Harry Potter and the Supreme Animagus

Chapter 21

British Changeling's Egg Poaching Method

Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).

Hogwarts
Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom

"There is something you are not telling me, Potter." Moody paced around Harry and Hermione, both seated on their usual double desk. "I do not like it."

Hermione nodded, "It is a risk to your life and magic, Professor Moody. We are too early in the game to reveal it to you."

"Harrumph." He growled. "Your explanation of Potter's method feels too neat. Rehearsed. He leaned in threateningly. "And I haven't seen hide nor hair of your friend Logan since he got me out of my own trunk." He shook his head. "I'm guessing. And I do not like guessing. It's messy. I wanna know if we can count on Logan for the endgame. A bee can infiltrate almost any place without much notice."

"It's very serious, Moody." Harry said, looking at the former Auror's natural eye. "Getting you into the secret now would be dangerous to you, and we can't afford to get you out of the game. I promise we will reveal everything once it is safe. And advantageous. Logan will be available when we really need him."

Moody stared back at Harry. "Very well, but it better be really important. You are keeping me out of the loop. And that's a dangerous place to stand." He pointed at his magical eye, "Very dangerous. I didn't get this trinket just to make a fashion statement. I lost it due to lack of critical information. And no, I won't tell you what happened."

He exhaled a lungful of air. "Still, you seem to be keeping proper information handling protocols. I'll allow it, for now."

He dropped the matter. "Have you checked the egg?"

"Harry did open it in the Gryffindor Common Room, to shut up the rest of the House berating Harry for his low score."

Harry rubbed his ears, "Damned racket if does. It almost left me deaf." The screeching from the egg had been pure torture for Harry, who closed the egg almost immediately. Still, it got the wanted result. The rest of the House basically ran away from the hideous screeching noise.

"Hmm…" Moody entered into 'Investigation Mode', as Hermione called that particular state of mind. "If the clue is inside the egg… then it must be revealed by some external factor."

"'Speak Friend and Enter?" Hermione quoted.

Harry raised an interrogative eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

Moody stamped the end of his staff against the floor. "Explain, girl. Is that a Muggle thing?"

"It's from The Lord of the Rings, a famous fantasy series." Emma Granger explained. "In the story, there's a magical door the heroes need to cross; on it, there's an engraving in elvish that says something like 'Speak Friend and Enter', the protagonists are stumped by it, as the door won't open except by magic."

Moody nodded disapprovingly. "It's something ridiculous, isn't it? If there are elves involved, it has to be."

"In a way, yes. The wizard translated the inscription literally, but the right meaning was 'Say Friend and Enter'. All they had to do was to say the elvish word for Friend." Hermione commented. "By the way, the elves in The Lord of the Rings are nothing like house elves."

"I'll take your word for that, Hermione; but how is that related to the clue?" Harry asked.

"There must be an extra factor involved. Something external to the egg. Opening it under the moon light, bathing it in magical fire, or something like that."

"Maybe the other Champions have some idea." Hermione suggested.

"Let's think of some possible ways and check with the other Champions. I doubt it will be a magical word. Then it would probably be like that story of the guy with the strange name no one could guess." Harry waved a hand around, as if trying to include the other Champions.

"Rumpelstiltskin." Hermione answered.

"I think we can discard that one." Harry said.

"Have you examined the actual egg?" Moody asked. "Any engravings that could hide text?"

"Yeah. Lots of decoration, but nothing that could hide any text, we tried to look for non-repeating patterns, deformed letters, and small text, nothing. The clue is in the egg, we must find a way to get past the screaming banshee noise."

For some reason, Hermíone's words stuck into Harry's mind.

Later.

"Well, kids, Moody is gone. How in the Seven Hells did you do it, Harry?" Sirius asked. "I was listening to the Wireless, and I have no idea. I think you used a decoy, but that's all."

Dan elbowed Sirius. "I think I know!" He was almost jumping up and down in excitement. "You went Logan, right? Did you turn into some small creature to reach the egg?"

Harry laughed. "I did!"

First Task
(Harry's POV)

Ludo Bagman entered the Champions' Tent, rubbing his hands in anticipation. The Wasps uniform tight around his belly. "Now that we're all in, time to fill you in!" He held up a purple silk bag. "Once the audience has gathered, each one of you will select a small model of the thing you're about to face." He shook the bag. "There are different… um… varieties, you see. And the best part is, your Task is to collect the golden egg!"

'A Golden Egg?' Harry thought. 'Not a real dragon egg?' He almost smiled to himself. This was the best development he could have wanted. He quickly adjusted his plans to take the fake egg into account. As things were now, the adjustments needed were ridiculously small.

As time passed, Harry revised the new plan again and again. Finally, it was his turn. He checked the armor straps and his robes.

He walked out the tent, and looked around. It was clear to see where he would have to go, as there was a little man, looking officious, waiting for him by a closed door. "Well met, Mr. Potter. I am Arnold Wheatbuckle (1), I'm in charge of reviewing the rules for this Task with you. Do you agree?"

"Sure. I mean, I do agree."

"Excellent. As you have been told, your task is to get the Golden Egg that has been put in the nest of this dragon. To do so, you are to enter this enclosure, equipped only with your wand. No other magical item, or especially, magical focus will be allowed. Do you understand your Task and the conditions you must perform under, Mr. Potter?"

"I do, Mr. Wheatbuckle."

"You will be awarded points according to your performance. Damaging or destroying the eggs will result in points deducted. Particularly creative or outstanding feats of magical prowess will receive extra points. Do you understand these conditions, Mr. Potter?"

"I do, Mr. Wheatbuckle. Um… am I allowed to ask one or two questions?"

"Of course, as long as your questions pertain to the rules and conditions of the task."

"Just how far am I allowed to…um… defend myself?"

"Very prudent question indeed, Mr. Potter. There is no particular provision in the rules respect to the dragons themselves. Therefore, you are free to use any magical means you deem necessary, up to killing the beast. However, in the spirit if fairness, I do not reccomend you try to fight this particular dragon, as it is of a most dangerous breed, and wounding it would result in a very angry beast."

"Got it, Mr. Wheatbuckle. Last question, is there a time limit?"

"Not as such, Mr. Potter. Though prudence dictates as short a time spent close to the dragon as possible."

Harry nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Wheatbuckle. I am ready."

"Capital. A last requirement, Mr. Potter. I need to certify you are only carrying your wand, and no other magical items."

"Of course." Harry extended his arms, his wand held in his right hand, while Mr. Wheatbuckle scanned him with his own wand. Once satisfied, the man nodded, and cast a green stream of sparks, signaling that Harry Potter had been allowed to proceed. Wheatbuckle walked back to the stands, while two dragon handlers held the doors. Harry put the mask over his face. No sense wearing a set of practically indestructible armor if one left the head without any protection.

One of them hissed at Harry as he got closer. "Hey, Harry! Got your letters, sorry I couldn't give you a hint, but we were sworn to secrecy. Glad to see Ron passed the message!"

"Wait. Did you tell Ron?" Harry was outraged. He breathed deep to calm himself. First Task now, Anger Later.

"Of course. I couldn't tell any of the Champions, but I knew Ron would tell you."

"Charlie, Ron and I are not in good terms since the stupid Goblet of Fire chose me as Fourth Champion."

"What?" Charlie sounded both surprised and angry.

"We are not friends anymore. Sorry."

"He didn't even tell me!"

"Um, Charlie? Could you guys do me a favor?"

"Sure, sure. As long as it's not against the rules…" The man was clearly containing his temper.

"I don't think so. Can you wait a bit to close the doors once I'm inside?"

Charlie thought about it. "Well…" he said, nodding slowly, "the rules clearly state we have to close the doors after the champion in turn enters the enclosure. Isn't that so, Robbie?"

"It is so, Charlie, but how long it takes to even begin to close them is not even mentioned."

"Take your time, Harry!" Both handlers chorused.

"Thanks, guys!" Harry raised his hands over his head, he waited for a little while, until the batarangs he had thrown after coming out the Champions' Tent arrived to his hands. "Okay, close the door!" He said. The rules didn't say anything about receiving magical items after entering the dragon's enclosure, after all…

Once inside, he walked slowly towards the nest. The dragon watched him warily. She had been stunned recently, and didn't really want to repeat the experience.

Harry heard the solid clang of the closing doors and focused on his breathing. A few steps later, the dragon decided he should not get any closer. She shook her head from side to side, extending her wings and roaring threateningly. Harry gave a step back. No sense in provoking the dragon more than absolutely necessary. He knelt down.

'Showtime.' He thought. Harry focused his will on the first Batarang. He programmed a simple route for the item. A big circuit around the dragon, gradually releasing the Peruvian Darkness Powder it carried in an expanded compartment. Once the Batarang was ready, Harry threw it to his left. He repeated the sequence with the second Batarang, but ordering it to fly in the opposite direction. Both batarangs would pass behind him in their return.

Soon, a layer of impenetrable darkness settled on the ground. Just as Harry wanted, it was about two feet thick. If he remained kneeling, his head and shoulder would be perfectly visible to the public, the announcer, and most importantly, to the dragon.

Instead, he went down, hiding under the cloud of darkness. He extended his body as a soldier about to crawl throu no-man's land. Changing to a grasshopper, he left the armor behind. Being magic resistant, the armor didn't change with him as his regular clothes did. Once free of the armor, Harry changed to a spider monkey, and transfigured a rock into a copy of himself wearing the armor. He set the decoy to stay visible, its head should be clearly visible, keeping the attention of everybody present, beginning with the dragon.

Next, he changed again into a niffler. This form had an extremely fine tuned smell sense for gold, and even for shiny objects. Immediately, Harry knew exactly where and how far the Golden Egg was, darkness was no obstacle at all.

Harry put claws to work and began to dig a tunnel under the dragon. From time to time, he stopped to listen and to confirm direction. It took him a while, but eventually he was right under the nest. (2)

Carefully and very slowly, Harry dug his way up, a couple of feet away from the nest. He could almost taste the egg. There it was… it was almost calling out for him…

With all due caution, the niffler closed on the nest. The egg tantalizingly close, but Harry stuck to the plan. Revealing his presence would be a potentially lethal mistake. Finally, he was close enough to take the egg. In a lightning fast movement, he put the egg into his pouch, somehow managing to put an object bigger than himself in a much smaller space.

Egg obtained, Harry returned to his tunnel, and after getting inside, he closed the exit with packed earth.

The return trip was easier and much faster. Once back to the starting position, he took the egg out of the pouch. He had absolutely no intention of testing what happened to any objects in the pouch when he changed form again.

Almost twenty minutes had passed since the beginning of the Task, and the audience in the stands was busy expressing their displeasure. Harry changed again, back to a spider monkey, and smirked. 'Just as planned.' He closed the end of the tunnel, and animated the decoy to genuflect inside the darkness.

He transfigured it back into a rock, changed into an octopus, and flowed back into his armor. It would be uncomfortable if it wasn't for the under suit, that had changed with him. Still… the fit was not perfect…

Harry stood up and raised his hands, recalling the Batarangs. Once he had both in hand, he closed the powder compartments and threw them again. The two Batarangs would fly to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where Dobby would recover them. Finally, Harry conjured a bag to put the egg inside. Task completed, he retreated back to the door.

At her nest, the dragon snorted contemptuously, glad to be finally left alone with her eggs.

"You okay, Harry?" Charlie Weasley asked, "You didn't even get close to the nest, what happened?" He shook his head, incredulous.

Harry chuckled, pulling the hood back and taking off the mask. "Actually…" he smirked, opening the bag and raising the Golden Egg as some kind of trophy.

Charlie and Robbie laughed. "Man! That was…" he shook his head again, "How did you do it? We were watching you all the time!"

Harry tapped the side of his nose, "Magic, Charlie, magic! I'll keep the secret for now. I wouldn't want to spoil the trick by revealing it!"

Both dragon handlers laughed with Harry.

Up in the stands, Hermione exhaled the breath she had been holding. She left her seat, and Neville went after her.

Neither noticed Ron Weasley was following them, scowling ferociously.

At the press stand, Rita Skeeter gleefully planned her next article, denouncing Potter's lack of showmanship and basic lack of any kind of drive. Well… that and fraternization with the enemy, of course. This was supposed to be about competition, not cooperation! She almost rubbed her hands together like a stereotypical villain, but her fat fingers had too many rings on.

Author Notese w

(1) OC created for this scene only. Maybe Percy Weasley would have been a better fit, but I didn't want to put him in scene so early in the story

(2) This bit was inspired by a small bit in New Teen Titans issue 3 (Jan, 1981). To get to the mysterious Titans Tower, the Changeling decided to imitate Bugs Bunny and burrow to the Tower. Somehow, Logan as a gopher managed to burrow under the East River without any problems, and hone exactly on the place.