Next 7 days, Ares helped Iris prepare for the first task. Her parents and friends were worried at first but stopped asking too many questions when they saw her progress. Ares would train Iris to improve her reflexes, situational awareness and some spells. He helped her improve her speed of casting spells by making her cast silently the spells she had already learned. She still wasn't able to silent-cast newly learned spells but the stunner, disarming charm, immobilizing charm, and others she could do silently though the spells were less effective power-wise. Hey, no one could learn to silent cast in just 7 days. It had taken him months of regular training to do so.
Finally, the day of the first task arrived. Both her competitors were nervous though it was hidden under Krum's scowl and Fleur's haughtiness. Bagman took out the purse which contained miniature dragon models, for Champions to choose randomly which beast they would face. However, Ares knew the Hungarian Horntail was absent as they didn't need to order for an extra dragon since there was no 4th champion.
The first one was Welsh Green was to face Fleur Delacour, the champion from Beuxbatons. The Chinese fireball, probably the most dangerous among the three dragons was chosen by Viktor Krum. The Swedish Short snout, which had the strongest flame among them and was the most aggressive one was chosen by Iris Potter.
Fleur used her Veela magic along with a sleeping charm to completely lead the dragon to sleep. She easily took the egg but unfortunately, her charms were broken when she was about to reach the gates and it set Fleur's jacket on fire. Obviously being a Veela, the fire didn't harm her much.
Viktor Krum too did similarly against the Chinese fireball like in Ares' world. Fortunately, Ares was able to send a shield charm above the eggs, so that the dragon would not harm her eggs like in his world after being hit by the Conjunctivitis charm from Krum.
Finally, it was Iris' turn. She wasn't nervous. She knew she could subdue the Swedish short snout easily. Now if it had been Hungarian Horntail, Ukrainian Ironbelly or Norwegian Ridgeback she would be in trouble.
"Anima Leo!"
She used the same transfiguration Ares had used against Crouch junior, only instead of two lions, she transfigured the chunks of rocks into a single humongous lion who stalked towards the dragon.
The Swedish short snout roared at the lion, which was almost 5 times smaller than it. The lion just roared twice as loud, showing why it was called the King of Jungle even if more dangerous predators were present in the same jungle.
The image led Gryffindors to cheer loudly. James looked like he was about to let out tears of immense joy.
The dragon roared sending its flames towards the lion, who jumped aside dodging them. The lion jumped upon the dragon and was swatted away by one of its wings. Meanwhile, Iris had conjured enough water for her next move. She dispelled the transfiguration on the lion and called her next spell.
"Protego Aqua Eructus!"
Similar to one of the infamous spells of Grindelwald, the Water surrounded her protectively. Its significance was seen as the dragon sent its flames towards her and the water automatically rose and defended her, dispelling the flames.
The dragon irritated sent more and more flames at Iris, only to meet the same fate time and again. Finally frustrated the dragon shot towards Iris shattering its chain. Iris was taken aback for a moment before she collected herself. The audience all around her gasped at the scene.
"Glacies Vincula!"
The non-lethal spell that had ended Barty Crouch Junior's life, even if it was due to his idiocy, shot out of Iris' wand and gigantic Ice chains were conjured. The chains wrapped around the dragon's wings and anchored themselves to the ground and large rocks nearby. The dragon was immobilised and dropped onto the ground as it wasn't able to open its wings. It panicked and launched dragon fire onto the chains hoping to melt them, but they weren't even signed. Another chain was conjured around the dragon's snout, successfully stopping it from sprouting flames.
The crowd started hooting and cheering. Iris Potter had subdued a dragon at the age of 14. Her family were cheering her happily. Sirius was dancing while shouting about how awesome her goddaughter was.
The dragon let out a wail of sadness, thinking of her children who had not even come to the world were in danger. It tugged Iris' heart. She threw a calming charm enough to make the dragon non-aggressive. Of course, for it to work, it has to be subdued, seeing how aggressive dragons were generally. She took the golden egg from the nest and brought it to the front of the dragon. The dragon sniffed at it and understood it wasn't her egg. Iris then released the immobilizing chains leaving only one behind that had replaced the chain that the dragon broke. She then sidestepped showing the dragon was free to check her eggs. The dragon did so and was relieved to find all of them safe. She then looked at the golden egg in Iris' hand and then at her nest. She understood what was it all about. Letting out a grateful screech towards Iris, she curled around her nest protectively and went back to rest.
The whole audience including Ares himself, watched the interaction between the dragon and Iris in various degrees of astonishment. Though it was a good thing. The next day newspapers all over the world would declare how the savior of the Wizarding World had subdued a dragon and still was compassionate to the beast. It will boost her popularity among the wizarding world. Of course, she wouldn't like any of it.
--X--
"So who are you going to ask for the ball?" Iris asked Hermione.
"Uh... Isn't that supposed to be the other way around?" Hermione stated.
"Duh, I am going to ask him to be my date before anyone else snatch him," Iris told Hermione.
"W-Wait does that mean you already decided? Who is it? I hope it isn't Ron!" Hermione babbled.
"Ugh hell no. I don't have any interest in him. Additionally, he is a jealous git. Could you imagine being his wife, when he has an inferiority complex and is a slacker?" Iris asked.
Hermione just blushed and kept her mouth shut. It was when Iris' eyes lit up. She ran to a boy and tapped his shoulder. Hermione was shocked to find it was Ares Flamel, the transfer student. Suddenly it all made sense. Iris disappears and then uses Ice spells quite like Flamel's to bind the dragon. Her spells are also faster and sometimes she silent cast. With how easily Flamel seemed to take on Moody's impersonator, it was quite clear how Iris was able to sharpen her skills and increase her spell pool.
She saw Flamel turning back and giving a smile to Iris which made her blush. Hermione was grinning now. She now had quite a blackmail material on her best friend. Of course, the romance novel side of her was very excited thinking about how hard her best friend was crushing on the transfer student. Quite the plot indeed!
Iris controlled her blush and put on a confident face. She sniffed, raising her nose in the air and said to Ares "You are going to take me to the ball. I will be wearing green, make sure to match that."
Ares' mind blanked. Her alternate-world self was asking him for a date. And he didn't find anything wrong with it. He had to accept, she was quite gorgeous and fun to be around. He could only nod in acceptance as Iris gave him a peck on the cheek and disappeared.
He looked around and was relieved to find out there was no one nearby. Not that he was ashamed or anything. But he would rather face the music of Girl-who-lived dating a Slytherin after the Yule ball. Unknown to him, Hermione Granger had witnessed everything. Fortunately, she was no Lavender Brown or Parvati Patil. So, their secret would be quite safe. Other than a bit of teasing Iris of course.
--X--
James, Remus and Sirius were having a serious meeting.
"Iris, my sweet little daughter, is going on a date with a boy!" James informed everyone.
Sirius perked up "Who do we have to kill?"
"H-Hey, no need to do something drastic!" Remus exclaimed, his eyes widening comically when he saw James considering the idea of murder.
"Why the hell not? We can't let anyone corrupt little Iris!" Sirius exclaimed and James nodded.
"Plus I have heard the boy has quite a reputation even among Slytherin!" James added.
"What... She is going to the date with some idiot pure-blood frantic?" Sirius nearly shouted.
"Hm.. I am not sure about that. From what I heard, he put a boy named Marcus Flint and some of his goons in the hospital wing on his first night at Hogwarts." James supplied what Snape had told Lily.
"Son of the Wizengamot's troll?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, and if the boy has some beef with Flint, that means there is a high chance he didn't agree with Flint's opinions, or maybe he was not a pureblood himself and when Flint tried to bully him about it, he returned the favour," James concluded.
"What is his name?" Remus broke in.
"Ares Flamel," James supplied.
"Dumbledore's mentor's heir? Hmm, Flamels never had a child and no one knows their blood status. Even Voldemort was smart enough not to bother them." Sirius stated.
"Eh they fucked up Grindelwald when he tried to meddle with them, didn't he? Everyone knows Flamels hired the mercenaries to cut off Grindelwald's army into less than half. It was only then, that ICW was able to subdue his army, and Dumbledore managed to get him while he was trying to escape." James confirmed.
"So what do we do about Flamel, who is taking our precious Iris to date?" James asked.
"Sigh! You are being too dramatic. You know Flamel didn't ask her, but it was the opposite. Hermione told us how Iris demanded he take her to the ball," Remus informed.
"It's simple. We keep an eye on them. And the moment he steps his toe out of line, we dispose of him. We will see the Flamels when the time comes." Sirius said calmly.
Remus had a feeling of dread as he saw James nodding in agreement with the grim animagus.
--X--
The day of the Yule ball came and both witches and wizards were excited. Lily was the only faculty absent as they had to prepare the Potter Manor for a joint celebration of Blacks and Potters, the next day. Similarly, James and Sirius were also absent. Kararoff, for some reason, was trying to get Snape's attention, who was completely avoiding him. Dumbledore was being his eccentric self.
Minerva McGonagall was waiting at the platform above the stairs, the champions were supposed to walk down from.
Fleur Delaclor was present in a sliver gown, that radiated her already divine beauty. Her partner Roger Davis, was in black wizarding robes and wasn't having much problem controlling his desires. Fleur looked rather happy that someone who wouldn't drool in her presence was her date.
Viktor Krum was in his school robes that included a Red buttoned coat with fur attached to it. His heavy winter attire was literally screaming Bulgarian. His date, Hermione Granger arrived a moment later, wearing a periwinkle-coloured dress, her hair sorted out. She was looking rather stunning.
"Where are Miss Potter and her date? She did have a date, didn't she?" McGonagall directed her question at Hermione.
"Yes, she has a date and they would be arriving any time now. She is late because of some traditional programme she had to participate in being the Potter's heiress apparent and Black Heiress Presumptive." Hermione explained.
It was when Ares appeared in a woosh of Black Flames. Hedge who was on her shoulder, rubbed her head with his cheek affectionately and then flamed away, probably to play with Fawkes.
Ares was sporting black formal pants and a fitted black shirt from where one could make out the cuts of his impressive physique. A loosened tie was on his neck instead of a bow, which most wizards seemed to use. A fitted silver waistcoat completed the attire, which would make him look quite handsome and different among the students who mostly would be sporting Formal robes or School robes. The blushes on the faces of Hermione and Fleur were already attesting to that.
"And why are you here Mr. Flamel? You do know that this is for champions only?" McGonagall asked him.
"Why, I am waiting for my gorgeous date Professor," Ares replied with a smirk.
McGonagall's eyes widened in surprise when she understood that he was Iris Potter's date for to ball. She collected herself and asked "And why is Miss Potter not with you? I hope she hadn't forgotten the time she was supposed to be here."
"Sigh! Calm down, professor. There is still some time before the champions have to make their entry. And as for why she isn't with me, I can't take away a princess' right to walk down the stairs while making her way towards her prince charming, can I?" Ares replied with a smirk.
At the same time, there was a noise that notified the group of the arrival of Iris Potter. She was sporting a rather unconventional Black gown and a tiara silver made up of chains of white-gold. Earrings made up of the same material, along with the rarest emerald diamond studs fitted at the end, which went rather well with her eyes. Walking down the stairs, she looked like a goddess among mortals. Even Fleur felt a bit jealous of the beauty and confidence Iris was radiating.
Ares was sure he was going to get many offers to cut in their dance and he decided he was going to decline them all.
--X--
The evening had been wonderful. Iris had felt very comfortable with Ares and had shown it so by jealously guarding his time. She had refused anyone who tried to offer anyone of them a dance. She didn't want to share him and that was final.
She had seen the minister of magic trying to butter up Ares, much to her confusion before realising that Flamels were rumoured to be very rich which had to hold some truth seeing the alchemists were alive for more than 600 years.
The only thing that she didn't like tonight was her fellow Gryffindor Ronald Weasley. For obvious reasons, he had gone stag to the ball and then had the gall to accuse Hermione of fraternising with the enemy. Hermione, the poor girl was in tears. She was about to go punch the useless bastard in his jaws when Hermione's date who had heard the last of his hateful words did that and then proceeded to comfort her. The Weasley looked like, he would try something with Ares and her but one fierce glare from Ares promised far worse punishment than a punch in the jaw made him rethink the decision. It had made her hot and bothered, but she was able to control it and focus on their dance.
Now it was time for the last dance and she was swaying slowly with her date on the tone of soft music. With how much of a good date Ares had been she had already decided to give him her first kiss. As the sound ended and the dance stopped, she closed the distance between their lips. For a moment, it looked like Ares did not get her sign but in a moment she was having her first kiss of life, which was every bit as sensual and romantic as she imagined it would be.
Sometimes later, they found themselves in a corner making out like no tomorrow. She had enough marks and bites to get mercilessly teased by Hermione. Though she decided she would disappear them before her overprotective father, godfather and uncle decided to murder Area for degrading their precious little girl.
--X--
Ares decided he would come clean with Iris about his true reality, as he didn't want her to go any further in the relationship without her knowing the truth. For now, he had a Christmas present to wrap for Iris.