Rodrick's eyes mildly glanced towards Lockhart, watching as the man wrote his name onto the board, as if he hadn't taught his year befor-
"Now, I am sure it's unlikely you forgot who I was but just in case... My name is Gilderoy Lockhart, I will be your Ancient Runes Professor for the year!"
'Well, he certainly hasn't changed...' Rodrick thought dryly.
He sighed, he was thinking about it too much. It was Moody's fault really. The man had set him on edge ever since the defense lesson. He watched Lockhart go about his lesson, if anything the man seemed to know more about the subject then he did Defense... Small blessings, Rodrick supposed as he relaxed himself, leaning his head on top of his curse-free hand.
The lesson was rather boring, though he couldn't really blame that on Lockhart, even the former professor was unlikely to get an interest out of him. He'd underestimated just how much further ahead he'd read. He kept forgetting it's only his second year on the course. Turning his head towards Potter, Rodrick couldn't help the amused expression on his face.
For all that he was usually alert, he had failed, for once, to notice Lockhart's discerning gaze. The man slowly increasing the difficulty as the lesson went. The others around him furrowing their brows as the professor asked harder question after question.
And yet, Lockhart frowned, the boy refused to put his hand out to answer the questions... The only one actually capable or seeming to be capable was the Granger girl. She'd managed to rack up quite a few points but even that didn't seem to faze Grindelwald.
"At the rate things are going, they might actually win this year!" he heard Malfoy call out, sarcasm lacing his words.
Lockhart raised an eyebrow as he watched the other Slytherins stifle their laughter.
"Not if he has anything to say about it," Blaise? Lockhart was pretty sure it was Blaise, chuckled, his hand pointing to Rodrick.
"Now now, we all know it's the headmaster's choice," Rodrick remarked.
For some reason that set the Slytherin's off even more.
Harry Potter frowned as he took in the words, he knew there was supposed to be something funny about... He blinked.
"Oh..." Harry twitched, he couldn't have... What on earth could he have possibly offered the headmast- "You can't be serious," Harry deadpanned, openly gaping. He stood up, pointing at Rodrick.
"The Black fortune!" His eyes switching between Rodrick and Malfoy... And yea, Malfoy's smirk just grew, if that was possible...
Rodrick raised an eyebrow at Potter, before a small grin slowly made it's onto his face.
"What on earth do you mean?"
"You brib-"
"Mr. Potter, sit down, I understand the need to attract attention as much as anyone but please do stay civil," Lockhart deadpanned.
"Harry, what's gotten into you?" Hermione whispered from his side.
"They bribed the headmaster. That's how they won last year," Harry whispered back frowning.
Hermione blinked, "Please tell me your joking."
Harry shook his head, "They won by a point."
Hermione frowned, "They did deserve it..."
"They started a war."
"The headmaster would never allow something like that, the house system is there to promote unity, buying the house cup doesn't fit anywhere..."
"And, you saw the Slytherins last time, mixing around with the other houses to study," Harry shook his head, how Rodrick had pulled that off... "Besides, I reckon bribing the headmaster counts as Slytherin cunning, don't you think?"
Hermione stared at him, her mouth minutely opening and closing as she considered the words. "it's still unfair, how would Dumbledore expect things to be fair if one could bribe him with enough money..."
"Oh, it wasn't money... Well not in that sense, I am pretty sure Rodrick offered him the chance to get the Black fortune for Sirius."
"That's certainly nice of him," Hermione muttered.
"He did it to steal the house cup and break every rule in the castle in the process."
Hermione blinked, "I don't see where you're going with this,"
"If the two of you don't focus, it'll be detention," they suddenly heard Lockhart's voice.
Harry and Hermione blinked before turning to the professor standing in front of their desk, the man raised an eyebrow before indicating the work on the board.
Lockhart's lesson was... Boring? Though it was only the first one. it felt like a good contrast to the defense one if Rodrick was honest. Even he had to admit the fact Lockhart at least seem to know what to do and he'd seemed to quell a lot of his eccentricities at the very least. He wouldn't be surprised if the headmaster had demanded something like that from him as one of the conditions to hiring him.
...
"What do we have now?" he heard Nott mutter somewhat incoherently.
"Just follow the cubs," Rodrick chuckled.
"Can we hex-"
"No." Rodrick quickly answered.
Draco frowned, "Why do I feel like I am not going to have as much fun this year?"
Rodrick smiled, "I suppose you'll eventually find out,"
Draco twitched, "That's not an answer..."
"That wasn't really a question."
"What are you talking about Hufflepuff?"
"Tomorow," Rodrick started getting everyone's attention as they walked towards the History class.
"Meet me in the Quidditch pitch."
Daphne walked up beside him at the words, her hands quickly going to his forehead.
"You seem fine..." She remarked, a frown on her face. The look on his face and the sudden laughter from around them caused a sheepish smile to grow on her face.
Rodrick pulled the girl's hand away, "As I was saying, meet me at the Quidditch pitch." His hands however still clasped around the girls as he walked on beside her.
"What are we doing? There's no Quidditch this year.."
Rodrick smiled, "Target practice."
The words sent a chilling shudder down everyone's back. up ahead, even Harry seemed to feel some sort of dread even having not heard the words.
"Harry?" Hermione questioned worried, her eyes glancing back at the group behind them. Her hand hovering over her wand.
...
"Rodrick, Harry stay behind. Everyone else enjoy the rest of your day off." Sirius Black's voice filled the room. surprised and confused looks showed up on the students. it was only halfway through the lesson. The looks quickly changed to excitement as the students quickly left.
Rodrick as usual simply waved his hand and his friends took the hint and listened. It was surprising honestly. He remembered his own days, days where it was almost impossible to separate him and James, or rather it was dangerous. Letting one out of your sight and focusing on the second was a recipe for trouble. After their group had grown, the professors stopped splitting them up, if one of them got in trouble, the professors automatically included the rest. Both out of safety and the more likely reason, the others were probably in on it.
Well, all except Lenora Grace. it was like the woman had a third eye, specifically for them. Nothing they ever did remotely surprised her and in all of seven years they had never once managed to catch her off guard. the woman could teach and use divination to scary degrees.
Sirius turned to Harry and had to hold a chuckle, the boy was having trouble trying to convince his friends, well, Ron at any case. Hermione had long since left. It reminded him of James trying to convince them to leave so he could get rejected in private.
With a cough from Sirius, Ron blinked before sighing and making his way out.
Rodrick made his way towards Harry's desk, taking a seat next to him.
"I need to show you something," Harry whispered, as he looked through his own bag.
Rodrick raised an eyebrow, he looked excited about something.
"What is it?" Sirius questioned.
"So you know how Pettigrew only managed to hide for so long because he was an Animagus?" Harry remarked gleefully as he took out the Marauders map.
"What'd you do?" Rodrick questioned bemused.
"Watch,"
Sirius moved closer to get a clearer view of the map before his eyebrows rose.
Harry grinned.
Rodrick blinked as he stared at all the animal names that showed up on the map.
"Are those?"
Harry nodded, "Each person's Animagus form... Or potential forms," He shrugged. "See, it says dog for Sirius," Harry added on.
"It doesn't show yours," Rodrick pointed out.
"Oh... Yea, that was an accident... I am still trying to fix that..." Harry remarked looking up towards Sirius.
"Don't look at me, I wasn't responsible for the runes on the map," Sirius shrugged.
"I'd say keep it like that, if you won't appear, no one can find you,"
Harry tilted his head slightly before agreeing, "You still don't show up,"
"I'd like to keep it that way." Rodrick quickly grabbed a hold of the map, his eyes on the form. He viewed the room just outside and found two names.
"How much you want to bet that's Granger and my cousin."
Harry rolled his eyes, "it's not my money to lose,"
"So which one of your friends is the supposed otter?" Rodrick questioned amused.
"I am going to have to guess Hermione..."
"Ron's a pup," Sirius shook his head, "I suppose that's a good sign,"
"Wonder what they're arguing about this time," Rodrick snorted.
"How do you know they're arguing?"
"How do you not?"
"They're friends you know they don't always argue..."
"Around you maybe," Rodrick shrugged. "Besides you sure the map shows their Animagus forms, could just be Patronus forms."
"If I got the runes right then it should show Animagus... I had Professor McGonagall help me with it... Though she did just tell me to ask you..." Harry admitted.
"Considering you managed to make yourself accidentally disappear, maybe you should've," Rodrick snorted before turning towards Sirius, "You wanted us to stay behind right?"
Sirius blinked from his seat before quickly getting up, "Yes, that's right, I want you two to have these," Sirius remarked taking out two small vials. "Both of them contain memories, different memories." He handed one over to Harry, "That is the moment your mom finally decided to give your dad a chance."
Harry's eyes lit up at the words, "Why did you wait until Hogwarts?"
"The Pensieve at home is cursed," Sirius answered before handing the other to Rodrick.
"That one contains one of the last lessons we had with your mom before graduation," Sirius was rather surprised at the look that overtook the boy's face.
"Thank you..." Rodrick honestly thanked the professor before turning up with a gleam in his eye, "How much for the rest of your memories,"
"That was mildly threatening," Sirius deadpanned,
Rodrick turned to Harry, "I am guessing you were trying to get both the Animagus forms and their name to show up at the same time?"
Harry blinked.
"That's actually a good idea,"
Rodrick stared for a few moments before sighing.
...
The weekend had become one of the only few days of true freedom if Rodrick was honest, with the whole Tri-wizard tournament he figured he had far less time to really get any work done. Sure if he was selected as a champion he was allowed to skip through the exams but he didn't really want to fall behind... He had a feeling Snape wouldn't accept it as an excuse either.
Which was why he was currently drawing a large circle on the ground. Well, he wasn't drawing, he was actually inputting runes into the ground, but as far as his friends were concerned he was drawing. They weren't the only group, he had some of the older Slytherins show up and of course the entire Quidditch team.
"Why are we here?" Malfoy questioned bemused.
Rodrick ignored him.
"What are you doing?" Luna questioned besides him, her eyes going over all the runes on the floor. "You know that's only going to cover a single line..." She remarked.
Rodrick nodded, "But if we do this-" He replied before taking his wand out and standing, the tip of his wand aimed at the end of the line of runes on the floor.
Luna frowned, "Even if you copied it ar-" She suddenly stopped as she watched Rodrick move. Different Runes appeared as he walked along in a circle.
"How did you do that?" Luna questioned surprised, "I know you can copy a rune from one place to another but all of these are different..."
"Honestly, it's a bit difficult to understand but I am using a muggle idea here," Rodrick answered.
"Muggle?" Luna questioned curiously?
Rodrick nodded, "They use functions to get most of their work done through a computer, you can use the same with runes."
Luna frowned, "Can you show me where you read it?"
Rodrick nodded, "I think it was published by a squib,"
Luna watched as the circle slowly filled up in different runes. "Muggles recreated Ancient Runes then?"
Rodrick shook his head, "Similar theory, different application."
"I am surprised you know about it,"
"Yea, I'd rather not be out of date all things considered." Rodrick deadpanned.
Luna blinked, "Why?" She questioned tilting her head to the side.
Rodrick winked.
That worried her. Turning around she found mostly disgruntled faces looking at the two of them, "When did you put up a silencing charm?"
...
"So, why are we here exactly?" Nott questioned.
"I am going to need all of you to start shooting Bludgers at me," Rodrick explained.
"Ah... So when you say target practice..."
Rodrick nodded, "I am learning how to dodge in midair," He answered as he, once again to the surprise of many, started levitating in the air. "The runes on the ground are to keep the runes on my robes stable."
Luna nodded, "The majority of them are levitation charms."
"Is there a reason you needed the entire Quidditch team?" He heard one of the team's chasers question.
"There's too many here for seven bludgers..."
"Rodrick," One voice echoed out silencing the rest.
Rodrick turned towards Daphne with a sheepish smile on his face.
"This isn't what I had in mind, this is too stupid, even for you,"
Rodrick shrugged, "You'd be surprised how many time-"
Daphne narrowed her eyes.
"If it makes you feel any better, I doubt they'll manage to hit me," He remarked incensing the others around him. "Whenever you're ready," He suddenly called out as he flew up to the sky.
Malfoy blinked once before picking up a bludger and smacking it towards Rodrick, his eyes widening as he watched the ball quickly change it's trajectory, going far above Rodrick's position.
"You're going to have to do better than that," Malfoy heard him exclaim, an amused smile on his face.
Luna nodded, "The runes on the floor will make it harder for you to hit him as well."
"It really is target practice," The Slytherin keeper admitted before barking out orders to the rest of the team. "Training exercise," He remarked. He turned to other Slytherins, "Anyone not on the team that lands enough hits, I am drafting them in next year."
"I am going to get a bed set up for you in the infirmary," Daphne shook her head as she walked back to the infirmary wing.
"Thank you!" She heard him exclaim causing her to twitch, Luna idly walking behind her.
"He really is rather reckless sometimes..." Luna hummed along.
"Sometimes?" Daphne questioned with a raised eyebrow earning a chuckle out of the blonde.
Astoria had long since gotten up on her broom, though she wasn't trying to hit him with a bat. No, she'd decided spells were far more likely to land.
It didn't take long before the rest of them figured out the same thing.
...
Harry blinked as he stared outside the window into the Quidditch pitch, "What the hell are they doing?" He questioned bemused. Rodrick was in the air flying around with most of the Slytherin students around him trying to hit him with Bludgers, spells and anything they could get their hands on. He watched as Rodrick flipped over backward out of the way a Bludger aimed at his back. Beside him, Gryffindors walked up to look at the spectacle.
Ron raised an eyebrow before coming up beside him and twitching. "I thought it was someone else." He remarked gruffly before walking back to his game. To his misfortune, the others were more interested in the flying delinquent.
"Looks like Dodgeball, wizard version." Dean Thomas joked, eyes rather interested in the spectacle.
Harry hummed his agreement.
"Those snakes can't aim to save their life," Seamus chuckled.
"A flying target is a lot harder to hit," Hermione remarked, having shown up out of nowhere, "Though spell's look like they aren't affected, ah, it looks like he's using runes to affect the bludgers... Spells I suppose just aren't affec-"
The other's, having long tuned out the girl, simply nodded along with their agreement.
"You reckon he's practicing for the Tri-wizard tournament?" Ginny questioned.
"The age limit is 17," Hermione pointed out.
"Yea, like that's going to stop him!" The others chuckled.
Ron narrowed his eyes, "I didn't realize we were so chummy with the snakes," He grumbled.
"You reckon he'd enter us if we asked?" Dean questioned. Completely ignoring Ron's mood regarding his cousin. They'd thoroughly gotten used to it. He'd been complaining about it since the start of the year. It'd only been a week and yet they were definitely sick of it.
"Doubt it," Harry snorted. "Have you met him?"
"Hey, if he's offering to help, let us know," Seamus shrugged.
Harry blinked before shrugging, he doubted he could get him to do that, he didn't think Rodrick would want the extra competition, but there was no harm in agreeing.
...
His birthday had landed in the weekend and considering his history with the date he had almost considered just staying in bed for the entirety of the day. He was pretty sure his friends wouldn't even question it, hell Daphne might even encourage it.
Boredom, however, was not something he really knew how to deal with.
All in all, the day had gone well for the most part, hell if it hadn't been for the end he would've considered it a genuine Happy Birthday if he was honest.
Of course, Harry Potter had to go and ruin it.
The day had started off pleasantly enough, as usual, he woke up to several boxes, rather numerous he realized fondly, around his bed. Naturally at least half of them weren't exactly good gifts, but he could live past that.
Daphne had been somewhat offended as he'd decided to spend the day on the pitch practicing. Though in all fairness, she'd probably assumed the Quidditch field to be the last place he'd want to spend his birthday in.
Apparently deciding to actually try celebrating it on a curse-free day was a bad idea. Honestly, sometimes he really wondered if people thought things through at all.
He promised her a date to some tea place in Hogsmeade to make up for it.
If the suddenly amused snorts from the older years were anything to go by he was probably going to regret that choice.
...
It had entered a rather repetitive phase, more people from other houses had shown after the previous week, at some point they'd made a genuine game out of it with teams from each house going off against one another. Naturally, it hadn't been long before the majority of the students had simply decided to play a pickup game of Quidditch instead. Sirius Black had kindly offered to be a referee.
Malfoy had found that extremely amusing.
He'd accidentally brought back Quidditch. Which was why he was currently alone, as far away from everyone else as possible. Disgruntled as he watched the game unfold. Hufflepuff had decided to team up with Gryffindor to go against Slytherin and Ravenclaw, probably to make up for last year. Of course, not everyone was playing, and they'd probably have been with him if it weren't for the fact he was invisible. He wasn't really prepared to deal with the Weasley's either, not that he didn't like them. Well, he didn't like Ron but the others were fine which made the whole thing even more awkward.
He was still going to pay for being invisible later-
"Hey, Rodrick,"
Rodrick sighed before turning to face Harry Potter.
"Seriously, how do you do that? For that matter, how does Luna do it?" Rodrick questioned exasperated.
"Do what?" Harry questioned curiously watching as the other boy removed the invisibility charm.
"Find me, when I am invisible."
Harry blinked, "I don't know, I am pretty sure I can see the necklace around your neck? But I don't really get how it works. It just does."
Rodrick blinked. That actually made too much sense.
"So what are you doing?"
"Enjoying my birthday," Rodrick remarked drily.
Harry nodded before taking a seat beside the boy, "You don't really have a good history with them do you?"
"Something like that,"
"What was it like in the orphanage?"
Rodrick blinked at the sudden question, frowning slightly.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"No... It's not that..." Rodrick frowned, "I don't really remember..." He remarked slowly turning around.
"You don't?"
That was odd, he hadn't really thought about the orphanage in quite a long time...
"I remember seeing a dog... Actually... I am pretty sure it showed up for every one of them..." Rodrick blinked. Why had he forgotten that? was it because it'd never shown up in the last couple of years? Though in all fairness, he had been somewhat pre-occupied. He was pretty sure the dog was magical... From what he could remember, the one distinctive feature was that it never aged...
Harry nodded, "I am pretty sure I saw the same once, while at the Dursleys... But that was probably Sirius. I don't think they're the same," He chuckled.
Rodrick wasn't smiling, he was facing the other direction, behind Harry.
"What's wrong?" Harry questioned bemused.
Rodrick shook his head, "Probably nothing, though it was odd, my birthdays were usually the days quite a few children would get adopted..." He trailed off as his eyes landed on something just up ahead. He got up off the floor.
"Rodrick?"
A small smile seemed to etch its way onto the boy as he slowly walked towards the figure by the tree, "Hey... I think it's that one..."
Harry got up, when he caught the expression on the boy's face he tensed slightly, his eyes looked distant.
"What is?" He questioned as he walked beside him, looking up ahead he caught the same figure and frowned.
"Rodrick?"
No answer.
"Rodrick!"
No answer.
They were about halfway, the figure was getting closer, it looked like a dog sleeping beside the tree.
Harry grabbed his shoulder and shook him slightly.
Rodrick shook his head as he stared back confused, "What?"
Harry blinked, "You looked out of it."
Rodrick snorted, "Just reminiscing I suppose," He turned back towards the dog just up ahead, "I am pretty sure it's following me around," he joked. "For some reason, the memories surrounding it are hazy though it looks it hasn't aged a day," He chuckled.
Harry frowned, "You don't think it's an Animagus?"
Rodrick raised an eyebrow, "That's... I don't think it's Black... It's a little too small."
"I meant someone else."
Rodrick shook his head, "Even then, I can't really see any hints of magic surrounding it..." He stopped as he processed the words.
"Then why hasn't it aged?" Harry questioned in the silenced.
Rodrick's eyes widened just a fraction as he turned towards the dog. Before he could say anything, however, another voice interrupted them.
"There you are," Sirius Black's voice caught them off guard, "What are you doing out here?"
Rodrick turned away from Sirius Black to stare at the dog beneath the tree. "Definitely not him..."
"Hmm?" Sirius raised an eyebrow, Harry hadn't responded, already taking out pieces of parchment from his pocket.
"Hey, I know that dog," Sirius remarked.
"You do?" Rodrick questioned incredulously.
"Where do you think I got the idea for my Animagus form?" He questioned with a grin.
"I don't think you can choose the animal you get, how do you know it?"
"It used to play around my old home, it used to follow me around." Black joked. "Even came with me when I moved in with your father." He added on towards Harry.
Harry whose eyes had widened in shock and terror, turned to Rodrick.
"Silencing charm." he managed to croak.
Rodrick frowned, "What ar-" before quickly performing the spell, "What's wrong!?"
"We need to move! Now!" Harry barely managed to avoid yelling. "We can't wake it up!"
Sirius blinked, "Don't be silly, I used to play with that dog, until it stopped coming anyway." As he walked towards said the dog.
"Sirius!" Harry's shouted.
Rodrick glanced between the two Gryffindors before taking his wand out and immobilizing the man.
"Potter, what the hell's going on?"
"We can't get its attention!" Harry yelled off frantically.
Sirius was honestly confused and rather unable to really say anything. It felt like the previous year all over again what with being stunned by Rodrick, and a dog supposedly been trouble.
"Why? I am pretty sure I've played with it mysel-"
Harry raised the Marauders map to his face.
Rodrick paled at the word shown.
He slowly turned towards Sirius Black, removing the stun completely.
"Black... Is there some sort of ritual your family goes through with newborns?"
"What?" Sirius questioned bemused facing the two students. "What's going on?"
"Black... Black that's a Grimm. If you played with it... You shouldn't be alive... I shouldn't be alive..." Rodrick remarked frozen in place as he slowly took several steps back...
With a flick of his wrist, all three of them were quickly placed under a Disillusionment charm, the action seemingly enough to wake up death's dog.
The Grimm seemed to sniff the air for a moment, it's head tilted to the side as it stared straight towards the three of them before to the surprise and shock of all three it seemed to yelp before it simply vanished.
"Well, that explains my luck." Rodrick deadpanned.
"Really Rodrick? Really? Now?"
"Please don't tell Daphne... If she finds out I used to play with the bloody Grimm..." He remarked earning a snort.
"So, Seriously how are you two still alive?"
"Blacks are inherently crazy and I am a Grindelwald?"
"That doesn't explain anything..."
"Sure it does," Sirius shrugged. "Black madness is the answer to everything," His voice quickly trailed off.
The area descended into silence, the air whistling as the breeze suddenly shifted.
The three stood there for a few moments before Rodrick furrowed his brows, "What were we doing here again?"
Yea, he wasn't completely sure himself as to why the day had suddenly turned sour but considering both Sirius Black and Harry Potter were involved, it was probably Harry's fault.
...
He entered the Defense room late, the moment he noticed Moody practicing the Imperius on his classmates he promptly left.
What? Dumbledore wasn't in. He found out earlier in the great hall. Something about preparing for the Tri-wizard tournament.
"Grace! Where do you thin-"
Rodrick turned invisible.
"I can still see you-" Before to Moody's shock, Rodrick literally disappeared from sight. That shouldn't have been possible. He swept his gaze around trying to find any hint of him but nothing showed up.
The class was surprised to see Moody panicked. Hell, the man had evidently forgotten he had a lesson as he swept around the classroom in an attempt to find him.
Moody's eye swiveled around, making sure to check every nook and cranny before finally admitting that the student was in fact nowhere in sight... For an odd reason, that sent a chill down Barty Crouch Juniors back, as he turned back to the class he quickly composed himself, he'd almost lost character...
"Where was I... Potter!" Moody barked as he aimed his wand towards the boy-who-lived.
"This... This is legal right?" Nott whispered from the back.
"Should we leave?"
"Don't even think about it!" Moody barked out.
...
Albus Dumbledore had a serene smile on his face as he watched his deputy-head sort the students out, preparing them for the upcoming delegation of students, students arrayed with the first years at the front. He stood from his position in the back. When McGonagall had returned he'd finally noticed something.
"I believe one of the students is missing,"
McGonagall frowned as she scouted over the heads of students before her eyes widened.
"Severus!" she called out, "Where is he?"
Severus Snape raised an eyebrow, "Who are you referring to?"
"Rodrick! Where is he?"
Severus blinked before turning back towards the fourth years, sneering at the sight of Harry but otherwise unable to find the fourth year troublemaker.
"I reckon he wants to prank them," Sirius chuckled from his position.
The three other professors shared a gaze at the words.
"Oh dear..." Dumbledore sighed.
"Ah, there they are... And he's still nowhere to be seen..." McGonagall remarked dismayed.
On que, Dumbledore announced the arrival of the Beauxbaton school of witchcraft and wizardry.
...
Rodrick had to control himself as he watched the blue-clad students walk out of their flying carriages... It was like someone had painted a giant kick me sign in front of their faces if he was honest. He was currently hidden amongst the fourth-year class, invisible of course. He was honestly just trying to stay out of sight and of course trouble. He couldn't make fun of an entire school without reprec-
He snorted when he saw the headmistress of the school.
His disillusionment charm broke when he heard her call Dumbledore 'Dumbly-dort'.
The silencing charm broke when he heard her speak again.
What the hell was she saying and how did Dumbledore understand her?
He turned towards the students and let loose a whistle when his eyes landed on the Quarter-Veela.
That earned him a slap from Daphne.
Honestly, he was a lot more composed compared to the rest of his gender.
Wait did the headmistress just say the horses drank whiskey?
Rodrick blinked and started laughing, earning confused looks from everyone else.
Daphne tried to get him to stop him. Honestly, he wasn't usually this immature.
Still, he managed to compose himself, his eyes turned over towards the Quarter-Veela and he was sure she was one if the way his classmates kept on staring. His eyes furrowing as he noticed the chords surrounding her... Apparently, their so-called gift was actually a curse, only... It looked somewhat transparent compared to the usual dark red... Could they control how much of the curse they let off? For that matter could they turn it off completely... If they could and left it off too long would it just disappear? He doubted he could get those answers if the way Daphne was scrutinizing him was any indication. Curious though, even with most of the Veela covered up she still seemed able to use her charm to attract peoples attention, even if it was barely noticeable to the naked eye but to mage sight? He could practically see his classmates chords slowly but surely reach out towards the girl. Curious indeed. He wondered if he could replicate a similar kind of magic? Maybe a way to reach out towards Horcruxes... Or perhaps have Horcruxes reach out towards him, or well, an enchanted object.
Rodrick felt someone tug at his sleeve, he turned to see a particularly close Daphne, she seemed to be looking for something before sighing, a sheepish smile on her face.
"What?" He questioned bemused.
"Nothing," she remarked looking away.
He turned to Tracey, "What's with her?"
Tracey just shook her head before pinching one of Nott's ears.
"Nothing for you to worry about," The redhead chirped.
"Let go!"
"No,"
Rodrick shook his head as he turned back towards the French delegation, before to his surprise he seemed to pick out something from the Hogwarts lake.
The moment he saw the mast he sweatdropped.
They couldn't be that extra...
...
Dumbledore greeted the Durmstrang head placidly, though he felt his eyes narrow just the slightest at the look Karkaroff seemed to send his Ancient Runes professor. The man looked about to beckon forward one of his own students, likely the intended champion.
He felt off, something about Karkaroff had definitely changed, the man's posture was straight, rigid which wasn't really out of the ordinary. It was the eyes however that gave off the wary feeling. They were definitely different, much like Lockhart's had been... Only... His looked crueler? Before he could say anything, however, or even before Karkaroff had called forth his champion. Dumbledore felt a sweat drop fall down the side of his head as his own intended champion had finally let out what he'd been trying so hard to avoid saying.
...
As all the students around him eyed the ship and of course the students riding said ship with awe in their eyes, Rodrick could only think one thing.
'I am so glad I chose Hogwarts.'
"They look like clowns..." He accidentally let out.
You could hear a pin drop at the silence that followed.
...
Harry blinked, slowly turning towards Rodrick. Did he seriously just say that out loud... Before he could contemplate it further, he heard Sirius's muffled laughter. Harry covered his face... This was going to be a very bad year...
...
Dumbledore had a passive expression on his face, Karkaroff had turned to the source and merely raised an eyebrow at the words, before, for a split second, his eyes seemed to narrow the slightest. However, the look was gone as soon as it had appeared.
Karkarof merely beckoned forth one of his students, one Victor Krum, the student had clear fury etched onto his face. Curious, thought the headmaster. He hadn't expected such a reaction over the words...
...
Rodrick watched idly as the Durmstrang and Beauxbaton students tried to find a place to sit, Krum had taken one look towards him and immediately set off looking towards the other tables. He raised an eyebrow at the reaction but said nothing. Durmstrang eventually settled for seating at the Ravenclaw table. Much to the clear disappointment shown on his cousins face. Something that really shouldn't have mattered to him, but it felt good none the less.
Malfoy had started whining about the fact besides him.
"Just go sit next to them then," Shrugged Nott.
Malfoy blinked once before calming down, he had a point.
They all turned towards the other school, Beauxbaton. Evidently, the French school seemed to have no problems with them as they decided to set themselves on to the Slytherin table. Rodrick rolled his eyes at the turned heads as the part-Veela walked towards them. They really needed to learn Occulemency.
He had to admit, Daphne looked adorable when jealous.
...
To the surprise of Lockhart, a majority of the student body decided to switch over from one house table to another without a care in the world. Even some Gryffindors seemed to take to the change, though they stayed firmly away from Slytherin. He turned to his left.
"When did this start happening?"
"Last year," Snape answered drily. "You can thank Grace for that,"
Lockhart blinked, "Huh... That's... huh..." He'd certainly seen some students do it since the start of the year though not at this scale.
The delegation of students were perhaps the most surprised, they'd likely read on the houses and so hadn't expected such a thing. Dumbledore had a smile on his face at the action.
...
Other then the occasional glares and somewhat disturbing looks from the guests at the castle, Rodrick figured things had gone rather well, Dumbledore had announced that the tournament would officially begin once the feast had finished up.
Rodrick idly noticed the way the students had quite openly reacted the moment the Quarter-Veela had finally taken off her muffler. "Hmm..." He curse seemed to strengthen greatly, not that it was the muffler have some sort of charm on it?
Daphne turned a speculative look towards him at the sound.
Rodrick coughed.
...
He stared at the Goblet... The supposed selector of champions... He felt fear curl up inside him at the sight of it... What the actual hell were they thinking? That... That thing looked damn near sentient! Binding contracts? Rodrick shook his head... That wasn't just a binding contract... He shuddered as he felt the magic ooze out of it... It was like it was trying to suck in any and all magic in its vicinity...
The casualties... He considered with widening eyes... Where they really casualties? Or was it what fed the blasted things magic? And he was supposed to put his name in it? He looked around, taking in his fellow student's expressions, hell even some of the professors looked damn near enthralled by it...
'It's the same magic!' He realized quickly, the curses surrounding it were eerily similar to that of the Veelas... Only on a much stronger scale. He calmed himself. Deep breath in, deep breath out. He repeated the process several times as he examined the magical artifact. It was like a well of magical power, if he had to guess, anyone that put their name would have their chords damn near entwined with the thing... What happens if you lost? And odds were any champion that died whilst contracted would likely lose their magic to the thing... Which brought the better question out.
'Did the goblet have a hand in those casualties? If I was a magic soul-sucking artifact I'd probably try to cause a casualty or two myself...' He blinked as he realized that the goblet's magic was slowly, extremely slowly, dwindling...
That... That calmed him somewhat, odd's were, if it were, in fact, sentient, and frankly, he doubted it wasn't, then it probably wouldn't force any casualties if it was, well, fed enough... Considering the tournament had been outlawed for so long and yet the goblet still seemed to be brimming with power, exactly how many champions have died during the tournament? He honestly contemplated not entering at all at this rate... And for that split second, he remembered an image, an image of Harry Potter's lifeless eyes staring back at him, with Voldemort right behind him...
He sighed. He could warn Dumbledore... But what good would that do, it wasn't like he was the one that was going to force Harry to participate, frankly it could be anyone at this point. From Moody to Crouch Snr to even Lockhart! Or hell, even the guests at the school.
He was pretty sure Snape might even be willing to put Harry's name in at this rate. Too many unknowns... The best he could hope for would be to keep an eye out for anyone that might enter Harry Potter secretly...
He really hoped it wasn't Moody, the man was the only who could probably see through his invisibility charm... Then again, he wasn't really sure how proficient the guests were either. He was pretty sure Crouch Snr was well known for his own prowess... Ludo bagman looked suspicious as well... But that might have well been his bias regarding Quidditch talking...
He considered the repercussions as well... If he was caught out and about at night and Harry suddenly got chosen... Sure Dumbledore might know it wasn't him but would anyone else believe him? Crouch Sr certainly looked like he wouldn't from the way he kept gazing towards his and Harry's table...
Moody definitely wouldn't.
He grit his teeth... It wasn't like he hadn't planned on making sure to keep both him and Harry alive but...
Could he really warn Dumbledore? No, the man already knew, there wasn't much else he could add, he hadn't had any visions lately. It's not like he could just cancel the whole tournament on rumors... Not to mention the public backlash... And if the day his name gets revealed ever came... Rodrick shuddered at the thought. He didn't need the world thinking he was a Grindelwald AND had tried to kill the freaking boy-who-lived.
...
Rodrick watched idly as his two twin cousins were promptly thrown out due to the age line, he felt the urge to facepalm but honestly couldn't find the energy for it.
"Are you alright?" Daphne questioned besides him, worried.
Rodrick nodded, a wane smile on his face. "Jus-" before he could finish, however, laughter started to echo around the hall as Fred and George Weasley suddenly sprouted two very Dumbledore-esque beards.
He shook his head, "I am fine, don't worry,"
Daphne didn't believe him if the way she rolled her eyes was an indication.
"I did warn you," An amused voice rang out, the majority of the students turned to see Professor Dumbledore leaving the Great hall. He surveyed Fred and George, his eyes twinkling as he urged the two to go up to Madam Pomfrey.
Evidently they weren't the first idiots to think an aging potion would work, honestly, if they understood anything about runes they would've realized it was their magic the Goblet focused on, not their physical age.
Naturally, that was the perfect moment for Rodrick as he suddenly walked up towards the goblet, even his cousins seemed to stop their trudge towards Pomfrey as they turned towards him.
Dumbledore especially seemed interested to see his solution.
With most of the eyes on him, Rodrick walked through the age line, threw his paper in and walked out without a fuss.
Dumbledore blinked... 'Ah, his curse... Of course.'
"What?" Malfoy deadpanned.
"Thousand-year-old curse," Rodrick shrugged as he took a seat.
"That's..." Harry just sighed.
Ron looked beyond irritated, mutterings of unfair could be heard as he suddenly decided to storm off.
Hermione shook her head, "He really shouldn't get so jealous about it, I really doubt Rodrick would've willingly taken that curse if he had the choice,"
Harry shrugged, "Knowing him? I wouldn't put it past him,"
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed disapprovingly.
"What?"
...
It was in the middle of the night, the castle sound asleep or under silencing charms, that a hooded wizard limped his way towards the Goblet in the middle of the circle, one hand gripped his hidden wand, the other his staff.
"I had really hoped it wouldn't be you," Another voice echoed out, stilling the wizard in his tracks.
'Moody' slowly turned towards the headmaster, a manic grin on his face. "Headmaster," He said with a tip of his head. His wand arm firmly clasped behind his back.
"Alastor... What happened to you?"
Mad-eye chuckled darkly before abruptly shooting out a spell with his signature staff, a spell easily blocked by the headmaster of Hogwarts. Only, a second spell fired off from the wand clasped behind his back to the goblet.
Dumbledore wasted no more time as he quickly stunned the man. However, that only seemed to make the man laugh.
"You shouldn't have hesitated," Mad-eye's cackle grew and it was at that moment that Dumbledore noticed the small piece of paper slowly fluttering into the Goblet of fire.
"Revelio!" Dumbledore's voice rang out, coldness and fury etched into it. Fury that slowly turned to shock and surprise as he watched the man's body physically change, his magical eye quickly dropping to the ground as it revealed the face of a man meant to be dead.
"Barty..."
"Headmaster," Grin still present in the man's face.
"You won't get away with this,"
"Really? Because I feel like I already have," Barty's manic grin spread over his face.
And to Dumbledore's mounting horror, the man forcibly apparated out of Hogwarts.
The man's mind was truly gone, there was no surviving that... His eyes landed on the Goblet, the Goblet that now contained Harry Potter's name.