Crumpled Horn Plot Bunnies
By Andrew J. Talon
Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Harry Potter or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.
Year 4, First Task...
Harry didn't think Hermione had meant to kiss him on the lips. He was pretty sure she meant to put her lips on his cheek. But it had happened in the tent, and she'd run off as quickly as she could when Dumbledore ordered her out.
Harry stared at the model of the Horntail in his hand, and sighed.
Every year. Every year, he had to deal with this rubbish! This crap! Why was he called upon to do the impossible, year after year, while the adults failed him?!
As he walked out to the arena, the baying of the crowds faded into the background. He stepped out into the rocky field, hand tight around his wand. He felt... Electrified, like energy was bubbling up from inside and out to the air around him. He saw the dragon, roaring at him. The magic in the air intensified as his anger and despair grew.
His best friend thought him a liar and a cheat. He had confusing feelings for his female best friend. And he had to fight a dragon.
I can't do this, Harry thought, realizing the enormity, I could never do this... Not how I am. Everyone looks to me to be a hero... But I'm not! I don't want to be! Why?!
He glared, and there was a flicker of light in his eyes.
If I had the time to be a hero... I could! But I don't! I just need more time! I need somewhere to BE a hero! WHY CAN'T I HAVE THAT?!
And something inside him broke, as the dragon's flames washed over him.
Hermione screamed in horror as she saw Harry be consumed by the Horntail's flames. She felt someone hold her back-Maybe Ron-As she tried to leap into the arena to save her best friend.
"Hermione! Hermione, don't!" Ron cried, sounding near tears himself. Hermione stared in despair at the fiery crater where Harry had stood, as the crowd roared in shock and horror...
Then a rock began to twitch and roll. Back towards the crater. Then another, and another. Like a video tape on rewind, stones and pebbles flew back to the scorched crater, reconstructing the ground. The Dragon itself seemed baffled, as fire burst back into life from the spot Harry had been.
The flames parted, the crowd gasped... And Hermione gaped in astonishment at the figure standing there.
He was taller, and more built, especially around his arms. He wore a well trimmed beard, and a long dark green coat over worn but well made clothing. A sword rested at his hip, while he held a dark, metal reinforced baton in his wand hand. He looked around in confusion, before his bright green eyes rested on the dragon.
He chuckled, and then laughed in disbelief. He shook his head.
"Right," Harry called out, "I almost forgot... Get the golden egg!"
The Horntail got over its confusion, and unleashed another blast of fire. A silvery white shield, the same color as Harry's Patronus, instantly sprang to life in front of him, blocking the flames. Harry snapped his fingers, and his sword flew up out of its scabbard. It grew silvery wings and claws, and flew fast as a falcon for the golden egg. It grabbed the item, and flew it back to Harry, who caught it in his free hand. He then glared up at the dragon, his eyes glowing with Eldiritch power as the Horntail advanced on him.
"This isn't your egg, so BACK. OFF," Harry roared, and the words vibrated and rumbled through the air like thunder just before a storm hit. The dragon fell back in dismay, and then cowered over her nest. The onlookers all felt the might of his magic, and Hermione and Ron fell back into the seats.
"Um, well! Our youngest champion is... Apparently the quickest to get his egg! After some... Strange magic, Potter has used what I'm told is a combination of the Patronus Charm, the Animation and Hover Charms, and sheer force of will!" Ludo Bagman called out. "Well done indeed, Mister Potter!"
Hermione ran, as fast as she could, out of the seating and to the ground. She heard Ron right behind her, as she raced to the Champion's Tent. She burst through the flaps, and saw Harry talking with Dumbledore. She didn't bother to restrain her momentum, and threw herself into a hug.
"HARRY! Wh-What happened?! Where did you go?! What was-MMPH?!"
Harry kissed her deeply. His beard tickled, her mind vaguely noted, as warmth filled her body. Then he broke the kiss, grinning widely.
"I missed you, Hermione," he said, "seeing you again was all that kept me going."
He looked up, and his smile widened. Hermione dazedly looked back at Ron, who stood at the tent entrance with a pale face.
"I-I, Harry, are you-?"
"RON!" Harry moved up to him and hugged Ron tightly, patting him on the back. Ron awkwardly hugged him back, looking at Hermione for help. Hermione shrugged, and rubbed her lips with a blush.
"It's so good to see you, Ron!" Harry laughed, "God! Look mate, I know we parted on bad terms but... I really missed you."
"Missed me? How? Why?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"It seems that Harry went somewhere else thanks to a bit of temporal magic," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling madly.
"Where did you go?!" Hermione gasped. Harry shrugged.
"Hell if I know. It was a world with monsters and magic. And I had to use my skills to survive." He grinned crookedly, letting Ron go, "but uh... I guess my magic sent me somewhere I could learn how to keep up. And so I'm back."
"So, your magic sent you to some alternate place for...?" Ron prompted.
"About a year, I would think," Dumbledore said. He shook his head. "I'm afraid you're going to look as though you've been held back, my boy."
"Eh, worse things to happen to me," Harry said with a shrug.
Hermione sighed and rubbed her temples. She had a headache, despite her continuing blush.
"Only you, Harry. Only you..."
It can sometimes be fascinating to read fics where all the ways that Harry got badass in a crossover are written out... But sometimes you just don't need all that information. Especially if your main point is to upset the apple cart and change up the canon. Too many authors get bogged down in trying to show how clever they are.
In this case, all you need to know is that Harry ended up in another fantasy world, got trained up in new magic and expanded his skill set tremendously, and was free of his usual trauma and crap for a year. He still had traumas, of course, but compared to his normal life where he's powerless, this was a vacation.
Of course continuing with this could be a lot of fun. Harry basically got isekaied into a high fantasy world and had to survive for a year. Now he's back and the YA fantasy world of his birth... Isn't so bad in comparison!
Harry: "Draco! You old so and so!"
Harry hugs Draco.
Draco: "Wha-What is-?!"
Harry: "When you're facing Goblin champions riding Acromantulas wielding fire swords, you miss the good old days of your annoying school rival."
Draco: "I-I'm your rival?"
Ron: *deadpan* "That he focuses on."
Harry: "On one hand, nobody knew who I was so I was judged based on my accomplishments."
Hermione: "And on the other?"
Harry: *sigh, shrug, smile* "I had the same kind of luck. Had to get involved to save the princess from the mad dryder Dark Queen who wanted revenge on humanity."
Ron: "So, you rescued her though, yeah?"
Harry: "Oh sure! But I also helped the Dryder Queen realize she just wanted a real relationship based on love and trust. And the princess felt the same way, since she was so alone in her position. So now they're friends!"
Ron: "What, you talked them into friendship?!"
Harry: "A little. Mostly I just did quests for them... Then disabled their magic and threw them into a locked room together to sort it out when I got tired of their crap."
Hermione: "Wow."
Harry: "Yeah, that was an exciting weekend."
