Chapter 4: The Pantheon Cometh
Previously: "And I can think of no better way to stick it to the guy who got me involved here in the first place then to win the Triwizard Tournament."
The spy was enraged. His perfectly crafted plan to sacrifice the Boy-Who-Lived to his master was slowly falling to pieces. He had thought that the boy would be weak and untrained since he was raised outside of the wizarding world and that rumors of his divine heritage was just that. Rumors.
But instead, he gets a formidable young man trained in physical combat and who truly seem to have divine blood flowing through his veins.
On a positive note though, this was also an unexpected boon for him. If he were to use the boy's blood in the ritual which would resurrect his master, then the dark lord would be more powerful then ever and he would be richly rewarded for his loyalty and efforts.
The spy would need to adjust his plans accordingly.
...
Harry was pissed as he sat back down to finish his meal. He hadn't meant to fly off the handle like he did and cause a scene in the Great Hall. As a matter of fact, it was the last thing he wanted to do.
But that little blonde prick and the greasy bat just couldn't take a hint and made things personal and he let his temper get the better of him. It was damned lucky too that he decided NOT to bring his weapons too or else things would have gotten real messy and more permanent. Not that what he did was any less violent.
So now, it would seem like he was gonna be in trouble with whoever the hell was going to get stuck with him here while he competed in this godforsaken tournament representing the 'Pantheon' and it wasn't even twenty four hours yet.
"That was wicked mate. Way to show those evil slimy snakes." The guy called Ron Weasley said to him after a while.
"Evil slimy snakes?" Harry repeated quizzically. It was the girl Hermione who enlightened him.
"I believe Ron is alluding to the fact that Professor Snape and Draco are both members of the Slytherin. Every house in Hogwarts has their own guardian beast such as ravens for Ravenclaw, Badgers for Hufflepuff and Lions for Gryffindor. Slytherin's guardian beast happens to be a snake." Hermione said, looking disapprovingly at Harry. "And while it was good to see them knocked down a few pegs, I can't say I approve of the manner you accomplished the task. That is simply not the way we do things here."
"You may have forgotten that I'm NOT a student of Hogwarts Miss Granger." Harry said bluntly. "Besides, I think you'll find that my response to their insults to my family is rather tame considering where I came from. Wars and blood feuds have been started for much less then that."
"But you broke Draco's wrist and Professor Snape's nose." Hermione pointed out.
"And I'll do that again or something worse to ANYONE who thinks its a good idea to insult my family." Harry said before leveling a stare at Ron. "Irregardless if they're from the house of ravens, badgers, lions OR snakes."
"B-But Slytherin house is evil! Everyone knows that." Ron argued.
"And there lies your problem buddy. You guys stereotype people." Harry stated. "I've done some reading about your history here and I can't say I'm impressed. Just because majority of the members of an evil magical terrorist organization that existed twelve to fifteen years ago came from the house of Slytherin doesn't automatically mean everyone from their house is also evil."
"I mean, just look at them." Harry said, sweeping a hand towards the Slytherin's table. "Do they honestly look like magical terrorists in training to you? There may be a few bad eggs in the mix but they're mostly just students hoping to pass their next goddamned exams and if anything, your attitude towards them is probably what's driving them towards the darkside in the first place."
Ron had no response for this and instead resorted to clamming up and glaring at Harry. After all, how could he understand where Ron was coming from when he had been absent from the wizarding world for more then a decade? And he wasn't alone in this.
"Don't you all give me that look. You know what I'm saying is true." Harry snapped, noticing Ron and a few others from the Gryffindor table giving him the evil eye.
"Look Harry. I apologize for my housemates but..." Neville started but was cut off by Harry.
"Neville. Please don't tell me you're going to apologize for your housemates then say something stupid like it's always Slytherin who starts the fights here coz I ain't buying it." Harry said and got no response from the Longbottom heir. "That's what I thought. The fact is, you guys got so wrapped up in your rivalry with each other that the truth didn't even matter anymore."
Harry then got out of his place besides Neville and starts walking around the table and continuing. "Everything in this place so far has been a study in contradictions. You say that you're always being bullied by members of the Slytherin house when in fact, there's only a few pricks like that Malfoy kid who actually bullies you and the rest just simply ignores you."
"And Gryffindor isn't exactly innocent of any crimes either. How do you think a member of the house of Slytherin who was just minding his or her own business would feel if he becomes the target of a cruel prank from you guys. And don't even try to deny it coz I've heard horror stories from Uncle Albus and Aunt Minnie." Harry said bluntly causing a pair of Gryffindor twins to suddenly wince in realization.
"And don't even get me started on this stupid competition. It clearly states that it's a TRI-WIZARD tournament which means that there should only be three participants who are ALL supposed to be witches and wizards." Harry ranted on. "So answer me this. How the hell di I, a non-wizard, end up getting picked and being required to participate in this shindig?"
By this time, nearly everyone in the hall was straining to hear the conversation between the champion of the Pantheon and two of the three members of Gryffindor's Golden Trio. And it was clear that Harry Potter was not one to blindly follow what has been a norm in the wizarding world for years now.
In particular, the Headmaster and surprisingly, the potion master of Hogwarts seemed rather satisfied at what Harry was saying. Dumbledore because of his pride in his nephew and Snape because the boy was openly voicing out what he also believed to be the foolish misconceptions of the wizarding society in Britain. It also helped that Harry's eyes and volatile temper reminded him more of Lily rather then James.
Maybe he had been wrong about him and resolved to at least have a discussion with his house about avoiding a confrontation with him.
But before Harry could say anything else, Dumbledore interrupts him.
"As educational as this has been, I'm afraid I have to cut it short Harry. I believe that the representatives of the Pantheon have just arrived and are seeking audience." Dumbledore said just as the massive door to the Great Hall opens and four figures stride in.
Instantly recognizable was the acquitted convict, Sirius Black who looked resplendent in his robes as the acknowledged head of the Black family.
The Hogwarts populace also recognized the haggard looking Remus Lupin who had been the DADA teacher a year before.
The third was a pink haired female wearing the robes of an Auror who Dumbledore recognized as an alumni of Hogwarts and cousin to Sirius Black, Nymphadora (DON'T CALL ME NYMPHADORA!) Tonks.
But it was the fourth and final member of the visiting entourage who drew the most attention simply because he was not human at all but rather, a centaur. A blonde haired man with the lower body of a chestnut Palomino who Dumbledore mentally identified as Firenze due to the hoofmark on his chest due to being literally kicked out of the herd in the Forbidden Forest by Bane.
All of them , even the normally laid back Firenze, strode in with a purpose and none of them looked all too pleased either.
"Harry! Where's Harry?" Black demands as he enters the Great Hall.
"Right here Padfoot." Harry said as we walks towards the entourage and was suddenly enveloped in an embrace by both Black and Tonks while Lupin stood back with a small smile. "Ooofff... Easy there Padfoot, Tonks. I'm perfectly fine here." He said, smiling at them. Ever since he met the Black cousins and the werewolf five years ago, they were nothing if not protective of Harry not only because he was the son of Sirius's best friend but also because he was technically a part of the Black Family.
"You bloody hell are not! You shouldn't even be here!" Sirius exclaims before his slate gray eyes flashes coldly as he looks around the Great Hall. "Crouch, you bleeding bastard! Come out of whatever hidey hole you're inside of because you've got a LOT of explaining to do. It isn't enough that you put me in bloody Azkaban without a trial so now you're going to try and kill my godson?"
"Barty has gotten ill and is not present at the moment, Sirius." Dumbledore informs the enraged ex felon. "And I rather think that he will not be a factor in the immediate future."
"Yeah, I heard that Mr. Crouch got sick." Tonks spoke up. "But is it really that serious?"
"Lets put it this way Cousin Tonks. Crouch said some things which he shouldn't have and now, he's paying for it in a major way." Harry said with a grin.
It was Lupin who was able to put two and two together and realized what Harry meant. "Oh Merlin. He didn't!"
"He did." Harry confirms. "And all THREE of them responded rather negatively."
By this time, Sirius had also caught on. "And the school is still standing?" He asks incredulously.
"Crouch was punished by HIS mom instead because he chose to involve her." Harry informed them, jerking a thumb at Dumbledore, making them pale even further. "I think we can all agree that her way is particularly bad for a wizard, right?"
"Quite right." Lupin said. Even though he was fully capable of manual labor being experienced in concealing his magic while he worked in the muggle world, Lupin still couldn't imagine his life without his magic.
"Merlin. Crouch is finished." Tonks commented, knowing what sort of treatment Crouch was likely to encounter should the Ministry ever discover that he lost his magic.
"Harry is still stuck competing in this Merlin forsaken tournament though." Sirius spoke up, bringing them all back to the reason why they were here in the first place. "If he has to compete, then I'll make bloody sure that he's going to be ready for ANYTHING Barty had planned."
"I CAN take care of myself. You know that, right Sirius?" Harry said, sounding a little offended.
"Ordinarily, you most certainly can cub." Remus answers. "But you also know that if you're here, then chances are that whoever is responsible will make certain that things will NOT be in your favor."
Harry nods at this before turning towards the centaur. "You've been awfully quiet there. Should I assume that Chiron was the one who sent you to me?"
"Indeed little one. My name is Firenze and Herdmaster Chiron bade me to assist you for the duration of your stay here." The identified Firenze said.
"Umm... I think I've been kicked in the ass by Chiron too many times so is it really necessary for you to do the same?" Harry asked nervously.
Firenze couldn't help but crack a smile at this. "I speak not of your combat training. If Chiron was the one who taught you, then there is NOTHING else I could possibly teach you anyways. I am here to act on the Pantheon's behalf and to offer my guidance and insight."
"A beastly centaur offering guidance to a member of a noble family? How far have you fallen Potter?" A voice spoke up from the Slytherin table which earned them a glare from Harry. Nobody seemed willing to identify who the speaker was.
"Well listening to him is a whole lot better then listening to the shit that's coming out of your mouth, that's for sure." Harry said. "I'd tell whoever said that to step up and put his foot where his mouth is but he seems like too much of a little bitch to show his face."
Firenze gazes at the Slytherin table before speaking. "Believe me or not, I shall give you this warning. There is a coming darkness. A darkness so malignant that it spreads like a deadly plague and kills with no regards to blood status."
The centaur then turns to Harry before continuing. "But the light that is capable of dispelling that darkness is also coming. That means, everyone here has a choice when the time comes. Die with the dark or live with the light. I think the choice is rather obvious, do you not agree?"
Author's Notes: Next chappie's done. R&R please :)