AN: Finally! It's an update; sorry it's taken so long to get this out. It just really gave me a time, that being said it's a little shorter than what I wanted but it's all my little brain could come up with. Hope y'all enjoy it and review please! Always enjoy reviews!
Disclaimer: In other words I no own Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, etc. etc. etc. not making any money from it either…Cheers to all!
"Parseltongue" "Normal dialogue"
Not One of Us
Chapter Seven
"I'm so screwed," Harry muttered to himself as he paced back and forth in a furious motion of panic. His eyes going left and right as his mind went over every strategies that he and Hermione had come up with and then over the ones that Snape had added in. Hedwig made soft barks of comfort and understanding while Crookshanks meowed from his curled perch on his bed, but they were just noise to him at that moment.
"Nonsense, Harry. We've came up with every kind of strategy to cover just about every variable that the dragon can throw at you. All you have to worry about is how we are going to celebrate when you get the egg and come back here," Hermione stated as she stepped into his pacing path making him stop to gaze into her chocolate eyes.
"Mi, it's dragons and knowing my luck, as I do, then the meanest and biggest one they brought will be the one that I end up with. I've been going over everything in Gringgots that's mine and I want you to go there if something happens. Go to Sirius and Remus; get your parents and leave. Enroll in Beauxbatons or some school in the Colony, or just forget magic entirely; just promise me you will leave this godforsaken place," Harry pleaded.
Hermione gaped at her friend as her usually sharp mind tried to come to grips with what Harry had just implied. The edges of her eyes burned with the barely controlled urge to cry as she slowly started to shake her head, it slowly gained speed until her bushy hair was smacking into her face. She instantly clutched her small fists into his robes holding him in place as she sobbed into his chest.
"Don't even think like that, Harry James Potter! You will make it through this barbaric excuse of entertainment. You will finish this; win this just to show these bastards that you are far superior to them. Then we will go to Sirius and Remus and get my parents and leave. I won't leave you for anything," Harry kept his emerald gaze locked with the bloodshot and tearful brown orbs and the carefully built defenses around his heart shattered like glass. How could he deny his savior anything she asked of him? How could he, a broken freak, deserve the love she offered? How could he live with himself if his love for her put her in even more danger? His mind froze at that thought, he did love her. He loved Hermione Granger, his best friend since their first Halloween together. He roughly pulled her against his chest in a tight embrace as he lowered his lips to her ear.
"Alright, Hermione, I'll do whatever you ask of me," he whispered to have her arms encircle his neck.
"Live for me, be happy…kiss me," she answered bringing her head up to watch the emotions flash through the beautiful orbs that had first captured her at the age of eleven.
"As you wish," Harry murmured just before he captured her lips with his own. He tenderly traced her bottom lip with his tongue causing her to gasp slightly, parting her lips and giving him entrance which he instantly took advantage of. A distant pop finally broke through his fogged mind, causing him to slowly break away from the angel in his arms. He glanced over to an anxious little creature attempting to cover his bulbous eyes with his long slender fingers.
"Most sorry, Master Harry Potter, sir, but it being time to face nasty beasties,"
"Thank you, Dobby, we'll be right there. Will you do me a favor, my little friend?" Harry asked, turning to face him fully, to see the bright eyes mist up.
"Anything, Great Master Harry Potter, sir," Dobby affirmed softly.
"Look after Hermione for me, go with her if…just go with her," he watched as the little house elf stood straighter with pride.
"With my life, Master Harry Potter, sir, no need to worry about Mistress Hermy," Harry smiled and with a curt nod to Dobby, the little elf popped away. He turned to face his friend to see her furiously rubbing her robe sleeve across her face to dry it. He gently took her hand as he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, before leading the way out of their safe haven. The silent trek to the giant stadium seemed to stretch forever as they passed the loud Great Hall, steady Black Lake, and quaint hut that belonged to their friend Hagrid. The closer they came to the tent entrance that the Champions used, the tighter Hermione's grip became.
The deafening silence that greeted them was like a solid wall. Diggory was pacing back and forth muttering under his breath, while Krum stood stoically against the wall next to the door to the arena. Harry glanced over to see Delacour sitting primly in a chair with no outer sign of her own nerves except for the steady tapping of her wand on her lap. He then led Hermione to the side with the shadows and pulled her once again into his arms tightly, burying his nose into her vanilla and pear scented mane.
"Live for me, Harry," she whispered to him.
"I love you, Hermione Granger," he returned just as quietly. He looked into her tearful eyes as she suddenly looked up, her lips parted to speak when a bright flash suddenly intercepted their moment. Harry instantly lost the softness in his body as he turned to glare at the horn-rimmed glasses wearing blonde witch that had just walked in; a photographer behind her bringing his camera down. The gleam in the woman's eyes set Harry on edge instantly to where he tightened his grip on his wand that had instantly jumped from his wrist holder.
"Ah, young love, a budding romance in the face of imminent danger. How…quaint," she stated glancing over at the acid green quill writing in the air on its own. Harry's green eyes narrowed as he sneered at the woman and with a flick of his wand the parchment and quill burst into flames.
"Leave before I do that to you, Skeeter. I will not tolerate your tripe," he glared, causing the reporter to fume in her spot but will flee in her own fear, quickly being followed by the photographer before Harry could destroy his camera.
"Oh, Harry," Hermione muttered next to him as Dumbledore, Maxime, Karkarof, Ludo Bagman, and Barty Crouch stepped into the tent.
"Ah, Ms. Granger, I believe it is time for you to join the other spectators. Off you go, please," Dumbledore smiled at the young witch. Hermione glanced over to see the hard blank mask that Harry now wore whenever they weren't alone; she squeezed his hand and smiled at the return squeeze. With one last glance over at the straight black robed back she left to find a seat next to a certain dog and werewolf.
"Yes, yes, gather round now. You will reach inside this bag to receive a miniature of your task with the number of when you will go. Mr. Diggory, yes you first then Ms. Delacour, Mr. Krum, and finally Mr. Potter will choose,"
Diggory took a deep breath then picked up a moving tiny green figure of a Welsh Green dragon. The French Veela came up with a Chinese Fireball while Krum chose a Swedish Short snout. Harry kept a hard glint to his green eyes as he reached into the velvet bag to be bit on the tip of his finger causing his insides to freeze. A feisty and spiked dragon clawed up his arm spitting fire out as it settled on his shoulder, a metal 4 medallion chained around its neck.
"Ah, the Hungarian Horntail, Mr. Potter; very good, now once you are inside the arena, there is a golden egg among the other dragon eggs that you must have to continue on to the next task. Get by the dragon alive, get the egg, then return here to receive medical treatment should you need it. Good luck, Mr. Diggory at the sound of the gong you may proceed through this door," Crouch stated looking from one Champion to the other before leading the other judges out of the tent to their platform. All to soon a loud gong went off causing Diggory to jump then steadily let out a puff of air and step through the doorway. There wasn't a cheer from the crowd or the roar of a dragon, only silence to keep the remaining three company.
Harry slipped farther into the shadows to lean absently against one of the poles dividing out the sections for the beds that Pompfrey was sure to get use from later. He watched the other two steadily in search of any weakness to exploit on later. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get much, Krum was still an impassive lump while Delacour had gotten a hold of her nervous tapping and was now primly examining her nails. Shrugging from his outer robe, revealed a better look at the sleeveless black muscle shirt and loose pants freeing him of movement; while he ignored the arched eyebrow that came across the Bulgarian Seeker's face as he focused on his magic feeling it come closer to the surface and burn along his arms, chest, and back. He absently heard the small feminine gasp as black runes appeared along his arms being connected by sharp lines of blue. His eyes snapped open as a burst of cold enveloped him. He spotted the curt nod from Krum while Delacour continued to gape at him with a new primal edge in her steely gray eyes now. Another gong went off and Krum left without a word, giving the Beaubatons student a chance to speak as she slowly stood up and made her way towards Harry.
"I never knew…so strong…powerful," Delacour murmured as she lightly ran a slim hand up Harry's arms to encircle his neck while she pressed her perfectly formed body against Harry's.
"Remove yourself from me, Ms. Delacour. I have no wish to be with you now or later," Harry deadpanned, Fleur's gaze snapped to his cold green eyes with a crackle of fire in her own. She pressed herself even closer as she allowed her allure to seep around them.
"Ah, but Harry Potter, how can you resist me? We are a perfect match, non, power and beauty," Fleur purred as she nuzzled his neck.
"We are not a perfect match; this is your last warning. Remove yourself from me,"
"Come now Harry Potter, surely you would rather have me than that bushy haired weakling. I can offer you so much more," she froze as a wand tip was suddenly jabbed harshly into her neck just below her ear. She gaped in fear as the cold green eyes now held frigidness to their darkened depths.
"You can offer me nothing in comparison to her. Now go to the other side of the tent and wait for your turn in silence," Harry sneered. Delacour instantly sprang away from him and scrambled to her seat as Harry straightened his shirt. As soon as the gong went off, the Veela ran for the door. She would rather face the dragon's fire than Harry Potter's ice. Harry was finally left alone in peace and quiet allowing him to gather himself once more. Within no time it seemed the gong was heard for the final time that day, signaling him to make his own way out to face his dragon.
The rock quarry that was the Horntail's habitat was massive with hide aways for the great beast to hide in. The roar of the crowd was the second thing to register in his brain as his gaze constantly searched for the dragon's nest and the dragon itself. The sudden guttural roar echoed over the crowd bringing Harry's attention to his left where he caught a glimpse of a nest and dragon before he had to huddle behind one of the many boulders. He inched slowly to the opposite edge and when the fire stopped he quickly stepped out, his wand already waving in the air.
"Draco ex glacies!" A burst of ice and snow erupted from his arms, chest, and mouth to morph and from a dragon of equal size of his opponent. The Horntail paused to stare at this new dragon that moved of its own will. Her young were in more danger from this cold enemy than the puny one amongst her rocks. The mother dragon instantly went to attack the ice dragon with a roar and flames of her own.
"Occupy her," Harry hissed to his dragon to receive a roar that sounded more like a winter wind rather than a dragon in return; the chilling sound sent shivers through everyone that heard it. He slowly slunk among the rocks as the clash of fire and ice raged over him, he forced the pain of his magic draining to the back of his mind, allowing him to focus on reaching the nest. He could see it, feet away from him when a great roar shook his insides as a massive spiked tail swung to intercept him. It was to close to be able to dodge it; with a bellow of a string of spells the spikes shrunk and a quick cushioning charm on his body lessoned some of the blow but he still went flying through the air to crash into the arena wall. His ice dragon shot bolts of ice at the Horntail as it stepped between its maker and the mother. A haunting howl of an icy cry from the conjured dragon pierced hearts as it nudged the tip of its tail against the prone wizard. Silence fell over the crowd except for one other haunting howl and scream from a young witch in the stands high above the wounded champion.
"Harry!"
The scream and icy touch penetrated the black abyss bringing back all his pain to the forefront of his mind. A groan escaped his bleeding lips as he slowly forced his eyes to open and look around him, then down to the small bleeding puncture wounds down his chest and stomach. The sudden sight of an ice blue tail in front of him focused him a bit more as it brushed against the wounds numbing them instantly. He gave his dragon a nod as he slowly stood up to face the other great beast. He once more hid behind a boulder berating himself the whole time as fire burst around him while the ice dragon tackled the Horntail. He had forgotten the most important step to his plan. He quickly tapped his wand on the top of his head to have the disgusting feeling of an egg being broken over him. Now there was nothing to be seen as he did a quick splinting spell on his broken leg while his chest burned with a familiar feeling a broken ribs. Steadily he made the second trip to the nest, keeping an eye on the dragons and on the gleaming gold egg. Finally, he reached the next and grabbed the egg and dashed as best he could to the now visible doorway to the Medical tent. He paused in it to end his disillusionment and reverse his ice dragon to the roar of the crowd. He rolled away from the doorway as the Horntail sent one final burst of fire at him.
"Dragons! Dragons of all things! If I ever get my hands on the fools who thought of them I'll ring their necks. Mr. Potter, let me look at you,"
Harry allowed a small weak smirk to lift one side of his mouth up at the formidable Hogwarts Healer making her way over to him. He caught the sudden flash of worry and sadness that went across Madam Pompfrey's face as she spotted him slumped on the ground. She flicked her wand at him and he was instantly hovering in the air and floating by the three occupied beds. Blackness slowly overcame him as he registered a soft mattress below him and the distant sound of an argument and dog barks. The last thing he remembered was the tender touch of small hands on his face, the comforting smell of vanilla and pears, and the soft murmur of five beautiful words from his angel.
