AN: I hope everyone has had an enjoyable week, and I hope you're ready for another chapter.
GreengrassRebel - Thank you! It was fun writing it. The challenge I felt was not dragging on too much with all the chaos. I'm definitely going to try and give each team some time to shine in this Tournament. Harry's team will continue to do well, but I don't intend for any team to just easily be trouncing the others.
Mando-Vet - Thanks!
LadyPhoenix68 - Honestly, I hadn't considered that they could look at the clues. In my mind, the clues were charmed to not be opened until after the task, but I never did write that in . . .
scrappy8 - Thanks! It was a lot of fun to write and I thought it helped bring some levity and fun to the Tournament.
hushpuppy22 - Thanks! Yeah, I enjoyed coming up with Fleur's strategy . . . really all of them. Fleur was the most cunning and cutthroat, looking for easy points. Krum's was the most offensive, just trying to batter through every one. Harry tried to be the most tactically sound, and Cedric's team went with strength in numbers, which is a very Hufflepuff approach.
Arctic Wolf Fury - Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps he's learned his lesson about going against Harry . . . but perhaps not.
stars90 - Thanks!
Chapter 36
"Good evening, Sirius," Dumbledore greeted, and Sirius smiled tiredly.
"Good evening, Albus."
"How was your trip to Campina Grande? I've always felt that it was one of the most beautiful places to visit."
Sirius nodded.
"It was beautiful, and I learned a lot in the course. The knowledge that I didn't know about advanced tracking and concealment apparently was enough to fill several books, but I'll admit it is good to be home. What did you need to see me about?"
"I think I have finished the ritual to restore a magically affected mind," Dumbledore said, and Sirius felt his weariness leave him as adrenaline and excitement surged.
"Truly? You believe it will work?" Sirius asked quickly.
"I do," Dumbledore said, "but before you petition with the Ministry and release the knowledge of your family magic, I suggest we do a test of the spell. I have already contacted the family member of two such people affected, and while she is understandably hesitant, she has agreed to allow the test to be done in a week and halfs' time. I wish for you to be there."
"Who are we testing this spell on?" Sirius asked with concern. "Who would be willing to take those types of risks?"
"Someone who doesn't have any hope for another cure," Dumbledore said wearily. "We will be using the spell on two old comrades of ours. Frank and Alice Longbottom."
Sirius's eyes widened in shock.
"You believe this will be able to cure them?"
"I do," Dumbledore said. "The ritual I have devised places a specific focus on how the victim is affected, not the manner of how it occurred. Its focus is on a mind affected by magic. Bellatrix's mind was affected by magic, but so were Frank and Alice's. The Cruciatus Curse still did enough damage to them, and I believe this will cure them. If it doesn't, then we might still have hope to cure Bellatrix with it, but admittedly, I will feel less sure of my results."
"I'll be there," Sirius said.
That would be right before he went off to the infiltration course, and he'd be out of contact for two months, but assuming things worked, he'd have time to plan how to approach Fudge. If things didn't work, he'd have time to think about the next step.
"Good, the test is set for right after the Third Task, just before you head off to your next thrilling step in your professional education."
**HP**
"Harry!" Hermione called out, entering the Room of Requirement with Ron, while Ron snorted in amusement, seeing Katie, Alicia, and Neville all in various states of paralyzed, stunned, or bound, while Angelina attempted to stave off Harry's attack, and failing as Hermione's voice broke her concentration and she fell after being bound by incarcerous.
In the week following the Second Task, Neville had become a more regularly seen part of their group. He was still the one who seemed to be the odd man out the most, not having quite the history, though the rest of them did their best to welcome him, but happily enough, Ron had stepped up and often included Neville more and more when the boy seemed to be wanting to withdraw, not knowing how to integrate to some of their inside jokes and banter. It helped that most of the school was quite complimentary of both teams and all participants. Sure, there were those, like Malfoy, as Angelina had predicted, that made cracks about how much better they would have performed, but a great number in the school were actively mocking those who openly voiced those opinions, and were generally showing support towards both Hogwarts teams.
"I don't know why we even try," Ron said. "Harry thrashes all of us, even at the same time."
"I've gotten better," Harry said sheepishly. "It certainly took some time to adjust to worrying about spells from various directions, and it's really helped my sensing develop even further than I thought it would. Plus, you all have gotten a lot better, which in turn then helps me even more."
"End result is always the same mate," Ron said with a shake of his head. "The rest of us knocked out or bound all around the room."
"Oh, ignore him," Hermione said. "Harry, Hedwig was just flying by. You've got a couple letters here and a small package. I think they're from the apothecaries and from Penny."
"Oh, great!" Harry said, hoping that Penny would be able to help them, or at least have an idea on how they could get some gillyweed if the apothecaries were a bust. He really wasn't looking forward to stealing from Snape's stores . . . again.
At the very least, Penny's letter along with the replies from the apothecaries would mean they would have a way forward. He'd been bummed that he hadn't seen her after the Second Task.
"Nothing in stock in the apothecary in Hogsmeade," Harry said sadly, looking down at the rather swift reply. "They could get some, but it'll take two weeks. And nothing in Diagon Alley either."
"Another step towards stealing from Snape," Katie said, and Harry sighed.
"Katie, it's not worth it," Harry said. "I'll just use the Bubble-Head charm if Penny doesn't have anything."
"No, Harry, this takes out a lot of risk," Alicia said. "It is worth it. The Bubble-Head Charm can be popped, and then you're underwater battling whatever popped it without air. It is worth it."
Harry sighed. They weren't wrong, but at the same time, he wasn't sure he wanted to risk what would happen to all of them if they were caught. He didn't want them getting into that sort of trouble just for him. Harry glanced at the last two items, seeing that both were from Penny and he smiled. He was sure Penny had come through. He couldn't think of anything else that she would send him. Harry opened the pouch and smiled, grateful to his and Dora's friend, looking at the bundle of slimy, grey rat tail looking-plant.
Hiya Harry!
Sorry I wasn't able to talk to you after the Second Task, but I wanted to congratulate my sister and Cedric and his teammates. I've known Cedric since he was a First Year. I was his Prefect after all. Still, you did incredible! I'm glad you reached out and obviously I'm more than happy to help. I wish you had reached out earlier! There are a few rather obscure potions that help with underwater exploration, but I wouldn't be able to make them in the timeframe you need. However, a bit more crude, but still very effective, is Gillyweed, as you so brilliantly deduced. It will help you breathe underwater and swim faster for a generally short time. I've done the calculations for you, and this should last you an hour and a half in the Black Lake. If you don't mind though, can you tell me what the experience is like after you've absolutely crushed the Third Task? I've never used Gillyweed before and I'd love a first hand account!
Anyways, how is the rest of your year going? I've been so deep into some research that I feel like I haven't reached out to anyone in forever! I'm sorry I haven't written more. Tonks is probably livid with me, though I did hear she got into those two Auror classes, and I'm sure she'll have a blast. Better her than me. Did those books help you with Potions? I hope they did. I know that few people like the subject as much as I do, but I still feel like everyone can be competent in it with the right help. I heard about the First Task, so I know you must be learning all sorts of powerful and interesting spells this year. I really wish I had the same skill with offensive and defensive magic as I have with potions. It is a fascinating subject, even if I don't quite have the instincts that you or Tonks have.
Things are going well for me, thanks for asking. Yes, I do need to probably get out of my lab more, though how you knew that, I don't know. You and Tonks are just too omniscient . . . or I'm just far too predictable. Well, at least I enjoy what I do! Poor Chiara seems to be enjoying Medical School, but I can tell the poor thing has barely slept at all, and seems at her rope's end depending on the day. I can't imagine going back to the Muggle world after seven years at Hogwarts, and Chiara isn't even muggleborn! She's incredible, I must say.
Well, that's really all I have at the moment. I'm rather boring at times, but I hope you'll write back and tell me how the Third Task went . . . or maybe I should come watch it myself. I guess we'll see if I can get out of my lab!
Cheers Harry!
Penny
I guess we don't need to steal from Snape anymore," Harry muttered looking at the rather unappetizing plant in front of him, feeling a sense of gratitude toward the cheery potions mistress.
"Bloody brilliant," Ron said with relief, and Hermione smacked his arm for his language.
"Well, then let's just focus on spells and research on the lake then," Katie said with a smile. "Harry, you've got a Third Task to win."
**HP**
"Hey there, kiddos," Sirius greeted Harry's friends who were making their way to the stands that had been created near the lake for the Third Task.
The teenagers all turned towards him and his decent sized group of supporters who had all come to see the Third Task.
"Oliver!" Angelina, Alicia, and Katie all greeted in surprise, but with smiles on their faces as they moved forward and exchanged hugs with Oliver Wood.
"What are you doing here?" Alicia asked.
"Uh, well, Skye invited me, and I thought it would be great to see you guys and see how Harry did for this task," he admitted, and all three former members of his team all grinned rather evilly at a rather worried looking Wood and an equally evilly grinning Skye Parkin, who was standing next to Wood and Erika Rath, who was looking amused at the whole situation.
Along with Sirius, Oliver, Skye, and Erika were also Remus, Alexis, Lexie, Savage, Siobhan carrying Aisling, Kingsley, Penny, and Chiara. Sirius figured Harry would enjoy seeing them all out to support him, just as he always did.
"Wait, where's Tonks?" Ginny asked, looking around. "Did she get tagged for work today?"
Sirius shook his head.
"Nope, she's involved in today's task," he told her.
"She's who Harry has to rescue!" Katie exclaimed.
"Then that means Hermione isn't his hostage," Alicia said, grinning. "I guess that means she's Krum"s hostage to save."
Sirius noticed Ron scowl at that, but he didn't say anything while the teenage girls laughed and filled in the various guests about Hermione, one of Harry's best friends, being Krum's date to the Yule Ball.
As a very large group, they found a place in the stands from which they looked down onto the lake and onto a platform that held the four champions, next to their headmasters or headmistresses except for Harry who had Mad-Eye standing at his side. In front of them coming out of the water were four large screens, similar to ones seen at all major sporting events in the muggle world, but only just now starting to become present at Quidditch matches in the Wizarding world, and exactly the same as the ones that they had seen last Task,
"Ooh, they have a screen for each champion, just like the last task," Siobhan said. "That's good because this task would have been boring for the spectators otherwise."
"The screens were nice too," Savage said. "Great way to watch what was going on and help us get a feel for what they were all going through."
"Harry's looking very fit," Lexie noted, glancing down at the contestants. "Somebody's been keeping up with his workouts. He might not be as tall as Krum or Diggory, but he looks every bit as built as them, maybe even more so."
All three boys were wearing swimming trunks and Delacour was wearing a modest one piece bathing suit. Cedric had a knife attached to his belt, and a wrist wand holster, as did Delacour. Krum had nothing except for a belt holster for his wand. Harry on the other hand had his stygian dagger attached to his waist and leg, Sirius noted. He also had three of his other stygian throwing knives attached to non-wand arm, and then his wand, Sirius knew, was in his wrist holster, hidden from view.
"Oh, he is," Katie said appreciatively. "He's been doing his normal workouts plus a hard swimming workout for the past two months, and I'm telling you, he is pure muscle."
"Know from experience, do you?" Skye asked with a smirk, and Katie blushed, while Angelina and Alicia laughed.
"Plenty, what with all her excuses to hug or cuddle on a couch with him," Ginny said with a wicked grin, getting further laughs while Katie's jaw dropped and she gave Ginny a playful pout.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen!" Bagman's voice rang out across the lake and the grounds. "Welcome to the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament! Last night, something precious was taken from each of our champions and placed in the lake. On my whistle, they have precisely one hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three! One . . . two . . . three!"
Everyone watched as both Diggory and Delacour applied Bubble-Head Charms to themselves and dived into the water. Harry started chewing on something before they saw him grab his neck in pain and then dive into the water, while Krum transfigured himself into some hybrid between himself and a shark and then also was in the water. As soon as all four disappeared beneath the water, the screens powered on, and everyone was able to see each champion from a third person's viewpoint.
"Merlin it's a bit creepy down there," Chiara said, as they watched the champions swim through the murky, dark landscape, occasionally with glimmering stones shining through, and she got various grunts of agreement.
"Harry took care of those grindylows expertly," Lexie said, watching Harry swim on after having fought off three of them.
"Ooh, that Delacour girl is in trouble," Siobhan said, as they watched Delacour start getting mobbed by dozens of slimy creatures.
"Grindylows," Remus muttered. "Dealing with one or so isn't terrible. Dealing with a pack like that . . ."
They watched, feeling a sense of foreboding as she valiantly fought but was slowly being overwhelmed by the dozens of creatures lashing out at her from nearly all directions.
"Wait, Harry's right near there!" Alicia said, and indeed she was right as the two screens became almost one with Harry swimming to Delacour's aid, his wand appearing in his hand and several spells nonverbally flying and striking many of the grindylows causing them to back off and giving Delacour breathing room, but Harry's intervention wasn't enough as grindylows started swarming towards Harry, while they continued to attack Delacour, and everyone in the crowd gasped as Delacour's charm was popped.
They all watched in horror as she started to panic, attempting to fight off the grindylows while attempting to reapply her charm, and people started calling out for someone to help her when they watched a flurry of explosions rip through the grindylows swarming Harry, and everyone saw him casting blasting curses, stunners, cutting curses, and relashios with incredible speed, while his shadow dagger flashed in his other hand cutting down grindylows that were too close to him. Sirius watched with morbid curiosity as the grindylows Harry cut seemed to fade into lifeless husks as their life force was absorbed by the dagger.
Harry burst through the crowd and reached Delacour and he quickly reapplied her Bubble-Head Charm, saving her life, and people started letting out sighs of relief as the grindylows fled from Harry's assault and Delacour hugged him gratefully.
"Well done, Harry!" Katie and Ginny cheered out.
Sirius saw Harry smile at Fleur and then point in a direction and he took off, leaving Delacour behind, his speed with the gillyweed just much greater than hers with only her charm.
"What incredible wandwork," Alexis muttered to Sirius. "It's hard to believe he's only fourteen! I swear, everytime I see him, he just keeps improving."
"I know," Sirius muttered back. "That kid is a force to be reckoned with."
After a couple minutes, it seemed Harry's screen was the most interesting, with Diggory and Krum only having run into a couple grindylows themselves and having roughly the same scenery.
"Look, Harry's reached the village," Angelina pointed out. "He's the first one!"
"Fleur's right on his tail though, since she followed him. Cedric doesn't seem far behind, and Krum's probably a bit behind him," Alicia said. "It could still be a close race."
Through Harry's screen they could hear some haunting mersong.
"An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took. . . "
They saw Harry start swimming faster, passing large rocks that had paintings of merpeople on them.
". . . your time's half gone, so tarry not
Lest what you seek stays here to rot. . . . "
"Bloody creepy," Erika said with a grimace. "Harry's got some balls going down into that lake."
"Imagine if muggles realized what merpeople really look like," Penny said, as merpeople came floating out of crude stone dwellings that Harry was swimming past.
The merpeople had grayish skin and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks. They leered at Harry as he swam past; one or two of them emerged from their caves to watch him better, their powerful, silver fish tails beating the water, spears clutched in their hands.
"My school mates would freak out," Chiara said with a chuckle.
Harry continued to swim past all the merpeople, approaching what was sure to be the center of the merpeople village. Finally, Harry swam around a corner and the crowd gasped seeing a whole crowd of merpeople floating in front of the houses that lined what looked like a village square. A choir of merpeople was singing in the middle, calling the champions toward them, and behind them rose a crude sort of statue; a gigantic merperson hewn from a boulder. Four people were bound tightly to the tail of the stone merperson.
Sirius and Remus both grimaced seeing Dora tied next to Hermione and another girl, a pretty asian girl. Remus knew her to be Cho Chang. Sirius simply recognized her from when he'd watched Harry play Quidditch, hiding in his animagus form, and from the Dueling Circuit. The last hostage was a young girl, probably no older than eight, whose clouds of silvery hair made it fairly certain that she was Delacour's sister. All four of them appeared to be in a very deep sleep. Their heads were rolling onto their shoulders, and fine streams of bubbles kept issuing from their mouths.
Harry sped towards the hostages, reaching Dora quickly, and Sirius sighed in relief as he quickly cut her free from her bonds, but rather than speed towards the surface, Harry looked around, and Sirius felt a mixture of pride and exacerbation at Harry clearly making sure that all champions recovered their hostages.
Harry didn't have to wait long before Delacour came swimming in slowly, showing signs of exhaustion due to her fight with the grindylows. Sirius watched amused as she glanced at Harry before gesturing to him fiercely to get Dora and go, with him shaking his head and telling her to grab her sister and go. Harry even, graciously, cut her sister's bonds and gave Delacour a look, which Sirius knew well. He wouldn't bend.
Resolutely, Harry stood his ground before Delacour hugged him again, grabbed her sister and then started making her way to the surface. Sirius could see that Harry was watching her progress, to make sure she made it safe.
They waited for another few minutes, with people in the crowd both groaning at Harry's thickness and lauding his selflessness when Diggory finally made it there. Sirius watched Diggory and Harry exchange some form of hand waves, with Diggory clearly telling Harry to move it, before Diggory used his own knife to cut the pretty asian girl down and then started carrying her off.
Still, though, Harry waited until finally Krum appeared, his shark head scaring the merpeople out of his path. Sirius grimaced, still not liking the badly done transfiguration that Krum had used, but he couldn't deny that it worked.
The shark-man swam straight to Hermione and began snapping and biting at her ropes; and Sirius along with many near him started groaning and worrying about him biting Hermione, and it seemed their concern was shared as Harry moved forward and hit Krum on the head before he cut Hermione's ropes. Nodding, Krum grabbed Hermione and started towards the surface, and with that, Harry grabbed Dora and put on a burst of speed, darting past Krum and back towards where it all started.
Sirius glanced at the clock, knowing it would be close for all of the champions to make the time limit. He wasn't sure that Diggory, Harry, or Krum would make it. Delacour would be close, since she was clearly gassed, and having risen to the surface, was now supporting her sister who didn't seem to be the strongest of swimmers.
Sirius sighed in relief. Pending any last minute problems, Harry had survived the Third Task, and performed well at that. He wasn't likely to win it, because of his actions, but he had been placed to do so, if he had been less honorable. They had survived the third part of the Tournament.
**HP**
Harry slowly kicked to the surface, using one arm to assist him, while the other held Dora securely. He was just so tired after helping Fleur and fighting his own groups of grindylows. It was still so dark, even though he knew he had to be getting close.
Merpeople were rising with him. He could see them swirling around him with ease, watching him struggle through the water. Harry's legs were seizing up with the effort to keep swimming; his shoulders were aching terribly with the effort of dragging Dora.
Finally, he saw daylight above him. He kicked hard, pulling the water towards him with his one free hand, and finally he broke through to the surface. Cold, clear air was making his wet face sting, and he gasped before he resubmerged his neck and gills back into the water. All around him, wild, green-haired heads were emerging out of the water with him, but they were smiling at him.
Dora opened her eyes, as the crowd in the stands was shouting, making a great deal of noise. Dora spit out some water and then beamed at him.
"Wotcher, Harry," she said, taking some of the pressure off of him as she started to swim herself.
"Wotcher, Dora," Harry greeted back. "You have no idea how surprised I was to find you down there. Rather odd place for you to wait for me. There are better ways to see me, you know."
Dora snorted.
"Like I need an excuse to see you. I can easily disguise myself as a student and sneak in any old time, you prat. So, are you going to win this task?"
Harry shook his head.
"Not likely, sis. I beat Krum here, but not Cedric or Fleur."
"Oh well," Dora said brightly. "You still did good, little brother. I'm sure everyone's up in the stands cheering you on, and you can bet that while you'll party with your friends tonight, my friends will want to celebrate this when you come home this summer, regardless of how you place."
"Sounds like a plan," Harry said, as they made their way to the bank, twenty merpeople accompanying them like an honor guard, and then Harry stayed in the water while Dora climbed out, and waited in the water until the gillyweed finally was out of his system.
Finally, Harry was able to climb out of the water onto the bank, where he was immediately wrapped in thick blankets and had pepperup potion shoved down his throat by Madam Pomfrey who had just been fussing over Hermione, Krum, Cedric, Cho, and Dora.
Before Harry could do much, Fleur had run over to him and pulled him into a strong hug, kissing him on his cheeks and even one kiss on his lips exuberantly.
"Zhank you," Fleur said breathlessly, her voice thick with emotion. "Zhank you, 'arry. You saved me, and you ensured Gabrielle was safe. I will never be able to zhank you enough."
"Anything for a friend, Fleur," Harry replied, a bit red in the cheeks, and Fleur beamed at him before she swooped in and hugged him tightly again, and kissed his cheek.
"You are a very sweet, brave, and 'onorable man, 'arry Potter," Fleur said, "and I am very glad I can call you a friend. Before Gabrielle leaves, please come say 'ello. She 'as been dying to meet you."
Harry was too busy blushing and stammering to answer her, and she laughed throatily before moving back to her sister.
"Oh, poor Harry," Dora said mockingly with a grin. "He can fight basilisks, dragons, acromantulas, and dark wizards, but one little kiss from a beautiful witch has him completely unraveled."
Harry continued to turn bright red.
"S-shut up, Dora."
"Ooh, eloquent as ever," Dora said and cackled, and Harry more or less pouted at her, as Hermione came over, after having finished a seemingly serious conversation with Krum.
"Harry, well done!" Hermione cried. "You did it! You're well outside the time limit, though, Harry . . . Did it take you ages to find us?"
"No . . . I found you okay . . . "
Harry started feeling a bit stupid. Now that he was out of the water, and merpeople had clearly been there as safeties to ensure that nothing bad happened, Harry realized him staying to ensure the safety of all the hostages was rather foolish. He could have won the Third Task. Instead, he took third.
Dumbledore was crouching at the water's edge, deep in conversation with what seemed to be the chief merperson, a particularly wild and ferocious-looking female. He was making the same sort of screechy noises that the merpeople made when they were above water; clearly, Dumbledore could speak Mermish. Finally he straightened up, turned to his fellow judges, and said, "A conference before we give the marks, I think."
They waited patiently before the judges came back out.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Bagman's voice boomed out. "We have reached our decision.
"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective, yet was last to return with his hostage and ten minutes outside of the time limit. We award him thirty points."
Karkaroff clapped particularly hard, though he looked particularly sour. Harry suspected that Karkaroff had given Krum full points and every other judge had given half points.
"Fleur Delacour, was first to retrieve her hostage, excellently using the Bubble-Head Charm, and returned one minute under the time limit. However, without the aid of Mr. Potter, she would have failed to retrieve her hostage. We therefore award her forty-five points."
Applause from the stands.
"If you do not get more zen me, zen zhey are fools," said Fleur heatedly, looking at Harry and he shook his head at her.
"Why?" Dora whispered, and Harry grimaced and didn't answer.
"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was second to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour. " Enormous cheers from the Hufflepuffs in the crowd; Harry saw Cho give Cedric a glowing look. "We therefore award him forty points."
Harry's heart sank. If Cedric had been outside the time limit, he most certainly had been.
"Harry Potter used gillyweed to great effect," Bagman continued. "He returned third, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, during his journey, he valiantly saved Ms. Delacour, as we all witnessed, and was the first to reach the hostages. His delay was due to his determination to return all hostages to safety, not merely his own."
Dora started laughing, and Harry shrunk further, as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Oh, Harry, you really are something," she said fondly, and she kissed his cheek. "Only you would be so thick."
"Most of the judges," and here, Bagman gave Karkaroff a very nasty look, "feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However . . . Mr. Potter's score is forty-five points."
Fleur literally snarled, looking at Karkaroff furiously for daring to give Harry less than full points, but Harry didn't care. Those points meant something great for him.
"With the points all decided, the current standings are," Bagman continued, "in fourth place, with a score of one hundred and seven points, Viktor Krum of Durmstrang Institute!"
Applause rang out from the stands.
"In third place, with a score of one hundred and twenty-one points, Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts School! In Second place, with a score of one hundred and twenty-three points, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons Academy, and in first place, with a score of one hundred and twenty-six points, Harry Potter of Hogwarts School!"
Harry smiled, while Hermione and Dora cheered next to him. He was in first place, just three points in front of Fleur, who was clapping very hard, though Krum didn't look happy at all. He was attempting to engage Hermione in conversation, but she was too busy cheering Harry to listen.
"With the current point standings, and just under half of the way through the Tournament, it is still anyone's game! The Fourth Task will take place in just over three short weeks, on the 20th of March, at one hour after noon. The champions will learn the details of their Task the day of. No preparation will be allowed for the Fourth Task."
Another task down. Now, it was time to focus on those hints for the Fifth Task. Though, he couldn't help but worry a bit for the Fourth Task. Last time they had no preparation time, they faced a dragon.
He didn't even make it ten steps towards the castle before he found himself literally mobbed by the humblingly large crowd of people that came to support him along with his best friends, who quickly said they'd see him at the party before leaving him with those who had to leave.
He was happily exchanging a large amount of hugs and accepting congratulations with everybody who came. It was nice seeing the closeness between Alexis and Sirius too, and it was very nice seeing Oliver again, and the development of him dating Skye was interesting. Harry figured they fed off each other's competitiveness and devotion to quidditch.
Soon though, Dora, Remus, and Sirius were pulling Harry off to the side.
"Harry, you really did well, but this is only part three," Sirius said. "We still need to be careful, especially since we don't know who put your name in the Goblet."
"I know," Harry said with a grimace. "Still, I'm doing alright. If they put me in here to die, I'm sure they aren't feeling too comfortable right now."
Dora nodded, but Sirius and Remus frowned.
"Just be careful, especially around the Durmstrang crowd," Sirius warned. "I really don't like everything that's happening right now. It reminds too much of Voldemort's first rise."
"You mean Bertha Jorkins disappearance?" Harry asked grimly. "Bagman said they still hadn't found her. Apparently she made it to Albania, but they lost her when she went south."
"Remus and I knew her when she was younger. Nosy and no brains, which isn't a good combo," Sirius said gruffly. "She wouldn't be hard to lure into a trap, so we have to assume that she ran into something dark while she was there, especially since that is where Voldemort is rumored to be. This could be his work . . . a chance to snuff you out or perhaps something else."
"I don't know what else to do though," Harry said, his voice laced with frustration. "I'm watching Karkaroff, since he used to be a Death Eater, like you warned me to, and I'm training hard, and watching my back. I rarely go anywhere alone. I'm not sure what more I can do."
"Nothing, Harry," Dora said sympathetically. "You're doing incredible, and you're under circumstances that you don't deserve. We're just worried, and we want you to be safe, especially since neither of us will be here for the next two Tasks. I won't be back until the final Task."
"I'll do my best," Harry promised and then smiled. "You two just focus on those courses you have coming up, and I'll focus on my studies, and next time I see you, you'll have some great stories to tell and some cool new skills. I really feel bad for Remus. He's going to be all alone while you're all off at school. His best mate and his girlfriend, abandoning him."
"Oh hush, you," Remus scolded, though Harry saw amusement in the man's eyes. "I'll be just fine. In fact, with some peace and quiet, I might even enjoy myself."
Dora's eyes narrowed.
"Say that again."
Harry and Sirius started laughing as Remus's eyes widened in fear.
**HP**
Sirius walked into St. Mungos with Dumbledore, his nerves high, wondering if this would work, wondering if this would be the next step is him getting some more of his family back.
Dumbledore spoke to the receptionist, letting him know that they were expected and that they would see the Head Healer of the Janus Thickey Ward.
From there they made their way to the fourth floor and into the long term resident ward where Sirius and Dumbledore found Madam Augusta Longbottom and the Head Healer already waiting for them, along with three other healers.
"Sirius, this is Miram Strout, the Healer in charge of this ward," Dumbledore introduced, and Sirius shook the good natured looking witch's hand, "and of course you know Madam Longbottom. With Madam Strout are Healers Edith Colette, Alaric Nielson, and Roland Parsons." Sirius shook hands with the remaining healers and then looked at Augusta Longbottom.
"Of course," Sirius said. "Madam Longbottom, it's been a long time, outside of the Wizengamot, of course."
"Indeed," Augusta said, her face stern before she looked at Albus. "Are you sure this will work?"
"Indeed, we are highly skeptical, being that we have not been consulted on any research you have been conducting, Albus," Roland said, looking irritated. "Nobody doubts your abilities, but I'm unaware of you ever requesting any of the technical data on our patients which would give you the information to conduct research. Nor have you ever shown much knowledge in the healing arts."
"That is because this research I have conducted came from another source, not originally intended for this application, but I believe that it has the potential to solve all mental illnesses and conditions caused by magic," Albus said.
"And where is this other source?" Roland asked.
"Me," Sirius said simply, and the healers frowned at him in confusion. "When I took over as the Head of the Black family, I also came in control of the Black Family Grimoire and Head of House Journal. There was information in the journal and a specific piece of Black Family magic that led to this research."
"And are we able to see this source?" Alaric asked, almost looking bitter. "Do we get to collaborate on Albus's findings or will you continue to hide away your family magic?"
"The family magic is going to be released," Sirius said to all the healers' surprise, "but it will be released at a later date, if this works. The magic is . . . it's evil, and I won't release it to the Ministry for control unless there is a viable counter to it. If this works, then we'll move on to the person it was done to, and see if it truly counters the Black Family magic. If the counter isn't viable, then we'll keep working to make a viable one, and if we can't . . . then I won't release it and I'll let it die with Albus and I."
"Is it really that dark?" Edith asked, and Sirius nodded.
"It's among some of the foulest magics ever created."
The healers all exchanged startled glances and then Edith spoke.
"Very well. We shall wait to see if Albus's procedure works before questioning any further about the source."
"Shall we get started then?" Albus asked, looking at Augusta who nodded, looking apprehensive. "Very well! Please bring Alice and Frank forward. This will only need to be done once and can be done on them at the same time."
The healers nodded and guided the two lost Longbottoms from their beds and to a comfy looking couch that Albus conjured. From there, Sirius and the others all watched as Albus created a rune circle around the couch, inscribing things with a speed and complexity that left Sirius in awe. From there, Albus stepped just outside of the circle and in front of Frank and Alice, pointed his wand at them, and then began his charm. While Sirius understood some of the words that Albus used, he didn't understand the intent behind much of it, but he certainly understood certain words that dealt with time or the mind.
Dumbledore's wand started glowing a warm yellow, generating heat in the room. Sirius couldn't believe the old man was able to memorize such a complex ritual when he was still going after nearly five minutes of chanting. Finally though, the light grew blinding and Dumbledore finished his spell with a flick of his wand.
As the light faded, they all gasped seeing Frank and Alice.
"What's going on?" Frank asked, glancing about the room. "Albus?"
"I remember - " Alice said, confused. "What happened?"
Nobody answered because while it was clear the Longbottoms had been cured in a manner, the physical change in them was more startling. Not only had their minds been returned to the time before they broke . . . but so had their bodies.
Sirius was looking at the twenty two and twenty three year old versions of Alice and Frank Longbottom.