A/N
Not an easy chapter to write!
I certainly enjoyed it though.
TBR
Chapter 9: The Second Task
For the second time in as many days, Harry awoke with a comfortable weight settled over him. Shifting as carefully as he could so not to disturb the still sleeping metamorph, he slid from underneath her and pulled on his exercise clothing.
"So that's how it is," the sleepy voice of Tonks teased. "I never took you for the type to get what you want and then leave without even a goodbye."
"Sorry," Harry mumbled, "I didn't want to disturb you."
Tonks raised a brow as she stared at him through her heavy-lidded eyes.
"It's fine," she huffed mockingly. "Just leave poor me here in the cold whilst you go gallivanting off."
Harry chuckled.
"Oh, you're so hard done by," he sighed as he shook his head. "What about if I promise to come back tonight?" he asked hopefully.
Tonks pretended to think it over before nodding.
"It will do, but you have a lot of making up to do," she warned, "how dare you just leave me here."
Harry smirked and kissed her softly.
"I'll miss you," he whispered.
"Me too," she returned with a smile. "Now, get out, you've disturbed my sleep enough," she grumbled as she turned away from him.
Harry muttered under his breath as he exited and made his way to the seventh-floor corridor where he was due to meet Leo and Charlie.
He arrived to find the former, awake and alert, as was his way. Years of regimented schooling had taken its toll on him and even after having graduated months ago, he was still a very early riser, unless he'd been drinking.
"Morning," Leo greeted him chirpily. "Sleep well?"
The look of amusement and lilt in his tone caused Harry to narrow his eyes at the boy. He must have tried to wake him before making his way here, only to find his bed empty, it was the only reason that he would be wearing that idiotic grin.
"Shut up," Harry growled.
"I'm not judging," Leo insisted, holding his hands up innocently. "You were noticeably absent from your room and it doesn't take a genius to figure out where you were."
"Thankfully for you," Harry retorted.
Leo clutched his chest dramatically.
"Oh, that was very unkind," he sighed.
Harry shook his head as a portrait of a rather voluptuous woman opened and revealed a barely awake Charlie who stumbled out of the hole.
"Morning, little Potter," Leo greeted him loudly as he slapped him smartly on the back.
Charlie groaned.
"Does he have to be so loud?" he whined
Harry snorted.
"You'll be wishing he was so cheery soon enough," he laughed.
"Aye," Leo agreed, "now, it's time to get moving. On the double he commanded," as he began jogging down the corridor.
"How the bloody hell does he have so much energy? He's worse than Fred and George," Charlie complained as he followed the departing boy.
"Stop whinging," Leo called back, "I could always put some gravel in your shoes," he offered. "That will give you something to moan about."
Charlie grimaced at the thought and kept his mouth shut. He had a feeling that he was not going to enjoy this as much as he first thought.
(BREAK)
An hour later, a breathless, hunched over Charlie fought to regain his breath as his chest burned and head swam from the arduous run he had endured. He glared balefully at the two other boys, neither even having appeared to break a sweat as they stretched and chatted away amiably whilst he struggled to even breathe without feeling as though his lungs were on fire.
"Not bad," Leo praised. "It will get easier the more you do it."
"Up yours," Charlie bit back breathlessly eliciting a laugh from the others.
"I will let that one slide," Leo replied with a slight frown. "Any more lip from you lad and I will show you how respect and discipline was taught to me."
Charlie flinched and nodded apologetically.
"Good, now come along," Leo urged, "you belong to me for another two hours yet."
Charlie sighed as he followed the pair into an abandoned classroom on the third floor and stood as straight as he could whilst waiting for the next part of his training to begin.
"We will be working on some magic but for the most part, we will be teaching you how to survive without it," Leo explained. "Get your shield out," he instructed.
Charlie removed the coppery bangle from his wrist and enlarged it into the circular construct. It was not as large as he expected but was weighty and thick.
"You will learn to do that quicker," Leo insisted. "You need to have that up as though it was your pecker on a promise."
Charlie flushed as he nodded.
"It's heavy," he complained.
"Aye, so get used to it on both arms until it feels like it is a part of you," Leo advised. "For you, it could the most important thing you own, so take care of it."
"So, how do I use it?" Charlie asked, feeling foolish as soon as the words left his mouth.
"It's bloody useful, lad," Leo explained, "but it has its limits, so pay attention," he said firmly. "First thing is that it is useless against the unforgivables. The nature of the magic will rip through that like it wasn't there. It's technically a magical shield as it has been enchanted. It is the magic that protects and hold it together but certain magic will affect it. Equally, a powerful enough Blasting Curse will destroy it, so that is why we will teach make you as agile as a cat. You should always dodge if you can and use the shield only if you can't."
Charlie frowned but nodded his understanding.
"So, what can it defend against?" he asked.
"Most things," Leo answered as he scratched his chin. "Just avoid the unforgivables and anything that damages a wide area," he instructed. "It will eventually fail if it is used too much and not given sufficient time to recharge."
"Okay," Charlie replied.
It would certainly be worth learning to use if it could defend him against any kind of attack without him having to deplete his limited reserves.
"Pass it to Harry and we will give you a quick demonstration before we start teaching you how to use it correctly," Leo commanded.
Charlie handed the shield to his brother and stepped back as the two faced off. Leo drew his wand and waited for Harry to give him a nod.
With a speed and ferocity he did not expect, Leo unleashed a barrage of curses he had never seen nor heard of and it did not help that he did not utter a single word. Harry, seemingly undeterred by the attack, began dodging and blocking as though the colourful spells were nothing more than a tickling hex. Charlie had his doubts. The dull thud they emitted when they rung against the shield was enough to force him to cover his ears and, if that wasn't enough, the deep cuts and scorch marks in the walls and floor left him feeling nervous for the safety of his brother.
"As you can see," Leo spoke, his casting continuing as seamlessly as ever, "when the shield is held stationary, it will absorb the spell but you can also use it to deflect," he explained as Harry demonstrated, sending the spell back towards Leo who simply turned his head slightly to avoid it. "Any questions?" he asked.
Charlie shook his head, his awe at the two leaving him lost for words.
"Good," Leo replied, "we will start simple and build you up and when we feel that you are making enough progress, we will teach you to fight back without even having to raise your wand. I hope you're ready, little Potter, the next months are going to be the hardest of your life."
Charlie audibly gulped as Harry handed him back the shield and gave him a nod of encouragement.
(BREAK)
Within what seemed only a blink of an eye, the moon had both waned and waxed and January gave way to February and the fast approaching second task.
Harry could not be prouder of the dedication that his little brother was showing towards his training, despite how difficult he knew it was for the boy. Leo had high expectations and Charlie did all he could to reach them. He had struggled throughout the first few weeks as expected, but when he had grown accustomed to the work, he began to show great improvement. His stamina from being pushed through several runs a week, coupled with the strenuous workouts he was put through and his constant practice with the shield was paying dividends.
In the past week, they had begun teaching him hand-to-hand combat and though he was not particularly gifted in the art, his dedication and motivation would see him make the necessary strides. The boy had left battered and bruised after each session but never missed the next day, something that even Leo would praise, though not openly in front of their student.
He was pleased with the progress but the training of his brother was not at the forefront of his mind. His focus was solely on the upcoming second task of the tournament.
He was as ready as he could be. His plan had been long since formulated and though it was rather simplistic, his approach would certainly be remembered, though he was still not comfortable that the judges intended on having live hostages.
Over the past weeks, he had scoured the lake and had even located the Mermish Village within its depths but he couldn't help but think that so many things could go wrong. The creatures within the lake could pose a problem if one was not vigilant but they were mostly pests in comparison to what he had faced. Something just felt off.
He had voiced his concerns to everyone and insisted they remain alert during the lead up to the task, to the point that he had even accosted James Potter in the corridor to ensure he kept Charlie close by in the days leading up to the task.
Tonks too had been warned though she had been rather flippant in her response as he had expected. She was certainly not one to be coddled and she had no problem showing him that.
He shook his head of his thoughts as he focused on the breakfast he had no appetite for.
He had remained in his own rooms last night as Tonks had been called in for a meeting with the rest of the auror department to discuss security for the day, and thus, he had not slept well. He had become too used to her bed and her form pressed up against him.
"Are you ready for today?" Sirius asked as he took a seat opposite and helped himself to some porridge.
Harry nodded.
"Something doesn't feel right," he mumbled.
"We are all here and safe," Sirius reminded him.
"I know, I just have a feeling that something is going to happen," Harry sighed.
"Just focus on the task," Sirius advised, "We will keep watch on everything else."
"Aye," Leo yawned as he entered the room from his own. "If anything goes wrong, send us a signal and we will be right there," he assured his friend.
Harry nodded gratefully, though the feeling continued to weigh heavily.
With the time of the task drawing nearer, he mentally repeated his plan as he took stock of everything he would need, his wand most of all. He had already put on his black swimming shorts below his clothes, affixed two enchanted blades to his legs and even a disillusioned pouch full of potions around his neck. His heir ring had multiple Tracking Charms imbued into it and it also served as an emergency portkey that would take him directly to as close to his Grandfather as any wards would allow. He was as prepared as he could be, but still the feeling of something inevitably going amiss remained.
With his final checks completed, he gave Sirius a nod and with Leo, Aunt Cassie and Arcturus in tow, they left their quarters and made their way towards the lake where the stands were already full of spectators and the other three champions had been assembled on a pontoon a distance away from the shore.
"Remember, signal if anything goes wrong," Leo reminded him as he was pulled into a tight embrace by the boy.
"I will," Harry assured him.
"Good luck, Harry," Cassie whispered as she followed suit.
"Hold nothing back and do whatever is necessary to come out of there," Arcturus advised. "Show them all the kind of Lord Black you are."
"I will," Harry replied firmly.
Sirius by now had paled almost as much as he had at the prospect of his son facing a dragon. He gripped his shoulder tightly, his hand trembling.
"The first sign of trouble, you get out of there," he almost pleaded.
Harry gave him a smile as he shook his head.
"You know I don't have it in me to quit," he returned with a shrug. "I'm a Black, Dad, we always persevere."
Sirius snorted humourlessly and gave his son a hug.
"You make us all proud every day, Harry," he croaked.
Harry shook his head as he turned and made his way towards the lake of. Stripping off, he ignored the catcalls and whistles coming from the assembled crowd and the following flashes of cameras being used. Without looking back, he cast a warming charm and waded into the lake. Even through the charm the chill of the water reached though he could not be sure if it was indeed the water or the grave expressions of the other champions as he approached.
"Ahh, excellent," Bagman declared as Harry pulled himself atop the wooden platform. "Now that Mr Black is here, we can begin the briefing," he announced, the other judges seemingly content to let the man take the lead.
He coughed to clear his throat before continuing, his brow perspiring as he looked upon the very unhappy champions before him.
"Your task is simple. Each of you have a hostage in the lake and the only thing you have to do, is retrieve them within the one hour allotted time limit," he explained, the mood of the champions unchanging. "Mr Krum will rescue Miss Granger. Mr Diggory, Miss Chang awaits you," he added turning his attention to the Hogwarts representative. "Miss Delacour, your younger sister…"
Fleur let out a choked sob.
"And Mr Black, Miss Tonks…"
His next words were cut off as Harry seized the man tightly around the throat and pointed his wand between his eyes, his own an emerald inferno boring into the now fearful cerulean. The teen paid no heed to the other judges as they drew their own and aimed them towards him.
"You had no right," Harry hissed furiously.
"She volunteered, Mr Black," Dumbledore thundered, his usual calmness all but absent, his wand levelled and ready to use.
"Go ahead, Dumbledore," Harry spat, "show everyone the man you really are."
With a growl, he shoved Bagman off the pontoon, his focus solely on the Hogwarts Headmaster.
"I didn't think so," he snarled as the old man replaced his wand up his sleeve. "If I find out that she was forced into this or if she is harmed in any way, I will fucking gut every last one of you," he vowed. "Now, start the task."
"The announcements can wait until the task has started," Dumbledore conceded. "We will be discussing your conduct, Harry," he assured the boy.
Harry simply sneered at the man and ground his teeth in preparation, all plans he had made completely forgotten. He wanted her out of the water as soon as possible and he knew just the way to do it.
"THE TASK WILL BEGIN AT THE SOUND OF THE CLAXON," Dumbledore announced, his voice having been amplified in the interim.
The very second the signal sounded, Harry cast a Feather-light Charm on himself and propelled himself forward and into the air with a series of Banishing Charms, leaving a stunned crowd in his wake. To most, it would appear that he was flying; it was as close as one could come without a broom beneath them The magic itself was simple but it had taken him a lot of practise to perfect and many close-calls, though now his efforts were not in vain. In a matter of moments, he dropped the spell and plummeted into the icy water below.
It wasn't until he had descended a considerable distance that he remembered to apply a bubble-head charm, not the most enduring method for breathing underwater, but it would have to suffice. He had neither the patience nor time for anything else.
Making his way further into the murky depths that were now familiar, he knew that he was close to the village. His senses were on high alert for any creatures that could pose a problem to his progress, though everything was eerily quiet. Even as the dwelling came into view, there was no sign of anything. It was as though the Merepeople had simply vanished. His thoughts quickly shifted as he spotted four figures lashed to a large statue, each unmoving, bobbing slightly with the current.
Without wasting a moment, he approached them, still acutely aware of the heavy feeling in his stomach. As Bagman had explained, Hermione, Chang and the younger Delacour were there along with Tonks and he knew immediately something was wrong.
They were all considerably paler in the dim waters but Tonks was deathly white. His heart sunk as he reached her and noticed an almost black fluid trickling from her nose and mouth. Desperately, so not to wound her further, he drew one of his knives and began hacking at her bindings only to be halted by a sudden firm grip on his wrist.
He turned to find himself face to face with a Merman, his eyes panicked as he began gesturing frantically. Harry knew not what the creature was trying to say and was about to proceed in his efforts to free the metamorph when the being started shaking him with one hand and pointing over his shoulder with the other.
For a moment, he believed that it was the rest of the champions arriving to secure their own hostage. Those notions disappeared when he counted at least a score of figures approaching with wands drawn.
Quickly, he resumed his work and managed to cut away most of the ropes before he felt a searing pain erupt across his shoulders. With a hiss of pain, he retaliated with a Severing Curse that almost cleaved one of the attackers in two, a crimson stream of blood leaking from the now exposed guts of the man.
Undeterred, the others pressed forward and began firing a myriad of spells at him and he was forced to shield both himself and the hostages. Gritting his teeth, he dropped it in a sudden lull and fired back with a plethora of his own curses, several men and women becoming limp as they impacted against them. The odds, however, were not in his favour. Another spell clipped his side and another wave of pain washed over him but it only served to anger him further. He cared not for why they were attacking him, his thoughts remained with the woman now precariously tied to the statue, the unsightly liquid still oozing from her.
A flurry of movement from the corner of his eye revealed a swarm of Merepeople, many of whom were sporting fresh injuries of their own from a previous skirmish. Their tridents and shields were drawn and they fell upon the attackers, giving Harry a much-needed reprieve.
One of the creatures stopped and began pointing to him and then at the surface to which Harry nodded gratefully. He had Tonks free only a moment later and he pushed hard off the bottom of the lake with her firmly in his arms as he fired an overpowered Concussion Jinx and a cascade of boiling water in the midst of the witches and wizards before he used his wand to propel them towards the surface and their escape.
(BREAK)
Leo, along with the rest of the Blacks situated themselves in the stands reserved for the family of the competing students and was soon after joined by Katie who took a seat next to him.
"How is he?" she questioned.
"Oh, shit," Leo gasped as he witnessed Harry seizing Bagman by the throat, the rest of the crowd whispering amongst themselves about the display.
"Get down there," Arcturus instructed him as the man was shoved into the lake as Harry turned his apparent ire towards Dumbledore.
With a nod, he vaulted over the barricade and reached the group as Harry took off into the sky above.
"What the hell happened?" he questioned the judges.
Dumbledore sighed as he shook his head.
"Mr Black has taken issue with the hostage that was selected for him to rescue," the old man explained.
Knowing that only one person was absent that would cause such a reaction from his friend, Leo snorted irritably.
"You put Tonks in the lake?" he questioned, his own hand twitching towards his wand.
"With her permission," Crouch interjected.
Leo shook his head and chuckled ruefully.
"You had better hope for your sakes that is the truth," he warned before turning his attention to the currently peaceful lake lapping at the shore, the words of the headmaster to the crowd nothing but white noise in his ears.
Harry would be furious when he emerged from there, though he felt no pity for who would be on the receiving end of it. It was deserved as far as he was concerned.
"What's going on?" the voice of Sirius broke him from his thoughts.
"Tonks is in there," Leo replied shortly as he pointed to the body of water.
"Bastards," Sirius hissed angrily as he glared in the direction of the judges.
"Harry will get her out," Arcturus placated as he joined them. "If he doesn't, then I would not want to be in their shoes."
Leo nodded as Katie threaded her arm through his own and joined him in his vigil, watching for any sign that anything was amiss.
What could only have been a few minutes later the surface broke and a mass of silver hair could be seen as the French champion approached, her usually immaculate tresses partly stained a coppery red. Even before she reached them, she began shouting hysterically in her native language as she clutched her wound and waded towards them.
"What's happening?" Leo asked a very pale Madame Maxime who was attempting to calm the distraught girl.
"She says there are lots of people in there who shouldn't be. They attacked her," the large woman explained.
Without hesitation, Leo began stripping off his clothes until he was left in only his underwear and flicked his wand in his hand.
"Ma Soeur, Ma Soeur," the Delacour girl pleaded with him as she dug her nails sharply into his arm.
Leo nodded in understanding as he turned to Sirius who too had stripped off.
"Let's go," he commanded before he plunged himself into the frigid lake, followed by both Sirius and Dumbledore a moment later.
He forced himself deeper and further into the abyss looking for any sign of life or anything that could show him where he needed to be. He felt a gentle tap on his shoulder and was greeted by the grave visage of the Hogwarts Headmaster who pointed slightly to their right. He gave the man a stiff nod and headed in that direction, his eyes slowly adjusting to the lack of light.
After what seemed like an eternity, he saw the unmistakable signs of spell-fire ahead and pushed himself harder to reach it. What he came upon was the Hogwarts and Durmstrang Champion attempting to fend off a group of wizards and witches that seemed determined to prevent them proceeding any closer to the village a short distance away in which another battle seemed to be taking place between the Merepeople and another host of invaders.
He felt another, more frantic tapping on his shoulder and turned to find Sirius gesturing between himself and the headmaster, indicating that the two of them would assist the champions.
Understanding that he had been tasked with aiding the Merepeople, he shot off in the direction of the Village and engaged the smaller group there. Three fell to his wand before they knew he was there and two more followed before any had the chance to respond. To their own detriment, the remaining half dozen or so turned their attention to him, only for the Merepeple to seize the advantage and impale them with their tridents.
Seeing that Sirius and Dumbledore had their situation under control also, he held up his hands in what he hoped was a peaceful manner towards the Merepeople before pointing to the hostages and then in an upwards direction. A large male, perhaps their leader, nodded and followed him towards the statue.
Seeing that only three were there, Leo held up four fingers questioningly and the creature pointed towards the surface. He sighed in relief as he began untying the diminutive blonde girl from the post only to be interrupted by the arrival of a patronus in the form of a Hydra.
"They all have to die. Kill all the attackers," the desperate voice of Harry instructed.
Knowing that his friend would not give such an order without good reason and the uncharacteristically frantic nature of his tone, he hurried towards Dumbledore and Sirius who had now managed to either subdue or kill the people they had been battling with. The latter was the first to notice his approach and Leo pointed at the two men and one woman that had survived and drew a finger across his own throat to signal his intentions.
Sirius frowned at him so Leo fired his own patronus to explain before carrying out his instructions and sending a series of Severing Curses at the trio. The Headmaster turned towards him furiously and Leo shook his head in response. The man only calmed when Sirius stood in front of him and did the same, motioning for the man to go back to land.
With his grisly job done, the younger of the three headed back to the statue where the other two hostages had already been liberated and pulled the little girl into his arms before beginning his own return journey, hoping that none of his efforts had been for naught.
He was not averse to killing if it was necessary, but it was not and never would be something he would revel in.
(BREAK)
Thankfully, Harry and Tonks emerged not too far away from the shore as he was loath to expose her to any more magic in her current state, which only worsened the moment whatever charm she had been under to breath underwater fell. She began to convulse in his arms and it took all of his strength to hold her as he kicked his legs until he felt the water was shallow enough to continue on foot.
"HELP HER," he shouted as he carried her from the lake and laid her as gently as he could on the floor.
Arcturus and Cassiopeia were the first to reach them, followed shortly by Madame Pomfrey who sprung into action immediately and began casting Diagnosis Charms. All the while, Harry clung to one of her hands at a loss with what to do, willing the woman to just hold on.
"I don't know what is wrong," Pomfrey declared worriedly. "It's a curse of some sort but nothing I have ever seen before."
Cassiopeia shoved the woman aside and took her place, muttering under her breath as she ran her wand along the still twitching form of the metamorph.
"Come on, Dora, please," Harry whispered, his grip on her hand tightening.
"I've got it," Aunt Cassie exclaimed triumphantly, though her expression was grim. "She has had a very obscure Binding Curse placed on her. It was something that former slave masters used to bind the life force of their slaves to them," she explained. "It drains the magic from the slave and feeds it directly to the master."
"How do we break it?" Harry questioned desperately.
"The master is the only one that can break it unless they or the victim is killed," Cassie sighed apologetically.
Harry shook his head in denial.
"You must be able to do something," he said hotly.
As he spoke, the convulsions worsened, the young woman was now moaning inaudibly as the blackened fluid slowly began to stem. Soon after, the form she had adopted for the day morphed into the woman that Harry shared a bed with, the one she reserved only for him.
"Her magic is fading," Cassie groaned. "If we can slow that down, I may be able to locate the master," she mused aloud.
"Do what you have to," Arcturus instructed. "Harry, you need to calm down and gently push your magic into her. Can you do that?"
Harry nodded through the tears that had formed and took a deep breath before doing as he was bid.
Immediately, the black fluid began oozing once again but Harry continued his efforts, muttering under his breath words of encouragement that were falling on deaf ears.
"They're in the lake," the voice of his Aunt disrupted him.
He looked between the woman in his arms and the water, torn between what he should do.
"Leo and Sirius are both in there," Arcturus informed him. "You need to keep doing what you're doing."
Harry nodded, sent off a hurried patronus and internally pleaded that this would not be the one time his friend would let him down. After a few minutes, though it could have been an hour, the girl inhaled deeply as her eyes fluttered open before she fell limp.
Harry swallowed deeply as he cupped her cheek with his free hand and choked back a sob of relief as he felt her shallow breathing. He pulled her too him tightly and buried his head in her neck, uncaring that everyone could see him. He was too relieved to be angry but he knew that would come the moment he knew that she would be okay.
"Come on, Harry," Cassie encouraged gently. "Let the healer do her job."
Harry nodded as he released Tonks to Madame Pomfrey's care, his eyes not straying from the girl he had almost lost.
He was pulled from his reverie by the sound of raised voices and turned to witness a heated exchange between Sirius and Dumbledore who were emerging from the lake, with Diggory and Krum not far behind with their hostages.
"We had them bound, Sirius," Dumbledore seethed. "What he did was unnecessary."
Sirius shook his head but his reply was cut off by the shouting of the French Champion in her mother tongue. The girl fought ferociously against her Headmistress who was attempting to prevent her from jumping back in the water. The reasons for her action became clear as Leo approached with a small girl wrapped around his upper body, neither seeming to be worse for wear physically.
He gave Harry a single, grim nod as he passed, only to be intercepted by the furious Hogwarts Headmaster.
"You will explain your actions, young man," he demanded.
Leo shook his head as he returned the glare of the old mage, adjusting the now cowering girl in his arms so that she was sat more comfortably.
"You think I enjoyed what happened down there?" he hissed angrily.
"I told him to do it," Harry broke in. "Because of your stupidity in using live hostages, her life was in danger," he spat as he pointed at the unconscious metamorph. "Had he not killed the people that attacked us, then it would be her dead and that would be on all of your hands."
Dumbledore frowned in confusion and Harry held up a hand to silence any rebuke.
"It was an ancient Binding Curse," Cassiopeia interjected. "The person she was bound to was in the lake. They had to die so that the curse could be broken and we had no time for your morals, Dumbledore."
The man sagged defeatedly.
"They attacked us, and they paid the price," Harry ground out. "Had they not, then it would have been innocent blood on our hands rather than that of our enemy."
Dumbledore shook his head.
"A thorough investigation will have to take place as to how this occurred," he muttered. "For now, we will suspend the scoring until we have concluded what happened here," he added before walking towards the other judges.
Harry shook his head darkly and shared a look with his grandfather.
"We will be having a family meeting as soon as you are available," Arcturus announced. "Stay with her, Harry. She is a target now just as much as you."
Harry nodded and followed Madame Pomfrey as she levitated a less pallid Tonks towards the school.
"You go with him, Sirius," Leo sighed. "I'll deal with everything here and let you know what happens."
Sirius nodded gratefully as he followed his son and cousin.
"You did well, Leo," Arcturus praised.
Cassiopeia nodded her agreement as Leo shook his head.
"I did what was necessary," he sighed as he turned his attention towards the impatiently waiting French Champion and another woman who could only be her mother.
"She's okay," he assured the worrying pair. "A little shaken up but she will be fine."
"Zhank you," Fleur whispered as she pried her sister from his arms.
"Oui," her mother added, "I cannot repay you for what you have done for us today."
Leo shook his head.
"She's an innocent girl, she had no business being there," he sighed.
"Oui, Madame Maxime will be certainly receiving a visit from my 'Usband," Mrs Delacour vowed as she checked on the state of her youngest.
Leo smiled slightly as he left them only to feel the wind being knocked out of him by a worried Katie as she wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm okay," he assured her as he returned the gesture. "I just need a little time alone."
Katie nodded and gave him a chaste kiss and smile before she joined her friends and the rest of the crowd that were already heading back towards the castle.
He himself avoided the throngs of people and retrieved his clothing from the edge of the lake where they had been left. He dressed himself and walked towards the forest, his intention to seek solace in the one constant he'd had over the years.
Despite the reasoning behind it, taking a life never sat well with him. He would be okay eventually, this he knew.
Now, however, he wanted the company of his faithful companion, some time away from everyone else.
(BREAK)
For the best part of two days, Tonks remained unmoving in the Hospital Wing. She showed signs of continuous improvement but she had yet woken. Sirius had informed Andi and Ted of what had happened and they had both spent most of the two days with her. The one person who refused to leave her side, however, was Harry.
No matter how often Madame Pomfrey offered her assurances or Sirius suggested it, he would not leave. He remained in the chair by her bed, bleary-eyed and contemplative.
The investigation into what had happened was ongoing and the DMLE were firmly involved due to the fatalities. Harry didn't care why it had happened although he had a very good idea who was behind it.
"Come on, Harry," Andromeda Tonks called as she entered the Hospital Wing and approached the bed. "You need to get some fresh air, some food and a wash," she instructed, her nose wrinkled in displeasure.
"I'm fine, Mrs Tonks," he insisted.
Andromeda giggled.
"Oh, you're under the impression that it was a request," she said sweetly as she patted his cheek. "It wasn't, so you had better get a move on."
Harry frowned at the woman. She was much more a Black than he had expected. That tone was the very same one Aunt Cassie used when she was close to losing her temper and then he knew he would be in trouble.
"Please, Harry," Andromeda continued with a pleading look. "If she wakes whilst you are gone, I will send for you straight away," she promised.
Harry deflated but nodded.
"Okay," he relented, "but I want to know the minute she's awake."
Andromeda nodded and watched as he left, a sad smile playing on her lips.
"Oh, Dora," she whispered as she stroked her daughter's hair, "I doubt even he knows how bad he has it."
(BREAK)
Harry sighed contentedly as he turned off the shower and dried himself off. Physically, the food and the cleansing had worked wonders for him and being rid of the dank stench of the lake was a welcome novelty. Physically, he felt better, aesthetically, was another matter entirely.
He was exhausted. He had barely slept since pulling Tonks from the lake and when he did, he w right back at the edge of it again. The bags under his eyes were prominent, his skin pale and drawn and the irises of his orbs considerably duller.
With a shake of his head, he cast a few glamours to hide the trauma, the knit skin across his shoulders and side pulling tight as he raised his wand, a reminder that he had not escaped unscathed.
To him, it was unimportant. The only thing that mattered was the woman lying prone a few corridors away because of the actions of other people. Still, his anger remained subdued, but it was there. He could feel it boiling beneath the surface of his calm exterior.
He dressed himself in a pair of jeans and a green woollen jumper before pulling on a pair of boots and a jacket. The weather outside would still be bitingly cold but he needed some air. Breathing in potion fumes and the like for the past two days had done little for him.
He inhaled deeply as he exited the castle, the cold air burning his nose and lungs slightly, but it was invigorating. Having no desire to be anywhere near the lake, he headed to the main courtyard and took a few turns around it. The students were all in class so he was able to enjoy the peace of isolation and took the time to work on his Occlumency. He was upset by what had happened and his façade had momentarily cracked under what had happened. He knew that he had to gather himself because sooner rather than later, he would have to face the judges and he would need a clear mind to explain exactly what had happened.
Still, he hoped that they would see fit to disqualify him, for his sake as well as anyone else's involvement. It was clear now that it was not only him in danger.
He had his doubts, however. Dumbledore seemed determined for him to remain as long as possible, even if that meant endangering others. That was a man he could not understand. His outward demeanour would suggest that he was a wise, infallible and amiable man. His experience of him, contradicted this entirely.
Dumbledore had proven himself to be nothing more than a manipulative and interfering burden, one that seemingly believed what the naïve people that followed his lead spewed about him.
"If only they knew," he muttered as he headed back inside the castle.
He had no intention of revealing the man's nature, he knew his words would only fall on deaf ears and only result in him coming across as a petty, jealous liar. For as much as he despised the man, Dumbledore had cultivated beneficial relationships and his reputation was nigh on untouchable with most. He was on a pedestal that many could only ever hope to achieve a fraction of the height of. Though Harry had no doubt that he would be there one day, his life and career was only just in its' infancy.
"There you are," Sirius sighed in relief as the man happened upon him on the second floor.
"Is it Tonks?" Harry questioned immediately.
"No," Sirius replied apologetically. "We have all been summoned for a meeting in Dumbledore's office," he explained.
Harry nodded.
"Let's go then and see what excuses he has come up with for his laxity."
"Leo has been summoned also, so we need to get him," Sirius replied as the two made their way on to the third floor and into their rooms.
They found the other boy sat at the table, his own appearance more tousled than usual, his eyes puffy from a lack of sleep.
"It's time," Sirius informed him.
Leo nodded as he stood and stretched.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked his friend.
"Aye," Leo answered, "I just haven't slept much."
"I know the feeling," Harry snorted. "Come on, let's get this over with."
The trio exited the room and made the short trip to the Headmaster's office. The Gargoyle sprang aside at their approach and Harry knocked on the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore called.
The three of them entered to find the room filled almost to capacity. The judges and all three other champions were there along with several other Ministry officials, including the Minister himself who looked decidedly uncomfortable, even with the presence of Lucius Malfoy.
"Please take a seat, gentlemen," Dumbledore offered.
Sirius and Leo sat either side of him, ignoring the looks sent their way as they waited for the Headmaster to begin. As the hosting school, it was his responsibility to address anything regarding the tournament.
"For the past two days, myself and the other judges with the assistance of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement have been carrying out an investigation to ascertain what occurred during the second task," he began tiredly. "I will leave it to Madame Bones to explain what we found."
The woman in question cleared her throat, her stony gaze sweeping across the room.
"We do not know how the attackers got into the lake. We can only assume that someone in the school granted them access. The main concern however is that the bodies we recovered showed signs of the Imperius Curse. The men and women that attacked, did not do so of their own will."
A moment of muttering followed her statement and she cleared her throat once more.
"With that being said, the checking of the wands revealed the nature of the spells used and we have deemed that the action taken by those that engaged them, was justified. The fact that the life of one of my aurors was saved only justifies the DMLE's stance on this," she finished and retook her seat.
"Surely, you jest, Amelia," the Minister blustered disbelievingly. "Those people were outright slain by the actions of those three," he added pointing towards Sirius, Leo and Harry.
"Self-defence, Fudge," Harry returned, his nostrils flaring. "Those people attempted to harm not only the champions and hostages, but they also attacked the Merepeople. Whether or not it was against their will, they still did it. As a master of how the Imperius Curse works, you should know."
Fudge frowned.
"I am no master in the subject," he denied heatedly.
"And yet, you were so willing to pardon people who claimed they were under it during Voldemort's uprising," Harry chided. "Thank you for explaining the fact that you were not qualified to do so," he offered with a mocking bow.
Malfoy was almost purple with rage and Harry could have sworn he saw the usually stern Madame Bones hide a grin.
Fudge sputtered before managing to compose himself.
"We are not here to discuss the Dark Lord," he seethed. "We are here to discuss your conduct."
"Ahh, so you are going to try and blame us for this whole debacle, how convenient for you, you suited monkey," Harry growled. "It wasn't us that were lax with the security of the event. It wasn't any of us that cast the Imperius Curse and it was not any of us that attacked innocent people and creatures," he spat as he rose to his feet, the anger he had held at bay now surging. "I would suggest that you look in the right place to lay blame, Fudge."
By now, he was mere inches away from the Minister who was trembling under the onslaught.
"Harry," Sirius called, "we don't want the Minister soiling himself."
Several people in the room stifled their laughter as Harry bared his teeth and backed away.
"Pathetic," he mumbled as he took his seat.
"Although, I do not agree with his vitriol, Mr Black does have a point," Dumbledore sighed. "The three of them simply defended themselves as did the other champions. The only person that can be held responsible, is the person that instigated the incident."
"And I suppose we have no idea who that is?" Sirius replied knowingly.
"No, we do not," Dumbledore sighed. "However, the investigation will continue," he assured the man.
"And what of the tournament?" a man asked, his accent heavily French.
"The tournament will proceed but due to the circumstances of the second task, security will be tightened and we have elected not to score each champion on their performance. The scores from the first task will stand and that is what will influence the beginning of the third and final task," Barty Crouch explained.
The man nodded, though it was with reluctance. It seemed that he too was hoping that the tournament would be called off.
A small crack echoed throughout the room as a house elf appeared in front of Harry.
"Mr Black, Sir, Mrs Tonks asked Golly to tell you Miss Tonks is awakes, Sir," the creature informed him with a bow.
Without a thought, Harry shot to his feet and sprinted from the office.
"Is there anything else?" Sirius questioned.
Dumbledore shook his head, his contemplative eyes still on the door the teen just exited.
"No, nothing else, for now. The third task will take place on the 26th of June. More details will be given to the champions closer to the time," he explained.
Sirius nodded and himself and Leo left the office, followed strangely by Madame Bones.
"He's turning into quite the man that son of yours," she said with a shake of her head.
Sirius grinned.
"He is," he concurred. "I really though Fudge was going to wet himself."
Amelia snorted slightly.
"We need more people like him," she sighed. "Far too many are happy to allow the Minister his whims and haven't got the guts to go against him."
"Go against Malfoy, you mean," Sirius replied.
Amelia nodded.
"Exactly," she agreed. "Even James Potter doesn't bother with the Wizengamot. I had high hopes for him and for you when you were younger."
"I'm no politician," Sirius denied.
"I think the last thing we need is more of those," Amelia returned. "We need someone who is not afraid to voice their opinions and someone who doesn't care about ruffling a few feathers when needed. Your Grandfather used to do that. Since he has been gone, the vermin have taken over."
Sirius nodded.
"Grandfather doesn't give a damn anymore. It's like he says, it is a game for younger men than he," he shrugged.
"Well, I hope one day someone will come along and shake things up. If it isn't Malfoy getting his way, it's Albus and his lot," Amelia sighed.
"They either worship the old bastard or are scared of Malfoy," Leo broke in. "He's nothing but a shite."
Amelia shook her head.
"True, but it won't change until either one of them are gone."
"Aye, both of them would be better," Leo smirked.
"Maybe," Amelia responded. "Anyway, it is the health of my auror that concerns me the most. I will see you later, Sirius," she said with a smile before she turned down an adjoining corridor.
Leo frowned.
"Is there something going on between you two?" he asked.
Sirius shook his head.
"No," he denied with a grin. "She was a few years older than us at school. Oh, don't get me wrong, I tried but Amelia Bones didn't fall for my charm," he grumbled.
Leo chuckled.
"I don't know, Sirius. It might have just taken a couple of decades to work," he quipped before he continued walking.
Sirius shook his head at the boy.
"Cheeky git," he muttered.
(BREAK)
She opened her eyes with a groan, her body equally weak as she was sore. The smell was the first thing she recognised having been a frequent visitor here during her younger years. The stark whiteness of the walls and ceiling and the crispness of the sheets she found herself wrapped in only added credence to her first observation.
But why was she here in the Hospital Wing?
"Oh, Dora, thank Merlin."
She frowned at the voice of her mother and groaned once more when she felt familiar arms wrap tightly around.
"Mum?" she croaked, "what's going on?"
She was confused. She could vaguely remember speaking to Barty Crouch and could even swear she had heard Harry whispering to her, but little else. She should have woken the moment she was pulled from the lake, that is what she had been told. The fact that she was dry and in bed meant that either Harry failed, or something must have gone wrong.
The thought caused her stomach to sink.
"Harry?" she questioned, panic beginning to settle in.
"Harry is okay," Andromeda assured her, attempting to calm the frantic girl. "He got you out, Dora, but it was a close thing," she choked.
"Mum, what happened?" Tonks asked worriedly.
Andromeda sniffed and shook her head.
"The champions were attacked, they're all fine," she added. "No one really knows what happened but you were cursed and almost died."
Tonks frowned as her mother composed herself.
"Harry managed to keep you alive long enough with his magic whilst his friend killed the person that had been bound to you," she sighed. "He's been in here the last two days. He only left because I forced him to."
Tonks smiled slightly and swallowed deeply.
"He's a mess, Dora," Andromeda continued, "Merlin knows the boy would have given you all of his magic if he had to."
Tonks rubbed her eyes. She never could have imagined something like this happening. She had been assured that herself and the other hostages would be safe. With a little effort and some help from her mother, she managed to prop herself up on her pillows.
"Can you get him, please?" she asked softly.
Andromeda nodded and exited the room as Tonks did her best to calm her breathing.
"It's good to see you awake, Miss Tonks," the voice of Madame Pomfrey pulled her from her thoughts. "I never thought I would see the day that you were my patient again."
Tonks snorted.
"I just want to run a few checks so we can see how you're doing now that you're awake," the healer informed her.
Tonks nodded and allowed the woman to go about her business. From experience she knew that it would not do well to protest.
"Well, your magic is slowly replenishing. You can thank Mr Black for that. Were it not for him, you might well have been left a squib, but it will take time. For the next week I want you to take a regimen of potions and to refrain from casting anything," she advised.
The metamorph sighed but nodded once more. She doubted that she could even cast a lumos with how weak she felt.
"Your body will eventually purge the remainder of Mr Black's magic, when your own is strong enough, so you may feel off for a while until it is gone," Pomfrey explained. "You should consider yourself very lucky."
"I do," Tonks replied.
"I'd like you to remain here for another couple of days. It would be prudent to monitor you to ensure no other issues arise now that you are awake," Madame Pomfrey finished.
"How is she?" Andromeda questioned as she entered the room.
"Remarkably well," the healer replied. "She will remain under my care for another two days, just to be safe."
Andromeda nodded gratefully.
"Thank you, Madame," she said, exhaling deeply.
The healer gave her a smile and headed back towards her office just as the door of the entrance was flung open.
For a moment, Harry simply stood and stared at Tonks, a myriad of expressions cycling through his features before he cleared space between them in a few long strides and pulled her into his arms.
"I'll give you both some time," Andromeda declared as she made to leave. Pausing at the door, she smiled at the embracing pair before she left.
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered emotionally.
Tonks shook her head.
"Why are you sorry?" she asked gently. "If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead."
Harry shuddered at the words.
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been there in the first place," he countered.
Tonks sighed as she pushed him away angrily.
"You will not blame yourself for this," she scolded him. "I volunteered to do it because no one else would. More than that, I did it because I knew you would get me out, and you did. I survived, Harry, and that is all that matters."
Harry sighed.
"I've never been so scared in my life," he mumbled, his eyes shining with fear.
"Not even with the dragon?" Tonks returned with a grin.
He shook his head fiercely.
"I'd rather face a hundred of them than do that again," he answered.
Tonks squeezed his hand tightly.
"I'm okay, Harry," she assured him, "and I will be fine."
Harry scrutinised her for a few moments before taking a deep breath.
"You'd better be," he muttered as he buried his head in her shoulder.
The warmth she felt around him spread throughout her chest as she wrapped her arms around him, not willing to let go. She still could not fathom the feelings he incited within her but she couldn't imagine him not being around. Saying goodbye to him at the end of the year would only get harder and was not something she could handle thinking about right now. Maybe it was how weak she felt in this moment or how strongly she felt for him, she couldn't be sure. The only thing she could be certain of was how amazing the feeling was of having someone who cared enough to do what he had done for her, not just during the task, but since she had met him.
She didn't know what the future would hold, she just knew that he had to be a part of it. Whether their feelings would grow or if they were to be friends, to her, either would be preferable than for him to leave and no longer be in her life.
"I will get them, Dora," Harry spoke severely. "Whoever did this to you will regret it, I can promise you that."
Tonks snorted but knew he meant every word. One thing she had learnt about Harry since she had met him was that he did not make empty threats and there would be no one or nothing that would stop him when his mind was made up.
'I'd much rather you didn't go anywhere,' she mused sadly.
(BREAK)
"How is the girl?" Arcturus questioned as Harry joined them at the table for the family meeting that had been put on hold.
He nodded as he took his seat. Tonks had fallen asleep but was doing much better, much to his relief.
"She's fine, Grandfather," he returned tiredly. "Andromeda has asked to speak to Aunt Cassie, to say thanks for what she did."
"She is no longer a member of this family," Cassiopeia replied with a glare. "I will not entertain the woman."
Harry slammed his hand on the table. Shooting to his feet, he stared down his Aunt.
"Then you will treat her the same way you would any other person wanting to show you gratitude," he commanded. "You will be humble; you will keep a civil tongue in your head and you will let her say her piece. You will act the same way that you taught me and not throw it back in her face. She almost lost her daughter and she just want to say thank you. The least you can do is accept it."
Arcturus, Sirius and Leo watched the stand off between the two with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
Cassiopeia cackled as she stood.
"You do not tell me what to do, boy," she cooed mockingly as she drew her wand.
"The days of me fearing you are long past, Aunt Cassie. I will be the head of this family one day and if you plan on remaining a part of it, you had better start realising it. I love you but now is not the time to argue with me. Do what I have asked of you," Harry replied before retaking his seat.
Cassie frowned at him and turned her gaze towards Arcturus who shrugged.
"He's right," the old man pointed out. "It is exactly what you or I would have expected from him were he in the same position."
Cassie deflated and shook her head as she sat.
"I preferred it when you were younger. I just had to look at you and you would shake like a leaf," she giggled. "Fine," she agreed with a huff, "but only because I will not be looked upon as a hypocrite."
"Thank you," Harry returned, receiving a nod of approval from his Grandfather who held his hands up for silence.
"The past couple of days have proven to be as fruitless as the rest of my investigation," he began gravely. "What is clear, is that there is someone within the school, working for him, someone who has the ability to bring people in undetected."
"Not necessarily," Sirius broke in. "When I was here, we managed to sneak in and out of the school without getting caught. There's secret passages all over the place."
Arcturus sighed.
"I want you to find every single one you know of and put it out of use. But be discreet, we do not want to tip our hand," he instructed the man.
Sirius nodded.
"Other than that, there are no other trails to follow. Since all the attackers are dead, we cannot hope to find who put the curse on them. The only thing we can be certain of, is that the person doing it is powerful and has access to ancient knowledge. That curse he put on the girl is not something you will find in Flourish and Blotts," Arcturus explained.
"Not in this country, most likely," Cassie interjected. "I found it in Turkey."
"A place where Voldemort has likely visited," Arcturus mumbled. "As things are, we remain vigilant. The castle is on high alert so I expect that whomever it is will try to keep a low profile. The third task is more likely when they will strike. Clearly, they like to plan as meticulously as possible."
A sudden knock on the door drew the attention of everyone. With a deep frown, Arcturus opened it to reveal a very breathless Rita Skeeter who pushed past him.
"I need to speak to you, Lord Black," she wheezed.
"What can I do for you, Miss Skeeter?" Arcturus replied, his frown firmly in place.
"Malfoy and Fudge are going to call an emergency Wizengamot meeting in three-days-time," the reporter revealed. "They are going to use the events of the second task as a cover and are going to try and force some kind of bill through so that the Wizengamot can vote against allowing a new Lord they do not approve of taking the headship of a family."
The Lord Black's nostrils flared as he chuckled darkly.
"I couldn't have set this up better than the idiots have done for me," he muttered. "Can I assume that my invite will be lost?"
Rita nodded.
"As will many others, I suspect. If more than half are there, they can proceed and any protests that come after will take months to repeal anything they pass," she shrugged.
"You've done well, Rita," Arcturus praised. "Now, be a dear and inform the other families of the impending session, if you would. Quietly, of course," he instructed.
Rita nodded and exited the room to carry out her task.
"That is a clear case of line theft," Sirius seethed.
"Not quite so clear," Arcturus sighed. "If they pass the bill and do not act on it, then nothing untoward has happened. But I would bet every Galleon in the vault that they will use the opportunity to strike. They simply have to if they wish for it to work," he explained. "They only need time to install Draco as my heir and that would take only a few days at most if he can pass an inheritance test, though I doubt it would be so easy. The family magic recognises Harry and will do so unless he was to die."
"Maybe that's exactly what they are planning," Leo broke in angrily.
"Perhaps," Arcturus conceded, "but Lucius would not dirty his hands or name. If their coup was to go ahead and Harry died, questions would be asked. I doubt even Fudge would be able to save him. It is more likely they are hoping to take the heirship politically first. If it doesn't work, then they may resort to other measures."
So, what do we do?" Sirius questioned.
"You do nothing," Arcturus instructed. "I have a way out of dealing with this. Lucius will end up dead, destitute or both. But I will need your help," he finished pointing at Leo.
The boy frowned but nodded.
"Everyone else out," Arcturus commanded. "The less any of you know the better."
Sirius, Harry and Cassiopeia complied, each with an uneasy expression.
"What Fudge and Malfoy are doing is risky, they both know it and that is why they are trying to conceal as best as possible," Arcturus began. "They will have to act and I will have to be there to react immediately but there is a strong chance I will need you."
"Of course, Lord Black," Leo offered.
"I am planning on trapping them in a corner. When I make my move, Lucius will be left with one of two choices; He will either have to pay compensation to the house, a figure of my choosing, or he will have to agree to a duel that only a member of House Malfoy can fight on his behalf. Narcissa will be unable to do so as she is a Black and he will not risk his heir," Arcturus explained.
"I'll do it," Leo cut him off, his demeanour uncharacteristically cold.
Arcturus frowned at the boy.
"You have a rather strong dislike for a man you have only met once," he mused aloud. "Is there more to this?"
Leo nodded almost disappointedly.
"Before I came here, I went to see the goblins in Ireland to take the inheritance test. They wouldn't do it until I graduated school," he reminded the man.
"I remember," Arcturus replied. "My apologies, we've been so caught up in what was happening here that it slipped my mind."
Leo waved him off.
"I didn't know anything about my family. They only knew my first name because it was stitched into the baby-grow I was found in," he continued.
"So, you know all about your family?" Arcturus deduced.
"Aye," Leo sighed. "My parents were both potioneers and their surname was Whelan. My mother was apparently a sweet lady and my father a good, hardworking, honest man. They refused to supply the Dark Lord, so they were killed. Malfoy was pardoned of their murders with his claim that he was under the Imperius Curse when he took part in it. The others, are all in Azkaban or dead."
Arcturus nodded in understanding.
"The name is familiar," he responded as he scratched his chin. "A small pureblood family, but a respected one."
"Aye," Leo confirmed with a sigh. "I never knew them and I'm grateful for what I did have growing up but when I met him and saw his smug grin, I knew I couldn't let it go. He took part in killing them and he has to pay for it."
Arcturus patted his hand.
"He will and it will be you to give it to him. If you agree to help me, then I will make sure you get your chance. As you said, the others are either dead or in Azkaban," he shrugged.
"Aye, for now," Leo snorted. "Even if it was anyone else, I would have done it for you. You and the rest of your family have done more for me than I could ever repay," he added with a smile. "You can count on me."
Arcturus nodded.
"I know," he responded. "You had better ready yourself, he is a spineless coward but a dangerous one," he advised as he made his way to the door and paused as he opened it.
"I imagine that your parents would be as proud of you as I have been over the years," he offered, leaving a very thoughtful teen in his wake.
A/N
Next up, Aunt Cassie reunites with Andromeda. Arcturus attends a Wizengamot meeting with his usual flare of dealing with people and Harry and Tonks spend some time together whilst she recovers from her ordeal.
(And perhaps Leo will get his hands on Lucius)
As usual, do follow, favourite and review, you wonderful people.
Peace and love and the rest of the mushy stuff,
TBR