CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
We're just a couple of kids
I do not own Harry Potter
-o0o0o0o-
The Yule Ball was in full effect. People were eating, dancing, and drinking to their heart's content. Influential members of society were mingling, and Harry's entire family was here.
People rushing up to them and flattering them, trying to curry favour amongst Wizarding Britain's most powerful, the group of friends found it all rather amusing, as they sat together in their claimed corner with a great vantage point in the hall.
Their drinks –spiked with firewhiskey–were depleting the more they took sips, laughter, giggling, inappropriate jokes lingered in the air as they enjoyed each other's company.
Susan was sitting next to Draco, murmuring crude jokes in his ear to get him to laugh and messing up his gelled hair, wanting him to let loose for once and just enjoy being a teenager.
Daphne was cuddled up under Harry's arm, her nails running along his arm causing him to shiver slightly as he looked down at her. Her innocent looking eyes met his and he smirked, kissing her softly on her temple as she burrowed into his side further.
Hermione and Theo were sickeningly adorable, whispering to one another and giggling, their faces centimetres apart and their foreheads touching, smiles spread across their faces as the whole world would melt away and they would feel and see nothing but each other.
Neville and Hannah sat, Neville's arm around her shoulders, both of them watching their friends with fond smiles on their faces.
Blaise and Luna separated from them to dance, and Harry stifled a laugh watching the strange but utterly adorable couple dancing together to the Weird Sisters. The hour was beginning to get late and the Great Hall slowly began to empty as the couples began to trickle out.
"Let's leave?" Harry asked Daphne, who nodded. The pair got up from their corner with their friends and left hand in hand, the jeering and teasing of their friends following them until they left the Great Hall.
"Where are we going?" Daphne asked as Harry led them out of the castle, applying warming charms on both of them so the cold doesn't bite at them unpleasantly.
"Just for a walk," Harry said softly. They walked under the pale moonlight across the grounds, talking about nothing and everything at once.
The air was crisp, and the moonlight bathed Daphne in such beauty that he couldn't help but stop to look at her.
She was ethereal, her pale skin and raven hair standing out in the dark, her eyes glimmering like polished jade gemstones, her dress glinting and glistening in the moonlight.
Daphne Greengrass must have been blessed by Aphrodite, for in Harry's eyes, she was the epitome of beauty and grace.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Daphne asked, her brows furrowed in concern as she looked up at the tall and completely handsome boy.
He appeared to be carved in marble, made by the best sculptor's in history with his perfect features, perfect body, perfect eyes, perfect everything.
The emerald green she stared into was swirling around with emotions unknown to her and she stared into them, getting lost.
"You just look incredibly beautiful." His voice was low, not a whisper but the timbre of his voice deepened as he stared at her. She immediately got nervous, her throat going dry as she tried and failed to formulate a response.
Never in her life had Daphne Aurelia Greengrass been at a loss for words, but here she was.
They gravitated closer together, as if a magnet was pulling at them, each hypnotised by the other as their lips met in the quiet night, covered and bathed in the moonlight.
Their lips moved together in sync, and a wondrous feeling flooded them both as they began to deepen the kiss and move closer together.
Her hands in his hair, his arms wrapped firmly around her waist, and the pair were overcome with a sense of rightness. It felt so right for them to be together. The ever glowing ember that had always been burning between them was now a free burning inferno, roaring within them.
They pulled away and rested their foreheads together, breathing heavily. They laughed and Harry pulled her in for a hug, his arms resting around her shoulders and his hands cradling her head as she sighed and held onto him.
"Merlin," Daphne whispered. "I can't believe that just happened."
"Do you regret it?" Harry asked, eyes wide.
"No no," Daphne said quickly, assuring him. "I'd like it to happen more, in fact," she said slyly, grinning.
Harry laughed. "Me too, love."
Just then, a branch began to rustle and crack, and Harry and Daphne quickly disillusioned themselves and hid behind a nearby bush.
Snape and Karkaroff were whispering to one another, words that Harry could barely make out, until Karkaroff pulled his sleeve.
The dark mark was writhing on his arm like a parasite, growing darker and darker.
"He is coming back." Karkaroff whispered harshly. "The mark is growing darker."
Snape hissed something that was unintelligible to Harry's ears, but Harry quickly grabbed Daphne by the arm and the pair began backing away, slowly until they were far enough away to take the disillusionment off and run into Hogwarts, trying to get away from the two dark Professors.
-o0o0o0o-
The morning after the Yule Ball served them all with incredible headaches, but also a sense of buoyancy and excitement.
Everyone had a lovely time at the ball yesterday, and the headaches and nausea were so worth it, in their minds.
The group, now with Hannah, Susan, and Luna, conferred in the Room of Requirement.
Harry and Daphne succinctly told them what they overheard, though the fact that Voldemort was stirring was old news.
Harry didn't really pay attention to how dark the mark was on Lucius' arm, but seeing it on Karkaroff's pale skin under the moonlight showed how worrying it truly was, how dark it had gotten once more.
"So what do we think?" Neville asked, eyebrows furrowed.
"For a timeline? How long until he comes back?" Blaise asked, arm wrapped around Luna's shoulders.
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "Maybe a year?"
"I say until the end of this year." Draco admitted.
"I agree." Fred murmured. "With the fiasco that was the World Cup.."
"And with Barty Crouch Jr. somehow rising from the dead." George added.
"Pettigrew's escape…again." Hermione cringed.
Theo sighed. "Though the Wizengamot is aware of the fact that he will return, and the media has been slowly printing hints of it due to our instruction, with Fudge in Yaxley's pocket he'll try everything he can to deny it."
"Dumbledore will definitely advocate for his return." Daphne said. "If Fudge has his way he'll paint him as senile."
Viktor snorted. "I'd love to see that."
"As much as I would too," Cedric began, eyebrows furrowed and grey eyes stone. "Dumbledore will be more believed than us. He's respected, despite everything that has come to light. People still support him as the Headmaster and Order of Merlin recipient."
"You're not suggesting what I think you are?" Susan asked, eyes wide. "Cedric, he'll take control of everything you guys have accomplished. I know I'm fairly new here, but I've heard of some of your adventures, and Dumbledore will use you as his personal pawns."
"I saw the memories of the last war." Harry murmured to her. "I saw what happened to your mum and dad because of Voldemort. Or..technically I saw the aftermath."
Susan tensed, eyes hard.
"You're an orphan, like me. We're going to need every single hand on deck to deal with the Death Eaters and Voldemort." Harry saw Susan as a kindred spirit, she too had lost what he had. Only she had the luxury of not being doomed to forever play a game of cat and mouse with the one who killed her parents. A game of cat and mouse in which there could only be one victor, and the other dead.
"But.." Hannah began, only to shake her head.
"I'm going to kill him." Harry said, voice cold and eyes hard. "But I will need help to deal with everything else."
"Arcturus is not going to like this." Theo said, breaking the harsh silence.
"None of us will. We don't trust him, we never will." Harry said. "But he's powerful. We need his help, power, and connections."
"Great." Draco said sarcastically.
"At least we can have a fun time making it clear who's in charge." Neville said, a grin spreading across his face.
An expression that was soon on everyone else's face.
-o0o0o0o-
Sirius quickly read the letter once more, to make sure his eyes were not deceiving him. The missive from Harry detailed his plans to allow Dumbledore to aid them, but to virtually take over the Order of the Phoenix. With Dumbledore's experience and contacts, adding to the family's cutthroat, cunning, and connections as well as their battle skills, it would be foolish not to take advantage of such an opportunity.
Arcturus was not going to like it, and Sirius grimaced at the idea of having to tell him as well as Aunt Cassie. He sighed and called a family meeting, sending a patronus to those not already in the house.
It was about a half an hour later when they all sat in front of him, Andromeda, Ted, Dora, Frank, Alice, Augusta, Narcissa and Lucius, Remus, Cygnus, Druella, Arcturus, Cassie, and Pollux.
"What is it, Sirius?" Andromeda asked. Sirius and Remus exchanged glances and sighed.
"The boys want to allow Dumbledore into the fold, only to use his knowledge, experience, connections, and to take over the Order."
They all braced themselves for the explosion that was threatening to spill from Arcturus' red face and balled up fists.
"They want to WHAT?"
-o0o0o0o-
It was just the Champions in the room two days after the letter was sent, as the others had gone and taken Sirius' mirror to deal with an irate family.
The four champions now sat in the room of requirement, eggs in hand, trying to figure out what exactly the riddle could be. Or at least what that infernal screeching noise was every time they opened the egg.
"I just don't know what it could possibly be." Fleur huffed prettily in annoyance.
"It doesn't sound like anything I've heard before." Viktor admitted with a grunt. "Perhaps it could be an Archaic Language?"
"A dead language?" Cedric repeated. "What kind of language would sound like screeching? Unless they're banshees."
"The Harbingers of Death." Harry mused, his expression and tone wry yet resigned. "I wouldn't quite put it past this tournament."
"Merde." Fleur grumbled, annoyance palpable in her tone and face.
"You're the one that wanted this." Harry mused to his three older friends. "You signed up for it."
"Well like it or not, you're a Champion too, Harry." Cedric said, ruffling the younger boy's hair. Harry promptly smacked Cedric's hand away and glared at him.
"Maybe we could speak to Nathaira?" Viktor mused, and Harry nodded.
"That would be a good idea." He murmured, and activated his portkey into the Chamber of Secrets, dragging his friends with him.
"A little warning next time would be nice." Fleur said primly, her eyes narrowed as she straightened her jacket.
Harry just grinned.
The founders were in this portrait as well, conversing with each other with books and wands in hand.
"Oh Harry!" Rowena greeted with bright eyes. "The new feature added to the portrait was very much appreciated."
The others nodded in agreement and thanks. Harry and the others had been working on a spell to add a library to their portrait, in addition to the books it already had. When one book was finished, another would pop up. Modern research journals and magical experiments which the founders' found incredibly fascinating.
"Of course! I'm glad you're enjoying it." He smiled. Then, looked at the benevolent snake mentor. "But I'm afraid we need your help."
"What can we do for you, Hatchling?"
Harry showed them the golden egg and they all eyed it with interest. "This is the clue we have for the next task, only everytime we open it, all we hear is the sound of deafening screams."
"Open it." Salazar said, eyebrows furrowed.
Harry obliged as the others braced themselves.
The screaming and screeching filled the room, and even Nathair winced at the sound.
"It sounds like a language." Godric said, stroking his beard absently in thought.
"That's what Viktor said." Cedric added.
Nathaira looked amused. "Perhaps, young ones, try putting it under water and listening to it."
"Under water?" Harry mused aloud before Fleur groaned.
"Of course!" She said, everyone turning to look at her. "We are so stupid!"
"Rude." Viktor muttered.
"It's mermish!" She explained.
The rest of the boys summarily had her same reaction, as the founders and basilisk chuckled. They then thanked them hastily and ran off back to the seventh floor, their lungs and bodies screaming at them to stop.
They stepped into the room of requirement once more, taking several moments to catch their breaths before Harry tiredly asked for a pool to form.
They each jumped in, holding their breaths as Cedric opened the egg.
Come seek us where our voices sound
We cannot sing above the ground
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss
An hour long you'll have to look
To recover what we took.
But past an hour, the prospect's black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.
They finally came back up for air, Cedric hastily closing the egg, before they looked at one another and surveyed what they heard.
They exited the pool and dried themselves with the necessary charms before the room once more shifted into what it normally was for their group meetings.
"We've taken what you'll sorely miss?" Cedric quoted, brows furrowed. "An object of some sort?"
"But past an hour the prospect's black, too late, it's gone, it won't come back." Harry snorted. "That doesn't sound encouraging."
"Where could there possibly be merpeople?" Fleur murmured, eyes clouded with unease.
"The Black Lake," Cedric grimaced. "They live at the bottom."
"Wonderful. We're going to go deep diving in a cold lake, in the middle of winter, looking for something we don't even know what to look for, and we have to figure out how to swim for an hour." Harry said sarcastically.
"Sounds fun." Viktor surmised with a sour look on his face.
"What if it's not what they take." Fleur whispered, eyes wide. "What if it's who?"
A sense of dread settled in the pits of their stomach, as they sat together in silence, wondering what would happen to a loved one if they didn't make it in the hour.
Too late. It's gone. It won't come back.
-o0o0o0o-
The now bigger and more enlarged friend group sat in the bigger Potter Manor replica library in the room of requirement, fruitlessly searching for a spell that could allow someone to breathe underwater for an hour.
The Bubble Head Charm was a good contender, but it was too fragile. The charm could and would pop at the slightest wrong move, and as they well know, there are unsavoury creatures that live within the lake.
Fleur was getting more and more nervous the closer the task came, and it was tomorrow.
Viktor had the idea of transfiguring his head into a shark, but that came with too many complications. Namely, what happened if he couldn't transfigure it back.
As a last resort, Harry called for his beloved friend and house elf. "Tizzy?"
The loyal Potter elf for generations popped into the room, eyes wide in intrigue as she surveyed the room and the people in it. "Hello, Master Harry and friends!" She greeted cutely.
This was Susan, Luna, Viktor, and Hannah's first time meeting his beloved Head Elf and they found themselves charmed the moment she spoke.
"Hello Tizzy," Harry said, reaching down for a hug, which she happily reciprocated.
"Master Harry, it bes very late. Why are you awake?" She scolded gently.
"We need help, Tizzy. We need to know if there is anything that could help us stay underwater for an hour or more."
Her bulbous eyes went even wider. "Underwater?" She squeaked. "For the Wizardy Tourney?"
"Yes, Tizzy." Hermione said. "We really need your help."
Tizzy thought for a moment, before her eyes lit up. "Tizzy has just the thing!" She said, disappearing with a soft pop, appearing not even a minute later with a green and quite honestly disgusting looking plant in her hand, that she divided to Harry, Fleur, Cedric, and Victor.
"What is this?" Viktor asked, curiously surveying the root in his hand.
"This bes gillyweed! Just eat it right before you go into the water, and you will be fine!" She said, smiling.
"Where did you get this?" Cedric asked in awe.
"Rory bes taking care of the greenhouses at the manor." Tizzy said humbley.
The entire flock of wizards nearly kissed the House Elf as she smiled and told them all to go to sleep, and then disappeared with a soft pop.
Hermione conjured jars for them each to store the gillyweed in, before Susan added her own embellishment with an unbreakable charm to keep it from shattering if it fell.
Luna smiled softly. "Everything will be alright," she whispered to them all dreamily. "As long as you stick together." her voice held a tone of slight warning, as if to say no matter what you do, do not separate from each other. A sense of foreboding filled the friends. Did she mean during the task, or for the entire tournament?
-o0o0o0o-
Everybody was gathered in front of the Lake the next morning, it was frantic and abuzz with laughter, whispers, excitement, but for Harry's friends, family, and the Champions themselves the only thing palpable in the air was worry.
Giant mirror-like screens littered the air, hovering above the lake. It was explained that there were mirror like muggle cameras charmed and hidden under the lake so the spectators could watch everything that takes place.
"Fleur? What's wrong?"
"Gabrielle! She's missing. She's only eight, she's in the lake!" She said, frantically crying. Her little sister, who was a veela, was put under stasis and in cold water. She must be scared out of her mind, or worse? What if her being a creature of fire in the opposite of her element affects her negatively from finding her sister?
"Harry, Viktor, Cedric, if I do not make it to my sister, please save her." She begged.
It connected in their mind at the same time. Being underwater for such a long time, especially being so cold, might weaken her considerably. They were filled with a fuming, hot, anger.
The poor little girl. Harry held Fleur's arms. "We will. I promise."
The others nodded, comforting her softly.
They realised that not only was Gabrielle missing, but so was Penelope, Susan, and Daphne.
"Susan?" Harry asked, confused. Cedric's eyes filled with slight pain.
"She's in my house, and I always look out for the younger members. But Susan and I got close in her first year, she's like a little sister to me, Harry. I could never forgive myself if something happened to her." He whispered, fists clenched and jaw tense.
"We'll get them all. Safe and sound." Harry whispered.
Ludo Bagman announced the Champions, the task, the reason for the mirrors, and the points they had to the cheering and loud crowd.
The four friends looked at one another, and each swallowed the gillyweed with a grimace, before jumping into the freezing cold lake.
The water was murky but surprisingly Harry and the others could see everything clearly. It ached in their skin and sides as they grew scales, webbed and elongated hands and feet, and gills, before grinning at each other and beginning to swim.
Cedric noticed early on that Fleur was getting weaker, and he cast a silent warming charm on her. She nodded gratefully.
The first fifteen minutes went on without incident, as they heeded Luna's advice and followed the beautiful song echoing in the water and stuck together, until it happened.
The grindylows jumped and attacked, multiple of them on each Champion as they struggled. The scent and look of blood flowed in the water as the creatures began clawing and biting the people they considered intruders to their home.
Harry blanked for a moment, before he remembered. Brittle fingers.
He held onto the creature and snapped its fingers, the creature wailing in pain and anger. The others' saw what he did, and followed suit. But the more they got off, the more came after them.
As if in silent and mental communication, the four began casting stunning curses at them all liberally, trying to swim away as fast as they could with blood pouring from their wounds and stinging from the water.
They were on high alert until they finally found where the hostages were being held, but with Fleur already weak and losing blood, she began to black out and was holding her, bridal style whilst trying to free his hostage.
Viktor freed Penelope, but hesitated when he saw the scene. Cedric was struggling, Fleur was fading, and fast, looking deathly pallid even in the cold yet placid water.
Harry was attempting to negotiate with the Head of the Mer-Folk, who was avidly refusing a diplomatic approach.
Harry made eye contact with Viktor and they shared a silent conversation, before nodding.
Viktor pushed Penelope to the top of the water, watching as she floated, and then began kicking and struggling in shock from where she was. Watched as blurred arms lifted her.
Harry did the same with Daphne, watching as she was pulled from the water.
Viktor took Fleur from Cedric as the boy freed Susan, making sure she was safe before the Champions decided their course of action.
Cedric then was to take Fleur up to the surface and to Madam Pomfrey. He did so without protest, worry etched on his face as he looked at his friend.
Viktor and Harry looked at each other and nodded once Cedric was gone.
Harry severed the chord holding the little child under water, but watched as the stasis spell wore off. The little girl was terrified, choking, kicking, and Harry tried to calm her. The merfolk were circling them but he held the girl firmly with one arm as he and Viktor began casting spells and barrages at the merfolk to keep them back as they tried to shield the girl and keep her as safe as possible.
Gabrielle was traumatised, they could see it in her eyes as she tried to scream but only bubbles came out. A merperson grabbed Harry's leg, and Viktor was forced to hurt the poor creature who was only doing the job assigned to them.
They finally reached the surface, Harry immediately giving Gabrielle to Jean who looked beside himself with worry and anger.
The champions were covered with blankets and reunited with their friends and family, as Ludo jovially commented on how much of a joy it was to watch.
Something in Harry snapped.
"What did you just say?" His voice was a deathly and low whisper.
-o0o0o0o-
The spectators watched excitedly – or nervously, depending – as the screens showed the four champions swimming together.
"It seems as if this is a team effort! The first we've ever seen in the triwizard tournament, the strong bond between friends not even strained by competition." Ludo commented.
The extended Potter and Black Family and the friends of the Champions tensed as they encountered the Grindylows, were shaking when they saw the blood, and sighed in relief when they got away.
"Miss Delacour seems to not be doing so well, as she is falling behind and being pulled by the other Champions. The injuries must be taking their toll."
Hermione was beside herself with worry, holding hands with Theo and Luna, cuddled by Draco and Neville who seemed even worse than her.
Fred and George were so tense, she was sure their spines would have snapped if someone touched them wrong.
They reached the merpeople, and the crowd began rumbling in excitement.
Until Fleur collapsed. Jean was beside himself with worry. In the chaos of the moment, the actions of freeing the hostages, Cedric rescuing Fleur, and Viktor and Harry bringing back Gabrielle and fighting the merfolk blended together.
Nobody in their friend group nor extended family dared breathe as Aurora Delacour and Jean were shaking as they held their distraught daughter and watched the scene.
In the chaos of the surfacing of the final two champions and final hostage, Daphne and their friends didn't register running to the now blanket clad friends.
Each of them exchange fierce hugs, Jean profusely thanking Harry, Viktor, and Cedric. Aurora crying and holding her children.
Arcturus proud, Sirius terrified but flooded with relief, Remus not letting go of Harry's shoulder.
Cedric's parents were now added into the fold and Hermione was just happy she got to hug all of her friends, a kiss on Harry, Cedric, and Viktor's forehead, and an extra long, extra tight hug for Fleur with a kiss on the cheek.
Safe. Safe. Safe. Was all that kept repeating in their minds. The scores barely registered, with Fleur getting a seven from each of the judges and the rest getting perfect scores, as if it was her fault she was bleeding and her energy and magic drained. Leaving Harry in first, Viktor in second, Cedric in third, and Fleur in fourth.
Draco and Neville stood next to Harry and the others, only to tense at the same moment Harry did.
This was all being reported at the very moment, every word that was being said had been taken note of.
"What did you just say?" Harry whispered lowly, coldly, his own physical lack of heat not mattering.
"Nothing dear boy just that–"
"Do you think this is funny?" Harry fumed, looking at the ministry officials that sat in the crowd. "Watching children risk their lives for your entertainment? The new traumas and fears of an eight year old little girl?" Harry roared, his voice escalating as his eyes began to glow emerald green, like fire.
The ministry officials were nervous now. "What on EARTH were you thinking? Placing children under the water? What would happen if we didn't retrieve them?"
"They would have been safe, Mr. Potter-" Bagman began to explain.
"They are VEELA! Do you know what being in cold, dark water for long periods of time does to veela? Or did you not care? They could have died. Nobody under that water save for Penelope Clearwater was of age to make that decision for themselves and I doubt even she knew what was happening." The entire audience was cowed, as he began to raise his voice once more. "And it is Lord Potter." He spat.
They were silent, not even going to defend themselves. "Compete or lose your magic. That is what you all said to me. We are not show monkeys for you to be parading around." He spat. "An eight year old child and a talented seventeen year old witch almost died because of your stupidity. She was panicking and the stasis wore off. You should be ashamed of yourselves and with this farce of a tournament. Tell me, Fudge." he spat, looking at the minister who was standing next to Yaxley, looking embarrassed and enraged. "How far up are you in Yaxley's arse?" he spat. "You're spending time and energy on this tournament when you should spend it on more important means." Fudge and everyone that mattered knew what he was insinuating.
Sirius, Remus, Cissa, and Cassie and Arcturus were running toward him to stop him, but it was too late, the words had been uttered.
His friends stood behind and next to him, along with their families presenting an incredibly intimidating united front.
"How dare you question the way I run my government?" Fudge spat. "Neither my personal nor professional relationship with Lord Yaxley is of–"
"I dare you to lift up Yaxley's sleeve you buggering little–" Neville spat murderously, eyes full of fury, only to be cut off by a sharp tug on his sleeve by a cool and composed yet no less furious Draco.
Amelia Bones even stood by them, alongside the Greengrasses, glaring down at the minister.
"Upstanding citizens were put under the imperius curse–" Fudge began to spout the well known drivel, before Harry snorted.
"Do not test me, Fudge. I will have your head for this." Harry spat, protectively standing in front of his friends, Fleur and Gabrielle especially. Magic and fury were coming off the tall and intimidating boy in waves, his efforts in duelling–no, fighting– already well known and prominent throughout their country. Harry Potter, known as the most ruthless and most powerful wizard of his age, backed by the best and the brightest of his generation and of generations before.
He was a force to be reckoned with, but all other faces in the background blurred and paled compared to the visage of pure fury and power standing before them now. The magic in his glowing ethereal eyes, the stance of him, towering over the stout minister, and the look of pure malice on his face made everyone's hairs stand on end.
He smiled a smile that would make even a dementor shiver, and his eyes spoke of a promise. "I will enjoy burning your career to the ground." He whispered into the ear of the minister. He turned to Sirius and nodded his head, and the man understood his godson's cue.
Let's get the absolute fuck out of here.
Everyone saw the man go rigid and pale, but what the boy hero said could only be speculated upon as it remained unheard by the rest of them, and the family and friends left to go be in private, disappearing with a portkey.
A/N: wowowo the longest chapter i've written but honestly idk if i like it because i literally wrote almost all of it in one day so be gentle. please review and tell me how you liked this chapter and your thoughts ! things will be picking up a lotttt of speed from here so I'm so excited for this. It has been an amazing journey and I can't wait to see how it ends. Please review, as it keeps my motivation up to see all of your thoughts and opinions and feedback. until next time, xoxo