Disclaimer: I don't own HP, I only own Evan and Iris.

Read, enjoy and review!

Published 17-2-2024

Chapter Twelve

The Weighing of the Wands

Any traces of a good mood were wiped away by the constant stares and whispers following Aludra that day, and the days following. It gave her new sympathy for Evan. How did he deal with this every day?

Everyone knew that she hadn't put her name in, but some from the other Houses were still resentful that 'a Gryffindor was again stealing the attention', while others stubbornly claimed that the Blacks had used Dark Magic to get Aludra's name put in the Goblet and for her to subvert the Oath (*cough, Ron, Zacharias Smith, cough*). And everyone knew, after someone overheard Professor Slughorn being interrogated, and from the Daily Prophet headlines, that this was being investigated as attempted murder. Several people came up to ask her why someone wanted to kill her, or other stupid questions, and were chased off by Susan's acid tongue, among other things (*cough, Fred and George, cough*). Her friends had surrounded her, and she was never alone, with Neville shaming anyone who so much as looked at her, Susan and the twins pranking anyone who seemed even vaguely rude about the whole thing and Evan reaching for his wand whenever Malfoy opened his mouth (he'd earned himself five detentions in three days due to that habit, and told Aludra she was worth every minute of scrubbing floors. It almost made her want to tell him the truth. Almost.).

Meanwhile, Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman were being torn apart gleefully by Rita Skeeter, who was heavily emphasizing Aludra's young age and the lack of security by the departments responsible for the Tournament that caused the whole disaster. As it turned out, the Goblet had been left unattended for large stretches of time while it was being kept in the Ministry, and Sirius' investigation showed that that was when it was Confunded, by someone who's magical signature had been hidden with what seemed like Family Magic.

Aludra received her family's Grimoire from her father when he came in to help with interrogating the professors on the 2nd, which she studied in secret at night with her bed hangings closed. Studying it wasn't really helping her figure out what to do for the First Task, as it was mostly spells and potions for subduing wixen or muggles, not dangerous beasts. But even the small bit she had gotten throu was fascinating and would probably be helpful in later parts of the Tournament, so she continued to

She wasn't sure what creature it would be, which made it harder to make a plan, but the first challenge was always a creature, usually Category XXXX or higher. She warned Fleur and Viktor of this, Cedric having been with her when they figured the pattern out, and somehow that warning and the agreement on the 31st changed to all the Champions studying together for two hours three times a week. They didn't tell each other their plans for the task (excepting Aludra and Cedric, who shared everything that wasn't a Family Secret), but they offered suggestions as to what types of creatures they might face, and what weaknesses they would have.

Friday the 11th, two weeks after her name came out of the Goblet, and thirteen days before the First Task, Aludra was in Potions, when there was a knock on the door and Colin Creevey stuck his head inside.

"Excuse me, Professor Slughorn!" The young photographer said brightly. "But Professor McGonagall sent me to fetch Aludra. It's time for the Weighing of the Wands Ceremony."

The Weighing of the Wands. Aludra had known it would be today, her grandmother had warned her, but she hadn't been sure what time it would be. She wasn't looking forward to it. The wand weighing itself was fine, but there would be a reporter from the Prophet there, and that part she wasn't happy about. Silently, she began to pack away her things, shoulders tight with tension and stress.

It was only the start, but it wouldn't be the worst part of this whole thing, unfortunately.

"I see," Professor Slughorn said with uncharacteristic soberness (Aludra would have expected him to be fawning over her, but all the teachers were treating her with kid gloves lately, asking if she was alright, assuring her she could skip homework, that sort of thing. Aludra would've preferred if they just treated her like normal, but she knew they were just trying to help.), before turning to Aludra. "I'll give you full marks for your potion today, Miss Black. It looks perfect for the current stage, and I don't think I've ever given you less than an O. Off you go, and please give my regards to Garrick."

"Garrick?" Evan muttered in confusion.

"Mr Ollivander," Susan whispered to him. Seeing as both Evan and Neville were weak brewers, while Aludra and Susan were excellent ones, they had split up into pairs after Ron had left their friend group. Aludra, as the best of them, helped Neville, who struggled the most. Evan and Susan sat together, because Evan was okay once the recipe was broken down for him. Before that, Aludra, Neville and Susan sat together, with Ron and Evan pairing up. Evan's grade had significantly improved since the change, and Slughorn had declared that he was finally showing his mother's talent.

Aludra tried not to wonder if her own talent for brewing (Potions being one of her four best subjects) came from Lady Potter, as Sirius was no natural with a cauldron. His talent came from hard work, not instinct like Aludra's did.

"See you guys at lunch," Aludra told her friends, swinging her purple bag over her shoulder before following Colin out of the room.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Colin spoke up. "It's pretty cool, isn't it? You being in the Triwixen Tournament I mean."

"I guess some people might think so," Aludra replied in a cool voice that would've told anyone with sense to be quiet. Unfortunately, Colin Creevey was not one of those people.

"A bit odd, though, don't you think?" He went on cheerfully, as if this was all fun and games. Despite the seriousness of it, and the investigation into what was being called conspiracy to commit murder of a minor Lady and Heiress, some people just weren't comprehending that her life was at stake. Apparently, Colin was one of those people.

"Why would someone try to kill you, and not Evan?" Colin wondered. "I mean, he's the Boy-Who-Lived, and he stopped You-Know-Who. If someone was going to target anyone, why not him?"

"I don't know," she answered curtly. Uncle Al thought it was revenge against her father or grandfather, Granddad thought it was a distraction to keep them from looking for Voldemort. Sirius considered both valid options, and was also considering the possibility of this being revenge for Aludra helping stop the Philosopher's Stone being stolen. Aludra didn't know what to believe, she just knew it had completely upended and endangered her life.

She sure as hell wasn't interested in sharing any of that with Colin Creevey of all people, at any rate.

"Maybe they entered your name by mistake, and it was meant to be Evan," Colin nattered on, making Aludra want to tear her hair out (or Colin's. She wasn't picky as long as he shut up. Seriously, how had Evan put up with him for two years and change? The boy was obsessed! It was disturbing. Surely this counted as harassment. Or stalking. Maybe they could both get restraining orders?).

"Oh, we're here!" He exclaimed, coming to a stop outside an abandoned classroom.

"Great, thanks Colin," Aludra said, with completely fake sincerity. "You'd best run along to class yourself now."

"Oh, can't I come in with you?" Colin asked hopefully.

"Ah, no sorry," she faked an apologetic smile. "Champions and Professors only. Bye!" She hurried in, discovering that she was the last of the Champions to arrive. Madame Maxime, Karkaroff and Grandma were all present, as well as a Daily Prophet photographer and, of all reporters, Rita bloody Skeeter.

Aludra rued the day the woman had been hired. She was a stain on the journalistic profession.

"Ah, our final Champion has arrived at last!" Skeeter exclaimed eagerly. "Aludra, dear, may I have a private interview with you about your point of view on this shocking turn of events?" Even as she spoke, she attempted to herd Aludra into a broom closet. Grandma Min and Cedric, however, intervened, standing firmly between Skeeter and Aludra.

"Aludra is Heiress Black-Dumbledore or Lady Urquart to you, Ms Skeeter," Grandma stated firmly. "And I am acting in loco parentis while her father is absent. In that capacity, I absolutely prohibit you from speaking with Aludra, especially privately. As you know, Aludra is a minor, and it is illegal for a reporter to interview a minor without a guardian present. You wouldn't want to break the law, would you?" Her voice gained a sarcastic note at the last part. There were lots of suspicions about how legally Skeeter gained her knowledge, and many doubts that she was completely legal in her methods. Unfortunately, nothing could be pinned to her, so they were stuck with her.

"Ally said everything she needed to say when she swore her Oath at the Choosing Ceremony," Cedric added. "I would remind you, Ms Skeeter, that Lord Black has a say in the firing and hiring of all Prophet employees. Think of that before you take out that oh-so famous Quick Quotes Quill of yours."

Skeeter briefly looked furious at the initial refusal, then paled at the reminder of Sirius' control over the Prophet, and she swallowed, clearly forcing a smile.

"Well, I must say I'm disappointed, but I completely understand," she said with a fake sweetness in her voice. "Perhaps a segment on all four Champions, with a brief statement from each of you would be agreeable? No Quick Quotes Quill involved, on my honour."

According to Sirius, journalists didn't have any honour, especially not Skeeter, but Aludra thought that the offer was acceptable.

"That's fine by me, if the others and our Heads agree," she spoke up. Cedric and Grandma glanced at her, then nodded. The others also agreed, and Skeeter took out a regular Dicta-Quill, and began interrogating everyone on their grades and strengths.

Aludra was the last to give a statement, and she spoke of her shock and dismay at being entered but how grateful she was to everyone, especially Cedric, for their support, and she also mentioned that her best subjects were DADA, Charms and Runes, with Potions a close fourth. Skeeter looked satisfied enough with that, especially when the Champions added that they were studying together and by then Mr Ollivander and Granddad had arrived.

"May I introduce Mr Ollivander?" Professor Dumbledore introduced the British wandmaker to the foreigners, taking his place at the judges' table. "He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the Tournament."

"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you forward first, please?" Mr Ollivander requested, stepping into the empty space in the middle of the room.

Fleur swept over to Mr Ollivander, and handed him her wand. He hummed as he examined it with interest.

He twirled the wand between his fingers and it emitted a number of pink and gold sparks. Then he held it close to his eyes and examined it carefully.

"Yes," he said quietly, "In use for six and a half years ... nine and a half inches … inflexible … rosewood … and containing … dear me …"

"An 'air from ze 'ead of a Veela," Fleur stated with a proud smile. "One of my grandmuzzer's." Aludra was impressed. The wand must have been custom-made for Fleur, and the link with her grandmother would strengthen its' desire to protect the granddaughter. Clearly, her grandmother had wanted to keep her granddaughter safe.

"Yes," Mr Ollivander nodded, "yes. I've never used Veela hair myself, of course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wands … however, to each his own, and if this suits you …"

Mr Ollivander ran his fingers along the wand, apparently checking for scratches or bumps; then he muttered, "Orchideous!" and a bunch of flowers burst from the wand tip.

"Very well, very well, it's in fine working order," he declared, scooping up the flowers and handing them to Fleur with her wand. "Mr Diggory, you next."

Fleur glided back to her seat, smiling at Cedric as he passed her.

"Ah, now, this is one of mine, isn't it?" said Mr Ollivander, with much more enthusiasm, as Cedric handed over his wand. "Yes, I remember it well. In use for six years, containing a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn … must have been seventeen hands; nearly gored me with his horn after I plucked his tail. Twelve and a quarter inches … ash … pleasantly springy. It's in fine condition … you treat it regularly?"

"Polished it last night," said Cedric, grinning. He was very proud of his wand, and rightfully so. Unicorn hair wands went only to the pure of heart, and the ash meant it would never turn on him, no matter what happened, even if he was defeated in battle, a trait amplified by his core.

Mr Ollivander sent a stream of silver smoke rings across the room from the tip of Cedric's wand, pronounced himself satisfied, and then said, "Mr Krum, if you please."

Viktor got up and slouched over to Mr Ollivander. He thrust his wand out and stood scowling, with his hands in the pockets of his robes.

"Hmm," hummed Mr Ollivander, "this is a Gregorovitch creation, unless I'm much mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what I … however …"

He lifted the wand and examined it minutely, turning it over and over before his eyes.

"Yes … hornbeam and dragon heartstring, in use seven years?" he shot at Viktor, who nodded. "Rather thicker than one usually sees … quite rigid … ten and a quarter inches … Avis!"

The wand let off a loud blast, and a number of small, twittering birds flew out of the end, and through the open window into the watery sunlight. Aludra smiled slightly, remembering a particular Prank War where Remus had altered the Avis Charm to create chickens that followed Sirius around, cawing loudly and pecking at him, multiplying whenever he tried to vanish them.

"Good," Mr Ollivander nodded, handing Viktor back his wand. "Which leaves Miss Black."

Aludra reluctantly got to her feet and walked past Viktor to Mr Ollivander. She handed over her wand unhappily, though that didn't show on her face. Letting others handle your wand, even a wandmaker, was incredibly intimate, as a wand was a gift for you from Lady Magic, almost a personification of your soul. She didn't like doing it.

"Aaaah, yes," Mr Ollivander whispered, his pale eyes suddenly gleaming. "Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember."

Aludra remembered too. She'd gone to Diagon Alley with her father, uncle and Neville and Susan's families the very day their letters arrived. Their last stop before the pet shop was Ollivanders. Aludra had tried seventeen wands before finding her own, applewood and phoenix hair. Only her family, and those who'd been present at the shop that day, knew that her core came from the same phoenix that had given Voldemort's wand its own core.

Only her father's reminder that applewood wands refused to perform Dark Magic had kept Aludra from panicking, but now she rarely thought of it. Despite how disturbing the knowledge was, she loved her wand, trusted it more than anything else, and it had never failed her. She trusted it never would.

Mr Ollivander spent much longer examining Aludra's wand than anyone else's. Eventually, however, he made a fountain of wine shoot out of it, and handed it back to Aludra, announcing that it was still in perfect condition, and lovingly cared for.

"Thank you all," said Granddad, standing up at the judges' table. "You may go back to your lessons now – or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end –"

"Photos, Dumbledore, photos!" cried Bagman excitedly, interrupting him, earning a dirty look from Grandma that made him swallow nervously and continue in a more subdued manner. "All the judges and champions. What do you think, Rita?"

"Er – yes, let's do those first," Skeeter agreed. "And then perhaps some individual shots."

The photographs took a long time. Madame Maxime cast everyone else into shadow wherever she stood, and the photographer couldn't stand far enough back to get her into the frame; eventually she had to sit while everyone else stood around her. Karkaroff kept twirling his goatee around his finger to give it an extra curl; Viktor skulked, half-hidden, at the back of the group (and Aludra couldn't blame him for it). The photographer seemed keenest to get Fleur at the front, but Skeeter tried to drag Aludra into greater prominence, before Grandma snapped at her that if she laid hands on Aludra again, she'd be reporting her to the Aurors for assault. Skeeter quickly released Aludra, but insisted on separate shots of all the champions. Then, at last, they were free to go.

They headed down to dinner together, and Aludra invited Fleur to join her friends, seeing as it had become increasingly clear that Fleur had no friends among the Beauxbatons cohort. Fleur accepted, and turned out to be a genius at Runes. They and Susan had a fascinating conversation about them over dinner. It turned out that Fleur wanted to become a Curse-Breaker, and Aludra offered to introduce her via letter to Bill Weasley (Aludra had many quill-friends among the relatively recent Hogwarts graduates, due to frequent visits to see her grandparents as a child, and the three eldest Weasley boys were among those. The lot of them, from the Weasleys to Evelina Appletree who was working as Ambassador to India, were all flooding Aludra with frantic letters for updates about the investigation, so Aludra hoped to distract at least Bill from his fussing while helping Fleur) an offer the older witch eagerly accepted. It would be easier to gain an apprenticeship at Gringotts with a recommendation from a current employee, and Fleur seemed incredibly interested in Aludra's revelation that Bill was one of those men who, although not gay, were immune to the Veela allure for some unknown reason.

After dinner, Aludra and her friends went back to Gryffindor Tower, where they played a game of Cluedo, a muggle game that had been modified for wixen by Uncle Ted, that being a hobby of his, a huge source of the Tonks' finances along with his legal work and Aunt Meda's work as a Healer for St. Mungo's.

A while before bedtime, Aludra went up to the dorm, drew the curtains around her bed, and dug out her Grimoire from the enchanted safe Sirius had sent it in, to continue searching for ideas on how to survive the First Task.

If some psychopath really wanted to hurt her family by getting her killed, then she wasn't about to make it easy on them.