The Ice Devil Wizard.
Chapter Twelve: The First Task.
Previously in the last chapter.
"W-w-whoa…" Harry muttered lowly, still extremely shocked as he began looking around at the frozen Room of Requirement. "Did my Ice Elemental powers did this? Also, what is the deal with this purple ice?"
"Congratulations, Master Harry," Seilah said, still retaining the happy smile on her face as she got Harry's attention. She had managed to avoid becoming frozen by quickly releasing her Curse power to full power, granting her cold resistance. "You have completed all the steps of becoming a Devil Slayer successfully without any problems or complaints and finally achieve your goal after putting very much effort into your training. You are now the Ice Devil Slayer."
At long last, Harry has finally achieve his goal ever since learning the existence of Devil Slayer magic on that night in the library when he had been studying to learn more spells and after putting so much effort into his hard bitter training. He has become the Ice Devil Slayer, the youngest wizard in history to ever become one as very few people could ever manage to master Devil Slayer magic.
The Magical World is about to experience the rage of a Devil Slayer when the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament starts.
(In the Present; Two Days Later; With Harry)
It's been two days since Harry has finally become the Ice Devil Slayer after putting very much effort into his hard bitter training and the time has come for him to show the whole Magical World what a Devil Slayer can do in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament, which will start quite soon as preparations were currently being made at the moment.
Harry knew the Triwizard Tournament was being broadcast worldwide in Europe by a very special charm the judges had worked tirelessly over the last month to accomplish it successfully without any complications, due to abducting Bagman to have him forcefully confess all the details about the event, including related ones, and it's such an absolutely perfect remarkable idea because like he just thought mere moments ago, he can show the whole Magical World what a Devil Slayer can do. It is also the main reason why preparations were currently being made at the moment.
The charm that will broadcast the Triwizard Tournament worldwide in Europe needs to be set up first before the First Task can officially start.
A month ago, the old Harry Potter would've been very, very nervous and intimidated of being watched by a whole continent in the world while partaking the First Task at the same time where one single mistake will make him a laughingstock forever and he'll have no way to redeem himself even when he partakes the other two tasks in the future. He'll just be humiliated and embarrassed for the rest of his life.
But the new Harry Potter, who had harden himself very greatly from the extreme negativity and harassment the students have been giving him after his name came out of the Goblet of Fire on Halloween to become the person he is now, was feeling anticipation and excitement as he wants to show the Magical World how much he has improved of becoming a powerful intelligent wizard instead of being a worthless pathetic weakling while striking fear into people upon releasing his Devil Slayer magic.
Harry could already imagine the looks of extreme fear on people's faces the moment he releases his Devil Slayer magic during the First Task, especially Delacour, something that put him in a great mood. Oh, he was so going to relish the look on her face sadistically very much when he starts beating the absolute shit out of her for daring to mock and underestimate him in the champion chamber after he was selected as the unexpected fourth champion. She clearly needs a good ass beating in order to wipe that air of haughty arrogance he couldn't stand at all.
What made Harry's great mood even more better is the fact Delacour is nothing more than a filthy half-breed who was going to receive a tremendous amount of damage from a single Devil Slayer spell attack pretty soon, which would cause her to release very loud blood-curdling screams of agonize pain. He cannot wait until the First Task officially begins so that he can get ready to start beating the absolute shit out of her. It was going to be great and marvelous.
Harry would normally never refer any Magical Creatures, including half human ones who inherit different kinds of heritages, as filthy half-breeds like the Death Eaters or blood supremacists would often say or thought, but he's making a one-time only exception for today. After that, he won't be referring any Magical Creatures, half humans as well, as filthy half-breeds anymore in the future. The same goes for Muggle-borns as Mudbloods.
Just because Harry has been changing mentally the past month of becoming more colder and darker when he was forced to isolate himself from the students who were giving him extreme negativity and harassment for being the unexpected fourth champion of the Triwizard Tournament, it doesn't mean he was going to start acting like a blood supremacist. He wasn't going to sink very low to that kind of level and never will in his life, even if he cannot stand people's arrogant narrow-mind attitudes. It makes him want to beat the shit out of them.
Harry had spent the entire day yesterday practicing his recently acquired Devil Slayer magic after celebrating his long last accomplishment with Seilah, who had been very proud of him and joined in the celebrations as well. He has gotten a very great control over it like his Ice Elemental powers and already mastered all the basic spells, especially the Devil Rage attack he's definitely planning to use during the First Task. He was now starting to work on the advanced powerful ones. It will be quite a while until he can start practicing the Devil Secret Arts, the most powerful destructive spells a Devil Slayer can cast in the whole world.
At the same time of practicing his Devil Slayer magic, Harry has been practicing the resistance to curses and Curse power. So far, he can withstand against them to a good degree but needs to keep practicing it daily just like his Metamorphmagus ability until he can become highly proficient of resisting curses, including dark ones and the Unforgivable Curses, excluding the Killing Curse as it's the essence of death. There was no need to practice the ice resistance, given he's now the Ice Devil Slayer who can withstand against below zero.
However, the resistance to all types of curses and Curse power only activates when Harry uses his Devil Slayer magic, otherwise he's vulnerable to them completely. Sure, he has his Ice Elemental powers to protect himself, but it's just not the same. He would rather use his Devil Slayer magic to protect himself from all types of curses and Curse power than rely on his regular ice powers.
It was extremely hard to believe how much Harry has accomplished in less than a single month when it should've taken him months or years. But he's not going to complain as he was both very glad and proud of what he has been doing lately and will continue to do so in the future. Although he wished he had done this much sooner like last year, but like he thought before during the wand weighing ceremony, what's done is done. You cannot change the past, you could only move on.
As much as Harry wants to think about all the things he has accomplished in less than a single month, which is mastering numerous spells he had learned from the library in a record time, gaining complete control over all his magical abilities after removing the Horcrux in his scar for good and becoming the Ice Devil Slayer, he needs to focus on the main topic at hand, namely the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament.
Originally, the First Task was supposed to be dragons where the champions had to get past them in order to collect a golden egg, which contains a clue for the Second Task, but the idea was immediately shot down because of how exceedingly dangerous it is. It also didn't help the dragons would be nesting mothers who are very protective of their eggs and will do almost anything to keep them safe from harm, even if one egg is not really a dragon egg but merely a fake.
So, in the end, it was decided the First Task would be a very simple battle royale where the champions, along with thirty supporters, will battle against each other until one group remains standing. Harry prefers this over the dragons because while he is confident enough to get past one to collect the golden egg, he wants to face against the people who made his life an official hell ever since the selection of the champions on Halloween night. He wants to get both revenge and payback for everything that's been happening to him lately.
Right now, Harry was currently sitting in a white tent by himself near the Quidditch pitch waiting for the judges to finish setting up the very special charm that will broadcast the Triwizard Tournament worldwide in Europe. He wished they would hurry the hell up with it as he was starting to become greatly impatient. He wants to unleash his Devil Slayer magic already to get his revenge! He could faintly hear the excited, yet impatient, voices of the students from all three schools who were standing in the Quidditch stands.
Like Harry, the students from all three schools wants the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament to start, not wait around for some charm to be set up. They want to see some action. Oh, they are going to see action alright, action that's going to make them realize fearfully pretty soon they should've never mess with him when they had been ensuring his life becomes an official hell. They are going to witness the rage of a Devil Slayer.
Harry knew he has an extremely unfair advantage against the other champions and their supporters because he's the only champion who doesn't even have supporters whatsoever, due to isolating himself away to avoid the extreme negativity and harassment from the students, but he will be fine as he's got his Devil Slayer magic. Plus, he's going to be calm, strategic and analyze situations instead of being a reckless idiot blindly rushing into battles without any plans. He is embracing both his inner Ravenclaw and Slytherin, not his Gryffindor one.
Harry hadn't bothered to enter the Great Hall this morning when he woke up. It's not because he was afraid to show himself to the public – in the past, his old self was as he usually tends to stay far away in the background as possible while doing his absolute best to not get into any sort of spotlights, but not his new self who is confident nowadays – it's just he had been feeling giddy excitement coursing through his body at the fact he's going to unleash his Devil Slayer magic he worked very hard to achieve the past month and the last thing he needed was the students who are probably still angry at him to ruin his excitement.
Instead, Harry had took a shower, ate breakfast and headed straight towards one of the four white tents that are spread around outside the Quidditch pitch the champions, along with their thirty supporters, must enter inside to wait until their names are announced to enter the pitch itself. Before leaving the Room of Requirement, Seilah told him she was going to be watching him and his performance in the kitchens with the House Elves who would all be watching the First Task as well. The reason why is because she had refused point-blank to be around the students as there's a highly possible chance she will most certainly attack them out of extreme vengeance for what they did to him the past month.
Harry couldn't personally blame Seilah for this decision. He would've done the same thing to the students if the roles were reversed where he was the Etherious and she was the unexpected fourth champion of the Triwizard Tournament. She also gave him a warm hug and a rather loving kiss on the cheek for measures of good luck and moral support before summoning Dobby to transport her into the kitchens where she will be watching him, along with his performance, through the very special charm the judges are still setting up.
'Once I get done with the First Task, I am going to finally confess my newfound feelings to Seilah,' Harry thought as he continued to wait impatiently in his own white tent. He had fallen in love with Seilah ever since she have both comfort and reassure him the Horcrux in his scar will be removed for good when they reached the end of their trip in Diagon Alley and after receiving that loving kiss to the cheek this morning, including the warm hug, his feelings for her increased to the point he came to the decision he will confess them to her after the First Task is done. 'I'm pretty sure she feels the same way as I do, and this makes it more easier to make a loving confession. But will she accept my feelings in return? Oh, I really hope she does because I cannot bear the thought of being rejected by the person I have come to love.'
Harry's thoughts about confessing his feelings to Seilah while hoping she doesn't reject them at the same time came to an end when he heard Bagman's loud voice echoing the Quidditch pitch. "Hello, everyone at Hogwarts, and welcome to the official First Task of the Triwizard Tournament!"
Harry let out a discomfort wince as the students in the Quidditch stands let out a loud excited cheer upon hearing Bagman's announcement. It has been quite a while since he had last been in a huge crowd and the loud noise was already hurting his ears, which became rather extremely sensitive after transforming his owl Animagus form a couple times. Once again, he now understands why Seilah prefers peace and quiet places instead of loud ones, especially if she reads a book, and he couldn't honestly blame her of heading to the kitchens to watch the First Task with the House Elves.
Bagman went on to explain what the First Task is about and what the champions, along with their own supporters, have to do. They are to battle against each other using all of their skills, magical knowledge and spell repertoire until one group remains standing, which will declare them as the winners. There would be no killing, no using the Unforgivable Curses and certainly no using down opponents as hostages for dirty tactics. Any champion or supporter violates these rules will automatically fail the task and receive zero marks.
Bagman also went on to explain about the very special charm he and the other judges have been setting up moments ago and how they had worked tirelessly over the last month to accomplish it successfully without any complications. It was meant to broadcast the Triwizard Tournament worldwide in Europe. This explanation made the crowd at Hogwarts become very interested, though many were deeply angry at the fact they won't get the chance to be the center of attention while being watched by a whole continent in the world.
It was around this point Harry had tuned out Bagman's loud commentary as there was no need for him to listen anymore, given he knows every single detail of the Triwizard Tournament, the very special charm as well. He just needs to wait until his name is announced to enter the Quidditch pitch. That's all that matters at the moment, nothing else.
Pretty soon, the time has come for the champions and their thirty supporters to start entering the Quidditch pitch. The first champion to enter was Cedric and his thirty male supporters, all of them wearing their Hogwarts uniforms with their usual black robes being replaced by yellow cloaks that has the Hogwarts crest, black in color, display on their backs in a proud manner. The crowd at Hogwarts gave them a round of applause and cheers, especially Hufflepuff.
The second champion to enter the Quidditch pitch was Fleur and her thirty female supporters, all of them wearing their Beauxbatons uniforms with light blue cloaks that has the Beauxbatons crest, white in color, display on their backs also in a proud manner. The crowd at Hogwarts gave them a round of applause and cheers, especially the male population.
The third champion to enter the Quidditch pitch was Krum and his thirty male supporters, all of them were wearing their Durmstrang uniforms with red cloaks that has the Durmstrang crest, cream-white in color, display on their backs in a proud manner like the other two champions and their supporters. The crowd at Hogwarts once again gave them a round of applause and cheers, especially the die-hard Quidditch fans.
Now, it was Harry's turn to enter the Quidditch pitch.
"Time to make my entrance," Harry muttered as he stood up from his spot and walked over to the tent flap where he will have access to enter the Quidditch pitch. Taking a deep breath to steel his sudden nerves before reinforcing his Occlumency barriers to full mast, he donned a very cold very dark scowl on his face and walked out the tent to enter the Quidditch pitch the moment his name was announced out loud by Bagman, head held high and proud.
There were a couple things Harry noticed instantly upon entering the Quidditch pitch. He can see the students from all three schools standing in the stands holding different colorful banners to show their moral support – there wasn't even a single banner for him when glancing over at the Gryffindor stands discreetly, which honestly didn't really hurt him so much as he has long since gotten over his banishment – the other champions with their own supporters waiting in the middle of the pitch, the judges sitting in the high stands alongside the entire staff of Hogwarts and four massive screens floating high in the air while currently offline at the same time.
As soon as Harry entered the Quidditch pitch, a sudden hush fell over the crowd at Hogwarts. They have been preparing to throw vicious insults at him for being both a cheater and a coward because he hasn't been seen in Hogwarts since last month, but the moment they laid their eyes on him when he had finally made his appearance for the first time in ever, they found themselves not forming a single word at all. It was all because of his new looks and appearance.
Already, there were mutterings going on in the Quidditch stands as the crowd at Hogwarts talked about Harry's new looks and appearance, including the very cold very dark scowl on his face.
"Dude, is that really Harry Potter?"
"Wow, he looks so cool and handsome with those clothes!"
"What is with that scowl on his face? It's so terrifying and scary."
"Why doesn't he have any supporters with him? He's going to lose the First Task!"
Harry ignored the mutterings all around him and continue walking towards the middle of the Quidditch pitch with his head still held high and proud while retaining the very cold very dark scowl on his face. The other champions, along with their supporters, were regarding him with wariness and nervousness on their faces, something that made him internally pleased. While it wasn't the exact looks of extreme fear he was looking for, it's really refreshing to see he can make people become wary and nervous by wearing a very cold very dark scowl.
Eventually, Harry came to a stop near the champions and their supporters but made no effort to greet them or say anything, only standing where he was with the same expression on his face. Now, he just needs to wait until the First Task officially starts. But first, he wants to see if he can make a deal with the judges that will allow him to be in first place of the Triwizard Tournament while earning full marks, which the total amount is fifty.
"Alright!" Bagman exclaimed loudly, resuming his duty as the commentary after giving Harry a deeply worried look, which is most likely the fact he doesn't have any supporters whatsoever. "Now that all the champions are assembled in the Quidditch pitch with their own supporters, it is officially time for the First Task to start!" His statement was met with loud cheers from the crowd at Hogwarts who had gotten over Harry's new looks and appearance. "But first, we need to activate the four massive screens in order to broadcast the Triwizard Tournament worldwide in Europe. Albus, would you kindly do the manners?"
Dumbledore nodded before standing up, draw his wand out from his robes and silently cast the spell that will broadcast the Triwizard Tournament worldwide in Europe. Instantly, the four screens floating in the air came to life and showed the inside of the Quidditch pitch, making the crowd at Hogwarts cheer even louder than before.
Once Dumbledore sat down after casting the spell to broadcast the Triwizard Tournament worldwide in Europe, Bagman resumed his commentary duty again. "Without further ado, let the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament-"
"Hold on, I have to say something really important!" Harry yelled after quickly conjuring a microphone into his hands with his wandless magic so that his voice can be heard, interrupting Bagman while greatly startling the other champions, along with their supporters. It was time for him to see if he can make the judges agree to his deal he had previously thought.
The crowd at Hogwarts quieted down to hear what Harry has to say.
After making sure he has everyone's attention, Harry began speaking. "Let's spice things up a notch to make the First Task very interesting and entertaining. I just recently came up with this idea and want to put it into effect. I wish to face against the other champions and all their supporters."
Harry's rather bold statement was met with stunned silence. The crowd at Hogwarts, including Europe who is now watching the Triwizard Tournament, couldn't believe what they heard. Did…did he literally just say he wants to fight against the other champions and all their supporters by himself? They had thought it was a funny joke, but after seeing the deadly serious look in his eyes through the massive screens, he really meant it. He wants to fight against the other champions and all their supporters by himself.
"Why should we agree to this rather stupid idea of yours, Potter?" Karkaroff demanded into his own microphone once he regained his composure, along with the other judges.
"Because I know for certain the other champions and their supporters are going to be focusing on me the moment the task begins, considering I am the only champion without any supporters," Harry explained, clearly have been expecting this question. "After all, the best way to win a tournament is to eliminate the weakest competitor first before focusing on the more stronger threatening ones."
The other champions and all their supporters couldn't help but squirm uncomfortably when Harry said that last part. It was true they were planning to focus on eliminating him the moment the First Task begins because he is only champion without any supporters, which indicates him as the weakest competitor like he just said.
"Now, if I beat the other champions and all their supporters, I get both first place and full marks," Harry continued, getting everyone's attention once again. "They, on the other hand, will be in last place and receive zero marks, no matter how well they perform or cooperate with their supporters. I think that's pretty fair as they did planned on eliminating me the moment the task begins since I don't have any supporters. To make this challenge even more difficult for me, I am not allowed to use my wand at all. I only have to rely on one magical ability I possess. If I use anything else other than the one I just now mentioned or pull out my wand to start casting spells, then I will automatically fail the task and receive zero marks."
Harry can tell everyone was very interested in his idea at this point, given they were completely silent without saying even a single protest, and decided to go for the final strike. "So, what do you say, judges? Do we have ourselves a deal? I gave you a reasonable explanation about my recently idea and I hope you all consider it in order to make the First Task very interesting and entertaining. If you do agree to it, then you have to give me magical oaths to ensure I get both first place and full marks. Oh, and don't worry about Hogwarts ensuring a victory because there are two champions. I am hereby at this very moment going to be representing my family's name and honor, House Potter, throughout the entire Triwizard Tournament."
The judges were silent as they thought about Harry's idea, and they will admit the explanation sounds reasonable enough to actually consider accepting, including the magical oaths they must give him to ensure he gets both first place and full marks. But Madame Maxime and Karkaroff were the only two hesitating because it could give Hogwarts a victory. After all, there are two Hogwarts champions participating in the Triwizard Tournament, something they were still angry about, even though a month has passed by since the selection of the champions.
But after hearing Harry will be representing his family's name and honor throughout the entire Triwizard Tournament, Madame Maxime's and Karkaroff's minds were swiftly changed into agreeing with his idea. Without Hogwarts having two champions, they now have a greater chance to ensure victory for their respective schools.
In no time at all, the judges agreed to Harry's idea while giving him magical oaths to ensure he gets both first place and full marks. The other champions and their supporters moved to stand on one side of the Quidditch pitch, giving him much space on the other side. This made him internally pleased once again because he didn't have to worry about getting attack in the back, but he will keep his senses flared out just in case they do decide to sneak up behind him. He was taking Professor Moody's constant vigilance to heart ever since he had went to the first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. It's incredibly helpful and useful.
Bagman waited for a few moments to see if there was going to be any more interruptions. When he was satisfied there wasn't any, he resumed his commentary duty once again. "With this very interesting idea dealt with and no more interruptions, let the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament…begin!"
And done! That's the ending of the chapter! Harry has gotten a very great control over his Devil Slayer magic, made a deal with the judges to ensure he gets both first place and full marks in the Triwizard Tournament, and the First Task officially starts. The other champions and all their supporters are about to enter a world of great pain, especially Fleur.
Next chapter will be the second part of the First Task where Harry gets both revenge and payback at everyone who made his life an official hell after the selection of the champions on Halloween by unleashing his Devil Slayer magic. I have a basic idea how the chapter should be played out, but need to do some thinking.
Write a review if you like this story and enjoy the chapter.
Next Chapter: The First Task (Part Two)