Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
-oOo-
Chapter 6
02 Feb 24
-oOo-
This time on Duel of Fate: Longpiddle needs saving… OR Harry the Hero… even if he didn't plan to be.
-oOo-
February 23, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry had already been on his feet when the bodies were floating up. He moved to shake his heavy cloak off
"AURORS! We need Aurors!" Bagman's voice cried over the stands and lake.
"Harry, what are you doing!" Hannah cried out.
"Oh, bugger, you aren't," Sue said, starting to shuck off her own robes.
"Doing what?!" Susan cried out.
"AURORS!" Bagman frantically called out again.
"Susan, keep her safe," Harry ordered, moving to the railing.
"HARRY!" Hannah cried out, trying to grab his arm.
There were some screams as smaller waterspouts exploded from the disturbance. Diggory turned over, his arms moving slowly as he tried to tread water. Harry could see three girls floating on the surface, their faces buried in the water. "I have to go," he told Hannah, his wand going to his head. "Facbulla," he enchanted, pointing his wand to his face for a bubble to from over his mouth and nose. Tapping the skin on the side of his eye, a pair of goggles came into existence.
"Wait, Potter!" Sue cursed as he pulled out of Hannah's hands and jumped. He dove the twenty feet or so to the water. He heard Sue jump in behind him. As soon as he orientated himself, he cast a water stream and shot off towards the disturbance.
He looked back to see her following him. In a few seconds he could see flashes of light under the surface. Two of the girls were starting to float down again. Harry went towards the girls. One was a blonde that looked about their age. She was pretty, even with her pale pallor. Harry hoped that meant she wasn't dead. He stopped the stream, swimming up to her. His wand tapped her face and a bubblehead formed around her mouth and nose. As it did, her eyes shot open. Panic looked to have set in.
He pushed her towards the surface.
Sue had gone to the other girl. Harry realized it was Hermione. Cedric seemed to have come back to his senses and was swimming after Cho Chang. He wasn't moving right, as though one of his arms were hurt.
Sue had already cast a bubblehead over Hermione before pushing the girl up. Harry pointed to Cedric. Sue nodded and took off.
Harry pointed his wand away from himself and shot out another stream of water, moving towards the spell fire below them. Within seconds, Harry wished he had not. A tentacle came zooming out of the depths. He just barely had time to bring his wand up, getting tossed around before he could stop the water jet. As he spun, the tentacle just missed him.
He looked up to see Fleur trying to get a shark headed boy to the surface. She had a bubble head over her face. Below them, more tentacles reached up. Fleur slashed her wand. One of the tentacles were partially cut and blood clouded into the water. Below there was a literal lightshow. He could make out a boy in the light and a horror that Harry had only heard about. Where he thought it had been the giant squid gone mad, instead he saw a giant body, covered in armour, with crab claw like arms and a dozen tentacles.
Kraken! went through his head.
He didn't hesitate to dive down, using the cutting curse as another tentacle came towards him. The white light bubbled through the water, dying out within ten yards. He could see the partial cut made by Delacour. Knowing it would be effective, Harry slashed his wand a few more times. His curses went straight through, cutting the tentacle in three parts. There was a deafening screech. Harry had to put his hands to his ears as it made his whole body vibrate. A moment later, his ears were ringing.
When Harry looked down, he caught Longbottom being hit by another tentacle. Harry pointed his body down and wand towards the surface, using the water jet to shoot down. Longpiddle didn't struggle. Whatever that screech had been still had him stunned. Which wasn't good as the kraken looked to be moving in to have a meal.
BLOODY FUCK! Harry screamed in his head. He was going to be forced to save the Arse-That-Lived!
Getting close enough to see Longpiddle passed out with bubbles coming out of his mouth. With a roar of frustration that didn't leave the air bubble on his face, he started to slash out, cutting off more chunks of tentacles. It screeched again. Ready for it, he twirled his wand. The shield blocked most of the effect. His next spell cut Longpiddle free. The boy had gills on his neck that looked to be fading. Harry was able to cast another bubblehead charm before he had to jab his wand down. One of the giant claws was trying to get them. The bombarda spell was not as strong in the water, but when it hit the claw, he could hear it crack over the loud boom from the water collapsing in on itself.
He grabbed Longpiddle's shirt as he pointed his wand down. Harry poured as much magic into his wand as he could. The water jet came out in a spout of bubbles and was so strong his wand wanted to rip out of his hand. They shot up towards the surface. As they did, a large blur raced the other way. It took a second to realize it was the giant squid. He didn't slow until they broke the surface. When he did, they flew out of the water for a second and the bubblehead charm failed. A few adults were helping the other students and champions into a few boats. They flopped back into the water and sank a few feet. As he came back up sputtering out water and struggling to get Longpiddle to the surface, a few wands pointed at him until they realized who they were.
He could hear yelling, but his ears were ringing.
"Kraken!" Harry yelled before being dragged below the surface by the dead weight of Longpiddle.
A second later, he was being pulled out of the water by two people in burgundy robes. It looked like people were trying to talk to him, but he couldn't hear them. "Kraken!" Harry repeated. He yelled louder. "There is a kraken!"
Sue was suddenly at his side, pulling his head to face her. She looked like she was trying to say something. The ringing in his head was starting to make him queasy now that he was on the boat. When her hand pulled away, he saw blood on her fingers. Harry reached up to his ears. His own fingers had blood on them when he pulled his hand away. "Bloody hell," he said, now understanding why his ears were ringing. The screech had hurt his ears.
-oOo-
Later that day...
Hospital Wing, Hogwarts, Scotland
Hannah was running as fast as she could as panic raced through her. She had to watch from the stands as Harry was taken from the water, blood running down his neck. Sue was with him, but that didn't help when the Aurors had rushed him and most of the others off to the school on stretchers. It had taken them almost an hour before they allowed all the students and guests to take boats back to the beach.
In that time, she had worked herself into a right state. One that saw her moving like a woman possessed by Hermes. Susan and Meghan were having a tough time keeping up with her.
As they approached the hospital wing, three Aurors were outside the doors. "Whoa, slow it down," a tall black man said in a deep, calm voice.
"Let me through!" Hannah demanded in a panic.
"Easy there, miss. We have orders not to let anyone through," the man replied, stepping before her to bar her from getting to the doors.
She was breathing heavily but needed to get to Harry. "I have… to… get to my… boyfriend!" she wheezed out.
Susan and Meghan finally caught up to her. Meghan was breathing as heavily as she was while Susan was just about wheezing to catch her breath. Susan put a hand out to steady herself on the wall.
"I can't let anyone in," the man repeated.
"You'll have to go back to your common rooms," another of the men said.
"Harry! I must… get to Harry," Hannah pleaded.
"Hey… Shacklebolt," Susan managed to get out.
The man looked to the redhead, recognition crossing his face. "Good morning, Miss Bones."
"Can you... let... us in?" Susan panted out.
"I'm sorry. Your aunt's orders," Auror Shacklebolt informed them.
"I need to get… to Harry!" Hannah cried out much louder this time. "Let me in! Please!"
The man shook his head. "Even if I was inclined too, I just can't at the moment, miss."
"I need to see Harry. HARRY!" Hannah called out, moving towards the infirmary doors and the man put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. The other two moved in.
"That is enough, miss. If you don't stop, we will have to stun you," the man said.
"You would do that to a student?" Meghan asked disbelievingly.
Susan stood up. "Auror Shacklebolt, is my auntie in there?"
"She is, Miss Bones, but I am under strict orders not to disturb her unless a professor, parent or tournament organizer comes to the door," he said.
"HARRY!" Hannah cried out again. "Susie!"
The door opened and a severe looking woman with a monocle on her face and red hair going grey stepped into the doorway. "What is going on out here?"
Hannah just about cried out in relief. "Auntie Amelia, Harry is in there!" Hannah cried out. Susan came up to her.
The woman looked at them. "Hannah? Susan? Meghan? What are you three girls doing here?"
"Hannah is dating Harry Potter, auntie. Can we see him?" Susan asked.
"Hey there, Misses Bones. You can't believe how fast Hannah ran," Meghan commented. "She's really worried."
The woman pursed her lips. "This really isn't the time, girls."
"Please, Auntie Ami," Hannah begged, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. "I need to see Harry. Is he alright?"
"Auntie, at least let Hannah in? Please," Susan begged.
Auntie Amelia didn't look totally convinced she should allow this, but the tears on Hannah's face and the big puppy dog eyes of the other two girls had her sighing. "Only Hannah and one other. It is already crowded in here. You are to be quiet. If anyone asks you to move or leave, you do so right away. Understood?"
Hannah couldn't keep the sob of relief in, pushing past the Aurors as soon as the hand loosened on her shoulder. Auntie Amelia stepped to the side as she rushed in. "Last bed on the left," Auntie told her in a hushed tone.
Inside the door, it was busy. All the hospital beds were full. Krum was out cold on the bed closest to her. The seventh year Slytherin that he had gone to the ball with was anxiously sitting in a chair at the side of his bed. She was dabbing his head with a damp cloth as a cold sweat kept gathering on his forehead. The bed next to him had a blonde girl that looked a little dazed. She had a beauty similar to Delacour, perhaps a younger sister that was about their age. Delacour herself was in the next bed, being looked over by Madam Pomfrey as two Aurors were trying to talk to her. A shorter man with dark hair and looking like he had gone to seed some, was standing next to a woman that was just as beautiful as the two girls with slightly lighter blonde hair than Hannah's own. The man was holding her hand.
Across from them, Dumbledore, the headmistress from Beauxbatons and the headmaster of Durmstrang were having a heated conversation with Mr Bagman and a noticeably young redheaded man. Percy Weasley? Even though they were arguing, she couldn't hear anything.
Just past them was Granger. Her eyes were closed. Welts and a few cuts covered her bare arms and across her face. Neville was sitting on a chair next to her. He looked beat to all hell. Bruises covered his face, neck and arms. One of his arms was in a sling. When he saw her, he didn't look happy. She didn't spare him a look, hurrying to Harry's bed.
Sue was in a chair next to Harry, a book in her hands and her eyes scanning the page. Harry was sitting up, his eyes closed and looking to be meditating. His head was wrapped in bandages. "Harry!" she cried out in relief.
He didn't say anything, starting when she reached his side and grabbed his hand. His emerald eyes snapped to her; alarm quickly replaced by concern. "I thought you were really hurt," she said, jumping onto the bed. He wrapped his arms around her as she clung to him.
"You really had us worried there, Harry," Susan said, taking the chair on the side of the bed.
Harry didn't say a word.
"He can't hear you, Hannah. Both his eardrums have been popped and he's waiting for a potion from Snape," Sue informed them.
Hannah pulled back, Harry's vivid green eyes meeting hers. Her hands went to the bandages on his head. His hands met hers. "I can't hear you," he said a little loudly.
She gently pulled him down and kissed his lips. Harry smiled at her. "You stupid, stupid boy," she said affectionately.
Sue sniggered. "Daft, is more like it."
Susan giggled. "Is he alright otherwise?"
"As far as Madam Pomfrey knows," Sue said.
"Why didn't anyone else get hurt like this?" Hannah asked looking into Harry's eyes again. There was something passing between them, as though he was trying to say sorry he had worried her. He had, but she felt prouder than anything else.
"Neville was still under gillyweed and the rest of us were either far enough away or above the surface," Sue answered.
"The kraken burst my eardrums," Harry told her, probably trying to answer what they were talking about. He was still talking louder than he normally would.
Hannah kissed him again.
"WHAT! I never asked Potter to intervene!" Neville suddenly cried out.
They all turned to the boy. Neville looked furious.
"Be that as it may, Mister Longbottom, Mister Potter and Miss Li came to the help of all the contestants before the task was complete, as such all the contestants will be losing ten points," Bagman said a little loudly.
"Ludo, is this really the time?" Dumbledore questioned.
"We need to score the champions. You know the rules," Bagman said. Hannah watched the man. He looked a little sweaty. "No one was supposed to help them."
"I disagree. The wording was that no professor, ministry employee, organizer or employee of the competition was to interfere. There is nothing in the rules or contract about classmates," Dumbledore said.
"You already cheated by having two champions, are you now saying that any student from our school can help!" Karkaroff exclaimed.
"Igor..." Dumbledore calmly said.
"Dumblydory, you 'ave convinced us that Longbottom was entered against 'is will, but this," Madam Maxime insinuated.
"Myself and no one else informed any of the students of this, if that is what you are saying, Olympe," an annoyed sounding Dumbledore replied.
"Neville?" Hermione said, grabbing his arm.
Hannah looked to a red-faced Neville as the judges argued about the point deductions. Harry followed her gaze.
"That boy is an idiot," Sue commented from behind her.
Susan snorted in amusement. "That is one way of putting it. He's coming over."
"Neville, don't!" Hermione begged as Neville yanked his arm from Hermione's hold. "He helped us."
"I don't need his help," Neville scowled.
"The British Ministry of Magic did nothing to compromise the tournament rules," Percy Weasley stated a little loudly. "Mister Crouch has assured me that all rules, regulations and agreements have been upheld."
Karkaroff scoffed. "Except that Hogwarts has two champions and now we find out that others of our students can help," the unpleasant man stated. "What else are you doing to violate the rules or not tell us what the rules are?"
Hannah had her eye on the angry Longbottom though. The boy stepped between the beds and the teachers as he stalked over to Harry. Hannah moved quickly to stand. Susan and Sue did the same.
"Let me at him," Longbottom demanded in a angry voice.
"He saved you today and you want to go after him?" Sue questioned.
"I didn't need his saving," Longbottom spat. "I had it until he came in."
"I think Hermione would say differently. If he hadn't jumped in, she and a few others would have drowned before the Aurors got there," Sue stated.
Hannah felt her heart pound against her chest. Harry had done that?
Longbottom curled up his lip. "I would have gotten there," Neville stated.
Sue made a scoffing sound. Hannah felt a hand on her shoulder. "What does he want?" Harry asked her. His volume control still seemed to be lacking and everyone heard him.
"I want you to stay out of my life and away from my girl!" Longbottom said angrily, taking a step forward. "The judges were debating on whether this task had to be declared void and redone because of you, Potter! I won't have Hermione in danger like that."
"He can't hear you, Longbottom," Susan pointed out at Harry's confused face.
"Serves the bloody bastard right then," Longbottom spat.
"He saved your life, Longbottom. Leave off him," Hannah retorted.
"Is he upset I saved him and the others?" Harry asked.
"You didn't save ME!" Longbottom bellowed. "Traitor!"
Neville's fist came up faster than any of them expected. Hannah saw it coming. Not wanting Harry to get hurt more, she pushed back, knocking him back onto the bed. Unfortunately, Longbottom's fist missed Harry but got her in the eye. She cried out in pain as the big fist dropped her down to the ground.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Harry bellowed. There was a huge wave of magic that suddenly washed over her.
Neville yelled in pain as he was launched across the hospital wing. She looked up in time to see Longbottom collide with Professor Snape. Harry jumped over her, charging Longbottom, magic sparking at his fingertips. Her mouth dropped open as Harry jumped on Longbottom, his hands starting to pummel the boy.
"NEVILLE!" Hermione screamed, trying to get out of bed, but unable to use her legs, falling to the floor before anyone could stop her. Professors, Headmasters, Aurors and students were all moving, trying to protect their various sides.
The Aurors that had been talking with Delacour reacted, their wands coming up and stunners racing towards Harry. Sue rose her wand, but the shield she was trying to get up was too slow. Harry was hit by two stunners and was thrown to the floor.
"HARRY!" Hannah screamed, rushing to her feet to get to Harry's side.
"Stand down!" a woman bellowed into the hospital wing.
Snape shoved Longbottom to the side as he moved to get to Harry's side. "Idiot, Longbottom! That will take me another hour to brew another dose. Twenty points and two weeks detention!"
The man started to run his wand over Harry and Madam Pomfrey ran to Neville.
The boy groaned; his face rather bloody from Harry. Hannah dropped to Harry's side.
"Wands down," the Aurors demanded.
Auntie Ami stepped between them. "Wands down. Aurors stand down! All of you! What just happened?"
"Longbottom came over yelling at Harry and then he went to strike him. Hannah pushed Harry back and then got hit. Harry..." Susan said, looking at him. "I'm not sure, but he did something that sent Longbottom across the hall into Professor Snape."
"Is this true, Hannah?" Auntie Amelia asked her.
"Yes, ma'am," she said. Hannah touched her face. It was already starting to throb.
"Longbottom started it. Another ten points for hitting a girl and a week of detention," Snape snapped before casting a white light on Harry. Harry stirred and groaned.
"Amelia, I'm sure this is just some school yard tiff," Dumbledore said in his grandfatherly tone.
"Why didn't you stop him from pummelling Longbottom?" Professor McGonagall asked, moving to Neville's side after having levitated Hermione back into the bed. The girl looked to be in incredible pain.
"Potter was hitting him? I thought he was helping him up," Snape snarked. Hannah, as worried as she was for Harry, couldn't keep a small smirk off her face. Yeah, Harry was just helping him up, she said to herself.
"An unprovoked attack against one of my nieces is just a school yard tiff?" Auntie Amelia asked, a brow raised to Dumbledore. Hannah and Susan could recognize when she was the Director of the DMLE, and this was one of those times.
"You fool boy. I just got your shoulder fixed and you injure it again. And now your face," Madam Pomfrey was chastising Longbottom, who was rolling in pain.
"Is he alright?" Hermione asked, looking ready to pass out herself.
"Merde," Delacour said from across the hall. Hannah looked up, apprehension running through her. The three blondes were all looking at Harry with a look Hannah didn't like. It was like they were all sizing him like he was a piece of meat… well, it looked like they wanted one particular piece of meat from him.
"Is Hannah alright?" Harry asked into the din of the arguments, not realizing yet she was at his side.
She smiled at him as she helped him into a sitting position. She took his face into her hands, ensuring that his eyes were looking into hers, even if her left eye was starting to swell. "I'm alright, luv," she said, trying to make the words as obvious as possible. He looked to her eye before she kissed him to let him know she would be alright and to stake her claim.
"You look like a panda again," Harry said loud enough for everyone to hear.
-oOo-
February 24, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry found it amusing that Hannah wouldn't let him out of her sight today. Before he had fallen asleep last night Professor Snape had given him a dose of the ear repair potion, or otherwise known as Auris Repare potion.
When he woke this morning, he was pleased to know that he could hear again. Hannah came in just after breakfast and refused to leave his side. She was being very clingy, chastising him for worrying her, but telling him how brave he was between quick kisses.
"Alright, you can go," the matron told him after doing a hearing check on him close to noon time.
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Harry told her.
She clucked her tongue. "You aren't the first Potter I've had in here after doing something stupidly heroic. Next time, don't hurt your hand too. Some students can be hardheaded. I hope this is the last time I see you in here like this until you graduate."
Harry gave her a huge smile.
"I will try to keep him out," Hannah told her, giving Harry a look that said he would be in trouble if he did something like this again anytime soon.
"I will leave him to your watchful eye, Miss Abbott," Madam Pomfrey told her with the hint of a smirk.
Taking his hand, Hannah led him towards the door. Only Hermione, Longpiddle and Krum were still in the infirmary. Longpiddle was still sleeping as they passed his bed. His face was still showing the bruises Harry had given him. Harry stopped by Hermione.
"Are you alright?" he asked her.
Hermione looked up at him, giving him a sad smile. "I will be. My legs are just about all healed. Skele-Gro is not fun," she told him.
"No, it isn't," Harry agreed, having to have the treatment a few times because of sparring accidents or after his last tournament.
"Harry, thank you. I know Neville doesn't see it yet, but from what I hear, you and Sue saved us. He'll come around," she told him.
Harry shook his head. "I'm not going to wait. You are welcome to study with me again, but I won't let Longpiddle near me or my friends," Harry told her.
Hermione sighed. "It's only you and Malfoy he has this issue with. I don't think your parents did what he says," she told him.
"Granger, if he goes after me or Harry again, I will file a formal complaint with Professor Sprout," Hannah told her.
Hermione closed her eyes for a few. "For what it's worth, I appreciate what you did. Thank you."
Harry nodded and they took their leave.
Making their way down to the Great Hall for lunch, Hannah pulled on his hand. He looked at her. She was chewing on her lip. "What's on your mind?" he asked.
Hannah was quiet for a moment as they walked. "You and Sue," she said.
"What about me and Sue?" he asked.
"You didn't hesitate to jump in. How did you know how to do all that? Has Professor Flitwick really taught you how to do the bubblehead charm and whatever else you did?" she asked, looking to him.
"Most of it. I also learned a lot just by studying," he told her.
She smiled at him. "I thought you were a Gryffindor the way you jumped in, but you really are a Ravenclaw, aren't you?"
Harry shrugged. "The hat considered me for Slytherin, but I liked learning more. It never mentioned anything about Gryffindor. I like to believe that we have aspects of all the houses in us, it's more our personality that it looks at."
"And you like to learn," she stated.
"I have a passion for learning and applying what I learn," he corrected her.
"Would you teach me?" she enquired.
"Whenever you want," he assured her.
She pulled on his hand to stop him. Harry stopped to look at her extending her head up a little. He may be oblivious to other things around him at times, but he could tell when she wanted to kiss him.
Even though they were less than two minutes away to reach the Great Hall, it took them more than fifteen. When they entered, he could see most of their friends at the Hufflepuff table. Luna was at the end of the Ravenclaw but got up as soon as she saw him. Harry hugged her as she rushed to him.
"I told everyone you would be alright," Luna stated. "The merpuffles were with you."
Harry chuckled. "Is that what distracted the kraken?"
"What else did you expect?" Luna asked seriously.
"Nothing. Come sit with us," Harry told her.
Luna gave him a huge smile and he was pleased to find himself between two blondes. Susan, Sue, Meghan, and Earnie sat across from them. What was making him uncomfortable was all the murmuring and looks towards him and Sue.
"I didn't jump in to get this much attention," Harry said to them.
"Potter, you and Li are all the talk of the school today," Ernie told them.
Harry looked around. "Well, bloody hell."
"I still think you were very brave," Hannah told him.
"Bloody mental," Sue groused. "I like attention, but I don't like the way those Durmstrang boys are looking at me."
"Need me to take care of them?" Harry asked, turning his attention to the boys. When they noticed his gaze, a few turned their eyes away, while a few others looked at him challengingly. Harry just returned their hard stares until they all turned back to their group and the Slytherins around them.
"At least Zabini looks ready to jump your bones," Harry commented after scanning the rest of the table.
Sue gave a satisfied smile. "I guess something good came out of yesterday. Don't do anything stupid like that again," she warned him.
"He won't, if he knows what's good for him," Hannah stated, her hand going to his thigh. She hadn't done that yet and a thrill went up his spine with how close it was to his crotch.
"Sure," he said in a little bit of a higher voice as it cracked. He tried to clamp down on his occlumency to keep from flushing. This caught the attention of most of them.
Luna looked down from her book. "Is his wand as firm as it looks?" Luna asked.
"Luna!" Harry exclaimed.
Hannah did flush a little but didn't move her hand. "I'm not sure Harry would let me handle his wand yet."
Meghan, Susan and Sue started to laugh while Ernie leaned down as though he was going to look under the table. The three girls were still laughing when he noticed Susan stop and her eyes go a little dreamy. He had seen her do that a few times around Delacour this year, but not like this. Harry could feel the pressure on his occlumency shields. Ernie sat up, a hungry look in his eyes.
"Handling a wand properly can be important," a silky French voice said from behind them. Hannah's hand, once sending jolt of joy through him, now sent a jolt of pain as her hand squeezed tight on his thigh. "Mister Potter, may I have a word?"
He turned to look up at Fleur Delacour and her sister. The way they were standing, he could only look into their eyes over the generously attractive swells of their chests. He would admit they were both pretty, but they weren't Hannah. "May I help you, Miss Delacour?"
"Oui. I wanted to thank you for saving my sister yesterday," Delacour said. "Gabrielle is very precious to me."
Harry got up, which forced Hannah to let go of his thigh. As he did, he swore Delacour leaned towards him. He had to avoid putting his face into her chest as he got up. Taking the outstretched hand, he kissed her knuckles. "I did what was needed, but thank you, Miss Delacour."
"Please, call me Fleur," she said in what sounded like a purr. He caught Susan lean over the table a little more. Susan was pushing her arms together, making her chest strain against her shirt. Susan had never really shown interest in anyone before. Harry was curious but would ask Hannah about it later.
"Fleur it is. Call me Harry. Gabrielle, is it?" Harry took Fleur's sister's outstretched hand. He noticed the dusting of pink on Gabrielle's cheeks and the way her doe eyes drank him in. He felt a little uncomfortable as he kissed the back of her hand.
"Thank you, Monsieur Potter," Gabrielle said.
"You and others needed help, I just provided it," he said a little cheekily. He did have a reputation to uphold of being flippant at times. He hoped this would take some of the attention away.
Hannah got up, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Yes, Harry is getting a reputation for rescuing pretty girls."
"You find me that attractive?" Luna suddenly asked. They turned to her. Luna was eyeing them up and down. "I admit, I do like blondes and dark hair, but I'm not sure I like you that way."
That broke the tension that had been building. Sue and Meghan laughed loudly, though Susan was more of a chuckle as she looked at the two French girls.
"Luna, you are attractive, but I totally agree," Harry told her.
They were interrupted by Professor Flitwick coming over. "Mister Potter, are you done with your lunch?"
"Professor, I haven't even eaten yet," Harry told him. "Fleur and Gabrielle were thanking me for yesterday."
Professor Flitwick gave a curt bow to the Delacours. "Yes, my apprentice was showing off his training yesterday. Eat up, Potter. You need to give a statement to the Aurors and then the headmaster would like to talk to you."
Harry sighed. "Yes, sir. Ladies, if you excuse me. I appear to be on a short schedule."
"We would like to talk with you again," Fleur told him.
Harry held up his hand. "You don't owe me anything. Maybe we can get together at another time?"
"Not without me," Hannah said before they nodded, and Harry sat back down to eat.
Susan was looking wistfully at the two sisters. "I think I need to save them next time."
Meghan nudged her. "You're drooling."
Susan blushed, taking a napkin and wiping her face. It went even redder when she realized she actually had been. Ernie shook his head. "Bloody hell, Harry. How many blondes are you going to collect."
"Only one, if I have a say," Hannah replied coolly to the boy.
Harry gave her an uncertain look.
It was close to half-past two when he finally was done giving his statement to Madam Bones and one of her aurors. Professor Flitwick had accompanied him so that he could have an adult on his side. Harry felt incredibly indebted to his master for being there. Harry hadn't felt nervous at all while fighting the kraken. He had been taught to be cool under pressure, and thus he was.
Sitting in a chair, a senior Auror and the Head of the DMLE before him was different. It was one thing to be cool under pressure when his wand was moving, it was something else when he wasn't moving.
Luckily, the interview went well. Master Flitwick said as such as they walked up to the headmaster's office. "You did exactly as you were supposed to, Harry."
"I just did as you told me too. Tell the truth and leave nothing out," Harry replied.
"Indeed, you did. Moving to help the hostages and struggling champions was the right move before helping Longbottom," Flitwick told him.
Harry snorted. "The prat didn't want my help."
"Be that as it may, you did the right thing," Flitwick reinforced.
A moment later, they walked into the headmaster's office. Professor McGonagall, Snape and Sprout were there. Harry felt a little apprehensive. Only a disciplinary hearing would require all four heads of house.
"Ah, Mister Potter, you joined us at just the right time," Professor Dumbledore said. "Please, take a seat. We have some things to talk about."
Harry nodded, taking the indicated seat as Master Flitwick sat next to him. "Albus, is this a disciplinary hearing?" Flitwick asked.
"I dear say it should be," Professor McGonagall said.
"You have still to prove what Potter did wrong," Professor Snape said coolly.
"I say Potter should get an award for Special Services to Hogwarts. He and Miss Li probably saved three people and helped all the Champions before the Aurors could get to them," Professor Sprout added.
Harry sent a questioning look towards his master.
"I have heard all your arguments for the last half hour. What I want is to find the underlying cause of why Mister Potter and Miss Li felt it necessary to act in the way they did," Headmaster Dumbledore stated. "Then we will decide on any necessary actions."
"I would like to lodge my protest at these proceedings. Mister Potter and Miss Li violated no tournament, school or ministry rules or laws. There should be no need for a formal hearing," Flitwick interjected.
"Potter deserves more than a week's worth of detention for what he did to Longbottom yesterday afternoon," Professor McGonagall put in.
"And yet you protest the punishment for Longbottom punching Miss Abbott and accusing Potter of bad things. I see why my Slytherins and others in this school are losing faith in you, Minerva," Snape coolly stated.
McGonagall sat tall, bristling at the biting words.
"Enough," Dumbledore said in a calm voice that held enough power to make Harry shiver. He didn't like the man. "Punching Miss Abbott was a mistake. What Mister Potter did was deliberate. I have made my ruling on this."
"Excuse me, Albus, but when did you make this ruling and I was not informed that Mister Potter would be serving a week's worth of detention," Flitwick stated. Harry remained quiet at a look from his master.
"That was decided at the start of this meeting. Now, I would like to hear from Mister Potter why he jumped into the lake and interfered with a task of the tournament," Dumbledore said.
"I lodge a protest against this. Longbottom clearly had intent to punch Mister Potter, who was a patient of Madam Pomfrey and hadn't shown any signs of aggression. I would assign the boy a week's worth of detention and twenty points," Flitwick said. His whole demeanour was challenging the headmaster.
"I agree with that punishment," Sprout endorsed.
"I still say it should be the three weeks I assigned, but I will agree," Snape said in his cool voice.
McGonagall looked terribly upset at the others. If Harry remembered correctly, if all four Heads of House agreed, they could overrule the headmaster. Seeing the defiance of three of his Heads of House, Dumbledore acquiesced. "Agreed. Mister Longbottom shall have the assigned detention and point loss. Now, Mister Potter, please explain yourself."
At a nod from Professor Flitwick, Harry sat a little taller. "I did not interfere, Professor. As Professor Flitwick indicated, I did not break any rules. I saw a friend and others lying face down in the water, not moving. Would you tell me that I should not rush to help them?"
The man rose a single eyebrow. Before Dumbledore could say anything, Professor McGonagall said, "A friend? I don't know a single Gryffindor that has been seen with you, Potter."
"Hermione Granger, ma'am," Harry told her. "We have been study partners since first year and until Longbottom told her not too, we used to meet on the grounds to run."
Snape looked at him. "Longbottom is restricting others from interacting with you? What was that you mentioned about bullying earlier, Minerva?"
"That is just hearsay," Dumbledore spoke up.
"I have seen Miss Granger with Mister Potter and others of my Hufflepuffs many times over the years. Often studying and laughing," Sprout spoke up.
"I have my memories of such as well," Flitwick said.
McGongall didn't look pleased but didn't rebuff them.
"Did you make Miss Li follow you into the water?" Dumbledore questioned.
"No, sir. Miss Li followed me in of her own accord," Harry replied. As much as Sue and him bantered they didn't like each other, he knew he would do anything he could to help her, and she did the same. She was one of his true friends.
"Miss Li and Mister Potter are very close," Flitwick added.
"What did you do once you entered the water?" Dumbledore asked. Thus, Harry found himself describing what happened, his reasoning for doing what he did, why he used the spells he did, where did he learn some of them and a dozen other questions. The school bell was tolling half past three by the time he was done.
Dumbledore had leaned forward, his hands steepled before his face and an intense look to his eyes. Harry knew the man wasn't using legillimency, but it felt like it. The four heads were quiet as well, all of them waiting for Dumbledore to make his decision.
"Thank you for explaining all this, Mister Potter. I find myself agreeing with Professor Flitwick's original protest. You did not do anything out of malice or intent to interfere. You used no spells that could be considered dark or against any rules. Your execution of help to the champions is part of what this tournament is supposed to endorse, though it is tradition not to get involved during a task, you did nothing wrong," Dumbledore said.
"But Albus...!" McGonagall protested.
Dumbledore held up a hand and she stopped. "I think this disciplinary hearing is over, finding that the only transgression that Mister Potter is guilty of is his treatment of Mister Longbottom yesterday after the task. Punishment has already been given to both parties and this will be considered closed. If the rest of you would, I would talk with Mister Potter for a few."
"Albus, I would stay," Flitwick said.
McGonagall stood up, looking upset. "I have never heard of anything like this! Potter interfered in the task and should have to face the Goblet. I will not have Longbottom in danger should the Goblet of fire find him lacking because of this."
"Minerva, if the contract with the Goblet of Fire had found any impropriety, I would say this conversation would be about Mister Potter staying here since he would most likely be a squib. Since we are not having that conversation, none of his actions was against the intent of the tournament," Dumbledore said. Harry felt the ire grow in the man. McGonagall, probably sensing the same, shrank back a bit.
After a moment, she nodded. "You are correct, Albus. If you excuse me, I would go check on my Gryffindors still in the hospital wing."
She spun on her heels and walked out of the room.
When Professor Sprout got up, she nodded to him. "Mister Potter, I have no doubt you saved lives. I applaud you for your devotion to your friend and your fair play to help those that don't appreciate it. Hufflepuff House recognizes your heroic actions. Twenty points to Ravenclaw."
Harry felt his face heat some. "Thank you, Professor Sprout."
When Professor Snape nodded and said, "Ten points to Ravenclaw," Harry knew the man was paying him a compliment for what happened.
"Thank you, sir," he replied.
When they left, Harry sat a little taller when he turned to face Dumbledore.
The man was studying him intently.
"Albus, if the hearing is done, why is my apprentice still here?" Flitwick asked.
"I think that you have undersold the skill of both of your apprentices, Filius. I have rarely seen such definitive action, and in fourth years. I think most seventh years would have been hard pressed to do half what they did. You have a tournament coming up over Easter?" the man asked.
"Yes, sir. In Italy," Harry told him.
Dumbledore nodded. "I think I will find a way to attend. It would be good for the headmaster to appear where two of his students are representing Hogwarts in an international venue."
"You have never attended a tournament before," Flitwick said, his eyes narrowing.
Dumbledore was still looking at Harry. It creeped him out. "That is an action I am finding I was remiss in, but it has been almost a decade since we had representation at an international tournament. If you do well, perhaps I could offer some additional training?"
Harry was flattered but didn't feel right about it at the same time.
"Perhaps that is something we can talk about later, Albus. Miss Li and Mister Potter are my apprentices, and I am unsure if they are ready for other tutoring yet. I am still instilling in them the proper ways to duel and would not like to unteach them unpleasant habits," Flitwick replied.
Dumbledore finally looked away from him, making a placating gesture to Master Flitwick. "Of course, Filius. It is just a possibility. The Potters were excellent duellist, as I said before, and I did train James for a little bit. I just thought I could offer the same to his son."
This felt like a manipulation. "Thank you, Headmaster, but I must do as my master instructs for now. Perhaps once I get my mastery in a few years we can talk again?"
Harry hated being diplomatic, but Professor Flitwick had been instructing Sue and him in how to handle those that might seek them out as part of their training.
"Perhaps that might be a better time, Mister Potter, but if you and your master change your mind, I can find the time," Dumbledore offered.
"Thank you, Albus, but I think I should get my apprentice back to the common room. He has been indisposed for two days now and I'm sure he has work to catch up on when classes resume tomorrow," Flitwick stated.
"Of course. I'm sure Mister Potter has work to do," the man said as though it was his own suggestion.
When they made it to the third-floor corridor, Flitwick took off towards a corridor that was becoming familiar and that had no paintings. When they were in the centre of the corridor, Flitwick stopped. "I am forbidding you to take any special tutoring from the headmaster. I know I said this was your decision, but he is actively seeking you."
Harry looked at his master. "He is going to recruit me, like he did my parents." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, and what Albus Dumbledore wants, he is rarely denied," Flitwick said.
Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Bloody hell," he muttered.
"Indeed," Flitwick replied before letting him go.
-oOo-
April 5, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry jumped, diving for the edge of the duelling run as a near solid wall of water tried to slice him in half. Harry rolled and his wand swiped around his body as he came up. "Auqitemporo!"
The collapsing wall of water made a drastic turn back from where it came from as he spun and pointed his wand towards Sue. She had already been casting a string of disarming, depulso and binding hexes. The wall of water crashed into her spells. The wall of water exploded. Harry spun his wand in a small circle. A shield popped up before he incanted 'glacius' in his head. The water was raining down before it turned into a sloshy field of ice. It was bulkier now than Sue expected and was she forced to put up her own shield as some weakened spells hit his shield after passing through the water.
Sue stepped to the side as he stood up. He started to move his wand in a series of smooth motions. As much as he tried so far, he could not perform non-verbal casting when he used his parseltongue. A series of hisses and spits came out as he cast a spell at the run, turning much of it to sand. As the spell ran down the length, he cast what he had found to be equivalent to some low power blasting hexes, a shield breaker and ropes.
"Bloody hell!" Sue cried out. She slashed her wand down. It cut a deep gouge in the run as she stepped back, raising a shield and then jabbing her wand through the shield as she casted a low powered piercing hex.
Harry let his shield absorb it as his sand went around the cut part of the run. The first blasting hex hit the floor. The second Sue's shield. The shield breaker shattered her shield, and she was caught on the side as she tried to dodge the ropes.
Harry was already casting a disarming charm and a stunner as the ropes wrapped around her wand arm and right leg. Sue fell to the duelling run hard. His spell ripped her wand out of her hand and then she went limp as the stunner finally took her out of the fight.
Harry let out a breath and fell to a knee. They had been going at it for a bit now. There was sweat on his face. Breathing a little heavily, his wand snapped up and he looked towards a few people that had started to clap.
Madam Bones and Professor Dumbledore were both clapping as Professor Flitwick ran over to Sue. "Very impressive, Mister Potter," Dumbledore said. Something about the way the man was looking at freaked him out.
"Thank you, Headmaster. Master Flitwick, is Sue alright?" he asked.
The diminutive man was at her side. He ran his wand over her before enervating her. "I'm sure she has a few bruises, but nothing that won't heal in a day or two with some bruise cream. You both got a little sloppy at the end, but nice use of your parselmouth," the man praised as Sue sat up, a hand to her head.
"Did you get the tail feathers of that hippogriff?" Sue asked, looking a little stunned still.
Harry chuckled. "I'll be sure to do that next time."
Sue shook her head and gave him a baleful look. "Ruddy arse."
Harry spread his arms out as though to say he meant her all the respect.
Madam Bones cleared her throat. "As colourful as I am sure you can be, I must say that was rather impressive. I would think you would give any of my Junior Aurors a run for their money. Maybe some of the older ones as well."
Sue suddenly realized they had company. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to offend you."
Dumbledore smiled at them both. "I'm sure when emotions get high like this, that insults are to be expected. Just mind the rules when you get back into the hallways."
"Yes, Professor," Sue and him intoned.
"Up you get, Miss Li. Harry, go get changed and cleaned up. Madam Bones would like to have a talk with you," Professor Flitwick told him.
Harry straightened up, gave a bow to Sue and then Master Flitwick. Sue returned an unsteady bow before the professor was helping her into a chair.
"If you would give me five or ten minutes?" he requested.
"Take the time you need," Madam Bones told him.
Harry hurried to the side room that Professor Flitwick had added for them. He took a quick shower and was still drying his hair as he came back out. Professor Dumbledore and Madam Bones were talking with Sue and Master Flitwick. Coming up to them, Professor Dumbledore asked, "Are you ready for your tournament next week?"
"Yes, sir. Sue has been a good sparring partner," he said, giving the girl a wink.
She glared at him. "If Potter doesn't laze about, Hogwarts should win this time."
"As long as the judges aren't paid off again," he replied easily.
"I doubt that there was any impropriety," Dumbledore said.
"The Circuit Judge, Rodolph Gustav, was just recently disbarred for taking bribes. Duelling competitions are not always honourable affairs," Master Flitwick remarked.
"Yes, I have heard that is an issue from time to time. Mister Potter, I know it is getting close to dinner. Would you mind joining me tonight?" Madam Bones asked.
"Am I in trouble?" he asked, knowing that he had been told he had been cleared for what happened at the second task, but why else would Susan's aunt want to talk to him like this?
She laughed. "No. Nothing like that, but I do have private business to talk with you about."
"Amelia, I have offered my office. This might be something that I could offer assistance in," Dumbledore said.
"All I need is the permission of his head of house, Albus," she said, looking from the headmaster to Master Flitwick.
"I give my permission. Curfew is at nine since they still have classes tomorrow," Professor Flitwick told her.
"I'll have him back in time," she assured.
"Nice knowing you," Sue whispered.
"You jumped in too," he snarked.
"I want one of us to win next week," she replied.
"See, you do love me," he said with a smile, following Madam Bones out of the room.
They didn't say anything until they were outside the castle. "Susan told me you were good, but you must be at the top of your bracket on the underage league with a show like that."
Harry shrugged. "I couldn't go at Christmas, but I finished in the top three in the three tournaments I was in last year," he told her.
"Your first time, correct?"
"Yes, Madam Bones," he replied. They were walking towards Hogsmeade. "If you don't mind me asking, if I'm not in trouble, what are we doing?"
"I have some personal business to talk with you about but would prefer to do it outside of the school," she told him.
Harry swallowed. "The WCS is going to send me back to the orphanage, aren't' they? They couldn't find anyone to take me in, did they?" He couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "You jumped to that conclusion rather quickly."
"If I'm not in trouble for the second task, and Professor Flitwick has helped me claim my family vaults, then what else could this be? The WCS does report to you," Harry pointed out.
She chuckled. "Susan and Hannah said you were very bright. I see their praise is well deserved."
Harry smiled, though still felt angry. "Hannah talks about me outside of Hogwarts?"
She gave a deep laugh this time. "I think your girlfriend has been quite taken with you for a long time. Susan and Hannah are almost always together, and she has talked about you quite incessantly."
Harry liked that. "So, do I at least get to wait until school is over until I have to go back?"
By now, they had made the main gates. "Well, I was going to wait, but I can see you are anxious to find your fate. Did you know that Susan is your cousin?"
Harry blinked. "She is?"
"Third cousin-once removed," Amelia told him as they walked into the outskirts of Hogsmeade.
"I didn't know. Does Susan? She never mentioned it," Harry told her.
"She didn't know until a few days ago. I didn't either. I married Susan's uncle, her father's brother. My Garett never mentioned it before he passed," she told him.
Harry was processing this, his mind going faster than a speeding Firebolt. "So, you are my third cousin?"
"Married into the Bones family. Susan is my niece, and your cousin by blood. Do you know why this is significant?"
Harry felt his heart give a stuttering beat. He had a feeling he knew, but didn't want to hope... "The WCS... they said they were looking for a family member to adopt me." It had come out as a whisper as they stopped in the middle of the street not far from the Three Broomsticks. It wasn't terribly busy, which was probably a good thing. Amelia turned to face him.
He really didn't want to hope...
To hope to have a family...
To hope he would leave Wool's Orphanage...
A pang ripped at his chest. He didn't want to hope...
"It's not official yet. I was hoping to talk with you about this tonight. We have extra rooms at Grace Hall. If you want," she said.
Harry just looked at her. The pain in his chest tightened some. "If I want?"
"There is a hearing in three weeks. I am one of the candidates to take you and thought you might like to get to know me first. The WCS will ask you if you would like to accept one of the possible placements," Madam Bones told him in a soft voice.
"There is more than one?" he asked, incredulity in his voice.
Madam Bones nodded to the Three Broomsticks tavern and inn. "I have all the information if you want to talk about this over dinner. I knew Susan has said it's been hard at times to live in the muggle world and at an orphanage. If I had known, I would have put my name in years ago," the woman told him.
Harry blinked, his eyes feeling a little watery. "Who else?"
"Susan and the Malfoys are blood related to you. Ophelia Bones married Hardwin Potter, the brother of your great grandfather, Harold Potter. As Regent of the Bones, and you being the last remaining person who can claim the Bones after Susan, I can adopt you as my ward," she told him softly.
Harry blinked some more. "How can I be related to the Malfoys? They are... they are blood bigots and the ponce of a son they have..."
She gave him a slight smile. "I see you don't have a high opinion of them either. Your grandmother was a Black. The Malfoys are your fourth cousins. You and Draco are the only ones eligible for the Black Lordship, unless Sirius Black ever comes out of the coma he has been in. If you choose me, then you can walk out of the meeting as my ward."
"Really?" he asked, the pain in his chest starting to lesson as he started to hope...
"Really. Come on inside. I can go over the documents I have with me and what to expect. I have permission for you to come to Grace Hall over Easter. I talked with Susan about it earlier today. She's really excited for you to come over," the woman said kindly.
"You mean I wouldn't have to go back to the orphanage? You would really want me to come live with you?" he asked, still not really believing it.
"And Susan. I'm sure Hannah will be over as often as possible," she added, as though it was fudge she was adding over a chocolate sundae to sweeten the proposal.
A disbelieving smile had started on his face. "You won't ever send me back?"
Harry had had that happen when he was younger. He wouldn't be able to bear it if that happened again.
"I give you my word that if you decide to live with Susan and I, I will never send you back. Our home will always be open to you, even after you come of age," she assured him. When he didn't say anything, she motioned for the tavern again. "Come on. I would like to get to know a boy my nieces have talked about since they first went to Hogwarts."
The smile on his face turned more pleasant. "Is Hannah really your niece? I know they say they are cousins at times."
"Well, they are in a way. My sister is Hannah's mother. So, by marriage, they are cousins," Madam Bones said.
"Oh," Harry replied, falling in step with her. "Madam Bones?"
"Call me Amelia or Auntie Amelia. Susan and Hannah do," she told him.
"Amelia?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"You really won't send me back?" he asked.
"Once you are my ward and son, there is no going back. The worst I might do is banish you to your room," she said mischievously.
Harry let out a nervous chuckle. "I'll try to behave."
Amelia laughed. "We all have our days. Just don't ever worry that you will be abandoned again."
Harry was going to try.
-oOo-
The next time on Duel of Fate: The U14 Tournament in Naples, Italy.
