Harry Potter: King of the Amazons
Chapter 20
-Harry-
"So Harry, how are the other schools going to arrive? And when for that matter?" Neville asked him as he settled down with his friends in their private compartment, his wives having stayed home for this journey to avoid the danger of being cursed while they were pregnant and to help care for Hylla, who was still recovering, and the children.
"They'll be arriving on October Thirtieth," he answered as he turned to his Gryffindor friend "and Beauxbatons is going to arrive by flying a giant carriage bulled by Abraxas. Durmstrang on the other hand is going to be taking one of those ships that can sail underwater.".
"Drama Queens," Tracey responded with a snort "the lot of em.".
"Most politicians are." he stated with a shrug "Personally, I prefer my method.".
"Would this be the method of either threaten to ruin their reputation, threaten to stab them with a sword, or just threaten both if they piss you off?" Theo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Why mess with a good system?" he asked with an uncaring shrug "If a person is willing to work with me or at the very least is respectful and doesn't do anything to make me angry I won't ruin them. If they do mess with me or mine I make them regret the day they were born.".
"So Neville," he asked as he turned to his Gryffindor friend "how have things been with you since the Cup? I haven't seen you since then and your grandmother seemed…less than pleased by how things transpired.".
"She refuses to accept that Bella didn't have anything to do with what happened to my folks," Neville explained with a sigh "and now she's trying to find a girl to contract me to so that I will have someone to keep me from you lot who are, as she put it, 'corrupting my mind'. She fails to realize that as my father has been in his comatose state for so many years I'm technically the Lord of Longbottom and as such the only one who can sign marriage contracts for the family.".
"It does bring up a good point though," Maria said thoughtfully "you're the only one of us who's still single. We need to get you a date.".
"Please don't," Neville said in a panic "I don't need anyone playing matchmaker for me. I have to deal enough with the Gryffindor Fangirls who think that 'dating' me will get them an in with Harry.".
"Please tell me you're joking," he deadpanned "nobody but a Weasley or a Malfoy can be that dumb.".
"Ginny Weasley is one," Neville said with a nod causing him to sigh in exasperation "but several Gryffindor girls, both younger and older than us, have tried the same.".
"Well at least try to find a girlfriend Neville," Blaise said with a chuckle "you really need one. And don't try to deny it as we've seen how you look at other couples, can tell you're picturing yourself in a relationship.".
"Alright fine," Neville gave in exasperatedly "I promise to look for a girlfriend this year.".
"Are you going to bring your kids to watch the tournament events Harry?" Markus asked him after a minute, "Or do you think they're too young.".
"I couldn't keep them away if I tried," he said with a roll of his eyes "they have the elves that act as servants for my family wrapped around their finger and all it would take is a little pout and they'd have the elves pop them over.".
"Well they are adorable," Tracey offered weakly but he could tell the girl was doing everything in her power to stop from giggling "it is kinda understandable.".
"Yeah but did they have to learn to use it to their advantage?" he groaned as the compartment dissolved into laughter.
Several hours later they sat inside the Great Hall waiting for the feast, his Eight Slytherin friends sitting in minor thrones near his own while Neville sat at the Gryffindor table, his friend looking miserable at the fact that they had to sit at their own house tables during feasts. "Where's the new defense professor?" Daphne asked in confusion when they looked up to see the chair for that post empty "Were they not able to get one?".
"No they got one," he said shaking his head "after Lockheart I insisted that Dumbledore tell me whoever he hired each year. This year's new teacher is a retired Auror named Alastor Moody. He was supposedly both the greatest auror in the ministry's history as well as raving mad.".
"Well if you have that many people after your head you do tend to develop paranoia," Theo pointed out with a shrug "I'm honestly surprised you're not as twitchy as Mad Eye is.".
"I trust my own skills, as well as those of my friends, to the point that I know I don't have much need to fear." He said with a shrug "If you ever see me get twitchy then you know then something truly dangerous is coming.".
"Good to know," Theo gulped as the Librarian in training digested what was said "now let's focus on something besides the idea of anything dangerous enough to cause our friend to become twitchy.".
"Attention students!" Dumbledore declared, the old man rising and drawing the eyes of the various students assembled in the hall "Before we begin our wonderful feast I have a few announcements to make. To begin with our Defense against the Dark Arts professor, Alastor Moody, won't be here until tomorrow due to some legal matters that have arisen concerning an altercation last night.".
"If the rumors I've heard about the man are true then he hexed his garbage cans again while thinking they were intruders." Blaise deadpanned while he slapped a palm to his forehead, just knowing he wasn't going to like the man.
"Added to this," Dumbledore continued, the man having to use a charm to be heard over the mass of whispering students "there will be no inter house Quiditch Competition this year.".
At those words the whispers between students became roars as people proclaimed their outrage at the aged headmaster, some even rising to their feet as they screamed and railed. "Idiot," he said with a snort "there usually only ever three 'Tasks' for each tournament unless the schools agree on more so there would be no reason to cancel the Quiditch Cup, they're taking away something that means a lot to several students both for pride, for entertainment, and future careers for those who use the competition to attract the eyes of talent scouts.".
"In its place!" Dumbledore yelled, the charm having to be upgraded to be heard "Hogwarts School is going to play Host to a legendary event...the Tri Wizard tournament.".
At that declaration the hall, which had only seconds before been full to the brim with shouting and raging students, was now as silent as the grave. "And now the Sheeple think that it's a fair trade off," Daphne sighed before she looked over at him "I am so glad I became a citizen of the Nation Harry. It's embarrassing being associated with people like this.".
"That's why most nations consider Britain a joke," he said with a shrug "they don't advance much and are easily distracted by the closest shiny object. Most of the lords could be replaced with toddlers under Polyjuice and nobody would ever notice the difference.".
"Please don't say things like that out loud Harry," Theo said with a sigh "the last thing we need are the Weasley twins hearing it and actually trying to turn that into a reality.".
"Let's just eat," Daphne said with a sigh "I'm tired and would like to go to bed already.".
AN: Kinda crappy I know but I wanted to get in an intro for Fourth Year and I haven't felt a lot of inspiration for this piece recently.