Hydrus handed his wand to Ollivander and tried to ignore the sea of reporters and cameras flashing behind him. He hadn't spotted Rita yet, but he didn't doubt that there was already a little beetle on either his or the other champions' persons. They were out in the grass around Hogwarts and the skies were a typical, British grey with clouds covering everything, though didn't seem to be threatening any rain. He cast a subtle warming charm over himself to dispel the cold that he'd been trying to out-pride, deciding that with all the attention on his wand, no one would notice.

Ollivander looked the it up and down now, turning it over in his hands as he went, before finally he flicked it to elicit a small plume of green flames that mimicked the same, harmless fire Hydrus had set loose in his store.

"Marvellous," the man said. "The bond you've formed with your wand has already grown so strong. I would've guessed you'd had it for decades, not just a few months."

"It was a good fit," Hydrus said. "I'm glad you made the arrangement for me to take hold of it."

"Yes, oh yes…" The man leaned in to sniff the wand, and Hydrus tried not to laugh. "All seems to be in order, here you are."

Hydrus took his wand back, and allowed the other champions to have theirs tested. He hadn't had too many interactions with Krum since their selection, besides the typical 'hello' and 'goodbye' grunts, and none at all with his old friend Fleur. Their time together in the past told him that the absolute last thing he should do with the frequently-overwhelmed witch was to try and push his friendship upon her. The best thing for him to do now was just to stand beside her without the slightest hint that her allure was affecting him, not seeking out any clandestine meetings like he'd suggested in order to get into her family's wine cellars, and just letting her come to him.

Once Ollivander finished testing both their wands, the trio were herded off to a stage in order to answer questions. Hydrus was sat in the middle, as was befitting for the 'host' champion, and he'd already got the reporters whirring by waving his hand and changing all three of the chairs into veritable thrones. Each had comfortably overstuffed leather cushioning and the backs were curved and tall enough that the schools' emblems carved near the top were clearly displayed even once they'd taken their seats. Bagman, obviously loving the stir Hydrus was causing if his smile was anything to go off of, stepped up and activated a charm on the table in front of them that would amplify their voices as well as his own.

"Welcome, everyone!" he boomed. "We'll be taking questions one at a time, at my discretion. We'll start with you!"

The man he'd pointed at raised his wand to his throat. "Richard Fallwell for the London Lamp, I have a question for Champion Black." Hydrus nodded at him. "As the youngest champion in this competition, are you feeling any sort of extra pressure?"

"Not at all," he answered with a small, but confident smile. "The Goblet of Fire is an ancient and powerful artefact, and if it has deduced that I am the most worthy to stand beside these two impressive figures, then I have nothing to fear."

"Just one more," the man continued on, before Bagman could cut him off. "Will we be seeing any of your family's legendary magic?"

Hydrus's smile went cold, and he tried not to enjoy the way it made so many of the reporters squirm. "Should such a need arise, I doubt I'd be foolish enough to stop myself from employing anything to assure my victory."

Bagman jumped in to select another reporter. "You there! With the hat!"

"Master Black," the man said after introducing himself. "Rumours have been spreading far and wide regarding your status within the House of Black, is it true that you're going to be supplanting Orion Black as heir?"

"I shall allow you to have another question," Hydrus said. "We're here to discuss the Triwizard Tournament, not our personal lives."

The reporter paled, and quickly began to flip through his notes. "I… What about…"

"Next!" Bagman called, the vicious smile on his face assuaging Hydrus's own annoyance. "You! Weasley!"

Hydrus blinked. The reporter the head of the DMLE had pointed to was none other than Percy Weasley. What on earth was he doing down there? In his original life, the boy had spent Harry's fourth and final year at Hogwarts kissing ministry asses and eating up whatever they shat down his awaiting, baby-bird-like mouth.

"For Champion Delacour," the teen said. "With the recent advent of Borgno Wineries' dominance in the market, are you feeling particularly motivated to succeed in the tournament?"

Hydrus snorted, and quickly regretted it when everyone turned to look at him as it echoed from the volume charm. He broke his rule not to 'bug' the girl by staring at Fleur, and saw she was giving him a raised eyebrow. "Borgno's is a fine brand," he said, with an appropriate amount of embarrassed pausing at the 'outburst'. "I even prefer their whites to the Delacours', but when it comes to reds I much prefer Appoline and her family's. I've been pestering poor Fleur here for a meeting with her mother ever since she arrived at Hogwarts."

"Don't be silly," Fleur said, not at all bothered by his lie. "I've already told you to just wait for the first event."

Hydrus smiled at the sudden assertion. "And as I've told you, it would be all the sweeter to sip your own wares upon defeating you and our quidditch-legend friend over there."

Krum let out a chuckle himself now. "We will see, Black. We will see."

"So we shall," Hydrus agreed with a laugh. "Bagman?"

A few more questions came in, directed mainly at Krum now that Hydrus had 'reminded' them of the Bulgarian star's presence. It wasn't until his own name was called again that he saw Rita Skeeter had managed to sneak back into the crowd of reporters.

"Is it true that you only began your tutelage here at Hogwarts this very year?" the vile woman asked. "And to follow up, what skills have you learned before your time enrolling?"

"It's disappointing to hear that the Daily Prophet isn't able to employ reporters capable enough to know whether or not the Hogwarts Champion had been enrolled in her hallowed halls till now," he started, tone neutral but with a clear message for the unregistered animagus. "But to answer your questions, yes this is my first year at Hogwarts, and the things I've learned before and since then could fill a book. One that would no doubt go over your head, Miss Skeeter."

The crowd had more or less gone silent, and the woman herself was scowling at Hydrus with unabashed fury and humiliation at his words. Rita had started out as just an annoyance last time, writing things in the Prophet that were meant to embarrass and humiliate him, but that could've been forgiven were it not for what she had gone on to do. Her work as a covert spy for Voldemort, even if it had been under duress, had led to the deaths of dozens of witches and wizards, not the least of which was Sirius himself. If he remembered right, it had been Neville who finally caught and killed the bitch.

Bagman cleared his throat and stepped forward once again to try and quickly move things along.

"How about you again, Mr. Weasley?"

It seemed Percy was still just as good at brown nosing as he had been the last time Hydrus knew him. Thus far Bagman hadn't doubled down on any of the reporters, and he'd selected the red-headed teen despite no one actually raising their hand for a question.

"Percy Weasley, still from The Weasley Word." Hydrus allowed himself to feel a small amount of appreciation that the boy had at least gone independent; perhaps he wasn't so bad after all. "Champion Black, we've heard from sources that you're an exceptionally talented wizard. We're also led to believe that the first challenge shall be a secret until just before you're about to face it, so forgive me if this is a foolish question, but what are your plans to face it?"

"Not foolish at all." Annoying suck-up Percy may be, but he was still a Weasley, still 'family'. "As they say, 'a failure to plan is a plan to fail', even in the face of the unknown. Although I find a majority of my time is spent working on a confidential project in coordination with the school faculty and some independent contractors, I've spent what time remains working on my practical wand work. Charms and jinxes, hexes and transfigurations; we were told that the first event shall test our bravery, and I doubt that would require me to brush up on my history knowledge."

That earned a laugh, and before Bagman could ask for the next reporter, Hydrus continued.

"Mr. Bagman, after this we're to be doing individual interviews, is that correct?"

"Oh, er." The man placed his hand upon the table so that his voice could be heard. "That's correct."

"Percy." Hydrus turned to look at the teen. "Your brothers have been an invaluable help to me with the aforementioned project, they're 'exceptionally talented wizards' themselves. Since I don't see anyone here from my preferred news source, The Quibbler, I shall allow you to have an exclusive interview with me." He winked. "And not just so that I don't have to deal with a whole horde of you blood-sucking members of the press."

Once more he received a good natured round of chuckles, though it was slightly diminished by the fact that he'd sworn off meeting with anyone besides Percy. They'd call it blatant nepotism behind closed doors, but Hydrus was fine with that. Let those in the know understand that working with, or more frequently 'for', him would lead to benefits beyond the scope of contracts.

"Well that seems as fine a place to stop as any, then," Bagman said. "We'll break up for the individual interviews now."

Hydrus stood and made his way over to Percy Weasley, who looked as straight-backed and clench-jawed as the 'younger' wizard had ever seen him. He guided the redhead away from the others, but still in clear sight, to a spot of grass where he settled in. After a moment of what Hydrus could only assume was deliberation over whether or not to join him on the dirty ground, the other teen sat.

"Sorry to put you at the center of it all," Hydrus said. "Mostly just used you as an excuse to put your brothers 'on blast'. I'll have to fear their reprisal for the compliments."

"Not at all," Percy said. "I'm happy for the opportunity."

"I didn't even know you ran a newspaper," Hydrus said. "I must admit I'm still partial to The Quibbler, but I won't turn my nose up at helping out my business associates' brothers."

"I helped them write up your original agreement," Percy said. Hydrus tried not to snort at the obvious attempt to get in good with the future Black heir. "I'm glad to hear they've been so helpful."

"They'll be founding members of Hogwarts' first ever Study Club," he said. "Just don't tell them about their membership."

Percy actually laughed at that, and Hydrus was almost ashamed to admit it put him at ease. Maybe the reporting business was good for the old pest.

"So tell me, are there any more specifics you can share about your plan for the first challenge?"

Hydrus shrugged. "Nothing in particular. I'll be going in as blind as my competitors, though I believe I'll have the advantage with regards to raw power."

"And what advantages would you say they possess?"

Hydrus hummed. "Although I've mitigated it with the help of my family, Krum will have advanced experience with certain magics that aren't taught here at Hogwarts, but are at Durmstrang. Fleur will obviously have access to her own magics that neither he nor I can lay claim to. Neither one would be able to hold a candle to me in regards to, as I said, 'raw' power, but their advanced knowledge and tutelage will no doubt give them a fair shake at things."

Percy nodded as his muggle pen, no doubt a gift from his father, scribbled along his notepad to catch up. "Is there anything you're seeking to achieve with a potential victory here in the Tournament?"

"Just to make my family proud." Hydrus's lone hand suddenly snapped through the air, catching hold of an all-too-familiar beetle. "Forgive me, Percy. Would you be willing to accept a by-mail interview for the remainder of this? Something urgent has just occurred to me. I promise the only paper I would ever give further accommodations to is the one I've already mentioned."

"Oh, uh, of course." Percy hurried to his feet and offered Hydrus a hand. "Would it be alright if I owled you first?"

"By all means." He had to ignore the help given what he held in his one hand, and hoped it wouldn't offend the redhead too much. "I promise to have mailed back by the very next day. I apologise once again for this abrupt exit."

"Not at all." Percy bowed. "It was a pleasure making your acquaintance, I look forward to future meetings."

"As you should." Hydrus winked at him once more. "Even if only for more ammunition against your brothers."

Bellatrix was watching over her students, almost wishing one of them would do something catastrophically wrong. Today the third-year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were working on a charm that would create a thin cloud of smoke. The spell itself wasn't anything particularly useful, but it laid the mental 'groundwork' for further illusory charms that could help them escape tight situations. It was such a drab and pathetic piece of curriculum that she was almost tempted to cheer when Hydrus flung open the classroom door.

"Sorry, Professor Black," he said with an adorable smile. "Emergency."

He walked right past her and the children into her office, slamming the door with his foot as he went.

"Excuse me, everyone." She stood and quickly decided what would be the best way to get away with this all. "Allow me to go and see what sort of business our champion is up to, hm?"

Reminding the little monsters that Hydrus was their champion should hopefully stop them from trying to rat her out. None of them looked particularly treacherous, most seemed to just be staring at the door Hydrus had run through with unabashed curiosity, but she'd yet to have fully worked out the proper way to read and understand children. Thank Morgana her Hydrus was so mature.

She quickly entered her office and slammed the door shut behind her so that none of the students could see whatever monstrosity was forming in front of her love. It had started out as an ungodly creature that looked like a fleshy, hairy hybrid of an insect and a monkey. After just a few seconds it had finished detransfiguring into a woman who wasn't much better looking.

The stranger had thick curls of blonde hair that looked like undercooked pasta resting above her thick-jowled face and tacky red glasses. She was several inches shorter than Bellatrix, nearly eye-level with Hydrus, and was wearing a puke-green dress that severely clashed with the cheap, white, faux-scaled purse she clutched in front of her chest like it would protect her.

"You can't do this," the woman whined. "I'll scream."

"Please." Hydrus's voice sent shivers down Bellatrix's spine with how cold it was, the promise for quick and quiet violence not hidden at all within it. "Do you really think this office wouldn't be warded for silence?"

It wasn't, but that could be quickly rectified with a privacy charm if the woman decided to put Hydrus's lie to the test. She merely whined again though, and Bellatrix suspected it wouldn't be necessary.

"Speaking of which." He turned to face her finally. "Bellatrix, allow me to introduce you to Rita Skeeter, a nasty piece of work who's dedicated her life to tearing down others with half-truths and stolen gossip. She's also an unregistered animagus, and was attempting to spy on me when I captured her." A fury took hold of Bellatrix, but Hydrus simply continued. "Rita Skeeter, you have the honour of meeting Bellatrix Black: last true daughter of House Black, a woman who knows more about the subject she teaches than most could ever dream of, and the absolute last person on this planet you want as your enemy."

Bellatrix giggled. "And why have you brought this insect home, love?"

"So that you don't get bored?" he tried. "To give you something to take your pent up frustrations with your students out on? In truth, I'd prefer to just kill her and be done with it, but I figured I should at least give you first dibs."

"Oh Hydrus," she crooned, stepping up to slither her arms around him and down his chest. "You shouldn't have."

The roach or whatever this woman's animagus was looked like she was about to faint. Beads of sweat were dripping down her face, her whole body was trembling, and her eyes were shooting between Bellatrix and Hydrus like a metronome. Bellatrix gave a cruel smile and to her delight, the woman actually locked up and fell to the ground. She giggled.

"That was fun," Hydrus said as he broke free from her grasp to grab the woman's purse and began to dig through it. "Kill her, don't kill her, I don't care. Just make sure that she doesn't write anything about me, and knows to leave me the fuck alone."

"We could use her to write what we want about you," Bellatrix suggested as her little water snake apparently found what he was looking for and snapped the woman's quill. "There's no such thing as having too many members of the press in your pocket."

"I've already given exclusive interviewing rights for this first trial to someone else."

"What?" she snapped, then flinched at the look he gave her. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I discovered that the Weasleys' older brother has his own paper," he said. "What better way to show off the nepotistic success one can have by allying with us."

"Morgana's cunt, Hydrus." Honestly, the twins might've been far more talented than she'd expected, but this was too much. "We're Blacks. Toujours Pur is our motto for a reason."

"You are a Black." Hydrus was moving towards her, slowly, and Bellatrix fought not to back away from him. His power was flowing out and strangling the air around her, leaving her body confused as to whether or not it should be terrified or aroused by the time he wrapped a hand around her face and pursed her lips together. "Where as I am the Black. You've felt for yourself that your power is mine to command."

Neither of them had been able to puzzle out what had given Hydrus leeway to draw on Bellatrix's magic during his channelling, or at least, she thought they hadn't. As his eyes bored deep into her soul, she was rethinking that.

"This family is mine, even if the rest of them don't know it yet. If I say we befriend the Weasleys, you will kiss their mother on the cheek and curtsey for their father, because that is what I demand." He finally released her, and allowed his magic to fade away once more. "Am I clea-"

Bellatrix slammed her lips against his. To her delight his hand found its way to her bottom and she took the support in order to wrap her legs around him. He twisted and fell back against the door and she continued to move her lips and tongue around his own, desperate for him to feel her love and to devour every last drop of his own. She could feel him trying to pull away but she wouldn't allow it, not yet.

Once she was satisfied, or at least sure that she'd have to check on the brats just outside the door they were leaning on, she released him. "I love you."

He wiped his mouth on his shoulder, looking away for a long moment. "I love you too." The words brought more warmth than she'd ever thought possible to her chest, even if she knew he was lying. She would change that in time. "I'm going to put you down now, though."

He managed to do so with grace, and Bellatrix quickly set to straightening her robes. "What are we going to do with the roach?" she asked.

"As I said, do whatever you want with her. I'm sure she's been awake for sometime now." Bellatrix didn't bother to look and see, still too entranced by him. "Just make sure she never doubts that her life belongs to me, and doesn't do anything to annoy me."

"Including writing about you," Bellatrix said, reaffirming his earlier demand. She drew her wand and pointed it at the reporter. "Stupefy!"

The roach hadn't even gotten her eyes all the way open in shock before the spell hit her and left her in a much longer-lasting unconsciousness. Hydrus nodded in approval and Bellatrix smiled.

"I'll see you in the Study Hall later tonight," he said. "I don't plan to spend too much more magic on frivolous displays like just now, not until after the first task is done and over with, but we'll still need to be there for the twins."

Bellatrix scowled. "I still haven't managed to find out what the task will be. I don't know what's gotten into the Ministry lately, but things have been tight ever since the world cup."

"It matters little," Hydrus said. "As I told the reporters, the Goblet chose me for a reason."

"What else did you tell them?" she started. "No, wait, I need to go check on the brats. I'm sorry, dear, you'll have to tell me all about it afterwards."

Hydrus just laughed, and Bellatrix giggled for no other reason than feeling his joy. "All you need to know is that I've managed to get a tentative meeting with the Delacours during the first trial to discuss wine business, and that I've declared the Quibbler to be my favourite news source."

"The what?"

Hydrus nearly regretted having given the family-owned newspaper such a spotlight. It was the night before the first trial and he found himself ambushed by a certain flighty third year who didn't seem to care in the least that she was interrupting his dinner, let alone that she'd crossed the unspoken, unofficial boundary between houses. She was beaming at him, and he allowed himself to give a small smile back.

"Hello there, Miss…?"

"Lovegood," she said. "Luna Lovegood. My father is the owner, editor, and writer of The Quibbler."

"Ah, of course." Hydrus held out his hand and the girl shook it eagerly. "What can I do for you, Miss Lovegood?"

"I was wondering if I could have an interview with you," she asked. "To be printed in my father's paper. My first ever article."

"I'm afraid that I've already promised the exclusive pre-challenge interview to another paper," Hydrus started. "But I'd happily make sure to include you in the next round. Weasley won't mind sharing when he realises that his own questions pale in importance and subject matter compared to what would interest the Quibbler's readers."

The girl's smile somehow grew. "Wonderful, me or my dad will look for you then!"

She wandered back to her table, and Hydrus had to stop his magic from pulsing when he saw she was missing her shoes. He turned back around and began to attack his meal. Draco gave him a gentle elbow.

"What even is 'The Quibbler'?" he asked. The Durmstrang students had segregated themselves to one end of the table ever since the Champion selection, so Draco had returned to his usual spot on Hydrus's right. "I've never heard of it."

"It is, shall we say, a unique news source that reports on such things as the tillywonks infesting Scottish riverways, Dumbledore's secret past as a weregoat, and my own family's ventures towards banning all chocolate frog sales, on account of a long-lost uncle of mine having turned himself into one." Hydrus chuckled. "In other words, it's an entertaining read."

Draco's brows were furrowed. "And you decided to tell the world that it was your favourite?"

"It told them exactly what I thought about their own papers," he said. "And besides, none of them have ever reported on anything we can't find out with our own sources. I had no idea why Aunt Bella won't eat chocolate frogs before I read it there."

Draco laughed and Hydrus joined him. He was growing more accustomed to his former rival's company, as strange as it was, and the boy had been settling in well with Hydrus being in charge. Come the Christmas Ball or whatever the Blacks were calling it, he'd have to find some way to repay his loyalty, and ensure that Lucius didn't do anything to undo his hard work with the boy.

"But why wasn't she wearing shoes?" Hydrus scowled at the question. "She looked ridiculous."

"I believe she might be getting bullied by her housemates," he answered, shooting a quick, dark look at the other Ravenclaws who had erected an invisible 'wall' around the girl with the way they all avoided sitting next to her. "Even if it was just a joke, I've already cast my support for her family's business. I'll need to put a stop to it."

"I'll take care of it," Draco said smoothly. "Focus on the tournament."

Hydrus measured the young Slytherin, trying to decide whether or not to trust him. "What did you have in mind?"

"There's more than a few pure bloods on their side with family here in Slytherin," he said. "A few days should be all it takes to find out the truth, then a few days more for word to get around that she's off limits."

"And for those who don't listen?"

Draco smirked. "I believe our seventh years, the ones whose families haven't already been burned, will be desperate for a chance to get back in your good books."

"I see." Hydrus nodded his head. "I'll leave it in your hands then, but don't hesitate to coordinate with the Weasley twins either. I'm sure they'd love a chance to get back to their usual hobby given their constant work on my Study Hall." He paused before adding, "Thank you, Draco. You're a good friend. Make sure to bring me any more information we'll need about her situation as well."

The boy gave him a genuine smile, and the pride there almost perturbed Hydrus.

Draco wasn't a bad kid. He hadn't been in his previous timeline either, but that hadn't stopped Hydrus from having to kill him. The boy had been dragged by his nose down a path of evil and slaughter by his father, who in turn had been lured down it by Voldemort, and had been far too gone by the time Harry had been mature and powerful enough to tempt him away. Back when they were teens it had all been so black and white. Harry was the good guy. Draco was the bad guy. When they were older it was still clear what Hydrus needed to do to him, but at least by then he could have some pity for Draco.

The blonde had met his end in the same raid that killed his parents, as well as a whole troop of ancient European wizards and witches they'd been in charge of hosting. Harry, Remus, and Hagrid had done a pincer manoeuvre on Malfoy Manor with the werewolf and half-giant taking the back, and Harry kicking down the front door. They'd expected the Malfoy men to be the biggest threat, but it turned out the old folk they'd been hosting were the last surviving remnants of Grindelwald's continental forces, fallen in with Voldemort with no one else willing to take them in. It had still been one of his most successful raids, with the only casualty being one of Hagrid's fingers, but it had given them a hell of a time.

Harry had been the one to end the Malfoy line, all in one swish of his wand by crushing them under their own mansion's roof. He'd heard the oldest friend he'd had in the wizarding world roar in pain, not knowing it had 'just' been his finger, and brought down the most powerful wave of magic he'd ever conjured on the building. Remus hadn't been happy with him afterwards, especially since with Hagrid injured and Harry unconscious from magical exhaustion he'd had to do the life-detection spells by himself to ensure their foes were really dead, but he'd been too impressed to give a proper lecture.

Now Draco was sliding his leftover pork chop onto Har-, Hydrus's plate. The first time the boy had done that was to try and 'tease' him, but now it was just part of the regular routine. Why couldn't things have turned out this way the first time? Why couldn't-

'Enough,' he thought, before reminding himself yet again, 'The Great Hall surrounded by teenagers is no place for a break down.'

Draco the friend. Percy the reporter. Bellatrix the fiancee.

Hydrus wondered just how many more people with changed roles he would meet.

"A manticore!"

Hydrus blinked. He spared glances to the left and right to see Fleur had gone pale while Krum looked like he was doing his best to shatter his own teeth. Bagman just kept smiling at them, seeming to delight in the other two teens' anxiety. The youngest champion cleared his throat.

"What about a manticore?" Hydrus asked. "Are we going to slay one?"

The man chuckled. "No, no, don't worry we won't ask the impossible of you."

"Then what are you going to ask us to do?" he asked impatiently. "What's the game?"

"We'll have each of you draw lots," Bagman started. "That shall determine the order in which you shall face the beast. Don't expect that the last competitor will have an advantage though, we'll be rejuvenating it between each round. The winner will be decided by whomever can last the longest."

"What if I kill it?"

Bagman laughed. "I suppose we'd better hope you go last then!"

"Answer the question, Bagman," he snapped. "I'm not afraid of a beast on this level. Will I be punished for killing it or not?"

Finally the man's complexion and composure broke. It were moments like these that Hydrus was grateful for his recent growth spurt, and the filling out of his form from the desiccated husk it had once been. The head of the DMGS swallowed.

"Well, of course there'd be no punishment, though if you were the first or second up, it might disrupt our plans for the rest of the event."

"Then I suppose you'd better hope I go last."

"You think we could kill manticore?" Krum asked, humming. "I will hope to go first then, beat you to snitch."

"Of course you can't kill it," Fleur said, looking at the boys like they were crazy. "Manticores are intelligent creatures with hides that are entirely magic-resistant and strong enough to stop a dragon's claws."

"Why don't Hydrus and I let you go last then?" Krum snapped. It seemed veela allure wasn't enough to topple the quidditch star's pride. "See if you get any points at all for a make-up test."

"Krum goes first, Fleur goes second, I go last." Hydrus didn't want his former ally at odds with the teen he still wasn't sure how he'd made a friend of. "Do either of you protest that?"

They were both silent, but Bagman coughed. "W-We need to draw lots-"

Hydrus snatched the bag the man had been palming and dumped it into the air. It took him a moment to recognize what he was now levitating.

'Bones,' he thought with disgust. 'No doubt from the manticore itself, or another of its species.'

Before he could sort them out, Krum snatched the one with a '1' carved into it. Hydrus snorted and tried not to be too jealous how quick the boy's catch was; his own potential quidditch career had been lost the moment he cut his own arm off. He cocked an eyebrow at Fleur, and the girl rolled her eyes before taking the bone marked '2'. He grabbed the last.

"There," Hydrus said. "Lots drawn. Let's get to it."

The head of the DMGS was as deflated as Hydrus had ever seen him, but nodded. He might've been a powerful member of their government, or at least a high ranking one, but the Blacks could easily kick up enough fuss to ruin that for him should he choose to take offence to what Hydrus had done. Without any further aplomb he stepped out of the room, which was an exact match to the alternate time-line, and into the arena. Hydrus moved away to take a seat on a chair he conjured from the floor. He was still trying to mimic the work he'd seen Dumbledore do in the Study Hall, and although it still wasn't quite as smooth or malleable as the stairs Dumbledore had been able to work up, he was getting closer. Krum's name was soon called.

"I'd wish you luck if your plan wouldn't throw mine out the window," Hydrus called. "So just try not to get too banged up."

The quidditch star waved in response as he stepped out. Now that they were alone, Hydrus decided to try and be a little bold with Fleur.

"I don't suppose you were only joking back at the press conference?" he asked. "I really would love to meet with your mother."

"Perhaps if you survive," the quarter-veela said stiffly. "Do you really intend to try and kill the manticore?"

"I wasn't until that fool went and laughed at the thought," Hydrus said. "Now I'm going to do it just to spite him."

"But they're intelligent creatures."

Hydrus opened his mouth, but shut it to think of a better response than 'All the more reason to put the poor thing out of its misery.'

"I'll be honest, I just assumed that it was no more intelligent than, say, a dementor." He had to tread carefully. "I've never done a proper study of them."

"They aren't as intelligent as people," she said. "But they can still speak. They're even smarter than giants, though far less easy to reason with."

"I see." That did complicate things slightly. He might've been doing his best to pretend to be a perfect pure blood, but no amount of acting could remove his conscience entirely. "Well, I won't promise not to kill it, or 'him or her', I suppose, because who knows what I might need to do in order to not get killed myself, but I won't be aiming to kill them either."

"Thank you," Fleur said. "I truly appreciate that."

Hydrus shrugged. "I'm not doing it for you. Taking the piss out of men like Bagman is way more important to me than impressing pretty girls. I'm doing it because I genuinely didn't know that about manticores."

Voldemort rarely used magical creatures for direct attacks. He would use them in rituals or as potion ingredients, but besides a few beings like dementors, giants, werewolves, and especially magical snakes, he found beasts to be more of a hassle than they were worth. The most dangerous experiences he'd had with magical creatures came from the world itself rather than the dark lord, and although he'd never faced off against a manticore, he wasn't in the least bit concerned.

What was knockoff scorpion-venom compared to the basilisk's all-consuming toxins which already flowed through his veins?

"It's been nearly ten minutes," Fleur said after a while. "Do you think he's still fighting it?"

"More likely they've got either a confounding charm on this room to change the way we perceive time, or they're just keeping us here to rest the manticore," Hydrus said. "That way we won't know how long we have to compete for."

"That makes sense." She was staring at him, and Hydrus realised she'd just used the question as an excuse to reinvigorate the conversation. What else did she want? "Is it true that you're going to someday be the head of your family?"

Ah, that's what it was. "Yes, though I doubt my grandmother will take it lying down." At Fleur's cocked brow, he continued. "She's the sort who would try and blast me off the family tree for having a conversation with you, let alone the one we've had thus far."

"I see…"

"They'll all see." Hydrus gave her a wink. "I'm a man who gets what he wants, whether that's titles, or contracts with French wineries."

"And zat is all you wanted from me?"

He flinched, the wink had been too far a push if her thicker accent was anything to go off of. "Yes, I promise I'm not trying to bed you. Or your mother for that matter. I might have grandiose expectations for my future, but for now I'm still playing the game, as they say. My romantic pursuits will be decided for me."

"Oh." Fleur gave a dramatic sniff whose meaning alluded him. "You have a marriage contract in place then?"

"One not written in words," he said with a sigh. "And more formal ones to come. I'll call it a win if I get away from it all with five or fewer brides."

Fleur's mouth dropped slightly. "Five?"

"I am the last 'stud' for the most politically powerful family in half the wizarding world," he muttered. "A few dozen children is the least they'll expect from me."

"I'm surprised at how downtrodden that has you," Fleur said. "Most wizards your age would be over the moon at the prospect of having a harem of powerful and no doubt pretty witches at their beck and call."

"I'd prefer someone like-" He stopped himself from saying 'you', he'd gone too far already, and used a different excuse for the pause to continue. "We don't have much of a shared circle of friends, so I'll simply say I'd prefer just one wife I can actually talk to than a bunch of sycophants fighting to see who can get pregnant first."

"Isn't your father only in his thirties?" Fleur asked, gracefully moving things along. "Certainly not too old to have more children."

Hydrus scowled. "I intend to keep him as far away from the family business as possible. He doesn't have half the desires that I do, and he deserves the peace that brings him."

"How noble." Fleur winked at him now. "I thought you just didn't want any sibling competition."

Hydrus laughed. "The fact that I don't already is a mystery. My father is the sort of wizard to have a 'harem of powerful and pretty witches' with glee, and he'd do it without any contracts, marriages, or perhaps even realisations between them."

Fleur snorted. "How charming."

"Perhaps that would be better," Hydrus mused aloud. "Just keep all the wives separate so they don't have time to sync up and wreak havoc."

"Men," Fleur scoffed.

Hydrus chuckled, and before long they were sharing a proper laugh together. It really was nice to chat with his old friend. Fleur had been an unexpected but powerful addition to his forces when she'd 'joined on', and it hadn't been until then that he'd properly appreciated the fact that she had been chosen as her school's champion for a reason. Her gifts for combat magic were as fine a match for any who served with him, but her more subtle works were what set her apart.

She could manipulate her alluring aura with precision he'd never heard of to briefly distract Death Eaters, just long enough that she or another could take advantage of it. The way she could enchant even magical creatures had been a great aid in finding spaces to hide and rest as well. She'd also been there for him in a more intimate sense once her husband passed, though those memories, what little he had left of them, were almost clinical and mechanical now. A small price to pay.

"It can't be much longer, can it?" Fleur said, interrupting his trip down memory lane. "Assuming Viktor hasn't succeeded with your original plans."

"It would surprise me if he has," Hydrus said. "His magic is powerful, but his creativity is limited outside of a quidditch pitch. That is what I would have needed to succeed in my goal."

Fleur smirked. "Perhaps if this manticore proves to be a vile being, I shall do it myself."

"Wait, I'm allowed to kill the manticore if it's a dick?" Hydrus scoffed. "You should've told me sooner."

"I thought you weren't doing it for me?"

"It's good wine, Fleur."

Her next bout of laughter was cut off by the door opening. "Miss Delacour?" Bagman said, popping his head in. "You're up next!"

The girl took a deep breath. "Wish me luck?"

"You were chosen as the greatest witch in all of Beauxbatons," Hydrus said. "You do not need luck."

She gave him a smile so warm it broke his control over his reactions to her allure and he had to look away to try and hide the blush that she gave him. Fleur's laughter was the last thing he heard before the door shut behind her.

"That's all gone now, Harry," Hydrus said to himself. "The graves are filled."

He really needed to keep away from old faces. Unfortunately, they were so much more alluring than the new ones he'd been trying to integrate himself with. Fleur was just as he remembered, if a bit more innocent and cheerful. Sirius was… Sirius was alive, and he couldn't have anything to do with the man. Dumbledore still had a world of knowledge to teach him.

Dumbledore especially was difficult to deal with. The man had practically brainwashed him into being an obedient, honest, and open follower once the war broke out, and although he'd taught Harry how to do the same to others, it did little to diminish the effect. Hell, looking back on it now, Hydrus didn't even hold it against him. It was the correct thing to do. Back then Harry had just been a mopey, terrified teenager who needed a strong hand to guide him. Now Hydrus was on his own without the target the ancient wizard had pointed at and said 'sick 'em, boy', and it was harrowing.

'I need a nap.' He drew his wand and pointed it at his chest. "Somnis."

BBaRtS

I learned last chapter that the less-than sign doesn't want to show up on this site, so when I tried putting a heart in my last AN it looked like I was just counting how many nice reviews I received, and that made me snicker so I didn't bother to fix it. I did have to back and fix a mention of Hydrus clapping his 'hands' together, so thank you to the reviewer who pointed that out. Not too much else to say, but I do think next week will be the last Wednesday upload, I'm still only writing chapter 16 and don't want to have to be 'late' with any chapters, so we'll probably stick with a Saturday, once-a-week release flow. Thank you all so much for the kind reviews, less-than-three, be sure to leave more if you'd like to, I do read them all.