~~~***~~~ CHANGE SCENE

Second Task

With 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 Task

In 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 Maze

Continuing 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 Task

In 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 Maze

Harry 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