Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter has originally been edited by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, and Studio Pierrot.
Harry Potter is owned by J.K Rowling.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
": Hello. : " – Goblin Language
": Hello :" – French.
"$: Hello :$" – Parseltongue
Chapter 44:
Scene Change: Dumbledore's Office
Upon returning to his office, Dumbledore pulled out the wand and tried to cast a few simple spells. Nothing happened. He placed the wand on his desk and began pulling out various books on wandlore, hoping to uncover the issue. Every book he looked at said the same thing: every wand has a spark of magic and will always react when a wizard attempts to use it. That's when Dumbledore realized what the problem was.
"No... it couldn't be," he thought, picking up the wand again. As he bent it in his hands, the wand snapped cleanly in half. "That Japanese bastard!" he cursed under his breath. "He swapped the real wand with this!" Dumbledore spent the next five minutes throwing books around his office in frustration, before he calmed himself, using Occlumency to regain control over his emotions.
"House Elf," Dumbledore called out. Immediately, a house-elf appeared before him. "Clean up my office."
"Yes, Mister Whiskers," the house-elf replied with a bow. It snapped its fingers, and the scattered books floated back onto the shelves as the mess vanished. With the job done, the house elf disappeared.
Dumbledore sank into his chair, deep in thought. "Why did he do that? Did he know the true nature of the wand, or was it just a trophy of his victory?" He glanced at the broken piece of wood. "He's much stronger than the records showed. He managed to match me in the duel and switched the wands in the brief moments he had it."
A cold realization hit him. "If someone who can match me is teaching Harry, he's going to be much stronger than planned. He could actually stand a chance." Dumbledore stood up and began to pace, wrestling with the thoughts in his mind. "What can I do to fix this?"
His musings were interrupted by the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs. According to his spells, it was Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime. "Why? Why are they coming now?" Dumbledore wondered, already suspecting the reason. He tucked the wand away and took his seat at his desk as they knocked on his door.
"Come in," he called.
Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime entered, and Dumbledore greeted them. "Ah, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime—"
"Stop with the pleasantries, Albus," Professor Karkaroff cut in. "How did you lose to him?"
"While said in an uncivilized manner," Madame Maxime said, glancing at Karkaroff, "I do agree with him. What happened in the duel?"
"It appears Mister Shiba is far stronger than I anticipated," Dumbledore replied.
"So, you underestimated your opponent," Karkaroff said, his tone accusing.
"So, what can we do now?" Madame Maxime interjected before they could argue further.
"There aren't many options," Dumbledore admitted. "One of you could challenge him to another duel, or we could simply ignore him."
"Neither of those options sounds good," Madame Maxime said with a sigh. Karkaroff nodded in agreement.
"What if we make it a proper duel?" Karkaroff suggested.
"You mean with seconds?" Madame Maxime asked.
"Exactly," Dumbledore confirmed. "This way, you can assist each other if the other is in danger of losing, possibly tipping the scales in your favor."
"That would allow me to observe more of Mister Shiba's abilities," Dumbledore thought.
"But his second will be allowed to assist him as well," Madame Maxime countered.
"It's likely that his stepsister, Artoria, will be his second," Dumbledore said.
"Do you have any information on her?" Karkaroff asked, standing and walking to one of his file cabinets. He pulled out a folder and presented it to Dumbledore and Madame Maxime.
"Both of their transcripts show similar things, making it appear that they're just recent graduates from Mahoutokoro School of Magic," Dumbledore explained. "But we know the truth."
"So, we should treat them as if they're experienced adult duelists, not amateurs," Karkaroff concluded.
"Indeed," Dumbledore replied.
"Before we act, we need a strategy," Madame Maxime said, turning to Karkaroff. "From what I've heard, you specialize in aggressive offensive casting."
"I do," Karkaroff admitted.
"And you specialize in charms, transfiguration, and overall defensive magic," she continued.
"That's right," Dumbledore added. "With your different specializations, you'll be able to cover each other's weaknesses."
The three of them smiled as they began to formulate a plan. Unbeknownst to them, Gideon watched from a distance, ready to report their plans to Kaien and Artoria.
Time Skip: Evening
Kaien had the champions focus on developing multiple plans, not just relying on one or two. Kisara, being a dragon, was an invaluable resource, providing insight into what a typical dragon might or might not do. After hours of strategizing, Kaien called an end to the session at 16:00, allowing everyone to take a break.
Kaien and Artoria returned to their bedroom, only to find Gideon waiting for them.
"About time you two got back here," Gideon said with a smirk.
"Hello, Gideon," Kaien greeted. "Do the heads have a new plan for us to ruin?"
"They do," Gideon said. "And Dumbledore's very annoyed about the wand switch."
"As expected," Kaien replied.
"So, what's their plan now?" Artoria asked.
"Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime are planning to challenge both of you to a duel tonight."
"So… another repeat of this morning?" Kaien yawned.
"Exactly," Gideon replied.
Kaien turned to Artoria. "Do you want to decimate them, or should I?"
"Hm… you should," Artoria said. "But you should crush them without using magic. Further, ruin their reputation."
"Sure," Kaien said with a shrug. "Guess my work here is done," Gideon said as Fawkes appeared and took him away.
As Kaien and Artoria stepped out, they saw Luna entering.
"Hello, Luna," Kaien greeted.
"Hello, Kaien-sensei," she replied with a smile.
"How was your day?" he asked.
"It was good, not worried about the bullies," Luna said.
"If you don't mind me asking, how do you have a set of Mystic Eyes?" Artoria asked.
"Ah," Luna responded, "Could we sit down for this?" she requested.
Kaien and Artoria nodded and moved to the living room. Luna continued, "My mother was one of the few who knew about magi. She stumbled upon a book about Fairy Eyes—special Mystic Eyes that allow the user to see the Fae. She spent the next few years trying to create the Fairy Eyes. My father told me to avoid my mother's workshop, for my own safety." Luna gave a small, sad smile. "On my ninth birthday, my father told me to find my mother. I searched everywhere, but I couldn't find her. The only place I hadn't checked was her workshop. I walked over, opened the door, and… there was a massive explosion." Luna's expression grew solemn. "The explosion caused my mother's death, but her experiment succeeded. It changed my right eye into the Fairy Eye and triggered something from my father's side—my ability to see visions of the future."
"That explains how you knew about us. You saw our future," Kaien said.
"I did. But I knew revealing your real names wasn't allowed," Luna said.
Before they could delve further into the topic, the door opened, and Harry and Hermione entered.
"Hello, Kaien-sensei. Hello, Artoria-sensei," they greeted.
"Hello, you two," Artoria replied.
"How was your break?" Kaien asked.
"It was all right," Harry said, holding up a large bundle of letters. "Gringotts sent me another stack of letters."
"I see… good luck," Kaien said as Harry and Hermione walked over to a nearby table to begin sorting through the letters.
"I'm going to start on my homework," Luna said, moving to another table.
"Let's see what our challengers are known for," Kaien said, glancing at Artoria. She nodded, and they made their way to the library. With Madam Prince's help, Kaien found some information on Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime.
Igor Karkaroff was a British wizard and former Death Eater who had been captured by retired Auror Alastor Moody. He lessened his sentence by giving up information on other dangerous Death Eaters. After serving his lighter sentence, he moved to Bulgaria and became a professor there. Reports indicated that he specialized in dark and borderline dark offensive spells.
Olympe Maxime was a French witch who worked hard to become the Headmistress of Beauxbatons. In her younger years, she competed in the French Dueling Circuit, often finishing in second or third place. She was known for her nonverbal casting and her quick resistance to a variety of spells.
"Kaien, it's dinner time," Artoria said, breaking Kaien's concentration.
With that, everyone began making their way to the Great Hall for dinner.
Scene Change: Great Hall
Kaien and the other students sat down to enjoy their dinner when Professors Karkaroff and Madame Maxime walked down toward their table. The students stopped eating, eyeing the pair curiously.
"Good evening. What can we do for you?" Kaien asked.
"We just wanted to thank you for helping us with the live demonstration after dinner," Madame Maxime said, her voice noticeably louder and stripped of her usual French accent. The entire hall fell silent, waiting for Kaien's response.
"It's no problem," Kaien said.
"Reading books about European dueling is one thing, but actually being a part of one is quite different," Artoria added.
"Though we may be a tad bit late for it, we'll be there," Kaien said.
"Very well. See you soon," Madame Maxime replied, and the two professors walked back to the professor's table.
Immediately, the Great Hall buzzed with speculation about the upcoming duel. Some students who were die-hard Dumbledore supporters hoped to see Kaien lose, while others who disliked Madame Maxime and Professor Karkaroff wanted Kaien to win. The neutral students simply wanted to see a good show and a variety of spells. But one thing was clear to everyone: this duel was an act of retaliation for the duel earlier that morning.
Kaien and his students left the hall under a privacy bubble.
Time Skip: After Dinner
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick transfigured four wooden tables into an elevated dueling platform and transformed the chairs into bleachers for the student spectators. Flitwick also decided to let the Ravenclaws watch the duel.
Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime walked up to the dueling platform, looking around impatiently.
"Where is he?" Karkaroff grumbled.
"Be patient. He wasn't told an exact time," McGonagall replied.
"But he did say his entrance would be, and I quote, 'out of this world,'" Flitwick added. "He also made sure no one was near the door of the Great Hall."
Suddenly, a slow, repetitive beat echoed through the Great Hall.
(Play "Paladin" by Really Slow Motion)
The beat gradually built up until the Great Hall doors slammed open. Enchanted suits of armor marched in, not in their usual silver color, but black and red. Some of them carried black nobori with "志波家" [Shiba Clan] in white ink, with fireworks exploding behind the kanji. Soon, the champions, dressed in similar armor, entered. They were carrying enchanted instruments that had produced the music. As the music faded, Kaien and Artoria made their entrance.
"Entering is Lord Kaien Shiba and Lady Artoria Shiba!" Harry announced.
Kaien and Artoria walked toward the dueling platform, Kaien wearing the same attire from this morning and Artoria in her black and red armor.
"About time you arrived," Professor Karkaroff grumbled.
"It's called being fashionably late," Kaien said with a smirk.
Professor Flitwick appeared and began to inform them of the rules.
"In this duel, there will be seconds involved. Seconds, please raise your hands," Professor Flitwick announced. Artoria and Professor Karkaroff raised their hands. "Seconds, you will not get involved with the duel unless the firsts," he glanced at Kaien and Madame Maxime, "are unable to continue or are about to lose."
They both nodded and lowered their hands. Professor Flitwick began casting a dueling barrier around them, protecting the nearby students from any stray spells. The four participants gave each other a swift bow before stepping 10 meters (32.8 feet) away from each other. They all turned, drawing their wands.
"The duel will not involve any spells labeled as Dark Magic by the ICW," Professor Flitwick continued. "The duel ends when a wizard is unconscious or admits defeat. Nod if you understand the rules."
Everyone nodded.
"The duel will begin on the count of three," he said. "One…" Kaien began unbuttoning his shirt. "Two…" Madame Maxime tightened her grip on her wand. Kaien threw his shirt aside, somehow slipping it past the barrier. The girls screamed and scrambled for it. Kaien, now in a white tank top, revealed his muscular arms.
"Three!" Kaien said, casually walking toward Madame Maxime.
"Confringo!" Madame Maxime cast silently, sending a blast directly at Kaien. The crowd expected him to dodge or block, but he kept walking, letting the curse strike him in the chest. The explosion obscured Kaien from view, but when the dust settled, he stood unharmed, the attack having no effect.
"Is this the most power you can put into your spells?" Kaien asked, continuing his approach. He was already halfway toward them.
"You want more power? How about this?" Madame Maxime yelled, pointing her wand at him, glaring.
"Rosea oculus [Pink eye]. Confringo. Expulso. Locomotor Wibbly. Depulso." She cast quickly and silently, sending a barrage of colorful spells at Kaien. The crowd watched, eager to see how he would respond.
Kaien stopped and raised his right hand. All the spells struck it simultaneously, causing a massive magical explosion. When the dust settled again, Kaien's hand was completely unharmed. He resumed walking toward them, closing the distance with every step.
"That's it!" Madame Maxime growled. "This wizard dares make a mockery of me!"
"Reducto! Bombarda Maxima!" She cast, launching two devastating spells at Kaien. He sighed and nonchalantly swatted both spells back at her. Madame Maxime's eyes widened in shock—she wasn't fast enough to avoid them. Suddenly, a translucent barrier appeared in front of her, blocking the spells.
Professor Karkaroff had joined the fray, his wand raised.
"The seconds have joined the duel," Professor Flitwick declared. He turned to Artoria, who stood on the sidelines. "You are allowed to join in."
"Oh, I know," Artoria replied casually. "But Kaien doesn't need me. They're too weak compared to him. It's already overkill with him in the duel."
"He… he swatted my spells with his hand!" Madame Maxime said, still in disbelief.
"I saw that," Professor Karkaroff muttered, pointing his wand at Kaien. "Bombarda Maxima!"
"Reducto!" Madame Maxime joined in, both casted at Kaien. He swatted both spells back at them.
"Protego Duo!" Madame Maxime quickly cast, defending herself and Karkaroff. The duel continued for another ten minutes, with both duelists repeatedly casting spells at Kaien. He either absorbed the attacks or swatted them back, unscathed. Eventually, both Karkaroff and Maxime collapsed from magical exhaustion.
Kaien glanced at Professor Flitwick.
"Both duelists have ten seconds to stand back up," Flitwick called. "One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Six… Seven… Eight… Nine… Ten."
Professor Flitwick took a deep breath before continuing. "The winner of this duel is Kaien and Artoria Shiba!" he declared as the duel barrier lowered. Madame Pomphrey rushed over to check on the unconscious duelists, while Kaien and Artoria left the platform. Their students quickly followed behind them, the enchanted suits of armor trailing them.
Professor Dumbledore walked up to Professor Flitwick, who was still overseeing the cleanup of the Great Hall.
"Filius," Dumbledore greeted.
"Ah, Headmaster, just a moment," Flitwick said, still busy helping Professor McGonagall return the hall to normal. "Take your time," Dumbledore replied.
As the two professors worked, Flitwick finally turned to face Dumbledore. "Sorry about that. What can I do for you?"
"Did Mr. Shiba use any magic during the duel?" Dumbledore asked.
"Amazingly, no," Flitwick replied.
"But… how did he manage to do that?" Dumbledore inquired.
"I'm not sure. His actions were similar to Spell Swatting, but he didn't use a wand," Flitwick said.
"I see… Could he have enchanted his arms to do that?" Dumbledore asked thoughtfully.
"Hmm… maybe the skin?" Flitwick theorized. "But the charms designed for the skin are usually for beauty and are temporary."
Dumbledore walked away, lost in thought. "Either his body is enhanced to the point where those powerful spells did nothing, or he managed to cast a wandless Protego around his body." He paused. "This Japanese wizard is much stronger than I thought. He might be even more challenging than Gellert and Tom."
As Dumbledore entered his office, he pulled out a black wand from his robes and opened a drawer. He retrieved a small snow globe, tapping it with his wand. The globe began to glow, and he placed his ear against it, listening to the sound of steady breathing. "Are they sleeping?" he thought, waiting for a change. After a few minutes, he deactivated the globe and placed it back in the drawer.
"At least they didn't discover the listening charms," he mused, standing up from his desk. With a sigh, he went to bed.
Scene Change: Kaien's Sleeping Quarters
Kaien and his group arrived at the door to their sleeping quarters. Artoria turned to the enchanted suits of armor.
"Thank you for your service. Return to your post," she commanded. The suits of armor slammed their fists onto their breastplates before walking away. Kaien turned to the painting of Lancelot, ready for the next challenge.
"Caliburn," Kaien said. Lancelot nodded, and the portrait opened. They all filed in, and Kaien and Artoria quickly transfigured their students' armor back into their regular clothes.
Kaien turned to his students. "You're probably wondering how I was able to resist those spells and swat them away like that," he said. The students nodded in response. "Well, the explanation is simple, but reproducing the effects will be extremely difficult." Kaien continued. "I'm using my magic to reinforce my skin against the spell. This has to be done constantly and instinctively."
The students stared at him in disbelief.
"It's getting late, and we still have morning exercise," Artoria reminded them. The students groaned, heading upstairs. Luna approached them.
"Am I included in these morning exercises?" she asked.
"It depends on you," Kaien said. "You don't have to, but it's recommended if you want to get stronger."
"I'll join," Luna replied.
"Very well. Be here at five in the morning, dressed in workout clothes," Kaien said.
"And if I don't have any?" Luna asked.
"Then I will provide some," Artoria said. Luna nodded and walked upstairs. Kaien and Artoria made their way to their room and were surprised to see a large owl waiting there, bearing a golden "G" on its feathers.
"Gringotts?" Kaien asked. The owl nodded and extended its leg. Kaien noticed a letter attached. He approached the owl and took the letter, which hooted before flying away.
"What does the letter say?" Artoria asked.
Kaien opened it, and the entire letter was written in Goblin, likely to prevent interception.
"To Lord Shiba and Lady Shiba, this is King Ragnok. I am writing to provide a few updates. First, regarding the item in question from the Lestrange Vault. It will require at least a month of paperwork before we can legally enter the vault and retrieve the item. One of the policies requires vault inspections for illegal items, but we must proceed in descending order. The Lestrange Vault is one of the older ones.
Second, regarding Mister Potter's vault. He will receive a similar letter with this update. We were unable to claim all the funds from Mrs. Weasley nee Prewett. According to our records, the money was used to cover her children's tuition. The various publishing companies that used Mister Potter's image agreed to settle out of court. We have agreed to a 65% cut of the profits, with Gringotts taking 5% of that. However, the Ministry of Magic intends to challenge this lawsuit in court.
Finally, regarding your investments, all of them are proceeding as planned and are currently profiting. I will send another letter regarding the unresolved matters.
Sincerely, King Ragnok XI."
Kaien folded the letter and tucked it away. He turned to Artoria. "Nothing to worry about," he said.
"For now," Artoria replied, as they turned off the lights and went to bed.
Time Skip: November 13th
It was early morning at Hogwarts, near the Black Lake where the Durmstrang Ship was docked. Kaien and Artoria were training their students: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Fleur Delacour, Victor Krum, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, and Luna Lovegood. All of them had grown stronger since they began training. Some Hogwarts residents had discovered them training early in the morning. A few had tried to join, only to fall behind and never return.
Once the morning workout was finished, they returned to their quarters to get ready for the day. They entered the Great Hall and sat at their designated table, beginning their breakfast.
"Are we planning to do further training?" Victor asked. The other champions looked to Kaien.
"The champions will be participating in the Weight of the Wand ceremony today," Kaien explained. "Professor McGonagall said it will take place in one of the empty classrooms on the second floor." The champions nodded in acknowledgment.
"What about the rest of us?" George asked.
"Take this time to catch up on your homework," Kaien said. George, Hermione, and Luna nodded.
After breakfast, Artoria, George, Luna, and Hermione returned to their rooms, while Kaien, Fred, Fleur, Victor, and Harry headed to the second floor. They found an open door leading to a small classroom. Most of the desks had been pushed back, leaving a large space in the middle. Three desks had been placed end-to-end in front of the blackboard, covered with velvet. Five chairs sat behind the velvet-covered desks. Ludo Bagman, sitting in one of them, was talking to a witch Harry hadn't seen before, dressed in magenta robes.
"Ah, the champions!" Ludo Bagman said, standing up as they entered. He walked over to greet them. "We'll start the Weighting of the Wand ceremony shortly. We're just waiting for the other judges. The experts are upstairs with Dumbledore. Afterward, there'll be a little photoshoot. This is Rita Skeeter," he added, pointing to the witch in magenta robes. "She's doing a feature on the tournament for the Daily Prophet."
"Maybe not that small, Ludo," Rita Skeeter said, her eyes focused on Harry.
"You will not," Kaien said firmly, pulling Harry behind him. Rita Skeeter raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, the mysterious Mister Shiba," she said. "I was wondering if I could have a word with Harry before we begin?" she asked.
"You will not," Kaien replied, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Mister Potter and I have signed an agreement with Michael Carneirus and Rebecca Almeidas, two reporters from the Daily Prophet."
Rita growled, remembering Barnabas Cuffe, the Daily Prophet's editor-in-chief, congratulating them on their outstanding articles. She turned to the other champions, trying to score a quick interview with them.
"I've also signed an agreement with Michael Carneirus and Rebecca Almeidas," Fred said, adding to the frustration. Rita was furious, but before she could speak, the remaining judges entered, one of whom was a familiar face to Kaien, Harry, and Fred.
"May I introduce Mister Ollivander?" Dumbledore said, taking his seat at the judges' table. "He will be inspecting your wands to ensure they are in good condition before the tournament."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise when he saw the old wizard with large, pale eyes standing quietly by the window. Harry had met Mister Ollivander before—he was the wandmaker who sold Harry his wand over three years ago in Diagon Alley.
"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you first, please?" Mister Ollivander asked, stepping into the middle of the room.
Fleur Delacour stepped forward, handing him her wand. "Hmm…" Mister Ollivander murmured as he twirled the wand between his long fingers, emitting several pink and gold sparks. He then examined it carefully, bringing it close to his eyes.
"Yes," he said quietly, "nine and a half inches... inflexible... rosewood... and containing… dear me..."
"A hair from the head of a veela," said Fleur. "One of my grandmouzer's."
"Yes," said Mister Ollivander, "yes, I've never used veela hair myself, of course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wands… however, to each his own, and if this suits you..."
Mister Ollivander ran his fingers along the wand, checking for any scratches or imperfections. He then muttered, "Orchideous!" and a burst of flowers exploded from the wand's tip.
"Very well, very well, it's in fine working order," Mister Ollivander said, scooping up the flowers and handing them to Fleur with her wand. "Mister Weasley, you're next."
Fleur glided back to her seat as Fred walked past her.
"Ah, now, this is one of mine, isn't it?" said Mister Ollivander with much more enthusiasm as Fred handed over his wand. "Yes, I remember it well. Containing a single heartstring of a dragon... Dogwood... aged very well... beyond you." Mister Ollivander sent a stream of silver smoke rings across the room from the tip of Fred's wand, pronounced himself satisfied, and then said, "Mister Krum if you please."
Viktor Krum slouched toward Mister Ollivander, round-shouldered and duck-footed, thrusting out his wand with his hands in the pockets of his robes.
"Hmm," said Mister Ollivander, "this is a Gregorovitch creation unless I'm much mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what I... however..." He lifted the wand and examined it minutely, turning it over and over before his sharp eyes.
"Yes... hornbeam and dragon heartstring?" he asked Krum, who nodded. "Rather thicker than one usually sees... quite rigid... ten and a quarter inches... Avis!"
The hornbeam wand let off a blast like a gunshot, and several small, twittering birds flew out of the tip and through the open window into the watery sunlight.
"Good," said Mister Ollivander, handing Krum back his wand. "Which leaves... Mister Potter."
Harry got to his feet and walked past Krum to Mister Ollivander. He handed over his wand.
"Aaaah, yes," said Mister Ollivander, his pale eyes gleaming. "Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember."
Mister Ollivander spent much longer examining Harry's wand than anyone else's. Eventually, he made a fountain of wine shoot out of it and handed it back to Harry, announcing that it was still in perfect condition.
"Thank you all," said Dumbledore. Bagman attempted to gather everyone for a group photo, but the champions informed him that they had an agreement with Michael Carneirus and Rebecca Almeidas, which prevented anyone from The Daily Prophet from getting anything from them.
As they walked away, their respective Headmasters and Headmistress tried to speak with their champions. The students glanced at them and walked off, infuriating their Headmasters further. Kaien decided to allow them to have the rest of the day to themselves.
Later, Harry and Hermione were working on a Transfiguration spell when a barn owl flew into their quarters. Harry strode over, took the letter off its leg, and unrolled it.
"Harry, I can't say everything I would like to in a letter—it's too risky in case the owl is intercepted. We need to talk face-to-face. Can you make sure you're alone by the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room at one o'clock in the morning on the 22nd of November? I know better than anyone that you can look after yourself, and while you're around Dumbledore and Moody, I don't think anyone will be able to hurt you. However, someone seems to be making a good try. Entering you in that tournament was very risky, especially right under Dumbledore's nose. Be on the watch, Harry. I still want to hear about anything unusual. Let me know about the 22nd of November as quickly as you can. Sirius."
"Harry, what's with the letter? It doesn't appear to be screened by Gringotts," Hermione commented.
"Um... it's from Padfoot," Harry admitted.
Hermione's eyes widened. "How is he?"
"He seems good?" Harry guessed. "He wants to talk to me in the Gryffindor Common Room at 1 in the morning," he added.
"Hm…" Hermione began to think of a way to get Harry to the Gryffindor Common Room without being caught.
"What are you two gossiping about?" Kaien asked. Harry and Hermione jumped in fright.
"Kaien-sensei!" Harry exclaimed. "Please don't sneak up on us." Hermione silently nodded in agreement.
"Sorry about that," Kaien said. "I noticed both of you were absorbed by that note. Care to share?"
"Um…" Harry glanced at Hermione, who looked conflicted.
"Harry," Kaien said, getting his attention. "Remember that I swore an oath not to reveal your secrets, just as you swore to keep mine." Harry realized what Kaien was saying was true.
"It's a long story," Harry said. So, Harry and Hermione told Kaien everything about Sirius Black and the events that had unfolded.
"To summarize," Kaien said, "Sirius Black is your godfather. He was falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit and then sent to prison without trial. He later broke out and became a fugitive. You two knew the truth and freed him. He now wants to talk to you on the 22nd in the Gryffindor Common Room." Harry and Hermione nodded in confirmation.
"Do you think you can help us get to the Gryffindor Common Room?" Harry asked.
"How would he talk to you? Would he sneak into the castle?" Kaien asked.
"I… I don't think so," Harry said.
"Agreed. He wouldn't write another letter to be delivered."
"What about the fireplace?" Luna suddenly chimed in, scaring Harry and Hermione.
"Luna! Don't sneak up on us," Hermione said.
"Anyways…" Luna continued, "Mister Stubby Boardman could try using the Floo to talk with Harry."
"Mister Stubby Boardman?" Harry asked, confused.
"What do you mean using the Floo to talk with Harry?" Hermione asked.
"You could use the Floo to teleport from fireplace to fireplace or even stick your head into one to talk to someone on the other side," Luna explained.
"Artoria," Kaien said through the peerage link.
"Yes, Kaien?" Artoria responded.
"Is there a Floo connection in the Gryffindor Common Room?" Kaien asked.
"Hm…" Artoria said. "There is one," she replied.
"Do you think you can move that connection to our fireplace?" Kaien asked.
"I could… why?" Artoria asked.
"I'll explain in a bit."
"Very well," Artoria replied, cutting the connection. Kaien turned to the students. "I can't reveal how, but you will not need to go to the Gryffindor Common Room to speak with Sirius," Kaien said. The students nodded in agreement. "Harry… do you want to help your godfather?"
"I do," Harry said firmly.
"Do you trust me?"
"I do."
"Then I need to write a few letters," Kaien said as he walked upstairs to his room. He sat down to write a letter to Ragnok, informing him of what was going to happen in the early morning of the 22nd.
Time Skip: 22nd at One O'Clock in the Morning
Harry sat by the fireplace in his living quarters, confused by the situation. He pulled out his wand.
"Tempus [Time," Harry cast. Small smoke clouds escaped from his wand, signaling it was one o'clock.
"Harry." A voice called. Harry turned to see Sirius's face emerging from the fire.
"Sirius—how are you doing?" Harry replied. He noticed that Sirius's appearance had changed since the last time they'd met. Instead of the gaunt, sunken face surrounded by long, black, matted hair, Sirius now had a short, clean cut, his face fuller and younger—much more like the only photograph Harry had of him, taken at the Potters' wedding.
"Never mind me. How are you?" Sirius asked, his tone serious.
"It's going well," Harry said. "Sirius, do you trust me?" he asked.
"I do, pup," Sirius answered.
Suddenly, Kaien and Artoria removed Harry's invisibility cloak. Before Sirius could react, they reached into the fire, grabbing him and pulling him toward their side.
"H-Why?" Sirius stammered.
"Hello, Mister Black. I am Kaien Shiba, and I'm in charge of making sure your godson survives the tournament." Sirius nodded, remembering the news articles. "Anyways, turn into your Animagus form and follow me," Kaien instructed.
Sirius glanced at Harry.
"Please do what he asks," Harry insisted.
Sirius sighed and reluctantly transformed into his Animagus form, a black dog. Kaien pulled a small pouch from his pocket and threw it into the fire, turning the flames green. Harry stepped into the green fire.
"Gringotts!" he shouted, disappearing.
Kaien picked up Sirius and followed, shouting, "Gringotts!" before disappearing as well.
Scene Change: Gringotts
Kaien and Harry appeared in Gringotts' lobby. A Goblin Teller stood in front of them.
"Follow me," the Teller said. They followed him down the hall and arrived at an empty private room. A few minutes later, the door opened, and Madam Bones entered with two Aurors behind her. The first was a young woman, no older than Kaien, with a pale heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and bubblegum-pink, short, spiky hair. The other Auror was a tall, broad-shouldered black wizard with a gold hoop earring and a bald head. All of them wore red Auror robes.
Sirius, still in his Animagus form, began to get nervous.
"Hello, Kaien," Madam Bones greeted.
"Hello, Madam Bones. Thank you for meeting us at this late hour," Kaien replied.
"Um… who are you?" Harry asked.
"I am Madam Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," she introduced herself. "With me are Aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks."
The door opened again, and two more people entered, escorted by goblins. Harry and Kaien instantly recognized them.
"Hello, Mister Carneirus. Ms. Almeidas," Harry greeted.
"Hello, Mister Potter, Mister Shiba," the reporters responded. They sat down in the chairs around the room. A goblin entered, carrying a box.
"Good day, everyone. For now, you may call me PeaceKeeper," the goblin introduced himself. "I need everyone in this room to deposit their wand into this box."
"Um… why?" Harry asked.
"Gringotts offers to be a neutral third party and ensures that all meetings proceed peacefully. The box is a special one that only the PeaceKeeper can open," Kaien explained, placing his shrunken staff in the box. Slowly, everyone else followed suit. PeaceKeeper closed the box.
"Now then, Mister Shiba, you said you have crucial information that could help us find Sirius Black," Madam Bones said.
"I do," Kaien replied, glancing down at the black dog in his hands. The dog looked nervous. Harry looked at the dog.
"Trust me, Padfoot," Harry said.
Madam Bones turned to Harry. "Did you just say Padfoot?" she asked.
The black dog jumped from Kaien's hands and transformed into Sirius Black.
"Hello, Amy," Sirius said, greeting Madam Bones casually.
Everyone in the room was shocked to see Sirius. The three Aurors instinctively reached for their wands, but quickly remembered where they were.
"Sirius Black—" Madam Bones began.
"—Is innocent," Harry interrupted.
"What?" Auror Tonks asked, turning to Harry.
"I do have proof of this," Harry said, presenting his parents' will to Madam Bones. She took the will and began to read it.
"Hm…" Madam Bones muttered, reading the will. "This provides a valid testimony. The date is a few days before their death."
"I wish to submit myself to Veritaserum," Sirius said, opening his mouth.
"That's why you asked me to bring this and two Aurors," Madam Bones replied as she pulled out the potion. She also took out a quill and parchment. She turned to PeaceKeeper. "Can you activate the charm on the quill?"
"Certainly," PeaceKeeper replied, tapping the quill with his finger. The quill came to life, positioning itself on the parchment. Madam Bones pulled out a pocket watch.
"Begin recording. Today is November 22nd, 2004. The time is 1:30 am. I, Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, am with Aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks. We have Sirius Black at Gringotts. He is willing to submit himself to questioning under Veritaserum," Madam Bones stated, then paused as she approached Sirius. "Sirius Black, are you willing to submit yourself to the effects of Veritaserum?"
"I do," Sirius replied, opening his mouth. Madam Bones poured four drops into his mouth. He swallowed the potion.
"State your full name," Madam Bones commanded.
"Sirius Orion Black the Third," Sirius answered in a flat, emotionless tone.
"What house were you in at Hogwarts?"
"Gryffindor."
"Final test question: Was your Marauder nickname Prongs?"
"No. It was Padfoot."
"This concludes the test questions to determine if Sirius Black is under the effects of Veritaserum," Madam Bones said. She then continued with the questioning. "The first question: Are you a Death Eater?"
"No," Sirius shouted.
"Were you the Secret Keeper for Lily and James Potter?"
"No."
"According to early reports, you blamed yourself for their death. Why did you blame yourself?" Madam Bones asked.
"I was the one who told them to make Peter Pettigrew their Secret Keeper," Sirius admitted.
"Did you kill Peter Pettigrew?"
"No."
"Did you cause the explosion that killed thirteen Muggles?"
"No. Peter Pettigrew cast the spell."
"How did you escape Azkaban?"
"I was an unregistered Animagus. I managed to force myself through the bars with my skinny dog body."
"Is this also how you managed to retain your sanity?"
"It is," Sirius admitted. Madam Bones tapped the quill, freezing it in place.
"Off the record," she said. "Who was the love of your life?" she asked. Sirius flinched, struggling against the potion's effects.
"Amelia Bones," he forced himself to admit. Madam Bones smiled faintly as she tapped the quill, setting it back in motion.
"This concludes the questioning. The time is 1:45 AM on November 22nd, 2004," Madam Bones said as she poured the antidote into Sirius's mouth.
"So, what can you do with that information?" Kaien asked.
"Hm… At the December Wizengamot, I could bring this issue up," Madam Bones said. "But he will need to present himself to the Wizengamot."
"Don't worry, he'll be there," Kaien said.
"What about us?" Michael asked.
"You'll write an article about this and send it to me for approval. It will be posted in the Evening Post after the December Wizengamot," Madam Bones said.
"Very well," Michael agreed. The PeaceKeeper turned to Kaien.
"Does this mean the meeting is finished?"
"It is, PeaceKeeper," Kaien replied. The PeaceKeeper nodded, opening the box. Everyone retrieved their wands from the box.
"Looks like little Nymphi grew up," Sirius teased. Auror Tonks glared at him.
"I'll get you back, cousin," she growled.
"Both of you are cousins?" Harry asked.
"Yes. My mother was a Black, but she was disowned," Auror Tonks explained.
"Um… PeaceKeeper," Rebecca said. PeaceKeeper was already near the door.
"Yes?" he replied, turning around.
"If it's allowed, may we include your name as a witness to this meeting?"
"Hm… very well then," PeaceKeeper agreed. Kaien and Harry exchanged a knowing smile.
"Let it be known that I, King Ragnok the XI, witnessed the events that happened in this room," PeaceKeeper declared as he walked out.
"Did we just meet the King of the Goblins?" Rebecca asked.
Everyone nodded. They quickly regained their composure and were escorted out. Sirius let out a yawn.
"Come on, Sirius. We need to check you in with Healer Bloodfallen," Kaien said.
Sirius yawned again. They walked him to Healer Bloodfallen, who immediately took him and began the necessary treatment. Once that was done, they returned to their room.
Time Skip: November 24th, The First Task
Healer Bloodfallen had sent a letter, providing an update on Sirius's condition. In the letter, Sirius's name was replaced with "John Doe." Kaien had given the champions two days off from training to allow them to relax and prepare for the First Task.
Everyone woke up early on Sunday, feeling nervous about the impending task. Kaien insisted everyone have a few spoonfuls of porridge. By now, they all had a basic understanding of Occlumency and were able to calm themselves down.
By noon, everyone made their way to the stadium. Kaien watched as the champions were led away by Professor McGonagall. Kaien, Hermione, Luna, and George made their way to the stands. Artoria followed the other judges to the judge's box. They soon found their seats. To Kaien's left was Daphne Greengrass, one of his unofficial students.
"Hello, Mister Shiba," she greeted.
"Hello, Ms. Greengrass," he replied.
"Do you think they will safely survive the tasks?" she asked.
"I do," Kaien answered.
Scene Change: Champion Tent
Harry, Fred, Fleur, and Viktor arrived in the tent, where they found themselves alone.
"Well… this is it," Harry said.
"It is," Fred agreed.
"We've been training with Kaien-sensei for this," Fleur added.
"May the best champion win this task," Viktor said.
Soon, Ludo Bagman entered the tent.
"Well, now we're all here—time to fill you in!" he said brightly. "When the audience has assembled, I'll give each of you a bag," he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them. "From which you will each select a small model of the creature you'll be facing! There are different—er—varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too… ah, yes… your task is to collect the golden egg!" He looked around, expecting fear or shock from the champions. Instead, they all nodded as if they had expected this.
Bagman opened the neck of the purple silk sack. "Ladies first," he said, offering it to Fleur. She put her hand in the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a Welsh Green dragon, with the number two around its neck.
Bagman offered the bag to Viktor. He stuck his hand in and pulled out a scarlet Chinese Fireball dragon with the number three around its neck.
Fred reached in, pulling out a blueish-gray Swedish Short Snout, with the number one tied around its neck.
Harry reached in, pulling out a Hungarian Horntail, number four. The dragon stretched its wings as he looked down at it, baring its minuscule fangs.
"Well, there you are!" Bagman said. "You've each pulled out the dragon you'll face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you'll take them on. Got it? Now, I'm going to leave you here to prepare, as I'll be commentating. Mister Weasley, you're first. Go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right?"
Before Fred could reply, Bagman had left.
"Damn," Fred muttered.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Oh, Bagman owes George and me some money. We've been writing to him about it, but he refuses to pay," Fred admitted.
"Don't worry, we'll help you get it back," Viktor said. Then they heard a loud whistle.
"Guess it begins," Fred said as he walked toward the door.
"Good luck," they all said.
"Thank you," Fred replied, stepping out of the tent and heading toward the arena. He focused on his Occlumency, recalling his plans for the task.
"The first champion we're going to see for this task is Fredrick Weasley from Hogwarts!" Bagman announced as Fred entered. Fred spotted the blueish-gray Swedish Short Snout, eyeing him. In the stands, he could see Kaien, Hermione, Luna, and George. George was holding a brown knapsack. Fred raised his wand.
"Accio brown knapsack!" Fred called. The knapsack flew from George's lap to Fred. He caught it, quickly digging inside and pulling out a small device. It had a large black horn, a bell-shaped body, and small feet. Fred threw the device at the Swedish Short Snout. The dragon stared at the strange object, which suddenly began to make loud bangs, emitting black smoke and waddling away. The dragon immediately chased after it.
"Yes. Our Decoy Detonators worked," Fred thought as he sprinted toward the nest. But the dragon managed to crush the device. It noticed Fred heading toward its nest and changed direction, charging at him. Fred dug into the brown knapsack and pulled out another object. It appeared to be a miniature tent with a tiki face on it. Fred threw three of these behind him. As soon as they landed, the miniature tents expanded into a large swamp. The Swedish Short Snout didn't realize the change until it was too late, getting stuck in the swamp. The dragon roared, struggling to escape.
It fired a stream of fire at Fred, but by then, Fred had reached the nest. He pointed his wand at himself.
"Ignis Innoxius [Harmless Fire," Fred cast. The fire hit Fred, and the audience screamed in fright, thinking he might die from the task. But the fire subsided, and Fred was nowhere to be seen.
"DON'T WORRY, EVERYONE!" Fred called out, casting the Amplifying Charm. The crowd turned to see Fred standing safely to the side, holding the Golden Egg. "The two things you saw me use are inventions created by my twin brother George and me," Fred continued, as George stood up in the stands. "This little thing," Fred pulled out the device with the black horn and feet, "is called a Decoy Detonator. If you need a quick getaway, use this to serve as your decoy." He dropped the Decoy Detonator, and, just like before, it began making loud bangs, releasing black smoke and waddling around. "And this is a Portable Swamp. It's perfect for blocking paths or trapping people." He pointed at the Swedish Short Snout, still struggling in the swamp. "If you're interested in any of these products, send an owl to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!" Fred yelled as he canceled the Amplifying Charm.
Kaien and his fellow students clapped. Slowly, the Hogwarts students and the rest of the audience joined in applause.
"Very good indeed!" Bagman shouted. "The judges will take a few short moments to consider Mister Weasley's score. He'll be sent to the medical tent for a brief inspection."
Fred was escorted to the medical tent, where Madam Pomphrey was waiting. She took out her wand and began scanning him for injuries.
"Luckily your mother isn't here," Madam Pomphrey remarked. "I had to force her away from the medical tent."
"Thanks, Madam Pomphrey," Fred said. Once cleared, he was escorted back to the judges.
Fred saw that the Swedish Short Snout had finally been freed from the swamp. Professor Flitwick was down by the dragon, removing the swamp. Fred reached the edge of the enclosure and saw the six judges.
Madame Maxime raised her wand in the air. A long silver ribbon shot out, twisting into a large figure-eight. The crowd applauded.
"What's with the eight? I didn't get injured or anything," Fred thought.
Mister Crouch, Professor Dumbledore, and Artoria gave Fred a ten. Mister Bagman gave him an eight.
"Hm… something's off here," Fred thought. Then Karkaroff gave him a six. "A bloody six? Really? It's clear someone's biased in their scoring," Fred thought.
"Based on our points, Mister Weasley scored 52 out of 60," Mister Bagman announced. The audience applauded as Fred was escorted to another tent. "One down, three to go!" Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again. "Miss Delacour, if you please!"
From the Champion's Tent, Fleur sighed as she left the Champion's Tent, making her way toward the arena. She focused on her Occlumency, recalling her plans for the task.
"The second champion we're going to see is Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons!" Bagman announced as Fleur entered. She spotted Kaien and the others in the stands.
"I will impress you with my power," Fleur thought as she eyed the Welsh Green guarding its nest. Fleur pointed her wand at the nearby rocks.
"Saxa animalibus [Rocks to Animals," Fleur cast. The rocks transformed into a herd of sheep.
"Go toward the dragon," she commanded. The herd of sheep, created without their usual survival instincts, shuffled toward the dragon. The Welsh Green stared at them, licking its tongue and starting to eat the herd. Fleur used the distraction to her advantage.
"Sommeil Profond [Deep Sleep," she cast, sneaking closer to the Welsh Green. Every few steps, she cast the Deep Sleep spell again. The Welsh Green's movements began to slow, and it continued to eat the sheep. When the dragon finished the entire herd, it let out a yawn, shooting a small fireball into the air. Luckily, Fleur wasn't near the dragon's mouth. She was already by the Welsh Green's nest, where she spotted the Golden Egg. She quickly grabbed it and ran back to the entrance. Kaien and his fellow students clapped. The audience slowly joined in applause.
"Very good indeed!" Bagman shouted. "The judges will take a few short moments to consider Miss Delacour's score. She will be sent to the medical tent for a brief inspection."
Fleur was escorted to the medical tent, where Madam Pomphrey scanned her for injuries. Once cleared, Fleur was escorted back out to the judges.
Madame Maxime gave her a ten.
"As expected, she may disown me from the school, but she still wants me to win," Fleur thought.
Mister Crouch and Professor Dumbledore gave her a nine. "I expected that. He probably didn't want his champion to lose to me because of a few points," Fleur thought.
Bagman gave her an eight. "Hm… why so low?" she wondered.
Professor Karkaroff gave her a six. "Was that really necessary? It's obvious he's biased toward Viktor," Fleur thought. Artoria gave her a ten as well.
"Based on our points, Miss Delacour scored 52 out of 60," Mister Bagman announced. The audience applauded as Fleur was escorted to another tent. "Two down, two to go!" Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again.
From the champions' tent, Victor sighed as he left. As he walked towards the arena, he used his Occlumency to focus on his plans for the task. "The third champion we're going to see is the famous Victor Krum from Durmstrang!" Bagman announced as Victor entered. Fleur could see the Chinese Fireball standing guard over its nest. Victor pointed his wand at the nearby rocks.
"Saxa animalibus," Victor cast. The nearby rocks transformed into a herd of cows. Quickly, Victor cast the Disillusionment Charm and the Smell Removal Charm. The Chinese Fireball noticed the sudden appearance of its favorite food and cautiously approached the herd of cows. Victor, seeing this, slowly moved towards the dragon's nest. As the Chinese Fireball began eating one of the transfigured cows, Victor took his chance. He ran towards the nest.
Once the dragon finished the cows, it turned towards the nest.
"Shit. Did the dragon realize I was there?" Victor thought as he pointed his wand at the unsuspecting dragon. "Rosea oculus [Pink eye," he cast silently. The Chinese Fireball didn't notice until it was too late. Its eyes closed in distress. The dragon let out a loud roar, trying to find Victor. But the spells held firm.
Victor grabbed the Golden Egg and sprinted back to the entrance. Kaien and his fellow students clapped. Gradually, the whole arena joined in applause.
"Very good indeed!" Bagman shouted. "The judges will take a few short moments to consider Mister Krum's score. He will be sent to the medical tent for a brief medical inspection." Victor was sent to the medical tent where Madam Pomphrey scanned him for injuries. After a quick inspection, he was cleared and escorted back to the judges.
Victor reached the edge of the enclosure to face the six judges.
Madame Maxime, Mister Bagman, Professor Dumbledore, and Mister Crouch gave him an eight. Professor Karkaroff gave him a ten. Victor resisted the urge to snort upon seeing these scores.
"Right, very unbiased," Victor muttered.
Artoria gave him a ten. "At least with Artoria, it's fair," he thought.
"Based on our points, Mister Krum scored 52 out of 60," Mister Bagman announced. The audience applauded as Victor was escorted to another tent. "Three down, one more to go!" Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again.
From the champions' tent, Harry sighed as he left. He walked towards the arena, using his Occlumency to recall his plans for the task. "The fourth and final champion we're going to see is the famous Harry Potter from Shiba Academy of Mystical Arts."
As Harry entered the stadium, the most intimidating dragon stood in front of him. The Horntail immediately noticed his presence.
"$: Stupid Two-Legger thinks he can enter my nest without getting hurt. :$" The Horntail growled.
"$: Please calm yourself. I am not here to harm you. :$" Harry said, surprising everyone in the arena by speaking in Parseltongue.
"$: Oh? This Two-Legger speaks the tongue of the land slithers." The dragon hissed. "What do you want?"
"$: I was sent here to retrieve a false egg from your nest. :$" Harry replied.
"$: They placed a false egg in my nest? :$" The dragon growled, eyeing the nest. It spotted the Golden Egg and added, "$: So, you're telling the truth. :$"
"$: May I please enter your nest to retrieve the false egg? :$" Harry asked. The Horntail glared at him. Harry stood firm.
"$: Very well. :$" The Horntail agreed. "$: But if you touch any of my eggs, I will attack you. :$" The dragon warned.
Harry carefully approached the nest, took the Golden Egg, and quickly returned to the entrance.
"$: Thank you for believing in me. :$" Harry said with a bow to the Horntail. The arena fell silent for a moment, unsure how to respond. Kaien and his fellow students clapped, and slowly, everyone joined in applause.
"Very good indeed!" Bagman shouted. "The judges will take a few short moments to consider Mister Potter's score. He will be sent to the medical tent for a brief medical inspection."
"Hello, Madam Pomphrey," Harry greeted.
"Hello, Mister Potter. It's been a few months since you were last in my Medical Wing," she said.
"I think that's a good thing," Harry replied with a grin. She chuckled as she took out her wand and began scanning him for injuries.
"It looks like you're fine," she said. "Please thank Mister Shiba for making my job easier."
"I will," Harry said, smiling as he left the Medical Tent and was escorted back to the judges.
Harry reached the edge of the enclosure, where the six judges awaited.
Madame Maxime and Professor Dumbledore gave him an eight. Mister Crouch gave him a nine. Mister Bagman gave him a ten. Professor Karkaroff gave him a seven. Artoria gave him a ten.
"Based on our points, Mister Potter scored a 52 out of 60," Mister Bagman announced. Harry was escorted to another tent with the other champions.
"What score did you get, Harry?" Victor asked.
"I got a 52. What about all of you?" Harry asked.
"We all got a score of 52," Fleur replied.
"Hm…" Harry started to speak but was interrupted when Ludo Bagman entered.
"Well done, all of you!" said Ludo Bagman, bouncing into the tent, looking pleased. "Now, just a quick few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February 24th. But we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look at those golden eggs you're all holding, you'll see they open... see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg—it will tell you what the second task is and help you prepare for it. Well, off you go then!" Bagman finished as the champions walked out of the tent.
Kaien and Artoria stood by, waiting for them.
"Come on, let's go," Kaien said. The champions nodded and walked towards the castle. Suddenly, a witch jumped out from behind them—it was Rita Skeeter, wearing acid-green robes, her Quick-Quotes Quill blending perfectly with them.
"Congratulations!" she said. "I wonder if you could give me a quick word. How did you feel facing that dragon? How do you feel now, about the fairness of the scoring?"
Before anyone could comment, Kaien slid between her and the champions.
"I'll let Michael and Rebecca know about your meddling. I'd be curious to see what their reaction would be if we decided to sell the exclusive rights to the champions to another magazine," Kaien said. Luna quickly caught on.
"My father is the editor of the Quibbler," she chimed in. Rita Skeeter's face turned pale as she recognized Luna.
"No need," she quickly said, before running off.
"Come on, let's get going," Kaien said. The group made their way to their private quarters. "Excalibur," Kaien muttered. The portrait opened, allowing them to enter. Their living room was filled with food and drinks, ready for them to enjoy. They all entered and began to celebrate.
"Hey, Fred," George called out.
"Yes, George?" Fred replied.
"Let's hear that clue."
"Sure," Fred said as he grabbed his egg and opened the latch. Suddenly, a loud scream erupted from the egg, catching everyone's attention.
"GAH!" they all screamed in pain.
"MAKE IT STOP!" Victor yelled. Fred quickly let go of his ears and closed the egg.
"W-what was that?" Fred asked, still wincing.
"Not sure," George replied, looking just as confused.
"Is that what's in the egg?" Hermione asked.
"Painfully loud screaming?" Victor said.
"Not sure," Kaien answered.
"I-I think I know what that is," Fleur said, her voice shaky. She looked nervous, her skin much paler than before. She moved toward the fireplace, her body trembling slightly. Kaien walked over and gently wrapped his arm around her.
"Are you all right?" Kaien asked softly.
"Sorry," Fleur said, calming down a bit. Kaien let go as she turned to face her friends. "Everyone knows I'm a Veela, right?" The others nodded. "Veelas are magical creatures associated with air and fire. Because of this, we're much weaker when we're in cold water or underground. Those shrill, inhuman shrieks we heard? They come from a magical creature that lives under the sea." Fleur stared into the fire. "The merfolk."
"So we need to listen to this in the water?" Kaien concluded.
"Likely," Fleur replied. Kaien turned to Fred. "May I?"
Fred handed Kaien his egg. Kaien walked upstairs and quickly filled the tub with water. He submerged the egg and his head before opening it. Instead of hearing inhuman shrieks, he was met with a chorus of eerie voices singing from the egg.
"Come seek us where our voices sound.
We cannot sing above the ground.
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss.
An hour-long, you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took.
But past an hour, the prospect's black—
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."
Kaien closed the egg and dried it and himself off before walking downstairs to repeat the poem for the group.
"So, the merfolk will take something precious from us, and we'll have an hour to retrieve it," Harry said.
"Not something… someone," Hermione corrected. Everyone turned to her. "I was reading up on the previous tournaments. They all had three tasks: one involving a beast, another where you had to rescue someone, and the final task would be a race."
"It's great we managed to crack the clue," Kaien said. "But we won't start training for the second task tonight. This is a celebration for now."
"I second that," Artoria said, waving a piece of rib in the air. The party continued with everyone chatting and enjoying the moment.
"Artoria-sensei," Harry said. "Why did you give all of us a ten out of ten?"
"Simply because you completed the task without injuring yourself or the dragon," Artoria replied.
"While all the heads seemed to try to give everyone low scores," Fleur added.
"Though, Bagman is interesting," Victor remarked.
"Indeed," Kaien agreed. "He gave everyone but Harry an eight, with Harry getting a ten."
"And he still hasn't paid us yet," Fred said, crossing his arms.
"Do you want to take revenge on those biased judges?" Kaien asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"And that nasty reporter," Harry added. Kaien went to the fireplace and threw some Floo powder into the flames. The fire turned green as he stuck his head into it. A few seconds later, Kaien withdrew his head, and Michael and Rebecca walked out.
"Hello, everyone," Michael said, smiling.
"Kaien told us you wanted to do an exclusive interview with us," Rebecca said.
"We do. We've got a few topics to talk about," Harry said.
"Biased judging," Fleur chimed in.
"Our experience with the First Task," Victor added.
"Bagman's stealing from us," Fred said.
"And him cheating to help Harry win," George added.
"And finally, taking a shot at Rita," Harry finished. Michael and Rebecca both grinned widely as they pulled out quills and parchment, quickly sitting down.
"Tell us more," they said with Cheshire grins.