Chapter 5

Christmas had come and gone, January had given way to February and the second task was nearly upon Harry. The last few months had seen the rest of the hogwarts body either avoid him like the majority or taunt and insult him for going dark. Insults about his parents wasting their time saving him, that the dark Lord was eliminating competition flew at him wherever he walked. The Slytherins, led by Malfoy, kept flashing those ridiculous badges in his face. Even his own house had ostracised him, only one person kept him company, the person he thought most unlikely to go against the popular opinion. Neville was his only friend, the boy had surprised him. Often overlooked by most, Neville was the best in their year at Herbology and had enough raw power to rival any student in the school. What confused Harry was why he was so timid. Nevertheless he was thankful for the help Neville had given him, even if it was accidental.

Flashback

Harry was lounging against a tree, reading a book he had liberated from the restricted section on advanced shields against high powered curses. Neville was almost waist deep in the black lake. Every now and then he'd scoop some plant life off the bottom and add it to his bag to take back to the dorm for his study.

The hours passed by with both the boys talking every so often. The sun fell in the sky and as it kissed the top of the mountains Harry looked up at a startled yelp from Neville. Shock covered Harry's face as Neville was…. Sinking? He was slowly shrinking into the lake. Harry jumped up dropping his book and flinging his egg into the shallows of the lake as he leapt forward to drag Neville out of the lake and back into the shallows. Thin tendril like fingers scratched at his legs as he pulled Neville out of the deeper water. Looking down he saw a pair of Grindylows circling, trying to find purchase to drag both of them off into the depths. As he looked around checking to for more, he saw his egg, open, insides glowing gold under the water and he heard the faint melodious voice echoing through the water.

After hearing the riddle sung by the egg, it didn't take long for the two of them to solve it. The problem of breathing underwater for an hour or more was solved quite quickly by Neville explaining about gillyweed. What scared Harry more than anything was the thing he missed most being taken. He had no idea what that was. Was it Sirius, his last remaining family? His last friend in Neville? Or was it his photo album of his parents, his last link to them?

As a panic stricken Harry rushed back to the dormitory, with a hurried goodbye to Neville over his shoulder, determined to account for all his prized possessions, he missed the shadow by the treeline that had been watching them.

Fleur was frustrated. She was trying to find a chance to apologise to the youngest champion, but every time she saw him, he was with someone or he vanished soon after. She turned from where she had been watching him, trying to gather the courage needed to approach him, when she saw him turn and run off into the castle after dropping his egg into the lake. Thoughts of her own preparations flitted through, driving all plans to apologise out of her mind as she went over her checklist for the task that was in three days time. Her walk back to the carriage took her round part of the lake and her gaze was drawn out over it, wondering what manner of creature it played home to. Were there grindylows or kelpies? Or worse, were there mer tribes living there and how would they react to a veela trespassing upon their homeland.

She climbed the steps into the carriage and ghosted through the entrance hall. Her gaze resting upon the groups of girls huddled around tables and fires in the common room, she rushed past and into the solace of her room. Ever since the first task she had been mocked for being last and she was tired of it. Tired of the spite and rumours about her, tired of being blamed for everything that went wrong because she was different. She was tired of the unfairness of it all. Hope blossomed in her chest as she thought of the one person who might understand, and she hoped she hadn't ruined her chance….

Potter had it all, he had fame, money, power, he could have any girl he wanted, and now he had a family. He had everything Ron dreamed of, he had it all. Ron was lying on his bed alone in the dormitory as he brooded. Potter got it all, he cheated his way into the tournament then he used dark magic in front of everyone to win. Well he'd show him, he'd catch Potter doing something, and then he'd have him, he'd prove to everyone that Potter wasn't all that. But first he needed the cloak, his gaze landed on Harry's trunk as he got up. He pulled his wand and unlocked the trunk, grabbing the cloak as it was on the top of the pile. He turned, shutting the trunk and making his way to the door, stuffing the cloak under his jacket as he reached for the handle, before being promptly smacked by the door and thrown into the cold fireplace.

Harry burst into the common room, pushing past people to race up the stairs to the dormitory. He flung the door open sending someone flying across the room. He opened his trunk, finding his map, his album, but his haphazard searching couldn't find his cloak. It was at this point he turned at the noises being made as one of his dorm mates picked himself up off the floor.

"What's the matter with you Potter? Now you're even more famous you don't have to worry about others?"

Harry flinched back from the tone, memories of his time with the Dursleys flashed through his mind as he reeled from the shock of the attack.

"Sorry Weasley, and I didn't think you'd noticed seeing as you've been ignoring me since October."

"Screw you Potter, first you cheat your way into the tournament, then you use dark magic to kill those dragons, and now you attack me!" Ron yelled as tried to push through to the door. Harry turned so he was out of the way, but his bag caught on the edge of Ron's jacket and a shimmering bundle fell to the floor.

"You dare try and steal from me Weasel" Harry's eyes were glowing as he grabbed Ron by the shoulder and span him round, magic and anger fuelled the punch he slammed into Ron;s gut as his instincts, honed from years of Harry Hunting, made him dance around the wild flailing of arms. He picked Ron up and slammed him into the wall, his rage almost drowning out the voices in his head. The pleas for him to stop from his two guides. Wolf and Dragon shouting through to him as one. His arms relaxed slightly, and Ron threw him off and limped as quickly as he could out of the room. He staggered over to his bed, the adrenaline leaving him in a rush as he surrendered to the guides that called him.

Anger flooded off Aenrith in waves as he glared at Harry.

"After all your lessons and teachings about your emotions, and about how dangerous it could be to let them out of control, you do that exact thing we warned you against."

"Young one, your powers are strong and untamed, until you have fully grasped them, you have to be careful, one mistake could cause all your work to be undone. You have trained hard during your time with us, but we cannot teach you everything, you have a long way to go and you have to be careful" The soft tones of Ragnair were almost lost amongst the snorts of anger from Aenrith as Harry sat before them, head bowed and drenched in sweat after his lesson. Around him lay several training dummies that he had been duelling before.

"I know, I shouldnt lose control, but it was just reaction, before Hogwarts i'd never had my own things before, let alone something from my parents. And he was trying to take it from me. I didn't think, i just acted"

"We understand little one, the exercises we started with tonight should help you, and Aenrith will teach you the basics of meditation to help control your emotions. But it will have to wait until after the second task. Now rest Harry, we will see you soon"

The training area dimmed and dissolved into darkness as sleep took Harry. The task was three days away, and he had no idea what they'd take….

Its been a while since I have even thought about the story. I hit a block as i wasnt sure how to go about writing the interactions between the grimoires and Harry and how to have him learn more.

As for the yule ball, assume it was as close to cannon as the story so far allows, it will be covered more in flashback possibly later on. But there are plans for another ball event at the end of the year, during the summer holidays as part of the relationship development