Author's Note:
Wow, guys, this story has now gotten over 3000 reviews! Thank you.
I love you 3000!
Reviews and Comments: To love reading20613: Thank you! And you think you know who Harry is taking to the Yule Ball? To scrappy8: Thank you! To Hawk2010: Harry might be a bit jealous, but we shall see. As to hoping Cedric won't die, we'll see. Thank you! To Wolf's scream: Thank you! I didn't like that the eggs got smashed by the Fireball in the books so, yes, I made sure that they were safe. I also think that Harry would have made more of an effort to make friends with the other champions and like Cedric said, they all just survived fighting a dragon. They deserve points. Remus definitely has prior exposure to the Potter stubbornness lol. To Leaf Ranger: Thank you! Yes, it definitely hurt for Harry. You think Harry will realize he likes Ginny after the Yule Ball? We shall see! Thank you! To speedsONEandONLY: Tonks definitely remembered Ilka's name. She's best friends with Charlie after all! Thank you! Stress definitely tires you out! Free the tatas LOL! Yes, that's exactly what Ginny was saying! Thank you!
To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: Thank you! To epicwazoo: Thank you! To iKingAnomalyII: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed my rendition of the first task. Zee is an original character yes, though I think that she is based on a mix of different characters in my mind. Thanks for loving my Ginny. She is a great character and I look forward to showing more and more of her as the story goes on! Thank you! To coloredwords: Thank you! You think Harry will ask Luna to the ball? Ha, you think Sirius and Zee will crash the party? To be fair, we all know Sirius will want to. Yes, we will see more of Krum and Hermione. Thank you! To Guest: I know, I love Ron too! Doesn't mean Hermione doesn't deserve to enjoy herself with Krum. To HGRHfan35: Thank you! To ManyGrey: Thank you! As to the use of the Patronus against the dragon — my thought was that it didn't collide physically so much as magically, but my thought was magically it collided with the dragon's fire enough to knock it back, but not strong enough to stop it. The sound of it hitting together was like two magic spells colliding in mid air, but strong and powerful-like which resulted in the thunder. Thank you!
To kateplay: Thank you! Yes, this is a slow burn Hinny. I don't know why people don't love Ginny. She's amazing. Thank you! To alix33: Thank you! It's true after fighting a dragon together, you do have some common ground. I loved Zee coddling Harry so I'm glad you appreciated it. Ginny definitely doesn't mind there being half-naked boys LOL. Thank you! To Steelcode: Thank you! To Guest: Thank you! I do think there was more to Hermione and Viktor's relationship than we saw and I want to show that. I agree, Hinny belong together, but they also need to experience other relationships first. Thanks for adoring Remadora and Zeerius as well! Thanks! To trekkifulron: Harry standing there until he passes out — I think that both badass and dumbass suffice here lol. Thank you! To storp930: Thank you! I definitely wanted Harry to do better, but also to show the dragon being more angry. Thank you.
To WarMunger98: Thank you so much for this lovely touching review! Thank you! To IfYouLoveSomeoneYouTellThem: Thank you! Yes, I hit 3000 reviews which is completely mind-blowing to me! I have never had a story have so many reviews before! Thanks for loving the cut backs to Sirius, Zee, Remus, and Tonks. I wanted to show their reactions to what they were witnessing. Little Hinny changes, yes, but still a slow burn and we have a while to go! Thank you! To joemjackson: Thank you! To Ari Black-18: Thank you! It's coming! To Jmcglynn522: Thank you! Sirius and Zee are getting so much closer and taking on the role of parents together. Yes, Harry gave Ginny his horntail. Thank you! To Soveliss: Thanks for catching up! I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Thank you!
And thanks for all the congratulations on hitting one million words, I am impressed with myself and shocked too haha.
I dedicate this chapter to WarMunger98 who wrote me such a touching review that I almost teared up while reading it. Thank you for your continuous support over the years. This one is for you!
Thank you to my Beta — SilverStarwolfe!
My posting schedule: Once a week and sometimes on weekends.
As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX:
The One Where Zee Tells the Paper To
Back the Fuck Away From Her Son
Remus sat in his office as he worked out what he had planned for each of his classes come January and making detailed notes about spells and creatures to cover. He looked up at the knock on his door and offered a friendly smile to Delta Carthaginian, the Life in the Magical World professor.
"Good evening, Delta," he said with a smile.
She smiled back, leaning against the doorjamb. "Buonasera, Remus. I was hoping to pick your brain if you had a few moments to spare?"
"Of course, please come in and have a seat."
Delta made herself comfortable in the chair across from him, crossing her long legs and revealing her thin black high heels. "It's been an interesting term, so far with this tournament, vero?"
Remus nodded. "That it has. Teaching two of the champions on top of it is always fun."
She smiled. "Sì, though neither of them are in my class, naturalmente. I am really enjoying teaching this course on the magical world. It's fun and I love watching the students learn our traditions and why we do things the way that we do. I find it meraviglioso."
"I am glad to hear it," he said, leaning back in his chair.
Delta nodded. "They always have very intelligent questions and many of them tie in with their own knowledge from the Muggle world, asking why we do things this way when the Muggles do them that way and such. Often it sparks some wonderful debates. Getting feedback from the students and watching them teach themselves is very rewarding in itself. But, I have been getting a few questions lately about some of the traditions of the two different schools. Questions such as why the Durmstrang students make the v sound or why the Beauxbatons students speak so quickly and say the z sound instead of s. I answered many of these last year as well concerning the hints of my own accent and the Italian words that I often use in my every day speaking."
"What did you say?"
"Well, I tried to explain about different languages and different cultures and it got me thinking — you started a Defence Club separate from your classes. What were the reasons behind it?"
Remus looked a bit startled by this. "For starting the club?"
She nodded, her long delicate fingers tapping her knee. "Sì."
"To be honest it was something that Minerva wanted. After we discovered the Chamber of Secrets we thought that it would be a location that we could put to good use. Last year, Minerva and I built an obstacle course down there to test our students' skill levels and defences. This year we've added to it and it will be used again at the end of January for some friendly competition and once more at the end of the year based on what we've taught the students. Minerva and I take turns leading the club, but in all honesty, it's about teaching our students how to use magic defensively and how to protect themselves. It's about using the magic that's a part of them and incorporating it into their daily lives. What I teach in Defence Against the Dark Arts is important and vital, but it is also a curriculum based subject and not necessarily something that they will use all of in their lifetime," he explained carefully.
Delta looked thoughtful for a moment. "All valid points."
He nodded. "What are you thinking, Delta?"
She smiled brightly, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear. "I would like to add a portion to my class about different cultures and languages. I think that it would greatly benefit the students and allow them to see how different countries do things. International magical cooperation is something that I think we need to jump right on board with and the more students who are understanding of different cultures now will only make it easier for the next generation to help us do that."
"I agree," he said with a smile. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
"Well, I know that this class was the brainchild of your friend, Lord Black?" At Remus' nod, she smiled. "Would it be possible for you to put a little bird in his ear about adding to the curriculum? I thought maybe that I should run it by the Hogwarts Board of Governors first?"
He nodded. "I think that it's a lovely idea and I think that you should talk to Dumbledore about it, actually. This class is still relatively new so any new ideas or guidelines are definitely welcomed, as I'm sure you're aware, and I'm sure that Dumbledore would be more than happy to help you add to it in any way that would be more beneficial to your students."
Delta seemed to consider this. "I was thinking that one of the first orders of business could be having guest speakers come in from all over the world. My friend Juliette Léandre works in the Département de Coopération Magique Internationale in the French Ministry and I thought maybe she could be one of the first guest speakers since we currently are playing host to the French students here. We can discuss how things are done in the French government as opposed to the British and so forth, which could lead to some interesting debates on the subject. My second years are currently studying the British government and the Wizengamot so, looking at how other countries govern would be beneficial to them. Dumbledore is actually coming in to be a guest speaker next week since he is Chief Warlock, but I was wondering if I should open it up to any other students who may be interested."
"I think it all sounds rather brilliant," Remus told her honestly. "I can't imagine that the Board wouldn't be interested in at least discussing the possibility, but I will pass it on to Sirius once you have a proposal in mind. In the meantime, I suggest that you bring your idea to Dumbledore and to McGonagall. Opening it up to other students is a nice idea, were you thinking of a club then, since you mentioned the Defence Club?"
"Sì. I was thinking something along the lines of a Multicultural Club where students can talk and discuss and learn about different cultures from their government to their society with maybe even a language component? It's been over a century since Hogwarts offered any language courses. Whatever happened to learning more than just Latin and Runes? What about Gobbledegook or Mermish or the language of the Giants? These are all cultures and societies that we should take the time to learn about and to teach our students to understand and appreciate," Delta explained, rather passionately.
Remus smiled at her. "I think that it's a rather marvellous idea if I'm honest. I would have loved the opportunity to learn a new language when I was in school. As it is, Latin and Runes were it for me. Put together a guideline of what you'd like to cover and present it to Dumbledore and McGonagall and I will get a copy to the Hogwarts Board of Governors, but I think that it sounds rather brilliant. It could even potentially be an optional class for older students."
Delta grinned. "Grazie. I will do so."
She stood up just as McGonagall knocked on the open door. "Remus, Delta."
"Hi, Minerva," Remus said, warmly. "Always lovely to see you."
She smiled. "I'm glad that I caught you both. I actually just came from your office, Delta."
Delta smiled at her. "Well, here I am."
McGonagall nodded. "I just wanted to remind the both of you that the Yule Ball will be taking place on the twenty-third, which means that it is mandatory for all staff to be present. The doors will open at five thirty sharp and the Champions and their dates will arrive promptly at six, opening with a waltz. Speeches and formal announcements will be from six thirty to seven. Dinner will be at seven and dessert at eight. Albus booked The Weird Sisters who will be playing from nine to twelve thirty. By one, I expect all students to be in their dormitories and tucked away in their beds. It will be up to the staff to monitor them, make sure that nothing inappropriate is going on, that students are where they are supposed to be, that no first through third years are present outside of those designated, and that all students are enjoying themselves in the designated areas including not only the Great Hall, but the front court yard, the back court yard, and the front hall. Of course, I would still like to see you all have a nice time as well. You're welcome to bring dates, but I would ask that they assist in chaperoning the students. Formal wear is mandatory."
Remus smiled at her. "Sounds perfect, Minerva. Nymphadora and I will be happy to help chaperone the dance."
Delta smiled as well. "As will I. My friend Leonardo will come with me to assist."
McGonagall nodded. "Excellent."
"Minerva, I was just running an idea by Remus. Would you be able to help me put it in writing to present to Dumbledore?"
McGonagall smiled kindly. "Of course. I have time now if you'd like. Oh, Delta? Ludo Bagman was asking about you. He was very eager to speak with you about your class."
"Really? Grazie. And if you have time now, Minerva, that would be meraviglioso."
Remus watched as the two women left his office and he smiled. He rather liked Carthaginian's idea and he thought that it had merit. It would be a wonderful edition to the school. He wondered briefly why Bagman would be interested in her class? It probably had something to do with the tournament and international magical relations. He made a note to tell Tonks that she needed to find something appropriate to wear to the Yule Ball if she was going to be attending as his date. He found himself rather looking forward to the ball and the opportunity to spend the night dancing with her and of course, keeping an eye on the students, he thought with a grin. He wondered if Harry was aware that he would be opening the dance with a waltz.
He couldn't wait to see that, he thought, grinning to himself.
~ ASC ~
The figure stood outside in the alley, the cigarette smoke hiding them from sight. The Muggle habit had become a nervous tic that the figure couldn't quite stop when they felt anxious. The cigarette dropped to the ground, crushed under their boot as the man Apparated in front of the figure.
"Well, how did Potter do?"
"He was rather brilliant. The judges put him in second place."
"That's a good start. He needs to win this tournament."
The figure gulped, audibly. "Listen, I think that I can get some of it together, we might not have to use the boy to —"
"— We're using the boy."
"Abraxas, please… give me a chance to make this right."
Abraxas Malfoy moved forward, his fingers clutching the front of the figure's shirt. "You've been given plenty of chances to get your life back together. Now, this is your only option. You do what I tell you. You make sure that Potter wins that tournament. If you try to run, I will find you. If you try to protect your family, I will find them. Seems your daughter is quite the little artist. She's what? Eight — nine years old? You wouldn't want something to happen to her, would you? Not to your Cordelia."
The figure paled and fumbled for a cigarette as Abraxas knocked it to the ground.
"Your filthy habit isn't going to save you. You know what I want. If you want to make good on what you owe, it's time to start paying out. She's watching you and trust me, I will know if you bollock this up. We'll talk again after the Second Task."
The figure only nodded as Abraxas Disapparated, leaving them feeling more terrified and unsure.
Potter had to win.
It wasn't just about them anymore. Cordelia's life depended on it.
~ ASC ~
Hermione sat in the library trying to focus on her homework the next afternoon, but her foot kept tapping impatiently as she snuck a look around the quiet room. She was hiding out in the Muggle Section of the library because it was the in the back, in the quietest area, and gave her the most peace and quiet. Also, it was where Viktor usually came to find her.
The thought of his name sent a little thrill through her system and she smiled. She had barely seen him all week except for in passing at meal times and she was rather surprised to realize that she had missed him. She knew that he was working to catch up on his own studies and she had seen him with his two friends, Dimo and Andrei, swimming in the Black Lake this morning, which had shocked her. It was a little cold for deciding to take a dip in the lake in December, but she knew that it was much colder in Bulgaria.
She had taken Ginny's advice and she was wearing comfortable blue jeans, her black boots, and a light blue cardigan over a long-sleeved white scoop-necked tee shirt. And she hadn't tried to hide her breasts. She glanced down her top. It was modestly cut, but she still felt like her tits were trying to pop out of the top as she just wasn't used to having them.
She shifted and tucked her curls behind her ear, focusing down on her homework. Transfiguration, she thought, focus. But when the chair scraped next to her, her eyes lit up as she turned her head and the sight of him, all broad shouldered and tall, made her head spin.
"Hi!"
He smiled warmly at her as he took a seat. "Hi."
"You were incredible in the First Task!" she exclaimed, her eyes dancing in excitement. "That curse was brilliant and so well executed. You didn't miss or hesitate and the dragon wasn't seriously hurt so, that was good too because if you had blinded her for life, I wouldn't have liked that very much, but it was only temporary, and you got the Golden Egg — you're in first place, Viktor!" she said in a rush as if she needed to get the words out as quickly as possible.
He smiled and took her hands in his. "I am in tie, not virst."
Hermione beamed at him. "Well, Harry did really well, too."
"Da. He is good flier. I did not expect vat."
"He plays Seeker for our house team," Hermione told him. She reached up to touch the scratch on his cheek. "You weren't too badly hurt?"
Viktor smiled and turned his face to kiss her palm making her blush. "Nye. Only small scratches. I vas lucky. I like vat you vorried about me."
Hermione blushed and then her breath hitched when he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. It was soft and his hand slid up her arm into her hair to hold the back of her neck and she sighed into him. When he pulled away, her eyes fluttered open almost dreamily and she found that he was grinning at her.
"What?"
"I like kissing you."
"I like kissing you, too," she admitted.
He kissed her cheek tenderly and then he turned his attention to the books in front of her. "Vhat are you vorking on vuday?"
"Transfiguration. We just learned the colour changing charm and I have to write an essay on why this is useful and how it works. What did you bring to work on?"
Viktor smiled as he opened his notebook and his textbook. "I must vork on my history. Professor Penkov says even champions must not vall behind."
Hermione smiled warmly at him. "That is true. Did you write home to your family and tell them about the First Task?"
He nodded. "Da. Iglika and Desislava say I do good job, but vey vink dragon must not be very vierce. Vey say dragon must be soft if I get just scratch. Vey like teasing me. I sent vem my little Chinese Fireball dragon vu show vem. Mama vells me vey keep it on ver dresser."
"They sound so sweet, your sisters. They look up to you."
Viktor grinned. "Somevimes, da, but somevimes vey laugh at big brother. Vey vill be here vor va Second Vask, I hope. If not ven vor sure va Vird Vask."
"Good. They can see their big brother in action," she said with a smile.
He was still holding her hand in his, his thumb stroking over her knuckles. "After ve vork, ve go vor valk outside, da? We valk more. I lucky, nye girls follow me today. It be just us, da? Maybe I kiss you again."
Hermione smiled. "Maybe I'll let you."
Viktor's smile made his dark gaze twinkle at her and heat soared through her body surprising her. "Da," he said, kissing her hand.
She let out a soft sigh as her stomach fluttered as if dancing wings were flying around inside. After talking to Ginny last night and not telling Lavender and Parvati about her date to the Yule Ball, she was feeling a little self-conscious of the fact that she hadn't told anyone that he was her date.
"Um, Viktor?" she asked, hesitantly.
"Da?"
She bit her lip nervously. "I haven't told anyone that you're taking me to the ball, other than my friend Ginny."
His brow furrowed. "Vhy?"
"Well, I mean, you are famous, and I'm just me, and well, I thought that no one would really believe me anyway. Ron's cross with me because he asked me to go last night. Well, no, he didn't ask, he assumed that I would go with him because, hey, I'm a girl, like he only just realized it, and when I told him that I already had a date, he got angry. He doesn't believe me. He thinks that I just said it because I'm upset and my roommates think that I'm lying too, I mean, really, who would want to go with me? I'm hardly anyone special and sometimes I don't believe it myself that you really want to go with me. I mean, I don't even like Quidditch."
He chuckled, the sound sending a little thrill through her. "You are strange voman not liking Quidditch, but you are bee-u-tee-vul voman, smart, and… vhat's the vord, kind. You listen to me ven I valk. You ask me my voughts, my vords, and I vant vu vell you. I like you, Herm-own-ninny. I like you very much."
She stared at him, eyes wide in surprise. "I like you very much, too," she admitted. "I don't know if I'm going to tell Harry and Ron about you, though. They would act weird and I like that it's just us right now, is that okay? Are you angry?"
He reached over to cup her cheek. "Nye, I am not upset. You, moyata kafyava krasavitsa, are very sveet. I am happy going vith you and I am happy being here vith you now. Vhen people see you on my arm, vey vill be very jealous, da? Vor how vas I so lucky as vu get prettiest girl as my date?"
Hermione's cheeks heated and he smiled, sending a shot of heat through her. "You make me feel special."
Viktor leaned in and kissed her softly. "You are very special. Only vools do not vell you vis every day. Now, ve study, da?"
She nodded, stealing a look at him from under her lashes, still not sure what it was that he saw in her. But she wasn't going to question it. He was much too sweet and kind and she loved spending time with him.
And she couldn't wait to spend the evening dancing with him at the Yule Ball.
~ ASC ~
When the Daily Prophet came out the next morning, Neville raised his eyebrow at the sight of the front page. "Harry, I thought that you said that you didn't have a date to the ball?"
"What?" Harry asked, his fork full of eggs halfway to his mouth. "I don't."
Neville tugged the paper away from Seamus' grasp and smirked at him. "Well, you should probably tell your girlfriends then. I didn't even know that you had a girlfriend, let alone more than one."
Harry's eyes widened when he saw the photo of Ginny hugging him in the champions tent before the First Task. Then the photo flashed, changing to Hermione hugging him, tightly.
"What the… how did they even get this photo?" he tugged the paper away from Neville to read the article.
POTTER'S SECRET GIRLFRIEND(S)
Harry Potter, the First Place Hogwarts Champion tied with Bulgaria's famous Seeker, Viktor Krum, is harbouring a secret girlfriend, Hermione Granger. A plain, but ambitious girl who is always seen at his side. But, is he keeping more than one on the side? Potter was also seen with the gold-digging Niffler Guinevere Weasley, youngest daughter of Arthur Weasley. Potter is a hot commodity and girls are fighting for him through any means available…
Harry spluttered as he continued read the article. "Love potions? Blackmail? Gold-digging Niffler? Fighting over me? Who wrote this rubbish?"
Hermione reached for the paper, her cheeks heated in embarrassment as she read. "They've accused me of making a love potion to get you, Harry!"
Ginny grinned from next to Hermione. "I think it's hilarious!"
Harry scowled at her. "You would! They didn't even get your name right!"
"No," Ginny said laughing. "Think about it, Harry. Of all the girls in the school, I would say that you and Hermione are the least likely to get together. You two are more brother and sister than Ron and I. And well, Guinevere just wants your money, so what have you got to worry about?"
Harry scowled at her and she grinned.
"Besides, I know that Hermione would never use a love potion on anyone, least of all on one of your friends," Ginny said with a reassuring smile. "And Harry knows that I'm not blackmailing him for his money."
"Ginny does have a point," Harry said, grinning at her. "Are you madly in love with me, Hermione?"
"You caught me," she said, rolling her eyes in amusement before they suddenly widened in alarm. "Oh, no! I got my parents a subscription to the Daily Prophet so that they would be kept better informed on the news in our world. I have to go talk to them!"
Harry watched her run out of the Great Hall to mirror-call her parents and grinned. "I think her parents are going to hate me even more now."
Ginny touched his arm sympathetically. "The Grangers don't hate you, Harry. Hermione just said that they were a little nervous when they learned what an incredible troublemaker you are."
He grinned at her. "I'm an angel, I don't know why people keep sprouting these terrible lies about me. I'm sorry that you were dragged into this, Guinevere."
She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "Haha, We know the truth and we already established that you and I will always be just friends."
Harry frowned at that as Ginny turned to talk to Fred and George as they mocked her for her blackmailing methods. When she put it like that it sounded strange, he thought. It sounded wrong, but he wasn't really sure why. Why did the phrase "just friends" not sit well with him? All he knew was that he didn't like the idea of anyone calling her a gold digging Niffler or declaring that he was in a relationship with people that he wasn't.
He looked up when the hand fell on his shoulder and he smiled at his father. "Hi, Unc-Professor Lupin."
"Interesting article in the paper this morning, Harry. Do I need to check you for a love potion?" he asked, his eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Haha."
Remus smiled at him. "Sirius and Zee will be dealing with this, don't you worry."
Harry simply shrugged. "We know that it's not true and that's what's important, right?"
"Right," Remus said. "I'm glad that you're thinking of it that way. Have a good day of classes, Harry."
Harry watched him go with a smile, but he couldn't help but wonder what exactly Sirius and Zee were going to do in terms of dealing with the paper.
~ ASC ~
Sirius was sitting at the kitchen table that morning in nothing but an old pair of grey sweats riding low on his hips. He spit his tea out when he saw the headline of the morning paper, opening the Daily Prophet wider to read the article as Zee came into the kitchen. She was wearing one of his Queen tee shirts that almost reached her knees and nothing else, her hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head and he found himself momentarily distracted as he watched her make her morning tea before he held the paper up.
"Look at this!"
Zee glanced down at the paper and her eyes widened. "Hermione is Harry's girlfriend? That doesn't seem right."
"Because it's not!" Sirius exclaimed. "I mean, don't get me wrong, she's a bright witch and pretty enough and definitely intelligent enough to put him under a love potion, but she would never do it! The way she bickers with Weasley it wouldn't surprise me if they ended up together, but not her and Harry!"
Zee stared at him in surprise. "What?"
Sirius grinned. "The way those two bicker, it reminds me of James and Lily. Trust me; those two belong together, though how long it will take them to figure it out could be anyone's guess. As for Ginny blackmailing him or being a gold digger, that's just preposterous! Ginny and Harry are only friends! And it says Guinevere!"
Zee only made a non committal response to that as Sirius continued to rant. She had her own thoughts on Harry and Ginny, but she didn't want to share them with Sirius until she knew that they had merit.
"Skeeter. I should have guessed."
"That woman is foul," Zee said with menace. "She wrote an article last year claiming that by me asking for more money to go to the dragon reserves I was helping form a dragon army in some bogus attempt to take over the ministry."
Sirius chuckled. "Sexy."
Zee rolled her eyes. "Not the point."
He grinned. "Who did you say that you knew at the paper again? Someone in the editing department? I think that we need to set up a meeting."
She nodded. "I'll send him an owl right away."
Sirius grinned, standing up and placing his tea on the counter behind her before slipping an arm around her waist, bending his head to nuzzle her neck. "We can take the meeting together. I have a few choices words for the Daily Prophet."
Zee turned in his arms, slipping her own around his neck and smiling at hm. "Are you going to go all 'Lord Black' on them?"
He merely raised an eyebrow. "All Lord Black?"
She nodded. "You know, powerful and sexy as all hell."
Sirius nipped at her lips. "Maybe. Are you going to rip my clothes off again if I do? Get down on your knees and use your mouth on me?"
Zee smirked and stood on her toes to kiss him. "If you're lucky."
He grinned against her mouth, sliding a hand down to pinch her bum. "Minx." He let his hand travel beneath the tee shirt and between her legs, fingers slipping into her and her head fell back as he smiled. "Mmm, you feel good," he said, kissing her lips. "All soft and warm and wet. Bet you taste even better," he said before he slid down to his knees.
Zee merely panted softly as Sirius continued his ministrations and used his other hand to lift one of her legs, resting it on his shoulder before he leaned in and used his mouth on her.
"Fuck," she exclaimed, her hands going into his hair.
His tongue stroked softly and then quickly, dipping in and out in a teasing fashion. He flattened his tongue over her and she cried out when he started to lick again before sucking deeply. She groaned his name as his tongue worked magic and it was only a few minutes before she came, her fingers kneading into his soft hair and her other hand holding onto the counter behind her for support. He kissed and licked her thoroughly before putting her leg back down and standing up. He kissed her cheek and then reached around her for his cup of tea and took a long sip.
"Best breakfast in town," he said, bringing his tea to his lips again. "I'm going to take a shower. Why don't you send that owl?"
Zee merely watched him go, still trying to catch her breath from her surprise morning orgasm. Living with Sirius was definitely everything that she had thought it would be and more, she thought with a grin.
~ ASC ~
Harry was broom surfing, arms stretched wide as he flew around the Quidditch pitch the next afternoon. He was following his regular workout routine and was enjoying his flying as he tried to think of the upcoming task; as that's what it had become to him now, a new task that he needed to complete.
He knew that he needed to ask someone soon. The Yule Ball was eight days away and even he knew that girls needed more time to be ready for the dance than a week. But no one interested him. In fact, the more he tried to think of asking someone to go with him the less excited he was about it. Ron's suggestion of going with Ginny sounded amazing. A friend. Someone that he could be himself with. Someone that he didn't have to impress. And he realized that he was angry that Neville had thought about it first.
And he still had no idea who Hermione was going with as she was still giving Ron the cold shoulder and him by default. But according to Ginny it was someone who appreciated Hermione for who she was which had only earned a scowl from Ron in response.
Ron had been scowling a little less since Lavender had asked him to the dance. Ron had stared at her, eyes wide in surprise before he had nodded and Harry had answered for him. He seemed surprised that she wanted to go with him and he kept sneaking glances at her during dinner and in classes, which resulted in Lavender and Parvati starting to giggle.
But Harry had yet to find a date himself.
A few of his so-called fangirls had asked him out and one third year boy much to Seamus' amusement, but he had turned them down. He didn't want to attend with a random person who only wanted to go with him because he was a Hogwarts Champion, but the problem was that he also didn't know who he wanted to go with.
He finished his work out. His muscles pulling in a comforting way as he tossed his broomstick over his shoulder and headed to the change room to shower and change. He had just finished and he was still rolling his neck, adjusting his bag of workout clothes and his broomstick when he saw Sophie standing outside of the door to the change rooms. She smiled, brightly, when she saw him.
"Hi, Harry!"
"Hi, Sophie," he said, smiling kindly at her.
She was the last person that he wanted to run into if he was honest. She seemed to be working extra hard to seek him out this year and it made him feel a little uncomfortable. It wasn't that he hadn't enjoyed their little snog session last year, but it had been too much too fast and he didn't really like her all that much; that was the part that made him the most uncomfortable if he was honest with himself.
Sophie reached up to kiss his cheek. "I'd love to save you the trouble of finding a date to the dance, Harry. We'll go together, have fun, dance, and enjoy ourselves, yeah?"
"Er —"
She smiled, moving closer and sliding her hands up his chest. "It will be fun," she said, sliding her hand down. "Maybe this time I'll get to peek while I rub you off?" He stopped her when she reached his navel and she pouted.
"Soph, you're very nice and I appreciate the offer, really I do, but I already have a date to the ball."
Her eyebrow rose. "Oh? I had heard that you were still looking. Who are you taking? Is it Romilda Vane, then? I heard that she was on the short list."
"Short list?" Harry asked in bewilderment, not even knowing what that meant. "No, I don't even know who Romilda Vane is. I'm um…" he hesitated.
He had no idea, he thought anxiously. Everyone already had a date and he had no idea who he was going to take he only knew that he really didn't want to go with Sophie Roper. He looked towards the castle anxiously, trying to come up with a name or an excuse as if he was honest — she scared him a little — when he saw the sun glint off a familiar pale blonde shade of hair and he grinned.
"Luna Lovegood."
Sophie's mouth dropped open. "Loony Lovegood?"
"She's not loony and I'd appreciate it if you didn't call her as such. Now excuse me!" He tore himself away from her and jogged towards Luna, his broomstick still over his shoulders.
Luna looked up in surprise when he appeared. "Harry! Look at you, you're covered in Nargles! Have they seeped into your brain yet?" she asked, her hand reaching up to touch his hair as she swatted away what Harry assumed must be Nargles.
He grinned widely. "I sincerely hope not. Luna, I know that it's last minute and that you probably don't want to go, but will you do me the honour of attending the Yule Ball with me?"
Luna stared at him in surprise. "Harry, this ball is very important and prestigious and you should have someone important on your arm. You're a champion, you know."
He slipped an arm around her shoulders as they walked towards the castle. "I'd much rather go with a friend if she'll have me?"
She smiled brightly. "I'd love to go with a friend too."
Harry smiled warmly. "Thanks, Luna! You won't regret it, I promise! We'll have a grand time, but we do have to open the ceremony with a dance."
Luna merely shrugged. "That's not too bad. I suppose that means that I must attend Flitwick's lessons as I have never waltzed before. I like to dance more freely."
Harry grinned. "You can dance however you'd like."
"Good. I suppose that I have to find a dress."
Harry smiled. "I'll help you get something if you'd like. I know that this is last minute and that it's expensive and whatnot."
"Don't worry, Harry. Daddy will owl me the money." She patted him gently on the arm. "See you soon."
He watched her head up the stairs and he grinned, feeling like the pressure was off a bit. He was going with Luna, he thought with a grin, it was going to be great.
~ ASC ~
"Now befitting with tradition, the Yule Ball will open with the waltz," McGonagall said loudly to the Gryffindors the next evening as they were all gathered around in the orchestra room for dancing lessons. "It may be an old fashioned dance, but it is timeless. Harry, since you will be helping to open the ball, why don't you come up here and help me demonstrate?"
He blushed a bit at that as he heard his friends rag on him and he suddenly felt even more relieved that Sorcha had taught him to dance that summer.
He was taller than McGonagall so, he took her hand in his, and placed the other on her waist, surprising her
"Grandmama taught me to dance the waltz this summer," he said simply, before he turned her seamlessly into the dance earning applause and catcalls from the Gryffindors.
McGonagall beamed at him, smiling when he turned her and back towards him in time to the music. "As Mr Potter has just flawlessly demonstrated, the waltz is a simple dance that we all must learn. Watch his feet, one, two, three, one, two, three — see, bring it back again, one, two, three, one, two, three."
Five minutes later, he found his arms full of Hermione as she stared in determination down at her feet. Harry took his hand off of her waist and cupped her chin in his fingers, tugging her face up to look at him.
"Hey, at me, not at the floor."
She flushed. "What if I step on your feet? I don't know what I'm doing, Harry."
"You won't," he told her. "I won't let you. Watch my face, step one, two, three, see? It's easy. Good. Look, you're dancing with me."
She laughed when he turned her and dipped her, spinning her out and back into him. "Thanks for not letting me fall. I have terrible coordination. Dad used to stand me on his feet and dance around with me that way."
"You're doing great. Your mystery date will be thrilled."
She blushed.
"Are you really going to make me wait until the Yule Ball to find out who's taking you?"
Hermione sighed, letting him lead her around the dance floor confidently. "I just... you promise not to laugh?"
"Hermione, why would I laugh? Anyone would be lucky to take you."
She blushed again. "It's just… I mean, I was more surprised than anyone when he asked me."
Harry merely raised his eyebrow. "Tell me."
"It's Viktor."
"Viktor?" he asked, his brow furrowing. "We don't know anyone named — you can't mean Krum?" he asked incredulously.
She nodded, biting her bottom lip. "You said that you wouldn't laugh!"
"I'm not laughing, Hermione, it's… he's so much older than you!"
"Three years," she said biting her bottom lip again. "I'm aware. He just turned eighteen in September. He's sweet and he… likes me. We met in the library and he let me talk his ear off about house elves and then we talked about Arithmancy and Transfiguration and History of Magic and he makes me laugh and he thinks that it's funny that I don't know anything about Quidditch. He took me to Hogsmeade and told me about his sisters and… I really like him, Harry."
Harry stared at her, his eyes wide in surprise. "Wait... are you and he… dating?"
She bit her lip again. "Well, he hasn't really asked me or anything, officially, I mean, but... I—I think so. We meet in the library or around the castle and we go for long walks and we talk and he took me to Hogsmeade and… are you upset? He's a champion and I know that I'm supposed to be rooting for you and I am, I swear, it's just —"
Harry put his fingers over her mouth to silence her. "You're one of my best friends, Hermione. I love and trust you. I know how much you support me, especially in this tournament. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I don't plan on it."
He smiled. "Well, I don't think it's exactly something that we plan, but good. He makes you smile a lot. Don't think that I haven't noticed that big goofy grin you've been sporting for a few weeks now."
Hermione kissed his cheek. "Yeah, he does."
"Good. It looks good on you."
She smiled and hugged him tightly before they turned back to the dancing and then she looked up into his eyes. "And Harry?"
"Yeah?" he asked, spinning her out and back into his arms again.
"I love and trust you, too."
"Thanks. And no, I won't tell Ron."
Hermione beamed at him. "Thank you! I'm still a bit annoyed with him after all."
He chuckled. "But you have to dance with me at least once at the ball."
She smiled. "I promise."
Harry spun her out again, smiling and thought that maybe this ball might be more fun than he had originally thought.
~ ASC ~
Sirius and Zee stepped into the office of the Daily Prophet for their appointment with Danny Evangeline, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper situated in the heart of Diagon Alley. They were immediately ushered down to his office and given chairs to wait as he finished up a meeting. The man who rushed in ten minutes later with flyaway grey hair and large glasses merely smiled apologetically when he saw them.
"I'm terribly sorry, my meeting ran late. I apologize for my tardiness. Zee! How lovely to see you again! I was just going to owl you to discuss your next project!" he exclaimed, shaking her hand enthusiastically before letting his eyes move to Sirius. "And the infamous Lord Black. I've heard that you've been causing quite a stir in the Ministry over the last nine months."
Sirius simply grinned at him. "Maybe it was time to stir the pot."
"Touché," Evangeline said with a smile before moving to take a seat behind his desk. "I'd love a chance for an interview on your dealings with the Wizengamot?"
"I'll consider it," Sirius told him.
The man grinned, broadly. "So, how can I be of help to the two of you today?"
Zee leaned forward in her seat. "Danny, you've known me for what, six years now?" At his nod, she smiled. "You're a gifted editor and one that I adore working with as the work you do with the Daily Prophet is truly inspiring. However, I was extremely unimpressed with the article that I read the other day about 'Harry Potter's Secret Girlfriends.'"
Evangeline chuckled. "Not exactly front page worthy, was it?"
Sirius glowered at him. "No, it was not."
He sobered a bit when he saw Sirius' less than impressed expression. "Zacarias, you know how this goes. I have so many articles and stories at my disposal and the front page is for what I know is going to sell papers. The Boy Who Lived is a Champion in the TriWizard Tournament, the Second Champion for Hogwarts — that's newsworthy! Anything with his name on it is going to sell papers."
"The fact that he was made champion, absolutely — that's newsworthy," Zee said. "But the sordid article about his secret girlfriends was tasteless and I have a problem with how you portrayed my boy as being led around like a bull with a ring through his nose! That is not newsworthy, but tabloid worthy, and it's more than just a problem."
"The Daily Prophet is printing gossip about my son without my approval. If you can't be bothered to get your facts straight, I think that you're in the wrong career," Sirius exclaimed, his eyes flashing in anger.
"Now, see here, Lord Black —"
"— No, you see here, Evangeline. My son is not some pawn to be used to help you sell this piece of shit paper. My son is a Hogwarts Champion. He is currently tied in first place with the World Famous Bulgarian Seeker and Durmstrang Champion, Viktor Krum. He was incredible in the First Task, as were the other three champions. Why didn't you talk about their achievements? Why didn't you write a play-by-play of their actions against a bloody dragon? Instead, you publish speculation and bullshit about a fourteen-year-old-boy's social life, as if his personal life is any of the world's bloody business!"
"This is a newspaper, Lord Black," Evangeline said, hotly. "We publish what is reported and that is our right as British Magical Citizens!"
"Freedom of press is subjective, Evangeline," Sirius said, hotly. "Publishing salacious gossip just to sell a paper is bullshit and you know it. I want a formal apology written for this nonsense concerning my son and his secret girlfriends."
"I will not!"
"You will!" Sirius exclaimed, darkly. "Or I can make your life incredibly difficult! Hermione Granger is a bright witch and you not only pulled her name through the mud, but published lies about her making love potions and blackmailing my son! As for Ginny Weasley, you not only published her name incorrectly, but actually claimed that she was a 'gold digging Niffler only interested in blackmailing Potter in order to obtain fame and fortune.' People are going to eat that up! And what if either of these young women are put under investigation for crimes that they've never even committed? It's uncalled for and inexcusable and you will put it to rights immediately."
"Ah-hah! So, one of them is his secret girlfriend!"
Sirius glowered. "No, they're really not. Now, let's talk about all of the facts that you published that were incorrect, Weasley and Granger being his girlfriends being only one of many."
Evangeline swallowed. "Rita Skeeter interviewed several students at Hogwarts. She has interview recordings backing up her facts."
"Backing up gossip and nothing more!" Sirius exclaimed. "You will not publish a single thing about my son without my approval and you will not publish a single thing about my son that is not directly pertaining to his involvement in the TriWizard Tournament, do you understand?"
"Lord Black, I am merely the editor. What my reporters write —"
"— Are lies! I want a formal apology to Harry, Hermione, and Ginny printed in the next edition of this paper and that includes one from Rita Skeezer herself!"
"Er, it's Skeeter, actually."
Sirius merely raised an eyebrow. "Schemer, yeah, that she is. Are you aware that she dragged my son into a broom closet to interrogate him about the tournament and when he refused to answer any questions she allowed her Quick Quill to write notes about him crying over his dead parents? How is that anything other than terrible journalistic tendencies? I could demand for you to sack her immediately and I should, but I'm willing to give you and this paper one last chance to make it right."
"Lord Black, the Daily Prophet has been reporting the news to the United Kingdom since 1743 and I for one am not going to allow you to come in here and tell me what I can and cannot publish!" Evangeline declared, his face heating as he blustered.
Sirius simply crossed his arms. "Reporting lies. The public, your readers, deserve to know the truth; not badly written rubbish that barely even qualifies as news."
Evangeline was turning a dark shade of purple by now. "How dare you, Sir!"
Zee stood up, putting herself between the two men. "Danny, Sirius is right. This is a wonderful paper and you work hard to make it so, upholding its history as Britain's number one paper in the country. However, what Rita Skeeter wrote about Harry wasn't appropriate, and in fact, it makes you and the paper look bad; resorting to gossip instead of news? You do owe Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley a formal apology. Nothing written in that article was even close to being true."
Evangeline seemed to consider what she was saying, but he only nodded stiffly as he spoke. "We are the number one paper in this country and we strive to be so."
"And you can continue to be so if you report the truth and not gossip. If I wanted to read gossip, I would grab a copy of Witch or Wizard Weekly, this is supposed to be the news. And in all honesty, if you don't comply with what we are asking of you, Lord Black has the power to get rid of you."
"To get — now see here, Zacarias —"
"— No," she interrupted, her eyes flashing. "I am an agent of the DRCMC and it's not only Lord Black who can make your life very difficult, Danny. My boys mean the world to me and if you continue to harass or disrespect the privacy of our son I will make you the laughing stock of the entire Ministry before Sirius buys your paper and sacks you!"
"And the first thing that I would do is sack you, it's true," Sirius added with a grin.
Evangeline paled, his eye twitching slightly. "Article 10 of the Wizarding Rights Act declares that 'freedom of speech is the right of every British Magical Citizen by law.' That includes freedom of the press."
Sirius merely grinned. "True. However, you are a newspaper, which means you are printing news not fictional gossip. You have one week to print a formal apology to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley. You will then correspond directly with me about any potential articles or mentioning of my son or photos of my son that may or may not be published in your paper. If I see anything that goes against what I have asked of you, I will buy this paper ten times over and crush it like a bug before I sack you and make sure that no one in this country gives you a job in journalism ever again. Are we clear, Mr Evangeline?"
He nodded, swallowing. He looked like he wanted to argue, but Sirius could see the wheels turning in the man's head. He knew who he was and he knew the wealth and the power behind the name of Black.
"And if you do not print formal apologies to Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, and my son, you won't get a single new column from me as Nature's Magic has made it quite clear that they would love to take me on as a regular columnist in their monthly magazine."
He stared at her, eyes wide. "But you've been writing for the Daily Prophet for six years!"
"I won't write for a tarty gossip rag that slanders my son's good name!"
Evangeline looked startled by this and he swallowed. "Zacarias, we depend on your column every week! You signed a contract!"
"Which we both know expires at the end of this month," Zee pointed out. "Danny, listen to me, by printing an apology you are making yourself and the paper look better as well. Let's keep making the Daily Prophet Britain's number one paper and maybe I'll sign a new contract with you, shall we?"
Evangeline nodded stiffly. "I accept your terms. However, you should be aware that Skeeter is my top reporter for the TriWizard Tournament at the moment."
"I have no problem with that," Zee said with a smile. "We would just like to fact check her work. I won't stand by idly while she attacks my boy, do you understand me?"
"And if Sleazer keeps writing nothing but gossip about our son, I will deal with her personally. Fair, Evangeline?"
"Fair," he agreed, extending his hand to Zee and then to Sirius as he looked between them. "The paper will issue formal apologies, they will be printed on the twenty-third. I will write them myself and I will have Rita Skeeter write her own apologies as well. But I want a trade off in return."
Sirius merely raised his eyebrow. "A trade off in return for keeping your job?"
Evangeline nodded. "Er, yes. I want Zee to sign a new contract, promising me six more months, no, make it one year, and after the Second Task, Harry Potter gives a personal one-on-one interview with the Daily Prophet."
Zee placed a hand over Sirius' arm. "We will be in attendance during any and all interviews with our son."
"And the contract?"
"When I see the apologies, I'll sign on for another year," Zee told him.
"Deal," he said, beaming at her.
Sirius merely glowered. "But we better see those damn apologies and they better be good!"
Evangeline smiled. "The twenty-third, Lord Black. I look forward to working with you. Now, Zacarias, do you have any new adventures for me? Our readers absolutely adore your column, but I am almost out of material and if you're going to be signing on for another year…"
Sirius raised an eyebrow at her, ignoring Evangeline. "You never told me that you wrote a column for the paper?"
She bit her lip and shrugged. "It was just something fun that I did when I travelled and I've continued it in my spare time. Yaxley thinks that it brings the department good press."
Evangeline grinned and rifled through the papers on his desk, grabbing a weekend edition and flipping through it eagerly. "She only gives me one article a week. I publish it on Saturday's paper and it's always a big hit which is why she knows it would kill me to lose her, especially to the magazine Nature's Magic. Ah, here it is, in section E." He slapped the paper in excitement as he passed it over to Sirius.
Sirius accepted the paper, turning to look at the column and immediately realized that he had in fact been reading her column for years, Z Confessions of a Magizoologist. "This is yours?" he asked in astonishment. "I love this column!"
Zee grinned sheepishly. "Yes, it's mine."
Evangeline smiled, brightly. "I have enough for six more weeks worth, but I would love some fresh new material along with that name on the dotted line."
She smiled. "You'll have both when I see the apologies in print."
He nodded in agreement as they said goodbye and headed out into Diagon Alley. Sirius draped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her close to him. "How come you never told me that you write a weekly column for the paper?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I just thought of it as being part of my job and not as a separate thing that I needed to share. Besides, it's anonymous and…"
"You should be proud of it. I should have known it was you. Looking back, there were a few stories that you had told me that were familiar when I read the column every week like that one about the story you told me about the fairies teaming up with the doxies to cause mischief in the Minister's hotel room in Belfast or that good one about the erumpent chasing the rhino in northern India."
Zee smiled at him. "Thanks. I like writing it, but I also like that it's a bit of a secret. It's called confessions for a reason, you know."
He kissed her softly. "Can we tell Harry?"
Zee smiled. "Yes. My boys and I have no secrets."
Sirius kissed her again. "No secrets from each other or from our son."
She blushed a bit. "It just slipped out, but it… I love him, Sirius. I feel like he's mine just as much as he's yours and —"
Sirius placed his fingers over her lips. "Yeah, baby, he is, and he would be so damn proud of you for defending him right now. He knows how much you care about him and so do I. He loves you, too."
"My boys," she said with a grin.
Sirius bent his head to kiss her, long and lingering and watched her lashes flutter open as he smiled. "My woman. You were amazing in there. Thank you. I want you at the interview with us and you know what you should write about for your next column? The dragons in the First Task. I bet that you could write a way better article than Skeazer ever could."
She chuckled. "It's Skeeter, Sirius."
"Is it though?"
She laughed as they headed into Twilfit and Tattings. "You are ridiculous and I love you for it. And I will definitely write something about the dragons in the First Task." She kissed him again as they stepped into the store. "Now, let's find something wonderful for Mama for Christmas."
He grinned as she tugged him to the back of the store to look at the women's clothing knowing that there was nowhere else that he would rather be than with her.
~ ASC ~
Remus looked up from his desk when the door to his office closed that evening and despite his surprise to see Snape there, he gave no inclination otherwise. "Severus, I hope all is well."
Snape didn't respond, he simply sat in the chair across from him. "I can say with absolute certainty that it wasn't Karkaroff who entered Potter's name into the tournament."
"I never suspected him," Remus said, honestly. "I know that he used to be a Death Eater, but the man was hardly pleased with Harry's name being called. He tried to remove his champion from the running. Did you think that it was him?"
"Not remotely, but Albus asked me to keep an eye on him. I swear that Karkaroff is getting more paranoid and he keeps speaking to his champion like they know some big national secret," Snape said, bitterly. "And after how successful Potter was in the First Task, Karkaroff is even more bitter that he's being allowed to compete."
"If I didn't know any better, Severus, I'd think that you were worried about Harry."
Snape scowled. "I may not like the boy, but I hardly want to see him dead!" He sighed, his eyes on Remus. "The more I think about it, the more I think that his name was entered for a reason."
"Misdirection."
Snape nodded. "Exactly. Someone wants us to be paying attention to something else."
"I agree," Remus said, leaning back in his chair. "Unfortunately, we don't know who that someone is. You have obviously made it your business to find out."
Snape simply raised an eyebrow. "I'm keeping my eyes open. After what happened at the World Cup in the summer; then Potter's name coming out of the Goblet of Fire… I don't think that the two are mere coincidences. I think that they are part of the same plot." He lifted his left sleeve and put his arm down on Remus' desk. "The edges of this haven't been black in thirteen years."
Remus' eyes widened as he looked down at the ugly tattoo of the Dark Mark. "Knowing you have this and seeing it with my own eyes is something else entirely, I must say."
Snape ignored him. "You know my past and you know that I once was part of his followers."
"I do," Remus said, carefully. "But I am surprised that you are so willing to share it with me."
"I know Dumbledore told Black and there's nothing that he knows that you don't. You two always were attached at the hip. You know that I've worked hard to try to put that life behind me." When Remus didn't answer, he sighed. "When the Dark Lord fell, this tattoo faded to a light pink. It no longer hurt or pulsed or did anything at all. It was one of the reasons why I thought that he might actually be gone, until four years ago when Quirrell let a troll into the school on Halloween and the mark pulsed at me. I didn't know that Quirrell was possessed or that the Dark Lord was working with him, but I knew at that moment that the Dark Lord wasn't truly gone. But for the Dark Mark to be acting up like this… something's happening and this is proof that he's getting stronger."
"Is it just your arm?"
Snape shook his head. "No. Karkaroff has approached me with the same fears. It seems that his Dark Mark is also blackening along the edges. When the tattoo looks like ink again, the Dark Lord will have once again reached his full strength."
"Why are you sharing this with me, Severus?" Remus asked, carefully keeping his expression blank.
Snape stared at him. "Because we both know that if the Dark Lord does return to his full strength, the first person that he's going after is Potter. We spoke about it after his name was drawn from the Goblet of Fire, but the more my mark shows signs of the Dark Lord's returning strength, the more convinced I am that he is somehow behind Potter's entrance into the tournament."
"Why?" Remus asked. "What would Voldemort possibly have to gain by putting Harry through the Triwizard Tournament?"
"At first, I thought that maybe someone was hoping he would be killed, but Potter's too resourceful for that," Snape said, bitterly. "I think that they're using the tournament to test him. It gives them a chance to see his skills, to check out his power and to try to see his strengths and weaknesses."
Remus frowned at that. "I hate how plausible that sounds."
Snape nodded. "I'm keeping an eye on Karkaroff on Dumbledore's orders, but my eyes are also open for anything else suspicious. If you and Black come up with any theories on who entered Potter, I'd like to be kept in the loop."
Remus stared at him in surprise. "You're willingness to help worries me, Severus. Has Harry started to grow on you?"
Snape scowled. "Hardly. He's adept at Potions, I'll give him that. I can see that he has inherited his parents' skill level. But if the Dark Lord is testing him somehow, I don't want to be kept in the dark and frankly, this mark puts me in the thick of it no matter what I may want." He stood up and made his way to the door, stopping when Remus said his name.
"I find it curious that Dumbledore has you spying again and how willing you are to pick back up the cloak and dagger routine. I can see that you've changed, but I still don't entirely trust you. I'm still surprised that you signed the petition for me to come back and teach here."
He turned to look at him. "If His mark does become clear inked lines once more, your lack of trust might be for the best, Lupin, because if I don't return to him, he will kill me — and I don't plan on dying — but I also have no intention of letting him control me again. I made that mistake once and it cost me everything."
Remus watched him close the door behind him without another word.
Dumbledore was using him to spy on Karkaroff, an ex-Death Eater. Snape was investigating on his own about who had entered Harry's name into the tournament. He found that very interesting indeed. But the part that he found the most illuminating was that he realized that he did trust Snape. Dumbledore was already setting the man up to become a double agent once more and Remus knew how beneficial that would be to helping them take Voldemort down.
He wondered how Sirius would feel about bringing Snape into FUVP and he grinned at the thought. Not yet, he told himself. But he planned on keeping a closer eye on Snape himself in the meantime.
He might be more helpful than they thought.
~ ASC ~
Harry was making his way back up to the school after his workout on the pitch when he caught sight of Krum heading towards the Durmstrang ship with two of his classmates. He turned and hurried in his direction without thought, calling out his name.
All three of the young men turned to look at him. The one on Krum's left had blond hair and the other one was tall and broad shouldered with dark brown hair and a full beard, making him look much older than seventeen or eighteen.
"Potter?"
Harry nodded. "Krum. Can I have a word?"
Krum stared at him for a moment before he nodded and murmured in Bulgarian to his friends. "Vis is Andrei and vis is Dimo, vey are vriends of mine. Vis is Harry Potter."
Harry nodded politely to them. "Nice to meet you."
Krum spoke in Bulgarian to them again and they said something back before they made their way to the ship leaving them alone. "Vhat can I do vor you?"
Harry put his cold hands in the pockets of his jacket, annoyed that he had misplaced his gloves again. "I wanted to talk to you about Hermione."
Krum's eyebrow rose. "She is not your girlvriend."
"I'm aware of that, despite what the newspaper has been printing," Harry said, his eyes on Krum. "Look, she's one of my best friends. I love her like a sister and you seem to have come out of nowhere and swept her off of her feet."
Krum looked pleased with this. "She is very special. I like her mind. I like vatching her vink; vu listen vu her valk and discuss her vhoughts. She is bee-u-tee-vul and vull of life. She makes me smile. And she sees me vor me, not just because of my Quidditch valent."
Harry nodded, surprised. It was the most that he had ever heard Krum speak at once. "Hermione couldn't care less about Quidditch. She only comes to the house games because I play and she wants to support me. I don't even think that she knows the name of the ball we catch as a Seeker let alone anything else about the sport. And she hates flying. She's terrified of it, actually; so trust me, you being a Quidditch star has nothing to do with her liking you."
Krum smiled. "You are here vu varn me avay, ven?"
"No," Harry said. "You make her smile. I just wanted to say keep making her smile because there are a lot of people who love Hermione and if you hurt her, you will regret it."
Krum snorted. "Are you vreatening me?"
"Yes," Harry said, simply. "I may be young, true, but if you hurt my best friend, I will make you regret it."
Krum stared at him a moment and then he nodded. "Da. I accept vis. I don't plan vu vurt her. I like Herm-own-ninny."
"Her-mio-nee," Harry said, carefully.
"Her-mio-nee," Krum repeated with a smile. "Tya e moyata krasiva kafyava krasavitsa."
"Er, yes," Harry said.
Krum smiled. "Blagodarya ti, Potter. Vat means, vank you."
"You're welcome, and it's Harry."
"Viktor," he said with a grin. "And I must say, you vere an excellent flier in va Virst Vask. I vas very impressed vith your skill vor somevon so young."
Harry beamed at him. "Thanks! I saw you at the World Cup. You were amazing. That Wronski Feint was incredible! I tried to explain it to Hermione, but she just thought that it was absolutely terrifying. She was convinced that you were going to die and she had her face covered the whole time."
Viktor chuckled. "I vill explain it vu her later. I must go in and do my homevork. I vill see you at va ball tomorrow, da?"
"Yes," Harry said. "And I expect a dance from your date."
Viktor's eyes twinkled in amusement. "I suppose, but only von."
Harry grinned as he watched Viktor head back to the ship. He was a nice guy and he could see why Hermione liked him. He was interested in her mind and her thoughts and he knew that having someone to share her intelligence with was a big thing for her as he and Ron didn't exactly give her the opportunity to share her knowledge too much. He understood her intrigue, but he wondered what it was Viktor that had said about her? Tya e moyata krasiva kafyava krasavitsa, he thought. He would have to try to sound it out to Zee, she might know.
He headed back to the castle to grab lunch before Arithmancy, deciding that it was probably best if Hermione didn't find out that he had spoken to Viktor on her behalf. He knew how dangerous his friend could be with her wand. And he had a feeling that she wouldn't exactly take kindly to him threatening her date.
He grinned at the thought and whistled under his breath as he walked, thinking it was definitely best if she didn't find out.
End Author's Notes:
A small change here as noted above, I wanted to change the Yule Ball to be Christmas related, but still give the students the opportunity to spend time with their families because I thought that it was stupid in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that if you went to the Yule Ball you couldn't go home for Christmas. So, originally I had worked it out to be Christmas Eve but after speaking with my beta I decided to change the ball to be the twenty-third of December that way students can still go home for Christmas after the ball. Anyway, little change, just saying.
(Italian) vero = true
(Italian) Buonasera = good evening
(Italian) meraviglioso = wonderful
(Italian) naturalmente = of course
(Italian) Sì = yes
(Italian) Grazie = thank you
(Bulgarian) moyata kafyava krasavitsa = my brown haired beauty
(Bulgarian) Tya e moyata krasiva kafyava krasavitsa = She is my beautiful brown haired beauty.
(Bulgarian) Blagodarya ti = thank you
And just some characters:
Andrei Ankov (original character, Durmstrang student)
Dimo Radkov (original character, Durmstrang student)
Viktor's family made up by yours truly:
Kosta Krum (father)
Boyana Krum (mother)
Iglika Krum (younger sister)
Desisilava Krum (youngest sister)
Thanks for reading and please review!