The next morning Harry awoke with an odd, heavy feeling. It took him a moment to remember the events of the night before. Of being chosen as a champion and bound to the Goblet of Fire and of the Ravenclaws reaction. With hindsight he should've reacted better, but then the Ravenclaws could've been less pushy. But regardless about what could've been, no doubt he had lost quite a few friends within Ravenclaw.
Before he could think any further on his actions the night before, a sharp knocking echoed in from the workshop. Grumbling, Harry hurriedly summoned the Marauder's Map and threw on his shirt from the night before. According to the Map, Daphne was the one outside his room, which explained the knocking. As far as he was aware, she was the only person who both knew where his workshop was and didn't have permission to enter without invitation.
Throwing open his front door, he managed to startle Daphne who was just about to knock again.
"Good, you're finally awake then." She said pleasantly as she pushed her way inside, stopping only long enough to raise an eyebrow at his appearance. "So do they know who entered you?" she asked as she flopped onto his couch.
That simple question was enough to alleviate the majority of his tension; The knowledge that at least one of his friends trusted him with this was a huge relief.
"We don't know," He grumbled, "but we suspect whoever did it wants me to die in this tournament."
"But that won't happen right? They are going to find a way to get you out… or make it less dangerous or something?" she asked urgently, staring at him desperately.
"Well, I'm certainly not planning on getting killed, but there doesn't seem to be a way to get me out. As for making it less dangerous, I'm fairly sure one of the rules is that the judges have to ensure all the champions are tested equally."
"What about your mithril? Can you not make something to help you out?"
Holding out his palm, he tried to will his mithril into existence. But, while the magic pooled under his skin, he felt the invisible restraints of the Goblet flex and prevent his mithril from forming. The magic then collapsed and flowed back up his arm, causing him considerable but thankfully temporary pain.
"Somehow the Goblet stops me from forming my mithril, which I suspect carries over into the tasks. I could probably summon something when inside, assuming they don't have wards to block it, but then I need to reveal my mithril to the world." Harry explained through clenched teeth, rubbing his arm to try and alleviate the pain.
"What… but how? I thought the mithril was just a part of you, how can something just stop you making it? That shouldn't be possible."
"That's what I thought." He agreed bitterly, trying to avoid the vulnerability that came from his lack of mithril. Subconsciously he found himself playing with the Gauntlet ring on his finger, desperate to feel some sense of power. It was illuminating to find out just how dependent he had grown, proving he should've invested more time elsewhere with his magical development. It was just a stroke of his misfortune that he only had this epiphany when he was on a deadline to improve.
"I'm sure you'll be fine without your mithril," Daphne voiced comfortingly, "after all, you've been able to beat all of us without it. Aren't you always boasting about how you're one of the strongest people in the school."
"Strength doesn't equal skill. It doesn't matter if I have more magic than someone like Cedric, if we get thrown into a volcano raw untamed power is worthless."
"Great example." She replied teasingly, "Clearly you can't think properly on an empty stomach. Come on, let's get breakfast."
As the pair neared the great hall, the number of stares he was receiving grew to an uncomfortable level. It didn't take long for him to swipe his hand and throw a notice-not around himself, which he belatedly expanded to include Daphne when he noticed her looking around in confusion.
"What was that, why did you vanish?" She demanded when she saw him again.
"I didn't go anywhere, you aren't the only ones who can cast notice-nots. The stares were getting to me."
Upon entering the great hall, he was relieved to see Fleur and Luna sitting together, who he immediately made a beeline for. As he sat down, he made sure to include them in his charm. To his great surprise, Daphne joined him at the Ravenclaw table, who quietly began making her breakfast.
"Morning." He said apprehensively, worried about their reactions. He was fairly confident that Luna would believe him, but that didn't stop his sliver of fear. While Luna turned towards him, Fleur almost managed to jump out of her seat.
"'Arry! Where the hell did you come from?" She hissed, dropping into French as she took deep calming breaths.
"I walked in under a notice-not charm, I wasn't all that eager to let people ask me any more questions."
"Do zey know who entered you?" She asked, looking at him in concern.
"No." Harry answered shortly, "They also don't think I can be removed, so it looks like we're rivals now."
"I'm sure you'll be a worthy rival." she returned.
"Hey, Harry. I've got to go to Transfiguration, but I think the others will want to talk to you later, maybe after lunch? I'll see when they're free." Daphne announced.
He was meant to be in History of magic, but he doubted a lesson on Goblin Rebellions would help his chances of survival. With that in mind, he had made his way to the room they used for his Alchemy lessons. When he entered, he was relieved to see Nicholas waiting behind the teacher's desk. What was new were the piles of books and parchment surrounding him, with him writing leisurely in a gilded tome.
"Good morning, Nicholas." Harry said hesitantly, unwilling to startle the man.
"Good morning Harry. Don't hover there for my sake, if there was anything here I wanted to hide from you, I'd have left them in my chambers." He replied, not looking up until he had finished his sentence.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is it you're writing?" Harry asked, stepping into the room fully.
"My personal memoir and the final Flamel grimoire. I am assured my life was sufficiently interesting to warrant the former, and it would be a shame for my family's collected knowledge to be forgotten over the simple matter of my death." He answered placidly.
Shocked, Harry rushed forward and looked at his tutor carefully "You're dying?"
"Everyone is dying, boy, some of us just go about it slower than others. Suffice to say, I shan't be dying anytime soon. If all goes according to plan, I should last long enough to see you graduate at the latest, an event I regret to say my Perenelle won't be around to witness. But just because I am not dying presently doesn't mean I can't get my affairs in order."
While he was relieved to know his tutor wasn't in immediate danger, it was saddening to know of Perenelle's ill-health. "When you say Perenelle won't be around to witness my graduation…"
"The healers believe she only has a year left, perhaps two. At our age, it is hard to tell how long we may have left. My magic remains healthy, suggesting I have some time remaining. But Perenelle's magic was weakened during the riot, leading it to wilt and slowly die. There are ways to ease her passing, make it painless and give her time to say goodbye."
"But, surely you'd want to spend time with her? You don't have to stay here just for me."
"Do I want to spend time with her? Of course I do. She is my wife, and while we have spent over half a millennium together, you will find there is always room to spend more time with those you love. But, at the end of the day we have spent half a millennium together. If she dies and I am not there to say goodbye, then I will be devastated and I shall carry my regret to the grave. But I will be satiated with all our memories together.
"But then we have you. Harry, if you die and I am in France, when I could've been here and helping you, I will have more than regret. When I chose you as my apprentice, I willingly and knowingly took up a responsibility of care. If you die and I did not do my utmost to help you, then I will have failed you, I will have failed myself and I will have failed all those who came before me." Nicholas answered passionately, a shocking degree of affection shining in his eyes.
"Thank you, honestly. But what did you mean by failing those that came before you?"
"Goodness, have I not told you before? You see, when I gained immortality my family suffered for it. You see, my son was my heir, meaning in the event of my death he would take the lordship and family grimoire. However, along came the date of his funeral and I was no closer to death. But it didn't matter, for his son, my grandson, became the new heir. Then upon his death his daughter's husband was made my heir.
"It has been so long now, my current heir was actually fairly unknown until recently. When you took the title of my apprentice, I took a parental oath. As far as magic is concerned, you are my closest living heir, seeing as I have no living child or grandchild. There are of course caveats, one such being that all you will be inheriting is my knowledge, my wealth and possessions will automatically be given to those within my will.
"Of course, I won't be leaving you with nothing by my knowledge, but in theory I could. There is also the topic of the lordship of my family. Historically the lordship could only carry to someone holding the name, even if they married into the family. In my case, if I had suddenly died when my great-granddaughter was alive, her husband would've taken her name and his children would still be called Flamel."
"So, if I wanted the lordship I'd need to be called Harry Flamel?"
"Historically, yes. However that is no longer true. There is a practise where you can strip a name of its magic and pass it into the Potter family, elevating your family to 'Prestigious and Most Archaic', while also giving your children a boon in alchemy. You would then pass the lordship down to my biological heir, making them a noble family. Politically such a move would be fairly unrewarding, since you already have a seat in your Wizengamot."
It was a lot to take in, especially when all he currently wanted was to survive the Triwizard Tournament.
"But enough of that, we have plenty of time to talk about family politics in the future. For now, you will be pleased to know that Professor Flitwick, after talking to your fellow Ravenclaws, has decided to treat your actions yesterday in your common room as a prank. As such, you won't face any punishment, although I would suggest you avoid a repeat performance.
"Now, onto the actual lesson. As I have already stated, I am here for the entire year, during which I will be here entirely to help you. I have already spoken to Albus and you have a free pass to skip any of your classes, but I would suggest holding back on that. The tournament rules prevent any Hogwarts teacher from helping you with the tasks, fortunately I am not a Hogwarts teacher.
"While this means that I can help you where others can't, that doesn't mean your other teachers aren't a valuable source of information. I would recommend talking to each professor and see what they suggest. But, as for what I can do, is there anything you feel like you need to work on?"
"My aerokinesis." Harry answered immediately, "It used to be one of my strongest powers, but ever since then I've been focusing pretty heavily on my mithril and I've lost a great deal of my control. Regaining my control wasn't a big issue, but I can see it being incredibly useful in this tournament."
"Very well. Show me your current skill level and we'll work from there."
After a quick lunch with Nicholas, Harry made his way to the room he and his friends had been using. What was unexpected was his group of friends split in two, each side arguing with the other.
"What's going on?" He demanded
"Well, basically, we believe you were entered against your will," Daphne began, indicating herself, Neville and Luna. "then these two believe you entered yourself. Then Crabbe is just siding with Draco."
"Why would I enter myself?" He asked Draco
"Recognition." The boy answered immediately. "You are clearly powerful, judging by how often you beat us. It would make sense if you tried to use this tournament to prove your worth to the international community, by winning this thing you'd be able to get an education anywhere you'd want."
Annoyingly, Draco's points were fairly logical, making it hard to rebuke them. As such, he took the easy route and turned to Ron.
"What about you then, why do you think I entered myself?"
"Well the money would be nice, obviously, and it's not as if these tasks will be difficult for you. Then as Malfoy said, you'd get loads of benefits by winning, as if you needed any more advantages. Could've told us how you did it though, you know, those of us who could've actually used those advantages." Ron replied sourly.
"I'm glad you're both so assured of my abilities, seeing as both Moody and Snape think this is a plot to have me killed. Rest assured Ron, if I die, I'll leave you 1,000 galleons in my will." Harry returned cuttingly, "Now, I did not enter myself. Admittedly the idea tempted me, but there's no point in getting recognition if I end up dead, which is a high possibility in this tournament that was cancelled due to the death count."
An uncomfortable silence met his words, until Harry turned to Crabbe and wearily asked "Now, Vincent, without following Draco, what did you believe? I'm just curious."
"Erm… Well, I wasn't sure." Crabbe admitted apprehensively, looking at Draco for help.
"Come on Vincent, we know you aren't stupid. You must've had some idea about Harry's name coming out of the Goblet." Daphne said impatiently, although it was obvious to Harry that she was deliberately softening her words.
"I thought Harry was too quiet to have entered himself." Crabbe eventually stated, looking incredibly uncomfortable.
"Too quiet? Harry can talk more than anyone." Ron retorted teasingly.
"But that… that is only when he's teaching." Crabbe argued haltingly, "He doesn't talk much in the corridors, or when there are a lot of people around. He only really talks when it's just us. That's why I say he's too quiet."
"He's not wrong." Neville pointed out, "Put Harry in front of a bunch of strangers and he gets unusually quiet, even in class he doesn't talk as much as here."
"I'm not that bad." Harry protested, "I've talked to loads of strangers before, as evidenced by the fact all of you were a stranger at some point in the past."
"But when you met us it was in small groups, often just two people. You haven't ever started a conversation in groups of strangers, at least while I've been around." Luna pointed out knowingly.
"My social habits aside, I have no wish to take part in this tournament. If you don't believe me, leave now, I don't have the time to put up with you on top of everything else."
"Hey, if you say you didn't do it, that's fine with me. I was just saying it would make sense if you had, not that there was anything wrong with that." Draco explained, holding up his hands in a sign of peace.
"As Crabbe said, entering yourself doesn't seem to be something you'd do… I just wish it was me who had been entered, you know?" Ron said sheepishly after everyone turned towards him expectantly.
Nodding, Harry decided to accept Ron's vague apology "Thank you, all of you, honestly. Now, what are we working on today?"
Things I think need explaining:
- Harry's lack of mithril: This will last for as long as Harry is bound to the Goblet.
- Aerokinesis: The proper name for the control over air, which Harry used a lot as a child.