"Talking/Dialogue"
"Special Dialogue"
"Special Dialogue"
Thoughts/Spells
'Quotes'
Writing/Text
Goblin Ambition and a Midnight Stroll
Gringotts, England
Wednesday
November 18th, 1994
Sirius tried to keep himself composed as he sat in front of Ugnast, tensing a little when she raised his wand in his direction before waving it.
His tension was only magnified when the doors behind him slammed shut. He spared a glance toward the entrance, letting out a small, shaky breath when he saw the two goblin commanders were now guarding the entrance.
Looks like I'm not leaving anytime soon.
Sirius looked back at Ugnast, trying to keep his expression from showing the small bit of worry he was starting to feel about being effectively trapped. He made to rest his arms against the chair's armrests, eyeing them as if expecting shackles to suddenly appear.
"You're certainly being cautious," Sirius said with an uneasy grin. "I don't blame you. I would be too, if I were meeting with an escaped mass murderer."
"You make it sound as if my caution is born out of fear for what you might do to me," she said, a tinge of amusement lacing her voice. "That is not the case. I merely want to make sure you do not foolishly attempt to escape before I have spoken with you."
He nodded slowly, still eyeing across from him warily.
He and Ugnast were, at best, acquaintances.
They had known each other for years, but the extent of their interactions was her guiding him down to his vault when he still had access to them. It was in those moments where most of their conversations happened, and while they had been brief, it had been enough for him to treat her with a small amount of familiarity.
Ugnast was blunt, greedy, and ambitious, like many other goblins, but what distinguished her from the others was how she would confidently declare to him that she would one day manage his family vaults.
Sirius had dismissed her words at first, knowing enough about goblin culture that those types of positions weren't given to just anybody, especially to a young teller like her.
However, she had remained firm in her goal throughout the years, and with each visit he made, he felt his respect grow slightly for her. He even told her he was looking forward to working with her one day.
Of course, that had all been before he had been sent to Azkaban.
Nice to see she managed it in the end. Sirius thought, smothering the smallest of smiles before looking at Ugnast firmly.
"Then perhaps you can start by explaining why you placed a portkey charm on Grimmauld Place. I don't believe such things are allowed."
"No. They're not, but I needed to somehow bring you to Gringotts, and I was growing desperate," Ugnast said before letting out a tired sigh. "I had about a month, maybe two before the elders dismissed me from my position."
His eyes widened in surprise at her words.
Sirius wouldn't claim to be well-versed in goblin affairs, but he knew that the elder goblins rarely concerned themselves with who managed which vaults. As long as whoever was in charge wasn't a total disaster, they were generally inclined to leave things undisturbed.
Of course, the elders had also established an alternative method for the position to change hands.
If the current goblin desired to vacate their spot, then one and only one aspirant was allowed to challenge them to a duel to the death. If no challenger appeared or if they failed, then the current holder was allowed to choose their successor, which was almost always a family member.
Ugnast had obviously won it through combat, achieving her life's goal, but to think she could stand to lose it…
"Why?" he asked after regaining his composure.
"I managed to piss off Ragnus…He's the goblin in charge of the Malfoy vaults," Ugnast explained, adding the last part once she noticed he didn't recognize the name.
A sneer quickly made its way onto his face at the surname, but he kept quiet, letting the goblin continue speaking.
"Highly influential, to the point even the elders sometimes listen to what he says. And right now, he's in their ears suggesting I'm too inexperienced to manage these vaults."
"And why should the vaults of my family concern him?" Sirius growled lowly.
"Why do you think?" she asked, giving him a pointed look.
He narrowed his eyes in thought before it dawned on him.
"He wants to take control of them."
"Exactly, and I'm sure you can figure out which wizard would stand to benefit if he did."
"Lucius," he snarled through gritted teeth, his fingers digging forcefully into the armrests of his chair before slamming a fist into one of them. "He has no right!"
The goblin commanders, who had been standing rigidly by the doors, stepped toward him at the sound of his yell, only to be stopped by a wave of a hand from Ugnast.
"Unfortunately, he does," she stated simply, unbothered by the violent expression adorning the face of the wizard seated before her.
She placed a single clawed finger on the table between them and ran it across the flat surface.
Cascading lines slowly formed on the wood before the entirety of The Black Family tree presented itself to him, from its very first members down to those who remained. Most names were in red, marking them as deceased, while those in blue showed who was still alive.
A tinge of sadness hit him as he saw his illustrious family reduced to only a few members. While he never revered his surname to the extent some of his relatives had, he wasn't completely apathetic toward the history it carried.
Sirius sighed quietly before glancing curiously at his name as it alternated between blue and gold, but before he could ask why, Ugnast spoke up again.
"Lucius, through Ragnus, is arguing that since there is no option left in the paternal line, his son, Draco, now has the strongest claim to inherit," she shot him a glare once she noticed his temper begin to bubble over, making him huff. "Especially since the boy's maternal grandfather was the previous Lord Black."
After calming himself a bit, he looked toward the family tree, searching for a specific name.
"Cygnus…only a couple of years ago," Sirius muttered, glancing at his uncle's name before his eyes narrowed once he saw the date of his death and his wife's. "Only a week after Druella…and quite young for our standards."
"Their passings were also unfortunate since they considered having another child."
"And how likely was it that they would attempt to conceive?"
"Very. When I was still a teller, I caught whispers of Druella visiting many healers and potion makers in a very short period of time. They were undoubtedly trying to find a way to ensure the child was born a boy. If they had managed it, it would have saved me a lot of trouble," Ugnast said before giving him a meaningful look.
It took Sirius only a second to grasp what she was trying to hint at, and a malicious look settled upon his face again.
"…You suspect Lucius had something to do with their deaths?"
The goblin nodded.
"For years, Lucius has appeared confident that his son would one day inherit the Black lordship…The only time I ever noticed his belief take a hit was when rumors of Cygnus and Druella having another child established themselves."
She paused, a grave look on her face.
"Not only that, past midnight and only a couple of hours after Cygnus's death, there was a meeting between Furknas and Ragnus. I don't know the exact details of the meeting, but soon after, I was taking them down to the elders."
Ugnast gazed at one of the walls momentarily, a faraway look in her eyes, no doubt recalling the memory before speaking again.
"I should have returned up here as soon as I was dismissed, but the oddity of the meeting had me trail after them…It was fortunate that I did because I heard Furknas announce that he was vacating his position and passing it to Ragnus," she said, her lips curling in disgust. "Then he asked for permission to transfer the entirety of the contents of the Black Family vaults to the Malfoys."
Ugnast had to raise a hand to halt goblin commanders in their steps when Sirius lurched onto his feet before slamming a fist onto her table in a fury.
"He fucking dares," he hissed, breathing heavily for several moments before eyeing her intensely as he recalled her earlier words. "That's when you challenged Furknas to a duel, right?"
She nodded, unfazed by him hovering intimidatingly over her.
"In front of the Elders, so he had no choice but to accept. Of course, that didn't stop him or Ragnus from protesting, using my age for a reason I shouldn't be allowed."
A hand reached up to rub at the scars around her neck once more. "It was a close thing, but I won in the end. I had accomplished my ambition and had managed to stop Ragnus from merging the vaults. At least, for the time being."
"He's still trying," Sirius pointed out with a huff, earning a resigned nod from her.
"One thing that hasn't changed is that Draco still has the strongest claim to the lordship, and the only reason it hasn't been made official is because I'm doing my best to stall," Ugnast frowned. "Ragnus is aware of this, of course, and is using his influence to remove me from my position."
"Which he was close to getting," he said once he sat back down, earning a tired nod from her. He looked at her questioningly. "Have you considered telling the elders of your suspicions?"
"And what evidence do I have that could lend credence to my accusations?" she drawled. "And before you suggest involving the Ministry, remember who has it in his pocket."
Sirius pursed his lips at that before eyeing her curiously when she suddenly leaned forward.
"I had begun to resign myself to the fact that I was going to lose the position. Even began to scout for formidable fighters who could challenge me to duel. Ones with strong ties to Dumbledore to stall Ragnus a bit longer, when I found this by sheer chance hidden behind Furknas's portrait," Ugnast reached over to her drawer to retrieve a document before sliding it over to him. "This is why I had been so desperate to bring you here."
Sirius grabbed the parchment hesitantly before beginning to read it. His eyes widened in shock moments later once he saw that his uncle, Lord Cygnus Black, had reinstated him into the house on the day of his death.
"It has his magical signature, meaning it cannot be protested against."
"But…that doesn't make any sense. He always thought I was unworthy of being a Black," Sirius muttered before looking away from the document in his hand to stare at his name on the family tree. He turned his attention back to her, still in shock. "So, for him to do this…knowing what it meant."
The goblin nodded gravely at him.
"I believe he started to suspect his son-in-law and wanted to prevent him from obtaining your family's vaults," Ugnast said seriously. "He effectively named you his heir, even if you were serving a life sentence in Azkaban."
"But…he couldn't have known I would escape."
"Of course not, but he didn't need you to…All he needed was for someone from the paternal line to be alive. The fact that you escaped is a bonus for him and me."
Sirius didn't respond, his expression blank and unchanging, even when the goblin reached into her desk to retrieve a small black box with gold outlines.
She placed it on the desk, lifting the lid to reveal a ring with a sleek gold band, intricate runic detailing, and a striking black gemstone bearing his family coat of arms at the center.
"So, that's why you wanted me here," Sirius said calmly before giving her a pointed look. "I'm still a criminal, you know."
"That doesn't prevent you from taking up the lordship. It only stops you from forming part of the Wizengamot," Ugnast gave him a dry look. "Though, I don't think you had much interest in attending those anyway."
Sirius shook his head, unable to stop a small chuckle from leaving his mouth as he reached over to grab the ring. He eyed it for a moment, a faraway look in his eyes.
"Never thought I'd one day be Lord Black…My mother must be rolling in her grave."
He barely hesitated to slip the ring on, knowing that if he didn't, it would fall into the hands of the Malfoys. Something he absolutely did not want to happen.
After a few moments of simply staring at the new piece of jewelry on his finger, a small frown crossed his face once he remembered something important.
He looked toward the goblin with a hesitant expression.
"You should know that me assuming the lordship is still a temporary solution," Sirius said slowly, making her narrow her eyes at him. "My imprisonment in Azkaban has…robbed me of the chance of ever having children of my own."
The relieved expression that had started to settle on Ugnast's face disappeared quickly.
"Are you certain?" she asked, exhaling loudly in frustration when he nodded.
Once he had gotten far away enough from the reach of the Ministry, he had stopped to get himself checked over by a healer. They had informed him of the damage his stay in prison had done to his mind and body, which had been heavy but largely treatable. However, they had also told him that he was now sterile. A couple more visits to different healers confirmed that bit of information.
Sirius had been disappointed to learn that but not surprised. His prolonged stay in Azkaban was bound to have left lasting damage.
"Any chance you might have had a child before your imprisonment? Anyone that you could claim as your heir?" Ugnast asked, desperation entering her voice before closing her eyes in disappointment when he shook his head.
"No, I've always…uh…been careful."
"Then, it seems Lucius will get what he wants, after all."
"Seems so," Sirius murmured before glancing absentmindedly at the family tree again.
A fond look made its way onto his face once he came across the pair of familiar names. He gazed at them affectionately, remembering all they had done for him before his brows slowly creased together as an idea grew within his mind.
Sirius raised his head to look at her.
"…What if I did have an heir?"
"You just said you couldn't have any."
"None of my own, but I have a godson. Harry Potter. I can make him my heir," he explained.
"…Does he have Black blood running through him?" she asked slowly.
"He does. He's the grandson of Dorea," Sirius said, tapping on the name of the boy's grandmother. "Not only that, since she was the paternal first cousin of Arcturus, he also has a decent claim to the lordship."
Ugnast quickly leaned forward into her seat to inspect the tree, a look of realization gracing her face as she saw the woman's name in question.
"And since you are officially recognized as his godfather, you can strengthen his claim by naming him your heir…"
"Exactly."
The goblin scanned the family tree multiple times, nodding satisfactorily before frowning in concern.
"There is a problem, however. He is also the heir to the House of Potter," she muttered.
Sirius made to wave the issue off but stopped when she suddenly looked at him severely.
"I want assurances."
"About what?" he said cautiously, a pit beginning to grow inside of him at the expression on her face.
"That the Black Family will not be absorbed by the Potters or vice versa. They are to be kept separate from one another."
"That's…reasonable, I suppose. He'll have to have more than one kid, but it's doable. We can even write up a contract to prohibit any merging of the families," Sirius suggested, allowing her a moment to consider his idea.
Ugnast mulled over his words in silence before shaking her head, making him frown.
"That's not good enough. That relies on his wife being able and willing to bear him more than one child…No, the way I see it, there's only one acceptable way to keep them separate."
"Like what? You want him to have another wife or something," Sirius said derisively before his expression morphed into shock when she nodded seriously.
He instantly shook his head in denial, ignoring the narrowing of the goblin's eyes.
"That's completely unnecessary. There's no need—"
"Yes, it is," Ugnast growled out. "I did not put my life on the line for nothing, nor did I withstand pressure from Ragnus just so the result ends up being the same."
"I am grateful for all you have done, and I agree that they need to be kept apart, but there's no need to resort to such extreme measures. One wife. And child for each line is enough."
"Unacceptable."
"And having two wives is?" he asked, only to throw his hands into the air when she stubbornly nodded. "All right, say we go with your idea…What witch would accept marrying my godson, knowing he would also have another wife? You want him to have two wives, yet you risk him failing to find even one."
A mocking laugh left her mouth once he said that, making his temper begin to flare again.
"There are plenty of witches that would. Both the House of Potter and the House of Black are very prestigious families to marry into. Add to that the celebrity status of your godson, and you'll find there will be no shortage of witches jumping at the chance to marry him."
"If that's what drives them, then they don't deserve Harry."
"Whether they do or not does not matter as long as they keep the Black Family from dying out," she said coldly, her expression letting him know she would not budge on this. Her following words reinforced that. "Agree to him having two wives, or I will lock you up in the caves below."
Sirius glared heatedly at her, his lips curling into a sneer at her threat.
"Do that, and all you end up doing is ensuring Malfoy will inherit."
Ugnast tapped at his name on the family tree, which no longer alternated between colors, instead staying a solid purple.
"I know, but at least I can keep you alive and make sure it won't happen anytime soon, Lord Black," she said tauntingly before returning his sneer. "You just escaped from one prison. Do you want to enter another one?"
Sirius clenched his teeth tightly in anger at her threat, desperately trying to think of a way to make her see reason or another way to keep the families separate, only to find that he couldn't.
His anger was soon washed away and was replaced with a cold realization that he was powerless at the moment. He was stuck inside her office without a wand, with three goblins surrounding him and the threat of being sent down to the caves looming over his head.
For a split second, he considered still standing his ground, denying her what she wanted. However, the thought of leaving his godson again stopped him from doing anything reckless.
A feeling of resignation and disgust started to well up within him as he realized there was only one choice he could make.
Something on his expression must have hinted at where his thoughts were heading as the goblin across from him decided to offer an olive branch.
"If you stop protesting and agree to my condition now," Ugnast began to say. "I'll tell you what the first task for the Triwizard tournament will be."
Sirius's eyes immediately darted toward her, his expression full of anger and skepticism.
"…How would you even know?"
"Because the tournament organizers needed our curse-breakers to establish a special set of wards which are only ever used for one purpose…Now, if you want to know anymore, then simply agree."
The goblin remained silent after that, leaving the offer dangling right before him.
Sirius sat in silence for a moment, grasping at the handles of his chair forcefully as he felt himself give in further, knowing that he was making a huge decision over his godson's life without the boy's knowledge.
I'm so sorry, Harry.
Chamber of Secrets
Thursday
November 19th, 1996
"I believe he should consider bringing some Firewhiskey down here. It'll help him relax during moments like these."
"Firewhiskey? Really, Salazar?
"…You're right. He should start off with wine…I believe I have some stashed around here somewhere."
"Unbelievable."
Harry barely registered the words of the other two, instead raising his hand to massage his forehead. A pensive frown adorned his face as he finished reading the letter from Sirius once again before leaning back into his chair to gaze absentmindedly at one of the many serpent sculptures lining the chamber.
Salazar and Helena eyed him with curiosity written plainly on their faces, keen to know what had been on the letter but seeming to understand that he needed a couple of moments to gather his thoughts.
The letter had arrived during breakfast, and he hadn't wasted any time heading to a secluded area alongside Hermione to read it. It was fairly short, containing a simple update on Sirius's current whereabouts along with a request to meet during this coming Hogsmeade weekend.
While his godfather's return to England was far earlier than it had been in his previous life, it worked in Harry's favor. It meant he could start thinking about visiting Grimmauld Place to grab Slytherin's Locket.
It should have put him in a good mood, knowing that his godfather was back home safely and having another piece of Voldemort's soul practically within his grasp.
Instead, Harry felt troubled.
He looked down at the letter, eyeing what was written with a concerned frown.
Dragons. First Task.
Somehow, Sirius had managed to come across the details of the first task, and while it was an unexpected change to the timeline, it wasn't anything to be overly concerned about.
At least, it shouldn't have been.
Yet, each time he read those words at the bottom, a hint of unease would well up within him.
Why do I feel like something isn't right? Harry thought, running a hand through his messy hair.
"If you're quite done brooding, mind telling us what was written in that letter," Salazar drawled.
"Only if you're willing, of course," Helena told him after sending the portrait a sharp look before drifting closer to the young man sitting in the chair.
Harry glanced at her before eyeing the parchment in his hand again.
"The letter is from my godfather."
"Ah, the escaped mass murderer," Salazar said, once again finding himself on the receiving end of a stern look from Helena.
"Who is entirely innocent...Remember what he told us," she told him with a huff.
A few days ago, Helena had expressed her opinion that it had been Sirius who had entered him into the tournament in an attempt to get him killed.
Harry had tried to brush off that suggestion by explaining to the spirit the unlikeliness of such a thing, but she had been quite firm in her stance that he should at least consider the possibility.
In the end, he had been all but forced to tell her and Salazar, who had been watching intently off to the side, the truth surrounding Sirius's imprisonment. The pair easily accepted his words about his godfather's innocence, though that didn't stop the founder from making the occasional comment like the one just now.
"Is he all right?" Helena asked once she turned to him again.
"He's fine," Harry responded simply, a frown still on his face. "Even wants to meet this Hogsmeade weekend."
The ghost nodded before staring at him with a hint of confusion.
"That's good, no? That means you'll get to see him soon."
"It is."
"What else was written on that letter?" Salazar cut in, staring at him intently.
"What the first task is going to be," Harry told them simply, drawing a sharp inhale from the woman beside him and an arched eyebrow from the founder. "Dragons. The first task is dragons."
His revelation provoked an immediate response from the pair, though they differed greatly.
There was very little change in Salazar's expression; only the smallest widening of his eyes showed that he was taken aback, contrasting heavily with Helena's reaction.
"Dragons?! Are they out of their bloody minds?!" Helena shrieked in growing outrage. "Are they trying to get you killed?"
Harry felt a bit of amusement at how much it resembled Hermione's reaction when she had read that part of the letter earlier in the day, and he could understand why the prospect of him facing such a creature had elicited such a strong response from the pair.
Hell, he could still remember the cold, icy feeling that had swept through his body when he had first laid eyes on them in his previous life.
It was classified as an XXXXX-level beast, a known wizard killer, for a reason.
"While I have made no secret of my approval for your participation in the tournament," Salazar began to say, his tone surprisingly casual considering the subject. "Even I must admit that involving dragons seems a bit rash of a decision by the Ministry…Is your godfather certain that is what they are planning?"
Harry waved the letter in the air for a bit.
"Sirius wouldn't have worded it in such a way if he wasn't sure," Harry said calmly, giving the spirit a firm look when she made to protest.
Knowing that three words written on a piece of parchment wouldn't be enough to appease them, he told the pair the same thing he had told Hermione earlier when she also expressed doubt.
"Not only that but before coming to Hogwarts, one of Ron's brothers who works at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary mentioned seeing us sometime soon at Hogwarts."
"That would give credence to your godfather's words," Salzar mused before eyeing him curiously. "You seem remarkably calm at the prospect of facing a dragon."
"It's not the first time I've faced a dangerous beast," Harry said with a smirk, gesturing to the dead serpent off to the side.
That earned him a small glare from the man, but he didn't contest his words.
Harry looked at Helena when she continued to stare at him intently, raising an eyebrow when her expression didn't change.
It took several more moments for her expression of anger to slowly morph into one of resignation before she brought her hands to her face, rubbing at her temples harshly.
"Countless examples of things going utterly wrong in past tournaments, and yet they're still idiotic enough to proceed with something like this," she muttered bitterly.
"No use dwelling over something like that. The Ministry will always have its shortcomings, and I doubt anything will ever change that," Harry said with a shrug before standing up, vanishing the letter and his chair with a simple wave of his wand.
An act that didn't escape the founder's notice.
"You cast those spells non-verbally," Salazar pointed out, a pleased look on his face. "Low-level ones, yes, but it is a testament to the amount of discipline and effort you have put into your training to achieve that, considering your situation."
"Well, at least you won't be completely helpless once you face a dragon," Helena grumbled lightly before letting out a sigh, the last traces of anger fading away. She looked at him seriously. "Have you started working on a plan?"
"I have, but it still depends on what spells I can learn to a good level before the first task," Harry said, already making his way over to a spot away from them once he caught the expectant look they sent him.
"Show us what you have planned, and then we'll offer some suggestions," Salazar said, earning an agreeing nod from Helena.
Hogsmeade
Saturday
November 21st, 1994
Harry could only sigh as he watched Hagrid practically bulldoze his way through the crowd of students, holding a bouquet as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
It probably is more him at the moment, He thought with a smile.
He turned back to Hermione before walking alongside her through the bustling village.
They had just left Tomes and Scrolls and had started to head towards the outskirts of Hogsmeade when they ran into the groundskeeper. He had pulled them to the side before telling Harry to visit his cabin at midnight before bursting away before he could respond.
While Harry already knew he planned to show him the dragons, it hadn't taken Hermione long to figure out what the groundskeeper had planned.
"I think he wants to show you the dragons," she whispered, earning a nod of agreement from him. She looked at him for a moment. "I know you already know about them, but you should go either way…Maybe you'll find out which species they chose."
Harry pursed his lips at those final words, already aware of which species they had brought over, but he couldn't exactly tell her that.
"Look, there's no harm in going," she said after seeing the conflicted look on his face. "Plus, Hagrid is expecting you to go, and you don't want to disappoint him, do you?"
Harry sighed after that before nodding reluctantly.
I'll have to let Salazar and Helena know I won't stop by until much later. He thought before spotting a familiar blonde woman step out of J. Pippin's Potion shop.
"Wait here for a moment," Harry told Hermione as a thought occurred to him.
He placed a hand on the girl's shoulder before walking over to Fleur, who had already started making her way to another shop.
It didn't take long for his footsteps to reach her ears, making her turn around. She raised an eyebrow once she recognized him, giving him an expectant look when he stopped before her.
The French witch had swapped her usual elegant uniform for a simple beige knitted jumper and had paired it with tight navy pants tucked into knee-high dragonhide boots.
Much better suited for the weather at this time of year. He thought, ignoring the hushed whispers that had begun to ring out from around them.
"I need to tell you something," Harry said quietly, earning a delicate raised eyebrow in response. "It's about the tournament."
"What about it?" she asked after a moment.
"At midnight, go to the Forbidden Forest…You'll see what we have for the first task."
Fleur eyed him carefully.
"And how do you know this?"
"Hagrid, the groundskeeper, he told me earlier. He's taking Madam Maxime on a date later tonight and planning to show her what we'll face. I suggest you follow them to see for yourself what it is before the actual event starts."
Fleur scoffed.
"A date…She hasn't mentioned anything to me about a date."
"I'm telling you the truth."
"And why should I believe you?"
"What do I get by lying?"
"One less competitor to worry about, for starters," Fleur said simply, pursing her lips. "I'm not oblivious to the dangers lurking within that forest. It was explained to us not to venture inside once we arrived."
"If you don't believe me, that's fine. I'm not going to force you to go," he said, sighing. "Just thought I should give you a heads up."
Harry turned around before returning to Hermione, who glanced at the blonde behind him with a small frown.
"What did you tell her?" Hermione asked as they began crossing the bridge that led away from the village.
"What Hagrid told me earlier. Not that it was dragons, just that she should head to the Forbidden Forest at midnight."
"…And are you planning to tell Cedric and Krum as well, or is it just her?"
Harry raised an eyebrow at the strange tone in her voice before answering.
"If I see them before tonight, then yes."
Hermione continued to stare at him oddly but eventually nodded slowly as the pair reached the other side of the bridge.
They made their way silently to the back part of a shop called The Magic Neep, and Harry, after making sure no one was around, took out his Invisibility Cloak before throwing it over them. Now completely hidden from sight, they made their way up the hill past the Hogsmeade Cemetery before stopping just in front of the Shrieking Shack.
"Anybody around?" Hermione whispered, peering around the area, waiting for Harry to examine the Marauder's Map.
"No. The coast is clear," he said softly, eyeing the solitary dot inside the run-down building in front for a moment before folding the parchment back up. He placed it back inside his pocket along with his cloak before eyeing the Shrieking Shack with nervous excitement.
It had been bubbling inside of him throughout the morning, and for the most part, he had managed to keep it from being visible on his face. However, once he had begun to make his way through the village alongside Hermione, his firm grasp over his emotions had begun to slip away.
Harry took a deep breath to steady himself, immediately drawing the attention of his bushy-haired friend. She stepped closer to him, grasping his forearm gently with a worried expression.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah…yeah, I'm okay. Just…anxious to see him, is all," he muttered, closing his eyes briefly as the mad cackling of a deranged witch rang inside his head.
Hermione gave him a reassuring smile.
"I'm sure he's feeling the same. Come on, let's go see him," she said, squeezing his arm encouragingly before guiding him inside the abandoned building.
As soon as the pair of them entered the living room, Sirius's face lit up with a wide, joyful grin, and at the sight of the familiar expression, a profound sense of joy and relief enveloped Harry.
No longer able to contain his emotions at having his godfather once again among the living, Harry couldn't resist the urge to rush over to the older man before embracing him tightly.
While he had grieved over his death and had accepted it hadn't been his fault, that didn't change the fact that he was happy to see him alive again.
"I'm…so glad to see you, Sirius," he muttered, getting an affectionate squeeze from the older man.
"Good to see you too, kid," he said before pulling away to glance at the girl standing respectfully at the entryway. "And you as well, Hermione."
The bushy-haired girl smiled in greeting before making her way to the pair once the man beckoned her over.
Sirius eyed the area behind the pair for a moment before frowning slightly.
"Ron couldn't come?"
"He doesn't know we're meeting you…We're not on the best of terms at the moment," Harry said simply, sparing a glance in Hermione's direction, not surprised to see her face had hardened a tad with the mention of the other boy's name.
She had told him recently about what had transpired in the library earlier this week, leaving no detail out. The girl hadn't been shy in voicing her irritation toward the other boy at the words he had said about him, a sentiment Harry shared even if he had tried to be understanding of the redhead.
That had earned him a harsh glare from the girl before she told him sternly that Ron's sense of inferiority was not an excuse for his behavior.
Harry was unable and unwilling to argue against that.
Resolving to deal with his friend another time, Harry shook his head before turning back to face his godfather.
"Anyway, that's not important right now," Harry told him, aware they didn't have the luxury of wasting time.
While he and Hermione had managed to successfully sneak away, he knew it wouldn't take long for people to wonder where they had gone.
He got an agreeing nod from Sirius, who proceeded to transfigure the piano off to the side into some simple chairs.
As they sat down, a flash of a ring on his godfather's hand grabbed his attention, and his eyes narrowed slightly in confusion at the piece of jewelry.
"That's new," Harry said, gesturing to the ring once they sat down.
"Yeah, this is one of the things I wanted to talk to you about," Sirius responded, playing with the trinket.
Those words had him look curiously at his godfather. That look only became more pronounced once he caught sight of the troubled expression that crossed the older man's face for a second before it disappeared just as quickly.
Sirius took a deep breath before speaking.
"Once I got your letter explaining your entry into the Triwizard Tournament and that you might need some of my help, I started returning to England. To Grimmauld Place, which is my ancestral home. I made it there easily enough, but I was suddenly transported away when I grabbed the door."
Both Harry and Hermione looked at him wide-eyed.
"A portkey?" Harry breathed out, an uneasy feeling forming in his stomach as he remembered the events of the third task.
"Where did it take you?" Hermione asked quickly.
"Gringotts. In the office of Ugnast, the goblin in charge of handling the vaults of the Black Family," Sirius explained before letting out a small sigh. "She had been trying to find me. Not to turn me in or anything like that, but to speak with me about something important. And it was urgent, which was why she placed the portkey on the door in a desperate attempt to make that happen."
Harry's eyes narrowed as a small frown crept onto his face.
While he wasn't aware of how Sirius began using Grimmauld Place in his previous life, he was at least reasonably sure it had never involved him meeting with the goblins.
His godfather had made it a point to avoid ever dealing directly with them, instead resorting to sending them letters if he needed something. It was what he had done to withdraw money to buy him his firebolt or how he had delivered his will before his death.
I don't think he ever went in person to the bank, Harry thought, a sense of unease developing inside him.
The sensation grew in intensity when Sirius raised his right hand, allowing them to get a good look at the jewelry on his fourth finger.
"The reason why is because of this…She wanted me to take this ring and become Lord Black."
Harry's eyes immediately widened in shock at the revelation, darting between the ring and the man wearing it. A sharp gasp from the girl beside him let him know he wasn't the only one surprised by the news.
However, he was fairly certain they were for entirely different reasons.
That…absolutely did not happen last time.
"Lord Black…" Hermione whispered, having regained her composure earlier than him. She looked at the man in front of them with a confused expression written plainly across her face. "I'm not the most informed about what being a Lord means, but I know it comes with certain responsibilities regarding the Wizengamot. How can you perform those if you're a convicted criminal? In fact, how can you even assume lordship, considering you're still classified as a criminal?"
Hermione gave his godfather an apologetic look for the last part but still eyed the man expectantly, as did Harry.
Sirius gave the girl an amused grin before explaining.
"While my status does prevent me from performing those responsibilities, it doesn't prevent me from taking up the lordship. One of the many oddities of wizardry law. At least this one worked in my favor since I had no intention of partaking in any ministry affairs…Just the thought of it makes me want to vomit," Sirius said with a mock shudder.
A small, amused smile made it to Harry's face at his words, making him momentarily forget his unease. The smile grew wider when he heard Hermione grumble about civic duty.
"Why did she want you to become Lord Black?" he asked after a moment.
"Because if I didn't, Draco Malfoy would inherit, and she did not want that. Nor did we," Sirius said, earning nods of agreement from the pair across.
The blonde git was already a nightmare to deal with, and that was with him having just the Malfoy influence and wealth to boast about. If he were to inherit that of the Black Family, his ego would enlarge to unimaginable heights.
And there was the possibility that money could have ended up under Voldemort's control, Harry thought, raising an eyebrow once he saw the look his godfather was sending him.
Sirius continued to eye him a moment longer, with a hesitant expression and what looked like guilt. The sight of this soon made Harry feel apprehensive, and that feeling grew as silence descended upon the room, broken only when a heavy sigh left his godfather's mouth.
"However, Ugnast wanted to make sure it would never fall into the hands of the Malfoy Family, and I needed an heir that could inherit…I…can't have any children of my own, so that left me with only one other option…" Sirius said evenly before giving him a meaningful look, which had Harry's eyes widen as he grasped what his godfather was trying to tell him. "I named you my heir, Harry."
With his mouth slightly agape, Harry could only stare at his godfather in stunned silence. He didn't notice Hermione reaching over to grasp his hand tightly, nor did he catch the flash of remorse across the other man's face at the gesture.
He sat still momentarily, processing the information before numbly asking a question.
"So, one day…"
"You'll become Lord Black, along with being Lord Potter. And they are to be kept separated…It's one of the assurances I gave her," he finished softly, glancing between them.
I barely even know what being a Lord means! Harry shouted within his mind. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to smother the hint of panic that began to grow within him.
"You said 'one of,'" Hermione pointed out, keeping her hand on his while looking at Sirius curiously. "What other assurances did you have to make?"
His godfather turned to look at the girl and opened his mouth to respond before stopping. He opened it several times before ultimately shaking his head, ignoring the perplexed look the two Hogwarts students were sending him.
"I'll tell you another time. After the first take."
"Why not now?" Harry asked, beginning to regain his composure.
Sirius immediately shook his head before gesturing to him with an apologetic look.
"I don't want to trouble you anymore than I have—"
"Not like you've already done that by telling me I'm about to be the Lord of two houses," he muttered harshly.
"Which you obviously haven't taken well," Sirius said sternly, shooting Harry a small glare when he opened his mouth. "The first task is only a few days away, and I don't want to addle your mind any more than I already have. Not when you'll need every bit of it once you find yourself before a dragon."
"How did you find out it would be dragons?" Hermione asked, stopping any argument from occurring. She glanced at the boy beside her worriedly at the reminder of what awaited him in a few days.
"Ugnast told me."
"And did she tell you anything else? Anything that could help Harry?"
"No," Sirius said with a shake of his head before looking at the pair severely. "But I found something that could be useful after I stopped by Grimmauld Place."
His godfather reached into his coat, taking out a pair of small textbooks from a pocket much too small to have held them if it wasn't for magic.
"I looked through the library and found these books…I removed any protections it had, so no need to worry," Sirius said before giving them to Harry. "I marked several spells that might be useful to you, some borderline Dark Magic, but since you're facing a dragon, I figured it might be necessary."
"He won't get into trouble by having these books, will he?" Hermione asked, eyeing the objects cautiously.
"He shouldn't, but best to stay on the safe side and keep them a secret," Sirius said before sighing. "Anyway, better started heading back. While I doubt anyone will be brave enough to venture here, I'd rather not take any chances."
The three stood up at his words, and Harry passed the texts to Hermione, who placed them carefully into her bag.
Absentmindedly, Harry realized that he was a lot closer to being the same height as his godfather.
The older man stepped toward him before placing his hands on the young man's shoulders and stared at him in concern.
"Be careful. Dragons are powerful, ferocious beasts, and you'll need every ounce of ability you have if you are to survive an encounter with them…but if you use this," Sirius said softly, tapping his head with a finger before placing it on his chest. "And if you use your instincts, I have no doubt you'll do so. Understand?"
Harry nodded with a look of utmost determination, making the man look at him proudly before drawing him into a tight hug.
Sirius drew away from him before going over to Hermione and wrapping her in a small hug as well.
"Look after him, all right?" he told the girl after stepping back.
"I'll try," she answered with a smile.
His godfather nodded, giving a simple wave goodbye before twisting his ring and disappearing in a swirl.
Beauxbatons Carriages
Sunday
November 22nd, 1994
Try as she might, Fleur found herself unable to fall asleep.
She tossed and turned in her silk sheets, again and again, before sitting up harshly, a growl of frustration leaving her when another attempt to get some rest failed.
Fleur knew the reason why.
While she had tried to dismiss Harry's words from earlier as nothing more than a competitor's attempt at deceiving her, she found she had been unable to do so completely.
I couldn't even find Madam Maxime to ask if she had anything special planned tonight, Fleur thought before staring at one of her windows and toward where the Headmistress's carriage would be.
Unconsciously, she began to slip out of her bed before gracefully walking over to it.
"Just to make sure," Fleur mumbled, drawing back the curtains to look outside.
Immediately, she noticed light filtering through one of the carriage's windows, making her narrowing her eyes. She stared at it for a moment longer, indecision written on her face, before moving to her nightstand to grab her wand and heading toward the other carriage.
Any other student wouldn't even consider casually showing up announced at her door, especially at this hour.
Of course, she wasn't just anybody.
Fleur was Madam Maxime's prized pupil and, more importantly, her friend.
It was that friendship that allowed her to walk up to her door before knocking on it without hesitation.
Hurried steps soon reached her ears before the door opened, and an elegantly dressed Madame Maxime appeared behind it with a wide smile. It fell a little once she saw her, but the veela didn't notice as she stared slightly wide-eyed at her current attire.
"Fleur?" The half-giant said after a moment, looking at her in confusion before stepping aside to let her in. "What are you doing up so late?"
"I…couldn't sleep, and I noticed your light was still on, so…" Fleur murmured, still looking at the current state of dress of the older woman.
Madam Maxime noticed her gaze and a small smile appeared on her face.
"Well, if you came over for a late-night chat, I'm afraid it won't be for very long," she told her before walking over to a standing mirror in the corner. "I'm expecting Hagrid any moment now…He plans to take me on a stroll through the forest to see something incredible, and I'm quite eager to see what it is."
Fleur couldn't help but tense at those words, her mind immediately drawing up the piece of information Harry had told her concerning tonight. She had dismissed it entirely at the moment, but now, it seemed there might have been a hint of truth in the young man's words.
If he is telling the truth…and whatever I'll face is in the forest…
A pensive frown made its way onto her face as she considered the matter, which didn't go unnoticed.
"What's the matter, Fleur?"
"Nothing, just…" she shook her head lightly before gazing at the other woman with small concern. A tentative plan to form in her head. "They say the forest is dangerous, especially this late at night…Perhaps it would be best if I came along, just in case."
A laugh filled with amusement left the half-giant.
"I do not believe that will be necessary."
"Just as a precaution."
"No," Madam Maxime told her as she turned around, sending Fleur a stern look when she made to keep protesting. "I'm more than capable of defending myself. Besides, I do not think Hagrid would place me in any unnecessary danger…Not if he wants things to develop further between us."
Despite feeling annoyed that her suggestion had been shot down so quickly, Fleur couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the discernable nervous enthusiasm in the half-giant's voice.
"You're actually…considering pursuing a relationship with him?"
Madam Maxime gave herself one final glance in the mirror before responding.
"I have yet to see a reason why I shouldn't. Quite the opposite. Hagrid has many good qualities to him, and it's left me with the desire to find out more, a feeling I have not in decades."
A sad smile graced the woman's face as she spoke those words, one that Fleur felt herself returning.
She knew the difficulties the half-giant experienced in her romantic life and the growing disillusionment she had started to feel with ever finding someone.
It was a feeling she had begun to feel recently, as well.
"I'm happy for you," Fleur said genuinely, ignoring the tiny pang of envy inside her chest.
She kept any negative thoughts from appearing on her face, but the older woman knew her well enough to know where her mind had strayed.
"Be patient, Fleur. You are still quite young and have more than enough time to find yourself a good man."
She simply shrugged, having heard similar words from her mother, grandmother, and even her father numerous times. She had fully believed them initially, but that belief had dwindled as time passed.
"I know, I know," Fleur said with a sigh before giving the headmistress a tight smile. "But I'm not going to waste my time finding someone."
"And how do you expect to find him if you don't?" Madam Maxime asked. "Or do you expect him to suddenly appear at your doorstep from out of nowhere?"
"It'd make it much easier if he did."
Madam Maxime gave her an exasperated look that quickly evaporated at the sound of knocking on the door. She walked over to it with nervous excitement, summoning a silk shawl from her closet before wrapping it around her shoulders.
"Remember to lock the door after you leave," she told Fleur, taking a deep breath before opening the door. "Ah, Hagrid…is it time?"
"Bong-sewer."
Fleur couldn't help but snort at the groundskeeper's poor attempt at using her mother tongue, rolling her eyes at Madam Maxime when she gave her a pointed look as she closed the door.
A silence descended upon the room, but only for a few seconds as she swiftly approached the window across the room.
She peered out the window for a second, making sure the two half-giants had already begun to leave before opening the door, casually turning her slippers into something more suitable with a wave of her wand. Another wave of her wand toward the door had it close gently, and Fleur quickly set off after the pair before abruptly crashing into something only a couple steps away from the carriage.
A yelp left her lips at the sudden impact, but she managed to keep her footing, raising her wand before her.
"Homenum Revelio," Fleur whispered, a curse leaving her lips as nothing revealed itself.
She turned around cautiously, keeping herself ready to cast another spell, when a sigh sounded from behind her.
"Who's there?!" The Veela instantly demanded, her eyes widening when Harry suddenly appeared from underneath an invisibility cloak. Her eyes narrowed an instant later before she glared at him, not pleased to have stumbled upon him in such a manner.
"What are you doing here?!" she hissed, jabbing her wand in his direction.
"The same reason you are, obviously," Harry said, glancing briefly at the wand pointed at him before throwing a thumb over his shoulder to the pair of half-giants heading into the direction of the forest.
An amused grin suddenly spread across his face. "I thought you didn't believe a word I said."
Fleur huffed, still annoyed at being caught by surprise, before slowly lowering her wand.
"I'm only following after them because I want to make sure nothing happens to Madam Maxime," she blurted out, glaring at him when the grin didn't leave his face.
"Sure."
"I am."
"Didn't say you weren't."
"So then wipe that stupid grin off your face."
A growl left Fleur's mouth when his grin only stretched further across his face in response to her words. She crossed her arms with a huff before walking forward again, turning her nose up as she passed by him, not sparing him a glance even when he fell into step beside her.
The pair made their way silently towards the Forbidden Forest, with only the grass and twigs they stepped on producing any noise.
"I don't see them anywhere," Harry said once they delved into the forest. His head turned from side to side, a small frown on his face. "And I have no idea which way they could have gone."
"Are you a wizard or not?" Fleur grumbled before walking forward slowly as she scanned the ground. She crouched down to one knee, placing the tip of her wand on the outline of an enormous footprint before encircling it.
The glowing, vibrant gold light rapidly illuminated the initial track and those that came after it further in front, showing them which direction to take.
"That's useful," Harry murmured as he walked over to inspect the glowing trail, turning to her curiously once she returned to her feet. "What's the spell called?"
"Vestigia Revela. It's a tracking spell, fairly basic, as it only reveals a single set of footprints…There is another spell that can show multiple tracks and traces of magic in the area, though it is far more advanced. Not for me, of course," Fleur finished proudly as she followed the newly revealed path.
"Why didn't you use that one?" he asked as he fell into step beside her.
She shrugged.
"It would have been a waste of magic. The only difference would have been the second set of tracks to follow, which would be useless to see since we know Madam Maxime and Hagrid are traveling together."
"Ahh…makes sense."
She nodded, staying silent for a moment before glancing at him briefly. Her lips pursed together as she debated whether or not to ask him something.
Harry seemed to understand she was trying to gather her words, waiting patiently as they continued walking.
"The groundskeeper…," Fleur began slowly. "How much do you know about him?"
"A lot more than most, I'm sure," Harry said, keeping his eyes staring up ahead.
"And what's he like? As a person, I mean."
He turned to glance at her, no doubt curious about her sudden interest, before it quickly dawned on him the reason why.
"Wondering if he's worth the time for your headmistress?" he asked, earning a candid nod from her.
He eyed her for a moment before returning his gaze up ahead, his pace slowly down as his face turned thoughtful. Now, it was Fleur's turn to wait patiently as he took the time to form the right words.
When Harry spoke again, his voice was filled with warmth and tenderness.
"Harid is very kind-hearted. Loyal. Thoughtful. A man who can be quite gentle despite his appearance…He was the first person to ever show me genuine kindness, which I will never forget."
The first? She wondered in her head but kept quiet, watching Harry pause momentarily, his gaze turning distant.
"He brought me my Hogwarts letter. Went through the trouble of making his way to a little hut out in the sea to give it to me…even brought me a cake. Chocolate, with pink frosting covering every inch of it and green icing on top wishing me a happy birthday…horribly misspelled, though," A small chuckle escaped him, though the look of fondness remained on his face. "But the fact that he made the effort to do that meant the world to me. It showed that somebody cared about me."
Fleur's brows scrunched together at the last part before wiping it from her face as Harry stopped. She did the same and turned to face him.
"And that's what Madam Maxime will find with Hagrid. Someone who will care deeply for her," he said sincerely.
Fleur stared at him, looking for any hint that he did not fully believe those words, for any signs that her friend should cut her losses before her feelings developed any further.
When she found nothing but honesty written plainly on his features, she let a small hint of her allure brush against his mind.
She was loathed to use it, but she felt the matter was important enough to do so.
Her eyes widened a tiny bit when his expression stayed the same, except for the smallest twitches upwards from his lips, which she decided to ignore.
"…That's good," Fleur said simply after a few seconds. "She deserves someone who does."
"And Hagrid deserves the same," Harry responded, raising his hand placatingly when she narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not questioning her intentions. Just expressing my wish to see Hagrid with someone who will value him as much as he does them."
Fleur nodded, her features softening at his explanation.
"Anyway, we should get going again," he said before following the glowing tracks again, making room for Fleur, who soon stepped alongside him.
Barely any words were exchanged after that, especially as the distance between them and the castle grew. It wasn't long before the darkness that had long since engulfed the forest grew to be menacing, accompanied by a stillness in the air that had the hairs on the back of her neck rise.
The words that had been conveyed to her about the creatures that inhabited the forest flashed through her mind, heightening the sense of danger.
While feeling unnerved, she didn't allow it to affect her too much. Instead, she shifted her head slowly from side to side, scanning the trees for any hint of movement. She was pleased to find that Harry had already begun to do the same, with movements that seemed much more refined, which she found odd for someone younger than her.
Finally, after having walked for what seemed like ages, she caught sight of large forms of Madam Maxime and Hagrid standing off in the distance, conversing with a stocky, redheaded wizard. Just beyond them, she could begin to make out four enormous wooden containers, each with ten or so wizards around them.
Curious, she placed a small marker on a nearby tree before making her way alongside Harry over to a thick set of bushes near the edges of the camp to get a closer look. She peered over it, straining her eyes to glimpse what was contained within the crates.
Suddenly, a cacophony of shouts rang out of the clearing as the wooden walls abruptly collapsed, revealing metal cages before large streams of fire erupted from within them.
A hand shot up to her mouth, barely managing to smother a cry of alarm once she saw the cause of the flames.
Dragons?!
That was the only thought she could manage before stumbling back in shock when a violent roar rang out through the forest, the force of which had the trees around shake. More soon followed the first as the beasts thrashed aggressively in their cages.
Fleur managed to keep her footing but still stared wide-eyed at the scene in front of her before looking at Harry, who looked relatively calm compared to her.
Only the slight tightening around his eyes, illuminated by the orange and red hues from the flames thrown by the dragons, let her know that he wasn't completely unfazed by what was in front of them.
"Dragons?" she whispered roughly. "That's the first task?"
"Yeah…one dragon for each champion," Harry answered, his eyes still staring in front.
Fleur followed his gaze, and anxiety quickly began to worm its way inside her mind, which she tried unsuccessfully to suppress. Her hands began to tremble beside her sides the longer she stared at them, but she found herself unable to look away.
What had been a calm area just a few moments ago was now a place of utter chaos as wizards dashed around frantically, trying to calm the dragons down. Screeches, snarls, and roars constantly rang through the air, the booming sounds heightening the mayhem.
Ressaisis-toi!
In a desperate attempt to snap some sense into herself, she began to dig her nails forcefully into the palms of her hands, but even that did nothing.
Suddenly, Harry spoke up from beside her.
"Scared, Delacour?" he asked mockingly, making her look at him wide-eyed. "All that boasting you've done, and you crumble at the first hint of danger."
He shook his head in fake disappointment.
"Where is the person that was so sure she would beat me? The confident woman who claimed to be the most brilliant witch Beauxbatons had seen in years? Are you perhaps not the talented witch you think you are?" Harry said calmly, turning his nose up at her after a moment. "…Maybe I won't have to worry about you in the tournament after all."
It took her a bit to process his words, but when she did, her temper rose, and a menacing scowl soon grew on her face.
"You wish," Fleur hissed, a snarl threatening to escape her when she noticed her response only seemed to amuse him. "I am the witch I say I am, and if you keep speaking to me like that, I'll show you exactly what I'm capable of doing. Understand, little boy?"
She raised her wand toward him threateningly and jabbed against his chest, waiting for his rebuttal, only to stare at him in confusion when he simply nodded with any traces of amusement gone from his face.
"Good. Now, you don't look like you're about to run away in fear."
Fleur stared at him for a few seconds with her wand still raised before lowering it.
"…I was not," she grumbled.
"Yes, you were…Though, I was too, to be honest," Harry admitted softly with a small smile. His words earned him a look of surprise from her, making him shake his head. "What? Did you think I wouldn't be afraid?"
He scoffed, the noise still reaching her ears despite all the noise still coming from the frenzied camp.
"What do I achieve by doing that other than luring myself into a false sense of security?" Harry said as he raised his palms to her, showing that he had been digging his nails into his palms just like her. "I am afraid just seeing the dragons from a distance, and I will no doubt be absolutely terrified the moment I'm standing directly in front of one…but that's fine. As long as I don't let it consume me…I can use that same fear to help me survive."
She eyed him quietly, mulling over his words before lowering her wand and turning back to the clearing.
As she gazed upon the dragons again, Fleur felt fear grab hold of her again, only this time, she didn't immediately try to fight it. Instead, she let her hands tremble freely as she kept her eyes trained upon the enormous beasts before her.
I'm afraid…but that's alright.
As the seconds ticked by, her hands began to still, and the apprehension that thrashed violently inside her chest became subdued. However, only when the dragons were once again restrained inside their cages did she allow herself to look away, a deep exhale leaving her as she did so.
She nodded determinedly to herself before looking back toward Harry, her mouth opening a few times as she tried to figure out what to say before finally sending him a small smile.
"I can see why you were sorted into Gryffindor."
A flash of movement from way behind Harry suddenly drew her attention, his as well, once he caught the change in her expression.
She could make a tall, shadowing figure hurriedly walking away from camp through the gaps between the trees.
"That's Karkaroff," he whispered as he followed the rapidly disappearing form of the Durmstrang Headmaster.
"Which means Krum will soon know what we'll be facing for the first task," Fleur said, narrowing her eyes when she caught sight of another flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. "And Diggory."
Harry looked at her in confusion, making her point over to a tree off in the distance, where the other Hogwarts champion was hiding behind.
"How did he know to come here?" she heard him mumbled before shaking his head. He turned back to face her. "We should start heading back. There's nothing else we need to see."
Fleur simply nodded before guiding them back to the tree she had marked, using the same tracking spell to illuminate the tracks they had used to get here.
The trip back was uneventful and spent in silence as each lost themselves in their thoughts. Only when they stopped in front of her carriage did Fleur decide to speak.
"Thank you…For accompanying me and for your words earlier," she told him, a smirk making its way onto her lips. "Even if the manner in which you grabbed my attention was a bit…rude."
"It worked," Harry said with a shrug before rubbing at the spot on his chest where her wand had been shoved against. "Though I could have done without you threatening me. I honestly thought you were going to curse me."
"I was," Fleur said with a grin before stepping partially into her carriage. "Now, shoo. I'd like to sleep before I wake up and figure out how to deal with a dragon."
Harry gave her a small wave of farewell with a smile before making his way back to the castle, his form disappearing from view once she closed the door.
"Dragons…" Fleur mumbled, leaning her forehead against the door for a moment. A weary sigh left her before she went over to her bed, flopping down on top of it to get some much-needed rest.
A/N:
Regarding Cygnus being Lord Black, I'm basing it on the Family Tree on the Wiki page, which shows him dying in 1992 after Arcturus, who died in 1991.
As for one family absorbing another, it happened with the Potters and the Peverells, though it was before Gringotts was established. I'm giving myself some leeway on this part.
Canon states that the Beauxbatons used only a single carriage, but I decided to make it so each person had their own in this story.
Now, I wanted to convey the sense of danger the tournament possesses as well as paint the dragons the champions will face as the monstrous forces they are.
The next chapter will cover the first task.
Peace.
