Oki few things, first off Viktor and Fleur WILL be the other champions, why? Because I tried to read three different GoF fics with OC champions and I found I didn't care about them at all, so Krum has to retake his final year due to a quiditch related hospital stay and Fleur is a mastery student (who is still engaged to Bill because I think they're cute, sue me). Neville is going to progressively become more important and Lillith's complete obliviousness to boys being attracted to her is going to be played for laughs, it ends up leading a rebellion against two dark lords does not in fact make you understand the minds of teenage males, who knew. Also Iris is still adorable, that is all.
It was an irritable Harry Potter who waited by the statue of the one eyed witch in the late evening hours, when he'd given Lillith the family cloak earlier that day he'd not realized she intended to leave Hogwarts and by the time she given him a wink and disappeared it'd been too late. So he'd rushed to his room for the map and followed her dot until she'd left the tunnel to Honeydukes, frustrated and worried about his wayward twin he'd cast a disillusionment on himself and was currently glaring at the map waiting for her return. Feeling like he was about to pull his hair out he started as her name appeared on the map, cancelling the disillusionment charm he leaned against the wall facing the statue while crossing his arms and openly glaring.
Once the secret passage opened he just stared at the entrance menacingly, she could stand there all evening he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon and he was a master at spotting someone wearing the cloak at this point in his life. Eventually there was a sigh and the cloak was pulled away revealing the sheepishly grinning Lillith, she twirled the cloak into a bundle and cocked her hip to the side while pouting, Harry chose to ignore how cute he thought she looked at the moment.
"Lillith, when I said you could borrow the cloak I didn't intend for you to leave the school," Lillith rolled her eyes at this while sauntering forward, the statue behind her closing as she passed the threshold.
"Please Har-bear you know as well as I do that mischief follows our family, did you honestly think I'd have a solution to our 'Keeping Iris Safe' problem at the school?" Harry's glasses slid down his nose and his emerald gaze peered over them, Lillith really hoped he didn't notice the way that intense stare made her shudder.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I did, since you know, we're trying to keep her safe in the school, where in the name of Morgana's knickers did you go anyway?" Snorting she nodded her head towards Gryffindor tower,
"Come on mister responsible prefect, we'll talk in the dorms, honestly I'm shocked Hermione isn't with you," taking position beside Lillith as she began moving he rubbed the back of his neck while giving her a bit of a chagrined smile, the boyish innocence of it was sweet.
"Yeah, she said, and I quote 'If my two idiot best friends are going to attempt to get themselves in trouble and one of them is going to shirk their responsibilities to be over protective of the other than someone has to make the nightly rounds.' I do believe she was slightly irked," He paused a moment while cocking his head to the side causing his shoulder length hair to become even more disheveled. "Although to be honest I think she's hoping Malfoy tries to corner her, she's been looking forward to putting him in his place for awhile now."
Lillith snickered at that while hooking her arm through his and dropping her head to his shoulder, it immediately reminded him of their time on the island and the...lack of clothing they'd been wearing. Suddenly very, very glad he was wearing a billowing robe at the moment he luckily didn't need to worry about her noticing his sudden blush since the same thoughts were rolling through his twins head. Ignorance as they say is bliss and neither wanted to confront the hippogriff in the room that seemed to be growing steadily larger the more they interacted.
"Speaking of 'Mione I grabbed her a present for her birthday, I think you should give it to her," he was touched by this but was also a bit confused,
"Why have me give her your gift?" She laughed a bit, she'd done that a lot since this summer, her laughter use to be nasally and irritating, now it almost sounded like chiming bells,
"It's from both of us, and when she sees what it is well, you might be getting laid tonight," Harry chocked on his breath and went Weasley scarlet while Lillith laughed at her twins expense. "Oh don't be such a prude Har-bear, or are you saving yourself for someone special?" Not really thinking it over he met her eyes and quietly asked,
"What if I am?" Not at all expecting that answer nor its potential implications Lillith chose to simply shrug,
"Then you're a strong willed man, I hope whoever you fancy is worth the trouble," he snorted at this as they approached the portrait entrance,
"If you'd asked me last year I would have not even considered, now, I don't know what to think," as she gave the password and began walking up the stairs after the portrait swung open she turned to look over her shoulder throwing him a cheeky grin.
"That dear brother is called hormones, the most insidious enemy of all teenagers worldwide," letting out a light chuckle he followed her into the common room. This late at night there was no one around aside from one shadowed figure sitting in the overstuffed chair by the hearth, legs folded beneath her open tome in her lap, the bushy hair all that could be seen of the head resting on her chest. Suppressing the urge to giggle Lillith put a finger to her lips and Harry nodded as he smirked at their mutual friend, sneaking up on her Lilly began feathering her fingers down the brunettes exposed arms.
"Ehhh...stop it Crooks...feed you in the morn'in..." Openly chuckling now the twins took to their knees before the chair and just stared at Hermione who, finally sensing the presence before her snapped her head up. The look on her pale face was initially annoyance, then recognizing who it was she threw the pair a fond smile, "Oh good you're back, what time is it?" Lillith lifted her left arm to look at the dainty watch Moony had gotten her for her birthday before responding.
"Two in the morning, happy birthday 'Mione!" Hermione's eyebrows shot up before she snorted and batted her friend on the head gently,
"Thank you, but couldn't you prats wait till later?" Harry grinned at her openly while Lillith discretely handed him a small ring box, secretly hoping this wasn't going to shoot him in the foot he brought the blue wrapped box up to his friends eyes.
"Nope, happy birthday to my bestest friend, this is from both of us, enjoy!" Eyebrows shooting up Hermione shot Lillith a curious look before shrugging and thanking them, Hermione being who she was gently unwrapped the paper and put it to the side causing the twins to roll their eyes. Somethings as they say, never change, secretly Lillith was pleased some of the formal bossy know-it-all was still in the jaded warrior Lady even after years of isolation and pretending to be a teenager all over again. Cracking the box open she was bathed in a sapphire light as she gasped, looking up sharply she quickly asked,
"How did you get this? I tried years ago but the Goblins said Muggle-Borns had no right to it regardless of blood," smiling coyly Lillith snaked her arm around Harry's waist and pulled him in close.
"It's thanks to Harry actually, see I went to Gringott's to get my ring and as you know the founders vaults are interconnected and the heirs can access all four for the sole purpose of collecting the head of house rings. So I put the cloak on, snuck over while the goblins who escorted me down napped and broke into the Ravenclaw vault, simple really." Harry's eyes widened at his sisters implications as a grinning Hermione pulled out a bronze ring in the shape of an eagle in flight, its wingtips curling around to meet forming a perfect circle. The sapphire grasped in its claws and recessed in it's eyes glowed faintly until Hermione slid it on her right hand.
There was a silent, powerful pulse that shot throughout the school, Harry shuddered slightly as he saw the radiant blue glow coming from his best friends eyes, the look of pure ecstasy spreading across her face caused certain lower areas of his body to become uncomfortably snug. As the light faded Lillith stood and Harry followed her lead on impulse, she curtsied formally as she chirped out,
"May I present the Lady Hermione Jean Granger-Ravenclaw, the last true heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Ravenclaw, long may she hold the title," Harry was bug eyed at this before he began chuckling as he leaned down and pulled the surprised brunette into a tight hug.
"Hermione this is amazing! Of all the founders of course you'd be Ravenclaw's, but how?" Hermione was still looking a bit flushed after being imbued with the family magics but her now normally colored chocolate brown eyes expressed mischievous mirth.
"I took the blood test at Gringotts at the end of our first year but the Goblins wouldn't let me claim the title due to a recent ministry law, I'd have to wait till I was of age and had a "Proper" Pure-Blood countersign it. Ends up I'm descended from a squib on my mothers side, something like my great-great-great-great-grandmother or the like." With that she threw an expectant look at Lillith who gave the pair a cheeky grin before showing off her ring finger, Harry balked at the twin silver snakes intertwined into a double-helix pattern. In between their open jaws sat an emerald with a stylized 'S' glowing in the center, both the snakes shared the Ravenclaw eagles gemstone eyes.
"Bloody hell you're the Heiress of Slytherin?" He asked in awe, Lillith pecked the tip of his nose while her green eyes scintillated in amusement,
"Quite right, mum's side of the family, it ends up either of us could have laid claim to it but I figured since you get the Potter titles and had that nonsense second year you'd not mind me taking up the mantle." Snorting he returned the gesture and Hermione smirked noticing both were blushing at the actions, one thing the bushy haired brunette had picked up from her long deceased boyfriend from another world, Blaise, was a love for people watching, and her two best friends were hilarious to observe.
"I don't mind at all, aside from feeling a bit dirty being related to the man that murdered our Grandparents I think it's brilliant you're the new Lady Slytherin, but how exactly does this help protect Iris?" They were interrupted by a male voice from the boys dormitory stairwell,
"Simple Harry, they're now connected to the school wards, they can't directly control them since they've not reached their age of majority but they can key in a warning system connected to specific students." The trio turned to see Neville Longbottem walk out from the shadows in his pajamas, a glass of warm milk in his hands, he blushed a bit when he saw the incredulous and concerned looks on the other three Gryffindors faces. "I-I err...I re-read about it i-in 'Hogwarts A History' after Lillith told m-me I was the Heir to Gryffindor," he stammered out.
This revelation made Harry groan, Hermione grin, and Lillith snort, waving the boy over Harry met his eyes evenly, the dirty blonde hair that Neville had been growing out framing his round face made him look incredibly innocent.
"Well done mate, no need to be nervous but could you errr..." Neville gave Harry an equally nervous smile as he cut in,
"Keep it to myself? Sure no problem, I know you guys only took the heads of house to protect your family, and to be blunt after knowing Hermione four years and the stunt Lillith pulled I'm not shocked at all that either of you are descended from who you are." The girls flashed him appreciative smiles that caused him to blush while Harry offered his hand to Neville who accepted the shake in surprise,
"Brilliant my friend, brilliant, thank you," glancing down he noticed the gold band with a roaring lion in the center, a glittering ruby held in it's open jaws while its eyes glowed fiery red. Eyes widening he met Neville's now slightly bemused gaze,
"Lets just say the girls weren't the only ones who had people they wanted to keep safe, keep it quiet?" The three friends grinned at Neville and nodded, Lillith stretched catlike with a sigh and both Neville and Harry had to avert their eyes to not stare at the now very taut jumper, relaxing and grumbling to herself she turned and walked to the dorms.
"I'm hitting the sack, I promised Iris I'd take her running with me in the morning and you know how she can get, get some sleep you lot, oh Nev if you wanna join us we're getting up at six thirty, nighters all." Harry's gaze followed her retreating form a moment before he felt a yawn overtake him, scratching his hair he suddenly realized how exhausted he was before turning back to Neville and Hermione,
"Yeah I'm done too, you coming Nev?" The young man lifted his half full glass and smiled,
"Soon as I'm done with my little snack," Harry nodded as he walked away already loosening his tie, as his steps receded into the distance Neville shot Hermione a wry grin,
"Do you think either realize what the others thinking?" The petite brunette snorted as she slipped a scrap of parchment in her book and gently closed it, standing while cracking her back and groaning she met his eyes returning the grin.
"Oh please they're Potters, it's going to be...interesting to see how this unfolds," Neville shook his head then downed the rest of his milk in one pull,
"I wonder if they realize how different they are around each other, I mean I share a room with the bloke so its obvious to me, but still..." Hermione shrugged as she jammed the book into her bag and threw it over her shoulder.
"When they figure it out they'll probably have a minor meltdown, while incest isn't exactly shocking in our world siblings...eh...well at least there's precedents..." Neville shrugged as he pulled Hermione into a loose hug, they'd grown closer over the past few weeks and he felt no shame in it.
"I see no real issue in it honestly but I'm a Pure-Blood, kind of goes with the territory, anyway see you and the rest at breakfast?" Hermione nodded as she broke the embrace and headed for the stairs, she was going to be picking on Lillith about her relationship with her twin for the foreseeable future, smirking she muttered,
"It's the little things in life."
Bellatrix Lupin was in short mildly insane, she knew this, her husband Remus knew this as did her large family, and so did the Headmaster, that being said while others toed the line between genius and madness as if a tightrope she giggled while skipping down it as fast as humanly possible. It was this mindset that gave her rather brilliant ideas for her and Lily's Unspeakable research as well as what lead to her occasionally violating the laws of the universe in a perverse attempt to perform a vivisection on the space time continuum. On a much less grander scale (but just as equally important in her opinion) her slightly twisted mind came up with ideas that would benefit many while also sating her inate desire to learn about and/or destroy things, and so that's how the DADA professor found herself before Dumbledore and McGonagall explaining her idea.
"So as you're aware the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in a few days on the twenty-ninth, what you may not realize is that I've been teaching the fourth years up proper dueling etiquette and tactics, many of them are actually near minor league levels of skill." McGonagall sipped her tea and Dumbledore popped a lemon drop in his mouth as he motioned for the ravenette to continue, "Well since there is a day between the choosing of the champions and the other schools arrivals I was thinking we could hold a dueling competition on the Quiditch pitch. An exposition of our students skill if you will, I think it would be a lovely way to show off what they've learned."
Both older professors seemed to be mulling it over while they exchanged glances, Dumbledore looked contemplative a moment before responding,
"I see, and why do you find this is necessary?" Bellatrix actually rolled her lilac eyes and snorted much to McGonagall's annoyance and Dumbledore's amusement,
"Because I've reviewed the history of this tournament, those schools are going to show up with flashy choreographed magic trying to psych our school and each other out, since we can't have an introduction like that having our guests watch our best duelists taking each other on will have a similar effect." McGonagall looked contemplative before she began nodding turning to Dumbledore,
"I actually rather like the idea Albus, while the second challenge of the tournament is itself a duel there's no harm in showing off a bit, plus I have a few favorites I'd like to see in action myself, we could have Filius act as the master of the competition, you know how much he misses the glory days." Dumbledore hummed to himself a bit then smiled,
"I think it is a wonderful idea Professor Lupin, if I may make a suggestion meet with the other professors to gather a pool of students you think would do well and have a preliminary challenge before the arrival of our fellow schools, that way those we know who are clearly capable are in the running." The unspoken 'And we don't waste our time or embarrassment on fools' was clearly heard, Bellatrix grinned widely as her lilac eyes sparked in excitement,
"Excellent idea Headmaster, if you don't mind I'd like to get started, this will be ever so much fun!" Smiling and nodding his dismissal the slightly barmy witch left the office, the old friends and co-workers sat in silence for a time before Minerva spoke up,
"Albus what's the real reason you agreed to this? I know you don't really approve of dueling after that fool Lockhart," the ancient Headmaster sighed as he summoned a bottle of scotch and a pair of decanters, pouring a wee dram for the both of them they clicked their glasses together as they indulged in the aged liquor. Sighing as he smacked his lips Albus replied,
"It's the Potter twins, they hold themselves back in class, Lillith pulled the wool over everyone's eyes for four years and I know they're tutoring their little sister in at least grey offensive spells, they both remind me very much of my greatest failure but their love for their family stays my hand. To be blunt Minerva, they're enigmas and I cannot figure them out, one thing I do know about both of them is they are fiercely competitive and do not hold back when proving themselves, especially now that there are no longer masks of mediocrity gumming up the mess." Finishing his glass he sighed lightly before pushing himself out of the high backed swivel chair, a gift from Lily and James last Yule that he greatly appreciated,
"I want to observe them when their shields are down, when they're fighting equal opponents, I need to know if they're going Dark or if I'm just a paranoid old man," Minerva sighed as she stood to follow her old friend,
"And if they are?" She asked with trepidation, he smiled congenially at that,
"Well, we still celebrate the greatest Dark Lord of all time due to the good he did, so long as they follow in Merlin's footsteps and don't indulge in the evil that so many think goes hand in hand with the dark well...that is our duty as their teachers is it not? To teach them restraint?" Minerva sighed and nodded at that feeling a slight pang of despair, teaching the children of James Potter restraint was in on itself a full time job, but really Hogwarts would be so...boring without these little hiccups.
Iris fidgeted with her robes slightly as she waited with the rest of the schools students on the lawns outside of Hogwarts, Harry and Lillith both smiled down at the small girl they'd kidnapped from the first year section of the procession as they placed a comforting hand on either of her shoulders. Pausing the redhead looked up to see two sets of twinkling emeralds looking down at her with affection,
"No need to be nervous Little Flower, this is just the peacock strutting part of the tournament," Harry quipped with a light drawl emulating Malfoy, that earned him a nervous giggle from his little sister as Lillith rolled her eyes.
"Really love it's just going to be a gaggle of overly perfumed French girls dancing and twirling around while summoning butterflies and other girly shite and a bunch of surly hungover blokes that reek of sweat and stale ale while they strut around trying to prove how manly they are." Hermione and Ron leaned in to throw in their two knuts,
"Truthfully the only thing to look forward to is their modes of transportation, I have it on good authority that the Beauxbaton carriage is drawn by a flight of Abraxan and that Durmstrang how a submersible boat," Iris scowled at that.
"You mean a submarine?" Ron looked confused but Hermione just chuckled,
"No littlest one, like a pirate ship that goes underwater but comes back up," Iris raised a single crimson brow at this revelation,
"That's stupid, why would anyone do that?" The twins burst out laughing at this earning a scowl from their head of house so they quickly reigned it in, Ron spoke up in the silence next.
"I hear Viktor Krum is coming along this year, bet he'll be the one selected for Durmstrang," Hermione and Lillith exchanged glances at this and turned to the ginger young man,
"I thought he'd be graduated by now?" Lillith said slowly trying not to sound confused, Ron shook his head sadly at this while sighing wistfully,
"No after the Quiditch world cup last year a rival seeker sabotaged his broom, he was in the hospital most of last years school terms so he had to retake his last year, lucky him I suppose he gets to compete in the Triwizard tournament because of it." Lillith snorted at that while muttering "Typical." Before anything else could be said Harry spotted something on the horizon, catching Iris's attention he pointed at the steadily growing dot and soon she gasped in awe seeing the massive flying horses coming in for a landing as they gently pulled a blue carriage behind them.
"Beautiful..." she muttered as only a little girl could when she sees anything equestrienne related, Lillith ruffled her sisters hair affectionately and tried to suppress her desire to sneer at the prancing girls in their light blue silks as they made their way towards the castle, Ron was drooling a bit as were most of the other boys, Harry glanced about and signed in annoyance.
"I think there's a Veela in there somewhere," Lillith wouldn't be shocked, if Viktor was here why not Fleur? Noticing Harry's lack of reaction she was going to poke fun but Hermione beat her to the punch,
"Notice you're not seeming all that interested Harry, don't tell me you're hiding some deep dark interest in Malfoy," Harry scowled at his friends impish smile while he responded through gritted teeth,
"No dear 'Mione I just have my heart set on other girls, I don't need a sirens call to draw my attention," suitibly impressed and mildly jealous of whoever could center her twin like that Lillith was snapped from her thoughts as Ron shook his head clear then looked confused a moment before saying anything.
"Were those girls wearing light silks?" His friends turned to him while nodding, he scoffed a bit while giving them a rueful grin, "Blimey, someone should have told 'em they were going to be staying in Scotland over the winter, hope they're good at warming charms." Lillith actually paused at that, Harry threw her a wry smirk as he raised his eyebrows up and down,
"Ah the victims of fashion, the sacrifices one makes to look pretty," the surrounding party let out various sounds of amusement at Lavender and Parvati's often used saying. There was a great splash from the lake and all turned to see the massive Durmstrang vessel emerge from the waters surface, Iris let out an unimpressed noise as it finished its rise and bobbed up and down.
"Yeah, just as stupid as I thought it would be," she let out a sound similar to startled cat as Harry affectionatly tweaked her nose, he found it amusing that both his sisters reacted the same to that. The Durmstrang boys strutted by swinging around staves that sparked as they struck the ground while a few of them performed advanced fire spells, none of the Potters were impressed, the twins could do things ten times more powerful and Iris had seen much of it so these smelly boys in the ugly furs couldn't hold a light to her siblings prowess. As the foreign schools all entered the castle the Hogwarts students began filing in behind them, it wasn't long before they'd settled at their tables; Lillith ignored most of what was going on since for the most part it was identical to her original fourth year. One definite change though was Krum standing up from the Slytherin table as Malfoy kept pestering him and made his way to the Gryffindors, he glanced at the empty space beside Lillith and asked,
"I am sorry to disturb your meal, I vas vondering if I could please sit here," raising her perfectly plucked brows Lillith nodded once,
"But of course, and you are?" Ron looked flabbergasted but Lillith knew what she was doing, Viktor actually looked like he released a massive amount of tension and gave her wane smile obviously glad she wasn't a fan girl,
"I am Viktor Krum, but you may call me Viktor if you wish," he said as he plopped down at her side, Hermione covered her growing smile with her goblet as she saw Harry's eyes narrow at the new arrival, extending her free hand Lillith shook Krum's congenially.
"Lillith Potter, just call me Lilly, this is my twin brother Hadrian but he goes by Harry, the cute as a button redhead," Iris scowled at this, "is my little sister Iris, the bushy haired beauty is my best friend Hermione and the ginger garbage disposal is Harry's best mate Ron." Ron for his part tried to sound indignant but with a mouth full of food it was a bit difficult, Harry gave the older man a curt nod while Iris waved at him nervously, Hermione just raised her held goblet of juice in greeting.
"It is pleasant to meet you Lilly, Harry, Iris, Ron, and Her..Her-mi-oon-ee," he tried to pronounce her name and blushed a bit causing Hermione to laugh, this was obviously bringing some good memories back for the mentally older woman,
"Just call me 'Mione Viktor if it makes it easier, My-Own-Eee," he smiled at that thankfully,
"Of course Mi-on-ee, I hope you all do not mind my sitting vith you, your schoolmates in green are quite..." Harry glanced up and met Malfoy's hateful scowl from across the room, discreetly giving the blonde the finger while smirking at him he nearly missed Lillith's response.
"It's the Pure-Blood mindset, they think that since their parents are wealthy they can worm their way in with the rich and famous, and since most of them pay for their high marks in school they really have nothing to talk about outside of fawning over celebrities or talking about their family money. The blonde you were talking to? If you're ever around him when he gets in a row with someone I guarantee you'll hear some variant of 'When my father hears about this'. Viktor snorted at that,
"Children," Lillith tilted her goblet towards him as she smirked,
"Quite, it looks like Rasputin is glowering at ya Vikky," much to well...everyone's surprise Viktor didn't respond to the nickname negatively and he seemed to know exactly who she was referring to as he rolled his eyes and turned to see his Headmaster staring at him with angry dark eyes.
"I'm a legal adult but the man still acts like I am a vet behind the ears first year, the only reason I agreed to this tournament vas because my little brother begged me, I...he has a bit of a hero vorship problem and as an older sibling..." Lilly and Harry both snorted and glanced at Iris, Viktor noticed this and gave them a knowing smile. "Ah, I see you understand, vell, this vas a very enjoyable meal, perhaps I may join you again tomorrow for breakfast?" He was addressing the entire table but staring at Lilly, she shrugged and nodded,
"Sure Vikky shouldn't be a problem, take care now and watch out for Peeves, he's our resident arsehole poltergeist," bowing slightly he took Lilly's hand and kissed it before excusing himself, turning back to her treacle tart and preparing to destroy it like she had so many of its brethren she paused realizing most of Gryffindor was staring at her. "What?" She asked in honest confusion, Harry and Ron were scowling at her, Hermione was smiling, Iris looked confused, and Neville down the way was shaking his head chuckling, huffing to herself she quietly muttered "Whatever," and finished her dessert.
Next up, the duel between the twins mediated by Flitwick and Bellatrix, the Goblet of Fire, and the first task, hope you all enjoy the way the relationships and dramas are beginning to unfold, next update will be much sooner now that I'm over the writers block, as always PLEASE REVIEW!
No, Seriously, I get more than fifteen individual reviews that say more than "Great Story Write More" and give me some honest feedback I'll try to have the next chapter up in the next few days rather than the next month. Anyway, toodles!