This story is still marked as completed. It may never be updated again but I have a fair bit of inspiration for the Weighing of the Wands Ceremony so you never know… Hanna xoxo
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Harry could have skipped as he made his way to the Black Lake for the second task. The last few months had just been so much fun. It was amazing to think so much had happen in such a short space of time.
He'd finally given Rita the real interview she'd wanted at the Weighing of the Wands and Holy Merlin had it incensed the public. He'd held nothing back, he'd told the full story of his life. How he'd spent ten years as a house elf living in a cupboard, how his cousin had routinely beat him at the encouragement of his parents and of course how he'd been too weak to fight back due to malnourishment. The best part was he hadn't even needed to lie. Every single quote in the Daily Prophet was the absolute truth, they could have held up under veritaserum. Which they actually had when he'd been pulled into the Ministry for an inquiry against his relatives.
It was sort of sweet actually. Harry had barely needed to do a thing. He just told his story and the people of Magical Britain had rallied on his behalf. Currently, he was an official ward of the Ministry just waiting for a suitable family to come along. The woman they had assigned as his main carer for the time being was a rather nice woman named Dolores Umbridge, she wasn't the most attractive of people but seemed to take great delight in making sure the Ministry was doing everything it could to make Harry's life easier.
What made everything sweeter was that Dumbledore couldn't do a single thing to stop it. Not that he hadn't tried of course but all that had resulted from his protests was yet more outrage from the public.
After all, this was a man they trusted with their children yet for years he had ignored the obvious signs of abuse. Harry had cackled himself silly when he found out the headmaster was now facing an inquiry of his own.
But now it was time for the second task which he still had to participate in despite the best effort of the ministry. They had been extremely embarrassed after Harry made a mockery of the first task though this time it didn't really matter to them. The big wigs at the Ministry were rather pleased that they were able to use Dumbledore as a scapegoat for once, instead of the other way around as it usually was.
He was definitely looking forward to seeing the old mans face during this task, it was going to be a picture and Harry had already let Rita know to be on standby with her photographer.
As he made his way towards the edge of the lake, Harry could hear the crowd speculating on what he'd do next. He just hoped he kept them as entertained as he had last time.
At the edge of the temporary docks the other champions were waiting for the starting whistle to sound. He absently wondered who his hostage would be. He couldn't really say he was on friendly terms with anyone in the castle at the moment, with the exception of Professor Moody who had made himself available whenever Harry just needed a bit of company. Ron hadn't been speaking to him since his name came out the goblet. Hermione hadn't officially been speaking to him since he refused to accept Ron's fake apology but in all honesty she too had been distancing herself since he was chosen as a champion.
He'd never really been close with anyone else in Gryffindor, though Neville always had a smile for him whenever Harry looked like he needed it. Most of the house seemed to think he'd let them down by refusing to complete the tasks.
Personally, Harry thought they'd let him down by refusing to stand with him. Even Professor McGonagall was making her displeasure known. Tutting at him whenever she saw him, no doubt on Dumbledore's order. And here Harry thought it was dogs that did tricks on command, not cats.
Harry couldn't honestly say he minded these changes as they weren't really changes. He hadn't trusted Professor McGonagall since first year and he'd never really trusted his house mates. He was friendly enough with them but their intolerance of anything different reminded him a bit too much of the Dursley's.
Harry quickly glanced at his watch, he still had a few minutes before the task would start. After making sure no one was paying too close attention to him, he surreptitiously nudged Fleur who was standing next to him.
"Oui?" She asked with a condescending look, but Harry could see the worry in her eyes and he really couldn't blame her. This task wasn't really fair to her. Veela were creatures of fire and air and Fleur would be at a distinct disadvantage in the water.
"How does Gillyweed react with Veela?" Harry blurted out. He'd been hoping to ease into the conversation a bit smoother than that but he'd only been given the plant as he was leaving the castle a few minutes ago. He hadn't really had time to formulate a plan.
"Excusez-moi?" Fleur frowned in confusion. Clearly she couldn't see the relevance of the conversation.
Harry decided to cut to the chase, with only a short time left before the task started, he didn't really have time for a question and answer session.
"I told a friend of mine what the task was and they got me some Gillyweed but I don't plan to complete the task so I don't need it. Would you like it or does it not react well with Veela?" Harry told her in a rather fast voice.
"Non," Fleur answered a few seconds later once she'd worked out what he'd said. "Gillyweed is safe for Veela but are you sure Monsieur Potter? Do you not wish to use it yourself?"
"I'm very sure, Fleur, thank you though." Harry said with a smile.
He quickly passed her the plant just as the whistle blew and watched as she swallowed the slimy thing and jumped into the lake just a few seconds after Cedric and Viktor. He could feel the stares of everyone in attendance, wondering why he hadn't jumped into the lake as well.
With deliberate slowness, Harry kicked off his shoes and removed his clothes, revealing his swimming trunks underneath. He could feel the burning gaze of Dumbledore against his back. No doubt the old man thought Harry's hero complex would kick in and force him to compete. After all there was someone for him to save at the bottom of the lake.
However for once Harry didn't really care that anyone might need saving. He highly doubted that anyone in the lake was in any real danger. Though he wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to endanger the students, Harry's first year for example, the old man was being too closely monitored during the tournament for him to be able to pull any of his usual stunts.
Harry stood right at the edge of the dock and with exaggerated movements slowly dipped a toe into the lake before giving a too-obvious-to-be-real shudder and pulling it back out. Too almost everyone else it looked like he'd made a show of checking the temperature of the lake, too the select few that knew how the tournament worked they knew the Boy-Who-Lived had been checking the task magic.
Harry had to repress a smirk as he felt the old man's glare intensify. He'd clearly just realised that yet again his weapon was defying him.
Harry had felt the vibrating layer of magic coating the surface of the lake. The same layer that had covered the entrance of the arena during the first task. He could easily guess that he'd have to be fully submerged at least once for the tournament magics to register his participation.
He could feel the stares of the entire audience focused solely on him. It wasn't a pleasant feeling but it was to be expected. Making sure that his bag was left at the edge of the pier so he could reach it easily, Harry calmly stepped off the platform and landed in the water with a quiet splash. He stayed submerged just long enough to ensure the task magic activated before swimming to the surface and floating near the bag he'd brought with him.
What he did next confused the majority of the audience, only the muggleborns had any idea what the scrunched up luminous pink thing was. With deliberate slowness, Harry raised the lilo to his lips and casually began to inflate the pool toy. It only took about ten minutes with the subtle assistance of magic.
Then he opened his bag and pulled out a book, a pair of sunglasses and a can of muggle Coca-cola. Much to the outrage of Dumbledore and the amusement of the crowds, Harry began to leisurely float on the surface of the lake while once again reading Quidditch Through the Ages. He had considered bringing a fishing rod and possibly conjuring a small rowing boat but Harry wouldn't know what to do with fishing equipment even if he had it to bring.
This time it only took ten minutes for Dumbledore to grow frustrated enough to talk to Harry though at this point the young Gryffindor had rather forgot where he was, actually having succeeded to forget about his audience and completely relax.
"Mr Potter!" Dumbledore boomed out across the lake, almost causing Harry to spill his Coke. "What is the meaning of this?"
Harry recovered quickly and didn't even bother to remove his sunglasses or lift he head. "The meaning of what, Professor?" He replied calmly, using a Sonorus of his own.
"Why are you not trying to rescue your hostage? There is someone at the bottom of the lake relying on you to save them!"
"Are they in any real danger?" Harry asked distractedly without looking away from his book.
"Well – I – that's not –" Dumbledore started spluttering.
Harry softly dropped his book onto his now dry chest and lifted himself onto his elbows so he could face the judging panel.
"If the hostages are in real danger then it is your fault should harm could to any of them, not mine Professor, as you were the one to place them in the bottom of the lake and should have taken better safety precautions." Harry paused for a moment to let that sink in, knowing full well that as soon as this task was over the Ministry were going to pounce and demand a full Health and Safety inspection, even if they found nothing it would only fuel the public's new distrust of Dumbledore. "If there is no real danger then I see no reason why you are disturbing my quiet time, as you know I have fulfilled the requirements of the task even if I haven't completed the task, there is nothing you can penalise me for."
And with that Harry leant back and picked up his book once again ignoring the concerned and amused mutterings of the crowds. He knew that Hermione was going to chew him out as soon as he got back to the common room and Dumbledore would probably double his efforts in trying to regain control of his weapon but for now Harry didn't care. He knew he had the Ministry on his side now as well as the majority of the magical population, Dumbledore's tyranny wouldn't last much longer.
The rest of the allotted hour passed rather quickly after that or at least so it seemed to Harry who was rather absorbed in his book no matter how many times he'd already read it. Fleur was the first Champion to emerge much to the obvious shock of the judges, clearly they'd known how unfair this task was to her and were surprised she'd actually managed to finish let alone finish first.
Harry watched as the French witch was hauled out of the water holding what seemed to be a miniature version of herself, they were quickly given chocolate to eat and blankets to warm up with though Fleur wasted no time in wrapping her own around what was obviously her little sister.
Cedric came about five minutes later dragging along a water-logged Cho Chang. Harry had always thought Cho was a rather pretty girl though as he now watched what seemed to be a whole tube of mascara roll down her cheeks, he couldn't help but wonder exactly how much make up she used to achieve that effect. And if the look on Cedric's face was anything to go by, he was thinking the same thing.
Harry rolled his eyes at the anticipation of the audience, all wanting to know who was the hostage of the world famous seeker, the only champion who had yet to return. Their disappointment that it was only a school friend had Harry hiding a rather large grin behind his book.
The old man wasted no time in calling Harry back to the pier and issuing scores, he clearly wanted the spectacle over and done with as soon as possible.
"Well then, Mr Potter." Dumbledore started with a most put-upon sigh. "It is now clear that you refuse to make any effort regarding this Tournament so we shall proceed with the scores."
"Really?" Harry drawled, one eyebrow raised and a small smirk on his face. "It's now clear?"
Dumbledore fumed as the assembled crowds laughed. Harry had yet so remove his Sonorus charm.
"Yes," the old man continued as though he could here the people in the audience. "Which means Ginny Weasley is still at the bottom of the lake."
Harry, who had just attempted to swallow his last mouthful of coke, immediately started choking at the headmaster's last words.
"Ginny Weasley!" He wheezed incredulously. "Ginny Weasley was my hostage? W-wh-wh-why would you do that? What could have possessed you to think that Ginny Weasley was what I'd sorely miss? Really?"
Dumbledore blustered as he tried to think of something to say.
"Mr Potter, it is a rather well known fact that you are rather close to the youngest Weasleys."
"Headmaster, that girl terrifies me." Harry exclaimed, much to the amusement of almost everyone watching. "Have you seen the way she stares? It's frightening. I fear for my manhood. She wants in my trousers for something and I'm honestly not sure I'd completely male afterwards."
Dumbledore blustered again.
"Wait!" Harry shouted in an obvious 'eureka' moment, a look of hope stole over his face. "The clue said 'it won't come back'. Does she have to stay down there now? Please?"
The crowds were all out laughing now at the scene Harry was making.
Bagman chuckled good-naturedly as he attempted to regain control. Dumbledore had lost all manner of speech.
"Of course not, Mr Potter. We wouldn't really make people spend the rest of their lives at the bottom of the lake."
Harry pouted in disappointment. The scores were immediately issued after that, the youngest Champion didn't really pay much attention to what the others got, it was fairly obvious that Fleur came in first, Cedric came in second and Viktor came in third though he was rather surprised that he had somehow managed to end up with sixteen points despite having done almost literally nothing.
Dumbledore, predictably had scored him a zero as yet another show of disapproval. Bagman had gone so far as to score him a six and the rest of the panel had scored him five each with exception of Percy Weasley who also scored him zero though that was probably more due to Harry's comments about his sister that his performance in the task.
Harry chuckled as Madam Pomfrey hustled all the champions and hostages into the waiting medical tent to make sure no one had caught anything from the freezing cold lake. Well, all the champions and hostages expect Ginny Weasley that is. As far as Harry knew, Dumbledore was still trying to negotiate her release from the merpeople.
Personally, Harry hope it took a while.
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