Disappointments

Harry snarled as he tore the Daily Prophet to shreds.

Gohan frowned as he read his copy. "I was right about her. What a horrid woman!" He tossed the rolled paper onto the table in contempt. The headline read: Potter Snubs Prophet...Is Potter Bi? "We need to do something about the Prophet," Gohan mused. "Aren't they in with the Ministry?"

Harry scoffed. "I imagine Fudge is still mad about the entire Sirius Black thing, despite the fact that Sirius was found innocent! I reckon Fudge doesn't like it when the Ministry gets it wrong."

Harry wasn't the only one angry with the Prophet. Hermione slammed her copy to the table. "The nerve of her! Saying that I'm Harry's girlfriend!"

Harry grinned slyly. "As if 'Goton Sun' would share."

"Hey!" Gohan growled as Harry chuckled at the blushing teens. Then, Gohan scowled. "You got off easy, Hermione. She also wrote that I'm Harry's boyfriend, even if she didn't get my name right." Harry snorted into his pumpkin juice.

Hermione smirked in mischief. "Well, I'm sure that I wouldn't share, in case the two of you were interested in giving it a go."

Harry choked on his drink in shock as Hermione and Gohan laughed at the turned tables.

…

The three endured constant teasing due to Skeeter's article. Ron remained as stubborn as ever and shot the three venomous glares as they made their way to their respective classes. Malfoy was nothing short of ecstatic.

"Potter, I had no idea you had a thing for Son, but I can't say I'm surprised. So, what's it like to shag an ape?" Hermione and Gohan had to bodily haul Harry away from Malfoy and his cackling goons.

"Ignore it, Harry. Just ignore it," Hermione intoned for the umteenth time that week.

Outside of Unity training and recruits, which now included Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Cedric Diggory, the three spent large amounts of time under a shade tree near the Black Lake, Harry practicing summoning charms with Gohan, and Hermione exploring the book with strange symbols that Dumbledore had given her.

Harry accidentally summoned Gohan, causing the half-Saiyan to knock him over and land on top. Gohan laughed hysterically as Harry shoved him off.

"Shut it, Gohan!"

Hermione gasped suddenly. "Hey guys, look at this!" Hermione held the book in the air, revealing a large, scripted M-shaped symbol.

Gohan frowned thoughtfully. "Hey, isn't that the symbol that Cell and Frieza had on their foreheads at the Quidditch World Cup?"

Hermione's face bore a disgusted look. "Yes. And this book, I must say, is the vilest thing I've ever read."

Gohan studied the strange glyphs on the page. "You can read that?"

Hermione nodded. "It's in Roush. Which is odd, considering the owner of this diary wasn't Ruroushan at all."

Harry and Gohan exchanged blank stares. Hermione sighed. "I guess I haven't told you. I've been reading the books Dumbledore gave me. So far he's given me two more, both in Roush. One was written by Merlin, in fact.

"It seems that a group of Ruroushan landed on Earth during Merlin's time. The Ruroushin were a people that were 'displaced' from their planet by an evil wizard bent on ruling the universe. This wizard, Bibidi, employed many evil tactics to take over entire galaxies. The Ruroushan were a race of peaceful wanderers that, like the Nameks, studied martial arts and magic for the interdisciplinary merits of the mind, body, and spirit. Once Bibidi discovered he couldn't intimidate the powerful Ruroushan by threats, coercion, or bribery, he released his last resort."

Harry frowned. "Last resort?"

Hermione nodded. "This horrible creature, very powerful and purely evil. A power so immense that, according to the diary of Bibidi, that the thing once defeated and consumed three of the supreme kais of the universe."

"Supreme kai. Are they like King Kai?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. As you know, King Kai is guardian, protector, and ruler of the north quadrant of our galaxy. Grand Kai is the guardian, protector, and ruler of all four quadrants of this galaxy. Supreme Kai rules and protects one quadrant of the universe. Ultimate Kai is guardian of the entire universe."

Gohan gaped. "So this monster is stronger than the supreme kai?"

Hermione worried her lip. "According to Bibidi, it is stronger than the Ultra Kai."

"WHAT?" Harry yelped loudly.

Hermione continued. "Almost a thousand years ago, Bibidi released this monster on Planet Rurousha. It decimated the population before turning on its master. Only a fraction of the populace escaped before the planet exploded, but not before the evil wizard's son escaped with the creature's larval pod. The only saving grace was that one of the Ruroushan stole the diary of Bibidi and with it, the instructions for reviving Majin Buu."

"Majin Buu," Gohan muttered quietly. Gohan's gaze snapped up. "That's why they wanted you. They thought you had the book."

"Not only that. Part of the awakening ritual includes feeding the pod raw energy. They would have used me to feed Buu's ball. After me, they would track down the world's most powerful fighters to feed it. It would be really bad if this book got into the wrong hands. Not only does it contain the instructions for Buu's rite, but also describes how to spawn Inferi by recalling souls damned to HFIL, restoring their ki but removing almost all of the Inferius' free will. It also describes an exceptionally powerful Imperius Spell that can be used on any who struggles with greed or selfish intent."

Gohan cocked his head. "Why don't you destroy it?"

Hermione sighed. "I've tried almost everything. I've burned it, stabbed it, tried to rip it, blasted it with ki, even got Professor Snape to use Avada Kedavra on it. I even tried to stab it with a basilisk fang like Harry did Tom Riddle's diary. This book is heavily warded by spells that haven't been used in a millennia by a wizard not even from this planet."

Gohan frowned thoughtfully. "Do you know what happened when the Ruroushan came here?"

"Yes. Merlin recorded everything. He came across the Ruroushan first. The wizard's son Babidi—"

Harry snorted. "Very original—"

Hermione silenced him with a glare. "—followed them to the planet. Babadi attempted to revive Majin Buu, but without the diary he was at a disadvantage. Merlin and the Ruroushan drove Babadi from this world, forcing him to abandon Buu's ball on the planet. Buu's ball proved as indestructible as this wretched book, so they hid the ball deep in the Earth, the location only revealed in the stories that Merlin chronicled. With Babidi gone, Merlin and the Ruroushan exchanged knowledge. They taught Merlin Roush and Ruroush magic, and he taught them Earth's magic. In the end, the Ruroushan departed from Earth, all save one. My ancestor. The strongest.

"She was the one who managed to steal Babadi's diary. She tried convincing the others to take the book, so that book and ball would be separated, making it that much harder to perform the ritual. But the others were fearful. It was why they left the planet in the first place."

Gohan frowned. "So the guys that were after you have something to do with the original wizard Babadi."

"Going by Bibidi's journal, I'd say Babadi himself is behind it."

Harry scowled. "But Hermione, Babidi lived a thousand years ago."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "And his kind tend to live for tens of millenia. Babidi was young. It was one of the reasons Bibidi kept a diary. In case something happened to him, his son could continue his work."

The two boy's eyes widened in horror. Gohan shook his head. "That's stupid. Why would anyone revive a monster that would turn on its master."

"Arrogance. Perhaps Babidi believes his father was weak in some way that made him more vulnerable."

Harry smirked suddenly. "Finally!"

Hermione raised a brow. "What?"

"Someone who can understand what I'm going through, well, without the fame part. It's like you've got your own personal Voldemort now. Remember what you said on the train at the beginning of third year? 'I have yet to face my Cell.' Now I have two friends that understand me."

Hermione shook her head, smiling, while Gohan scratched his head in confusion. Hermione's smile slid from her face, a thoughtful frown replacing it. "Goku knows something about this. He's on friendly terms with both King Kai and Grand Kai. He seemed rather encouraging that we enter the tournament this summer. Which reminds me, do you think we should go as us, or in disguises?"

Harry stroked his lower lip, frowning. "I don't want anyone knowing my abilities yet. I'll take a disguise, just in case anyone at school is muggle-raised and watch the telly. I'm sure the Dursleys would watch an event like that. Dudley loves fighting."

Gohan stood. "Who do I go as? I haven't reached my growth spurt yet. Surely the Muggles will recognize me as the 'delivery boy.' Maybe I can convince Dad and Vegeta not to go Super."

Hermione brightened. "Oh, wow. Maybe I'll have a fifth of a chance if you can convince Vegeta not to go Super."

Gohan shook his head. "You know, Hermione, if you stepped up training to my recommendations, you'd surpass Vegeta by the end of this year."

Hermione snorted. "Yeah, because having Vegeta royally pissed at me for beating him is exactly what I need in my life to make things spicy in my 'oh so boring' life," Hermione retorted sarcastically, causing Harry to laugh.

"Legolas," Harry said as he approached the Slytherin table. After Hagrid had shown Madam Maxime(Harry Potter via Invisibility Cloak) the dragons, Harry couldn't put off informing the only champion that didn't know the first task. "May I have a word?"

"Trying to hex the competition, Potter?" Montesque sneered. Harry rolled his eyes.

Legolas smirked as he stood. "Certainly, Potter." Once out of earshot, Legolas flicked his wand and muttered. Harry regarded him quizzically. "Privacy ward. You can speak freely now."

Harry nodded. "The first task is dragons. They've got one for each of us."

Legolas paled. "Dragons? Are you sure?"

Harry nodded. "I've already got a plan. If you need help with anything—"

"Why, Potter, I never pegged you as a cheater," Legolas smirked.

Harry smirked. "What are they going to do? Disqualify me? What a horrible thing for them: to give me exactly what I want as punishment! I'm offering the same to the other competitors, anyways. Ideas to get around the dragons."

The Slytherin laughed. "You would have made a great Slytherin…or a Hufflepuff. It's really hard to tell which house you'd fit into more, Potter."

"If you want ideas, I'm setting up a study group in the library. You'll know whether or not Krum and Delacour are interested if they turn up."

"Sounds like a plan, Potter. I'll be there, if for nothing else than the entertainment worth."

Harry chuckled and clapped the young man on the shoulder as he walked away.

…

The group that met in the library consisted of Harry, Hermione, Gohan, Legolas, and surprisingly, Viktor Krum. Hermione reiterated her belief that the task involved retrieving something from the dragon's nest.

"You said that you vould discuss ideas to get vatever it vas."

Harry nodded. "I said I'd give ideas, hoping that you would do the same. Since I don't even want to compete, I feel no remorse in helping or getting help from other champions. I'd like to be the first to submit the idea to summoning a broomstick."

Krum blinked in surprise. "It surprises me you vould be the first to suggest it. Not even Karkaroff thought of that von. He vants me to strike it vith Conjunctus Curse."

Harry shrugged. "Well, that's my idea…well, one of them. How about you, Legolas? Got one to name?"

Legolas smirked. "I have several, but because you're being so generous by naming one, I shall, as well. I'm quite talented with Transfiguration. I'll just transfigure my dragon into a smaller lizard. I've worked with larger animals before. It shouldn't be a problem…for me."

Harry snorted. "Some help you are."

"I assure you, Potter, I'm every bit as Slytherin as you are. I know you're holding one idea back."

Harry returned the smirk. "Yes, but my other idea isn't all that spectacular. Rather anticlimactic, actually. The crowd, in fact, is going to hate me."

Legolas frowned for a moment. Suddenly, he burst into peals of laughter. "Merlin! You're going to try to summon the item, aren't you?"

Krum stared in shock as Harry's grin widened. "It vouldn't be that simple, vould it?"

Legolas smirked. "Mind if I copy you?"

Harry shrugged. "You can if you want. Just make sure if you do that your turn comes before mine, so they can't accuse you of copying me. I really don't care if they accuse me. I shouldn't be competing in the stupid thing to begin with."

Suddenly, Krum grinned evilly. "I have an idea. Vat if ve all summoned the item. Then since ve all copied, novon vould get punished unless ve all get punished. Ve could do it in formal protest of British Ministry's handling of Harry Potter in the tournament."

Legolas gave a rather Malfoy-ish sneer. "That's a rather interesting idea, Viktor. But how do we get Delacour to do the same?"

Hermione nodded. "We could always stage a conversation: Harry, Gohan, and I. We could mention Harry's plan in passing near Fleur, and mention offhandedly about the fact that as long as Harry does it first and no one else does, then he wouldn't get accuse of copying—"

Harry interrupted. "Hermione, I just said I don't care—"

Hermione waved her hand dismissively. "But Fleur doesn't know that, does she?"

Harry grinned.

THE FIRST TASK

Gohan laughed hysterically, the only distinguishable sound heard, besides Hermione's chortles, in the mini-colosseum, as one scene unfolded repeatedly, one for each of the champions. Each champion entered the arena, attempted to summon the golden egg, cast Finite Incantantem, them successfully Accioed the egg. Harry's attempt took the longest as he communicated his intentions to the frenzied mother to ensure himself a safe retreat with the false egg. Because he took the longest, Harry Potter placed in third place, but only because he had the nerve to walk over and pat the dragon's head, the dragon roaring in laughter at their arrangement, but nobody but Gohan, Harry, and Hermione understood the dragon's violent rumblings.

…

Fleur Delacour stomped over toward the three boys. "You tricked me! You planned to do sat ze entire time!"

Harry grinned maliciously. "Yes. But it was worth it. It served them all right, forcing me to compete at the risk of my own life, when it has been proven that I didn't even enter the ruddy thing! Then, they expect to sit back and enjoy the show without getting their comeuppance? They can't do anything to us. They already broke the rules of the tournament when they insisted that I compete! This entire thing is a farce!

"You know what I'm going to do? I'm just going to do the bare minimum required to be considered competing. They aren't going to get a free show from Harry James Potter, that's for sure! Besides, I think you learned a very valuable lesson here, Fleur. Eavesdropping is rude, you know," Harry finished with a rather sober expression on his face, which led his fellow male champions to burst into laughter. Huffing angrily, Fleur Delacour stomped away with a prissy air.

Hermione engulfed him in a hug. "That was brilliant, Harry! The entire crowd was speechless! They were expecting something far more spectacular and grandiose! Gohan and I were reduced to tears from laughing so hard! The looks on everyone's faces!"

Harry sighed dramatically. "Yes. I know I'm great." Hermione scowled and mock-punched him in the arm.

Igor Karkaroff was furious. "Viktor! What the hell was that?"

Krum shrugged. "Vhy should ve vork hard vhen novon is going by the rules, anyvays? This entire tournament is a big joke, von that isn't very funny at all. I vill try to vin this vith minimum effort as possible, especially since the glory and honor the tournament vas supposed to represent vas destroyed the instant they refused to eject Potter." The surly Bulgarian slammed his mouth closed with a loud click as everyone stared at the normally quiet seeker.

"I agree," Harry said quietly as the adults stared between the two seekers in disbelief. "Don't expect a spectacular show from me, because like I said, I don't even want to be here."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "What a rather interesting development, wouldn't you say, Ludo?"

Bagman, who had tried to offer Harry help before the tournament, scowled slightly from being deprived of his entertainment for the day. "Well, the champions had better get cracking on those eggs, because the next task won't be as easy as using a summoning charm. I'll personally ensure that."

Harry, Legolas, and Viktor exchanged mischievous glances, looking forward to trying to find a loophole in the obvious challenge in Bagman's voice.

…

Harry Potter was attacked by two identical red-heads just outside the portrait. "That was bloody brilliant, Harry!" Fred exclaimed in adoration.

"You shocked everyone—"

"—speechless. Everyone expected you to do something spectacular—"

"—and you did. You pranked the tournament, the Ministry—"

"—the judges…a joke worthy—"

"—of the Marauders."

"We salute you, Harry Potter!" The twins chorused in unison, grinning identically.

Harry chucked. "Thanks. Hermione and Gohan helped. Have you seen Ron?"

Fred snorted. "Git. He stomped from the arena as soon as he saw what you did. It will be sure to make the front page of the Prophet, it will. That was totally epic!"

Ron exited the portrait, red-faced. "I can't believe it! You do the simplest thing, something that the other champions did as well, and everyone still sees you as the big hero," he spat bitterly. "Better go inside, Potter. Your fan club is throwing you a party."

Harry growled in exasperation. "What is your deal, Ron? It's already been proven I didn't enter the tournament! And I don't want the kind of fame that everyone is shoving down my thr—ugh! Who wants to be remembered as the boy-whose-parents-died-trying-to-save-him? Because if I had my way, I'd much rather have my mum and dad than these stupid idiots fawning over an idea. An idea! Because they really don't see me as a person!" Harry yelled hotly and spat the password at the Fat Lady, bellowing "LEAVE ME ALONE!" at the partying crowd.

Gohan and Hermione, who had witnessed the entire scene, glared at him. Hermione shook her head angrily. "Nice going, Ronald," Hermione said sarcastically.

Ron's ears turned red. "Just because you fancy the Boy-Who-Lived—"

Hermione scoffed. "When are you going to grow up?" She snarled angrily and stalked into the common room.

"What are you staring at, Son?" Ron snapped.

Gohan shook his head. "You've hurt Harry," he said simply. "Really badly. Friends aren't supposed to act like that."

"Well, it's a good thing Potter has you to replace me," Ron spat.

Gohan growled angrily. "Are you really that stupid? He may not show it, but this petty quarrel is tearing Harry to pieces! He's just too proud to admit how terribly you've wounded him! Don't you want to be friends with Harry anymore?"

Ron sniffed. "Not really."

His patience waning, Gohan bared his teeth. "Fine, jerk! You may not be Harry's friend, but I am. And I don't take kindly to people hurting my friends. So if that's the best you can do, then don't bother even talking to him UNTIL YOU APOLOGIZE!" In sharp contrast, Gohan growled the password softly, and the portrait gave him entrance, leaving a dumbstruck Weasley alone with his thoughts.

…

The next couple of weeks, signaling the end of term passed in a haze. Harry and Hermione were busy learning the ropes of Lordship and Ladyship duties, business, and politics from Dumbledore, Gohan had his hands full training prospective Unity members, while Ron Weasley skulked over the situation between himself and Harry. Malfoy, the younger, was rather subdued whilst the elder Malfoy son continued his training in Unity, forgetting the second task for the moment.

Legolas Malfoy and Millicent Bulstrode became the first non-Gryffindor Unity members, earning the required five votes to gain the seats. After they swore the various oaths, including wizarding oaths not to reveal the location of the Chamber of the Four, Hermione brought them inside the chamber, telling its history and giving them the password to enter on their own. Unity held a celebratory meeting to discuss events, minus one Ron Weasley.

"Right, then," Hermione said, slipping into a rather informal tone. "Harry has consented to allow me to tell you. Because the Ministry forced an underage wizard to compete in the tournament, Harry applied to become emancipated. He's legally an adult now. No one needs to know this yet, but I thought it would be easier to explain the changes taking place. Harry thinks, and I agree with him, that Voldemort—" the newest members flinched at the name, "—won't concede after his latest setback. He's never been known to give up before. Therefore, it becomes necessary to take actions to ensure that we will be ready, should the need arise."

Gohan stood and opened a box that contained simple silver and gold rings as Hermione gestured toward the table. "As members of Unity, we need to learn to be flexible, to maintain anonymity, and most importantly, to stand together. Those of you who were already members of Unity wear the communicators spelled with Notice-Me-Not charms and the locket charms with port-key capabilities. In addition, all good-standing members are going to receive one of these silver rings. These silver rings identify one Unity member to another, the gold rings will identify Z-fighters or those sympathetic to Unity's cause. Rest assured that only those that wear these rings can see the rings on another person.

"These rings do everything the lockets did…and more. If you are in trouble, all you need say or whisper is 'I'm in danger' and all of the rings will note the person in trouble and will serve to portkey you to your endangered friend if you say, 'Take me there.' The ring will automatically activate and portkey you here if you fall unconscious. These rings will also glow and give you the time to the next Unity meeting . The ring also has a portkey function that will allow you to portkey here anytime you say the words 'Unity Hope.'"

Gohan continued. "The second item you will be receiving will be these four-compartment trunks—"

"Wicked," the twins intoned.

Gohan chuckled. "The actual size of the trunk is half that of the suggested Hogwarts standard footlocker. The space of the first compartment holds as much as the standard Hogwarts trunk. The second and third holds four times as much, and the fourth is the equivalent to a twelve foot by twelve foot room. Each compartment may be warded in the way that you desire, blood, voice-recognition, key, or password protected. Each is charmed to shrink or restore to original size by touch and verbal command. They are waterproof, fireproof, and curse proof. Now, come forward and collect your things in an orderly fashion."

When everyone had gotten their trunks and rings, Gohan continued. "Place your silver or gold band on your right thumb." When everyone had done so, Gohan continued. "This concludes the meeting, unless there are any questions."

Videl raised her hand.

"Yes, Videl?"

"Hermione said that the rings would reveal dates and names and such. How can they do that when the bands have this lily motif?"

Hermione nodded. "It's quite simple. The ring will glow and the lilies will fade as the message appears. It will cool and glow white for a meeting. If a person is in danger, the ring will glow red, and it will feel hot. Any more questions?"

"Why lilies?" A familiar silky voice inquired quietly, causing a few students to flinch.

"The lilies were Harry's idea, Professor," Hermione said uncomfortably. "You may want to ask him that, if you're interested." The dour professor frowned thoughtfully at his golden band.

As the meeting dispersed, another shadow on the opposite end of the room swept across the room. "Who invited Snivellus?" Sirius Black demanded.

Snape shot a venomous glare across the room. "I imagine the same idiots who invited the mangy flea-bitten cur."

"I invited him," a soft tenor replied. Both Black's and Snape's eyes widened at this declaration: Black's in disbelief toward his godson, Snape's in shock at the bold-faced lie. Gohan had invited him.

"What? Harry—" Sirius stammered.

Harry shrugged. "I invited him. Snape, er, Professor Snape is very talented and hates the prejudices that have plagued his house for centuries. He has agreed to assist Unity in her endeavors. It was put to a vote last week."

Severus raised an eyebrow at the half-Saiyan, who scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I think I may have left that part out."

"You think?" Snape asked sardonically, smirking in triumph at the dog animagus.

"Fine, but if he tries anything—" Sirius was cut off by Harry.

"Unity. Our name is Unity. Our aims are tolerance, acceptance, and fighting for what is right. We cannot waste valuable time and energy on pointless feuds. Should Voldemort return, or any other Dark Wizard for that matter, we need all the help we can get. Sirius, that term you used for Sna—Professor Snape, I don't want to hear it again," Harry glared firmly at his godfather. Sirius stared at Harry in disbelief.

Severus stared at Harry as though he had never seen him before.