Chapter 19-A howling good party

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The quiet days got interrupted by the arrival of Fawkes who landed on the cauldron edge and spilled the beans all over the Slytherin table.

"Hatchling Dumbledore is heading for a court trial over Harry Potters estate this very afternoon." Sometimes it was great to have a spy in Dumbledore's office even if he was waving his foot in an attempt to shake loose his part of the bean mess.

When I thought about it I was getting ready to flash and kick some Goblins butt. Before I could stand one of Gringotts owls arrived crashing into the bean mess and skidded into and knocking over the pitcher of pumpkin juice. Ragnot wanted me there immediately with my invisibility cloak. A few minutes later I had flashed to the bank, bean and pumpkin juice free.

"Harry, Fudge and Dumbledore have set up a court hearing to declare you dead and access your money. I need you to sign the following documents and then I need to extract a promise from you."

Doing a quick scan of documents, a hearty chuckle and I definitely sign them.

"Now, the promise. There is no requirement for your attendance but I know you will want to be there. That is why I told you to bring your invisibility cloak. The promise is that you do not show yourself or explode over these idiots. Regardless who is there and what they say it would indeed upset a saint, so the promise. Believe me when I say it will all work out fine."

"All right Ragnot you have your promise."

At the time Ragnot did not realize how much he was asking me. Theoretically no one knew that Daphne and I have been sent back in time but… The people and their actions from before we were sent back were about to come into play. This was about to test my promise to its limits.

/Scene Break/

The first thing I noticed about the courtroom was it had to be a wizard court. Small little hints like the judge wearing wizard robes and courtroom security clearly display wands.

That's when the Dursley's walked in, all three of them. I wasn't sure if I was ready to laugh or whether to curse them into insanity. Here were the greedy little bastards. For eight years they beat me and made me live in the cupboard under the stairs. In all the universe and all the time changes their is no way that anyone could convince me that the Dursley's were any different then when I lived with them and right now. They hated magic so bad that the word magic alone would drive them into beating on me. So everything was fine to now appear in a magic court with a wizard judge to collect my wizard money. How can I know that? They damn sure were not here to sue to have me return to Privet Drive. Oh yeah I wanted to stomp on them a little bit but I had made a promise.

The next two walked in were Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Now I was becoming confused.

I almost laughed out loud the way the Dursley's reacted when the Goblins strode into the room and took the other table facing the judge. Where was Colin Creevey when you needed him and his camera?

The scribe had just called the room to order when Dumbledore comes striding in at the last second. I wonder if this was to impress everybody or like Lockhart so that no one would miss his Imperial presence and magnificence.

"All right let's get down to the first case." The judge whacked his hammer on the bench. "Petunia Dursley is claiming as the last living relative of one Harry Potter and is asking to be awarded his entire estate. What proof do you have that Harry Potter is in fact decease?"

Dumbledore jumped up, "I have a witness to the last moments of Harry Potter's life…" About that time Hagrid crashed through the doors and into the courtroom. "Sorry I'm late, had a bit of problem with the Floe, the little fella fell off the bike when we're flying over Bristol."

Vernon was turning purple but apparently was to terrified to open his mouth or to greedy.

"If you would please Your Honor I believe I could settle all of these cases with the following documents." The Goblin approached the bench and handed the wizard judge a pile of documents.

"Let's see the next part of this case is Black versus Potter. This is a bit strange, Mr. Black please present your case."

"Simply put I made Harry Potter my heir. Now that Harry Potter is dead I want to make someone else my heir but the Goblins say no as I have lost my title to Harry Potter. I want my title back."

And you headmaster Dumbledore are claiming Harry Potters estate in the name of Geneva Weasley based on a marriage contract that is supposed to be consummated upon graduation of the young lady."

Judge started laughing and slammed down his wooden mallet and choked out, "All three cases are dismissed without merit. Why all three cases are dismissed I will explain completely in just a moment." It took a while for the judge to quit howling in laughter, in the interim the courtroom became quite noisy.

Petunia being quite calculating realized that she had been played, "How much of a percentage were you going to get from the Weasley trolup if you won her case? As much as you asked for us to pay?" Her voice was quite shrill. This started Vernon lumbering at Dumbledore, bellowing obscenities, before security stunned him.

"Sorry about that folks but I've never seen a group of more greedy avarice people before in my court in a very long time. I've also never seen a young man so skillfully in avoiding your greed. I will be directing the DMLE to investigate your intent in making these claims."

"Now, as to the facts behind my rulings. Harry Potter is alive and happily living…"

Dumbledore jumped to his feet and demanded, "Harry Potter is in English subject and must attend Hogwarts until he, at a minimum, passes his OWLs, so I demand his arrest and return to…"

"The court has Harry Potters OWL and NEWT results and I wish that I had obtained such grades when I attended Hogwarts. Sit down Dumbledore your making a fool of yourself."

"Now were was I? Oh yes, Harry Potter is alive and happily living elsewhere and has been declared an emancipated adult. So the court rules on the Dursley's case , you're too late to make a claim on the estate… Merlin are you people serious? He's worth billions, Billions?"

"The Goblin bank stands by its accuracy." The Goblin, who had stood, sat back down.

"Mr. Black yours is a bit more complicated. You made a binding Will specifying Harry Potter not only to inherit your money but also your title. I have documentation here that shows that you are sterile due to excessive fire whiskey consumption. Legally, on Lord Potter's emancipation, he legally inherited the Black estate and Lordship. You sir have no way of legally undoing any of this."

"Now, onto the marriage contract. Now under normal circumstances you could at some point after graduation lodge a suit for breach of contract. However, Harry Potter is bonded to another predating your contract. According to magic and wizard law this bonding negates all subsequent arranged marital contracts."

"As I stated before that none of you have any standing so all cases and claims are hereby dismissed, have a nice day."

In the end I thought the whole thing was funny but then again it was really sad. Not that I was a friend any of those people but I was going to need some serious time to consider my future actions.

/Scene Break/

Tempest Fugate is a truth that no one can delay unless you employee magic. Interminably long classes and extremely short summers again brought us to the start of time that we had long ago lived and had been removed from.

"Harry the Daily Profit is going on and on about the Quidditch World Cup. I know you used like to play the game, do you want to go?"

"No, I'd much rather spend time with you whether it's an amusement park or the Dragons Breath restaurant. No…let Neville and his entourage deal with the Death Eater attacks. We have sent out the letters spelling out that the Tri-wizard tournament and the Quidditch cup is a one way ticket to the Riddle graveyard and the resurrection of Voldemort."

"Harry, do you think there going to grab and question the Golden Trio once again? It would be all too funny to see that happen."

"No, what I'm interested in is not being part of the Tri-wizard tournament once again. If I have to spend days watching that cup then that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to allow someone to put my name in that cup if I can help it."

/Scene Break/

The Hogwarts express was filling with students as Daphne and I watched from our compartment window. This year was starting a bit strange. While Daphne's sister didn't join our compartment Hermione Granger did along with Luna Lovegood. Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott also found the need to sit with us. So when Tracy entered the compartment it was quite full. The door was left open as was the window left partially open. This was to allowed fresh air to circulate through the crowded compartment. Then the reasoning for the crowds assembly began.

"I want to thank you and Daphne for allowing me here as the Golden Trio has become a bit stifling to be arround." Hermione started.

"I know what you mean Hermione, Ginny has thrown away our childhood friendship to be part of the Golden Trio. The Nargles and Humburgers are in distress and are infesting their compartment quite forcefully."

Being the sole male in the compartment I figured that I best keep my two Knuts to myself. The girl chatter seemed to have no bounds and they ignored my presence.

"I've been hearing a rumor about something unusual is going to be happening at Hogwarts this year. Do any you know anything about that?" Tracy was fishing for some rumor material.

"Actually Auntie told me that Dumbledore and the Minister have gotten together to sponsor a tournament that has not been held like in a hundred years." Susan Bones added.

"That would not be the Tri-wizard tournament by any chance, would it Susan? Hermione was on the scent of some information or knowledge.

"I think that's what Auntie said it was called."

Of course that sent Hermione off on a complete educational tour of total irrelevant facts and immaterial information for the enlightenment of everyone in the compartment. I had already closed my eyes with hope of sleep when Daphne added her two Knuts causing me to unnecessarily run my mouth with a couple of facts too many.

"I'm sure that that silly goblet will pick silly people to participate in there silly tournament."

"I read in the restricted section that all you have to do is drop your name on a piece of paper in the goblet." Hermione was to explain tournament facts for the next twenty minutes when Hannah jumped in.

"You mean anybody can put their name in or anybody else's name in?" Hannah wasn't overly happy.

"Well I'm sure the headmaster will put up wards to ensure that only the proper people can put their names in the Goblet. Maybe a ward that only allows fourth years and above to put in their name in or some kind of an age ward to keep the young ones out."

I was stupid and while I mumbled as if half asleep, it was intended to stop Hermione from flapping her jaws for the next twenty or thirty minutes. It was something that I had been thinking about this since forever. Daphne and I both knew the tournament was coming and exactly what happened last time. So with my eyes still closed I started…

"I'm sure that'll be some peace of incompetent wizard magic." My big mouth got all the girls, except Daphne saying, prove it!

"Okay! Let's assume Dumbly puts up an age ward. I can think of about ten different Muggle ways of beating his age line. Magic usually recognizes other magics so if you keep it Muggle you should have no problem." I really didn't want to get involved in this discussion so I kept my eyes closed hoping that I would fall asleep.

"Example smart mouth, let's have a couple of those examples!" Tracy demanded."

"Let's see… You stand outside the age line crumple up your piece of Muggle paper that you used a Muggle pen to write your name on and toss it into the goblet. Don't like that? Get up higher then the goblet and use a Muggle sling shot with your paper wrapped around a stone. Now if Dumbly puts up a ward that you have to be fifth-year or higher, even simpler, get somebody of age to just walk in and toss your name in that Goblet. Easy Peasy!"

With the girls interested in the discussion, and me with my eyes closed, no one noticed the person loitering outside our open compartment door.

/Scene Break/

As before everything transpired about the same. The two schools arrived but then things got a little weird.

"Want to bet the miniature copy is a Veela?" Daphne giggled.

"Only want to take the bet that she's not Fleur's sister." I retorted, "I'm not that slow, try Draco."

"I don't seem to remember her from the last tournament, didn't Fleur rescue some guy?"

"Kind of one of those quirks I guess. Just like we haven't found Wendy, I'm sure this can be more oddities before this is all over with."

Fleur had arrived that night for dinner with her sister. No sooner had the two walked in to the hall and headed toward the HufflePuff table when the male student population entered their drooling mode.

"Harry look at Weasley, oh! This could be trouble."

Ron Weasley being of the weakest of minds leapt from his seat and charged towards the two. Fleur must have become accustomed to this type of bezerk reactions as she had drawn her wand. The smaller girl however panicked and started to run away from the crazed and drooling Weasley. As she ran she to look over her shoulder but in doing so tripped and landed in Daphne's lap.

It only took a minute when Daphne said, "Oh shit!" As I reached for Daphne the little girl grabbed my arm trying to steady herself. That's when I heard a voice in my head, as I was sure it was in Daphne's head. It just said, "My mate."

/Scene Break/

Well we all had a good idea what was transpiring but after Fleur had stunned Ron Weasley she approached. Fleur and Gabby had no doubts what had happened but agreed with us to wait for the weekend so that the Goblins could confirm this insanity. Meanwhile Fleur, with her allure, was hanging around Daphne and I because of her sister… her younger sister with her Veela allure was aimed at me like a heat seeking missile and demanded to be in my presence. With Daphne and Gabby talking in my mind... I wasn't concentrating as I should, it wasn't the allure as the constant chatter. I tried to push all this out of my head as I prepared to set up a vigil, in my Phoenix form, over the Goblet of Fire. Initially I had set up a ward of my own around the Goblet of Fire but I wanted my eyeballs on that Goblet. The Fates were not going to allow me any space to think as Dumbledore caught me transforming into my Phoenix form. So by the time Dumbledore quit running his mouth in his office, about my transforming, anybody could have put a hundred names in the Goblet. I just went back to our quarters to get a good night of sleep.

Even lying next to a gorgeous female, worries about the cup and the tournament allowed me to fall asleep instantaneously. Bull!

I was already starting to toss and turn and was otherwise about ready to start yelling at the ceiling and the gods above...But... Rather than wake Daphne I get up to wander around the castle with the hope to relieve some of the stress. I was feeling maybe that my poor brain could figure out a few things, like what is going on or basically...Why me?

My wandering feet took me by the Goblet for what seemed the hundredth time but this time was different. One would have thought I was the only one wander around at this time of night but this time there was Professor McGonagall and students all around the Goblet of Fire. I was shocked when I looked at my watch and found it was already breakfast time.

Apparently my ward had stopped Peter Pettigrew, under pollyjuice (probably), and he had been seen by other student. The Students were explaining to the professor how a strange man had been tossed across the room and had change into a rat and scurry away. Well there was no doubt about it my fate, it was sealed. I knew I was back into the Tri-wizard tournament as a champion; the Goblet only had to confirm that fact.

Time had arrived for the Goblet to fire up and spit out my name. As before Fleur and Victor's names exited the Goblet followed by cheering and rooting for their champions. That's when the Fit hit the Shan!

The headmaster read a piece of parchment and called Neville Longbottom. There was something wrong as Neville was not of age and I didn't think he was that stupid to put his name in the Goblet but who knew?

Even I had no time to overly think what was taking place as the Goblet again spit fire and another piece of parchment flew out. The headmaster appeared confused but read the name, Ron Weasley.

I had been ready, for each piece of parchment that flew out, to stand up and walk to where the rest of champions were sent, but... The Goblet of Fire's went out ending the selection process.

I was in so much shock that I was not a champion that it took a while to realized the Daphne was hanging all over me and providing kisses over most of my face. Daphne was well aware of what happened before and how we expected it to happen again. Her relief was being expressed in the nicest way.

It took quite a while for things to settle down before the great question in the halls of Hogwarts was, "How did Weasley get selected by the Goblet?" Overall the school was in shock with his selection. Meanwhile the Weasley twins were taking bets on the first task. The favorite was the boy who lived. In second place was Victor Krum. In third place was Fleur. Ron was placed at 10 to 1 odds that he would even show up and a 1000 to 1 he would survive.

/Scene Break/

Daphne and I were having an extremely nice school year as Slytherin house was now paying more attention to Gryffindor as was a good portion of the school. After all with Longbottom being the Boy-Who-Lived, and Ron Weasley...Well unless it was a eating contest no one in the school figured Ron was much of a Tri-wizard champion and would not last long in the tournament.

Victor was busy eyeing Hermione but so was Ron Weasley while Fleur and Gabby's spend all their time with me and Daphne. Longbottom was rumored to be spending most of his time with the headmaster and Professor Snape.

/Scene Break/

"Well folks it appears that Miss. Delacour has bonded with Harry but not Daphne." I gave Ragnot a nasty glare as he was chuckling in his Goblin way.

"So when can we have sex Harry?"

"Gabby!" Fleur yelled.

Ragnot started to break up in laughter while I was having a total brain fart. Daphne seemed to be the adult…

"I think we all need to go back to Hogwarts have a nice chat in our quarters. Fleur I think you need to invite your parents over for a chat as soon as it can be arranged."

"Might I offer our 'Floe' connection to contact your parents Miss Delacour." Ragnot offered.

The call was made and Gabby's parents recommended we meet in a private room at the Three Broomsticks. I really was expecting a yelling contest and was thinking about bringing Molly Weasley but I wasn't sure whose side she would take.

"Monsieur Slytherin is indeed fortunate that our younger daughter has already found her mate, we are indeed happy for you both." Apolline Delacour stated as she hugged Gabby.

"For myself I can only defer to my wife and daughters. As long as they're happy I cannot complain, after all Sir they are Veela." Monsieur Delacour added with a knowing smile.

/Scene Break/

I was sitting out on a rock overlooking Lake. It is a bit of Harry free time. In a way I was trying to sort through my life? With everything that was rattling around in my head about then and now to bonds and… Now I had another bond and had to learn all about Veela. Daphne and I could speak with our Phoenix bond but how was Gabby going to fit in? Apparently her avian form allowed her in the bond to Phoenix talk with Daphne and I. It was the almost immortal aspect that was my worry.

"Harry, why are you hiding out here?" Daphne yelled as she and Gabby approached my rock.

"I just had a little free time I thought I would come out here and think about how crazy my world has become."

"At lease you found a secluded area it seems that the sun has brought out most of the students to enjoy the grounds." Daphne was able to say this as she giggled. Gabby had climbed up on my lap and snuggled into my chest.

"So Miss Delacour are you comfy?"

"My mate, you still have not answered, when do we have sex?"

"I do believe Miss Delacour that we have been over this ground a few times. Daphne and I are waiting to be old enough so you must wait until you are indeed old enough."

Gabby straightened up enough to be able to whisper in my ear which got transmitted to Daphne due to our phoenix bond. Gabby's suggestion was indeed quite descriptive.

Before I was able to ask Daphne for a chastity belt for myself a howl reverberated across the grounds of Hogwarts.

Before I could say, "What was that?" Several more howls joined the first. By the third set of howls it was obvious that there were dozens or more animals on the grounds.

"Daphne transform and get Gabby back to the castle, I'll be right behind you!" My thoughts were to transform and find out whom or what was doing the howling.

Moments after Daphne and Gabby disappeared I had an answered which scared the hell out of me as I started to transform. Unless you seen the drooling form of a werewolf fully transformed you cannot imagine your fear as it tackles you. But I had transformed, hadn't I?

Oh! I had been transforming but about them my survival instinct must have kicked in and I started clawing, biting and shredding my attacker. After my attacker was left in bloody pieces I attempted to move off as my animal side wanted more action. My animal side was downright pissed but we took one step and fell flat on my face. It seemed I had four legs. Seconds later my animal side was back on my feet? After a number of stumbling steps the animal side of me took off on a smooth lope.

As confusing as this was I knew I was not a Phoenix. Best sit back and let the animal do its thing. While the students ran like hell the werewolves attacked so my animal side had plenty of things to play with as I forced it to avoid the students. He was having fun so I let the teachers herd the students into the castle and tried to figure out why werewolves were there in mid day when it wasn't even a full moon.

Apparently all the growling and yelps of pain drew the majority of the werewolves to my location. We were just having so much fun dissecting any of the werewolves that came close and oh did they try. Here I was happily slaughtering a number of the werewolves when some idiot hit me with a curse. The animal wanted to eat the attacker but I took control and sped into the forbidden forest. Damn that jerk's and his curse…my ass hurts.

"If you're finished playing around I want to see Harry, you jerk?" Daphne was not happy.

After transferring back Daphne gave me a serious tongue lashing as she made me drop my pants. There was no need to apply a healing spell as she forcefully explained what a stupid jerk I had been. I did get a name of the animal I had transformed into as I was being dressed down. It appeared I was a Machairodus. This of course went right over my head but I kept my mouth shut.

Later in the day I got more assault on my ears in the library. Hermione was in full lecture mode for describing my shape and form. Apparently I was larger than a lion, (12 feet), very fierce, and had protruding teeth (walrus like). While overall brown in color I had patterns of red and white markings. Sounded like a sabertooth to me.

Apparently the Auror who hit me with the spell could differentiate between a werewolf and a sabertooth.