Chapter 12
It did not take long to settle into the rooms. Sirius was overjoyed to have a place he could be human. Remus talked with both Salazar and Godric on things in the many journals as it was defense and transfiguration studies. Professor McGonagall even joined in the day after we moved in. McGonagall had taken to doing my animagus training here as well which was nice as I had both her and Sirius helping now.
After a password was set for the door (Prongs) I was able to invite some people over on sunday. Basically the quidditch team, Hermione, Neville, and Daphne. Hermione geeked out at all the information but handled it better then the Potter library indecent. The girls geeked over the tub that was like the prefect tub which was apparently great to soak in. Fred and George though loved the training room. The rest of the day we just had fun though.
The goblins also showed up during that time to make official robes for the tasks. As we had not had the auction for he Basilisk yet (was scheduled for over winter break) I was able to use some of the hide. They dyed the hide my family color, royal purple, and with some Hebridean Black dragon hide to create the armor. The mix of the two hide would give me protection form a lot of spells and creatures which would come in handy for sure.
Two weeks were a bit rough and the first task was a little less then a week away. Remus and Sirius were working me hard to say the least as we had no clue what the task was. Traditional the tasks were designed to test magical ability, intelligence, and courage. The first task prime focus was on the courage aspect and with the last Potter champion they were sent into a nesting site of chimeras to find something that would help with their second task. There was little information on the old tasks but creatures were featured heavily in the first task.
With creatures in mind we focused on defense and charms. Salazar had said that developing my parseltounge could come in handy as well. Even if I already knew the spell doing it in parseltounge made it harder for those to realize what I was doing and some spells changed the effect. Apparent the serpensortia spell would not bring forth a common snake but a magical species and type varied on what my mind said I needed. Having never used it without a snake present it was hard but it was really on intent.
"Professor Moody," said a timid voice from the door broke me from my thoughts. I turned to see Colin Creevey at the door.
"What?" Snape said.
"They have requested Harrison in the trophy room,"
"Very well," Moody said roughly. "Potter want a two feet on the effects of the imperious curse on my desk before class on Tuesday."
"Yes sir," I said and we headed off. "What do they need me for Colin?"
"Some tournament tradition," he said "Must have something to do with wands as Olivander is here and a writer from the prophet."
"Can you do me a favor," I said as we approached the room and he nodded happily. "Can you go to my chambers and get Lupin?"
"The ones down form Gryffindor dorm? Why?"
"Just think he should be there as my mentor," I said "Also to deal with the press as they can be pain when it comes to me. Also can you have him bring down my crest robe. He will know which one,"
"Sure!" he said as we made it to the room. I stripped off my cloak with my crest as he ran off and entered the room to find the three other champions. Strangely I found that all the headmasters were here along with Fleur's mother but seemed Remus was not informed.
"The last champion has arrived!" Bagman said ushering me over to the others. "Now today is the wand weighing ceremony. We have England's finest maker Olivander here to make sure your wands are ready to go next Thursday."
"Why don't we start with Mr. Kurm," Olivander said. Krum stepped forward and handed his wand to Olivander. It was more natural with a bend in the wood with a carved bird at the hilt. "Hornbeam, 10 ¼ inches with dragon heartstring is that correct,"
"Da," Krum said "One of the last from Gregorvitch,"
"Yes his style was certainly to follow simplicity and show the beauty of the natural wood" Olivander said before giving it a wave and producing sparks. "The wand passes inspection. Miss Delacour,"
Fleur walked up and handed the wand just as Krum did. It was more detailed then Krum's with a wisp like tail that came back up creating a look similar to the hilt of a french saber. Olivander took longer with the wand then Kurms as well.
"Rosewood, 9 ½ inches," Olivander said as he conjured flowers to test. "The core is not one I use though. I find veela hair can be temperamental to work with,"
"It is from my grandmother," she said. "We had a custom part veela maker create this and one for my sister,"
"Mr. Diggory," Olivander said after handing back her wand. "One of my own. Ash, 12 ¼ inches, with unicorn hair. That unicorn was a particularly fine male unicorn. Seventeen hands high and nearly gored me with its horn after I plucked the hair from its tail. You have taken fine care of it,"
"Whenever I get the chance sir," Cedric said as Olivander test his wand. It to passed the test and I was called. I was about to move but the door opened.
"Sorry I am late," Remus said as he came in. He still looked a little off as it was the full moon tomorrow but thanks to the potion he was able to function a lot better then he was without it. "I was told this was taking place after classes today. Thankfully Harrison sent Mr. Creevey to get me,"
"I am sorry for the miss notification," Bagman said. "No worry though it is Harrison's turn now."
"Mr. Potter," Olivander said holding my wand. Thankfully I had gotten in a better habbit of wand care over the last few months or it would not look as nice. "Another one of mine holly, 11 inches, with a phoenix feather core. Simpler looking wand but the core was picky on the wood. It has served you well,"
"Very well sir," I said glad he did not mention the uniqueness of the core. He preformed a spell before passing me as well. With all of us clear with our current wands it was time for photos. They lined us up similar to the press conference. Remus handed me the robe I asked for. It was not fancy really but instead of the school house crest it had the Potter crest. Dumbledore once again tried to stand next to me but Remus blocked him. Individual shots were taken as well for the paper.
Rita Skeeter was the reporter that apparently was to over see the tournament and I could see her being a problem. Her manicured nails were dead set on an interview with me. She even attempted to pull me aside when photo's of the others were being taken.
"What do you think your doing Miss Skeeter?" Remus questioned as she attempted to pull me into a broom cupboard.
"An interview,"
"Which Harrison has not consented to,"
"He did,"
"Miss Skeeter it is a well known fact that a werewolf can hear across a room," he rubbing his temples. "At no time did you ask Harrison or he consent to an interview."
"He is a public figure,"
"Which does not imply consent for an interview," he said "More so you were pulling a minor into a broom cupboard. Harrison would you like to do an interview?"
"So long as that quick quill of hers is not there and you are present Remus," I said. I had heard the stories of her quill. When we found out she was going to do prime coverage of the tournament Remus, Sirius, and I agreed on a few things. She would never use the quill and Remus would be there and get a copy of the notes. "Also any notes taken will be copied so we have them as well. If anything in the article was not said there will be repercussions,"
"You can't do that!" she screeched. "Freedom of the press,"
"Miss Skeeter I own a 20% share of your main paper," I said and she blanched. "This paper is not the gossip rag of Witch Weekly. Any fact in the Daily Prophet better be true or you will find yourself no longer a journalist for that paper. I do hear they pay far better then Witch Weekly,"
"Very well," she said pulling out a regular quill. I knew there would still likely be a gossip segment in Witch Weekly but the Prophet everyone read and would be far more damaging.
"You will also be conducting other interviews I assume with the three other champions," Remus said.
"Yes yes," she said summoning chairs for us. "Now Harry..,"
"If you don't want to say Mr. Potter use Harrison please that is my name," I said.
"Then lets start there," she said "Why the name change?"
"Really there is not a change," I explained. "Harry James Potter does not exist and never did. My birth certificate reads Harrison James Sirius Potter. Many families did not register children's names until they came to Hogwarts. Dumbledore never checked the Gringotts records even though it is well known that my family followed that tradition,"
"Sirius? As in Sirius Black,"
"Yes ma'am," I said "Sirius Black is my godfather and has been shortly after I was born. My parents honored him by giving me his name as a second middle name. I have been informed they had planed to honor all godparents depending on gender. My middle name likely would have been Alice if I had been a girl after my godmother,"
"Why not drop the name after what he did?" she asked and I looked to Remus who nodded. We knew this might come up once I said my name and if handled correctly could help us.
"I see no reason to,"
"You are aware on what he did? You must hate him,"
"Over last year I found some things out," I said "I was not informed truly what he did or who he was to me until I over heard a conversation in January of this year. I though decided to make my own opinions rather then listen to others and found inconsistency with the facts the Ministry has released."
"Inconsistency? Can you elaborate?"
"At this time no I can not. I am having the matters looked into,"
"Well then," she said with a glint in her eyes. "Then why enter this tournament? Is it a cry for attention?"
"I never entered myself," I said "I swore to Remus that I would not enter as there is great risk. As for attention I don't care for what I had before so I certainly did not want more."
"What of the photo shoot with Gildory Lockheart before he became your professor,"
"I just happened to be shopping for school that day," I said "He saw me in the crowd and the photographer pulled me from where I was."
"Why not compete as Hogwarts Champion? Each of you could have worn house colors I assume,"
"Cedric deserves the honor," I said "He placed his name in and truly wanted to represent the school. It is only fair for him either way. It is also time I think to take the Potter family back out of the shadows. Since my grandfather passed the family has sat back politically and since I must compete in the tournament why not remind people what a Potter can do,"
From there the questions continued. Some were personal like favorite colors and hobbies. Which I knew was bound to Witch Weekly but it did not matter. Others were strictly about the tournament. There was ones though that I avoided such as home life and things with Dumbledore. Finally though I was able to get away from it and left back to my quarters.
"A letter arrived for you Harry," Sirius said as we came in. "Well more of a note,"
"From who?" I asked a bit confused as I but the robe
"Hagrid," Remus said picking it up. "He wants you to meet him Saturday night and to bring your cloak,"
"Why," I said coming out in casual clothes.
"Maybe something to do with the tournament," Sirius said "From what I have read it is almost tradition to cheat like getting information from outside sources. If caught obviously you would be reprimanded but people look the other way typically as long as it is not to obvious."
"Alright then," I said and headed down to dinner.
~Time Skip~
The time had arrived to head down to Hagrids so I went off cloak in hand. I asked Remus to come but he said it would be suspicious if he went as well. He also was still recovering from the full moon which had been harsh. So before dark I headed out and it wasn't a strange occurrence as Hagrid had invited me for tea before. What was strange was he was dressed decently and hair was combed.
"Hagrid, whats with the outfit?" I asked.
"Don't worry about it," he said "You got your cloak?"
"Yea," I said.
"Put it on and follow me," he said "and don't take it off,"
I did as told and threw the cloak on before following him into the forest. Madam Maxmie was there waiting and I had to laugh a little as it seemed Hagrid had a date but I stayed quiet. He lead us farther into the woods and I started getting concerned as loud roars and clanking. Finally we made it into the deepest part of the woods and the source of the commotion came into view.
Four fully grown dragons each with a nest within there cage. They were not happy to be here at all. There was a Welsh Green, a Chinese Fireball, a Swedish Short-snout, and the one causing the most issue a Hungarian Horntail. She thrashed and shot fire at the handlers.
"Hagrid!" yelled a notice I knew. It was Charlie Weasley who I had meet briefly at the World Cup.
"Charlie," he said then introduced Madam Maxmie. "The dragons are beautiful,"
"That they are," he said as the horntail again erupted in flames. "That one there is a right piece of work though. She was added last minute for some reason. Guess they want a spare,"
"You haven't read the news?" Hagrid asked confused.
"No been a but busy between shipping this lot and finding a fourth," he said "We were lucky that the horntail laid but we shipped her last in case one of the other girls did as they insisted nesting mothers. I was hopping Norberta would but her eggs hatched a few weeks early. Seems she managed to hide them from us for a few weeks before we noticed them. Why?"
"There is a fourth champion," Madam Maxime said still a little sour about the whole thing.
"Really wow," he said "Anyone I know?"
"Harry," Hagrid said and Charles eyes went wide. Though only meeting him the once he had heard a lot about me from his siblings.
"How in Merlin's beard did that happen?!"
"Not sure they are looking into it." I did not stay any longer. I ran as fast as I could out of the woods and to my chambers still hiding under the cloak. When I got back I found Sirius and Remus dozing on the couch.
"Harry whats wrong?" Sirius asked shooting up as the door slammed behind me.
"Dragons,"
"What?" he asked confused.
"Dragons,"
"The have dragons for the task?" Remus asked and both sets of eyes went wide when I nodded.
"Nesting mothers,"
"Bloody hell," Sirius said running his hands through his hair. "Remus any idea?"
"Not yet but we will come up with one," and with that we got to work on how to fight a dragon and what they really wanted us to do.
~Time Skip~
The weekend progressed as we planned and I threw myself into it. It they had nesting mothers it meant they would guard something which I would have to take. With that solved it was how to get it. A few plans were developed as Remus wanted back up plans. Daphne and Hermione along with Godric and Salazar were helping with ideas
With Monday came classes and seeing my schoolmates. Though Cedric had told Hufflepuff he believed me not all did. Slytherin was also edged on by Malfoy who had made badges supporting Cedric and saying I stunk. Ravenclaw could really careless about what happened. As for Gryffindor they actually believed me except a few. They were excited though that we were in it so I could not fault them.
Monday also brought out the articles on the champions. Each of us were given a section but my own and Viktors seemed larger. We also both had articles written in Witch Weekly were the others did not. As said by Skeeter though we were public figures before the tournament so it was bound to happen.
Skeeters article at least for me stuck to the facts in both publications. It mentioned out right why my name had changed and why I preferred it in both articles. The Prophet included an explication on why I chose not to drop Sirius name. Witch Weekly focused on my likes and hobbies and applied to women who were interested. The Prophet on the other hand focused on the tournament and my reasoning for representing House Potter. She did take my quote on Cedric deserving to be the sole Hogwarts Champion putting good focus on him as well.
She did do some speculating though in a deeper article in the Prophet. Topics of choice were why I thought things seemed inconstant with Sirius Black. She also speculated on why it seemed to be some kind of rift between myself and Dumbledore. It actually wasn't bad investigated and would lead people to question things later on.
Having finished lunch though it was time for runes. Daphne and Hermione both being in the class walked with me on this on. As we crossed the quad I saw Cedric and thought it best to tell him. I mean Madam Maxime knew and likely Karkaroff had not been far either. So the girls waited well I went to Cedric.
"Hey Cedric got a sec?" I asked and he nodded coming over.
"If this is about the badges I have deducted points from those I catch," he said.
"That is fine," I said "I wanted to give you a heads up. The first task is dragons,"
"Dr..dragons," he said and I nodded.
"About my reaction," I said "I think we have to steal something from them. Found out Saturday thought you would like to know. Only fair I saw Maxime sure Karkaroff was not far."
"Thanks for the heads up,"
"Welcome," I said and he headed off. I went to return to the girls but was blocked by Malfoy.
"Like the badges Potter," he said shoving his in my face.
"Could care less," I said and went to step around him but blocked by a goon. "I would like to go to class please."
"My father and I have a bet you see," he said ignoring me. "I don't think you will last ten minutes in this tournament. He disagrees, thinks you won't last five."
"I could care less what your no good father thinks let alone you," I said. "Now I have class to get to so move out of the damn way."
I pushed past him and the rest happened rather quickly. I heard him mumble a complaint and the draw of a wand. He never got to shot a spell out though as I turned and got him before he could me with a body bind. This made Crabbe and Goyle draw there own but once more I was quicker knocking them on their asses with weak stunners.
"You won't be cursing my back again Malfoy," I said putting my wand away.
"Fighting again Potter," said the monotone voice of Snape. I turned to see he had come across the pond. "Seems detention for you. I believe three nights,"
"I think not Severus," out came Moody form Merlin knows where. "I saw the encounter. Malfoy boy drew his wand to aim at Potter back. Potter had every right to defend himself. The others then drew their own wands. If anyone gets detention it is those three,"
Snape snarled before storming off. I to left as Moody gave Draco and his goons detention. The confrontation would be the talk of the school after this. Hopefully it would discourage anyone form trying it out themselves.
~Time Skip~
Thursday finally arrived and I couldn't be more nervous. Remus walked with me to the tent and sent Sirius with Hermione and Daphne. Gryffindor's wished me luck and the twins had started a betting ring which was pulling in some galleons.
I dressed in the clothes that had been made just for me. I wore a muggle style fitness long sleeve under a reinforced vest with a high neck that Godric called a jerkin. It was solid black with deep Potter purple plates made from the basilisk hide from my collarbones down to my lower ribs layered. They were layered just like scales on the belly of the beast they came from. Just under my left collarbone my family crest in silver could be seen to stand out against the deep purple and black.
The same styled plates went over my back to just below my ribs and smaller ones on the shoulders and neck were placed. I wore fingerless gauntlets made of Hebridean Black dragon hide that would doubled as a wand holster and even made so with a flick of the wrist the wand would be drawn. Trousers were easy to move in but tough with black basilisk hide plates on my thighs. I also wore guards on my shins made of the same dragonhide along with dragon hide combat boots.
As the goblin seamstress and armorer it was a mix of the new and old. I was warned though that due to the need for speed and movement that the plates would not help against some hits. Basilisk hide was nearly as tough as dragons hide but a dragon could still do some damage especially if it hit one of the sports not reinforced. Spell wise my major areas were protected and the neck can always be closed should I need to duel protecting me even more.
"You got this Harry," Remus said messing with my buckles as I sat one of the beds. The other champions also were getting ready in the tent and all seemed nervous. "Just go with what seems the best move at the time. If the original plan does not work abandon it"
"I know," I said. Just then Crouch and Bagman came in. Bagman was holding a bag and had us gather around.
"Now that everyone is around it is time for the first task," Bagman said. "As you can likely tell by the sounds your task is a dragon."
"Each of you will face a dragon who is guarding a special egg," Crouch said. "The egg is an essential clue to moving forward with the next task. If you have any hope in surviving the next task you must get the egg. Now to chose which beast you will fight against. Ladies first, Miss Delacour,"
Fleur reached into the bag and pulled out a welsh green figure with the number two around its next. Krum then drew a figurine of a Chinese Fireball with the number three. Cedric went next and got the Swedish Short-snout with the number three. That left me with only one option when I reached into the bad, the Hungarian Horntail, which was exactly the one I got with the number four.
I looked to Remus placed a hand on my shoulder for reassurance. As always luck was never on my side of things. Today was going to be a hard day.
So I want to clear up about Godric as it came up in a review. Godric never said his name was Windsor but they now go by Windsor. He knows this because he has a magical portrait hidden behind a muggle one in Windsor castle. I did do research but did not want to go through the whole line and the names used in 900's no longer exist at all.So at some point one of his siblings lines married into what is now the House Windsor. I wanted to clear that up for you all if you were confused.
I do research many of the things I put in here either to base something off of or bring real world fact in. I even check when full moons are for the time in question. As in this chapter I say Remus is the day which occurred Nov 18th 1994. As I wanted Remus there for the interview that means I had to change the time of it. So instead of Potions (which I figured as Friday after lunch in 4th year) Harry is taken from Defense. Before someone asks yes I have a class schedule I made to keep track for myself and used known facts and filled in the rest and use the same for all fics with Gryffindor students it would change for Slytherin Harry. Anyway back to point I used the moon to determine when the interview was so that Remus could be there but it was the week before the task which was on the 24th of November. Originally was going to say Friday but realized that was the full moon when I rechecked so had to adjust a few things.