Chapter 8
Dreaming continues:
"Hello again Harry, Long time no see. I must tell you that you must go down in the Black Lake and fight what awaits you. However, take your girlfriend to the room requirements the day before the task. There she will be safe. Unfortunately there will be an attack on you just prior; I suggest you use it to your advantage. Use all the necessary spells to convert the person into your girlfriend image and confuse him to believe he is her. I any of the scenarios there is no safe outcome for your hostage, do as your heart guides you. Oh! And do watch out for Draco as he is appearing as a prominent factor in the near future" The entity words and appearance came to me as a confused and troubling nightmare."
Dream ends:
Fates timeline was a pain in the ass. But I had help from Daphne to keep me mentally stable in this nuthouse and Sirius gave me sound advice in other areas. One thing I learned a long time ago was 'fates timeline' was not a straight road. If it was a straight road there were many crossings which could be classified as encounters whether they were human or otherwise. However, the time line always led to the main event regardless of which side road you took.
As I packed my travel bag I was smiling as at least I could escape for the rest of the Christmas break and enjoy some time with Sirius.
Sirius met me in our common room… "So Harry are you ready to go to Potter Manor?"
"Err... What are you mumbling about Sirius?"
"What I thought you would not appreciate spending your remaining Christmas holiday at Grimmauld Place, therefore I thought could use your ring to take us to Potter Manor."
"I'm confused, I was under the impression that all of the Potter properties have been destroyed and this was just my father's ring." The Goblins were never forthcoming and always wanted extract money from you so one always had to ask. Seeing that I was mostly ignorant in these maters I was still groping in the dark.
"Oh dear I guess I must get the Goblins to explain all about your finances. But! Do you want to go to Potter Manor?"
I just shrugged my shoulders had no idea what was going on, sure why not?"
Sirius explained how to use the ring. I must say that the ring travel was a lot smoother than the other magical means of transportation I had encountered.
I was scratching my head as to why we had appeared in front of a very large metal gate. But Sirius told me to touch it and it would opened. All I can say is that I was expecting a manor and was hoping maybe for a nice place to just relax but as we walked through the main gates I saw a palace. Much of the palace was covered by honeysuckle vines all except the front. Majestic pillars of marble stood tall in front of the marble façade of this palace.
Sirius took me out of my awe…" Harry you need to put your hand on the front door for admittance and then find the ward book as soon as possible."
Most of that was taking care of the minute I stepped into the entrance hall. A head elf appeared along with about 30 elves behind him. The head elf Jasper immediately established decorum and quickly led me to the access book. I was not happy with the number of names that had appeared in the book and I erased them immediately.
/Scene Break/
It was a relaxing break even if Sirius continued my training. Actually the training was quite refreshing and I knew it was keeping me in shape. All to quickly my rest period came to an end.
/Scene Break/
The winter had come over Hogwarts early and sudden, and the castle had been buried in snow after a night and a day of very intense storming. That had been four weeks ago, and the school had settled into a quiet, snowy winter routine.
The day before the second task I was sure my road was crossed by another's of Fate's insanity. I was wondering down the hallway to the Great Hall when a curse was thrown at my back. With a flick of my hand the curse flew elsewhere but in front of me was now Ron Weasley hurling curses as fast as he was able. That's when my dream dictated my actions. Freezing Weasley I hauled him to the room requirements where I dumped him on the floor. I then headed out to find Daphne and after a few failed attempts, Daphne and I were headed to the room of requirements.
I was not happy with British law and what spells or curses could be used but then again who gave a shit, I was in his tournament representing a different country. After transforming Ron, so he looked like Daphne, I then used the 'Imperius Cursed' on him to him to believe and to act as Daphne. Normally no one competent would be fooled but most of the magic users I had encountered here were not that competent. Tomorrow was the second task.
I was then unsure of all this. There was Dumbledore doing whatever. Then there was the Merpeople having been persuaded? Or threatened? To do this task. And what influence was coming from the Ministry toady? The pink toad always appeared to be involved. And there was Voldemort or his toadies that could interfere for what ever purpose.
/Scene Break/
As I was mulling over those topics I saw a door form as I was wandering down a hall towards my bed. Cautiously I opening the door and entered the room. The room was empty except a covered item in the corner. Curious at what this could be I walked over and pulled the covering off the object and gasped. It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. I moved nearer to the mirror, while trying to understand the weard words. I stepped in front of it but had to laugh as it showed me. I stopped laughing when my mirror self produced a red stone which fell to the floor. My brain went into overdrive. This was a trap but for whom? Picking up the stone I reproduced a facsimile and returned the fake to the mirror. My thoughts of whom, what, etc made falling asleep almost impossible that night.
/Scene Break/
Meanwhile back at Voldemort's secret hideaway in Little Hangleton Manor bad news had arrived…"My Lord, I regret to inform you that…after Pettigrew was arrested, the DMLE confiscated your wand from where he had hidden it and destroyed it." Voldemort hissed in anger. "Crucio". Voldemort was back to using a borrowed wand.
"Your plans for this second task had best work." The threat was clear in Voldemort's voice.
"My Lord, I have, with difficulty, gotten from Severus Snape information that Karkaroff fears your return and intends to flee if the Mark burns"
"If he flees, he will be killed! What of Snape himself?"
"I believe that he is staying close to Dumbledore to resume his position as your double agent." "Crucio". You do not think you are to report, is that clear."
"Yes my Lord" squeaked the Death Eater through his pain.
"I see. He would be useful. Perhaps I will allow him to present his case. Now, we must consider our options for finding Gregorovitch and obtaining my new wand."
/Scene Break/
It was now the day of the second task and countless boats filled with spectators sat over the top of the ice of the frozen Black Lake. Not like they could see very far into the lake but then again they could always say there were there for the great Tri-wizard task in the middle of February.
And so it began:
The great Dumbledore broke the ice along the shore so the contestants could enter the frozen lake.
The Gillyweed tasted like crap but gave me gills and flippers to maneuver in the Black Lake. Apparently the Gillyweed helped nullify the freezing temperature. I followed the tracking charms I had put on Weasley and soon found myself in the Merpeople's village in the Black Lake.
As I approached statue, that the four hostages were tied to, I became very upset. Not only where there students there but there was an apparent eight-year-old also tied to that statute.
Now I had done anything except arrive when I was attacked by the lakes people with Trident's but also by a group of stranger looking wizards garbage in bubbles head charms that covered their head which allowed them to be there..
I was almost laughing as I started to send Sirius's globes at all the attackers. It was almost comical that most disappeared in a burping sound. Several were not hit directly with the bubbles but were stunned but my wandless spells. I never wanted to kill but my anger sent many slowly floated to the surface after their bubble head charm evaporated. I cut the eight year old girl bindings from the statue and headed to the surface.
Right was right and the hell with this damn tournament rules. The child had no reason to be there. As I resurfaced all hell broke loose and from what I subsequently learned was from the Delacore family, from spectators, and from the number of floating bodies that were surfacing in the lake. As the bodies were unmasked it was found that some were the relatives of a number of students.
Again I was downgraded for not rescuing my hostage. But who gave a great whoop. What I thought was funny was Mr. Weasley screaming at Dumbledore, "Why was my son down there full you know him and Harry Potter was don't get along." The Delecour family stood in as back up screamers, "Who authorized my seven year old daughter to be put at the bottom of that lake and in severe danger?"
As soon as I could get by Madame Pomfrey medical examinations I headed to the room of requirements.. "Harry, how did it go?"
"It cannot be explained in any rational thought but give me some time and I'll sort it out and will attempt to explain."
"Dinky!" I called
"Yes Lord Gryffindor."
"Daphne and I are celebrating, could you provide great meal for us? You and all the Hogwarts elves are invited to join in the celebration which you all make possible."
As I explained to Daphne, what took place the bottom of the lake, and subsequent her yelling and screaming, the elves arrived. The room of requirements expanded, tables appeared with food of a great variety. There must've been 100 or more elves that appeared in the room and stood awaiting orders. I made like Dumbledore…"Elves dig in and enjoy!" The party began… Of course that caused dinner in the great Hall to be delayed for a few minutes. Unfortunately we had to leave the room. Not a week later a new professor was assigned by the ministry of magic, one Dolores Jane Umbridge.
/Scene Break/
I was not a student there in Hogwarts but as a contestant. I was exempt from many rules such as attending classes. So when Dolores established the Inquisitorial squad she also developed some nasty things. There were suddenly ministerial decrees, and then her Inquisitorial squad ware running wild attempting to enforce them. While I could chunk her and her decrees out the window it would only bring the ministry and their Aurors to enforce every thing and probably more. Dumbledore still had control of the wards and I was not sure he would stop them.
The Toad like woman was not making friends within Hogwarts.
Professor Umbridge made sure to talk to me at least once a day, often utilizing the Inquisitorial Squad to track me down and force me into meeting her.
/Scene Break/
Umbitch finally got the Inquisitorial squad to corral Daphne and forced me into attending another of her frog dropping meetings. She was threading Daphne with expulsion from if I did not support the ministry, yada, yada, yada. That's when the head of her Inquisitorial squad entered. Draco was sending glares and emanating magic while Umbitch is yelling in my face. I grab Daphne and transported us to our quarters. I had enough and would soon find a large window for her fat ass. There suddenly was a serious tremor in our quarters but later many talked of the blast that sounded within the halls. Later after the ministry was finished investigating it was determined that the blast which ended Draco and Umbridge was Draco's magic eruption.
"So Harry any thoughts over Draco and his end?"
"Hogwarts kept updating me that Draco was reentering the wards and he was different each time. That difference may have been from Voldemort and a power upgrade for Draco."
"What are you saying Harry?"
"A number of things. Where did he get that much power? Why was the blast in front of you and me? I'm sure he was not after Umbridge."
"I see where you are coming from. The Department of mystery stated that it was Draco that erupted in magic. It only makes sense that it was meant for you."