Harry looked at the calendar once again. It was late at night, the day before the second task.
He would have three duels in the next day and the other three in the day after. He would fight each of the champions once for each day, starting with Cedric, then Fleur and Krum to finish. The order would be the same for the two days.
He was ready.
Cedric was, in his opinion, the easiest. He was a bright student, no doubt about it, but he was not a fighter. The fact that he had a terrible defense education, without even one teacher being able to last for more than one year in the position made his ability to fight even more frail. Fleur and Krum were another breed and gave him more motive for concern. He didn't know much about Krum's style so he could be a little unpredictable, and while he had the chance to know Fleur better, he didn't [hasn't seen] saw her do a lot of magic, and her magical nature and affinity with fire could represent a problem. He was still confident he could beat the three of his opponents. He had Salazar's help and knowledge, but he couldn't allow himself to become overconfident.
He thought about where he would be without Salazar's help. He'd always been a good student, but he only had three years of education. He was still weak and wouldn't be able to compete against any of the other three.
He would probably have died against the dragon, only extreme luck could have saved him. He was now aware and in control of his power. His knowledge had increased tenfold and he had something to say in his own destiny. He was lost in those thoughts when he fell asleep and it was with a renewed energy that he woke up. He was ready and would dominate the task.
"Gentleman, I want a fair fight. As you are aware, the rules are no unforgivables and no intention to kill. Everything else is allowed. You can begin at my command." Said professor Flitwick, the referee for the duels.
The goblin professor took a few steps back. "Begin."
Harry and Cedric were face to face; wands pointed at each other. The moment they heard Flitwick's voice; they began.
Harry allowed Cedric to fire the first few spells. He was confident in the dodging abilities he spent so much time perfecting in the Come and go room. He wanted to tire his opponent and catch him off guard and distracted, in order to save most of his energy to the harder duels later.
Cedric sent a barrage of spells in his direction. Disarming spells, bone-breaking curses, piercing curses and a few more. Harry was able identify them all and dodged them easily. He sent a few curses back but more to serve as a distraction than to cause actual damage. He observed as Cedric dodged a few, but he shielded for the most of them. That was good, as maintaining a shield cost a lot of energy. Before Cedric could attack him again, he sent two basting curses and then waited. He saw as Cedric shielded from the two curses with satisfaction. He stayed in movement, making it harder for Cedric to accurately aim, but the Hufflepuff fired anyway. More spells from the same nature which Harry dodged easily.
They kept the same rhythm for around a minute, with Harry dodging the spells that were sent his way and sending low-powered spells in response.
The crowed that had gathered in the Great Hall to watch the duel had started with loud cheers, but was now quieter, as they understood what Harry was doing.
Cedric was starting to tire up and his frustration increased. He doubled his efforts by sending more dangerous spells with higher intensity, but Harry kept his discipline and dodged them all.
Suddenly, Cedric was bound by ropes on the floor and his wand rested in Harry's hand. Before anyone even realized what had happened, Harry had seen an opening in Cedric's defense during one of his attacks and had sent two fast and powerful spells in his direction. A disarming spell and a binding charm. Flitwick calmly waked into the ring and declared Harry the winner.
The crowd cheered, and he was able to see Blaise, Tracey, and Luna all cheering and clapping. He saw apprehensive looks on both Fleur's and Krum's faced, but he also noticed a small smile from Fleur in his direction. She was apprehensive with him as an adversary, but she was happy for him as a… friend...boyfriend... what were they, really? He wondered.
As he left the stage to give place to Fleur's and Krum's fight, he noticed Madame Pomfrey watching him with a pleased look, so he sent her a thumbs up indicating he was perfectly fine. Even Cedric only stayed with her for around thirty seconds, following Harry and grabbing his arm.
"Congratulations Harry. You really bettered me."
Harry smiled at the older student.
"Thank you, Cedric. And you did really well over there, my advice is to be a little more creative."
"I will try. But I didn't do all that well; I couldn't even hit you one time."
Harry smiled again to the beaten opponent and made his way to his friends.
"Wow, you were really impressive over there!" Complemented Tracey.
Blaise, who was already aware of Harry's skill by watching him train wasn't so impressed, but he slapped Harry's arm. "Well done." He said.
"Thank you, both!"
Sirius joined them, and all he had was complements for Harry's performance.
"Jesus, Harry. You completely overpowered Diggory there."
He hugged his godfather and then settled down in the stands to watch the next duel.
He was glad the organization had decided to allow the other competitors to watch the duels, unlike with like with the first task. He was curious to see how both Krum and Fleur would fight, and it would be an interesting spectacle.
They began firing the second Flitwick gave the order, both sending spells after spells to their opponent. Harry was fascinated by Krum's speed and elegance at dodging spells and casting at the same time. A bonus from all the years spent in a broom, he thought. He fired very diverse courses, and while Harry knew most of them, there were a few he was unable to recognize, which was a motive for some concern. He tried to understand their effects as he saw them, but with Fleur dodging so many of them it was hard.
The Veela was also casting powerful spells at her opponent, but her speed and reflexes were a bit slower. She made up for it by casting very powerfully, with a tendency to opt for more fire related spells. She also recurred to transfiguration and conjuration a lot, changing the ground into wild animals that she sent to attack Krum. They were very evenly matched.
Harry enjoyed watching the duel a lot, learning from his opponents about their strengths and weaknesses. He was even more happy when Fleur managed to grab the win from Krum. She had used a very clever ploy to fake the appearance of losing and, when Krum thought he had the win guaranteed and focused more on his attacks she had quickly sent a few very powerful spells that caught him off guard and rendered him unable to continue the fight.
Both champions spent almost thirty minutes with Madame Pomfrey as they had been hit a couple of times. The injuries were minor, but it took some time to heal them completely.
The next round of fights would be after lunch and the third just before dinner, giving the champions some time to recover.
So, he decided for a picnic with his friends and godfather, also inviting Fleur to join them. She had gladly accepted and the six made their way to the lake after Harry had a couple of words with his favorite house-elf, Dobby.
It was cold outside, and for a few moments Harry doubted his idea, but upon arriving had his chosen location he was relieved to see that the elf had thought about it and had cast a large area warming charm around the place.
They had a nice lunch, Dobby providing lots of food. Harry noticed a few weird looks from Tracey every time he shared a more intimate moment with Fleur, but he disregarded it as loyalty to Daphne.
Harry looked the Veela in the eyes.
Fleur.
Just two nights before, he'd been in her bed. They didn't go all the way, neither of them felt even close to be ready for that, but it had been Harry's first snogging session and he had been allowed to explore a little bit with his hands. Just thinking of that made his body warm up. The French champion had really taken a bigger role in his life. She went from someone who dismissed him for his age, then to friends and now they were even more than that. He didn't assume them to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but things were looking to go that way. He still felt very conflicted about what to do regarding Daphne and the feeling he obviously had for the Slytherin, but Fleur was incredible. He watched as she set herself in fighting position and he knew in a few seconds she would be the enemy.
He focused his mind on that and changed his mind set to battle mode. But before that, he winked at the blond.
Flitwick was between them testing the security wards before the duel could begin.
Once he was done, he gave them the same speech as before and then shouted "Begin!"
This time Harry's strategy was different. Fleur was way more powerful than Cedric so he couldn't allow himself to be hit. He could see she was not holding back, as she was firing curses with one hand and fireballs with the other.
He quickly started dodging her barrage of spells at the same time he conjured small water bubbles to counter her fireballs.
Her assault was so fast and violent he barely had time to fire back, but he knew what he wanted to do. Slowly, he started transfiguring the floor into chains behind the Beauxbatons champion. He knew Fleur would be focused only on his and wouldn't pay much attention to what happened behind her if she didn't have a clue of something to be happening there. So, he masked his transfiguration spells with other charms so she wouldn't notice it.
The duel had been going on for almost five minutes and Harry was breathing hard from all the spinning around he had perform dodging. He had been hit once, a cutting curse to his left arm. He had been very lucky as the spell could have severed his arm if it had hit right, but luckily it had only grazed his skin, still leaving a severe cut on his forearm. He would have to thank Fleur for the dance lessons, as he saw some of his reflexed had benefited from the elegance practice. The Veela was also panting hard but showed no signs of stopping. When he felt his chains were ready, he casted a powerful "Protego" and flicked his wand.
In less than two seconds, she was tied up to the floor as his metal chains closed their grip on her. She tried to wave her wand to dispel Harry's transfiguration, but the Slytherin pumped more magic into the spell and her efforts were pointless. A few moments later, Flitwick declared Harry the winner and added five more points to his standing.
He approached Fleur and extended his arm to help her to her feet at the same time he dispelled the chains. She accepted it and Harry breathed a sigh of relief, as he was unsure how she would react to being beaten. He knew she was very competitive but hoped their feeling for each other would overcome that. He was happy to be proven right as she smiled after getting up.
"Damn Harry, I knew you were good, but this much? I would never remember using chains."
"I just used your focus against you." He smiled back. "You really need to be more aware of what's happening behind you. It was fun. Mixing fireballs and spells makes it way harder."
"Tomorrow I'm going to get you, don't doubt about it." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, taking to chance to whisper to him "But if you want to claim your prize as the winner, we could meet in the Room later."
Harry stood blankly, thinking about her cheekiness and the offer. He would definitely take her on that.
As the boy processed her words and Fleur stepped back, the crowd cheered at the demonstration of sportsmanship she was showing, all of them unaware of her intentions and the nature of both champions relationship.
Cedric and Krum's fight was next, with Krum making it look easy. Brute force was his strategy and he just blew through Cedric's defenses. Harry watched it with apprehension, trying to come up with the best strategy. He considered fighting fire with fire and just be aggressive in his approach to Krum.
He decided to ask Sirius for advice. Godfather and Godson decided to go for a walk. They walked around the outskirts of the forbidden forest for more than ten minutes without a word. They simply enjoyed the fact that they were now able to do so without the fear that Sirius might be arrested.
The older man was the first to break the silence.
"So, how are you really hanging out there with all this tournament bull crap?"
Harry hesitated for a few seconds, thinking about the question.
"You know, at first I was terrified and very, very angry. I just wanted a quiet year after all that happened in the first three. But the truth is this tournament has given me so much. I opened my eyes, really opened them, and started to learn magic for real. My progress has been amazing for the last two months, I think I've learned more than in all my time at Hogwarts. And I've met new people, which is incredible. Luna, Fleur…" he dragged her name a little bit, something which Sirius noticed.
"You really like that girl, don't you?" He asked, sending Harry for a few more thoughtful moments.
"I think so. She's great. Not only pretty, but genuinely nice and funny, when you get to know her. There's something about her that's very hard to resist."
"You tell me about it!" He smiled "If I'd known her before I went to Azkaban, I don't think I would be able to resist that allure of hers. But that place just messes up your brain. The bad memories are so much and so strong that for some reason I find it easier to not give in to the temptation. It's the first sort of positive aspect of the time I spent there. I have to give you credit though; it's amazing how well you can fight it."
"Don't ask me how, because I don't know it either."
"I won't, but listen up. If you really feel like that for that girl, don't let her go. Fight for her. Good one's are hard to find. How about that other girl, the Greengrass child?"
Harry's smile dropped the second Daphne was mentioned.
"I don't know about her… Looking back, I think we always had some chemistry and our date went great for the most part, but I don't think she has been able to deal with things with Fleur… God, even I don't know what to do, or how to feel. I'm just divided between both and don't know what to do!" He said with exasperation in his tone.
They continued walked for a minute more without Sirius saying anything, just taking in his Godson's situation. He felt conflicted as for one hand he was happy for Harry to find two incredible women and on the other side he didn't want his Godson to feel so lost.
"You know why you received that letter from Gringotts with a summon?" He asked, an idea on his mind that could help him.
"I have some ideas, yes. Is it to formally adopt me into the Black family, right?"
Sirius hesitated for a moment and winced.
"Uhh yes and no. I want you to be a part of the Black family, but my goal was a little more than that."" He paused for a few moments as he gathered his courage to confess something, he hadn't done to anyone else in the world. "I'm sterile." He finally managed to say. "It's Azkaban's fault. As I was saying before, that place really messes with your brain and it has a severe effect on your body as well. If you stay there long enough some parts of it stop working properly, and that is one of the first ones to go."
"What does that mean?"
"That I can't have kids anymore." He said in a sad voice.
"No, I know what sterile means." Harry quickly corrected. "I'm asking what the implications of that in the Black family are?"
"Well, I have one cousin, Andromeda, but she was cast out of the family for marrying a muggleborn. Also, she could never inherit the tittle, as the Black family magic only recognizes men as chiefs of the family." Sirius cringed under Harry's stare. "Don't blame me! I didn't make the rules!" he defended. "But other than that, only Narcissa, Malfoy's mother. Which would mean that young little Draco would become Lord Black after my death. That's why my plan is to relinquish the tittle to you. You have the blood thru your grandmother Dorea as she was born a Black and to me it as if you were already my son. I know I've made some mistakes in the past, but I will do my best to be around you all the best that I can!"
Harry stared at Sirius for a long time, analyzing the man that had just called him his son. HE stepped forward and gave him a tight hug. They stayed like that for another long period of time, until Harry released him. The boy noticed Sirius' lack of tries to end the hug even when I had gone way longer than what most people would find normal.
"Does that mean you accept it?"
"If the alternative is allowing Malfoy to get it, then I do."
"Great! Now, I thought we could go there after tomorrow and spend the rest of the holidays in Black Manor, what do you say? We could get you ready for all that you need to know about being a Lord."
"Are you sure that you don't want to keep the tittle for longer?" he asked. "And don't forget I'm already a Lord!" He told, the Potter ring flashing in his finger.
"No, I never wanted it and I think it will only give you more power. The Lord of two Noble and Ancient houses… That hasn't come around in a few centuries. Also, that could provide a solution for your earlier problem." He said, a big grin on his face.
"Two houses, two wives?" He asked.
"That's right. It is perfectly acceptable, you know?"
"Yes, but I don't know how either of them will handle the idea. I don't even know if that's what I want."
"I understand," Quickly added the Animagus. "But it's a way out if you can actually pull it off. Think about it and approach the subject with the girls when you think they're ready for it. Now, what's your plan against Krum?"
"I'm not sure, he always goes for power and I can't move as well as Fleur. I think I'm powerful myself to blast him, but he could have been holding back a little before."
"Well, I have an idea that could help. It's a simple spell, any first year could do it. But it isn't widely known, as it was invented only around twenty years ago, and it didn't go public. It was actually invented by your favorite greasy teacher, Snivellus." He laughed at the name.
Harry checked the stands and noticed how the crowd's attitude had changed regarding him. Cedric's participation was a disaster, with his poor performance against the dragon and now losing the first three duels. He had just been badly beaten by Fleur. Harry couldn't really blame the boy as his defense education had been terrible. He was unaware how his first three years had been, but the word around Hogwarts was that no teacher lasted more than a year in the position. When he thought about the teachers, he knew about… he felt sorry for the students of the school. A man who literally had Voldemort living in his head, a fraud and a death eater. Only Lupin was a reasonable choice of the bunch, but no one could do miracles in just one year.
So, the Hogwarts students, at least the better part of them had turn to Harry to give their support. His success in the tournament helped that change.
He was now facing Krum, the last of his first round of duels. He thought about Sirius' advice. It was simple and could be very effective. No one would be expecting it and it would be a great prank on the audience.
He looked at Krum's eyes and saw absolute focus.
They barely paid any attention to Flitwick's repetitive little speech and when the order to begin was given, both launched incredibly violent assaults on each other. Harry went for destructive spells, sending numerous blasting courses at his opponent at the same time the Bulgarian attacked him with bone-breaking curses and cutting curses. There was no art or finesse in this tournament as both champions were just trying to blast their opponents to pieces. Harry felt he had a slight advantage as he had been saving more of his energy on previous duels. He started mixing transfiguration with the curses he was sending his opponent. He transfigured the ceiling I sharp pointy objects and allowed them to fall on Krum's head as he tried to keep his distracted with more blasting mixed with bone-breaking curses. He wasn't holding anything back, and he was doing some damage. He took some as well, as he found himself unable to dodge every single spell that come his way. He opted to not shield almost anything, as that would require more of his focus and power, which he preferred to save for his offence.
The spikes he sent at Krum didn't arrive at the target, as the older champions noticed them and looked up to change their course and send them in his direction, but that provided Harry with the distraction he needed.
Using a spell taught to him by Salazar, he pointed his wand down and murmured an incantation. The ground started to shake as the small earthquake Harry provoked came into effect. That caught Krum off guard and off balance, making the Bulgarian trying to balance on just one foot. Silently, Harry casted Sirius' charm.
'Langlock' He thought.
The incredibly fast spell caught Krum right in the chest and all of a sudden, his tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth.
Unable to cast barely any spells, as he was not very proficient in silent casting, the Seeker's only choice was to try to dodge the best he could while he tried to find a way to dispel the unknown charm.
Harry, now focusing fully on his offense, was able to make short work of his opponent and was soon declared as the winner.
Krum was furious and left the stage without a word, but the crowd was going wild with the second Hogwarts champion.
He noticed Sirius' approving smile and saw Snape's surprise. He looked at his head of house and smiled, earning a furious glare. He knew he would have to justify it later, but for now, he was enjoying the attention.
He noticed his friends together with Fleur clapping their hands in congratulations and beamed at them. He had proven himself in the tournament and was, for sure, taken as serious competition now.
Harry decided to take Fleur's offer so, after dinner, he guided her to Rowena's Room. Once again, it changed to the French Veela's room.
"Why don't you show me yours?" She asked, a naughty look on her face.
Harry's spirit dropped, as he thought of what his room had been for the ten years of his life he'd spent away from the magical world.
"I don't think that's a good idea…" He answered, hesitantly.
"Why? Is there any problem?" She asked, unaware of the depressed feeling that went on in the boy's head.
"I just…" He then took a leap of faith and decided to tell her the story of his upbringing.
It took him almost one hour as he described the actions and punishments that the Dursley's inflicted on him, and how miserable his life had been. He then told her he used to live in a cupboard under the stairs, which wasn't something like a room.
When he was finished, Fleur had tears in her eyes. She was mixed with sadness and empathy for the boy in front of her and felt a burning rage against his relatives. She had many ideas of revenge against them that she would propose to him later.
For now, she decided to take his mind out of it and, like two days before, snogged him senseless.
AN: And so, we conclude the first part of the second task. Writing fighting scenes is not easy, I much prefer to write romance, but I'm happy with what I did and hope you guys enjoy it as well.
I want to thank my betas Arthur and Haphne24 for their work on this chapter.
Thank you for the reviews. I really appreciate all the feedback I'm getting, and it makes me so happy to see that most of it is incredibly positive. Keep them coming.