Firebird's Son: Book I of the Firebird Trilogy Chapter 25: The Tournament, a harry potter fanfic

Chap 24 review responses are available in my forums as always.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Tournament

Harry watched by Neville's side as the First Years were gathered up by the Head Girl on the platform. This year it was a Hufflepuff Harry didn't know. Just as with the three previous years, there was no Head Boy. The proportion of boys to girls in this latest group was about the same as the previous year, which was better than the Third Years but not by much. This year's group had eighteen boys to thirty-nine girls, while the second year group had 16 boys to thirty-eight girls. The Third years that entered Hogwarts the year after Harry's year had more students, but less boys, with only 12 boys out of a class of 56.

A sixth year Gryffindor girl with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes sidled up him as he was watching the younger students and took his arm. "Hello, Harry," she said, speaking softly almost into his ear.

He jumped away in surprise, bumping into Neville. "What the…?" Neville looked up and saw the witch stifling a laugh, then looked at Harry. "Merlin, Harry, stop doing that, will you?"

"Sorry, Nev," Harry said. To the sixth year, he said, "Hello, Belinda."

Belinda offered a hand to help him up, but Neville grabbed his shoulders and pulled him up without the need. Scowling a little at the Longbottom heir, she said, "How was your summer, Harry?"

"Fine," he said. "And yours?"

"Oh, it was wonderful. We went to America and spent time on the beaches in Florida in a magical area that kept out the Muggles. I have the most fascinating tan lines!"

If not for the recent performance from Ginny and Molly, Harry would have stumbled over that very intentional revelation. Instead, he let his cheeks burn a bit but only said, "That sounds nice."

"It is. Now that you're a fourth year, you can sit wherever you want. If you'd like, you can sit with me and I'll show you some of those lines."

"Er, no thanks," Harry said.

"Well, time to board!" Neville said. "Look, there's Ron!"

"Hi, Harry!" Ginny said from behind Ron, while behind her came the twins, now both sixth years. The sight of Ginny made Harry a little nervous, but then he saw how Belinda responded, not just frowning but scowling furiously at the young interloper, he actually felt a little relief at this more familiar threat.

"Hello Ron, Ginny, Fred, Georgina," he said, clinging for a lifeline.

Ginny at least didn't try to hug him, having seen his response to her mother, but she still grinned brilliantly at him, scowled as angrily at Belinda as Belinda scowled at her, and then waved. "Well, I've got to go join the third years. See you at the sorting!"

When she was gone, Belinda said, "Watch out for red-heads, Harry. They're trouble—shouldn't be allowed in Hogwarts at all."

"So are two-bit slags," Georgina said loudly. "But they let you in, so what can we do? Hugs and kisses, Bel dear?"

"Or for me?" Fred said. "I do so remember last year. Want a repeat, love?"

Belinda's blush turned ruddy. "Fuck you both, you bloody freaks." With that she stomped away angrily.

"What was that about?" Harry asked.

"She thought she could bond Fred, stupid bint," Georgina said with a happy laugh. "Tried the tan line trick on him."

"What'd you do?"

"Shagged her rotten, of course," Fred said proudly. "Those tan lines are something."

"And I got it on the Omnioculars. Two Galleons if you want to watch."

"Merlin, you two are such perverts," Ron groaned.

"What about Angelina?" Harry asked, blinking in surprise.

Fred shrugged. "She was our first customer to watch. Between us, she's better."

"No tan lines at all," Georgina whispered with a wink.

Harry had to admit that Georgina had grown into herself. When he first met her, she was a rather gangly, even ugly girl of thirteen. Now sixteen, Georgina's body had grown into her face, and her face had grown out of her acne. She also was blessed with what she called the Prewitt Breasts, a blessing that evidently missed their older sister Charlene entirely and made the younger siblings nervous it wouldn't happen.

She was otherwise quite thin, and already had the type of figure that caught the attention of those around her. She would never be beautiful, but she was rather striking. Unfortunately, she was still just as violent, as witnessed by the punch she threw at Ron's shoulder. "So when are the birds going to start fluttering around you, Ronniekins?"

"When he learns to eat like a human being and not like a crup," Fred said, laughing.

Angelina arrived with Katie in tow. However, the girls looked like they had been arguing, and neither looked happy. "'Allo, love," Fred said. "What's with the long face, then?"

Angelina greeted Fred with a soul-searing kiss that made Harry blink and wipe his glasses. When she parted, she said, "Alicia isn't coming back."

"What?" Harry asked, stunned. "What do you mean?"

Katie rubbed the back of her neck. "Her mum found her a wizard willing to take her on as a first wife. She didn't want to risk losing the chance, so she bonded and married, and they went off to Brazil."

"Brazil?" Georgina said. "Stupid bint. What does Brazil have that we don't?"

"A wizard willing to marry Alicia first," Angelina said darkly. "We're going to have to fill her spot, and I don't like the idea of trying to break in a new Chaser."

"It'll be okay, Angelina," Harry said. "Besides, we need a new Keeper too, and you know you're a shoe-in for captain. So, just hold try-outs like Oliver did."

"Well, I am going to be captain, McGonagall told me so last year," Angelina said, smiling for the first time. "I appreciate the support, though. So, you boys are fourth years now, right?"

"Right," Fred said. "Belinda's already tried to show Harry her tan-lines."

"Cow," Angelina snorted. "Besides, it's more impressive when you don't have them."

"That's what I said," Georgina said. "You're hot, Angie. If you ever get tired of Fred, I'll take you."

"I thought you were dating Lee."

"Do you think he'd object?" Georgina asked. "Be like a chocolate and strawberry sandwich. Sounds like fun to me."

"You guys are pervs," Ron said.

"That's only because we don't let you watch," Fred said.

"For less than two galleons," Georgina added.

"No, he's right, you two are pervs," Angelina said. "Too bad for me you're cute pervs. Anyway, you boys want to sit with us?" she said to Harry.

"Might be safer," Neville admitted.

"Come on, then."

Several times during the ride, girls from various houses stopped by and invited Harry to sit with them. Two times they invited Neville to come as well. "Just wait until next year," Katie promised. "I know a lot of the girls are waiting until you guys are fifteen. They won't just be asking, they'll be trying to out-right ambush you. The girls like Belinda, though—they must be pretty desperate if they're not even willing to wait until your fifteen."

"Like Angelina my first year," Harry said.

Angelina had the grace to blush. "I didn't know how things were supposed to work yet. Muggleborn, remember? And Katie's right, next year's going to be a challenge for you boys."

"Thanks for the warning," Ron muttered.

"Oh, don't worry, Ron, you're pretty safe," Georgina said. "At least until every other bloke in school is taken. Then you'll have to worry a bit."

Harry couldn't help but laugh, but covered it with a cough. "I'm sure they'll be girls after you too, Ron," Harry said.

"Actually, Ginny said Lavender mentioned thinking you're cute," Neville volunteered cheerfully. "And Lilith Moon."

"Moon?" Georgina said. "She's the cute one with brown hair and freckles, right?"

"No, that's the half-blood, Jessica Rivers. Lilith is pureblood—white-blond hair and a bit of an overbite," Neville said.

"And which one is Lavender Brown?" Fred said with a nod.

"The one with the nice baps," Georgina said.

"Oh, that one. Yes, very nice," Fred agreed.

Ron blushed brilliantly. "Hadn't noticed."

Neville snorted. Harry laughed, and shook his head, before looking out the window of the train. It was going to be an interesting year. He just had no idea how interesting it would be.

~~Firebird~~

The First Years finished their sorting to the applause of the rest of the students. Like his very first year, Harry could see where each one was going to be sorted, but didn't really feel the need to say unless someone asked. He stopped predicting the sorting his third year, having missed his second year sorting because of the Lovegood situation.

Thinking of her made him look; he thought he saw her long, straggly blonde hair at the Ravenclaw table, but the third year girls were sitting with their backs to the Gryffindors. He turned his attention back to the head table, completely missing Luna turning to look in his direction.

"Welcome once again to yet another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" the headmaster began from the crowded staff table. Harry only really knew half the teachers there—like all the other students, he had only those professors specifically assigned to his year, and those teachers would follow his year to the end.

Dumbledore seemed to beam at the students. "Every year brings excitement and opportunity, but I am truly excited about this year. First, though, I must share some bad news. There will be no inter-house Quidditch this year."

Harry felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. Up the table with the Sixth Years, Angelina actually shouted, "What?"

Fortunately, she wasn't alone as Quidditch players and fans around the room protested.

Dumbledore held up both hands until they fell silent. "Now, now, all is not without hope," he said. "You must understand why there will be no Quidditch Cup this year. The reason, you see, is that for the first time since, well, before the last war, the International Confederation of Wizards has invited Hogwarts back on a trial basis to the Junior Quidditch League. The ICW has declared this year a true world junior Quidditch championship. Hogwarts will field its best players against the seven other ICW-aligned schools of magic across the world, to play in a tournament to determine which school will hold the Junior World Quidditch Cup!"

Sheer pandemonium ruled as students started shouting excitedly. When at last the turmoil eased to passable levels, the headmaster continued to speak. "By the unanimous agreement of all the staff, we have elected Cedric Diggory as the captain of the Hogwarts Team. Mr Diggory will be holding team try-outs in two weeks since the tournament schedule is quite demanding. He is charged with picking the best players in the school, and we have no doubt he will do a great job."

Harry listened with a sinking heart. Cedric was a Seeker; if he was captain that meant that they would not need a Seeker on the team. He looked up the table and saw Angelina wiping a tear from her cheek. She saw his concerned look and smiled weakly—there went her first year as Gryffindor's captain as well.

An interesting year indeed.

~~Firebird~~

Harry grinned when he walked into his first Monday morning class to see Remus Lupin leaning against the desk. Lupin nodded casually to Harry while the rest of the fourth year boys walked into the class room. At last some things were going right.

Herbology followed DADA and Professor Sprout was as cheerful as always as she outlined their class plan for the first term. After that came double charms, one of his favourite subjects.

The next two classes were odd for him personally because of who taught them. Harry knew that the lovely Aurora Sinistra was Snape's youngest wife and the mother of his first-born child, and that Snape was now his magical guardian, so he could not help but feel some small connection to the woman. But on the other hand, she showed absolutely no sign of that connection, and only acknowledged him in the course of the class itself as a student. Since she chose not to make an issue of it, he felt he had no choice but to do the same.

Professor Hooch, however, had no such compunction. After class was dismissed, she said, "Potter, a moment."

Harry lingered behind while the others left. "I understand you asked for Professor Snape to act as your magical guardian this summer. May I ask why?"

Because all my other choices were unavailable, he thought. Aloud, though, he said, "He knew my mother."

"He did indeed," Hooch said. "Had a rather bitter falling out with her as well."

"I know, Professor."

Hooch studied the young man. "Lily did not put much store in the traditions of wizarding society. It made her some enemies. But there was no question she was a powerful and intelligent witch. Just remember—guardians are traditionally witches, almost in all cases. While you won't see it splashed about in the papers, it is unusual enough that you asked for Professor Snape that it has been discussed by the covens. Trust me, Potter, that is attention you don't need, and neither does Professor Snape."

Harry felt his stomach twist a little and struggled to hold down a touch of anger. "Why would the covens care about who I ask to be my guardian?"

"Because they have plans for you, why else?" Hooch snorted. "They have plans for every wizard in this castle. I wouldn't be surprised if they have wagers going on which one of their appointed witches poaches you first."

"That's not right," Harry said.

Hooch smiled without humour. "Right has nothing to do with it. You'll bond like you're supposed to, and you'll be happy enough to do it, trust me. Wizards always are. However, next time you drag my husband into a controversy he does not need with his history, remember that there will be a very uncomfortable conversation to follow, do you understand?"

"I understand."

"Good. Off with you, then."

Harry stifled his resentment as he rushed out of the room and down the hall to Muggle Studies. Professor Geneva Pax, the woman who replaced Charity Burbage, had already begun her welcoming speech. "Mr Potter, you're late," she noted at his appearance.

"Sorry, Professor Hooch held me after to discuss something," he said.

"Then I'll let you go with a warning this time. Take your seat, please." He took his seat, his irritated mood growing even worse. "Now, as I was saying before I was interrupted, this is your final year of mandatory Muggle Studies. The first term will finalize your core Muggle subjects, while second term we will begin the actual General Certificate of Secondary Education exams and papers. These exams and papers are very important because they allow Hogwarts to receive Muggle funds to offset the expense of maintaining a castle this size for such a small student body, and to also keep tuition costs low. You will take this class, and you WILL do well, or you will be not be allowed to sit your O.W.L.s. No, not even you, Mr Malfoy…."

Harry tuned the woman's high-pitched voice out and stared angrily at the chalkboard. What was it anyone's business who he asked to be his guardian, much less a room full of nosy, bitter old crones?

~~Firebird~~

"Potter!"

Harry turned around to see Cedric Diggory walking toward him. Cedric was a handsome boy, with almond-coloured hair and eyes, a strong chin and high cheekbones. He had a virtual army of witches following him everywhere he went, and smiled anyway.

This time, though, the witches were gone and it was just Diggory who walked toward him from the Great Hall where they just finished eating dinner. It was Thursday of their first week of classes.

"What can I do for you, Captain?" Harry asked.

Cedric stopped mid-step, then grinned abruptly. "'Captain'. Has a ring to it, doesn't it? Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Have a minute?"

"Sure."

The two made their way to an unused class midway between the Great Hall and the Hufflepuff tower. When they were alone and Cedric charmed the door shut and threw up some mild repelling charms, he said, "You remember your first year playing?"

"Yeah, you were a third year, right?"

"Right. Do you remember what position I played?"

"No, not really."

"Keeper," Cedric said. "I played Keeper for two years before I switched over to Seeker because we had had another decent Keeper in Shelters, and we had no Seeker worth a damm. I can play both positions pretty well, but Keeping has always been my strength. I plan to play Keeper on the Hogwarts team. I'd like you to try out for Seeker."

"Really?" Harry said, all irritation and anger from the past week melting before excitement. "I mean, are you sure?"

"Harry, I played against you twice last year and you left me in the straw both times; I'm sure. Now, here's another question. I heard from McGonagall that Johnson was up for the Gryffindor captaincy this year. Thing she'd be willing to play for me?"

"If you take Katie Bell too," Harry said.

"I was planning to. Shame about Alicia, it would have been good to have the whole team, but there's a Ravenclaw I'm recruiting to step in—I think she'd be a good match."

"What about the twins?"

Cedric shook his head. "They're brilliant, but erratic. I've seen Georgina take pot shots at her own brother just to get his goat in the middle of a game, and we can't afford that in our starters. No, I'm actually thinking about the Slytherins. They're good beaters, vicious as hell, and let's face it—Gregoria Goyle is just ugly enough to make the other team afraid."

Harry could not disagree. "I'd love to try out, Cedric."

"Great, good news. Try outs are next Saturday morning, but truth is I already know who I want starting. The try outs will mainly be for the reservists. Be at the pitch Saturday after next, eight sharp."

"Yes, sir!" Harry said.

~~Firebird~~

The girl sits in the hall with her knees pulled up under her chin, shivering in the cold drafts of the castle in her thin sleeping shift as the darkness pushed in on her. Magical walls shimmer, but the magic brings no comfort against the darkness that hates her so badly.

She looks straight at him, tears rolling down her pale round cheeks. "Please help me," she whispers.

Harry sat up with a gasp as a sudden, sharp spike of pain drove into his brain. He tasted blood and held his fingers to his lips to feel blood there. It was a vision, then, though not nearly as bad as the one from this summer. Groggily, he looked at his clock and saw it was past two in the morning. Fortunately it was Friday—well, Saturday now—so he didn't have classes that morning.

He made his way down to the common room and then down the narrow hall to McGonagall's office. He knocked before stepping back so the wards could more easily identify him. A few minutes later McGonagall opened the door in a night robe wrapped tightly around her gown, her hair hanging loose about her shoulders.

"Potter! What…are you bleeding?"

"Yeah, sorry, Professor. I had a vision. I think Luna Lovegood's been locked out of her tower and she's pretty upset. I'd go help her myself but…"

"You most certainly will not!" McGonagall snapped. Then, more calmly, "Are you sure about this, Mr Potter?"

"Nosebleed and a headache, I'm pretty sure. She talked to me in the vision and asked for help."

With a sigh, McGonagall stepped back into her office, before returning moments later in her day robe and had. "The portraits have confirmed Ms Lovegood was the subject of a rather cruel prank. Go back to bed, Mr Potter, I'll take care of it."

"Okay, thank you, Professor."

Back in his room a few minutes later, he pulled out his father's map and watched McGonagall's footsteps meet up with Professor Flitwick's. Harry noted with a smile that Flitwick's feet were half the size as McGonagall's. The two walked side by side toward where Luna was waiting. As he watched, Luna suddenly spun around in a circle, like she used to the previous year, and for some reason Harry was absolutely sure she was thanking him.

"You're welcome, Luna," Harry said with a smile.

Author's Note: Very special thanks as always to Teufel1987, JR and Miles for beta reading.