Friends, From Ruin is back!
I am deeply sorry for the unforgivably long break. I truly had no intentions of staying away from this fic for as long as I did. For those following my other story, you know I had been writing the story The Last Prayer like a madman. That plot bunny may as well have been crack for a writer because I couldn't put it down. For those that don't know, when I took a break from writing From Ruin, I started writing a Naruto fanfiction called The Last Prayer. Since March of this year till last month, I stuffed over 300K words into that story. Craziness.
Even though I love writing the Last Prayer, with every passing week, I was missing FR more and more. I won't lie to you guys. It was very difficult to get back in the groove of writing FR. After writing TLP for so many months, I'd just forgotten the flow, character motivations, etc, so it took some time to get back in that head space, but I managed it. So from now on, I'm going to alternate updating both stories.
This chapter takes place immediately after the previous chapter. So, Harry just finished chewing Dumbledore out. Many have expressed totally valid points that Harry if facing too many obstacles and while I agree it's a lot for a person to take, that's sort of the point. I just want to let you know that it's all to plan.
11K for those who like to know. And without further ado, enjoy!
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-=REVISED 7/26/2023=-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Since I finished my other fic, Chain of Ascension, I have more time and I thought I'd do some simple revisions-mostly grammar stuff, but also including changing the narrative from present tense to simple past tense. Hopefully, it's a better read this way.
Enjoy!
King of the Monsters
Dumbledore paced around the heaving Harry, calling for Madam Pomfrey to tend to him. Harry mentally thanked Nova and the Elixir for easing much of the fiery pain webbing from his nose down to his sternum, as well as the hot, thick throbbing from the wound in his left hand. The elder wizard was quickly surrounded by professors, officials, and judges, and with Harry's enhanced ears, he could hear Fleur, Snape, Lily, and Flitwick briefing the others about what they knew. Meanwhile, Pomfrey rushed to Harry to tend to his wounds. He allowed her to do so while he waited for Dumbledore to gather all the information available.
"Rita Skeeter is writing up a storm up there," Daphne noted as she stood beside him, holding Astoria's hand and eyeing the shady reporter under the shaded bleachers. "Coercion, attempted murder, assassins, all under Dumbledore's nose… you've dropped some major revelations I'm more than certain Governor Lucius Malfoy will request to be investigated."
"That should keep him busy for a while," Harry hoarsely mumbled as Tracey, Hardwin, and Luna joined him and Hermione.
"Daphne is saying our families are in danger," Tracey started. "Can you get my mother, Ares? Please? I reckon I know where she is."
Hardwin responded with some exasperation, "Mum already said she talked to Uncle Sirius using the two-way-"
"Then why aren't they here yet?!" an increasingly frustrated Tracey yelled back.
"They'll be here," Daphne reassured her friend, still holding Astoria.
Returning her attention on Harry, Tracey asked, "At least tell me Draco's okay."
"He's fine, Tracey," Harry answered as Sirius, Sharon Davis, Amelia Bones, Alice Longbottom, Nicolas, and Perenelle rushed through the arena's entrance. Amelia Bones and Alice Longbottom moved toward the Minister and Dumbledore, while Sirius, Sharon, Nicolas, and Perenelle rushed over to Harry and his group. Tracey ran straight to her mother, and the two hugged each other fiercely before Sirius enveloped them both protectively.
At the sight of Harry being tended by Madam Pomfrey, Perenelle brought her wand out to assist in examining and treating his injuries. Nicolas asked, "Are you okay?"
"I've had worse," Harry croaked when Madam Pomfrey left him to Perenelle's care while she tended to the mass of startled children.
"Don't remind me," Perenelle muttered before adding, "and stop talking." After a moment, she asked for the shrunken trunk around his neck, and he acquiesced, so she could take out the potions she needed.
While Hermione spoke in private with her worried parents, Harry turned to Luna—still holding his egg—and Daphne, holding Astoria's hand. Though Luna didn't look overly worried—certain her unorthodox mind was helping her cope—Harry didn't like how close one of his best friends came to losing another parent. In his timeline, she was one of the few who truly understood him, and it was a morbid connection that always endeared her to him.
"I'm sure… he'll be… fine," Harry managed to tell Luna, his voice nearly gone.
"I'll be quite relieved if he is," Luna slowly stated. "I imagine finding him will be just as difficult for us as it will be for the Goblins. He's on an expedition in the forests of Sweden, you see, and Crumple-horned Snorkacks are notoriously elusive."
"I'm sorry," Harry croaked.
"I know," Luna nodded, staring at him without a shred of ill-will or accusation. "But you ought not to be. It'd be foolish to lay the blame at your feet simply because others are trying very hard to kill you." His airy snort was his only response before she pondered aloud, "I hope you don't mind my holding your egg. I feel dangerously close to learning if the egg came before the chicken." Feeling eternally grateful for Luna's presence in his life, Harry simply nodded.
Astoria was upset and Daphne was unreadable, prompting Harry to conjure a short bird-stand beside the first year. As always, Nova needed no verbal command to understand her master and flapped her midnight wings twice before landing on the stand, easily matching the bonny blonde's height. At the divine creature's calming song, Daphne's stoic countenance finally cracked, not by much, but enough for her. The crystal blue of her eyes glossed over, her brows knitted together, and her pink lips pressed into a line as she stared at her green-eyed savior with the most minute expression of gratitude. One of the worst anguishes a person could suffer was being powerless whilst waiting for news of heart-aching tragedy. Sympathetic to what she was going through, Harry nodded.
As the forlorn Grangers joined them, Perenelle handed Harry two vials and cleaned off the dried blood from the lower half of his face. Harry groaned in relief when the first vial both heated and cooled the bleeding sores in his mouth and throat. Closing his eyes, he hummed as the pain from acid-shredded muscle in his throat began to recede. Drinking the second vial, Harry recognized the taste of the Elixir and turned to her with a questioning brow, as if to say, 'I wasn't dying this time. Why the Elixir?'
With a bored expression, Perenelle shrugged before answering, "With you? Just covering my bases."
"Actually," Nicolas wearily started, eying the elixir nervously. "Uh, there's been a sudden issue I feel- well, it's a delicate matter we should discuss." The legendary alchemist looked nervously between Harry and Perenelle's confused faces when the Weasleys broke from arguing with Lily and Flitwick to walk straight to Harry's group, prompting Nicolas to finish, "As soon as we're able."
Harry shrank his storage trunk before clasping it to his chain necklace as Molly led Charlie, his younger brothers, minus Percy—who stayed beside Fudge—and Ginny. The Weasley matriarch eyed them all, from Hermione and her frazzled parents to Daphne and Astoria hugging Nova, to Tracey and her mother Sharon, to a seated Luna looking intently at the golden egg on her lap, to Harry, Nic, and Nelle.
"Mum," George called, spurring the protective mother to speak to Nicolas and Perenelle. "Mr. and Mrs. Flamel, I heard all sorts of talk about- about assassins, danger, kidnappings, and- and other truly terrible affairs. However, no one seems to know precisely why this is. Our children can certainly cause their fair share of worry, but this? Please, as a mother, surely this isn't how it sounds. It can't be."
Harry had expected to get overwhelmed by her motherly presence. Mrs. Weasley had been one of the strongest influences in his life before Horcrux-Voldemort filled him with enough reasonable doubt to be confused by her now. The way she had treated Sirius when they were being sheltered in his house, not knowing where platform 9 ¾ was despite having taken five of her children there previously, her initial thoughts on Fleur and Bill, taking care of Harry's vault's key without ever asking him. Maybe she had been a little intrusive and meddlesome when it came to those she cared about, but it was always because she cared, and Horcrux-Voldemort could never truly dissuade him of that. Still, Molly didn't know him now, and her eyes were protective of the redheads behind her, not the three Flamels in front.
Perenelle respectfully replied, "I'm afraid I don't have answers for you, Mrs. Weasley. Nicolas and I have only just arrived ourselves."
Undeterred, Mrs. Weasley then turned to Harry fast enough to whip her hair, stating, "Young man, I heard you take after my more mischievous sons, and by your word alone, my husband and firstborn are currently searching for Mr. Lovegood as we speak. Surely this is a mistake, or, Merlin help you, a truly abominable prank. For if it is, I can assure you this will not end well for you-"
"Molly, please, allow me," Dumbledore intervened, less angry since minutes had passed—though not happy either. The group behind Dumbledore—Fudge, Umbridge, Percy, Stéphane, Apolline, Amelia, Sirius, Alice Longbottom, Bagman, Karkaroff, Maxim, Lucius, Snape, Lily, and Flitwick—huddled around as the Headmaster continued. "We are getting to the bottom of this incident, I assure you."
"This is far too much, Headmaster," Molly retorted, her expression one of fear and worry for her family. "Death Eaters, Acromantula, and now assassins?! It's not even been half a year!"
Having gone through far worse than this timeline's Molly Weasley could apparently imagine, it was a little grating on Harry's nerves she could act so innocent. However, when Harry spotted Fred and George pulling an imaginary noose around their necks for Ginny's benefit, he smiled.
At Harry's slight amusement, Molly leveled him an irreproachable glare, spouting, "How is it you find this amusing when this trail of terrors leads directly to you!" Harry had to admit that stung, and though Perenelle didn't seem to take it well either, he was thankful she let it be.
"I couldn't agree more, Mrs. Weasley," Umbridge stated, righteously adding, "why, you must be absolutely distraught with concern for your husband and firstborn."
"Molly, Undersecretary, please," Dumbledore stated before turning to Harry. "Mr. Flamel, I am now aware of all the relevant information to this event, however, what hasn't been explained is why this is taking place."
"Since I wasn't a fan of the current company," Harry started, turning sharp green eyes directly at Umbridge before nodding toward Hardwin, Harry added, "and there's still one Champion left to go, I'll be brief." Hardwin's shoulders slumped as Harry continued to address the group. "While I was levitated at the start of Krum's task, I was made to see that my friends, Hermione, Luna, Daphne, and Tracey, were surrounded by three assassins; Dark Goblin-"
"Why that cannot possibly be. You must be mistaken, my dear boy," a ruffled Fudge gasped as Umbridge added, "Correct, as always, Minister. It's positively preposterous. Proof of his duplicitous behavior is forthcoming, I'm confident Mr. Flamel obstructed justice in this morning's official inquiry." Harry rolled his eyes in growing annoyance as she added, "while I'm certain he means well, Minister, he has a propensity to embellish and flaunts his disrespect-"
"Oh, will you shut the fuck up!" Harry yelled at the pink toad of a woman, causing a general ruckus by those who'd never heard of his contempt for certain authority figures, as well as chuckling amusement by a few that had; Lily, Sirius, Nicolas, Charlie, Fred, George, and Ginny. "You're not the Head of the DMLE, the Head Auror, the Minister, the Headmaster, or a decent human being, so keep your useless fucking opinions to yourself!"
With the authority of his ancient and well-respected house, Nicolas asserted, "I want every official here to keep in mind that Perenelle and I are allowing Ares to cooperate as it's the right thing to do. However, make no mistake, he's under no obligation to do so. We've more than had our fill with this cavalier attitude toward ever-present dangers."
Perenelle glared at Umbridge as she interjected, "And Minister, if Undersecretary Umbridge utters another word, House Flamel and all our substantial influence, fortune, and favors will work tirelessly against your administration. I do not want to hear her neutered voice again!"
"Lord Nicolas, Lady Perenelle," Fudge began submissively with his best political smile, "she means well- she, in actuality, had nothing further to add." He laughed before turning to give Umbridge a stern look of grave warning.
Amelia informed Nicolas, "Additionally, no charges of obstruction will be filed against heir Ares Flamel. Your heir was questioned at the Ministry and answered all my questions to our satisfaction." Amelia's stern eyes challenged the Undersecretary, and their silent contest of wills was broken by Stéphane Delacour.
"Good," the French Deputy Minister commented. "The nation of France would not take kindly to any injustice toward the House of Flamel."
Fudge focused his political façade to the influential foreign official and asserted, "Amelia would be more than happy to answer any further concerns you may have, Deputy Minister." Turning to Umbridge, Fudge tilted his flabby head away, saying with his eyes to do or say nothing more before hurrying over to the next possible French Minister of Magic.
As Harry smiled with sinister satisfaction at the garish pink toad, his voice projected further information for Amelia, Sirius, and the rest. "There were four Dark Goblins in total. The three surrounding my friends showed me their daggers; they were special. Magical to a degree I don't fully understand… yet. The fourth Goblin's name is Týr, and he led the team."
Half in his head, a thoughtful Sirius slowly made note of that detail, voicing, "A four-unit assassination squad…"
Harry nodded at the Auror as Amelia asked, "What did they want?"
Harry wasn't going to admit they wanted basilisk venom or bring attention to Nāga, and so he explained, "Their goal was to kill me as the heir of House Flamel." Harry ignored how stunned many were to hear him speak so casually about being the intended target of assassins to continue adding, "Obviously they were using the rules of the task, specifically the loss of my magic if I left the arena, to their advantage." Focusing on Umbridge and Dumbledore, Harry reasoned, "exploiting the task to manipulate me may have been for their convenience or because they felt they couldn't defeat me in a straightforward confrontation."
With the implication in his voice and the accusation in his eyes clear to everyone paying attention, Harry continued to tell Amelia, "Before it all went bust, the Dark Goblins detailed for me the names of all my friends and their family. They wanted me to know they could get to any of them if I didn't comply with their demands. They named the Grangers, Delacours, Lovegoods, Greengrass', Weasleys, Potters, Blacks, and Malfoys."
Professional as can be, Sirius asserted, "So, when they couldn't get you or the others here in the stadium, they resorted to attacking those outside of Hogwarts to prove their point. That's some dedication."
"They nearly killed my parents," Hermione announced to the group. "If Ares and I hadn't gotten to them in time…" Turning to her parents, Charlotte placed a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Arthur and Bill are searching for Xenophilus now," Molly chimed with horrible angst. "Oh, please let them be safe."
"You can always count on a Slytherin to bring about death and destruction," Ron added, directing a scowl at a surprised Harry.
"Enough," Dumbledore demanded before informing Harry, "we will need a memory to confirm-"
"No," Harry stated. He wasn't sure how well he could mentally block his conversation with Týr from a wizard like Dumbledore, but he didn't want to try. Dumbledore stared at him without the comforting grandfatherly routine, and Harry simply added, "I'm not lying, and you have plenty of witnesses to choose from."
"They were wearing masks," Snape made a point to mention.
Turning to the potions professor, Harry retorted, "Were you hoping they had on jumpers saying 'I'm a Dark Goblin and Here to Kill?' I'll give you a manuscript, but I don't supply memories."
"And we're to trust your word?" Dumbledore sternly asked. "How are we to trust someone who keeps so much to themselves?"
"You're one to talk," Harry retorted with hard green eyes.
Rather than address that comment in public, Dumbledore asked, "What of all the families we've upended on the word of a single student?"
Harry was annoyed at how easily Dumbledore's partiality influenced many of them. Fudge, Umbridge, Percy, Alice Longbottom, Bagman, Karkaroff, and Maxim all seemed to question what was painfully obvious simply because the revered Albus Dumbledore questioned it. Instead of coming together to end Voldemort's rise to power, these highly influential witches and wizards seemed more concerned with questioning reality rather than reacting to it.
"One of those things nearly killed my daughter," a frazzled Charlotte spoke loudly, effortlessly drawing their attention. Looking at the group of officials, the anxious mother declared, "And we can no longer allow her to stay in this- this horribly dangerous place."
"Mum, Dad," Hermione whirled on her parents, whipping her brunette tresses.
"No, sweetie," Daniel argued before she could get another word out. "We know you love this school—this world—but you nearly died. It's our job to protect you, and if that means removing you out of this dangerous element, then so be it."
"Dad, you know you can't be rational in a vacuum," Hermione fervently argued. "Which only means I need to stay here."
"She's right," Harry turned to the Grangers. He felt odd disregarding their wishes, but he knew they were unable to keep her as safe as he could. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I'm truly sorry for what's happened to you and your daughter-" "Ares-" Hermione tried to interject, but he continued. "But for her safety, I can't allow Hermione to go with you." Despite their acute expressions of defensive disbelief, Harry turned to Dumbledore, Amelia, and Fudge and informed them, "As a matter of fact, Hermione and the rest of the Hogwarts targets are staying with me until this threat is resolved."
"Your initiative is commendable; however, that will not be necessary," Dumbledore said to Harry before focusing on the worried students and parents, smiling as if trying to project safety.
With heavy sarcasm, Harry challenged, "Oh, because it's impossible to break into Hogwarts?" Without giving the elder a chance to respond, Harry continued telling the three authority figures, "If they've infiltrated once, they can do it again. And the leadership of this school has shown—yet again—that the risk to my friends or any innocent student is too much to entrust in you. So, you're more than welcome to protect the adults, but the students are staying with me."
"I agree," Perenelle voiced, adding, "And the only counter-argument I'll willingly hear must come after swift and diligent actions are taken on your part to ensure the safety of the students and in resolving this threat."
"The position of our House is set," Nicolas added with all the authority of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Flamel.
At the stern and steadfast stance of a very influential family, a sudden awareness of importance descended on Fudge, Amelia, and Dumbledore. The three were veterans of navigating the political landscape, and they could argue the irregularity of this family's demands, the selfishness of their insistence, or the institutions that were already in place to protect them. But would they capitulate, and at what cost?
Turning to Harry, Dumbledore stated, "It is expected for one as young as you are to react to the liberating spirit of emotion." He then turned to Perenelle, adding without missing a beat, "Or a mother figure to ignore every consideration that does not prioritize the safety of their child." Looking at Nicolas, Dumbledore expressed, "With respect, my old friend, I cannot allow your heir to assert any authority over my students-"
"I'd be happy to fight you for the authority," Harry challenged, squaring his shoulders and taking a measured step toward the revered wizard. He could feel his eyes ignite with additional insight as he further imparted, "Because you can't seem to listen to any other voice but your own."
"Watch how you speak to the greatest-" Molly attempted to intervene, but it fell on an audience of deaf ears as Harry's defiant authority as a monstrous magical entity steamrolled over her voice.
"I'll say it clearly, Headmaster," Harry shouted, cutting Molly off. Stepping deeper into the ocean of Magic within him, Harry's green eyes brightened as Nova rose, arcing her neck defensively and stretching her midnight-black wings at the magical feel of her master, who declared to Dumbledore with the gravitas of an ancient magical Lord, "I do not trust you. Not with my life and not with the lives of the people I care about. So you can either step out of my way and let me do what I do best… or I can move you."
It was unnerving how silent it became, as if everyone but Harry and Dumbledore disappeared. But, of course, the crowd in the stands and surrounding them hadn't, and those near enough to hear were stunned at the sight. The audacity of threatening the most revered wizard alive would be troubling for those nearby to hear, but Harry's power wasn't just in his daring green eyes or in his legendary creature on his shoulder; it was in the air around him. Without knowing it, he was aggravating the air itself with vibrant kinetic energy, and everyone surrounding Harry could feel it like breathing in pure oxygen. They felt light-headed, their skin prickled with heated bumps, their eyes strained to stay open, and their breathing felt labored.
None felt the need to speak, or they were too stunned by the sight of a fourteen-year-old openly challenging the strongest wizard to do so. It was why he appreciated witches and wizards like Amelia when she stepped between them and asserted without Dumbledore or her Minister's approval, "Until we have concrete proof, we'll act to the threat accordingly. For the moment, I want all the potential targets secured in the Great Hall."
Standing down, with his eyes slowly losing their glow, Harry stepped beside Nicolas and Perenelle as he offhandedly commented, "Potter still has to do his task."
Nodding, Amelia responded, "While he performs his task, the students in the stands must return to their dorms." Turning to Alice, she ordered, "Call in every available personnel. You have ten minutes to coordinate with the staff and aurors to secure Hogwarts." Alice nodded before rushing out of the arena, while Amelia instructed Sirius to, "Take Tonks and escort the intended targets to the Great Hall. We'll discuss the logistics after their safety is assured."
Sirius nodded and cast his patronus, likely to communicate with Tonks. Harry had never seen Sirius' patronus before but wasn't surprised to see a beautiful light shaped like a large dog exit his wand. With Flitwick's help, the head Auror began asking the students and parents to exit the arena with him. Lily stayed with her son as he had to perform his task, however, they weren't the only ones who didn't leave. Though the Weasleys, a reluctant Tracey, her mother, and Lucius did as instructed, Hermione, Daphne, Fleur, Luna, and as a result, Astoria, Gabrielle, Stéphane, Apolline, and Hermione's parents didn't move as directed.
Hermione, Daphne, Fleur, and Luna waited for their friend, a touching gesture Harry couldn't help but appreciate. With a small smile, he nodded, telling them, "I'll be along. You can trust S- Auror Black." The girls hesitated, but eventually nodded and left the arena. Luna extended the golden egg to Harry, to which he smiled and asked her, "Would you mind holding on to it for me?"
With her nod, she affirmed, "Incidentally, the egg came first," before following the group out of the rocky dragon pit.
Amelia turned to the minister, respectfully proposing, "It seems we'll need to discuss meeting the Goblin Nation. Would you like me to coordinate with Cresswell in the Goblin Liaison office?"
Harry was certain he didn't have to look at Perenelle or Nicolas to share in the unsettling feeling of Amelia and Fudge meeting King Ragnuk. If ever there were two highly official positions to reveal Nāga's existence to, the Minister of Magic and the Head of the DMLE would be it. Amelia would then be bound by law to take Nāga from Harry. As a sweating Fudge fumbled his agreement with Amelia, Harry promised himself that he'd use every ounce of strength in him to keep anyone from taking Nāga.
"…R-Right," an unsettled Fudge called after Amelia, taking steps away. "I'll await a, uh, draft statement." The Minister nodded to them with his practiced broad smile before stepping away, calling, "Weatherby!" Having refused his mother's plea to leave with the family, Percy ran after the large minister.
Dumbledore conveyed to Amelia, "We will, of course, assist in every way, however, as Headmaster, it would only make sense that I safeguard the students."
Harry would rather drown than ride that boat to safety and responded to the Head of the DMLE while staring at Dumbledore, "I'd think the Headmaster would be too busy, what with securing Hogwarts, being Supreme Mugwump, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and Triwizard Judge."
"I think it best I oversee the children," Lily stated from beside Hardwin. As one of the adults in the loop, Harry didn't mind the suggestion, however, that would also keep her in close proximity to him, and he didn't know if he could handle that emotional baggage.
"I'm in favor of that," Amelia asserted, nodding to the Potter Head.
"As am I," Perenelle voiced, smiling at Lily. Harry inwardly rolled his eyes, thinking, 'Of course you would be.'
"Madam Bones," Bagman voiced, calling her attention to ask, "Do I have your leave to continue with the first task?"
At her nod, Harry turned to leave, signaling Nicolas and Perenelle his desire to talk in private with his eyes alone when Dumbledore called out, "Mr. Flamel, as you are at the heart of this matter, we will need more answers from you."
Turning to Dumbledore in exhaustive disbelief, Harry looked around the rocky dragon arena before asking with incredulity, "Now? Don't you have a task to watch over?"
Dumbledore paused a moment before nodding and amending his statement. "After, we should speak in my office."
"In the Great Hall will suffice," Nicolas asserted, placing a supporting hand on Harry's shoulder. "It's imperative we all discuss how this will proceed, and wasting time speaking one person at a time isn't going to help."
"Please make your way to the Great Hall," Amelia asked of them. "Would you like an escort?"
"Thank you, Madam Bones, but we'll be fine," Harry answered. As many of the remaining judges exited the arena, Dumbledore addressed the dwindling crowd above. It seemed that no one but the judges and Lily would be seeing Hardwin fight his Swedish Short-Snout. Walking past his unanticipated brother and distracting mother, Harry voiced, "A short-snout has horrible mobility. Go for the legs."
Harry kept on walking with Nicolas as Perenelle spoke with Lily. After passing the jagged and cold cavern, they waited on the wooden stairway between the Champions' tent and the arena for Perenelle to catch up to them. It was the very spot Nicolas, who had polyjuiced as Harry and with a fake Nova on his shoulder, had waited to switch places with the real Harry before the start of the tournament. When Perenelle joined them, Harry erected his privacy wards before he asked them, "Well?"
Nicolas shrugged as he affirmed, "Everything went as we expected. Though Amelia and Sirius rushed through the questions, Umbridge's zealots on the judicial board tried to delay you—or me as you—for as long as possible."
Perenelle added, "Eventually, Amelia decided to end the charade, which sparked a debate about bias between the members and her office. It became a game of optics at that point."
Nicolas added, "Since we didn't want Amelia and Sirius to suffer simply because they weren't in on our little ruse, we allowed Umbridge's loyalists to question us to their satisfaction." He smirked in fond memory as he revealed, "You should've seen their smug smiles when they were sure 'Ares Flamel' lost his magic. How hysterical they became when I cast a simple warming charm on myself."
Smiling at Nicolas's good humor, Harry asserted, "Good." Hearing the others entering the cave, the Flamels continued up the creaky stairs to the Champion's tent.
The likelihood that Umbridge would've given up after her public shaming seemed low, so it was no surprise to find Umbridge, Alecto, and Amycus Carrow waiting for them. The twins already had their wands out, and the garish Umbridge tilted her twitchy head, clasped her hands in front of her, and voiced with thick sweetness, "As I thought, you're without chaperons. No need to worry, Alecto and Amycus would be more than happy to protect you-"
"Do we look suicidal?" Harry interjected before gripping Nicolas and Perenelle's shoulders and flaming out of the tent. The Flamels landed just inside the Great Hall, and it was evident to the three that they were ahead of the group being escorted.
"That horrible harpy couldn't be more transparent," Perenelle harshly remarked.
"Don't worry," Harry replied. "Give her enough rope, and she'll hang herself."
Looking at the brilliant Nova standing proudly on Harry's shoulder, Nicolas asked, "How much of a ruckus did the appearance of a second Nova cause?"
Suddenly feeling bad for the chicken they had transfigured to look like Nova, Harry sucked in a deep chest-expanding breath as he hesitated to confess, "Um, there, uh, wasn't. One of the dragons ate the Nova I had." At Nicolas and Perenelle's solemn silence, a wincing Harry asserted, "I do feel bad about that."
"Poor chicken," Nicolas sadly prayed.
Nodding, Perenelle quietly voiced, "A life is a life, but what's done is done. And Mr. Ferret?"
"I'm about to see him now," Harry responded, looking around the empty Great Hall. "I assume he's fine. I'm sure Nova wouldn't leave him stranded. Can you guys cover for me?"
"Of course," Nicolas answered before inquiring, "but before you go, how are you planning on watching all these students?"
Harry paused a moment to consider the question. With Hermione and Luna, Daphne and Astoria, Fleur and Gabrielle, Tracey, Draco, Hardwin, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George, four education levels between them that require different classes in different parts of the castle… it would be difficult for Harry to be in multiple places at once. An effective defense seemed unlikely or wishful thinking.
As he was more curious about Draco, Harry answered, "I'm not sure… yet. I'll come up with something, though."
Nicolas hummed a moment before offering, "We'll consider some solutions to mitigate the problem. No sense in putting all this on your shoulders."
"Can't say we didn't contribute to this unfortunate outcome," Perenelle mused with a sad smile.
"We should've known better," Nicolas replied, wrapping an arm around Perenelle's waist and bringing her in for a sideways hug.
It was almost astonishing for Harry to witness adults taking responsibility for an aftermath that he knew was, in actuality, his fault. He may not have been the one to outmaneuver the Goblins in their deal for the Hufflepuff's cup. That was too tangible for something as complicated as his life. Harry had no doubt the strong-arm trade they made in Gringotts only escalated to drawing in the Dark Goblins because of his rotten luck.
Another part of him wondered why Nicolas and Perenelle would stay by him; however, he didn't want to indulge that twinge of deprecation and told them, "Don't worry about it. No one's taking Nāga, and nothing's going to happen to either of you." Clearing his throat, he hesitated to add, "I won't let it." Feeling a pang of swelling grateful emotion for how amazingly they'd treated him, which threatened his emotional stability, Harry immediately flamed to the main chamber of the Chamber of Secrets and didn't see their happy smiles.
Harry hardly had time to recognize Nāga slithering with his head coiled and ready to strike when he heard someone yell from above, "Where the bloody hell have you been?!" Harry looked up to the tall graying ceiling of the chamber to find a flustered and sweating Draco on his Firebolt fiercely eying Nāga. Harry's large pet snake was locked on Draco and hissing joyfully, like a dog fetching a flying ball.
Nāga's coiled head blitzed Draco with moderate speed, certainly enjoying playing with Draco as the silver-blond yelled, "Call that bloody thing away!"
Harry placed Nova on a stand and enjoyed the show. Smiling broadly, he clasped his hands behind his back and cheerfully asked, "Aren't Slytherin's mandated to worship snakes-"
"Potter!" Draco yelled as he narrowly avoided a moist tonguing by the feathered head of the large serpent. It was obvious Nāga wasn't seriously trying to eat the airborne Draco, just as much as it was obvious Draco had been flying with agitated speed for some time. Nāga's flicking tongue and excited slithering were evidence enough of fun curiosity; however, it seemed Draco couldn't see beyond the fact that it was an enormous and deadly basilisk.
Rather than telling the silver-haired nuisance to calm down or calling a humored Nāga to him, Harry asked about the obvious wood furniture in the center of the grand chamber. "Why is Dumbledore's desk here?"
Groaning in distress, a flustered Draco yelled back, "Did you really fucking reckon I could get through his wards?! His?! We're talking about Albus fucking Dumbledore! Not some firstie trollop's secret diary, you smarmy tit!"
At some point, Draco's insults had become amusing to Harry as he could always respond with, "You realize I haven't called Nāga off, right?"
"Potter!" Draco heedfully yelled. "It's going to kill me, and I can't kill it because of my oath!"
Harry snickered at the rare gem that was witnessing his old Slytherin enemy stuck in a chamber, trying desperately to stay away from a snake who was only playing catch. With sheer amusement, Harry asked, "So, rather than do what we discussed with the ample time you had to retrieve the diary, you had Nova bring the entire desk here? Making it painfully obvious I, or you polyjuiced as me, stole his furniture in the process?"
"I told you I couldn't do this!" the silver-blond yelled. "You think we're all magical whack-jobs capable of remembering a forty-eight-step plan-"
"You wrote it down," Harry retorted.
"Potter! This is better, trust me-" Draco's yell was interrupted when Nāga managed to nudge the tail of the very fast racing broom. It wasn't so much that the broom was slow, but that typical physical reaction speed and intent took about as long as Nāga needed to get very close. "Call him off!" a sweaty Draco screamed.
Harry rolled his eyes before calling Nāga back. For a moment, the king of snakes was saddened by the game coming to an end, but he then slithered happily toward its beloved master, cuddling Harry with a strong wrap as he demanded to know of Draco, "Well?"
Finally settling back on solid ground thirty yards away from Harry and his snake, Draco sarcastically chimed, "You're so crackin amazing, yet you couldn't figure taking the whole desk could just as easily look like a good prank."
"Speak quickly or Nāga keeps toying with his food," Harry threatened with a smile as he tapped its belly's sleek scales. As practiced, Nāga's body slithered and curved into a prone position, as if ready to strike. Harry ignored Draco jumping on his broom again as Harry climbed the hard scales, conjured a pillow, and sat on its scaly back. The king of all snakes then laid its terrifying head on Harry's lap for his feathers to be petted and massaged.
Flying in the air, Draco swallowed audibly as he moved close enough to be heard. The silver-blond Slytherin explained from a safe distance, "If the wind-bag comes at you about the desk, you can play it like a prank. We know he can't get in here even if this place was plottable, so, in the meantime, you use your utterly ridiculous magic to take the diary out and replace it with a fake before returning the desk. This is infinitely better than me going spar worrying about every little sound or booby trap trying to break into-"
"Yeah, yeah," Harry griped, waving away the rest of his argument.
"Genius, I know," a presumptuous Draco concluded.
Shrugging at the minor alteration to his original plan, Harry voiced, "Fine. We don't have time right now, anyway. We need to get back."
"Why?" Draco wondered aloud, watching the large reptile warily as it practically vibrated in comfort.
Harry answered, "There was an attack during the task. Dark Goblins tried to kill me by threatening Hermione, Daphne, Luna, and Tracey-"
"Tracey!" Draco harped, but Harry assured him, "She's fine. They're all fine."
Nodding with relief, Draco snidely observed, "You're not in the fetal position in a puddle of your tears, so, that's a bonus."
Eying Draco with irritation, Harry asked Nāga in the language of the snakes, ~¿Did you enjoy playing with my man-servant, Nāga?~
The way Nāga's head turned sharply on Draco as it hissed, ~Pale servant is much fun!~ made the silver-blond Slytherin shoot to the ceiling on his broom, yelling out, "Alright, alright!"
Harry patted his snake, massaging the sensitive scales around his plumage as he called out to Draco, "The dark Goblins threatened to kill you too, by the way. So, that's one death I won't cry over."
"Being a target by association doesn't even surprise me anymore," Draco called out as he floated closer to Harry and his pet basilisk. "Your life's a fucking curse."
"No shit," Harry agreed, thinking longingly about all his friends and family, past and present, alive and dead.
The short silence ended when Draco dared to move closer to them and warily declared, "But it won't be for long." Harry's green eyes looked at him curiously as he added, "We only have to kill one nut-case, right?"
Again, Harry felt his emotions swell by Draco's consolation; however, he wasn't sure why. It was wildly confusing as much as it was uncomfortable, and shoving it to the side, he voiced, "Come on. Your parents were bugging me, and Tracey threatened to spread cutesy rumors about me if I didn't bring you back."
"Really?" Draco voiced with a small smile before it suddenly faded from his face.
While Harry leaped off his giant partner, Nāga hissed his friendly farewell, and Draco seemed to be deep in thought. With Nova on his shoulder, Harry didn't care about what was on Draco's mind until the silver-blond took a step back the second Harry's hand nearly clasped his shoulder. The skin between his black brows crinkled in confusion as green eyes communicated, 'What?'
Though silent, Draco's uneasy body language expressed just how apprehensive he felt about whatever was on his mind. It was disconcerting, and Harry suddenly dreaded it like their girl talk a few weeks ago. His former enemy, now lackey, proved him right by professing, "We're not mates, right? Never have been, never will be, obviously." Harry was silent when Draco looked away and began pacing, uttering more to himself, "But this isn't about that."
Nāga's curious head slowly rose over Harry's and Nova's heads as the three observed the highly distracted Slytherin boy pace even in close proximity to a man-eating basilisk. Rolling his eyes, an impatient Harry contended, "Spit it out!"
"Fine," Draco sputtered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I… Right… You should first know it's not like I disapprove. If I had a pecker as small as yours, I'd figure out a way to permanently enlarge it too."
Startled by the remark, a wide-eyed Harry struggled to accept what he just heard as he sputtered, "W-what?"
With a furrowed brow and raised palms, Draco struggled, "Look, don't make this weird."
"Kinda fucking late for that, isn't it?" Harry yelled back.
Shaking his head in growing frustration, Draco continued, "I'm just saying I saw and… well, you may have gone a bit far, but I get it. And you don't have to tell me how you did it, but, I mean… we're practically… if you wanted to, I wouldn't… mind?"
Horrified by the topic of conversation, a silently annoyed Harry asserted, "Draco, start making sense right this minute, or you're playing with Nāga again, and I tell him to move faster."
Suddenly realizing the large Basilisk was looking at him with what felt like hungry eyes, Draco yelled, "I just want to know what you did to permanently change the size of your, uh, dangly bits, is all! There are no spells to make that permanent and potions can go horribly wrong even with the smallest mistakes."
Harry only understood they were talking about his dick and had never hated his luck more than this moment. 'Why the fuck is Draco Malfoy dedicating human words to a conversation about my dick?' his mind was nauseated to yell as he verbally vomited, "have you gone mental?"
"I was polyjuiced as you!" Draco yelled, getting out his Firebolt and backing away from the large looming basilisk. "You didn't think I'd look?!"
Shaking his head in shocked disbelief, Harry yelled back, " Nooo!"
"Why? Anyone would," Draco casually defended. "I wasn't getting my rocks off or nothing! I just wanted a laugh- Listen, we're blokes, and this is purely educational. I only want to know what you did? A penis is one of the few things on this planet that's nearly impossible to change without horrible side effects. Wizards everywhere know it's nearly impossible for a potion to be permanent, especially to that size. Like I said, I don't blame you. I remember how small…" Draco halted his own words.
With dead green eyes and a sinister voice, Harry asked with a mind full of perfect recollection, "How small I was? Are you referring to the time when you and your fucking cronies laughed at me? Tortured and cut me? Castrated me? Is that what you're referring to you prick?!"
Stunned by the admission, Draco asked in shock, "Castrated? I didn't-"
"Know?" a scowling Harry angrily responded. "Why would you? I was dead to you by that point."
"Potter, I…" a shamefaced Draco seemed to rethink his position and slowly turned his gaze to the ground as he apologetically voiced, "Uh, um, just forget I brought it up. I was only surprised and curious. It wasn't my intention to make you remember-"
"That's because you don't think before you run your entitled mouth," Harry angrily retorted.
It grew uncomfortably silent between the time-travelers. Yet again, Harry wondered why he shouldn't just murder Draco. He would certainly feel better, if only for a moment. However, his mind reminded him of the only monster he truly wanted to kill. Draco may be a thick prat, but killing someone for such a reason was something Voldemort would no doubt do.
With Perenelle's voice, his mind always reminded him, 'You're not Voldemort.'
With Draco waiting on the scar-faced boy, Harry eventually dragged himself away from his righteous anger, and with great irritation, asserted, "Let's go." He nearly had his hand on Draco's shoulder when the silver-blond stepped away, aggravating Harry further, eying the pale Slytherin with a furrowed brow.
"Sorry," Draco quickly chimed. "I just wanted to say… we have too much history to ever be okay with one another." Wildly uncomfortable, Draco took out his flask of Ogden's for a quick swig to settle his nerves before finally adding, "Whether I like you or not—and it's mostly not—I can still respect you." Draco paused to decide on the multitude of words to follow up with. Many words were too nice, most were too mean, and none struck the perfect balance of a respectful 'quasi-sorta-hate-you.' Shaking his head in failure, Draco simply finished, "That's it."
Unimpressed, Harry sarcastically muttered, "fantastic," before clapping Draco's shoulder and flaming to the Great Hall. The large room, with the magical ceiling, was virtually empty when he left Nicolas and Perenelle. Now, in addition to the timeless couple, McGonagall, the Delacours, the Grangers, Daphne and Astoria with Tracey and her mother, Luna, Ginny, Fred, George, Charlie, Molly, Narcissa, and Lucius were all in clumps around the professors' tables at the head of the grand room. Tonks, Alice, Lupin, and a couple of other Aurors had secured the room when Harry and Draco flamed into the center of the large room.
With Nova comfortably on Harry's shoulder, the pair walked toward the endangered group. As Narcissa, followed by Tracey, rushed to Draco, Harry wondered if the absence of Dumbledore, Lily, and Hardwin meant he was still fighting the Short-Snout. Sirius may be with Lily for support or with Amelia dealing with the Goblins, but as Nicolas, Perenelle, Hermione, Daphne and Astoria, Fleur and Gabrielle, Luna and Ginny met him just ahead of the professor's elevated section, Harry wondered how he was going to protect everyone here while simultaneously dealing with the Dark Goblins.
"Ares!" Hermione called when she reached him. She gripped his forearm with worry as she asked, "How are you feeling? Has Madam Pomfrey seen to your injuries? Is your throat better?"
Smiling at the nostalgia this timeline's Hermione always managed to bring out in him, Harry patted her warm hand as he reassured her, "I'm sore, but fine-"
"Fine is the last thing you are, Trouble Star," Perenelle interjected. "All I did was alleviate the pain and momentarily halt the tissue decay." Patting the Hufflepuff table next to them, Perenelle added, "Sit."
Immediately feeling resistant to medical attention, Harry sighed as he took a seat, asking Hermione in the meantime, "How are your parents holding up? Can't imagine they're too happy with me."
Harry set Nova on a stand in front of Astoria and Gabrielle to pet as Hermione shyly admitted, "It's difficult for them, but they know you saved them. As for everything else… I'll make certain they understand."
Hermione seemed as if she wanted to say more but decided to approach her parents first. Harry turned to an expressionless Daphne watching her sister, her concern for her father hidden underneath a mask. As Fleur took the seat beside Harry, Daphne answered his unasked question, "They're still searching for him."
Hoping against hope he wasn't about to be the cause of untold pain for her, Harry expressed, "I'm sorry-"
"Please don't speak," Perenelle asked as her wand panned delicately from jaw to clavicle.
"Don't be," Daphne calmly returned, adding, "it's unbecoming of a Slytherin."
Caring very little about what it meant to be a Slytherin, Harry responded, "Even so," earning a stern eye from Perenelle.
If Daphne had any more to say, she kept it to herself as she took the available seat beside him, allowing Luna—still holding his egg—to ask, "Will we be staying in your room now?" Luna's whimsical gaze landed on Daphne then Fleur before adding, "I know it's for our safety, but I can't deny it's also exciting."
"I, uh, haven't figured out what'll happen just yet," Harry awkwardly responded to Luna, and it upset him to think that he couldn't think of a solution that didn't include drastic changes.
"While you're all certainly welcome to remain," Perenelle started. "If I may have some time to examine him. I promise he'll be yours again soon."
In less than a minute, Harry was the nucleus by which most seemed to gravitate around. With Apolline observing, Perenelle examined him and prepared a tonic to begin neutralizing the acidic nature of the dragon's toxic breath. Astoria and Gabrielle played with Nova in front of him, with their sisters seated on either side of him. Nearby, Hermione was having a conversation with her parents under a privacy ward. Just as near, Draco and Tracey were being casually interrogated by each of their mothers. Nicolas explained to McGonagall, Lucius, Alice, and Stéphane that Harry was by far one of the strongest wizards he had ever instructed, while Molly and Charlie remained near enough to listen. Luna explained to Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George how the egg that hatched the chicken was the mutated offspring of a closely related, though different fowl.
"I imagine the baby chicken must've appeared quite hideous to its mother," Luna voiced when Dumbledore, Sirius, Tonks, Lily, a bandaged Hardwin—with his golden egg—Krum, and the rest of the judges entered the Great Hall. Harry remained quiet as chatter about the events erupted all around him; from Dumbledore to McGonagall, Karkaroff to Nicolas, Maxime to the Delacours, Molly to Lily, Krum to Hermione, and Umbridge to Perenelle. It was so suffocating, Harry was ready to call Nova and leave.
With a shoulder rub and subsequent smile from Fleur, Harry soothed himself with her warmth as Bagman, Sirius, and Dumbledore walked up the steps to the professors' tables to address the gathering on the elevated platform. Ignoring Bagman began as he explained the second task, it suddenly struck Harry that he was sitting between Fleur and Daphne—two of the most attractive witches in Hogwarts; and a position any wizard would do anything they could to be in. Feeling how warm and stunning these girls were down to his bones, Harry wondered if moments like these were meant to deter him from making the ultimate sacrifice. These girls were beautiful, smart, caring, and seemingly interested in him; though much hadn't happened yet, Harry was fairly certain he and Fleur were dating.
As Krum asked Bagman about the items taken by the Merpeople, Harry mentally vowed, yet again, that nothing would stop him from killing every shred of Lord Voldemort that existed on this planet. Looking at Fleur's profile, then over to Hermione, then directly into Daphne's icy blue eyes, he hated that they might feel sorrow after his death, however, he took solace that they would be alive to eventually move on with their lives. Bagman exited the stage before Sirius explained the security that would be in place for the following task.
With the last bit of detail for the following task out of the way, McGonagall asked, "May we expect elevated security throughout the event that is to take place this Christmas holiday?"
Harry wanted to laugh at the reference to the Yule Ball. In another life, in another time, asking Cho Chang to the Yule Ball was the scariest experience he could imagine. Instead, he let out a dry huff of air at the impossibly distant memory, drawing Fleur and Daphne's attention. His small smile and shake of his head was all the answer he'd give as Sirius responded, "Yes. There will be an elevated security presence throughout the year."
"With that," Dumbledore began. "We have concluded the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. I would like to congratulate the champions on a performance well done." Dumbledore lightly clapped to the champions, momentarily giving Harry a stern eye as everyone joined in. "Sadly, we are unable to celebrate this success in the adulation of your peers. However, as you're all aware, there was an unforeseen attack on our students. I would like to reassure all of you present that anything and everything that can be done for your safety is Hogwarts' utmost priority moving forward."
"While it thrills me to the moon and back you're so keen on keeping us from getting stabbed by Goblins, talk is cheap," Draco spoke out, defying Dumbledore in a manner Lucius approved of. "You're not exactly telling us anything, are you?"
"At this time," Sirius began, taking a step forward. "Anyone who isn't directly tied to the incident will have to leave. Alice, Tonks, gather 'em up."
"This is an injustice," Karkaroff called out. "Viktor Krum is the only champion excluded! What assurances do we have that this is not a clever ploy to marshal your resources against Durmstrang and my champion? I demand we stay!"
"I cannot allow that," Sirius informed Karkaroff. "This threat supersedes the tournament, and I cannot, in good conscience, place foreign guests in harm's way all because you're feeling left out."
"Yeah. The Aurors have to keep them alive so the tournament can try and kill them," Draco casually commented to a smiling Tracey as Bagman tried to escort an irate Karkaroff along with Krum, Maxime, and Umbridge out.
"As the Minister's eyes, ears, and voice," Umbridge began. "It is abundantly clear that I should remain-"
"Amelia tasked me with their safety, Undersecretary Umbridge," Sirius called out. "And as this is an active operation, my authority is final. Please try to remember this is for your own well-being. The less you know, the safer you'll be. Alice, Tonks," Sirius ordered them, then turned to McGonagall and softly added, "forgive me, professor, but that goes for you too. Limiting vital information is key here."
Professor McGonagall hesitated to leave them, however, after Dumbledore assured her with his grandfatherly nod, Alice and Tonks escorted Bagman, Umbridge, McGonagall, Maxime, Karkaroff, and Krum out of the Great Hall. As their combined footfall softened with distance, the remaining witches and wizards were left alone in the grand stone dining hall. If it appeared to them as if they were finally ready to discuss the details of how they proceed, Harry disabused them of that notion.
"Headmaster," Harry called out, instantly drawing every pair of eyes on him. "I recall saying Delacours, Grangers, Blacks, Greengrass', Lovegoods, Weasleys, Potters, Flamels… I never mentioned Dumbledores."
Molly instantly tried to defend her adored Headmaster, aghast as she tried to voice aloud, "You can't possibly be suggesting running off the strongest wizard-"
"Head Auror Black already said it," Harry cut her off, making Charlie take a step forward as if ready to defend his mum. "The less who know the details of our whereabouts, the better. Headmaster or not, the fact that he wasn't named means he has no direct reason for being here." Harry turned to Dumbledore and assured him, "If he feels he needs to know any information, he's welcome to ask Nicolas, Perenelle, or Auror Black, as I trust them."
"And Lily," Sirius voiced, glancing at her. "When I'm not around, she'll be in charge." Harry wasn't quite sure how he felt about that, however, for the moment, he didn't dispute it.
"This cannot be!" Molly essentially yelled, turning to Lily for support. Not unlike a bad call in Quidditch, everyone had an opinion they couldn't help but loudly vocalize. The fact that Lucius Malfoy happily agreed annoyed the vociferous Weasleys. Dumbledore made his case to Sirius, and the Grangers sided with the Headmaster, adding more voices to the pollution of noise festering in Harry's ears. The sheer number of moving and talking bodies around Harry made his leg shake as he grew more and more agitated. He didn't want to be a dictator about this, but as the voices got louder, Harry could feel himself losing control. His mind recalled the faces he'd let down in the past, the faces he'd seen stuffed and mounted on his wall of horrors, and with tightly clenched fists, Harry softly voiced, "Nova."
His legendary phoenix hopped on his shoulder before the pair flamed from his seat on top of the Hufflepuff table to the very top of the professors' table—right in the middle where Dumbledore tended to sit. The flaming light and sudden slam of weight on an old wood table easily drew everyone's silent attention. Time froze in the slight moment Harry took to look at scared faces, worried faces, curious faces, young, old, male, female, and it made him angry; at them and most of all, himself.
They were concerned—as they should be—but they were looking elsewhere for solutions. And Harry hadn't truly figured out how to protect all the students without locking them in a room until he killed every threat to their lives. It was frustrating because even with all his augmented power, he knew it wasn't enough against the flexibility of this new enemy. These Goblins, Týr specifically, were focused, professional, and beyond reason.
"We only need one," Harry recalled Týr's gravelly voice saying, which was why Harry settled on the ease of mind that came with speaking the truth. They wouldn't like it, but he didn't need them to.
"I'm sorry Mr. And Mrs. Granger," Harry began, looking from the parents to their daughter—the one friend that always stuck by him. "I said Hermione isn't going anywhere and I meant it. I'll kidnap her if I have to."
"You will do no such thing, young man," Mr. Granger started as Hermione tried to hold her father's hand.
Dumbledore called out, "Mr. Flamel, regardless of your intentions, I will not allow you to take anyone against-"
"Listen up!" Harry called out louder. "This'll be a very uncomfortable observation for many of you, but it is our reality. We have a deadly problem here and unless I lock each of you in a room until I neutralize this threat, I can't promise you'll all survive… not against an enemy like this."
"All the more reason that I should-" Dumbledore began to plead his case again.
"This isn't a decision by committee," Harry loudly cut him off. Looking sternly at the Headmaster, he continued, "Daphne, Astoria, Hermione, Fleur, Gabrielle, Luna, Tracey, Ginny, Fred, George, Ron, and Hardwin; what's going to truly keep them safe isn't you, Headmaster… it isn't me, either, or Auror Black, or anyone else in charge of keeping them safe."
Ron called out, "I thought that's what your whole deal's about. You keeping us safe."
"Do the arithmancy," Harry told him. "There's eleven of you and one of me. I'm strong but even I can't be in eleven places at once," Harry declared, referencing just the students since many of the adults would be taken care of by the Aurors.
"Do the arithmancy," Harry told him. "There were eleven of you and one of me. I was strong, but even I couldn't be in eleven places at once," Harry declared, referencing just the students since many of the adults would be taken care of by the Aurors.
"There's twelve," Tracey hesitated to correct, looking at Draco beside her, to which Harry teasingly remarked, "Draco doesn't count."
"Because he's the love of your life," Ron called out.
"Because I don't care if he dies," Harry flatly answered the red-head; answered all of them. Even after Draco had the pompous gall to talk about his penis, some part of Harry actually wondered if he would care if he died. A strong argument could be made that this-Draco and the past-Draco weren't exactly the same. If the Draco he was staring at were the same as the Draco from their shared past, Harry was certain he would dance on his old rival's grave. However, the brutal truth was they weren't; their eyes were different. This Draco had suffered enough to make Harry wonder what he might actually feel upon the silver-blond's demise.
"Excuse me-" Lucius tried to say.
Ignoring the train of thought, Harry cut Malfoy senior off as he continued with a cutting voice, "Except for a few of you, I can't say as I care if some of you die either." In his mind, Lucius was the only person that expressly fit that criterion, however, Harry needed them to truly hear his point far more than his compassion. And the shock on most of their faces said he was pushing them to uncomfortable realities.
"I reckon none of you want to hear that from someone who's displayed some next-level magic," Harry admitted. "I reckon many of you would prefer I was like the Headmaster, the picture of a fucking humanitarian-"
"Language," Perenelle's voice cut through.
Exhausted by her staunch stance on cursing, Harry exhaled before he continued to tell his peers. "When these assassins come for you, to kill you, I want you to really ask yourselves what you're going to do if you're alone? Ask yourselves, when these Goblins come, who can you rely on without a professor, or an auror, or me? The simple fact is, no one is going to protect you, at all times, better than you can. No one! I don't care if Draco dies because I trained him. I trained him so well, he's not making the mistake of expecting me to save him because of some altruistic drive is making me love humanity to bits. He knows I will save him because I can, and if I can't, he'll save himself."
"Mr. Flamel, not every witch or wizard is capable of performing similar feats," Dumbledore voiced. "That is why the Auror department and the professors are here to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
"I wasn't talking about any of them, Headmaster," Harry responded. "I'm talking to the people in front of me; some of the smartest and most capable witches and wizards of this age." Turning to them, Harry continued his brutal honesty. "The things that can hurt you the most aren't Death Eaters, Acromantula, or Assassins. Those types of threats pop into existence, kill you, then leave. It's absolute, but it's quick. The things that can hurt you the most... are the people you love... who are insensitive to reality. To go against the dominant thinking of your teachers and leaders and people you associate with every day, is the strongest form of courage you will ever perform. Don't go through this thinking that you're powerless. You direct the power in your life."
"It's us, isn't it?" Hermione realizes aloud, looking at Harry with such warmth and admiration he can't but feel lighter. It's soothing to hear her tell the group of adults, mostly her parents, "The best way we can survive this is to learn how to protect ourselves like a unit."
"Young lady, how is it you cannot see this is precisely what Defense Against the Dark Arts is for," Molly loudly directed at Hermione. Turning to Harry, she further adds, "It's what professors and parents are for. Terrible situations like these are not for young showy upstarts demanding to have things their way!"
"And how many of your kids would be dead if I wasn't here, Mrs. Weasley?" Harry coldly asked Molly. "Where was their education and professors and parents against the Death Eater or Acromantula? You know the only reason I was able to intervene against the Dark Goblins is because Hermione, Daphne, Tracey, Luna, and Fleur were smart enough to comprehend the situation and put me in a place to make a difference?" Turning to the Grangers, Harry sympathizes. "I get that it's scary, Mr and Mrs Granger. I understand it's dangerous and we may get hurt, but I wouldn't have the strength I have today if I kept relying on others to keep me safe, and you shouldn't either. So, I'm asking you, help me keep you all alive by helping yourselves."
Elated, Daphne asked with a small grin, "Does this mean you'll teach us?"
"Yeah," Harry answered her.
"Everyday, you will meet the king of the Monsters," Nicolas sagely voiced to the young. "Whether it's laziness, contempt, hatred, disloyalty, selfishness, bullies, dark wizards, or creatures. There is a new challenge every day, but that is how you learn and grow and change so you may properly defend yourself. You can allow us to destroy you, or you can allow us to build you up, but the result is in your hands."
"Eef you are offering to train our daughter, zhen you 'ave our permission," Apolline asserted. "The Delacour family trust you."
Hermione left her parent's grip, stepped ahead enough to turn to her perturbed parents and asserted, "I know you want to protect your little girl and I love you for it, but, what Ares is offering is the discipline to do that for myself. You must know that knowledge is more valuable than the fear I feel right now."
"Sweetie," Hermione's father started, adding, "there are regulating bodies and personnel in place that will protect you."
"Daniel," Charlotte began, turning to her husband and taking his hand. With a chuckle and a smile, she told him, "Look at her eyes. When was the last time you saw them so determined?" Hermione's chocolate brown eyes were indeed peircing, giving her a determined look with grand purpose—as strong as Harry remembered.
Mr. Granger sighed before nodding. He turned to Harry to state, "You have our permission. But reasonable or not, I'm holding you personally responsible if anything happens to her."
"I'll die before I let that happen," Harry replied, and though he meant it, he was taken aback by Hermione's blush.
"I'm in," Daphne said, squeezing Gabrielle's hand.
"Same," Tracey voiced, taking a step forward. Though her mother was very worried, she only nodded at her daughter's courage, a sentiment Sirius also shared as he walked to hug his fiancé. The gruff auror eyed Draco for a moment before nodding to Harry.
"You have my permission as well," Lily called out, turning to a stunned Hardwin, who asked, "mum?" Lily smiled as she responded, "It's not like I'll be going anywhere, but this opportunity is what I've always wanted for you. Be strong, like your father." To hear that struck Hardwin silent and torn. Harry remained neutral as Hardwin nodded his acceptance.
"I don't see any reason why father would disagree," Luna sweetly voiced before concluding, "please teach me as well."
"Well, you don't have my permission! I refuse," Molly called out, forcing an outburst from her adventurous children. Ginny's "Come on, mum," trumpeted with Fred's "Please!" And George's "You can keep ikle Ronniekins, but let us go!"
"Hey!" an offended Ron retorted.
Charlie told Harry, "Just, give us a moment," before the entire Weasley brood shuffled away to beg and plead with the Weasley matriarch. As that drama unfolded several paces away from the main group, Dumbledore turned and stared at Harry without the guise of a caring grandfather. The revered wizard almost seemed wary of Harry as the Slytherin stroked the cloth still attached to Nova's leg.
"You made me figure your rune out on my own," Harry pointed out like a detached warning. "I told you, whatever we could've been would evaporate the moment I had to be the one to free Nova from her shackle."
Ignoring the now-decorative cloth on Nova's leg, Dumbledore replied, "You have until tonight to return what you've taken. You do not want to make an enemy of me."
"You're right, I don't," Harry admitted before adding, "but you're not leaving me any other choice."
Before Dumbledore could respond, hard fast footsteps could be heard rushing down the long stone steps of the Great Hall. Rushing straight to Sirius, Alice was frantic, red-cheeked, and nearly out of breath before she whispered urgent news in Sirius's ear. Dumbledore stepped down the platform to hear the development when Sirius slowly turned a grave eye on Daphne and Astoria. Harry instantly knew what that expression meant and sadly, Daphne did as well.
With his dark eyes alone, Sirius conveyed his deepest sympathy as he asked, "Miss Greengrass, can I speak with you in private?"
The statuesque figure of the Ice Queen of Slytherin betrayed no emotion as she stood straighter. Inhaling, she kept it all in as she shook her head, voicing, "no, Auror Black. We cannot."
Astoria looked around with clear confusion, holding her sister's hand as she asked, "Daphne?"
Daphne bent down to hug the one person in this entire world she cared more than anything and whispered words no one but her sister could hear. Astoria nodded in their tight embrace before Daphne turned to Dumbledore, and to the surprise of all, asked, "Headmaster, if you would be so kind as to excuse us, Ares has strategies to discuss with us."
Well, I hope that helped explain Harry's plan. Again, I'm so sorry I left you guys hanging for so long.
Aside from the difficulty of recalling the head-space for this chapter, all the characters in one place were very challenging to write. So this was a very on-the-surface type of chapter. I'll go into much more detail about what's to come in the next update. We'll also be moving ahead with what I want to do with the Goblins. It's fairly important to the end game of this fic. There are a lot of points in this fic I will elaborate on so stay tuned!
If some of you do read my other fic The Last Prayer, keep in mind it's for adults. It has a lot of sex and cursing and morally grey areas.
Lastly, thank you all very much for supporting, encouraging, critiquing me. Your PM's and comments are very helpful to my development. I truly want to get better as a storyteller and I know I can't do that alone. So again, thank you. Have a happy holidays and a great day,
-Grae