Okay everyone! In this chapter, there will be mention of a secondary character having a slash relationship. Go away if that offends your sensibilities.
~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE
Aftermath of First TaskThe morning following the First Task, the front page of the Daily Prophet included the largest possible format of a wizarding photo. The photo began with the moment the basilisk appeared in the arena. The thirty second loop was long enough to see the Hungarian Horntail cringe and fold into herself, fearing for the life of her eggs. The headlines screamed, 'Harry Potter Summons King of Snakes!'
"Where's a photo of Cedric?" demanded Cho at the Ravenclaw table. She rose from her seat and hurried to her boyfriend's side where he was flicking through the paper.
"Page 6! There's no picture of me before page 6?" Cedric complained loudly. Later in the morning, Harry glanced through Hermione's copy of the Daily Prophet. He counted his appearances in the photos and found that his face or complete figure appeared in fourteen pictures from the front page to page 4.
Fleur appeared on page 2, page 4 and 5. She was a lovely witch.
Victor Krum – already famous as a seeker – dominated page 3 and he shared pages 4, 5 and 6 with Delacour, Potter or Diggory.
Glancing around the Great Hall, Harry realized that Victor Krum was missing at the table used by the students from Durmstrang. He wondered, 'Did they take him to Saint Mungo's for treatment?'
In the article that appeared below the fold on the front page, the Daily Prophet warned that Harry Potter may very well be the next Dark Lord to attempt to destroy Magical Britain and violate the Statue of Secrecy.
Harry referred to the book that Hermione provided him earlier that month – "Rules to the Triwizard Tournament 1994-1995 Held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." For two hours he read the rules, pondered the ideas his three family magics suggested, and then writing notes to organize his 'letter to the editor.'
A message was sent to Vault-manager Ironstream via Dobby Potter Elf, and the reply gave Harry a modicum of satisfaction. He continued making his notes and wrote a draft of the letter that he asked Neville to proof for proper use of language to capture the attention of the purebloods. After Neville made a few edits, Harry asked Hermione to correct his syntax and verb tenses.
"Are you sending that letter tonight?" asked Neville while they waited for Granger to make her edits.
"No. Tomorrow's Daily Prophet will be just as interesting as this morning's edition."
Longbottom snorted and asked, "Will Diggory be as bad-tempered tomorrow?"
Harry shrugged, a muggle affectation he refused to stop using, and said, "Dumbledore's pout tomorrow will make Diggory's temper tantrum look like a hiccup."
Hidden in the shape of Alastor Moody, Barty Crouch, Jr walked from the DADA professor's quarters toward the Great Hall with his wand in his hand.
'I'm as paranoid at Moody,' he told himself. 'How am I going to deliver Potter to my master? The boy – the wizard – summoned a basilisk to frighten a dragon. No, he summoned a basilisk to show all the idiot children in the school what true power looks like. They'll wet themselves for the rest of the year anytime Potter looks at them.'
In a rebellious part of his mind, Barty wondered why Lord Voldemort had never accomplished anything like the display yesterday. 'The Dark Lord sent Death Eaters to kill mudbloods and blood traitors at night. There was never a straight up fight.'
Disturbed by his thoughts, Barty growled at a group of Claws and sent them running ahead. He clumped along, and wondered if his knee would ever be the same when he was able to escape this duty and remain in his normal body.
Tom Riddle's ReactionIn a ramshackle muggle manor house in northern England, a rat-faced wizard cared for an infant unlike any other in history – a still birth in Albania provided the form possessed by the spirit of Tom Riddle and a botched ritual with the blood of a virgin (Pettigrew) gave the homunculus the semblance of life. A concoction of snake venom and various types of milk were fed to the infant three times a day and nappies were changed at least twelve times a day.
Using a ritual to bring some semblance of life to a death form to support a disembodied spirit for a time, Tom Riddle incorrectly translated 'virgin' in the 1940's and never corrected his mistake. Rather than the blood of someone who had never had sex, the ritual required the blood of an innocent – a small child under the age of two years was best. Using the rat-man's blood – Peter was guilty of many crimes – denied the homunculus any magical power beyond holding together for twelve months – in June it would fall apart.
"What does the Daily Prophet report about the tasks at Hogwarts?" the squeaky voice demanded as soon as Pettigrew changed the nappy and fed the thing its first bottle of the day. This morning he had only found cow's milk in the local shop to steal, and the giant snake was sluggish giving up the day's supply of venom.
"Potter…my lord, the newspaper reports that Potter summoned a basilisk to scare the dragon," Peter reported. He held the baby up to show him the front-page photo and then the interior pictures on the inside pages.
"He pets the beast as if it were tame!" roared the baby in its infantile voice. "Kill him! How can he be this powerful at 14? Is that Slytherin's basilisk?"
Peter didn't offer comfort the infant form – when Lord Voldemort had a temper tantrum, nothing provided him with comfort.
'At least he can't throw the Cruciatus curse,' Peter remembered thankfully. 'When he is tired of crying, I'll ask about sending a letter to Barty. If Crouch is his favourite, let him provide some more information about Potter and his bloody basilisk.'
Second MorningNo one expected a second morning of screaming headlines on the Daily Prophet but when the owls flew through the windows in the Great Hall everyone noticed the newspapers were larger than normal.
"Potter's Basilisk Parts for Sale!" was the headline spread across the top of the front page. Today's photo was below the fold, and it didn't move – the photo depicted Harry Potter standing before the carcass of the basilisk. The Boy-Who-Lived had his arm lifted with an ancient blade that appeared to be covered with blood. The wizard was dressed in the same robes he'd worn during the First Task. On the interior pages, there were reprints of the photos from the task with the basilisk appearing in the stadium and then bowing before Harry Potter and disappearing. The articles inside the newspapers were lists of all the potion ingredients harvested from the basilisk that would be for sale at the new year.
Gringotts released news that they would publish results of extensive tests to be conducted under the watchful eye of Potion Masters from the ICW before the end of December to allow them time to set appropriate prices.
'We estimate the carcass to be worth several million Galleons with appropriate sales taxes to be paid to the Ministry for Magic. And we remind Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, that Wizengamot law forbids the sudden change of the tax rates to generate a windfall.'
Albus Dumbledore was late entering the Great Hall for breakfast that morning. He remained distracted by the results of floo calls he'd made and received the previous evening. Many leaders in the Wizengamot were petrified that another Dark Lord was being trained at Hogwarts. They hinted broadly that Dumbledore's tenure would not survive the rise of another alumni of the school fomenting an insurrection when the wounds from the Death Eater rebellion were still raw.
When he sat on his throne and sipped his first cup of tea, he reached for the paper and read the headlines. Albus glanced at the photo below the fold and then buried his head inside the paper. Professor Flitwick was kind enough to cast a warming charm on the headmaster's teacup and breakfast plate.
In an interview with 'Mr Potter' that afternoon before supper – with Professor Flitwick and Deputy Headmistress McGonagall present – Potter refused to even consider sharing the proceeds of the sale of basilisk carcass with the school. Albus felt the boy's reasoning was purely selfishness, but Flitwick assured the headmaster that the law was clear – the hunter owned the carcass without question – not the property owner.
"In fact, the DMLE could arrest you and fine the school thousands of galleons for harbouring such a creature – XXXXXX is forbidden by your own rules in the ICW," Flitwick reminded Dumbledore. "What are the other Mugwump going to say to you this summer about a thousand-year-old basilisk hiding in the basement of 'your' school?"
Looking at Minerva, Albus asked her opinion, but the witch simply shuddered as she remembered how she felt when the monster appeared in the arena, spewed venom across the sands, and then bowed before the young wizard. Her only suggestion was that the headmaster 'leave Mr Potter alone.'
Harry's letterThe third morning after the task dealing with dragons, the Daily Prophet printed Harry Potter's letter protesting the label of Dark Lord some of the articles warned about on the first morning.
'I am not a dark lord in training! Dark magic doesn't mean evil! It is just different magic from light magic! In my opinion, a wizard who claims to be light and never admits to using any dark magic is just as likely to qualify for the title of 'Dark Lord' as some idiot running amok in Britain at night with funny white masks hiding identities.'
Victor Krum's New Hand.The next day, Harry sought the company of Victor Krum at breakfast. The Durmstrang students generally sat with the Slytherin students at each meal and with his robes bearing the three crests, he ventured into the portion of the Great Hall where the snakes gathered to eat.
Only Draco made any comment about 'Scarhead' not being welcomed. A few of the seventh-year students looked angry but they remained silent after Harry hissed at them.
"Harry Potter! Good morning!" Victor greeted the younger champion. With the same fellow who'd been in the infirmary tent with Victor present to butter the seeker's toast, Victor appeared to be managing his new disability well.
"What was the hissing?"
Blushing, Harry admitted the hissing was Parseltongue. "I can speak with snakes and use Parseltongue magic. I just suggested they be quiet so I could talk with you."
"They would be unwise to aggravate a speaker," Victor agreed. "We do not have many magic users who speak with snakes in Bulgaria, but I understand they are numerous in Egypt and India."
Boris spoke up for the first time and said, "Australia."
Grinning at his friend, Victor replied in Bulgarian and then explained to Harry, "Australia on the other side of the world has many, many snakes. The local shamans were never able to speak with the creatures until wizards from India and Europe arrived. Speakers are always welcomed in the land down under."
"I wanted to see how you were faring after a couple days," Harry said returning to his original purpose.
Victor grimaced and explained, "I am slow with buttons and stirring potions. Boris helps me and keeps me from falling down the stairs."
The other young man nodded his head but said nothing. Victor added, "His English is not so good. The spell to teach languages doesn't work well with his magic. We are practicing some phrases but won't stay in Britain long…only until third task be finished."
In a quiet voice so his question didn't carry far, Harry asked, "Can't magic regrow your arm? There's got to be a spell that will do that."
"There is a potion, but it costs many thousands of galleons," Victor explained. "Your basilisk and its venom are the key ingredients but brewing the potion requires many expensive ingredients."
Boris made some comment and Victor nodded before he continued, "My Quidditch team won't provide the money and they will drop me from their roster in the new year before any games begin."
"I hate that I shall never be able to fly again."
"What? No!"
"It is unfortunate but a wizard must have two good hands to control a broom," Victor said. He looked at Harry closely and said, "You know this. How could I manage the Wronski Feint with only one hand?"
Nodding his head in agreement, Harry thanked Victor for his time before walking back to the Gryffindor table. Theo Nott and Blaise Zabini cast jinxes on Draco Malfoy to keep the boy from casting any spells at the Heir of Slytherin as the young wizard walked by, apparently deep in thought.
"Why did you do that?" complained Draco, rubbing his hand where a stinging hex had disarmed him.
Theo asked, "What did you want to happen? Trip the Heir of Slytherin at breakfast and then spend the rest of the day running from the next basilisk he summoned? Your bald head makes you easy to see, Malfoy."
Ironstream read a letter from his Vault-holder later that morning. He sat for several minutes considering the request – use galleons from his share of the profits to pay for the potion to regrow the lower left arm and hand for Victor Krum.
The request offered the opportunity to make profits for the bank. But the bank could not offer any potion or other items made from the carcass until after all testing and approvals were provided by the Potion Masters. The preliminary reports were that the venom and blood were of exceptional quality and would produce effective potions, salves for burns and scars. But it would be in January before they would be made available.
Struck by a new idea, Ironstream thought, 'Unless…'
The goblin smiled, composed a note to his favourite vault-holder and then went to talk with the Gringotts potion master about a test.
Harry Potter appeared at the Slytherin table again at supper that night. He smiled at everyone (scaring several Slytherin students) but only spoke to Victor Krum. The Bulgarian seeker shouted and rose to his feet. Potter handed over some item that Boris carried as he and Victor hurried from the Great Hall.
Headmaster Karkaroff was unable to catch the two young men before they disappeared and he demanded, "Potter, what did you give Boris? Where did they go?"
"Headmaster, I have Boris a smooth stone. I can't say where they went."
"Can't say? Or won't say?"
"They left the Great Hall. They might be loitering in the entry hall or gone seeking the Chamber of Secrets hopeful of finding another basilisk."
Karkaroff hissed and Potter replied, "When you make that sound, it is a dragon fart."
There were several smiles and faint laughter among the Slytherin and Durmstrang students. Karkaroff retreated to the head table to berate Dumbledore while Harry Potter returned to eat supper with his friends Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger.
There were more headlines in the Daily Prophet just eight days later – just before the Yule Ball at Hogwarts. Gringotts Bank announced the successful testing of the basilisk venom in the difficult and expensive potion to regrow missing limbs. There on the front page were two pictures of Victor Krum holding up the previous day's copy of the newspaper to establish the date of the photos. In the picture on the left, the stump where the dragon bit off his left arm is visible. On the right, the photo showed the lower arm and hand restored. Photos inside showed a progression of the new arm and hand growing in a short amount of time – only four hours while sitting in the potion's laboratory in Gringotts Bank.
The bank had free publicity of the power and strength of the basilisk parts to be offered for sale, and the famous seeker's Quidditch career had been saved.
~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE
YULE BALLThe preparations for the Yule Ball were underway with the champions being approached every day about who they would escort that evening. The Daily Prophet carried multiple articles listing different partners for each of the four champions and the odds of serious love stories resulting from the romantic dances that would occur that evening.
Harry avoided all the young ladies in Gryffindor (fear), Hufflepuff (loyalty to Cedric), and Slytherin (fear of the Heir of Slytherin). Cho Chang in Ravenclaw demanded all the girls in her dormitory keep their distance from Potter because 'her' boyfriend was the only true champion of Hogwarts. Of course, 'Loony Lovegood' had to annoy Chang and the rest of Ravenclaw by seeking out the Boy-Who-Cheated and asking him to be her date.
That evening in the common room, Ravenclaw attempted to show the girl why her choice was a mistake. To head off any problems for Luna, Potter had asked Professor Flitwick to watch out for his date. As a consequence of not believing his prefects and observing the common room thought a magic mirror, Flitwick witnessed the harassment before he appeared in the middle of the room with stinging hexes flying to make every student in fifth, sixth and seventh year rub their posteriors and beg for relief. The whole of Ravenclaw was in detention for the rest of the week, they had zero points, and when Potter sat with 'Loony' – uh – Miss Lovegood at their table, no one made comments or dared to look at the couple.
The night for the ball arrived and the students, visitors, reporters and photographers gathered in the Great Hall, waiting for the champions to arrive and begin the evening's festivities. When Professor McGonagall opened the doors of the Great Hall, everyone from Hogwarts applauded their champion, Cedric Diggory with his date, Cho Chang. Diggory was followed by Fleur Delacour.
The witch was escorted by a wizard she'd met while a patient at Sacred Heart in Paris where he worked as a healer.
Then almost everyone in the hall fell silent when Victor Krum walked into the hall with his boyfriend on his arm. The Quidditch devotees recognized as Boris Dobrev, the wizard who played blocker on the Bulgarian team with Victor. Magical Britain remained unusually prejudiced against same sex relationships in late 20th century magical societies and no one knew what to say.
When Harry Potter walked into the Great Hall with Luna Lovegood on his arm, no one commented.
Three champion couples had a pleasant evening – Victor and Boris enjoyed the meal, conversing with Fleur and her date who was very familiar with healing Quidditch injuries, and with Harry Potter and his date; Lovegood proved to be well-informed into the current development of new spells to allow muggle appliances to work in magical environments. The rest of the magical world wanted refrigerators, telly, and telephones in their homes.
The fourth couple, Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang did not have a good evening. Chang was vocal in her comments about the shame Victor Krum brought on the tournament, his school, his headmaster, and his name by bringing another wizard as his date! The witch's comments grew louder when she realized that Cedric was jealous – of Krum's date! In the middle of the second dance, Cho slapped Cedric's face and stomped out of the Great Hall. No one followed her out – her friends and minions in Ravenclaw were having an excellent time with bootleg spirits, dancing, and enjoying themselves.
Potter and Lovegood danced, talked with Neville Longbottom and his date, the lovely Hermione Granger, avoided a very inebriated Ronald Weasley, and did joke with Victor and Boris about backwards Magical Britain.
The next morning at breakfast, the Daily Prophet was about an hour late arriving and it was packed with photos of the Yule Ball on the front page and every page inside. Each champion and their date were profiled though Victor and Boris received the least amount of attention on page 6.
The students leaving for the holiday departed immediately after breakfast and Harry planned to spend the quiet holiday reading lots of books and attending meetings with his Vault-manager at Gringotts. The second morning after the ball, Harry sat almost alone at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast when an owl flew through the windows high in the Great Hall with a smoking howler that was dropped on Lord Black.
"YOU'RE A DISGRACE HARRY POTTER!" shouted the voice of his godfather, Sirius Black. "YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER WOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOU! HOW DARE YOU BEFRIEND A POOFTER! NO POTTER EVER BEFRIENDED AN INVERT! I FORBID YOU TO SPEAK TO THAT BENT WIZARD EVER AGAIN! TELL DUMBLEDORE TO THROW KRUMPLE-CAKE OUT OF THE CASTLE! TODAY!"
The burning letter floated to the tabletop where it was extinguished by a ward protecting the students seated at the table. Potter frowned but ignored the mutters from the other students and the staff. Dumbledore was strangely silent then and later.
Headmaster Karkaroff of Durmstrang was not silent about the howler. He protested the insults to the champion of his school and used his position as a judge in the Triwizard Tournament to bring forth questions about why this supposedly dangerous wizard was still free after more than a year loose in Great Britain.
His comments were reported accurately in the Daily Prophet and the other magical print news (and on the continent). He demanded to know, "Are the DMLE Aurors in Magical Britain still using the same spells their great-grandmothers used to change each other's nappies? How can you idiots call Sirius Black a Death Eater! He was never a Death Eater! And the whole of Europe knows Black never got a trial!"
There were many questions asked about why ex-Death Eater Karkaroff claimed that Sirius Black had never been a member of the terrorist group and prisoners in Azkaban were questioned using true potion. Minister Fudge attempted to quash any inquiries, but he was beaten down in the Wizengamot by many lords asking about the truth – did a presumptive lord get sent to Azkaban without questioning? And worse, without a trial?
Unable to hold back the questions and votes in the Wizengamot before the last day of the year, Grand Warlock Dumbledore noticed that a new block of votes – Potter-Black-Slytherin led enough light, dark and neutral seats to vote to exonerate Sirius Black of all suspicion and award him a fortune in Galleons for 12 years spent incarcerated illegally.
As far as anyone knew, there were no further communications between Harry Potter and Sirius Black. Dumbledore worked through Remus Lupin to locate Black who moved into a family property in London after the Kiss on Sight order was rescinded. Venturing into London, Dumbledore met with the two wizards in a dirty kitchen where Dumbledore depended on Hogwarts elves to deliver tea in a clean teapot with clean teacups and fresh lemon slices.
"Did you expel that poofter from Hogwarts, Dumbledore? Has my godson continued to be his 'friend'? I know that Krumble guy will force himself on Harry!"
Lupin assured Sirius that Harry was more than capable of defending himself from unwanted attentions, "Krum would lose that arm again!"
"And that's another thing! Why did Harry arrange for Krum to get his arm restored?" asked Black.
"What do you mean, Sirius?" asked Dumbledore.
Smirking, Sirius asked, "Don't you know, headmaster? It was Harry Potter who authorised Gringotts to use some of the basilisk venom – to test it for potency – by brewing the potion to regrow the lower arm and hand for Victor Nancy-Boy Krum!"
"He owes my godson 'anything' he wants! And fourteen-year-old boys only want one thing!"
Confused because he could not remember when he was a teenage boy more than 120 years in the past, Dumbledore blindly asked, "No, what do fourteen-year-old boys want?"
Sirius howled with laughter while Remus blushed before he leaned closer to Dumbledore and whispered, "Sex."
"No. Thank you, Remus but I'm not interested," Dumbledore replied instantly. This set off another round of laughter and shouting between Sirius, Albus and then Remus.
~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE
Second TaskWith hints from Luna Lovegood, Harry figured out the clue from the golden egg. Once he calmed down after realizing she would be his hostage held underneath the cold waters of Black Lake – in February – Harry waited until the end of supper to stand in front of the staff table and growl his objection that ANYONE else would be placed in danger for the entertainment of everyone.
"But it will be great task for everyone to watch!" Bagman argued when he heard the grumbling spreading through the Great Hall.
Potter sneered and replied, "The champions will dive into Black Lake and swim to the village where the mermen-people live, correct?"
"Uh…correct."
"The champions will release their hostage and then swim to the surface and then back to the shore where they will climb out of the freezing water."
"Yes, exactly!" declared Bagman as if Potter had described an exciting event.
"Boo! Boring!" reputed Potter raising his voice. "The spectators will sit in the freezing cold air beside Black Lake for an hour with NOTHING to see except four champions dive into the water and then eight heads bob up and down in the water while swimming back.
Harry turned to the students from all three schools and demanded to know, "Does anyone think that will be interesting or exciting?"
"No!" declared half of the voices at the tables.
"Imagine what the reporters and newspapers will write about the judges arranging for everyone to die of boredom while freezing to death," Potter asked with a disdainful tone. There were more comments that led to loud conversations around the Great Hall and interesting articles in the newspapers.
The morning of the Second Task, Harry prowled around the Great Hall – Luna was missing as was Victor's boyfriend Boris. But Cho Chang was seated at the Ravenclaw table and the healer from Sacred Heart was seen with the Beauxbatons students.
"Who is the hostage for Diggory? And for Delacour?" Harry asked Victor when they spoke after breakfast.
Victor frowned and said, "They both look very displeased, but they are not saying anything to others."
The four champions gathered at the shore where Harry stood in a muggle wet suit that would supplement warming charms to withstand the cold of the water. When the judges declared the task to be underway, the youngest champion stuffed some aquatic weed into his mouth and dove into the lake. Beside him, Cedric cast warming charms and the bubble head charm before diving into the water. Fleur followed Cedric's plan with warming charms and a bubblehead charm.
Victor's plan was different – he dove into the water in a skimpy bathing suit and once under the surface transfigured his entire body into a dolphin. After researching sharks, Victor decided to try for the full dolphin transformation. He would have to surface for air occasionally, but he would be faster and more in command of his mind as the mammal that lived in the oceans.
Harry paused for a moment while the Gillyweed became effective. He saw Delacour's bubble head charm fail repeatedly. The French witch was forced to turn back before she'd gotten ten metres from the dock where they'd dived into the water.
'Well, that's disappointing,' Potter thought as he found he could breathe in the water and began swimming for the village that lay along the northern side of the lake. When he arrived there, Victor and Cedric's hostages had already been released. Luna and a small girl who couldn't have been more than eight years old were still tied to the pillar of stone. Freeing Luna and the child, Harry began dragging them toward the surface without any interference from the mermen.
Both girls broke the surface of the water, freeing them from the enchantment that kept them safe under the water. The little girl apparently didn't understand English but thankfully, Luna spoke enough French to calm her as Harry drug them both back toward the shore. Arriving at the dock just as the Gillyweed wore off, Harry helped Luna and the small girl out of the water before he climbed the ladder to the dock. He immediately cast drying and warming spells on both witches and then himself.
Fleur Delacour took command of her sister and rushed the girl to the infirmary tent. As he escorted Luna toward the tent, Harry noticed Madame Olympe limped with terrible burns on one leg. Dumbledore's whiskers and eyebrows looked singed, and Bagman wore a borrow cape instead of his usual robes.
'So, Fleur didn't realise who her hostage was until she returned to the dock,' Harry decided. 'Hope they hurt for the rest of the day.'
Victor and Boris sat on a long bench with warming charms outside the infirmary tent. Potter sent Luna in while he stepped closer to Krum and asked, "All okay Victor? Did you see Diggory?"
"He was ahead of me and was headed back with his mother before I reached the pillars. But I didn't see them on the trip back to the dock."
"HARRY POTTER! GET AWAY FROM THAT POOFTER!" shouted Sirius Black, charging through the crowd with his wand displayed for everyone to see. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TALK TO HIM AGAIN!"
An Auror intercepted Sirius Black and prevented him from approaching any closer. Harry ignored the man – he'd heard nothing from Sirius when his name came out of the cauldron, or after the First Task. He'd only contacted Harry with loud objections to his friendship with Victor Krum.
After Luna came out of the tent, Harry was summoned inside to be checked by Madam Pomphrey while Fleur continued fussing over her young sister. Poppy released Harry after only a few minutes to turn her attention back to the child. Harry heard her say, "Send a Patronus to your Healer from Sacred Heart, Mademoiselle Delacour. Your sister's core has been cooled and she needs medical care at a hospital."
The large zebra Patronus flew from the tent and only moments later, Harry watched the healer run up and into the tent. A portkey was created, and very shortly thereafter, the wizard and sisters left Scotland, headed for Paris.
When the timed event ended, the judges prepared to award scores when Harry Potter asked, "Where's Cedric? Can anyone check on his progress?"
Turning from an interview with a reporter, Amos Diggory appeared to only then notice that his son and wife had not returned to the dock. The wizard began yelling and shouting for Aurors to jump into the lake, and for Dumbledore to cast spells. Aurors did fly over the lake on brooms and others ventured out in the little boats first year students used. Albus stated he could not interfere with the task though several persons reminded him the task was over.
Harry noticed that Luna was very quiet as she sighed. He didn't press her for information but slid his arm around her while they sat with Victor and Boris, waiting to hear about Cedric and his mother.
The news was slow in coming – another half hour passed before the Aurors returned to the dock. The ones on brooms landed and the most senior wizard approached Amos Diggory. As he shared news with the wizard, everyone saw the man collapse to the dock and wail with grief.
The Aurors in the boats approached the dock towing two bodies. Mrs Diggory and Cedric had been attacked, killed and bled dry of their blood by school of Grindylows, a small creature predator that travelled in packs. The Aurors believed the creatures overwhelmed the wizard and his unarmed mother under the water.
Aftermath of Second TaskIn the weeks following the second task, Hufflepuff mourned for Cedric Diggory. Professor Sprout spoke to Harry privately and apologised for her behaviour since Halloween. He thanked her for the apology but asked why she wouldn't apologise in public.
"Dumbledore ordered me not to say anything in the Great Hall," she replied. "He is worried that your emancipation and becoming a lord has made you aloof from your peers."
Shaking his head, Harry said, "Professor, isn't it the headmaster who tells people that is more important to do what is right rather than what is easy?"
Evaluating who was more important for the future – Albus Dumbledore or Harry Potter, the herbology professor girded her loins and sought the help of allies at the staff table.
That night, with support from Professor Flitwick, Hooch, and Sinistra, who placed shields around Pomona, the herbology professor stood up at the staffing table and publicly apologised to Harry Potter for the comments and inaction she'd taken after his name came out of the Goblet of Fire at Halloween. Professor Dumbledore was angry, but the Puffs united behind their head of house and over the next days, flights of owls arrived with supportive letters from the vigilant Hufflepuff Network that ran throughout Magical Britain.
When Fleur Delacour was present at Hogwarts for mandated meetings by the Triwizard Tournament judges, the witch remained aloof and unapproachable. She spoke only with her classmates and professors, never with anyone from Durmstrang or Hogwarts. The Veela-Witch never acknowledged any debt to Potter for saving the life of her younger sister.
When Harry discussed the witch's rudeness and aloof attitude with his two Gryffindor friends, Hermione reasoned that Delacour was embarrassed by her poor performance in the first two tasks. Neville added, "She was assured multiple times that her sister was never in any danger under the lake and so there is no debt."
"But Cedric and his mother both died when those Grindy-things attacked them," Harry argued. "Everyone in Black Lake was in danger that day."
"Unless you press for verification, there's nothing to it," Neville said.
Glancing at the Daily Prophet, Hermione asked, "Neville, what does this article mean about Mr Diggory vanishing? He mourned the death of his wife and son, and now he's disappeared."
Checking they were alone in the Common Room, Neville explained, "Amos Diggory didn't have extended family. He may have thought he was too old to marry again and spark another baby."
"Spark a baby?" asked Harry. "What's that mean?"
"Pureblood wizards can only father so many babies who will be magical. Witches too," Neville said. "After two or three, they only give spark squibs."
The Weasley twins walked through the Common Room just then and Neville quickly added, "Usually only two or three. In the Weasley clan, the men and women marry and usually have three or four children. No one expected Mr and Mrs Arthur Weasley to spark seven with magic."
Hermione restrained herself and said, "So, purebloods refer to conception as 'sparking a baby'."
"I don't know that word," Neville replied.
"It's the muggle term for sparking a baby," Harry said. Then he prompted, "Anyway, what about Amos Diggory disappearing?"
"When a wizard is tired of living or dying of an incurable illness, they will apparate away without a destination in mind. They never reappear."
"Suicide…he committed suicide," Hermione gasped. "How sad."
Three days later, Dobby slipped a letter from Gringotts for Lord Potter-Black into his wizard's hand at the Gryffindor table. Since his problems with his godfather were unresolved, Harry dreaded opening the letter but went ahead and opened it while eating breakfast. After reading the letter, Harry folded and deposited it into a special pocket in his robes – items placed inside the pocket could not be summoned by another wizard (Dumbledore). Then he rose and approached the staff table where he was ignored by Dumbledore and McGonagall.
Professor Sprout refused to meet the young lord's eyes – she mourned Cedric's death and had apologised but didn't desire additional conversation. Harry waited patiently as the tables of students fell silent, not wanting to miss any conversation between the headmaster and the Boy-Who-Lived.
"Lord Potter, how can we help you today?" asked Professor Flitwick.
"There is a matter of financial debts, and my presence is required to settle an estate at Gringotts," Harry said.
"Denied," Dumbledore declared without allowing Potter to complete the explanation.
Harry had the faintest smirk on his face when he asked, "Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, are you denying me the opportunity to assist Gringotts and the Ministry to settle an estate?"
"Your education is too important to interrupt for a business matter."
"Please, headmaster," Harry asked gently. "It would only require an hour of my day."
"No, Mr Potter. It is Wednesday, there is no reason for you to leave the castle today."
Harry turned to the other adults and asked, "Professors, will you confirm that Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has denied my request three times this morning?"
"Yes!" replied Flitwick immediately. The affirmation by the half-goblin was echoed by McGonagall, Sprout and the others. Harry bowed and returned to his place at the Gryffindor table.
"What was that all about?" asked McGonagall, peering around the headmaster to frown at the professor who taught charms.
Flitwick smirked and replied, "I imagine we will all see in the Daily Prophet tomorrow or the next day."
It was Friday morning before the Daily Prophet reported on the dissolution of the Diggory estate following the deaths of Cedric, his mother, and the death by Apparition without a target in mind (suicide), by Amos Diggory, the patriarch of the family.
The newspaper reported events accurately – following the goblin-certified death of Amos Diggory, Gringotts Bank froze all assets of the family. There were shares in several businesses in Magical Britain – potions, brooms, farms, and 5% of the shares in the Daily Prophet. Without any living blood relatives, the estate would be liquidated to settle all loans and debts. The primary debts owed were due to Lord Potter and Lord Black (who just happened to be one young wizard enrolled at Hogwarts).
Dumbledore felt smug for a moment when he read that he'd thwarted the Boy-Who-Lived from collecting more wealth. Then he read the next paragraph and felt ill. Per Mr Diggory's Last Will and Testament, he asked Lord Potter-Black to forgive the debt and allow the value of his estate be added to the Hogwarts vaults as a memorial for his wife and son who'd died in Black Lake.
'To fulfil Mr Diggory's request, Gringotts notified the young lord that his presence was required to forgive the debts and settle the estate. However, Headmaster Dumbledore refused to permit Lord Potter-Black to travel to Gringotts on Wednesday. Following Goblin law that the estate must be settled within 24 hours of the reading, the assets have not been moved to the Hogwarts vaults but have been used to settle the debts.'
While everyone around them at the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables listening, Hermione asked, "Harry, can I ask what this means?"
Carefully preparing his reply, Harry said in a calm voice, "Certainly, Miss Granger, I shall be glad to explain what it means. Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore refused permission for me to attend a meeting at Gringotts where my vault manager would ask if I wished to honour the request for the memorial for Cedric."
"And, since I denied was permission to be absent from Hogwarts for an hour, the Diggory estate was sold off to pay the debts."
Wanting to ask more but understanding that such a question in public was impossible and in private would still be rude in Magical Britain, Hermione Granger allowed the subject to die away.
At the staffing table, McGonagall was furious. "Amos Diggory owned fifty acres of prime farmland in Devon! Think of the food we could have raised for the school without having to pay muggles!"
Professor Hooch cried imagining the lost opportunity for new brooms for the students and Quidditch teams.
The headmaster dreaded the floo calls he would receive from the governors and the minister – that woman could screech as loud as Molly Weasley when she was angry. The loss of the estate would impact his requests for monies for next year.
Suddenly, Albus was inspired, and he thought, 'The Boy-Who-Lived is flush with cash – part of the estate went into his coffers for Potter or Black – he can make a donation to Hogwarts Vaults.'
Then the headmaster's mind leapt in another direction, 'And those fifty acres of land would make an appropriate dowry…gift to grant to Ginevra Weasley. I'll have to find a betrothal agreement and enforce it as the magical guardian…'
Albus deflated when he remembered he wasn't anyone's magical guardian any longer. There was no betrothal agreement and would never be one between Weasley and Potter – Potter-Black-Slytherin.
~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE
Staring at the MazeContinuing his boycott of almost every class at Hogwarts, Harry spent his days reading in the library and writing letters to noted wizards and witches in other nations about theories of different magics. After Bagman revealed the maze as the site of the third task, Harry (with Hermione's help) found historical information on the types of creatures used in such tests.
But then Neville commented, "Yeah, but they didn't have Hagrid breeding new creatures for them. Want to bet there'll be a Blast-Ended Skrewt in there? How about an oversized Acromantula Spider or three hanging around with their webs ready to catch you?"
This sent Harry on a mission to inform Fleur Delacour and Victor Krum about the creatures Hagrid could access and place in the maze. Delacour declined all communication, but Krum remained friendly after the second task and agreed to meet with Potter at the Quidditch Pitch.
Today, Harry played hooky from Transfiguration and Herbology classes, and met Victor Krum at the Quidditch pitch to stare at the maze of tall hedges that desecrated the pitch. They were seated in the stands and even with no one around, Harry still threw up a powerful Slytherin privacy spell to protect the conversation with the Durmstrang champion.
"Victor, I think we should work together in the maze. Our creature's professor breeds, captures and tames all types of dangerous animals. There will be Blast-Ended Skrewts and giant Acromantula Spiders, along with boggarts, sphinxes, and perhaps small dragons."
Victor frowned and said, "This tournament was advertised as increasing international cooperation. Perhaps you and I can show the rest of the magical world that we can work together?"
Grinning, Harry replied, "Yes! That's the idea! Now, if Delacour will just cooperate."
Shaking his head, Victor explained, "The young witch from France feels she must prove herself in this final task. She was defeated by the dragon and had to forfeit the second task. If you had not saved her sister, she would have embraced her creature side and burned the judges and their platform to ashes."
"That's not a bad idea," Harry opined with a serious expression on his face. The other champion laughed.
Then Victor said, "Potter, I will work with you but know this – I have no intention of putting myself in danger again. I lost my arm once and thought my Quidditch career was over."
"What do you plan to do?"
Leaning closer the wizard explained, "I have to participate for a set amount of time and make a true effort to make my way through the task. However, once the magically required amount of time and effort are met, I will concede the task to you and Delacour to complete."
"When I lost my hand, I didn't care if the tasks killed me. Then you arranged for me to get my life back," Victor said, holding up the new left hand that was a true replacement for the lost one. "I don't want to die or lose a leg in this last task. I want to return to the Quidditch circuit."
After glancing around again, the Bulgarian seeker added, "And I want out of this backwater country. Your mundane Britain is democratic and liberal, but this…this Magical Britain…is autocratic, full of bigots, and falling apart. I'd advise you to run as far away as possible as soon as possible. The ICW will step in before many years go by to prevent them violating the Statute of Secrecy."
~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE
Black and Malfoy Before Third TaskIn the months since the Second Task, Harry Potter maintained his calm exterior, kept all the adults at Hogwarts at arm's length, avoided the press with the help of his elf, and corresponded with Vault-manager Ironstream using Hedwig and (Dobby with the most important documents). He directed Ironstream to make investments in firms based in mundane Britain and other nations. There was great consternation within Gringotts when large chunks of gold departed for banks in the mundane world. But the monthly financial reports proved the muggles (mundanes) understood business. Other goblin vault managers began investigating investment opportunities in the mundane world.
Despite the best efforts by Albus Dumbledore to bring about a reconciliation between Sirius Black and his godson, there were no words of reconciliation between the two wizards. On a Hogsmeade weekend, Sirius Black appeared in the village and harassed several students he thought could tell him where his godson was hiding.
Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger defended themselves well and held off Black until Professor Flitwick arrived from the centre of the village to blast Sirius against a wall.
"Mr Longbottom and Miss Granger, are you well?"
"Yes, professor, thank you."
"We've had enough extra lessons with Harry to be able to defend ourselves," Hermione replied. "We didn't want to hurt the man."
Listening from the side lines, Draco Malfoy scoffed and said, "Who would ever think that a mudblood could hurt someone from the Black family!"
"Draco Malfoy, are you causing problems with my friends?" asked Harry, who appeared behind everyone with a loud pop. The young wizard wore the crests of his three lordships on the breast of his outer robes. "You're interrupting a business meeting at Gringotts!"
"What is the problem…" Harry asked before he saw Sirius rising from the ground. He asked, "Sirius Black, what are you doing in Hogsmeade?"
"You worthless son of a mudblood bitch!" Sirius cursed. "Dumbledore said you'd be here, and I should talk some sense into you. You're too young to become head of the Black family.
Harry frowned and wondered why Dumbledore chose this as the time to involve Sirius in the headmaster's thus far fruitless attempts to curb Harry's growing independence.
"Head of the Black family?" cried Draco Malfoy. "No! Scarhead can't be…he's practically a mudblood himself!"
Malfoy's mouth was large and loud; his declaration attracted the attention of every person not already listening to the conversation.
Harry frowned and his magic flared outwards, making everyone flinch. Unfortunately, Draco and Sirius reacted by drawing their wands and firing hexes at Harry Potter. The Potter family magics provided a shield around Lord Potter to protect him from these spells. The Black family magics reflected the hexes away from the lord and back onto the wizard who cast the spell. And the Slytherin family magics magnified the spells to be five times more powerful.
Sirius was once again thrown back against the wall of a building and this time he lay there. Draco was more fortunate – his spell hit him and knocked him ass-over-tea-kettle for three full loops before he landed in a crowd of Slytherin and Ravenclaw students gathered to watch the fun.
Flitwick hurried to determine if any student was injured – only Draco required a trip to the infirmary. Sirius needed to be healed from a concussion and several broken bones. An invisible elf popped the unconscious wizard away to Saint Mungo's while Harry determined that Neville and Hermione were unharmed. Harry thanked Professor Flitwick for his timely intervention. Once Neville escorted Hermione away, Harry asked a favour of Flitwick.
"Professor would you ask the healer in the infirmary to confine Draco to the infirmary until such time as I can speak to him?"
Flitwick's eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead but agreed to make the request. "I can't guarantee the healer will keep him there. Madam Pomphrey kowtows to the purebloods."
"A confrontation in the Great Hall in front of the entire school will have to do then," Harry said before he popped away, returning to the meeting at Gringotts.
Appearing at the intake desk in Casualty at Saint Mungo's, Harry Potter strode forward and politely asked to visit his godfather, Sirius Black. The young witch frowned at first – the teenager was well known in Magical Britain.
"Aren't you supposed to be at school?"
Harry smiled and allowed his three lordship rings to appear on his hand he laid on the desk. He said, "It is a matter of family magic that Lord Black speak to Sirius Black, a wayward member of his family, immediately."
Confused and unsure what to do, the apprentice healer sent for a full-fledged healer. The man barrelled out of the doors, fussed at the girl and the Boy-Who-Lived until he noticed the rings – Potter, Black, and Slytherin.
"Lord…Lord Black, allow me to escort you to your…to Sirius Black."
Harry followed the man after thanking the young witch who remained agitated for the remainder of her shift. Inside the casualty department, Harry was led to a set of screens that confined Sirius Black to a hospital bed and muffled all voices inside and outside.
Awake and unhappy, Sirius growled when he saw his godson walk into the 'room.' He frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Sirius Black, son of Orion Black, do you wish to be freed of all obligations and mandates of behaviour required by Lord Black?"
"What? What are you going on about, mudblood?"
Making a fist and revealing to Sirius that he wore the lordship ring, Harry asked again, "Sirius Black, son of Orion Black, do you wish to be freed of all obligations and mandates of behaviour required by Lord Black?
Furious, Sirius shouted, "How the bloody Merlin did you steal the lordship ring? Who made you Lord Black?"
Before Harry could ask the question for a third time, Sirius replied, "Yes, by Dumbledore's long beard, I want to be free of obligations and mandates to the damned Black family!"
Harry nodded, raised his hand without his wand and declared, "Sirius Orion Black, born son of Orion Polaris Black, by thine own choice, thou are cast out of the family known as Black. The family magics are gone. The name Black is gone."
There was a swirl of magic in the air over the hospital bed, and Sirius NoName fell back, a light groan escaping from his lips.
"Farewell, Sirius NoName. Access to any Black family properties is denied to you. The personal vault at Gringotts remains yours, but the Vault-manager for the Black family will not serve you again."
Harry turned to leave, paused while considering if he should say more, and decided to depart without additional words. In his bed, Sirius NoName realized his mind was clearer – the Black family madness was gone from his mind and magical core.
'Merlin…I failed completely as godfather for Harry. James will curse me when I pass over to the other side,' he realized. Then he shivered imaging what Lily Potter (nee Evans) would say and do to him.
Harry returned to Hogsmeade using the floo at Saint Mungo's and arrived in the taproom at Three Broomsticks. He was greeted politely by the witch who ran the tavern but was ignored by the few Hogwarts students still in the tavern. He paused for a moment, debating having a butterbeer and thinking about what had just happened at Saint Mungo's.
'No, I've lost Sirius and won't dwell on it. He's an idiot!'
Making his way outside, Harry found one of the carriages waiting for passengers to make the trip back to the castle. It was late on Saturday – almost supper time and the young lord climbed into the carriage. Seeing others holding back as if afraid of him, Harry growled at the students, "Get in. You'll be standing here at curfew waiting if you don't get on board."
During the ride back to Hogwarts, a fifth year Ravenclaw asked about Parseltongue, and a fifth year Slytherin asked if Lord Slytherin knew anything about the language helping with healing spells. That sparked a conversation about the wizard Hippocrates who began the study of healing in ancient times. Harry promised the witch he'd loan her a copy of a book on healing spells he'd found in the Slytherin vault.
"Is it in Parseltongue?"
"No, but it is in Olde English, so you'll have to translate the sentences into modern English to really understand them."
"I'll do it!" the young witch stated firmly.
Entering the Great Hall with the other students for the evening meal, Harry was disgruntled to see Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy in conversation with Headmaster Dumbledore near the door. Draco stood at his father's side and sneered at Harry.
"Father!" Draco declared. "Potter is here! Deal with the mudblood!"
Harry didn't bother to look toward the headmaster for any support or even the man's usual suggestion of 'Let's move this conversation to my office.' His wand slipping into his hand from the wrist holder, Harry stepped forward and said, "Hogwarts witness and judge my actions."
Lucius smirked and said, "What's this I hear about an assault on my son in Hogsmeade this afternoon? You cast spells at him that sent him to the infirmary."
Not so!" declared Professor Flitwick. "I was there and can testify that Mr Potter didn't cast any spells on Mr Malfoy.
Mrs Malfoy frowned at her husband and son before she asked, "Professor, what do you recall of this afternoon's events?"
The powerful duelling champion recalled seeing two Hogwarts students being accosted by Sirius Black. "They defended themselves well…"
"Of course," Dumbledore said, proudly.
Flitwick continued, "And denied knowing the current location of Mr Potter. Sirius Black was searching for his godson. I was forced to take action and blasted Black against a wall. Then Mr Potter appeared on the street."
"How did my son become involved?"
"Mr Black rose from the street and verbally cursed Mr Potter. He admitted that the headmaster sent him to Hogsmeade to talk with Potter about being the head of the Black family."
Flitwick kept his eyes on Dumbledore and Mr Malfoy while Potter kept his eyes on Draco, Narcissa, and Lucius. The professor continued, "Young Malfoy decried the notion of Mr Potter's suitability to be the head of the family. And Malfoy and Black drew their wands and fired spells toward Mr Potter."
Flitwick gave his full attention to Dumbledore when he continued, "Nothing touched Mr Potter. Every spell the two wizards cast at him reflected and hit the wizard who cast them."
"Surely not," Dumbledore protested, but then admitted that Professor Flitwick wouldn't lie about such a thing.
"How do you have magic that can reflect spells cast at you – boy?" Lucius demanded to know. "The DMLE will come and arrest you when I call them! You cannot attack my son and the presumptive Lord Black in public and not be punished!"
Harry asked, "Is it against the law to throw spells at a 'presumptive lord' as you described Sirius?"
Dumbledore replied, "It isn't against the law but it is very poor judgement to do such. The family magics will protect…"
Narcissa gasped aloud and said, "Lucius, do nothing! Say nothing!"
The wizard turned to his wife who was pale and fearful while watching Potter. Draco frowned and muttered about mudbloods running amuck.
"Lady Narcissa, I believe you have an idea what this means," Harry said. "Perhaps you can explain to Mr Malfoy what it means."
"Refer to my father as Lord Malfoy, Scarhead!" demanded Draco.
Narcissa's wand was in her hand as spells flew through the air to silence and petrify her son where he stood. Before she could do more, Harry explained to Draco an important fact of life. "Draco, your father, Mr Lucius Malfoy is head of the minor family, Malfoy and he is a vassal of Lord Black. His marriage to Lady Narcissa Black raised his standing in Magical Britain but did not make him a Lord. When Sirius Black was imprisoned in 1981, your father placed himself as proxy for the Black family seats in the Wizengamot and began referring to himself as 'Lord Malfoy.' Isn't that correct, Grand Warlock Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore?"
For some reason, the headmaster admitted the truth in Potter's statement. "It was politically expedient to allow Lucius to take on the mantle of Lord Malfoy."
"Because he voted to allow you and your cronies – allies – to take the proxies for the Potter seats," Potter continued. "But since November last, neither of you have been able to vote as proxies for those seats, have you?"
Lucius sputtered, "What did you do? Have the goblins interfered?"
Harry lifted his left hand, formed a fist and revealed his rings. A disruptive house elf snickered as he made the crest of all three families appear on the young wizard's robes – on the breast and across the back so that everyone in the Great Hall could see.
"Holy Merlin!" cried several Gryffindor students, fearful that a three-time lord slept in their dormitory. The four Weasleys began thinking about home study next year. Hermione and Neville frowned – how did their classmates think that emblems on his robes or rings on his fingers made Harry Potter different? He'd been a lord since November and except for the incident in the common room that left the Weasleys jumbled and floating in the air, he'd never turned his powers against them.
"Why are they surprised?" Hermione asked Neville. "He wore those emblems at the First Task, the Ball and the Second Task."
Longbottom explained, "He's revealed that he is the lord of those houses – has been since November."
The fourth year Gryffindor wizard smiled and continued, "That's why my grandmother smiled so much at Yule and during the spring break. Harry must have put proxies into his seats in the Wizengamot. They aren't voting how Malfoy or Dumbledore want since November."
The students in Slytherin were divided – several were terrified remembering their past interactions with this Lord Slytherin. Others felt hope that their house could emerge from the image of snobs and pureblood terrorists, and return to their true values of cunning, subtly, and planning.
Everyone in the Great Hall watched as Narcissa Malfoy performed a perfect curtsey and said, "Greetings Lord Black, how can this daughter of your house serve you this day?"
"Narcissa! No!" declared Lucius when his wife acknowledged the boy as her head of house. He fired a spell at his wife but for some reason it reflected on the wizard.
Lucius had mastered a stinging hex that included a long-lasting pain for his wife – she would ache for hours after the sting faded away. Now, the spell returned to strike Mr Malfoy and was magnified by a factor of ten. The sting and pain were such that Lucius was forced to sit at the end of the Ravenclaw table.
"A pain potion, Dumbledore," begged Lucius less than ten seconds later. At the headmaster's command, an elf provided the pain potion but Lucius was unable to hold onto the bottle. The elf was summoned back to climb on the table and feed the potion to Lucius Malfoy.
Dumbledore used his funny wand to cancel the spells on Draco. "Young Draco, come comfort your father. He is in considerable pain."
But Draco ignored the headmaster and his father who panted from a throbbing pain. The students had moved away from the wizard and Lucius realized that no one would offer him comfort or relief.
Narcissa stepped toward her son and said, "Draco, you must do and say nothing! Lord Black is head of our house, and you cannot attack him."
"No! I'm heir to the Black family! Father told me that I would be Lord Black after the wild man Sirius Black died," Draco shouted. Several Slytherins wondered again how Draco Malfoy had ever been sorted into their house.
"Draconis Lucius Malfoy, born son of Narcissa Lois Malfoy (nee Black), you will be silent until I allow you to speak again!" declared Harry Potter, Lord Black.
Trying to speak, Draco found he could not but frowned and thrust his wand forward to cast power at the Boy-Who-Lived. However, before any magical power could fly from the end of Draco's wand, the stick turned to dust and his hand was struck with a stinging hex.
Finally, Dumbledore attempted to intervene and said, "Harry, that's enough."
Flitwick snarled and interrupted the headmaster, "Albus! Refer to this wizard as Lord Potter or Lord Black or Mr Potter. You never should act familiar with a student!"
"Filius, you cannot…"
"Headmaster Dumbledore, refer to Lord Black as Mr Potter or Lord Black! I take offense to your behaviour with the students and shall report it truthfully to the ladies of the Wizengamot this afternoon!" declared Lady Narcissa.
"This is enough of a show before dinner, don't you think," Harry said. "Lady Narcissa, I would appreciate your escorting Mr Malfoy and young Draco for the night to rest and think about their way forward," Harry said. Very quickly, Narcissa escorted Draco and an invisible but helpful elf (Dobby) levitated Lucius out of the Great Hall.
Dumbledore frowned, whirled around and stomped back to the head table. Filius asked, "Mr Potter, would you care to sit with me here at the Ravenclaw table for supper? We can discuss the charms that reflect spells back to the caster if you like."
~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE
The MazeHarry and Victor work together. Fleur uses her transformed figure to burn her way through the hedges and creatures. Boggart flees from Veela, Sphinx fights and then leaps over hedge on top of Blasted End Skewt – she flings it out of maze and into the judge's platform where it sets Ludovic Bagman, Albus Dumbledore, and Igor Karkaroff on fire. Headmistress Olympe Maxime levitated the creature off the platform and back into the maze where none of the champions waited.
The pair of Potter and Krum were moving forward in the maze when a chime sounded.
"That's the signal that my time and efforts have met the requirements for the task, Harry," Victor said. "This is where I leave you."
Nodding his head to acknowledge his friend's plan, Harry shakes the other seeker's hand. Victor continued, "I wouldn't have made it this far with only a single hand fighting by myself, so I'm in your debt again. And I don't think you'll have problems."
"What will you do now?" asked Harry.
"Go back to playing Quidditch full time," Victor replied. "With my hand restored by your venom, I'm saleable and photo worthy again."
The Bulgarian champion lifted his wand and cast sparks into the air. Professor McGonagall appeared and apparated Krum out of the mase. Leaving Victor Krum behind, Harry ran along the path ahead of him and discovered the next obstacle was a sphinx. The female creature grinned and began a battle of riddles with the Boy-Who-Lived.
Without too much difficulty (due in part to studying with Hermione Granger), Harry was allowed to pass through the maze. Off to Harry's left, he heard an explosion as Fleur Delacour threw fireballs directly into the maw of a charging Blasted-end Skrewt. The creature threw flames around the maze, setting fire to more and more of the shrubberies.
Harry turned a corner and found himself facing two giant spiders. But the Acromantulas were desperate to escape the spreading flames – they leapt against the warded shrubbery without much success. To aid the creatures, Harry cast a Finite Incantatem Maximus with his enhanced wand at the walls that were not on fire. This broke the ward and the spiders climbed away, to flee back to the nest deep in the Forbidden Forest.
No one stood between the young wizard and the Champions Cup that was set on a simple pedestal. Harry ran forward to grab the trophy, win the tournament, and escape the growing fire.
When his hands touched the trophy, he was pulled into a portkey whirling magic. The remaining hedges dropped away, freeing the creatures that had been held inside the hedges by powerful wards. The Aurors, professors, and visitors were busy dealing with the Skrewts, boggarts, sphinx and a few large lizards. In the bruhaha of managing the creatures, no one noticed that Harry Potter had not appeared on the judges' platform in the fifteen minutes since he'd grabbed the trophy.
~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE