Mafalda, Friends, and Pixies

'Where has Mafalda been?' Harry asked himself. He could not remember seeing her since the selection of the Triwizard champions.

Harry had determined to talk to the Weasley twins about it. He really should have noticed this sooner, but with the preparation for the Triwizard Tournament, he had had other things on his mind. He had biweekly lessons with Snape. Harry swore that Snape only agreed to teach Harry in order to teach him in the most painful ways possible. It was true that Harry improved dramatically, but he also saw more of Madam Pomfrey than he would have liked. In addition to these lessons, he exercised daily and sparred with Nott, also biweekly. Nott had a surprising repertoire of spells, and it was always invigorating to duel with him. Harry was almost to first name basis with him. Meeting with Hermione took the last little bit of his free time.

It was little surprise that he had not remembered Mafalda. He had just assumed that she was somewhere with the first years. Thus, Harry was now on the way to the Gryffindor tower.

As luck would have it he ran into one of the twins half way. The hallway was deserted, and so he didn't hesitate to get to the point.

"Weasley, I need a moment. I have not seen your cousin since Halloween. I have asked around a bit this morning, but all I could find was that no one has seen her since the feast."

The Weasley sighted. "Mafalda is missing. Fred and I have been looking for her for the last week. The Headmaster told my parents that he is making inquiries. My father got the Ministry involved. The Minister himself has ordered this to remain a secret. They don't want this to detract from the tournament. Which is ridiculous. Dumbledore swears that she did not leave the castle. Something about the wards. So they are searching Hogwarts." He frowned.

"What, how can they suppress this? Mafalda, a little firsty, is gone. We have to find her."

"I know, I know," George deflated, "but Dad said that Crouch and Bagman have the ear of the Minister. They don't want this to leak. Apparently a deadly tournament is more important that Mafalda."

"But the Headmaster is letting that pass? He is responsible for us students."

"Yes, but you know how senile he is getting. Also, he probably is tired of all the negative press in the past years."

"If they are not doing anything, than we have to. What have you done?"

"We have looked everywhere. We have found nothing."

"How can you be sure that you have looked everywhere?You could have missed a thousand cracks in Hogwarts."

"No, Fred and I have our ways. She is not in the castle."

"Mm. We'll see about that." Harry was thinking of the Slytherin Dungeons. If the senile Headmaster was right about the wards then Mafalda was still in the castle. No matter how sure the twins were, they could not have checked the Slytherin Dungeons. They were endless. She was down there, he was certain. He would have to add another little item to his already full schedule. Hopefully Nott would help him.

Without another word Harry turned and departed.

HPU

He went straight to the office of Deputy-Headmistress McGonagall. He had talked to his own head of house a few weeks back, and that had obviously not done anything.

He knocked on the door, and a terse 'come in' came through.

"Mr. Potter, what brings you here today?"

"Professor McGonagall, I just learned that a student is missing and that neither the Ministry nor the faculty think it necessary to do anything about it."

"Do not presume that we are not doing anything."

"I am not 'presuming' anything. My time here has taught me that the faculty is happy to let students, me in particular, do the dirty work for them."

McGonagall let out a sigh. "Professor Dumbledore knows for sure that little Mafalda has not left the castle. He is in control of the wards of Hogwarts, and he can tell when people enter and leave the ward area. He has a method of verifying if specific students have left the wards. I have organized the faculty to search the castle systematically. The Ministry is not particularly helpful, but some Aurors in plain clothing are here for this."

Harry glared at the Deputy-Headmistress, he said, with disgust dripping in his voice: "If one of your lions was missing, you would not let the Ministry make this mediocre effort."

McGonagall rose and started to protest, but Harry left her office and went to the Dungeon. What could he do?

HPU

In the middle of the Slytherin common room, Malfoy held court. It was just before lights out, so naturally, most students were still chatting with their friends or frantically attempting to finish tomorrows homework.

In one of the larger couches, Malfoy sat. Pansy was at his right, attempting to get closer to him. His two goons lounged on either sides of the pair.

Before him, two sixth years debated on the blood status of the offspring of two half-bloods. They were attempting to impress Malfoy, in order to get a better shot at a promising internship the following summer. Malfoy was rumored to be consulted, when the elder Malfoy hired students for various jobs. It was one of the rumors that strengthened the young Malfoy's position in the house.

Harry stepped to this little group. After his renewed fight with Hermione he needed to let go of some steam.

"Heir Malfoy, pardon my interruption, I just wanted to thank you for your cooperation with regards to the dueling arena yesterday."

"…"

All eyes in the little group stared at Malfoy, how would he react?

Malfoy's eyes on the other hand bore for oil while looking at Harry. His teeth where in danger of being crushed to gravel. "I am glad to be of service, … Champion Potter."

Harry gave a little bow to Malfoy and retreated to his room. There seemed to be some small perks to being one of the Triwizard champions.

As he walked down the hallway, he noticed that Nott was following him.

"Nice job, there Champion."

"Shut up, I had a bad day. Mafalda's gone missing. … Actually. I would like your help."

"My help? With what precisely?"

"I am reliably informed that Mafalda is still in the castle, but that she is not anywhere above ground…"

"So where is she?"

"I am sure that she is somewhere in the Slytherin Dungeons. We need to find her."

…

"All right mate, I will help you with that, on one condition."

"I thought we …"

"If we will sneak around all over the dungeons, facing who knows what, we will need to be friends. You will have to call me Theo." Theo smiled.

"Only if you call me Harry." They both smiled.

HPU

Two weeks after Hermione had bound Winky to her, Harry was practicing with her again.

Again a pop disturbed their studies.

Both Dobby and Winky stood before them.

Winky looked like she had recovered completely from her time as a free-elf.

Dobby stepped forward and cleared his throat. He looked between Harry and Hermione. His head turned red. He looked back at Winky. His head got even redder.

Winky said, "Dobby being shy. Dobby just be brave elf."

Dobby cleared his throat again, and looked at the floor. "Dobby and Winky be asking Masters for permission to become special friends."

A moment passed. Harry and Hermione looked each other in the eyes. Now Harry cleared his throat, "Are you asking us if you can date?"

Another moment passed. Then Hermione nearly exploded. "What do you ask me for? Who you date is your private concern. Who do you think I am I, a tyrant? That is between you two."

The two elves looked at each other with big eyes.

Winky stepped forward. "Mistress Hermy, begging forgiveness, this being your concern. If Dobby and Winky be's special friends and Dobby and Winky like the arrangement, and a few … understandings happen, then … maybe a little baby elf comes to the world. Elves don't want to have to stop right before that. So elves always ask before making special friend outside Masters house. If Mistress Hermy does not like sharing baby elves with Master Potter, she only says and Winky be forgetting Dobby."

Hermione stared at Winky. She took a deep breath. "All right Winky, you can date Dobby. Please leave us now."

"The same goes for you Dobby." Harry said.

With a pop the two disappeared again.

Hermione turned to Harry. "This is ridiculous. Wizards control elf reproduction!"

"It makes sense that if elves from different families have offspring that that could cause problems. Elves are valuable…" Harry tried to clear up the situation.

"Elves are not valuable, they are sentient beings. You can't put a price on that. They deserve self determination. Your acceptance of this disgusts me" Hermione stormed out of the room without another word. Harry sighted, he had evidently said the wrong thing.

HPU

Harry headed into the Great Hall. Harry was about to begin his breakfast, and after the last long morning workout before the first task, he was ready to eat a horse.

Before he could sit down, Moody pulled him aside. "A moment, Potter."

"Of course professor."

Moody, to no ones surprise, erected some privacy wards.

"What do you know about the first task?"

"Hermione researched a lot, and we know it is going to be some magical animal. Hermione thinks it is a dragon, but we made plans for other beasts as well."

"Good, good. On entirely unrelated notes, do you know the summoning spell?"

"Of course, it's a second year spell."

"Good. Might I suggest that you have your broom handy. Maybe a friend could take it to the arena."

Throughout the conversation, Moody's magical eye spun around. Now he snapped both eyes, magical and normal, to a pair of wizards that just entered the Great Hall. Director Crouch entered with Percy Weasley in tow.

"Ah, Crouch has a new assistant. Weasley seems to be on the rise, from what my old contacts tell me. I wonder where he stands in this whole mess."

Harry looked at him with confusion.

"Anyway, think on what I said." With a flick of his wand he lowered the privacy wards. "See you in class, Potter."

At that moment Crouch and Weasley passed Harry to get to the head tables.

"… is all ready for the big event." Weasley said.

"Thank you Percy. You have done outstanding work. This tournament could not have happened without your help."

"Thank you, sir. It really was nothing." Percy turned red.

"If you want you can sit with your family."

"Excellent idea, sir. I will, after I talk quickly with …" The pair moved out of hearing range.

Harry sat down and finally dug into his breakfast.

'Five days until I face dragons.' Harry thought.

HPU

Harry was just leaving a long class of double portions that Slytherin shared with Gryffindors.

His fists were clenched. His eye lids were compressed into almost slits. With his eyes he stared into the distance, never focusing at anything in particular, but if someone approached him, he just closed his eyes, and shut them out.

Harry had had a hard time eating, even though he knew he needed to.

Lost in his own thoughts he slowly made his way out of the classroom.

Two days until he had to face dragons. Probably.

"Ye' regretting placing ya' name in t'at goblet" Before Harry stood Seamus Finnigan. Unnoticed by Harry, he had lost contact with his Slytherin classmates, and was now surrounded by Gryffindors.

"Don't embarrass Hogwarts too much. Angelina will …"

"A dozen against one, I see real courage there." Suddenly Daphne Greengrass stood besides him.

Out of nowhere, several Slytherins stood besides him. Harry was surprised to see even Malfoy there. House loyalty apparently counted for something. The Gryffindors stepped closer as well.

"Non o' ye business, Greeny. 'M just helping t'e…"

"I don't think your help is appreciated." Greengrass cut in haughtily.

Ron Weasley's face was turning red and he stepped even closer, it looked like he was about to punch Greengrass.

Malfoy looked to his right to Goyle. With his head he pointed him forward.

Goyle stepped in between Weasley and Greengrass, and shoved Weasley back. "Careful, weasel." He muttered. Weasley was almost as tall as Goyle, but only half the weight. He stumbled backwards, into Lavender Brown.

"What is going on here?" The Hufflepuff prefect Cedric Diggory appeared, he quickly looked around. "Go, I'm sure you have better things to do. Harry a quick word with you. Please."

The commotion dissipated.

"I'm sorry about this, Harry. Give it time, the school will come around."

"Sure, they always do." Harry grumbled. "But meanwhile they think I am a liar and a cheat."

"I can't say what the others are thinking, but I believe you. You just need to know, you are not alone. Even outside Slytherin you have friends."

Two more days…

HPU

In the tent outside the Quidditch pitch were four very nervous teenagers. Harry sat close to the entrance of the tent. To distract himself, he observed the other three people in the room.

Johnson paced back and fourth in the center of the room. Anxiety was contorting her face into all sorts of amusing frowns.

Krum leaned against one of the tent poles. His face betrayed no emotion. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be meditating in preparation of the task. His experience in professional Quidditch must help with the nerves, Harry thought.

Delacour was idly flicking her wand. She too betrayed no emotions. Whenever the tent door rustled in the wind, however, she tensed up and glanced at the entrance.

From outside the ten, the exited sounds of the crowd drifted to them. Every other minute, one of the schools would start to chant their school name. Thus the rambunctious crowd could be heard shouting "Beauxbatons" or "Durmstrang." The cheers of the home team were exponentially louder when they intoned the Hogwarts anthem. As in the Welcoming Feast, countless different melodies were used. Harry wondered what their guest made of it.

When their nerves could not be more tense, Bagman entered the tent.

"Here are our Champions. How do you feel? Ready for some Pixies?"

Bagman was alternating between hyperactive excitement and some sort of disappointment.

"In order to convince the Ministry that we are serious about your safety, we have chosen a magical creature that should not deadly, but should still give the crowd some entertainment value. You will be fighting two dozen Amazonian Hive Pixies. You will be fighting new swarms each, so they are all fresh. I must warn you that while they are cousins to our Cornish Pixies, they are a much larger challenge. They possess a sort of unified mind, and can coordinate their attacks as one. Their bite is also poisonous. The poison is not deadly, but will immobilize their victim within three minutes of being bitten. They will be protecting their nest. Underneath the nest is a ring. You are required to get this ring in order to complete this challenge, and then reach the gate at the other end of the stadium. We will now draw lots to determine the order of your challenge."

The four champions each drew a numbered token from a bag.

Johnson was first, then Krum, then Harry. Delacour would be last.

Bagman exited the tent. Harry tried to tune out the crowd. Moody's recommendation of the accio spell and the broom made sense now. With his seeker skills, he could, hopefully, just outfly an angry swarm of coordinated Pixies. Since he had no better plan, he would have to try that. Hermione and he had not planed on Amazonian Hive Pixies.

Relieved that he had at least a plan, Harry noted that Johnson got up. Percy Weasley of all people had gestured her to follow him. They departed, presumably to go to the task.

Outside, the crowd had silenced, Bagman explained the task.

"… and now for the first challenge of the Triwizard Tournament. Our four champions will be fighting Amazonian Hive Pixies."

"Pixies?" A lone voice cried.

"Boo!" The crowd interrupted him collectively.

"I am just as disappointed in this challenge as you, but they are far more dangerous than their Cornish cousins."

"Boo!"

Someone must have cast privacy wards around their tent, because after this the noise from outside muffled. Harry started to now pace back and forth.

The minutes slowly ticked past. Harry resorted to Occlumency exercises to calm down. An indeterminable amount of time later Viktor Krum vanished.

Then Percy Weasley motioned to Harry to follow him.

Harry left the tent, and pursued Weasley into a tunnel underneath the bleachers. Time seemed to have stopped to a halt.

They walked to the other end of the tunnel, and waited just before the exit to the arena.

"Now our youngest champion, from Hogwarts, Harry Potter!" Bagman announced.

Harry stepped out of the tunnel, into the arena.

A.N. I know, no dragons for this story. I decided to try to make up three new tasks for this story. I know that is not the norm, but hopefully it'll be still interesting. As faras Mafalda is concerned, I should probably have gotten her abducted sooner, but finally it is here.

I have been reading The Cupboard Series by Stargon1. I would recommend it, it is the first seven year redo series that I have actually seen finished. It is done well. If you know of another series like that, could you share in a comment? I would be curious to know.