Chapter 20
Toyotama returned home to Japan the same day despite enjoying her time with Harry and his friends. Yoshiko requested rooms close to Severus.
Harry had simply thrown the Sorting Hat at Severus and ordered him to sort it out before running from the room. He didn't want to know about the man's love life.
"It's Mermish and it will probably be under the Black Lake." Harry said calmly as he wiggled his finger in his ears to stop the ringing.
They were in the classroom that had been appropriated for the Champions with most of the students who were helping them. A lot of them were also rubbing their heads as Viktor closed his golden egg with a grimace.
"WHAT?"
Harry rolled his eyes. Apparently Tracey was sitting too close to the egg.
After a few minutes they could all hear well enough and Harry had conjured a large tub of water and had dropped his egg into it and opened it.
Harry chuckled at the sight of ten people kneeling over a massive tub with their heads in it whilst others waited their turn. He thought about modifying the tub so they didn't have to stick their heads in… but he was enjoying the amusing sight.
"It's the same?" Harry looked to his right where Daphne had knelt down next to his chair to whisper.
Harry just nodded.
Daphne did not look happy as she went to sit with Gemma, Tracey and Pansy.
"You have to rescue something within an hour from the merpeople in the lake?" Hermione asked as she cast a drying charm on her soaked head and cardigan.
"Knowing the Ministry's need for drama, I imagine it will be a person, someone close to us." He indicated the other Champions.
"My family. They are safe in Bulgaria." Viktor said with a hint of relief.
"Gabby!" Fleur cried as she rushed from her seat and pulled the eight-year-old into her arms protectively.
"Fleur! I am fine!" The little girl complained. "The task is after Noel."
"They will not 'ave 'er." Fleur glared at Harry. "You will make sure of this."
"Me?"
"Oui! You control this castle. You can keep Gabrielle away from them." She said adamantly. Harry really didn't like that look, it spoke of retribution… on him.
"I'll speak to Albus and Penny." He agreed reluctantly. "But at the end of the day, it might end up being safer for her to spend the month of February back in France, up until the day of the task."
"Non!" Gabby cried. "I want to stay!"
Fleur grabbed her by the shoulders sternly. "Think of Maman, 'ow it would upset her if something 'appened to you."
"You are doing dangerous stuff." Gabby countered. "You stole from a dragon!"
At this point the pair devolved into an argument in rapid French.
*PHWEEEEEEEET*
Everybody winced at the loud whistle.
"You bastard."
Harry just grinned at his cousin. "Best thing you ever taught me."
"You bastard."
Harry chuckled. "I promised I will deal with it. If necessary I will have a suit of armour follow her around. Hopefully I will be able to convince the Heads to use something that won't cause non-champions (like parents) to suffer from whatever might be lost.
"Besides, there will be a ton of safe guards in place."
"It will be fine Fleur." Daphne assured her. "Harry will make sure of it. But we have more important things to discuss." She grinned at Harry. "The Yule Ball."
Dudley yelped in pain as Harry trod on him in his attempt to escape the room.
As with the first task, Harry's participation in the study and research sessions was minimal. He was usually in his labs working on various projects. He had also taken to spending time at the house in Glasgow where he could do his meditation outside of the wards of Hogwarts.
This was the home that allowed Dudley to attend non-magical school, it gave him an address for his records and he could invite friends over.
Still, Harry was surprised when he came down to hear Dudley and an unknown girl's voice. A Scottish voice.
He entered the kitchen to see Dudley pottering around and pouring some fruit juice into glasses. There was something in the oven as well.
Seated at the table was a willowy red headed girl about Dudley's age.
"Oh!" She said in shock as she quickly stood up and moved to Dudley's side, clearly unsure of this unexpected stranger.
"Hey Dud." Harry smiled.
Unfortunately, Dudley wasn't expecting Harry to be there and he dropped a glass causing it to shatter.
"I'll get the broom." Harry sighed.
"I thought you said no one lived here!" The girl whispered as she whacked Dudley on the arm.
"No one does!" Dudley hissed back as he carefully picked up the larger pieces of glass.
"But the house is owned and used." Harry said as he came back in. "Harry Potter, Dudley's cousin." He held out his hand to the pretty red head.
"Fiona Macdonald." She said as she warily took the hand. "Dudley mentioned you a few times."
Dudley turned slightly red.
"Every day."
He quickly turned away to the sink.
"For the past few years." She was looking at Dudley's back with a bit of a smirk.
"Well, we were raised together." Harry shrugged as he began sweeping.
Fiona noticed Dudley's shoulders sag. "That's not the way he tells it."
"We lived in the same house, ate at the same table, went to the same school."
"Fiona knows the details, Harry." Dudley sighed as he turned around. "Terry warned me about being truthful about being at the Home. I didn't want to be friends with someone and then have them hate me because they found out I was a criminal."
"Dud, you were a child." Harry said sternly. "You don't get to accept all that blame. You do get to accept responsibility for turning your life around."
"I still have nightmares."
"Well you should have said. We'll have someone see if they can't do something to help you sleep better."
Not wanting to embarrass Dudley further in front of his friend, he turned to Fiona. "So, are you in the same school as Dudley?"
"Yes." She said, still a little wary.
"Take a seat, you too Dud, I'll get drinks and stuff." Harry insisted.
"I-"
"Now!" Harry ordered with an imperious look and finger pointed at the table. "So, Fiona, what brings you here? Just visiting or something else?"
"Dudley wanted to know more about how to help people with problems like dyslexia, I help in some of the first year support classes." It was clear she thought it might have been a bit of a ploy on Dudley's part to spend time with her, but she didn't seem to object.
"Cool, if there are any books or resources you can recommend just give Dud a list and we'll get them for Greg." Harry answered before taking a swig from his glass.
"Greg? You mean there really is someone with dyslexia that Dudley is trying to help?" She was genuinely surprised, much to Dudley's embarrassment.
Harry laughed. "Trying to help? Dud was the one who recognised the problem and brought it to our attention."
"But why not take him to a professional?" She asked curiously.
"Does the name 'Hogwarts' ring any bells with you?" Harry asked, he ignored the wide-eyed and shocked look from Dudley.
Fiona just shook her head.
"Then I can't really explain due to confidentiality and security. Suffice to say that Greg is part of a fairly insular society. We have to make do with what we can."
Fiona didn't seem to like that explanation but she didn't press, she just changed the subject. "So what do you do for a living?"
"I'm still in school."
"Oh? What university?"
"Still in Secondary School."
"But… don't you own this house? I thought you were Dudley's guardian."
Harry looked at Dudley curiously. "Do you know how hard it is to explain our situation?" Dudley said grumpily.
"Dudley is older than me." Harry explained. "When we were eleven, I was sent to a private boarding school that my parents had signed and paid for when I was born. Whilst I was there the abuse I suffered was discovered. Dudley's parents were sent to prison and Dudley was sent to the Home.
"He had been conditioned to be a bully by his parents just as I was conditioned to be…"
"A fucking slave." Dudley swore viciously.
"Dudley!" Fiona chastised.
"The important thing, is that both Dudley and I have broken our conditioning. We are both well rounded individuals." Harry said firmly. "So, what about you? What does Fiona Macdonald do?" Harry smiled as he redirected the attention.
That blush returned. "I'm just a fifth year student at Dudley's school. I am hoping to work in education with children who have learning disabilities. Which is where I met Dudley. I help at the school's classes for special learning, I was assigned to help him when he came in last year to ask for information. At first I thought he had come in just to flirt." Now Dudley blushed. "But the teacher said he approached her first."
"Like I said, Dud was the one who determined that Greg had a problem. We've consulted professionals around the world, but Dudley and Gregory are good friends and Dudley is a good man." Harry said with clear pride.
"I agree." Fiona said with a small smile at Dudley. "Although he is a bit rough around the edges at times."
"Gives him character." Harry grinned. "So, Dud, are you going to be working in education for a career?"
Dudley gave him a dry look. "I think I'll have my work cut out for me just trying to keep you out of trouble."
"Moi?"
"Trouble?"
Dudley ignored the 'innocent' looking Harry and turned to Fiona. "Aside from all he suffered with my family, his parents were murdered by a maniac. That's how he came to live with us. That same maniac tried to kill him again in his first year. Fools have been trying to steal his inheritance. Last summer a friend of ours was kidnapped and that idiot went storming after them. Turns out it was a trap for the same maniac to kidnap him and try and kill him!" Dudley was huffing a bit at the end.
Fiona turned to look at Harry shrewdly. "What was her name?"
Harry laughed at Dudley's gobsmacked look.
Harry and Dudley returned to Hogwarts after a fairly pleasant meal with Fiona. Harry was able to determine that, whilst they were not currently in a relationship, they were clearly engaged in the 'mating dance' that teenagers often performed.
The male would be fairly calm and placid, often relaxing against walls, fences or tables. He would be serious, funny, whatever the situation called for.
The female would spend a fair amount of time on the border of the male's personal space. Often she would encroach by simply standing next to him. Shoulders would touch and neither would look at the other. There would be a tenseness mixed with excitement at the proximity of the other. It would be very confusing.
Over the coming days, the male and female would flit in and out of each other's personal space. They would discuss serious topics on everything from future plans, careers and dreams to the weather, sports, and music.
This would continue until one of them broke and made the initial move. Often in the form of a kiss.
Harry had observed this many times in his near eleven years at Hogwarts. He also knew to keep his bloody mouth shut.
Unfortunately it wasn't always possible, especially if you were friends with one of the parties involved. Definitely impossible if you knew both.
Which is what led to Harry sitting in his armchair in his pj bottoms and t-shirt at midnight with an irate kitsune pacing in front of him.
"He is just so stubborn and pigheaded!"
"Yoshiko!"
The Kitsune stopped and looked at Harry in shock. She had almost forgotten she had someone to rant to.
"You really don't have to list Sev's faults to me. How about you start with what exactly got you all upset?"
"Upset? I'm not upset!" She said indignantly.
"Just tell me the problem." Harry whined.
"Severus refuses to commit to a relationship and he won't even consider a little 'play time'."
Harry paled. "Don't tell me anymore." He said as he gulped.
"I'm hundreds of years old, Harry." She scowled at him. "I can be patient… but if he doesn't get a move on… I'm breaking out the restr-"
Yoshiko smirked as Harry ran for the door.
Harry was banging furiously on the door in front of him. He needed this sorted.
It was flung open to reveal Severus Snape with look the promised a very painful experience for whoever was disturbing him. Then he noticed who it was. "Oh… it's you." He sneered.
"Listen Sev, we need to have a talk." Harry told him as he barged in, much to the Potion Master's annoyance. "Sit." Harry ordered.
Severus had no choice but to comply, but he had a feeling that the boy didn't realise he had ordered him. He had to admit that Harry rarely ordered him to do anything beyond those first orders back in '91. He certainly didn't do it on purpose.
"What the hell is wrong with Yoshiko?"
Severus immediately became worried and a bit panicky. "Is she hurt?"
"Yes. She was up in my rooms-"
"Who hurt her?!" Severus was on his feet, wand in hand and a righteous fury on his face.
"You ya big idiot! Now sit back down and tell me why you refused to be in a relationship with that goddess when you both clearly love each other." Harry ordered.
Severus scowled at Harry hatefully. "She deserves better than a slave. Better than a murderer. Better… better than me." He rubbed his left arm subconsciously.
"Severus, whilst I can't release you from being a slave, you have shown that you are a changed man." Harry said firmly. "Over the past four years I believe you have managed to become the same Severus Snape that my mother called 'friend'.
"When I claimed you as my slave it wasn't so I could make you suffer; it was to prevent you from making me suffer."
Severus scowled. He knew the story of Harry's time travel. When Black and Lupin had learned the whole story, including his treatment of Harry, the only thing that stopped them from beating him to within an inch of death was Harry.
"You've changed Severus Snape." Harry said impassioned. "Granted you won't win 'Saint of the Year', but you will definitely be welcome at Hogwarts as a Professor or just as a friend visiting.
"You don't seem to realise, but you have actually made friends with several of the other professors. Let's not forget Shirley and the gang at Desmond's."
Severus couldn't really refute that. Even Black and Lupin had been far more than civil on occasion, most of that was a combination of him curing lycanthropy and his part in Yoshiko's prank on them back in Japan. Harry had refused to allow anyone to tell Black or Lupin about Severus being a slave.
"But I'm still a slave and a murderer." Severus sighed.
"And I'm still being looked on to fight an enemy that isn't even in this galaxy. As far as I am concerned you have at least earned a form of parole. Also, I don't believe Yoshiko should suffer for your past.
"Consider yourself free to do as you wish, the only thing you can't do is reveal my secrets."
Severus looked somewhat torn. "She doesn't know I'm a slave."
"Bloody hell!" Harry cried in exasperation.
Yoshiko had a near evil grin when Harry ordered Severus to get out of the castle and resolve his situation with the Kitsune. Harry had been careful to suggest that Severus tell Yoshiko the truth about his status.
Nicholas was pretty pissed though. Severus being gone meant they needed a new Potions Professor to stand in. Albus didn't have the time with the tournament in full swing so the Immortal Alchemist found himself drafted.
It was even more annoying as Harry didn't attend classes so he couldn't get his revenge there.
He did, however, over hear a few of 'Harry's Girls' (as they called themselves) talking about something that gave him an idea.
A mean idea.
An idea so evil that Perenelle actually caught him cackling over a cauldron.
Unfortunately for Harry, Penny actually liked the idea and so they both ended up cackling over the cauldron.
Dudley had brought Fiona to the house again, she had found some information on the Internet for him. Harry had the whole house kitted out with the best technology he could find so they had a computer and a state of the art ISDN Internet connection.
Unfortunately, Dudley's skills with a computer started and ended with the power button.
They were surprised to find the house was once again occupied.
"Uncle Frank?"
"Dudley! And you must be Miss Macdonald." Frank smiled.
"What are you doing here?" Dudley asked.
"Dudley, manners first." He scolded lightly.
"Erm, right. Fiona Macdonald, meet Frank Longbottom, he's… erm… "
"A family friend." Frank supplied as it was clear that Dudley had no idea how to describe him without something as long winded as: My cousin's godmother's husband.
"What are you doing here?" Dudley asked again.
"Harry wanted to get Alice… 'out'." He said cryptically as he remembered his was in the muggle world at the moment. "He's upstairs with her now."
"Neville isn't here?"
"He has classes, otherwise we all know he would be here."
"And… Madam Longbottom?" Dudley asked with a wince.
Frank just grinned. The animosity between Harry and Augusta was still going strong. "We decided to tell her after the fact."
Dudley gave him a dubious and almost pitying look. "Good luck with that."
"Miss Macdonald, a pleasure to meet you." Frank turned to the redhead. "I understand you are responsible for much of the knowledge Dudley acquired to aid his friend Greg."
"You know this 'Greg'?" She asked sceptically.
"I do. Gregory Goyle has been a friend of Harry's since they were about eleven. Regrettably, Gregory's intelligence isn't very high, quite frankly it is a miracle that Dudley sussed out the problem."
"Greg's smart enough." Dudley said defensively.
"It's not an insult Dudley." Frank assured him. "We all expect him to do well when he finishes school, but he will never be able to handle a job that requires an intelligence like, say… Hermione."
"No one is as smart as her." Dudley said with fond exasperation.
"And who is this 'Hermione'?"
Frank picked up his drink and hid behind it as he tried not to laugh. Dudley had been adamant that they weren't dating.
Frank was beginning to wonder which of them was deeper in denial.
"She is a friend from… " Dudley sagged in defeat. "She's like Greg. We're not supposed to talk about them too much."
"I might be able to arrange for you to meet a few of Dudley's friends." Frank offered.
"Unless it's Hermione or Terry… that would be a bad idea." Dudley said with worry.
"Let me work on it, Dud." Frank assured him.
"Work on what?"
"Harry! Any luck?" Frank stood quickly and eagerly.
"A bit… I think we made our first big step." The Lord of Slytherin smiled as he led his docile godmother down the stairs.
"Erm… Ganos?" Dudley queried as he saw a familiar brunette descend the stairs behind Alice and Harry.
"Greetings Dudley Dursley." She smiled at the boy. She was quite familiar with Dudley as it was easier for her to approach Harry when he visited his base on the moon. Dudley often accompanied him and Harry insisted on introducing them.
"Where did you come from?" Frank asked in surprise as he took Alice from Harry and seated her.
"I came to aid Harry as he seeks to heal his guardian." She informed them.
"You remember me mentioning Ganos, right Uncle Frank?"
"Well, yes Harry… I just didn't think I was ever going to meet her in person." Frank was a bit flustered. No one doubted Harry's tale of the glowing woman in white, but they never expected her to actually appear to anyone but him.
"I am limited in what I can do and who I can appear to, but I have decided to take Harry as my apprentice."
"An apprentice of what?"
All eyes turned to Fiona… the one they weren't allowed to tell certain things.
They were given a reprieve when Alice walked over and began stroking her hair. "Lil's." She said fondly.
Frank breathed in sharply as Harry just smiled sadly.
"Lily Potter, my mother, had red hair. She was also Alice's best friend. Alice is suffering from a form of brain damage and is essentially in a 'fugue' state." Harry explained.
It was a credit to the girl that she didn't even flinch from the strange woman. Instead, she took the woman's hand in hers and placed it on her chest. "Fiona." She said firmly yet softly.
"Now ain't this a touching sight?"
Everyone but Alice spun to see three large men standing in the hallway leading to the front door.
"It's taken a lot of work to track you down Potter. But you were sloppy, you thought we couldn't find you in the muggle world."
Dudley and Frank moved over to Alice and Fiona.
Ganos had seemed unconcerned, she just watched Harry carefully.
Harry and Frank both recognised the signs in these men. Haggard, scarred, manic… they were werewolves.
As such, Frank went for his wand, Fiona's presence be damned.
"Ah ah ahh!" The lead man warned Frank as his hand reached for his inner pocket. The man had his own wand out along with his two cohorts.
"Let me guess, you want to cry and moan because I've been curing werewolves." Harry said mockingly.
They scowled. "We are going to spend every day from now until the full moon torturing you before we eat you." The man on the left snapped. "And we'll make you watch whilst we play with the women."
Fiona gasped but Dudley just pushed her further behind him.
"Harry." Frank said warningly.
"Relax, Uncle." Harry tossed a grin over his shoulder. "These sons of bitches seem to have forgotten one very important fact."
"Yeah? What's that?" The third man asked sneeringly.
Harry turned his grin on them. "I'm Harry Potter."
Behind Harry, Fiona was incredulous, Frank was keeping his focus on the men, Ganos was amused and Dudley… sighed and simply sat down at the table.
In front of Harry, the three men were speechless before they burst out laughing.
"All that fame's gone to your head, boy!" The first man roared in laughter.
"You walked into the home of the Lord of Slytherin and thought you could do as you wanted?" Harry asked, unconcerned by their reaction. "I have defeated people in duels. I have out manoeuvred some of the greatest minds in the British Magical World. I defeated the most despicable Dark Lord since Grindlewald.
"What makes you think that three mongrels like yourselves stand a chance against someone like me?"
"You were lucky." The third man sneered. "I saw the memories of the duel between you and Flint. He was useless with a wand and that is why you won.
"I'm more than willing to bet the same happened with the Dark Lord."
"Actually, it took planning." Harry told them conversationally. "I took in the situation and made decisions. Just like I've taken in this situation and made a decision."
The men were a now more cautious and gripped their wands tighter.
"You see, you are in front of me. My friends are behind me. Just by entering this home you have angered my house elves and they are now hidden around the room. Severus Snape is standing behind my friends wearing my father's invisibility cloak. Albus Dumbledore and Perenelle Flamel are at the front and back doors respectively.
"But you see… none of that really matters. None of them are going to touch you.
"You see, I have Phoenix for a companion. I also have an owl and a very special snake.
"Ember, bring Blinky." Harry said calmly.
There was a flash of fire.
The three men had been prepared for the Phoenix and immediately cast the killing curse.
Unfortunately for them, they didn't pay any attention to the massive snake that was now curling around Harry protectively, hissing at the men.
They paled as Harry calmly hissed back.
Then they fell to the ground, stiff as boards.
Blinky curled down and relaxed with a bit of a huff.
"Are you sure I can't eat just one of them?" The young basilisk asked with a bit of a whine.
Harry leaned down and picked up the tiny phoenix chicklet with a put upon sigh. "Remember the rules. No eating things that can talk to you or me."
That was about all that Fiona could take as she fainted. She was caught in mid-air by the invisible Severus.
"Longbottom, a little help please." Came the disembodied voice.
"Fi-o-na." Alice said sadly as she reached out and caressed the girls face. She turned to Frank. "Help."
Frank was shocked. She never spoke and yet here she was saying this strange girls name and mistaking her for Lilly Potter.
"Come on Aunty Alice, we'll take her upstairs to one of the bedrooms." Dudley offered as he easily picked up the sleight frame of the girl.
"I'll come as well." Perenelle said as she and Albus entered the kitchen from opposite ends of the house.
"That is a basilisk." Albus commented as he looked at the massive snake.
"What gave it away?" Harry grinned.
"The dead yet unmarked bodies." Albus glared at him.
"They're not dead, Albie." Harry said in exasperation. "Blinky can control his gaze."
"How have you managed to hide this?" Albus demanded. "This snake doesn't look like a basilisk."
"First of all, no one really knows what a basilisk looks like as the last one was made and killed several centuries ago. Second of all, I just used a few charms so no one would realise what he is." Harry grinned as he scratched the top of Blinky's head.
He looked down at the featherless chick in his hand. "Are you ever going to reach adulthood?" He asked in a put upon manner. "Phoenix!"
There was a flash of fire and Ember's mother appeared.
"She really needs to learn to check her surroundings before she flames in." Harry told the mother phoenix.
Phoenix also seemed to sigh before plucking her chick from Harry's palm with her feet and flaming out.
"I will speak to you another time, Harry." Ganos said before vanishing in soft glowing light.
"Harry… was that-"
"Yes, that was Ganos." Harry confirmed for the headmaster.
"I will contact Amelia to send aurors to collect these… individuals." Frank sneered disgustedly at the three petrified werewolves.
