Hey everyone,
So this was originally a chapter where there was more HarryxViktor romance, but there was one major problem written in the chapter that makes it inconsistent. In the original version Harry sang a song during the break between the first and second book, yet I deleted that, so Viktor wanting to reward a song for a song?
Yeah, that sounds way too strange, especially to those who never read the original. And there is, of course, also the new Courting rules that I have to keep in mind as well. So while there may be a bit Harry-Sirius communication, the most of this chapter will be completely rewritten and will instead focus on something else.
Merry Christmas,

Venquine1990


Chapter 41
That Is One Helpful Raven

Destiny Islands
Andrew Hornwald's POV

So much has changed since Cedric and I thought we were having our breakfast before the Third task and the fact that I owe a fourteen year old the life of my best friend is something I still have trouble believing, but that is because my family has always raised me to be very disbelieving in regards to Harry Potter and his fame.
It made me have trouble taking the boy himself seriously and when he became the main topic of the first article about the Tri-Wizard Tournament, it had been the straw that broke the camel's back. Yes, every other time the boy had been slandered, he had managed to prove his attackers wrong, yet I felt this time was different.
Different, because it was the press that – to my beliefs – was in cahoots with the lad and different, because I believed that, if this hadn't been so, either the boy himself or his Magical Guardian would have publically fought what had been written about him in the articles. Because neither happened, I believed the articles as truth.

Yet for the third time in four years did we all get proven wrong and the idea that, thanks to Voldemort's return and the Minister's possible denial on the former, we will slander the lad for a fourth year in a row is a fact that makes me actually wonder if I really belong in the House of the Fair and the Loyal.
At this I sigh as I lean back against the mountain wall that has a set of waterfalls coming down from it and that has grown out of the island right next to the largest tree I have ever seen and then suddenly a voice shocks me as it asks: "Nargles? Even here? Oh my!" And I instantly look up and see someone who has been around on and off.
The girl has long blonde hair and very clear eyes that look like the moon in their color, yet they don't seem to be able to really see me, even though the girl is looking at me directly. Then I register what it is that she said and I ask: "Wait, what?" And the girl answers: "You have a whole swarm of Nargles around you, you know that?"

And suddenly I realize that this is the girl that we Puffs often see sitting by herself and who has been seen putting up notices that she is missing certain items at the end of the year both last year and the year before it and I think: "She's been bullied! Bullied and stolen from! And that by her own House and year mates, no less."
And instantly all that I know that makes me a real Hufflepuff comes out in me as I look down, noticing that she is without shoes yet again and I get up as I say: "I may be covered in Nargles, but your feet will be covered in all kinds of dirt and grime if we don't get you some shoes. No, no discussion, now let's go."
And while the girl looks slightly shocked, does she then say: "Oh wow, they disappeared." And while I have no idea what Nargles are, do I still smile, thinking: "They pick on this cute little thing? What are those Ravens thinking?" And while I wrap a brotherly arm around her shoulders, do I start moving around the Island.

30 Minutes Later
Lee Jordan's POV

"I'm home!" This was the first thought that went through my mind the minute I stepped through that crazy black smoke thing and by now I managed to get to the top of the runway that is build against the huge tree, am leaning on the banister and looking out over the most gorgeous view I have ever seen, even greater than a Hogwarts view.
I can see everything that this island has to offer and while I know that, in maybe a month or two's time, my two best friends would get absolutely bored out of their minds in here – even more than if they had listened to that woman and started working for the Ministry – does even this fact not take away my love for this place.
"How I wish I could just live here. Right here, in this incredible, simple world. Self-servient in food, gorgeous in weather, incredibly healthy when it comes to exercise seeing the distance between this island and the one further up can be crossed by either swimming or taking a cano like Leon and Kairi did half an hour ago.

"I sure am going to miss those guys – maybe even my family too. But I've always been determined, resilliant and – well, I just never felt at home in the Magical world. Could – could this have been the reason? I mean, my mum did want me to take the old-fashioned journey across the world that wizards used to years ago.
But now that I am looking at the incredible view this high-up spot provides, now that I can feel the warm summer breeze flow through my dreads and make me feel like I should undo them and let my hair flow free, now that the sun makes me feel like I am growing a tan over my tan, do I think: "Do I even still need that trip?"

And just by looking at the sights around me, do I know the answer to that, yet then another problem rears its ugly head in my mind as I look slightly to the side and down to where I see Harry having taken a seat in a large cave opening together with his Courting partner and his new parents and I gaze at the boy as I think:
"Can I really stay here? Now that I know just how much Harry needs all those that always cared so much for him? I could barely be there for him the last few years because so many – including that no-good Head-loser – told me Harry was perfectly happy with the friends he already had and I could only offer back-up assistance.
Now Harry is laying his soul out for everyone to bare, we discover that he's actually suicidal and there are still so many issues and horrible problems that will surely be revealed as the books progress. Doesn't that indicate that I should just return with everyone and – forget my dreams of moving here? Should I forget them to support him?"

"You're so calm." A soft voice suddenly says and I turn away from the four to where I see the girl that – I know for a fact – has always been an outcast to her own House, but who has also always showed great ressilliance and her own form of self-respect standing next to me and playing with the bottle caps on her necklace.
"You always scream so much. It's nice to see you this calm." The girl says, her eyes probably as far off in their gaze as mine must have been earlier and she looks up at the tree behind us as she asks: "It's the Island, isn't it? They make you happy." At which I nod and then the girl smiles and says: "That's nice." Startling me.
She then turns away and then says one sentence that makes me realize that I was being stupid and way too self-conscious with my thoughts as she says: "No one is happy, when those close to them aren't happy. Harry especially." And while others would have asked her how she knew, do I just smile and say: "Thank you, Luna."
And as the girl moves down the ladder, do I see her smile at me, her gaze actually clear and shining with great happiness and while I focus back on the horizon with a smile, do I think: "If Harry wasn't swinging for the same team, Luna would have been perfect for him." And this makes me snicker to myself softly, but with great glee.

Half an hour later
Connor Ellersby's POV

"Everything in life can give you so much information, but right now I feel like getting an information overload. This island – there is just so, so, so much to see and study. It's a world outside of our own solar system and yet at the same time it has so many similarities to our own planet. This is what astronauts are looking for."
Goes through my mind as I feel very, very happy that I took the tool kit for astrology geeks that my mother gave me for my last birthday with me when I entered the Great Hall this morning as I had a feeling that the people Lady Erika would want to show us their home the way they got to see our world the last few days.

Yet, from a biased point of view, I know that no one who has met them would have expected them to live in a relaxing, calm, peaceful world like this one as they are both quite buffed and have looks in their eyes that indicate that they have seen way more than others their age; Riku more than either of his two friends.
And while I have no doubt that the matters are quite personal, does a part of me really feel like seeing if I can talk to him and – somehow – make him tell me about his troubles and adventures and I think: "Seventeen years old, just finished my N.E.W.T.s and I still don't know if I want to be an astronomer or a Mind Healer."
And I shake my head at this as, while she had done it out of the goodness of her heart, my mother has long since made it tradition to gift me with a whole set of tools and books dedicated to a single possible career choice and over the last few years she got the chance to slim the choices down to two last ones; astronomy and Mind Healing.

Yet while the idea of studying that what the regular eye can't see when looking at the stars feels both exciting and – right now – slightly sated, do I also feel highly intrigued with the idea of finding out another person's darkest secrets and pieces of his past and then helping them past the many ways these pasts could be hurting them.
"And now, now that I am only a few days away from leaving Hogwarts, I find out that there is actually one person in Hogwarts who can use that help more than the people in the Janus Thickey ward at Hogwarts. And then, to make matters both worse and better, I find out both his new parents are in the same boat as he is."
And I again sigh and run a hand through my long blonde hair that, at young age, I started dying to have a few black strands here and there and then look out into the distance and past the other island I can see from where I am seated, near the wooden bridge that connects the small circular island to the rest of the island.

"See, I told you he was our guy." A soft melodious voice then suddenly sounds behind me and I look up, smiling as I see Luna as I have made it my personal goal for the last few years to keep her safe from as many of her bullies as possible, yet I also feel quite intrigued to see that she has the strange blonde girl with her.
The girl is supposed to be called Naminé and is apparently Kairi's so-called Nobody, though to me the name twin would have sounded better yet I ignore this and instead, like every other time when the girl approaches me, do I ask: "Can I help you girls?" And the small blonde Nobody instantly makes me get why she and Luna are friends.
"I am actually here to help you. Luna told me you like helping people past their past transgressions and so called skeletons and I plan to check Harry for his sometime during this reading. Maybe you can join me when I do so and offer your services to Lord Black." To which I think: "My dream target to try out one of my dream jobs."
And while part of me feels bad that I think of a boy that needs help so badly and that has been through way more than he has let on even to his friends as a target, do I still smile at the two girls, thinking they and Kairi could easily pass as a triplet and say: "Count me in, girls." Making the two of them giggle as they come sit with me.
"You can really live out your dream job while here, you know." Naminé then says and I smile, knowing she means both this world as well as any other world that Sora and Riku might send us to and while leaning forward to catch a sudden bit of wind that blows past our platform, do I say: "I know, I can't wait." Making them smile.

Half an hour later
Daphne Greengrass' POV

"I have never seen a mask quite like Potter's. And then I am the one who is called the Ice Queen of Slytherin. That Bulgarian is bleedingly lucky that he got Black's permission for that Courting trial, though I am not entirely sure he realizes that. Sure, he's as famous as Potter, but I'm sure his agent keeps desiring fiancés at bay."
Goes through my mind while I am at a wooden platform that is located between two of the large groups of trees on the far south-west side of the Island and while many of my fellow snakes are here – and many more have searched out the cave near the waterfalls as they must feel comfortable there, are my eyes aimed elsewhere.
From where I am standing I have a perfect view of Potter and his family and the fact that, only a week into his Courting trial, Krum has Lord Black's permission to hang around him and his family is something I am sure a lot of other girls are quite jealous of, yet I have never felt attracted to Potter; not him and not his fame.

"It's actually hard, you know?" A voice that I have grown to regard as my brother's over the years I grew up suddenly says and while I hate that I allowed anyone to get this close to me without me knowing it, do I turn to where Draco is leaning against the same wall as I am and has his gaze aimed at my target as well as he says:
"I mean, we've been raised to believe the Dark Lord to be the ultimate leader, that Dark magic tops everything and everyone and that Muggleborns are nothing more than slaves waiting to have their masters take over their lives and put them in their place. And now suddenly all our life's beliefs have been turned on their heads.
Now a man I was taught my whole life was but a stain on the Pureblood's perfect way of life is both the Lord of one of the most powerful Dark families known to England as well as Regent of the most well-known Light Family through his son. And to make things even crazier is his bonded someone father always called a beast."

"You're doing it pretty good, though. Adapting to this new life and all these shocks and discoveries that we have had sent our way since the reading started." I tell him and he sighs as he says: "That's because of Black himself. Though, I should really say that it's because of how he treats our ancient Pureblood protocols."
This makes me curiously look between the four of them sitting in the shade and my surrogate brother and he says: "Take that – that smart-ass Granger. She's been trying to prove herself superior to our ways of life and traditions and whatnot – and now Black is actually adapting them so that she actually understands and accepts them.
He may not treat the traditions our families have lived with for generations, he may be changing them – which is something we always hated about – about them – but he does it in such a way we get to keep the upper hand, get to savor large amounts of what our traditions are like and still see why Muggleborns can benefit from the changes."

"He does what Dumbledore should have done for years." I say and then suddenly Draco laughs hard and says: "Don't ever tell him that. He will probably curse you for comparing him to the man that hurt him, his mate and son so much." Yet I smirk back at the laughing blonde and say: "I wasn't comparing them, I was complimenting him."
And Draco snickers again, yet I turn back to the four in the shade and ask: "Have you had any troubles? Since we found out you were the reason Potter didn't end up in Slytherin, I mean?" Yet Draco makes me roll my eyes as he toughens up and shrugs before he says: "Nothing I can't handle, don't worry about it."

At this I shake my head and then say: "Come on, I think it's almost time for the reading to start back up." And while he tries to hide it, do I notice him suppressing a shudder of concern before suddenly a voice says: "They will always love you." And when we look over the banister, do we see Luna Lovegood moving away from us.
"First Draco and now Lovegood? How am I allowing both of them this close to me? Why is this island lowering all my self-preservation skills?" Goes through my mind, but then I notice Draco turning a little more back to his own complexion and smile as I think: "Never mind, that is one helpful Raven." As I move down to the beach.


Hey everyone,
So this was supposed to end with Harry and Sirius discussing the issue of them suddnely being a family and how they are supposed to deal with that and at what pace and whatnot, but I felt this whole thing of focusing on new characters and how Luna helps them just too brilliant to also add that to this all.
So, instead of that, I will add the whole thing where Harry and Sirius agree to just take the whole thing a step back and go back to first-name basis to the start of next chapter and, considering what will happen next chapter, do I feel that the three things do fit quite nicely together and much better than as part of this chapter.
Merry Christmas,

Venquine1990