The Serpent of Durmstrang

Chapter Fourteen

The weeks following Sirius' discharge from the hospital had been a whirlwind for Harry. While his training had been taken to a whole new level by Professor Gregorovitch, the weight of the tournament was still on his shoulders. However, it felt lighter, eclipsed by the prophecy.

Sitting by his lonesome on the shores of the lake gave Harry a moment of peace. His thoughts churning at the consequences of the prophecy that pertained to him as the one to defeat Voldemort. He frowned and closed his eyes. January had almost passed, and the Second Task was at-hand, yet he couldn't find it in himself to focus on the tournament. He watched the Black Lake, knowing that somewhere down there was a Merfolk settlement. Somewhere down there was where someone close to him would be held hostage for him to rescue.

A breeze blew through the trees, masking the footsteps of someone approaching. Lost in thought, Harry did not even notice until a hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing ever so slightly.

Harry looked up, "Fleur."

Fleur smiled, her blonde hair swaying to the tempo of the breeze. Harry could not help but return the gesture, his face cracking into a grin as he admired the Veela. Flawless, even with the wind making a mess of her hair.

"Harry, have you been sleeping well?" Fleur noticed the growing bags under his eyes, darkening every single day. It had been a few days since they had been able to find time for themselves. Every single waking moment was devoted to the Second Task, and even Fleur was feeling the effects of the stress.

Harry sighed, a slight frown returning. He shifted a little to the left, giving enough space on the rock outcrop for Fleur, which she gladly took.

"Not really."

"You'll do great in the Second Task. You should get some rest, it'll definitely help!"

Harry did not have the heart to tell her about the prophecy, nor was he sure if it was the best choice. The smaller the circle, the better. Especially since Voldemort would stop at nothing to finally hear the full prophecy. It would be even harder now that Harry smashed the prophecy orb, making the information known only to a select few.

The price, however, was that he could not share the information with anybody, not to his friends, and certainly not to Fleur. It would be putting them in more danger than just being close to him. The fear of losing those he loved the most, those he cherished, gripped at his heart every night. There were dreams that he dreamed, ones that he would have loved to just forget, but couldn't. And every single time one of those popped up, he would sleep even less. The product can be seen, and his haggard form was not something that he could hide any longer. His friends had noticed. Fleur had noticed. Everyone else was starting to notice.

Harry Potter was looking like a shell of his former self.

A sigh escaped his lips, before the boy-who-lived turned away and towards the lake. His eyes were now closed, as though in deep thought. Fleur would catch on, and make no comment as she enjoyed the little time they get to spend together. She herself had been losing sleep each passing day. As a Veela, being enclosed within the element that was essentially her weakness was daunting. The only saving grace was the fact that she was quarter-blood, lessening the effects of long-term water exposure. But the threat is still there.

It would not be the first time for Harry and Fleur to share the same thought. The dream of not having to face these challenges, of just being in love and following around like they should be. Love struck, foolish, yet free.

"It will get better, won't it?" Harry asked, his eyes still closed as he found himself basking in the warring scent of the lake and Fleur's own perfume. "These days. These times. It will pass." It was said in an almost pleading tone, and Fleur caught onto it. What she did not know was the fact that Harry was speaking of more than just the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

She held his hand, tightly as though trying to convey her feelings and reassurances through touch. "Of course it will. It will be over, sooner rather than later." Pausing for a moment, she let a small smile creep onto her lips as she continued with a small grin. "It would be over faster if we both concede and let Cedric win. Or you both can concede and let me win." It was said with an implied shrug of contempt, and Harry found himself chuckling soon after.

"You wish."

Fleur burst out laughing at that point, followed by Harry's own. They stared at each other for a brief second, before sharing a chaste kiss. A sweet gesture, but something Harry never knew he needed.

"What have you been working on, if you don't mind me asking."

"Are you trying to size up your competition, Mister Potter?"

"One could say that I'm trying to help out my girlfriend, Miss Delacour."

Fleur gave a comical 'hmm', before flicking her wand from its holster. At this point, there was little competition between any of the champions. Fleur and Harry were basically tied to the hip whenever they were together, and Cedric had become fast friends with his two competition. The Tri-Wizard Tournament had done its job of inter-school unity, at the very least. Of course, each of the champions knew that they still needed to do their best during the task, but there was an unspoken agreement between all of them, one that placed their safety above all else.

Harry would watch as Fleur placed the tip of her wand over her head, before casting a charm that seemed to encase it with a bubble. He knew of the spell, and nodded his head at the simplicity of the plan. It worked well enough, and with Fleur's aptitude with Charms, Harry understood that utilizing the Bubblehead Charm was working with her strength. With Fleur's proficiency, her charm will most likely be one of the most robust of its kind, and would be hard to pop or dispel.

"Simple. Effective. I like it."

The spell was undone with a pop, with its caster nodding. "Madame Maxime thought it best that I should use my strengths. The Bubblehead Charm should suffice." Fleur knew that she probably should think of more strategies. The Bubblehead Charm was something she was very proficient with, especially after having tested it multiple times against her Headmistresses' piercing spells. It held, for the most part.

"Have you thought of a way to move around underwater?"

"...Well…"

Harry's heart sank for a moment. It seems that Fleur fell into a pitfall that most would. Underwater meant that one would need to find a way to breathe, but most don't consider the fact that they needed to move as well.

There was a pregnant pause, with Harry's mind already going a mile a minute trying to figure out a way for his girlfriend to possibly move around the open water. Unlike Harry's own plan, she would be handicapped. Fleur's own expression mimic'd Harry's as they both found themselves stumped.

Out of nowhere, Fleur smirked as she pointed her wand towards the open lake and said clearly, "Aguamenti."

A jet of water poured from her wand, splashing onto the surface of the lake. It created ripples that disturbed the once serene waters, and now reflected Harry's broken grin. "You're brilliant!" He would flick his own wand onto his palm, and raise it against the space directly above the lake. "Bombarda."

The Exploding Charm. The use of the spell was mostly against specified targets. In this case, Fleur understood that she can target anywhere behind her, and use the force to propel herself forward. The water of the lake was a large target after all.

"That one might just do it, Mister Potter." Fleur winked, before raising her wand and casting the Exploding Charm as well. The large resounding 'boom' echoed around the lake, scaring some of the birds from their perch. "Though I'm concerned…" Pausing for a moment, Fleur stared into the black abyss that was the Black Lake. "The sound is a bit loud. Even underwater, it might attract attention. Unwanted ones more than anything."

That was the conundrum. The Aguamenti Charm was the more inconspicuous spell to use, especially underwater where Fleur knew that she was disadvantaged. All manners of magical creatures thrived under the serene waves of the lake, and most of them would not take kindly to being disturbed. Both Harry and Fleur understood that there must be dangers underneath the Black Lake that they would be pitted against. Just like the dragons, it would test both their skill and their resolve. It would also test their mettle, their determination to win eternal glory, prestige for their respective schools, and the prize money.

"Aguamenti, then if needed, Bombarda." Harry followed her own conclusion, understanding her point. His own plan was also potentially dangerous, though it was possibly the best he had. "As long as you're careful, and not attract too much attention, you should be fine." It was a hopeful thought, and both of them knew that the potential for their plans to go sour was quite high. The Tri-Wizard Tournament was not decommissioned without reason, after all.

"What about you? What's your plan?" Fleur asked, very curious about Harry's own strategy. She half-expected it to be something grand, just like his last performance against the dragon. The memory of the large snake-golem was etched in the memories of those who were present that day. The roar of the Hungarian Horntail as it thrashed against the transfigured snake had been terrifying and amazing at the same time. Harry Potter had made a name for himself that day, something that was finally not tied to his boy-who-lived moniker.

A smirk immediately replaced the thoughtful frown as Harry turned to Fleur. There was mirth in his eyes, almost eclipsing the dark eyebags. He gave a slight pause, as if building suspense, before replying simply, "That's a secret."

Fleur feigned shock, before pouting, "I showed you mine, so you must show me yours!"

"Do I?"

"Uh-huh!"

"And what if I don't? Hm?"

"Then you must face the consequences!"

Fleur turned her wand towards Harry and sent a Cheering Charm without nary a second thought. Harry was hit dead on, and started to uncontrollably giggle. This caused Fleur to slowly smile, and then laugh alongside her boyfriend. This lasted for merely a few seconds, before Harry raised his wand and cast Finite on himself.

"Oh, this means war, love." Harry twirled his wand in mock-menace, "Three…"

Fleur needed no other warning, already sprinting away from Harry. Her laugh echoed throughout their general surroundings, coupled with Harry's own as he started to chase her wand in hand.

With a turn, and a spell, Fleur quickly turned the surroundings to her advantage. Grass, roots, and fallen leaves were charmed to grow exponentially, hindering Harry as he found himself dodging the slowly growing vegetation. Only his chaser reflexes saved him from any scrape, as he pointed his wand at a branch still filled with leaves just above Fleur. A second later, a handful of butterflies started to chase after the quarter-Veela, making her laugh loudly as she did her best to get them off her hair.

In retaliation, Fleur sent two spells towards Harry. The first was a tripping charm, and the other a cushioning one. Harry turned his body just in time for the spell to whiz past his chest area, only to trip against an enlarged root. Expecting to hit the ground with a thud, he found himself levitating instead.

"Are you alright, mon cheri?"

Harry looked up from his position, a pout on his face.

"Oh don't give me that look." Fleur responded, sticking her tongue out at him. "It was your fault you underestimated this Charms Mistress." She said in a haughty fashion, before cracking into a smile. This was the first time she had won their engagements, and she wanted to believe that she was improving with each passing day. Her charms were becoming more sophisticated, more refined. Training with Madame Maxime was paying off.

Fleur leaned in close, and without a pause, stole a quick kiss from Harry before letting go of her cushioning spell. Harry fell with a slight thud and a groan.

"You could have been nicer, you know."

"I don't remember you being so nice when I lost."

Harry chuckled. Instead of getting up, he rolled onto his back and placed his hand behind his head. He stared up into the canopy. The light poured through in streams, illuminating the forest floor in an almost ethereal glow. It was a mesmerizing sight, a comfortable one that Harry could stare at for a very long time. The sound of the birds chirping and the nearby waves from the lake only amplified the ambience. Harry could stay like this forever. Away from everything.

In a moment, Harry felt someone lie down beside him. He glanced at Fleur, who was also basking in the moment. Her hand was to her side, and Harry felt the need to capture it with his own. Hand-in-hand, they shared the peaceful moment. A brief reprieve from their lives.

"What are your plans after school?"

Fleur shifted, her gaze now on Harry as she pursed her lips in thought. The question had always been somewhere at the back of her head. Her parents wanted her to follow in her father's footsteps. A political man in high standing, the Delacour patriarch would want someone from the family to rise up and take the mantle. Fleur felt a shiver run down her spine as she thought of the viper's nest that was the French Ministry. She had only visited sporadically, but every single time was worse than the last.

"At the moment, it's likely that I'll follow Madame Maxime with an apprenticeship." She would respond, her face serene as she visualized her life as a Charms Mistress. "But my parents…" Fleur let that one hang, unwilling to continue. Her expression turned somewhat, soured if Harry was right. "How about you? Wait, let me guess, Transfiguration Mastery?"

Harry chuckled, "Why yes, how did you ever figure that one out, hm?"

"You should know by now that I know everything." Fleur brought her other hand up and wiggled her finger. "Everything, Mister Potter. You cannot hide anything from me."

"I thought you were a budding Charms Mistress. Are you sure you're not a Seer instead?"

Fleur was about to retort when hushed whispers suddenly invaded their space. They were inaudible, but Harry and Fleur could distinctly hear both the hushed tirade and the heavy footfalls. Curious, the both of them got up in a sitting position to see who their visitors were.

It seems that they were not the only ones to have found out that they weren't alone. The figures, one of them being Cadmus Carrow, were sneering at them. The Carrow heir's face looked more hideous, yet his eyes held a vicious glint. Harry noticed it immediately, equating them to those he saw during the attack on the World Cup. There was hatred in them, directed towards him in particular. The ones with him were all from Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy was one, a seventh year that seemed to hold the most influence in his house. There was a female, shortest of them all, whose most prominent facial feature was an upturned nose. The other two males were almost identical in shape, stocky with a dumbfounded expression plastered on their face. All-in-all, they all looked to be unusual bedfellows, yet Harry could easily guess what brought them together.

"Potter." Cadmus started, but stayed his place, "You know, we are running a pool on just how fast you'd die in the next task." The two large boy behind the Malfoy scions snorted in amusement at that. "Malfoy here thinks you'll last five minutes. Me? I think you'll last less than one."

Fleur's anger bubbled to the surface. The sight of these men reminded her of the attack during the World Cup. Instead of fear, she felt rage. She had almost bit back with a scathing remark when Harry himself laughed.

"Truly, Cadmus. Do you ever learn?"

"Whaddya mean, Potter?"

"I mean, do you really think I'd go dying now? If a dragon couldn't do me in, what else do you think can?" Harry grinned at the sputtering form of Cadmus, before he pressed on. "Besides, the Goblet chose me, didn't it? That just proves me a better wizard than you."

That hammered the point through, and Cadmus' eyes immediately flashed red. His hand was reached towards his robes before the Malfoy scion placed a hand on Cadmus' arm. Quick whispers were traded, before Cadmus let his hand fall to his side.

"One of these days, Potter, you'll wish you didn't survive that night. Oh mark my words." His grin was almost maniacal, "You and those friends of yours won't see the end of the year." Cadmus turned away then, before Harry could retort, and made quick pace back towards the direction of the castle.

Harry and Fleur watched their retreating forms. Harry let out a breath that he didn't know he had been holding when the group finally was out of sight. Fleur squeezed his hand in support.

"Who were those?"

"People you should never associate with." Harry shook his head. "Sons and daughters of those who supported the last Dark Lord." Purists, and those who took advantage of the chaos, there were many families who escaped judgement. Coin ruled the Ministry no matter who was in-charge.

Fleur nodded. She understood why Harry responded the way he did. All of her time with Harry had been either just the two of them alone, or with either of the friend groups. She had seen Harry smile, laugh, and be the easy-going young man that she was very taken with. This was possibly the first time she had seen him be vicious with words, not in the joking manner that he had with his friends. After all, those were the children of Death Eaters, as they called themselves. And like their parents, this next generation did not seem to have turned a new leaf.

"Well, let's leave them be."

Harry paused, hsi face slowly turning into a smile as he laid back back and pulling Fleur with him. "Yes, the last bit of fun we'll have before we need to go back, hm?"

They spoke for a few moments, before Harry found himself yawning. Closing his eyes to rest, he soon found himself drifting to sleep. Fleur only watched him with a soft smile. The young man she was still holding hands with seemed to be carrying a burden too heavy for one their age. Fleur wanted to ask him, wanted to know what was wrong, and if she could help him carry some of it. But every time she was close to asking, Harry would slink away and change the subject.

Sighing, Fleur closed her eyes as well. One day she might be able to learn more about Harry, and whatever he seemed to be hiding from her. But for now, she would enjoy their time together.

With that thought, she also found herself slowly drifting to sleep. One that she knew she needed.