An Existing Loophole – Chapter 5 (Short Line)
Even after Montague had left ages ago, Harry had remained there for a while. It wasn't until he heard his stomach growl that it reminded him that he still hadn't ate dinner. His eyes glanced down at the ruined food on the ground.
It was with a resigned sigh that he made his way back to the kitchens. There were no additional comments from the House Elves that he apparently was going to get seconds. He decided to eat there in the kitchens instead of trying to make his way back towards the Courtyard.
As much as Harry tried to think about other things. Like his homework and the fact his OWLs would be next year. It never worked. Every stray thought went back to Montague and his offer. He wasn't sure if he should say it was an offer. But wasn't what he asked for the same thing? He couldn't understand why Montague would want the contract.
He knew why he didn't want it.
It felt like he would be furthered trapped. He was already trapped into this tournament as a champion and now a possible child. The thought was a scary one still. He didn't want to be like the Dursleys and how they had treated him. Could he love them? He didn't even know what the word love meant. He knew his parents had cared and loved him even though he couldn't remember it.
He didn't feel ready for any of it. He already felt insane for thinking of this idea. To even consider it…
He just wasn't going to entertain the idea. He would show Montague and himself. He could show the others he could do this.
Why did it all feel like a lie?
Harry sighed, he supposed he could try to approach Higgs too. But after all of that. He didn't think he had it in him.
Besides, no doubt it would spread around Hogwarts that he had practically begged a Slytherin to knock him up…
He squeezed his eyes shut as a tear fell. He wouldn't be able to face anyone then. Famous Harry Potter indeed…
Then there was mentioning this to Blaise and Theo…
Harry shook his head, no. He wouldn't tell them. If they asked, he would just tell them that he couldn't bring himself to speak to either of them. They didn't need to know any of it. It would be for the best.
And it wasn't like the tasks could be that dangerous… could they?
Where it was the weekend once more, Harry found himself back in the library. He needed something… anything that would tell him more about the TriWizard Tournament. He didn't even know what kind of tasks there would be. He only knew that the first one was supposed to test your daring and courage. Several books had mentioned about testing the four. Courage, intelligence, resilience, and magical ability. As much as that was nice to read, it didn't tell him much of anything.
He did find something about where the Tournament had been discontinued when they had the Champions face a Cockatrice. That had been back in 1792.
It told him that they had used a creature, so he didn't know if it would be best to try to look into different kinds of creatures. There were a lot of dangerous ones out there, weren't there? Maybe they would use a more dangerous creature for the first task. It could certainly have the task of testing their courage and daring.
There were a few books on different types of magical creatures and their classification. Given on how dangerous the task was, Harry was betting that they may pick creatures further up.
It was while Harry was glancing over a book on Chimaeras that he noticed he visitors.
"How is it you always know where to find me?" Harry complained.
Blaise grinned at him, "find a better hiding spot than the library and then you may have some luck."
Harry groaned at that.
"Research?" Theo guessed. "Homework I'm guessing…"
"Sure…" Harry mumbled, even though it seemed unconvincing.
Theo shared a look with Blaise at that, both of them frowned.
Blaise grabbed the book literally from Harry's hands.
"Blaise!" Harry snapped.
"Don't look like it's homework?" he raised an eyebrow at him. "Manticores? Sounds like a subject taught in seventh year, not fourth?"
Harry's face was hot, whether that was in anger or embarrassment, he wasn't sure at that moment. He really didn't like where Blaise was being nosy. Perhaps it was because he hasn't told them and didn't want to…
"Maybe I was just curious about them. Doesn't have to be homework to be curious," Harry grumbled.
Theo snorted, "last I checked. You aren't neither a witch nor Granger."
Harry's face was pink at that.
"They did use a Cockatrice in the last tournament," Blaise brought up.
Theo's eyes widened, "you're doing the tournament?!"
Harry didn't look at them, either of them. His eyes kept down at the book, not even reading the words written on its pages.
"Any particular rest to why?" Blaise pressed. "Did you even talk to Montague or Higgs?"
Harry shook his head, "can't do it…"
"For Merlin's sake…" Blaise muttered.
Theo sighed, "so you figured the tournament is your only other option, then?" He glanced over at Blaise.
"Why are you looking at me?!" Blaise huffed.
"Aren't you the supposed expert?" Theo raised an eyebrow.
"Just because I own books that nobody else has, doesn't mean a damn thing," Blaise narrowed his eyes.
Theo rolled his eyes.
"Okay… maybe it does," he relented.
Theo crossed his arms at that.
"Most champions have tried most of everything centuries ago. It's the Goblet of Fire that is the main decision maker here. There have even been champions that have let the tasks kill them so they could get out of it," Blaise revealed.
Harry's face went pale at that. That was definitely not want he needed to hear. This was supposed to be giving him more reasons to keep rejecting Montague's proposal, not to reconsider it.
"Blaise," Theo warned.
"What!? You can't hide the truth about the tournament! There's even documented evidence about it," Blaise defended himself.
"How about we focus on what's going on now, so we don't make Harry pass out," Theo remarked lightly.
"That's what Rennervate is for," Blaise grinned. "Or water may work better…"
"Then you can deal with Madam Pince's lecture when she yells at you for getting water in her precious library," Theo cut in.
Blaise shrugged; he had been yelled at by her countless of times. May as well make it one more.
"Each task is supposed to get more dangerous. Though when they were still doing the tournaments... they did tend to use magical creatures the most. Sometimes it was changed up, but the Ministry is a nature of habit," Blaise commented.
"More dangerous!?" Harry's voice went higher at that. "How more dangerous could it get!?"
"Hard to say. Could be a more dangerous creature or challenge. I rather doubt that they would have a Basilisk as a task..." Blaise thought aloud. "Too rare of a creature and they wouldn't risk the creature killing or petrifying everyone. A Runespore wouldn't be amiss though."
"There's not a guarantee that speaking Parseltongue would appease them," Theo reminded. "Not a single text of a Parselmouth coming across one and living to talk about it."
"And you say I'm bad," Blaise grumbled. "Could be a Lethifold..."
"The Ministry wouldn't be able to get one and neither would they be able to control it. Not to mention the potential deaths..." Theo shuddered.
"Lethifolds?" Harry questioned.
"The Ministry of Magic classifies them as a XXXXX Creature," Theo began.
"For good reason," Blaise muttered.
Theo ignored him, "do you know anything about Dementors?"
Harry gave a slow nod, "they guard Azkaban, heard a few people talking about them."
"There is the theory that Lethifolds and Dementors are related and yet Lethifolds are more dangerous than a Dementor. Dementors aren't considered a being while Lethifolds are considered beasts. While Dementors can suck out our soul, Lethifolds are much more dangerous. They have been known to suffocate and devour you. The only defense against both of them is the Patronus Charm," Theo explained.
"Patronus Charm?" Harry asked.
"It's a difficult Charm to master, they don't even require mastering the spell. The incorporeal Patronus creates a shield between you and the Dementor or Lethifold. The corporeal Patronus would take shape and form and much more powerful. It's the only defense against Dementors and Lethifolds," Theo told him.
"It's not typically taught about until fifth year and revised about in seventh year. But they won't have a practical for the Charm. It's too difficult for witches and wizards," Blaise commented.
Harry gave a grim nod; he didn't think there was a spell that Hogwarts wouldn't teach. But he still didn't get on why it was so hard.
"Why is the Charm so hard to get?"
"It's because it requires a great deal of magic and a happy enough memory to fuel the spell. Most witches and wizards don't have a happy memory that strong. And most think they can get their Patronus to attack when it does not work that way. A Patronus is meant as a guardian, nothing else," Blaise replied.
"And you don't think there would be Dementors?" Harry asked, his voice nervous.
Theo's eyebrows ruffled, "it's possible but I doubt it. I can't account for Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, but Hogwarts wouldn't account for it."
That didn't seem to comfort Harry very much but again, not much could at this stage.
"So, what? You're trying to find books on dangerous creatures?" Theo questioned.
Harry gave a quick nod.
"It's not a bad idea, the first task will probably use some type of creature. The second one as well. The final task is usually some type of obstacle course with more than just a few creatures in your way," Blaise confirmed.
"Griffins, Trolls, Sphinx, Acromantulas, Chimaera, Manticore," Theo read off, though it was almost hard to decipher the messy handwriting. "You really do have atrocious handwriting."
Harry glared at him, "no need to tell me what I already know."
Theo didn't press further, "you are still missing a big list. I would add Kappa, Selkies, Runespoor, Graphorn, Kelpie, Occamy, Snallygaster, Dragons, Nundu, and Quintapeds."
Harry blinked at him, "that many?!"
"If you are going for dangerous and the Ministry will, might be lucky that one of those will be picked," Theo answered for him.
"Lucky!?"
Blaise snickered, "well… this is the TriWizard Tournament. They will definitely not have you face a Flobberworm."
Harry glared over at Blaise, "I'll see you both later."
The two Slytherins watched as Harry packed some of the books he had and left.
They stood where they were at.
"You think he's hiding something?" Theo asked.
Blaise nodded, "it was obvious. But can't force him to tell us if he doesn't want to."
"And the tournament?" Theo questioned.
"There is no way he is wanting to do that unless something happened."
"You think he did talk to Montague or Higgs?" Theo asked.
Blaise shrugged, "I can't say for sure. I've seen him try to approach them and then change his mind. What he said does make sense. I don't think I would have gone that route if I was Harry. I would find a way pass these tasks. But he is a Gryffindor… or supposedly."
"It would probably be a good idea for him to learn the Patronus Charm. It might come in handy," Theo brought up.
Blaise gave him a surprised look, "in less than two weeks?!"
"It'll give him something to focus on opposed to what to expect for the first task," Theo said.
"Theo... that spell takes more than a few weeks. Months... years..."
"Yeah… I know," he frowned. Maybe he would be able to speak to Harry about it tomorrow before classes started back on Monday.
It was probably after lunch when Theo and Blaise found Harry back again in the library. He was pouring over a book about Selkies. They were Merpeople that were related to the Siren. They were bloodthirsty creatures, which made sense they were considered a XXXX creature by the Ministry of Magic. Killing those that invaded their waters and had developed a sense for flesh like the Sirens.
Harry hadn't understood on why it might have been important to know about the Selkies until he found a text that said they lived in the very Black Lake of Hogwarts. He probably would have fallen out of his chair if he hadn't been sitting down.
Is that what they were doing? Were they going to be sending them all down to a lake where he was going to be killed anyways.
Harry's face fell into his hands, why didn't he take Graham's proposal?
"Harry?"
The Gryffindor's face lifted up, his eyes brimming with tears.
Whatever was going to be said was stalled for the moment when Draco Malfoy stormed into the library.
"Draco?" Theo asked, voice filled with concern.
"Dra—Dra—" Draco was breathing hard.
"What's going on?" Blaise asked. "Draco, breathe!"
The blonde Slytherin took in several deep breaths. He was at the verge of freaking out, not an ounce of the Pureblood could be seen in him.
"Dragons!" Draco yelled, not caring that he was in the library.
A whimper could be heard from Harry.
All three eyes went to the Gryffindor.
"You just yelled… in the library?!" Blaise was shocked.
An embarrassed flush crept up Draco's face, "I was in a bit of shock," he snapped, defending himself. His eyes glanced around the library nervously.
"I got to find Graham…" Harry whispered before running out of the library.
"Graham?" Draco asked.
Theo and Blaise stared at where Harry ran away, the book abandoned on the table. Both of them were confused on what just happened before them.
Had Harry already spoken to Graham before and hadn't said a word? But it was too late to ask as the Gryffindor was already gone.
"Draco, unless you want to face the wrath of Madam Pince, I would run," Theo advised him.
Draco Malfoy looked disheveled as he turned and walked out of the library calmly. There was still an edge to him.
It was obvious to both Theo and Blaise on what the first task would be. Harry obviously knew that now as well. And by his words, he was going after Graham.
But why now?
That was the thought echoing in the two Slytherin's minds.
AN: To give some background information, Harry Potter never met Sirius Black in his 3rd year. So, he never knew he had a godfather.