CHAPTER SIX: DANCING WITH DRAGONS AND EXTREEMELY GOOD NEWS.
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The day of the first task dawned bright and clear, over Hogwarts and its inhabitants. Harry and the other champions made it to the great hall on Monday the 31st of November early and sat at the end of the Gryffindor table. The four of them had spent the past three weeks drilling several plans to deal with each dragon into their heads as well as drilling several spells as well. Harry made sure his new betrothal and friends were drilled in the spells as well. Harry looked up and watched as Daphne, Elphaba and Susan sat down at the Hufflepuff table and begin working on some wedding ideas for Christmas. Harry could see Daphne admiring the silver-gold diamond and sapphire engagement ring in between giggling sessions and a sudden flurry of writing things down. Neville and Luna arrived at the table saying good morning in quiet tones before sitting down and serving themselves food and munching on it quietly. Harry kept an eye on his new betrothal, His pseudo sister and his friend whilst thinking back over the previous weekend and his meetings with Lord Cecil Greengrass and Elphaba's grandfather Ebenezer.
FLASHBACK:
Harry watched as Lord Cecil Greengrass swept into the room at Gringotts with his wife Celeste at his side.
"Lord Greengrass" Harry began standing up and offering a hand "Thank you for meeting with me at such small notice"
"Lord Potter" Lord Greengrass replied shaking his hand coolly
"Lady Greengrass it is nice to meet you too It's good to see where Daphne and Astoria gain their beauty from" Harry said to Celeste taking her hand and pressing a chaste kiss to it before gesturing to the chairs at the table "Please sit down"
"I must say this is an unexpected series of events" Lord Cecil said with a strangely detached aloofness as he sat down alongside his wife "We came here to remove an abomination from our house and yet you wish to marry her"
"What your problem with Daphnes grades?" Harry asked with a frown launching his attack "Daphne has always been one of the highest people in our year even causing Fear in Mr Terry Boot and Miss Hermione Granger. I have known Daphne since first year and I have never known a more diligent student than her"
"Yes she may have given Mr Boot and Miss Granger fear as you put it Mr Potter" Lord Cecil replied icily "But she was still beaten in grades by a half-blood and a muggle-born"
Harry could almost hear the anger radiating off Daphne and Elphaba through the one-way glass behind him.
"Quite the contrary" Harry began pulling out some paperwork Terry had shared with him not three days ago and paperwork Harry had managed to gain using Hermiones blood. "Mr Boot is a fourth cousin of mine denoting him of the Potter house and Miss Granger is of the Hufflepuff line."
Harry almost threw the paperwork at Lord Greengrass as he stood up and walked to the table holding some drinks
"Daphne has proven herself to be a true Slytherin many times, as well as brave, Knowledgeable and Loyal to those she called friends and allies" Harry continued "I admit there was one or two others I held in my mind as fanciable Girls...but they were merely that girls...I admit that I have fallen in love with the young woman that Daphne has become and I hope one day to make her truly happy."
Lady Celeste Greengrass placed a hand on her husbands and gave him an unusual look before turning to Harry
"What would you accept as Her Dowry?" Lady Celeste asked and Harry knew Lady Celeste had no part in this mad mans scheme
"There is no Dowry" Harry said earning a grateful smirk from Lord Cecil "the allowance however is allowing Daphne to keep her last name until Christmas Day" Harry awncered truthfully. Harry had asked Daphne what she wanted the Dowry to be, all she wanted was her surname until Christmas day when she would marry him.
"What did you do potter knock her up?" Lord Cecil asked with a sneer
"I did not 'knock her up' Lord Greengrass" Harry replied sitting down opposite him "We merely wish not to wait too long"
Lord Cecil sat there fuming for a few minutes as he thought it over
"Fine she can keep the name Greengrass until Christmas day...Not a day later" He snarled angrily
"Good, Griphook" Harry called leaning forwards and taking all the papers to put them away as Griphook entered the room "Mr Griphook Please, show our friend here to his accountant if you please"
Lady Celeste surprised Harry and gave him a grateful hug and left the room, when Lord Greengrass made to leave harry coughed catching his attention
"This does not reach the papers until Christmas day do you here Greengrass" Harry snarled "I can make it very bad for you"
For the first time Harry was sure he had seen Lord Cecil shiver slightly. The man nodded and left the room followed very quickly by Griphook. Harry remained seated until he was sure they wouldn't return. The moment the door clicked shut Daphne was through the Viewing room door followed by Elphaba and in his arms. A good part of Harry couldn't wait for their wedding Christmas Day.
## # # #
Three hours later had Harry sat with Daphne in a corridor of St Thomas Hospital in London. It was a Sunday and visiting hours were almost over. Sirius and Elphaba had decided to tell her grandfather of their plan to elope and produce two male heirs...one for the house of Black and one for the house of Hardbroom. From the sounds of it they had argued the old man down into agreeing with them.
"So we're really doing this then?" Daphne asked staring at the white gold betrothal ring on her finger with diamonds and topaz on it. "We'll be getting married at Christmas?"
"Definitely Daph" Harry replied taking her hand and kissing it "Excited?"
Not long ago it would have been Hermione wearing that ring but Harry was definitely sure He could love Daphne more than he did now with time, especially when her smile lit up her face. Sirius appeared at the door and ushered them in with one gesture.
Harry surveyed the room with interest before focusing on the man sitting in the hospital bed. Baron Ebenezer Hardbroom still commanded the room even though he was severely ill.
"Ah Harry my boy how are you?" Ebenezer asked wheesily a warm glint in the back of his eye.
"I am well Grandfather Hardbroom" Harry replied with a bow and a smile "You are winning the war I trust"
"You know me young man I fight to the last" Ebenezer replied "And who is this pretty young lady beside you?"
"This is the future Lady Potter Miss Daphne Greengrass" Harry replied as Daphne curtseyed prettily
"I would question you about your betrothal boy but it's not my place" Ebenezer said with a slight frown "Although I want to ask your opinion on this modified marriage contract my granddaughters cooked up"
"My opinion is that Elphaba is a very selfless young woman who would stop at nothing to protect and save the futures of two very powerful houses" Harry replied honestly with a moments thought "It does help that Elphaba is very much like you sir...stubborn and loyal to the end"
It took Ebenezer a moment but he chuckled heartily before coughing hard. Elphaba jumped up and grabbed the jug of water and a glass, she filled it before handing it to him.
"You have a way with words Harry and that I am thankful for" Ebenezer wheezed softly squeezing his granddaughters hand briefly "Oh we may as well try it...If the house of Hardbroom needs an oomph it may as well be with you"
END FLASHBACKS
Harry was pretty sure he had never seen Elphaba light up more brightly than that morning, especially since Gaby turned up with information on the Hotel project. It had been green lighted on both sides and the building plans and site approved. They would have a fully functional building by this time next year. Harry knew then that Elphabas wedding plans had jumped to new years at least, Harry jumped when Cedric put a hand on his shoulder
"Time to go down Harry" He murmured nervously, Professor McGonagoll stood behind Cedric as Victor and Fleur rose.
Harry stood up and the four champions fell in step together and left the hall behind Professor McGonagoll. Many students from all four schools called out well wishes to all four of them. Daphne Susan Luna Neville and Elphaba stood up and saluted them with three fingers placed over their hearts then their hands lowered to their sides. Roughly translated it meant they were there in Heart and soul. Harry felt a sliver of nervousness as they headed towards the area the first task was set in and hoped to god he wouldn't fall over his own arse.
# # # # #
It took another hour and a half of sitting in the champion's tent for the three schools to get down to the arena and for all four of the champions to get completely nervous. It took barely a minute for Harry to decide if they should do a group meditation or not. And that was where the judges found them, standing in a circle holding hands with harry speaking
"To the god of Badassery above, we ask for guidance and the ability to look good as we do battle this day, we plead for protection, wisdom and a really, really sugar filled ice-cream Sunday when it's all over, in your name we pray" Harry finished Madame Maxine smiled and choked back a chuckle.
"So Boom shacka lacka" the four champions said stoically before the four of them burst out laughing banishing the nerves that were there.
"Champions" Dumbledore began interrupting their good mood "Today your task is to retrieve the golden egg which holds the clue to the second task, to get it you must get around a nesting dragon"
Harry tried not to frown as he heard this despite already knowing it. The other champions tensed ever so slightly as Madame Maxine and Karkeroff stood with their champions in a wider circle. Barty Crouch came forwards with a velvet bag which moved ever so slightly.
"Ladies first" He said loudly standing in front of Fleur.
Fleur reached into the bag and pulled out the welsh green with the number '2' around its neck, Victor and Cedric followed with the former getting the Chinese fireball and number 3 and the latter getting the Swedish short snot and number 1. Harry made eye contact with the other champions and nodded as he pulled out the Hungarian Horntail with the number 4 around its neck. Harry was pretty sure he could hear the miniature dragons groan about being in the bag.
"Now Mr Diggory when you hear the whistle leave the tent and go into the arena" Dumbledore informed him as the other judges left the tent. Harry shrugged off Ludo Bagmans help before sending him on his way.
"So you know your game plans right?" Harry asked the moment they were alone as everyone nodded
"Did you bring your firebolt?" Cedric asked in reply looking rather green.
"Neville, Luna and Elphaba hold three Firebolts with them" Harry replied with a smile "Daphne has mine"
"Their only to be used if plans A and B don't work" Victor parroted from memory
"Or if we feel sufficiently threatened" Fleur finished with a smile
"And your firebolt is your plan a right?" Cedric said beginning to grin "At least they can't blame us for cheating yet"
A loud whistle echoed through the air making Cedric turned greener than he already was
"Good luck Cedric" Harry called out as his fellow Hogwarts student vanished through the flap of the tent.
Victor began tapping out a tune with his foot as Fleur began pacing around the tent, round and round as they all listened to the action outside. The crowd ooohed and aaaahed like a multi-headed hydra. Ludo Bagmans commentary didn't help either. Twenty minutes later Ludo Bagman announced Cedric had his egg. Another whistle sounded a few moments later and Fleur left the tent, for another fifthteen minutes Harrys nerves tore at themselves as Victor began pacing around the tent following the phantom footsteps of Fleur and Cedric. It took Fleur an agonising twenty minutes to get her egg. A now pale looking Victor left the tent at the sound of the third whistle.
'HARRY' Harry jumped at the sound of Elphaba's mental voice before looking around him quickly 'HARRY ARE YOU THERE?'
'YES' Harry thought back breathing slowly to reduce his beating heart.
'I HAD A SUDDEN THOURHT WHAT IF YOU COULD USE PARSELTOUNGE TO SPEAK TO THE DRAGON? I MEAN BOTH DRAGONS AND SNAKES ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIZARD RIGHT?'
Harry began grinning and looked down at the miniature Hungarian Horntail.
'HOLD THAT THOURGHT ELPHABA, YOU MIGHT JUST HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA'
Ten minutes later Victor got his egg and within five more the whistle sounded.
# # # # #
Harry walked into the arena to face the dragon with a whole new game play in mind. The students of Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons cheered as he entered the arena. Harry looked at the Hungarian Horntail with steal determination in his face; He instantly knew he could talk with the dragon as it spewed anger towards the students and her handlers for bringing her here during nesting season
'Oh great mother' Harry began hissing in Parsel-tounge 'I hope you can understand me'
'I can understand you two legged' the horntail replied her head snapping straight to Harry 'Although you use a crude form of Dragons-tongue known as Parsel-tounge'
'My apologies oh great one' Harry replied bowing before her 'I have not come here to converse with you but I come here with distressing news'
'What is it two legged?' the horntail asked looking like she was frowning
'There is an egg amongst your litter which is not your own' Harry awncered instantly 'I have been tasked to retrieve it'
The horntail roared loudly silencing the whole stadium before rooting amongst her eggs before nudging one out and letting it roll out of the nest. It was Harrys golden egg clue Harry walked forwards and grabbed it.
'I thank you great mother' Harry said bowing to her as he backed away slowly 'I hope your litter is born to your beautiful likeness and strong wisdom'
The Horntail chuckled and arched her wings magnificently
'Be on your way two legged' she said dismissively 'Oh and speaker tell the red-headed one he's right about our food being raw'
'That I will great mother' Harry replied bowing again and leaving the arena.
# # # # #
Harry had never felt as exhilarated as Madam Pomfrey checked him over. Elphaba had met him at the exit to the arena and had agreed to collect his scores for him. Since Madam Pomfrey had been treating Cedric for burns on his face she hadn't seen his task and instantly began checking him over. Harry felt his good mood dissipate as Ron appeared flanked by Susan, Luna and Neville.
"What can I do for you Ron?" Harry asked giving his old friend the benefit of the doubt a flash to what Molly Weasley had done slid in at the back of Harrys mind
"I came to say that you were awesome back there" Ron replied shakily "And I came to Say I'm sorry, I became a stupid jealous jerk about something you had no control over and for that I'm Sorry"
Harry looked towards Susan, Luna and Neville to gauge their reactions. Luna shrugged and began humming as Neville frowning slightly nodded his head. They both believed Ron was genuinely sorry but not completely sincere. Susan on the other hand shook her head.
"I can forgive you" Harry said after a moment of quick thinking and Rons face lit up "But we can't be best friends like we did before"
Rons face dropped for a moment before nodding fiercely.
"I can't completely forgive you for what you've done" Harry continued sounding older than his years "But I can't quite drop four years of friendship just like that"
"I get it" He said accepting his fate of no longer being the best mate of Harry Potter "I'd rather be friendly with you and know your ok than not"
It's going to take me some time to get used to the fact you were Jealous of something out of my control" Harry said before Ron left "But can we at least work out how to be friends"
"I think I can do that" Ron replied with a small smile before turning to leave
"Ron" Harry called out "I'll come find you for a chess match sometime"
Ron smiled brighter at Harry before he left the tent walking past Elphaba and Daphne, Harry could see Hermione standing outside the test looking extremely sad and a little lost.
"You can go Mr Potter" Madam Pomfrey said with a smile "You've clean bill of health"
"Thanks madam Pomfrey" Harry chirped happily as Luna beat him in picking up the egg and began walking towards Elphaba and Daphne.
"So what did I get?" Harry asked intrigued at his score
"Dumbledore gave you a six, Maxine and crouch gave you an eight, Bagman gave you a ten and Karkeroff gave you a four" Elphaba reeled off quickly
"So what does Granger want?" Harry asked remaining light and airy
"She wants to apologise, she has apologised to us" Daphne replied a solid no plastered on her face "Although a good part of me doesn't think she means it"
"Rons just apologised for his behaviour" Neville informed then
"He definitely meant it" Luna finished with a smile
"I don't think he did" Susan added frowning slightly
"I'll decide if the apology to me is worth anything" Harry said giving Daphne a kiss on the cheek "You're the one I'm with and the one I want to be with for the rest of my life"
Daphne grinned and blushed before giving Harry a hug.
"Go ahead to the great hall I'll catch up" Harry said to his friends, Elphaba stopped him before they left the tent
"Be careful little brother" Elphaba began a strange look in her eye "Something has changed in Granger and not necessarily better for her either"
"What would you have me do?" Harry asked quickly seeing the others pass Hermione quickly "she's done harm to you too"
"I'm taking her apology to me with a pinch of salt" Elphaba replied with a knowing look "It's the best I can do and more than she deserves"
Harry nodded, like him Elphaba had been through too much in her short lifetime she may go with the flow as it were but her armour was as strong as dragon scales It took a long time for Elphaba to forget a grievance and even longer to forgive.
"I'll see what she says" Harry told her "and I'll decide what's what"
Elphaba nodded and stepped in time with Harry as they left the tent. Hermione stood a little off the path looking more than a little scared as they approached her.
"Elphaba here says you wanted to talk to me" Harry said eyeing Hermione warily Elphaba stood still and crossed her arms.
"Yes...I...er" Hermione began stuttering slightly "I wanted to apologise for what I said, It was wrong of me and I should have known better than to think you would risk your life for some stupid tournement and ...I..."
"And?" Harry prompted sensing something more on Hermione's mind
"I'm sorry Harry" Hermione said completely broken "I'm sorry for being a total bitch about it and that I threw four years of friendship away due to my own insecurities"
"Hermione" Harry began "I'll forgive you, but like I said to Ron I need time to deal with what you did. It was wrong...and now the consequences have to be wrought"
Hermiones shoulders slumped in defeat as Harry stepped forwards and placed a hand on her shoulder
"I won't say we won't be friends again" Harry began "Maybe someday we'll be best friends or just that set of friends who exchange Christmas cards and an occasional drink at a random party, I've moved on I now have friends with other houses...I have you to thank for that"
Harry saw a flicker of hope in Hermiones teary eyes and knew she felt a small amount of pride for giving Harry the space to have more friends.
"Now" Harry said letting go of her shoulder and beginning to leave with Elphaba "I'm off to lunch as I'm starved I'm come find you at some point for a talk on that holiday to Greece you had the summer before second year, I', interested in what you found out"
"Um Sure ok" Hermione replied turning to watch them go "I'm usually at Gryffindor tower or the Library, I'll see you around"
"Did you believe her apology?" Elphaba asked as they walked up to the Dragon Handlers tent
"Not Completely No" Harry replied "But your right something is the matter with Hermione Granger"
Both shared a look as Hermione Granger hid her own smile walking back to Hogwarts.
# # # # #
Harry and Elphaba took ten minutes to talk with Charlie about the dragons before walking up to the castle and straight into the great hall, it took a moment to find their friends sitting at the Ravenclaw table. Harry and Elphaba joined them without another word said about the two golden backstabbers. The four of them grinning manically
"My aunt Amelia has extremely good news" Susan bubbled excitedly handing over an opened letter
"Dear Mr Potter and Miss Hardbroom, Thanks to Gringotts bank I have managed to garner enough evidence to grant Lord Sirius Black a hearing on his supposed crimes this Saturday" Elphaba carefully read out for the group "I will require your presence and that of Lord Black this Saturday at twelve thirty in my office, where I will take you to the court for the hearing I hope will be in your favour, see you Saturday,
Amelia Bones Head of the Magical Law Enforcement"
For the first time in years both Harry and Elphie squealed in happiness before hugging each other tightly
"Yes he'll be out by dinner time Saturday" Harry said happily going over the letter with Elphaba once again
Daphne and Susan shook their heads as they grinned from ear to ear as Luna hugged them both
"One more member of our family" She said with a warm smile.
"What about the egg?" Neville asked giving the egg a thoughtful look as he tested its weight
"Give me a week" Harry replied pilling food on his plate "Then we'll grab the other champions and work our socks off"
AUTHORS NOTE:
OMG THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE FAVOURATED (not a real word I know) THIS STORY...YOU SERIOUSLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT ACTUALLY MEANS TO ME.
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THANK YOU ALL FOR READING CHAPTER SIX OF THE HOGWARTS CABAL.
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CHAPTER SEVEN UP SOON.
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CONSTRUCTIVE REVIEWS WELOME ALL FLAMERS WILL BE SENT TO FRANK IN HELL.
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ALL READERS AND REVIEWERS KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DOING.
I LOVE YOU.
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Since this story HAS NO BETA it will have spelling mistakes and Grammar errors the spell-check or I will miss so bare with me.
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To the guest labelling their review Reality Check: I'd like to think that you were trying to help by posting a long winded review about the quality of my work and since I add an author's note to the end of several chapters now stating that there will be mistakes I'll let you off. I would also like to add that I have a (thankfully minor) Memory and Language disability so that annoyingly adds to the mistakes that I will indefinitely miss, after all I am only human.
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THANK YOU ALL I'M OFF TO RULE A KINGDOM.
