Chapter 31 :
Nott sat in his Common Room, lost deep in thoughts. Dragons... They weren't an insurmountable challenge but still posed quite the difficulty. What a conundrum... He would need to make an inventory of all the many aces he hid up his sleeves, and an easy-to-understand list of all that was already under his influence and what he could still sway to his side before the First Task.
That reminded him, Snape might prove to be the trump card Harry needed... He hummed pensively. Yes. Yes, this idea had potential. Using Snape's long awaited punishment to help Harry was a delightful irony he couldn't pass up. He nearly smirked but held back just in time. It wouldn't do to show his hand before the grand finale. Especially here, where everyone around was a nosy Slytherin.
Now, to devise a Plan...
"What are you up to, my King ?" Asked a grinning Blaise Zabini, sitting at his feet with a book. "You look like you're plotting the End of The World."
"Just thinking about Potter, is all." Vaguely answered Nott, closing his own book and standing up to leave.
Zabini was a joyful guy in appearance, but he was also cunning, ruthless and a fellow connoisseur of the delicate art of schadenfreude. He understood more than what was said.
"See you later, Zabini." Saluted the young Shadow King in good humour. "There is much scheming to be done."
Nott didn't know the impact his few words would have on the Slytherin House as a whole. Their King was thinking about Potter when there was scheming to be done... Was he preparing for War ? Had the time finally come for the Ultimate Battle !? Was their King about to join the frontline Himself !? One thing was ascertained : Potter was doomed !
Fleur was bored. Utterly. Absolutely. Bored. She haunted Hogwart's corridors, following wherever her steps led her with a frown. Everything around was old stones and old woods and old buildings. It was beautiful in a way, but also very stuffy. She vastly preferred the airy architecture of Beauxbâtons. Though she wouldn't recommend the company that hung out there... Nothing but vapid gossips ! She snorted.
Thinking about it, her intuition about the Tournament had been proven right : the other Champions were not a challenge. She had observed them just in case but they were really pathetic -except her smol bean of course-. Between the Durmstrang guy that was so terrified of his fangirls that if his shadow became one he would somehow outrun it in fright, and the « official » Hogwart Champion that fled the other way every time he crossed paths with Gryffindors boys... Her Harry-puppy was her only decent opponent for the Triwizard Cup -how the two others were even chosen she would never know-.
"Fleur !" Called out a voice.
Speaking of the devil -angel-, here came her adorable kitten. Fleur chuckled. She stopped in her tracks and waited for him to catch up to her.
"Harry !" She greeted, sounding like pure happiness.
"Hey, Fleur." He answered shyly, still a little breathless from running all around the castle. "I was searching for you."
"Sorry, I haven't made it easier for you since I was hiding from all those sycophants that seem to pursue me wherever I go." She grinned widely, imagining the aforementioned flailing around to no avail when they finally noticed she was gone.
Veela Allure was a bitch to deal with, especially around teenagers -hormonal drama queens the lot of them...-.
"What can I do for you, Harry ?" She asked.
The boy smiled sadly and Fleur frowned. Who. Who dared make her puppy unhappy !? She would- !
"I wish I came bearing good news," He grimaced before sighing, interrupting her murderous thoughts. "Alas..."
"What's wrong ? Is there anything I can do to help ?"
He looked at her with such gentleness... It hurt, somehow, and she didn't know why. Why was this adorable boi looking so broken ? Why was he so despondent ? She would do anything to see a bright genuine smile on his face.
"In the First Task, we will have to face dragons." He then said.
Well. Shit.
That was unexpected. Dragons... No wonder her smol bean was so down. It made her mad, that someone out there entered this innocent little boy in such a deadly tournament. She entered because she had something to prove, but she knew what she was getting into. Whatever ordeals she would have to face, be they dragons or manticores or anything, she trusted the competency she had worked her ass off to acquire. But Harry was fourteen, just a child ! He should never have to endure such trials ! She couldn't help but think about what would happen if it was her baby sister in his place... Her parents would never have allowed such a travesty ! The adults here... They failed Harry quite badly, didn't they... ?
"Don't worry about me, Fleur." Sweetly said her smol bean when he saw the frustration marring her face. "I can take care of myself. And I'm not alone, you know ? I have my friends with me, I'm sure we'll come up with something !"
Fleur wanted to snarl and rage, but she merely sighed. She hugged this boy, that was braver than men twice his age, with a softness in her smile. In her heart she made her resolve : Harry Potter was a precious being, and she would burn those who put him in this situation to death.
AN: Spent all day sleeping yesterday, it was awesome! But I kinda forgot to publish this chapter, sorry ^^' Anyway, I'm going back to sleep now. Good night
