much, adored him even, much more than the bastard deserved. Even his cruel punishments hadn't changed that. Her boy was just too good for this world.
Narcissa sighed as she climbed the stairs. She wanted to keep Draco with her, but logic told her he was safer at Hogwarts, far from the Dark Lord's whims. If they apparated, they could still make it to the train station on time.
Straightening her shoulders, she knocked on her son's door. She had to be strong now, for herself and Draco, for nothing was more important to a Black than their family. They would survive, whatever the cost.
With a loud bang, Harry appeared in the shade of large chestnut trees, their empty limbs stretched out like bony fingers. At the very edge of his field of vision, he could see large stone blocks, some of which were stacked on top of each other, forming a wide circle. It was Stonehenge, one of the most historic magical sites in all of Britain and the very place Harry had chosen to finish their little experiment. Ever since he had seen the beginning of a documentary about Stonehenge on television many years ago – that is, until Uncle Vernon had beaten him up – he had wanted to see this famous place. Perhaps one day, when no visitors were present, he and Daphne would take a closer look at the stone circle. At the moment, however, he had other things to do than plan future trips.
As before, he could sense Daphne's whereabouts, and now that he was closer to Greengrass Manor, Daphne's feelings also echoed more strongly in him again. While he had only felt an increased heartbeat in London, he now clearly felt her curiosity, impatience, and the onset of fear. He should hurry.
Harry closed his eyes, reaching for the magic inside, which was much brighter, firmer, clearer – he didn't know how to describe something as abstract as a magical soul – than it was before their ritual. Careful not to use too much strength, he pointed his wand at the nearest tree, feeling the excitement in his and Daphne's bodies, as always when they used this demonic magic. This time it would work, he was sure!
Ugly hissing sounds came from his mouth, while the flush of magic tugged at his, no, their combined soul. Yellowish plumes, almost looking like long fingers, emerged from the tip of his wand, sliding straight towards the trunk. As soon as the plumes touched the tree, the wood suddenly became as black as a raven's wing. The branches withered and there was a crunch, before the tree finally collapsed, ash in the wind, enveloping Harry in a swirl of soot. With watery eyes and the taste of ash on his tongue, he disapparated.
The moment he appeared in front of the gate to the Greengrass estate, his blonde counterpart fell around his neck.
"Finally!" Daphne shouted at him in her mind, while a sense of relief came over him. "I've worried so much. I –"
"All's well, love," Harry reassured her. "Nobody saw me. And the magic worked at the last try too."
Daphne pulled away from him a little, sizing him up, the corners of her mouth twisted in a mocking smile. "I see. You look like a chimney sweep."
"Well, such a big tree produces a lot of ash," Harry laughed as he grabbed Daphne's hand and started toward the house. There he would first take a long and hot shower. They still had a few hours before they had to go to the Hogsmeade platform. Images of the two of them in the shower then formed in Daphne's mind, causing Harry's blood to rush in his head. Daphne laughed brightly.
"So what are your conclusions?" she asked him as they walked past the pond that had been the scene of one of the most surreal – and decisive – moments in Harry's life. The union of their minds was followed by the union of their souls...
"In principle, our assumptions have been confirmed," Harry mused. "Just as we can only directly perceive each other's thoughts through direct physical contact, the further away we are, the weaker the feelings and sensory impressions become. In Hogsmeade, I had to make quite an effort to feel your whereabouts. And I almost couldn't feel your emotions anymore. In London, it was better and at Stonehenge, it was very clear again. There I was also finally able to use demon magic, even if only very carefully, and yet I feel a bit exhausted again."
"We'll rest right away. And Dobby has already prepared the meal."
"What would we do without him?"
"Starving, probably. You can't even cook if your life depended on it."
Harry slapped Daphne on the arm in mock indignation. "Hey! Just because you're my soulmate doesn't mean you can insult me just like that."
"Someone is sensitive ..."
Laughing, the two reached the house, immediately entering the large bathroom and peeling off their clothes. Harry moaned with pleasure when he felt the hot water and Daphne's cold hands on his body, relieving him of his dirt and tension.
Giggling, Harry and Daphne followed the crowd heading for the carriages. It looked like they had got off the train with the other students. Nobody had seen them step out of a dark back alley, even if some of the students were giving them strange looks that Harry could not quite explain. Maybe they were just afraid that the next Dark Lord would send a curse in their backs…
"Interesting, interesting, darling," Daphne commented, "but we shouldn't feel too safe either. I'm sure that there are more than enough people who would love to stab us both in the back as soon as we aren't paying attention." Harry felt Daphne think of Parkinson's attack from last year. Damn bitch... "Have you always been so rude in your thoughts?", Daphne laughed, while a cozy warmth captured his body. "I'm not afraid of Parkinson and the others. Bunch of bunglers, all of them. But still, we have to be careful."
"We could practice more defensive magic again," Harry replied. "Even though I think that attack is the best form of defence…"
Daphne smirked. "Of course you think so..."
By now they had reached the carriages, whose draft animals were no longer hidden from Harry; Thestrals, supposed creatures of death, misunderstood by so many, just like themselves. Tenderly, Daphne squeezed his hand.
As usual, they got into the last carriage in the long column, which then set off with a great lurch. When they passed the castle gate, guarded by statues of winged boars, and stopped in front of the stairs leading to the large oak doors of Hogwarts, Harry couldn't help but feel a certain sadness. Once the majestic sight of the castle had been the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, a material manifestation of his childhood dreams – and in a way it still was – but now it felt more and more like a prison.
"I love Hogwarts, just not its residents," Daphne summed up his conflicting feelings.
In silently fluttering snow, the couple followed the other students into the torch-lit entrance hall, where Harry's glasses immediately misted up. However, the moment his eyesight deteriorated, another, new sensation intensified that Harry had already noticed earlier that day. If he concentrated, he could see what Daphne was seeing, sort of using his soulmate's eyes.
It was a strange feeling to watch himself through someone else's eyes, and even more strange to direct his movements that way, but in the end, it worked, more or less. At least until a male voice suddenly called their two names, surprising Harry so much that he almost tripped over his feet.
"Look out," laughed Daphne, holding his arm before turning around and speaking in her still somewhat hoarse voice, "Good evening, Professor Lupin. Please ignore my boyfriend's clumsiness, maybe the sweets on the train weren't quite fresh anymore."
"Oh yeah, the tons of sweets I ate on the train ride," Harry replied with an imaginary roll of his eyes before turning to Lupin. "Hello Professor, I hope you had a nice New Year?"
Lupin nodded slightly, watching them with wide eyes. "You ... you look like ghosts," he said, stunned. "What have you done?"
Harry and Daphne looked at each other. Lupin was right; even though they had already regained some color compared to the morning, they still looked unnaturally pale and exhausted. Probably the students noticed that earlier...
"Nothing dramatic," Harry replied with a shrug, sounding as casual as possible. "Daphne and I have just tried a few new spells and overdone it. Magical overexertion, that's all."
Beside him, Daphne nodded in confirmation. "And Dobby has already pepped us up. Don't worry, professor. We're fine."
At her words, Lupin frowned. "Dobby?" he asked thoughtfully. "The house-elf you freed from Lucius Malfoy, Harry, right?"
Oh shit.
Lupin probably knew something about Malfoy's "disappearance." But since nothing had been reported in the newspaper yet – they had made sure of that – they had to pretend ignorance.
"Exactly," Harry confirmed in a calm voice, even if his heart was pounding like crazy. "Since then he's a free house-elf. He works for me, but he gets a salary, holiday and Christmas presents. His bedroom is even bigger than that of Daphne and me."
"Whatever my parents needed so much space for," Daphne commented dryly.
A smile crept around the corner of Lupin's mouth, who also looked rather exhausted, as Harry noticed on closer inspection. Had there been a full moon? Its position hadn't mattered to their ritual, so Harry hadn't traced it.
"It sounds like his life is more enjoyable now," Lupin replied. "Maybe you should talk with Miss Granger. She recently told me about how she would like to stand up for the rights of house-elves."
"Brilliant idea," Daphne scoffed. "I can't think of anything nicer. Maybe the impostor and I will even become best friends, braiding our hair and comparing our chest sizes."
"Do girls really do things like that?"
"You'd like to know, wouldn't you?"
They stared at each other for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Sometimes I feel like you can talk without words," Lupin muttered, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. But we should go into the Great Hall now, we're already the last."
Harry looked around and indeed, there was no one else in the entrance hall besides them anymore. From the Great Hall, however, a loud buzz of voices and, above all, the smell of delicious food reached them. Daphne's and his stomachs began to growl loudly, causing them both to laugh out again. After a short hesitation, Lupin also joined in their laughing.
Tired, Harry grimaced at the dark circles under his eyes. He looked horrible, a single sleepless night ruining all recovery of the past weeks. But how could he have slept peacefully when Daphne was in an artificial coma, completely dreamless, denying them even this refuge…
Harry's trembling hands clutched the green sink so tightly that his knuckles whitened. He had to muster all his self-control not to rush into the hospital wing to reclaim Daphne immediately.
Daphne...
His Daphne...
He felt like a smackhead on cold turkey, Harry laughed cheerlessly, almost insanely even. To be separated from Daphne, after their minds, their souls had been continuously connected since their ritual, was torture; cold sweat covering his face, his body twitching uncontrollably, and his thoughts pure chaos.
He had to calm down, he told himself. Breathe, Harry, breathe calmly. Inhale and exhale. It's good.
Only the certainty that he had a foolproof plan to save Daphne kept him from razing the bathroom and probably the entire dungeon to the ground. But that would not hold for long...
With his hands clenched into fists, his body shaken by hot waves of anger, Harry made his way to the Room of Requirement.
He checked his watch. 4:32 a.m., almost five hours to go until the start of the task. Five hours, rather half an eternity, as it seemed to Harry...
It felt like a huge tub of ice-cold water had been poured right over Harry's head, cooling off his hot, sweaty body, surrounded by countless destroyed dummies, most of them burned beyond recognition. His wand was still fuming, a final testimony of the flaming inferno that had raged in the room until recently, only a faint reflection of Harry's fury.
That damn Ministry! Damn Dumbledore, Crouch, Bagman and all the other bastards!
It was their fault that Daphne was being dragged deeper and deeper into the lake at that very moment, where she was exposed to who knew what dangers. Why, why couldn't they just leave them alone, let them live a quiet life? Was that really too much to ask? But in this world, which seemed to oppose their very existence, you got nothing for free; you had to take it with determination, relentlessness, and, if necessary, brutal force, just as he was about to free Daphne.
Harry felt how his soulmate had meanwhile reached the bottom of the lake and was tied to some kind of statue. If those fish-gobs laid a finger on Daphne…
No! He shouldn't even think about that. Everything would be fine. Everything had to be fine...
As he had done countless times before, Harry checked his wristwatch. 8:50 a.m., 40 minutes left until the task would begin. Wiping the sweat from his body and pulling on his cloak, he left the Room of Requirement, his head full of images of roasted merpeople and ministry wizards writhing on the ground.
Together with the other students, who, as usual, treated him like a leper, Harry walked along the ice-covered path to the lake. The stands that had surrounded the dragon enclosure last year had been set up by the water, the rows of seats already filled, even if there were still crowds of spectators flocking to the lake. Everyone wanted the best possible seats for the upcoming spectacle, even Fudge and Bones had returned. Disgusted, Harry looked at the Weasley twins, who had set up a small stand by the side of the road, taking bets as to who would get injured or even die in the task. At least a fuming McGonagall was already hurrying towards the two Gryffindors. Good woman.
Harry had to walk around the lake to get to the other champions and judges, the chatter of the drooling crowd sticking into his ears like hot needles the entire time. These disgusting wretches would've probably enjoyed the bloody massacres in the Colosseum of ancient Rome...
Except for Bagman, the judges sat behind a gold-draped table right by the water, talking quietly to one another. Bagman, however, waved Harry over to himself and the other champions, standing a few feet away.
"Harry, my boy," Bagman greeted him effusively as if Harry didn't know what a lying cunt the former Quidditch player was. Turning his back to the other champions, Bagman continued in a soft voice, "You definitely had the best show last time – really, you carried the audience – but I still hope that you take a, um, more conventional approach today, if you get my meaning…"
"Don't worry," Harry hissed between clenched teeth, suppressing his anger. Nothing good would come of it if he gave in to his feelings now, tempting as it was.
"Wonderful," Bagman laughed falsely, "our stomachs will surely thank you." With that, Bagman turned back to the other champions, setting them up along the shore.
Harry now stood next to Delacour, who was nervously chewing her lip, but he had no eyes for that. He felt exactly where Daphne was, unconscious, bound, helpless.
Not much longer, my love. I'll be with you in a moment.
Bagman returned to the judges' table, sitting down and pointing his wand at his throat. "Sonorus," he said, causing his following words to boom across the lake to the stands.
"The time has come, ladies and gentlemen. The second task of the Triwizard Tournament!" Loud clapping and cheering reached them. "Oh, I see you're just as excited as me," Bagman laughed. "And we have every reason to do so. Many dangers are waiting for our four champions in the lake, but the greatest danger will be the inexorable passage of time. They have one hour to find their loved ones and bring them to the surface, otherwise, they will lose them forever. One hour to save their loved ones from a fate as fish feed." The audience laughed. Bleeding gits. "The task begins at my whistle. I count to three. One … two … three!"
The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, windless air while the audience roared and raged, not that Harry noticed it any longer. The moment Bagman had blown his whistle, he had called for Dobby, who immediately appeared next to him, dressed in baggy bathing trunks with palm trees and small sharks on them.
Harry didn't waste a second. "Daphne is at the bottom of the lake in the middle," he said hurriedly while casting bubble-head charms, warming charms, and protection against the expected pressure difference on both of them.
Following his example, Dobby quickly grabbed his arm before they disappeared with a loud bang –accompanied by protests from the judges and spectators.
The next moment Harry was surrounded by cold water. The air bubble around his head allowed him to breathe easily, even when his heart was pounding like crazy. He examined their surroundings.
It was a strange, dark, hazy landscape that presented itself to him, he could see that much in the murky water. Around them were some primitive stone dwellings overgrown with algae, in front of which several merpeople swam. The creatures had greyish skin and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their splintered teeth. Harry certainly would not have called the creatures attractive.
Ignoring the sharp shouts the merpeople threw at them, Harry spotted a huge statue right in front of him and Dobby. It was a gigantic merman, carved out of dark stone, four people tied to its tail fin with thick kelp loops. There was Daphne, between Granger and Diggory's partner at the Yule Ball; next to them was a little girl with silvery blond hair, looking like a younger version of Delacour. Their heads drooped limply, and small bubbles oozed from their mouths.
With just a few swim movements, he was right next to Daphne's motionless body, but he felt that she was fine. Thank Merlin. He was about to raise his wand to free her from her bonds when he suddenly noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye. A long spear flew towards Dobby!
Harry wanted to scream, raise his wand, but it was too late for that. As if in slow motion, Harry watched Dobby make a short movement to the side. The spear flashed just a few millimeters past his head, digging deep into the sandy ground.
Furiously, Harry turned to the nearby merpeople, who were yelling at them both, gesturing wildly in Dobby's direction. Harry didn't have to speak their language to understand what was upsetting them. Obviously the presence and help of his friend weren't welcome. Harry had neither the time nor the nerves to explain calmly to the merpeople that he didn't give a damn about their opinion. Besides, the bastards had tried to kill his friend!
Foaming with rage, he pointed his wand at the merpeople, firing hot blue flames in their direction that even the icy water of the lake could not extinguish. There was loud screeching, followed by screams of pain and the smell of grilled fish fins before the merpeople fled in panic. Harry rejoiced.
With a pounding heart, Harry turned back to Daphne and with a flick of his wand he cut the bonds, her body falling right into his arms. Immediately a pleasant warmth spread inside him, reminiscent of hot chocolate and crackling fire in cold winter. Tenderly, Harry looked at his partner as he cast the same spells on her as he did on Dobby and himself.
As soon as Harry was done, Dobby grabbed his arm again, and with one last pop they left the deserted underwater marketplace and the other three hostages behind.
They appeared directly on the shore, where they were greeted by Bagman's booming voice. "... of course don't know what Potter's plan is, but..." His voice fell silent as all eyes were on the suddenly appeared trio. "Um, Potter is back," Bagman stammered in surprise. "With ... with his hostage and the house-elf." Roaring broke out everywhere, voices approaching Harry from the judges' table, but he only had eyes for Daphne, who had woken up as soon as they had reappeared on the surface, coughing violently. Her wet hair stuck to her face, but her cheeks were slowly turning pink again.
"All's well, Daph," Harry said to her in his mind, deeply relieved as he hurriedly carried her to the hospital tent, Dobby in tow. "All's well. You're back on land. Everything went according to plan."
Daphne smiled weakly, but lovingly at him. "As always, you save me, Harry. As always, you're my hero."
"Always, love. Always."
"Yes ... um ... that was unspectacular," came Bagman's consternated voice as Harry stepped into the tent to a visibly surprised Madam Pomfrey. "It took our youngest champion only two minutes to rescue his hostage with the help of his house-elf. But my fellow judges seem very upset..."
Ignoring Bagman's remarks, Harry called to Pomfrey in a commanding tone. "Examine Daphne. She comes straight from the lake."
"I'm fine, honey," Daphne soothed, suppressing a laugh. "But thank you for taking care of me."
Madam Pomfrey didn't see any need for sophisticated healing practices and instead wrapped them both in thick blankets; she also gave them hot drinks to warm them from the inside. Dobby got them even more blankets, hot water bottles, and towels; he just loved mothering them both, Harry thought.
Harry had just put his arm around Daphne, who was hugging him very closely, when suddenly several figures stepped into the hospital tent: Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Maxime, and Crouch.
"... scandal, Dumbledore," Maxime exclaimed in a heavy French accent. "I demand that she'll be brought back into the lake!"
Hot rage seized Harry. Only Daphne's grip prevented him from jumping up and throwing Maxime herself to the fishes. "Easy, love," she tried to calm him down.
Harry forced himself to breathe calmly as an angry Madam Pomfrey stood in the way of the judges. "What's this, Albus?" she turned to Dumbledore. "My patients need rest to recover."
Dumbledore sighed loudly. "I am sorry, Poppy, but I am afraid we need to talk to Harry."
A silent discussion seemed to be taking place between the headmaster and the matron before Madam Pomfrey finally stepped aside, raising her finger threateningly. "But not too long!"
The four judges then joined the couple wrapped in blankets. Even though Daphne had just tried to calm him down, Harry felt a certain fear and concern inside his partner, causing him to tighten his grip on her shoulder. He would never allow them to be separated again!
"Harry," Dumbledore approached him. "Your ... behavior caused some displeasure in the jury –"
"It's cheating!" Maxime interrupted him shrilly. "Help from others is strictly prohibited. That Potter used his house-elf is outrageous!"
At her words, Crouch nodded slightly, while Karkaroff simply snorted with contempt.
"The girl has to go back into the lake," Maxime continued her tirade. "Then Potter should try again."
As quick as a wink, Harry pulled out his wand, pointing it menacingly at the visitors. "One step closer and I'll burn everything down here!" he hissed. He was serious. The moment anyone reached out to Daphne, he would unleash Fiendfyre or even more destructive powers...
"Better listen to him," Daphne interjected with a smirk. "My boyfriend is a real firebug."
"Who do you think you are, you brats?", Karkaroff shouted. Maxime, too, was indignant and gesticulated wildly at Dumbledore.
"Calm down, calm down!" Dumbledore shouted. When his fellow judges finally fell silent, Dumbledore went on in a quiet tone, giving Harry a concerned look, "I do not think that such drastic measures will be necessary, from either side. What do you think, Barty?" Dumbledore turned to Crouch, who had been silent until then.
Crouch looked thoughtfully to the ground, before raising his head again. "Probably, Dumbledore," he replied so quietly that Harry almost didn't understand him, although he was only a few feet away. "Mr. Potter has definitely broken the rules of the tournament but bringing his hostage into the lake again would not be according to the rules either. The reaction compliant to the rules would be to disqualify Mr. Potter for the second task."
Karkaroff and Maxime started to protest, but Dumbledore signaled them to be silent. "A certain disregard of the rules is a centuries-old tradition of the Triwizard Tournament, as I am sure my colleagues are aware of." Dumbledore's light blue eyes sparkled. "Would disqualification be acceptable to you, Harry?"
Harry exchanged a look with Daphne, who pressed herself even closer to him. "What do we care about this stupid tournament ..." she commented. Harry thought the same.
"Agreed," he replied. "And now I would like to politely ask you all to leave. I must get my girlfriend out of her wet clothes. Dobby, can you bring Daphne's spare clothes, please?"
Embarrassed, the four judges left while Dobby disappeared with a bang and Pomfrey clattered in the back half of the tent, meaning Harry and Daphne finally had their peace.
Happily, Harry buried his face in Daphne's hair, smelling her intoxicating scent, feeling safe and secure. The time of his torture was over now that he was holding his soulmate in his arms again.
There was only one more task to go through, then this damn tournament would finally be over. Then another school year until their OWLs, after which they could finally turn their backs on Hogwarts and Britain to never come back. The damned Ministry would no longer have any power over them, they would finally be free and masters of their fate. They would find a solution for Fawkes' soul and Daphne's infertility, they would move far away, somewhere on the coast where they could live in peace. They would start a family and be together until the end of all times.
"That sounds so beautiful," Daphne sighed comfortably. "I can't wait any longer!"
"Me too, Daph, me too."
"I love you, Harry."
"And I love you, my Daphne, all the way to the moon and back down to the dirt."
Next chapter: Deeply Wounded Birds
Preview:
Careful not to be seen by anyone, Severus crept away from the roaring crowd, pulling Crouch behind him. He had waited long enough for Potter to disappear into the maze, but now he couldn't hesitate any longer.
He just hoped Lily would forgive him; that was the only thing left for him now. All precautions had been made; Potter's fate was sealed. He was going to die tonight, there was no doubt about that. Tonight, the magical world would change forever, its history written in blood.
AN:
Do you feel that Harry has changed?
By the way, the preview is also the beginning of the next chapter ^^
