Capítulo 20: Chapter 20
Madame Maxine was not a happy headmistress, and Señora Rodriguez, head of Sports and Games, was looking at first concerned, then angry as details of the first task came out.
"They not only tried to kill a student, a student under your authority, they penalized her on points when she didn't die? Oh no, this isn't going away.
The miniature witch was not of goblin stock, but was a Little Person. She knew what it was to travel to Britain and be treated as a creature, despite her pureblood heritage. Fortunately for her, she had been taught in Spanish school, and she was not the only unusually sized student.
Her school also had a boy that had gotten into his mother's finished potions and had imbibed Skele-Gro as a toddler. He had been taller than two and a half meters as a first year, and was accepted. Then recruited for any sport where height was an advantage!
"I don't have the power to overturn the scores. However, I do have the power to appeal to the ICW for a committee to review the memories of the task and judging. Perhaps knowing that there is an inquest to the first task will help the judges remember to be impartial for the last two."
She rang a little bell, and an intern came in, respectful nods to both witches in the room. The boy had to wait a minute for her to finish her note.
"Thank you, Johnathan. Take that to the Supreme Mugwump."
"Yes, Mistress Rodriquez."
"Madam Maxine, thank you for bringing this to my attention. And thank you for Headmaster Brown's memories, and his note. I am hearing odd rumors. If you ever feel in danger, get the students out of there. The tasks specify emergencies for safety, and the tasks can be delayed. Don't let Dumbledore's false statements about competing stop you from escaping."
"Thank you for taking this seriously. And not judging me by my size." The headmistress expressed.
The witch in question stood to her full height of a little under a meter and brushed a hand over herself with a raised eyebrow. "You're very welcome. Expect my owl. Soon."
**OO**
The twins were being enterprising entrepreneurs. They were selling mounted Sir Harry on Buckbeak figurines for a very reasonable sum. Half of the profits went to Harry, so of course, he was giving it to the Order to put where it was needed.
Harry had been tempted, for a moment, to use some of the funds to buy Hermione a present from Hogsmeade. They had a very nice book store after all. But the lack of funds situation encouraged creative thinking, or so Sir Hector claimed.
Draco was back to taunting Harry. This time he asked about the Sorcerer's Stone, and Harry was trying to remember where he had read about that.
"If it wasn't with the dirty dishes or the coins, I don't have any idea where it would be. Sounds like something my father invented though. I still have a few of his things in a trunk. Let me duel you for the Potter vault, if I win, maybe I'll look through it for you, and you can have a rock as a consolation prize."
Draco scowled and left, clearly not hearing the answer he wanted, but it was the only one Harry had. He truly had not heard of this rock. He didn't think.
**OO**
The people doing the scrying had started again, as there were new students to learn the art, and this object was checked on daily to see if they could see a landmark or something that would help pinpoint the vile thing. An urgent message sent.
"Hogwarts. The diary is at Hogwarts."
**OO**
The warden was not happy with the order, but with a Halloween deadline and callout signed by the Minister, he really had no choice.
He told the ugly witch that she would have to do the shepherding herself, and be back at Azkaban on the thirtieth. They would have her 'order' ready. What his superiors were thinking, he did not know.
He waited until the witch in pink was gone, and sent a message patronus to a retired master auror he knew had the proper connections to help.
"Alastor. Let's meet at the Black Grim Pub. All Hallows Eve. You bring your mates, and I'll bring a hundred of my mates here from the Island. Rudolph."
That last was a bit of a muggle reference. Rudolph was a magical beast that pulled Father Christmas' sledge. His nose was a bright red beacon.
Alastor would understand what code red meant. Death. Death was coming, and coming on Halloween or soon thereafter. One hundred hungry dementors, with no known destination.
**OO**
"Harry! Well done on earning your full knighthood. Youngest one ever, I understand."
"Thanks, Moony! And thank you so much for the maps and everything. You did a great job on the Ecole Merlin map."
"Is it hard, not pranking?" Remus asked looking a little sad. Harry had sent him a letter saying that now he was a knight, he had responsibilities, and had to be respectable. As in no more pranks.
"It is. I mean, pranks are part of who I am!" Harry wiped away a non-existent tear. "So, anymore pureblood snots that need to be rescued from homicidal parents? Kyle is on Hermione's last nerve, and if he doesn't improve his attitude soon, I worry for his safety. From my lady's reaction!"
"I send them as they come. Most seem to settle just fine." Remus said. "So, while you're here, let's go to Honeydukes.
"I'll go with you, but I don't have any money right now."
"What? Oh no! Have you lost your coin purse? I happen to have a spare."
Remus handed Harry a couple of galleons.
"Thanks, Moony! Let's go get a basket of chocolate for Hermione! And maybe something for the little ones!"
"Yes, let's do."
The money was enough that Harry almost felt bad for turning the werewolf pink. Several people turned to stare at them in the store.
"Haven't you seen a knight shopping for his lady before?" Remus asked the people looking at them.
Harry kept a straight face, ordered, and went back to camp before Moony tweaked to his condition.
Moony swallowed a laugh letting Harry get away with his little prank. He'd get him back later.
**OO**
Dumbledore came out to the grounds where Harry was supervising some of the younger students on the static flight course that was left open. Their aim when standing was awful!
"My boy, if you don't eat breakfast at the castle, you miss important announcements."
Harry looked up at the man. Their height difference was shrinking, but Harry would likely be shorter due to the horcrux messing up his system.
The malnourishment as a child did him no favors either.
The youngest knight just looked at the man. "I am under authority, sir. I may not enter the castle with Death Eaters there. We were invited to a school event. Now, if you want to turn hunting these people into a task, I can and will be glad to help capture them. If not, I can do nothing."
"But there's going to be a nice ball. A Harvest masquerade dance. It would be a perfect time to socialize, perhaps meet a nice young man, or lady to marry in future."
"I am happy with the betrothal I have. And I won't bring my lady here. Hermione is in great danger, sir. People like your school governor, Lucius Malfoy, are hunting her."
"The entire Board will be there, as many of the elite of Britain. You could make friends of those on the Wizengamot."
Harry stepped closer to the man.
"Lucius Malfoy killed a woman in cold blood. If she had died in his dungeon, would you then charge him for that crime? He extorted money from me. That is a crime in Italy, and in muggle Britain. No charges have ever been filed that I have heard of. And I was there at the bank that day. I didn't see him, but I heard his voice threaten to kill my friends in front of me because he didn't get to steal as much as he planned.
"You want me to come to this ball, and what? Socialize? Perhaps ask Draco to dance? Court him? Is that what you want?"
The Headmaster saw the look of disgust on the boy's face. "No, no. I know that Cornelius Fudge took away your seat, but it could be restored.
Dumbledore was well aware that the gold had left Gringotts London, and the impact of losing that investment had been felt. And the goblins had complained loudly to the Wizengamot.
It clicked. Dumbledore was trying to get him interested in being a part of the English law system again.
"Do you think that now I am a Knight of the Order that any of those Death Eaters would put up with me on the Wizengamot? My oaths are to the Lord! To the Law! The highest laws!
"The only commandment that I know of that Lucius Malfoy hasn't broken are in honoring his parents. I have never heard of him complaining about either. Now, I am not the one to stand in judgment of him. As Chief Wizard, that is yours.
"If you could just tell me why? Why that man can get away with things like this. Why the laws apply to some of the people all of the time, but to none of the people all of the time, I might be interested in trying to gain support to re-enter the Wizengamot. Right now, not so much.
"It appears to my eyes to be a den of thieves and murderers. All protected by you, sir. I know that you mean well! I can feel it! But I don't understand you one bit."
"I am not here to defend my actions, young man, but to invite you to a dance. You would do well to remember that I have years of experience in these things. I do wish you had stayed at Hogwarts, and not gotten involved with these people. They have warped your perceptions."
"Truly? My perceptions are warped? I think that you need to go see a priest and have yours checked. Sir."
**OO**
Harry was called the night before the second trial. It was Luna
"Harry! You must switch dragons with the flower girl, or she will be killed. Give her your preparations, and remember to tell her to fight fire with fire!" Luna called. "Bring the flask of water!" She warned before signing off.
Harry swore, a nice Welsh swear, something he likely heard his father use.
All of that work!
Well, how was this different from helping anyone else in danger? Knights gave away potions that they had grown the plants, or gathered the ingredients for, then brewed all the time. If he started complaining now about it, how bitter would he be in ten years!
Besides, the Commander had suggested a modified contract of nine-years for Hermione so that they could get married at twenty-four!
Perhaps Sir Romano had suggested saving himself a year of headaches as a result. In the Commander's dry way.
And how was a small flask of water going to help against a dragon? Dragons!
Harry awoke the next morning after a bad dream, then shook himself, and looked at his mark. It was pulsing. Being just about time for his alarm to go off anyways, Harry got up. The group was staying in their compound for morning chapel, so Harry quickly did his morning routine, and went there for his personal prayers.
The stained-glass windows were an illusion. A good one, and represented recent knight victories. Sir Hector's image saluted Harry before returning to continue the attack on the chimera. Harry saluted back before going over to a nook and his own prie-dieu. It had Queen Elenore's heraldry for now to indicate his spot. He had to work with some at the International Magical College of Arms for his own device, or wear the Queen's as one of her champions. Harry really didn't care much at this point.
After prayer, he sat in one of the pews. It was nearly time for services, so he just stayed there. He mentally went over what he had for the task. There plenty of fire-proofing potion and had already shared that with Fleur. Just in case the dragon was an ice-type he had those potions as well. They were facing dragons. Fire breathing dragons, well possibly ice breathing dragons.
But her warnings had never been wrong since she came to the school. The death rate among the Order was the lowest ever, with just as many if not more missions being served.
Switching dragons! How was he supposed to accomplish that? Not through transfiguration!
Harry had been told about the warning left at the burnt-out hull of Granger land. Harry had sent his own missive to Queen Elenore sending his care and concern, but she had been assigned a knight for the duration, just in case. Threatening to kill sweet little old ladies was just as bad as killing the cranky ones in Harry's book.
And he knew from experience that these people had no respect for anyone! Especially people like his betrothed.
Hermione was in danger, but it would be far worse if she was here. As much as she hated being locked up to be protected, until they knew more, she was exactly where she should be.
It appeared to him that someone had a vendetta against Fleur personally or for all veela. Madam Delacour rarely went out in public, and she never went anyone near the castle. Nor was she ever alone.
**OO**
Barty Crouch sneered at Harry as he reached into the bag and grabbed a model of what they were to face. He walked away and peeked into his clenched hand, not letting others see. A Welsh Green. Fleur was last, and Crouch made no bones that he was displeased that a 'creature' like her was even allowed to complete. Fortunately for Harry, that allowed him to perform the switching spell on the models without being seen.
She held out the Welsh dragon for all to see.
The man turned red. "Cheater! You were supposed to get…" but stopped talking and stormed out of the tent.
Harry looked at his dragon. Oh boy.
It was a very rare and dangerous Japanese Mizuchi. A venomous water dragon that spat poison and could spew forth water at such quantity and rate that it had been known to drown people on dry land.
The other man was still there, Bagman? "The objective is to get past the guardian and through the far door.
The original trial had rare nesting dragons defending eggs. With Xeno's and Charlie Weasley's help, and appeal to the ICW, the task was changed. Getting through a door with a dragon breathing down your neck was still insane, but better than trying to snatch an egg from one. And a nesting one at that!
They obviously didn't know about the breeds of dragons involved, at least not the Mizuchi. Only that killing one wouldn't cause endangerment issues to dragonkind.
It was endangerment to humankind to allow this Japanese demon-dragon to stay on this plane of existence!
After the scoring of the first task, Dolores had been replaced by Bagman according to Fudge, and by Crouch according to Maxine and Karkaroff. There wasn't time for an owl, so they agreed to work together. She was still around though, performing 'humanitarian duties' or some such.
Was that translated as insulting anything that she didn't think was qualified to be labeled a person?
Harry asked for rules clarification. With permission of the judges, they were allowed protective potions as long as they drank them there. Potions were not allowed with them on the course. Out of fairness, he offered fire-proofing to the others, but Krum and Diggory declined them. Fleur and Harry imbibed potions while waiting in the tent.
Fleur went first, and sung the dragon to sleep, slipping past it quietly. The crowd cheering as she approached the door woke the beast, and she was nearly caught by a roasting blast of heat.
She was there, at the door, and it wouldn't open. No matter what she did, it wouldn't open.
The entire Weasley clan was in the audience, including Bill. He wanted to watch the tournament, and meet Harry who was friends with the rest of his younger brothers. From his vantage, he could see the runes etched above the doors. Someone was clearly cheating for it prevented any woman from passing through.
Using a spell from Egypt, he quickly displayed the hidden rune sequence to the judges. "There's a problem here!" Bill shouted.
After seeing how the knights had not hesitated one bit to help previously, Dumbledore had banned them to the stands. They were under strict orders to not interfere with the games.
Bill's sense of fair play, and protectiveness kicked in. He jumped down, ran around, and went to the entrance and shouted "Get her some help now!" and explained the issue.
Harry wanted to intervene, but it was clearly against the rules for him to do so. It was not illegal for Bill to remove the unneeded and obstructing runes though. Harry gave Bill a strong dose of fire-proofing potion, some baby dragon scent (so he wasn't food) and disillusioned him. Harry waved Bill in to rescue the girl.
Maybe since it wasn't a member of their Order, she wouldn't lose so many points! Or be accused of cheating!
Bill's presence went unseen as the girl tried to get the dragon back to sleep, but it was angry now. Somehow, the door was important, and no one was to get through. Fleur distracted it by throwing fireballs, but Bill's work was done.
"Now!" Bill called, and the dragon aimed a fire blast at the voice. But Bill had moved the minute that she unlocked the door and was on her heels as she made it through.
There was cheering and booing in equal portions, but it was the judge from Africa who had stayed to be Ecole Merlin's judge on the panel who spoke.
"I want to thank that red-haired young man for saving the Beauxbatons' champion's life. That rune set he removed made it impossible for something less than a battering ram to open that door if it was a witch there. It was not a part of the competition. Someone tried to kill her. I demand an investigation!"
The normally serene man took a breath and continued. "As to the tournament. I suggest that her completion time to be at the point where she first reached the door as it was not supposed to be locked or barricaded."
All of the Beauxbatons students agreed to that, but some of the Hogwarts students were calling for the 'half-breed to be put down' and such.
Harry, meanwhile, was in the champion's tent trying to concentrate on how best to deal with a water-demon. He pulled out the prepared flask quickly, and called for a priest.
**OO**
Victor Krum was utterly confused by the boy-knight in front of him. He was unerringly polite to everyone around him, except those who were known active Death Eaters. To these, he was fierce. His look promised retribution.
"You fly well. Ever fly a broom?"
Harry laughed a bit. He still had never opened the broom that Brother Paddy gave him. He couldn't. He rode others, but until recently only owned a very outdated Starlight 9. Now he had a Firebolt.
"Yes, I love flying brooms. I've not played quidditch, though. Done the steeplechase rounds at school. That's a lot of fun. And the obstacle course. But most of my flying has been astride. Our mounts are critical in a lot of missions. Hippogriffs can get to a lot of places quickly, and with training, they can overcome fear of natural predators. Well, mostly."
"We were not properly introduced. I am Victor Krum, and I like to fly very much. But have only ridden a broom so far. I have never ridden a hippogriff much less a dragon."
"I wouldn't try that strategy here. It takes too long." Harry recommended. "It was nice meeting you, but I have to try and come up with something for this Mizuchi."
The Diggory fellow had gone and was done. Krum had just entered the arena. The priest came back with his flask. Harry showed it to the judges, and explained what it was. Blessed water. They waved their wands, and allowed him to take it.
Harry went out and the solid edge of the arena floor now stopped just a few meters from the entrance. It was now a huge pool, depth unknown. A beautiful, to be sure, light blue and silver colored dragon-demon was cavorting in the water.
"Stand down, and go to the side or you will be hurt!" Harry's sonorous raised voice commanded.
Nothing happened.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Harry levitated the flask to the side of the pool. His magic felt cleaner and more powerful since getting the last of Voldemort out of him. He cast engorgio three times at the flask. The weight of the water caused the edge to crumble and gallons and gallons of holy water poured everywhere! Where it hit the water-demon, it steamed, and the vile monster caught a massive wave to the face!
The screams of the demon were awful and inhuman, but Harry was not idle while the beast writhed in agony. He summoned his faithful mount, running and jumping, using his magic to boost him high into the air. A short flight, and Harry was above the exit. He jumped down, and just as he opened the door, as the beast spat venom at him with eight-year-old Hermione precision.
In other words, the dragon missed badly.
Buckbeak caught a bit of it though on his flank and shrieked in pain, but Harry knew that someone would tend to the wounded animal quickly even if he couldn't get there yet. He ran through the door, one very cranky knight.
He fumed at the judges. How dare they bring in lethal trials for a school game! Someone intended to kill Fleur! Without summoning it, the sword appeared in his hands as he was led to the judges.
"Stand down, warrior." Sir Hector was there, his hand on his shoulder.
"Demons at a school event!? I need to talk to you!" Harry hissed. "Just as soon as I dismember whoever set up Miss Delacour for death again! This time was clearly no accident!"
Harry's magic was flaring again. Something about Hogwarts made him feel stronger.
Sir Hector had put up a ward though, so no one else heard what the young man said, only felt his flaring magic. "Calm yourself! I will go to Buckbeak now, join me when you can. Focus on that!"
Harry nodded, and put the tip of the sword down. He wasn't wearing the scabbard that had been made for the magnificent blade, and would have to wait for the judges' score so he could leave and tend to his mount.
Bagman and Crouch seemed to be sharing a vote, and finally Bagman waved a ten into the air, Crouch scowling.
Dumbledore gave him a six. "You should not have brought such an acid with you into the task."
Madame Maxine scoffed at the Hogwarts headmaster. "The boy was checked before he went in. He was allowed the flask. You were told what it was. Holy water. You brought a demon beast here, one that any Knight around the world would banish."
Even as she spoke, a cadre of knights working in precision moved in. The dragon handlers were subdued, and a golden net was created from beams of light coming from each knight, surrounding the monster. A priest strode out, his vestments clearly showing his rank. He sent the eternal monster back to the pit from which it had been summoned. The Order ignored the complaints, and the knights took up a position around their most junior member, leaving stunned handlers, and whinging event organizers in their wake.
Karkaroff gave him a zero. "Just because something is dark doesn't make it evil."
"That is true for many things. Chocolate flavors, and colors of skin come to mind. But with magic and creatures there is a line. Dark magic by definition is evil. Dark creatures by definition are evil. Just be careful what or who you label a dark creature. If holy water hurts it, that is a big clue." Harry said, looking at him with narrowed eyes. "I will petition for your score to be modified to be made fair. After all, that beast doesn't exist on this plane normally. Someone had to do a ritual, one involving innocent blood, in order to get it here. And that plane certainly didn't have seraphim dancing there."
The judge for Ecole Merlin looked at the knight "I will give you nine points. There was a way of getting over the water without injuring your mount."
"I did not want to show off that spell here, my lord, and accept your judgment. I deserve less for allowing Buckbeak to be hurt. Speaking of which, I need to tend to him now."
The standings weren't much changed. Krum led by a narrow margin, with Diggory a close second. Harry a distant third, and Fleur had almost nothing. It was a crime of judgement.
Harry bowed to the judges, then ran out to go heal his injured mount if someone else had not yet done so.
Per the agreement he had with Alain, Harry sent him a patronus message asking for a meeting at Hogwarts. The deputy Minister of Magic deserved to know that Fleur had been a target again. Harry hadn't been able to scan the crowd, so was unsure of whether or not the man had come to watch the second task.
Harry didn't know why she was a target, but he thought it foolishness that the Tournament continued when it was obvious that someone was trying to kill her!
**OO**
"Your plan didn't work, Barty!" Narcissa whinged. Again.
"Well, it was more subtle than yours! The Master will not be pleased with us in any case. He wants the throne for himself, and she is the eldest daughter. She has to be taken out."
"Is that why we are targeting her? I thought it was because she was Veela?" The professor helping them asked."
"Isn't that reason enough to put her down?" Narcissa pointed out. "Draco has the position here that could lead him to be the logical husband of said new Queen of England. I won't have it! I will kill everyone to prevent my son from dirtying himself with a creature if I have to!"
"Why isn't Lucius helping plan this."
"He thinks that a veela would make a wonderful mistress, and has tried to talk our master into letting her marry Draco. If our plan doesn't work, that's what he will do going forward! With her permission or not. Lucius has ideas."
The professor stepped forward from Durmstrang. "I am helping with the third task. We have another chance. And we can serve up the Potter boy to our Lord as well."
They went to planning. Death to the princess was on the menu, and she wouldn't be escaping this time!
**OO**
Apolline Delacour had removed her daughter from the grounds of Hogwarts and sent her to her grandmother's palace for a time.
Try storming a veela stronghold, bigots!
It was time to tell Fleur that her mother was the queen, not just some distant relative. But that would bring up the past. A past that she had tried to put in a box long ago with the help of a kind knight who married her. Gave her a family. Gave her real love.
Alain had protected her identity and kept her away from politics of the French court. Bless him!
She was not pleased that someone was trying to kill her daughter. Apolline was here to banish great evil. As soon as that contract was served, she and her daughter would be gone from this place.
How dare her daughter smile at a Malfoy!
She needed to sit down, and tell her, but she just couldn't. She didn't have the words.
But this last attempt, it had to be someone who was allowed access to the grounds. The professors of Hogwarts were helping, and then she remembered something.
She pulled out the memory. Unique runes, and the man who read those runes and understood them had been educated here.
That left one very obvious suspect, and if the aurors didn't at least talk to her, then Apolline would appeal to her mother for help.
Perhaps if Fleur wished to be a princess, it was time to get her recognized as one. And find her a suitable match with all of the politics and headaches and heartaches that would bring her.
It was not a life Apolline wanted for herself, but if it was truly what Fleur wanted, so be it.
**OO**
While Apolline stayed home, Alain went to the British Ministry of Magic. It was not well known that he had served as a knight. In some countries, that was seen as a great honor.
Not in this one.
"Deputy Minister!" Fudge seemed happy to have an unscheduled appointment. He wiped bright pink lipstick off of his face, and shook the Frenchman's hand too vigorously and too long.
"What can I do for you today?"
"I would like to make sure that this latest attempt on my daughter's life is not going to be swept under the rung. Rug. Carpet. Whatever. That you are doing something. Otherwise, I'm taking my family home, and lodging a complaint to the ICW!"
"Yes, I was going to talk to Dolores about that as she was there." Fudge shared. "Terrible business. Seemed to think that there was an Egyptian cursebreaker was responsible."
"That boy is going to have me as a patron if he wished. He saved Fleur's life! William Weasley, you might know the family name if you aren't familiar with the former head-boy."
"Oh, well, I'm sure that he must have been imperiused…"
"He. Saved. Fleur."
"Oh, well, well! Good for him! All's well that ends well."
"What is wrong with you people? Don't you have aurors?"
"Well of course we do! Crime would get out of hand if we didn't!"
"And can any of them look at evidence?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Then, I would like to request that you get your aurors busy! A guest in this country, invited to an ICW sponsored and approved event nearly was killed. Not once, but twice."
"Well, you see. The thing is. Well, your country seems to have a vendetta against Lucius. It wouldn't be fair if…"
"Fair? Fair? I never once accused the man! I doubt he knows enough about runes or carving that he could BE involved with this."
"Oh. OH! Well, I will have to get right on this! Yes! Of course!"
Fudge scrambled around, shuffling papers, and making noises, but as far as Alain could see, getting not much was done. He got up and left without another word.
M. Delacour left the office thinking that he needed a different approach.
**OO**
Buckbeak was going to have a scar, but it could have been worse. If that giant worm had gotten that yuck in his eyes, he would have been blinded.
A little elf popped close by and bowed to Harry. "Thanks, thank-thanks for getting rid of bad demon. Wards had to be modified to allow it in."
"What? No!" Harry said.
"I being Bims. You are Heir. Please, Master Harry. Make Hogwarts safe."
The elf was on his knees begging.
Harry stood and reached out with his senses. The wards had changed since he had been there last.
The young man reached down, and offered a hand up to the old elf. "I promise that I will try."
Bims wiped tears, and handed over a letter to Harry. "Bims not supposed to tell you about Headmaster, so Bims no tell you. Owl returned tried, sent with this letter it was, unable to find you. I brings letter now."
The little elf turned to Hector. "Headmaster sicky. Hurt hand. Hims dying. Evil spell."
"Why hasn't he been seen at St. Michael's?" Harry asked, concerned for the great man.
Charles Hector looked around him. The wards did feel different. Then he remembered Durmstrang being there. This was not good. Not good at all.
"Harry, what's the letter?"
"The headmaster wants to see me. Alone."
"That's not going to happen." Charles said, vehemently.
"I wonder if he's finally going to give me the rest of my family things. Harry said, unhappy about being at odds with the man again. "Where's the healer?"
One of the healers from St. Michael's was supposed to come and be there in case Harry or one of the other students got hurt. They had distinctive robes, and were much more fashionable than the local variety.
"You want him or her to look at Dumbledore." Charles surmised.
"Let's invite the Headmaster to dinner." Harry smiled. "A nice private dinner for two within our wards. He can even have a plus one."
Charles debated whether or not to reveal the man's leanings, and decided that was in the realm of gossip, and not relevant.
"You have something planned." Sir Hector said.
"Maybe." Harry stated.
**OO**
"Mr. Potter, a moment of your time please." The beautiful astronomy teacher asked.
Harry debated saying something about his title, but he wasn't going to be there much longer, and let it go. She had come out of the castle to track him down, the least he could do was be polite.
"Professor Sinistra? How may I help you?" Harry asked kindly.
"I have been tasked with asking the students about their dates for the ball. I have everyone's but yours."
Harry winced. "Can you keep a secret, madam?"
The witch looked around and nodded. She indicated that they should walk, and thereby avoid nosy students who were watching them.
"The Saturday after the last task, I hope to be home celebrating with my friends on the successful flight trial. Not many get it the first attempt." And those that did earned gold wings, Harry had found out.
"Oh? Well, who are your friends?" The teacher queried.
"You've met Hermione and Neville, of course. Millicent."
"The Bulstrode girl? Well, you are friends with Longbottom, so that makes sense. Go on."
"And Joseph. Joseph Kerveil. They are my closest friends." Harry stated.
The professor smiled. "Good luck, Potter." And left to go about 'her' business.
Muttered under the breath was an 'you're going to need it.'
The Polyjuice wore off, but by then, it was too late. Far too late to do anything.
**OO**
"And with that vote, Zora Zabini is now regent for House Longbottom. The notice will be sent to Gringotts that no funds can be sent out of the country for Neville Longbottom, and he is ordered to return his family ring to the vaults to be redistributed to the rightful heiress, Alice Longbottom."
There was clapping all around, and shaking of hands at the victory. Augusta still wouldn't have full access to the family vault, but then she never did. Her monthly stipend would be set by the new regent, but it wouldn't be a measly ten galleons a month.
"Madam Zabini, I wish you and your family well. I do hope you use this opportunity to turn over a new leaf. The manor is lovely, and should be a thriving place of love. Tell me, dear lady, do you plan to remarry?" Dumbledore asked softly.
"There is a gentleman that has expressed interest in courting me when our various contracts are finished."
"Love is a great power, Madam. I wish you a houseful of it." The great wizard nodded. Yes, he sensed no darkness about her now. Good, good. Young children, perhaps a good wizard in the home.
They would just need to get Neville back to Hogwarts permanently, and at least one boy would be back on the proper path.
**OO**
The Headmaster was buoyant from the Wizengamot meeting earlier, and hoped that tonight went just as well. Albus Dumbledore walked through the initial wards easily, but his companion, Professor Snape was stuck.
Harry waved a greeting to the potions master, who scowled.
"If you would like to come to dinner, you need to swear on your magic not to raise your wand to another except in self-defense. In return, I will swear the same oath."
"Very well, and I'm not afraid of you. Attack me, and I will take you apart." The potions-master sneered. Harry took his vow, while Albus watched.
The young knight escorted the men into a table set for three. The room had the stained-glass illusion that the chapel had, only Sir Hector's beast was static, and Sir Hector was watching the table. Not that the guests noticed.
"We do not serve wine or spirits, gentleman." Harry informed them.
"Yes, you honorable men, the illegitimate cast-offs of the world have such high standards." The potions-master purred.
Harry bit on the retort 'my mother was married to a better man than you'd ever be' and ignored him in favor watching the old wizard not eat. "Please sir. This roast is quite good."
An elf popped in and cut up the statesman food as if he were a toddler, but Harry made no comment.
"You asked for this meeting sir, I thought that by breaking bread together we could start some kind of discourse." Harry said.
"Don't you mean, discord? You are nothing but an arrogant toe-rag like your father. How many of the other girls did you impregnate before you took your vows? I wonder how many unknown Potters are running around." Snape passed around insults as others would pass food. Harry took neither from the man, eating from his own plate.
Harry glared at the man for just a moment for accusing him of fathering Daisy in his normal, bullying, baritone voice, but he had an iron grip on his temper for this meeting. He let the insult go.
Soon the potions master was yawning, and then, mid-insult he fell asleep. Harry called an elf to lay him on the nearby couch, and put a blanket over him. His soft snores were ignored.
Albus looked at the man, but saw he was breathing and just asleep, so turned back to the meal.
"He will be quite angry when he wakes up."
"And that is different how from his normal demeaner, sir? I have so many questions that I have wanted to ask you. You never returned any of my letters, though. The main one I have to ask now, due to the imminent danger to the school is this. When did you modify the wards to allow evil in?"
"Everyone deserves a second chance. Your way would be to banish anyone who had different ideas. To you, Dark Arts are horrible and to be avoided, but without the dark, we cannot have light."
Harry blinked. He rang small bell on the table, and three elves popped in. The third elf took away the potion masters place setting and leftover meal and popped away.
The two remaining men were handed menus for dessert.
"I'll take the fruit skewers with Greek yogurt, Soda. Thank you." Harry said, the Headmaster looking up at that name.
"You have other elves here at Hogwarts." Dumbledore informed him.
"Potter elves or Black elves? Either way, they are free to serve at Hogwarts as they please. I hold no slaves. If elves wish to serve the family without gold compensations, there is always trade. And the promise of freedom when they wish it."
"Yes, yes. Your mother had much the same ideas. This lemon tart is very good. It is very…"
And then the old man was asleep. Harry called for the healer.
Sir Hector stepped out of the window, wand in hand. "What in the world? Without the dark we can't have light? The man is clearly sick. Ill in the head!"
"We may have to get him to St. Michael's. Let me run a quick ritual." The healer stated.
"Very well." Harry pulled a separate mirror. "Professor McGonagall, I need you. The healer may have to move him to Italy."
Sir Hector leaned over to talk softly while the healer worked. "Professor. The Headmaster has a family wand that really belongs to Harry."
"Yes, I was told about Charlus' wand going missing at the time. You're saying Albus has it? Harry, he keeps it in that pocket. You best take it; wands can have finicky loyalties."
The newest Knight of the Order did so, and reclaimed the wand of his ancestors to a display of red and gold sparks.
"Well, I'd say it was happy to see ye." Professor McG proclaimed.
She took up a skewer from the table that had had fruit on it, and made a very reasonable copy of the wand. It wouldn't work as a wand, but let the man think he lost his magic for a moment. Taking things from others! The nerve of him!
The healer finished, looking very pale. "I don't know where he encountered this curse, but the course of treatment he's been under would be labeled as torture at St. Michael's. How the healer kept his vows is beyond me. We need to go as soon as possible, sir knights."
"As a school instructor, and longtime resident of Hogwarts, I am taking the Headmaster to a hospital for treatment. I swear on my magic that I mean him no harm."
The wards shifted. Harry could feel it. So did the cat animagus.
"I'll be back soon to let them know about Albus." She activated a portkey, and the pair were gone with the patient.
They were not using a Harry's blood-portkey on Dumbledore, not now, and not ever.
"Something evil is in Hogwarts. Likely the diary, after all, Snape and Voldemort were here before." Harry reasoned. Scrying had put it at the school, after all.
"And the diadem." Charles pointed out. He was the one that found it. That and some other broken but useful things.
"Arithmancy! The diary is a full half of the original soul. The spirit will have 1/32 if the calculations are correct, which might not be. But still. It's a lot more than the diadem and the leftover of the original. The wards might not have detected so little before."
"You think that the diary was smuggled in!" Sir Hector surmised.
"I do. And for some reason, the headmaster thought it was a good idea to let it in around a bunch of students."
"You've all been told to stay out of the school by the High Commander since the first night!" Sir Hector reminded him.
"And I have obeyed that very logical order. I'm not going to disobey now. No, I will go to the safe house in Hogsmeade and call him. I want to layout the start of my plan to you both." Harry stated firmly.
Charles blanched. He disliked going to that Hogsmeade house. Intensely. It was where he and Sister Gisele had been for a few days before her death, and it made him feel all over again the failure of that mission.
"Very well, but it's getting dark. Let's get a few more adults to go with us."
Monseigneur Brown joined them, and a few of the potion apprentices who were adults and here to recruit talented young potioneers.
The rest of the group was chatting and happy, some carrying lanterns as they were just above squib levels of power, others lighting their wands. Hagrid had seen them from a distance and joined in, congratulating Harry on his successful flight trial.
The group made their way to the Three Broomsticks, a common enough stop that Hagrid would make no mention of, and Harry invited him to enjoy a butterbeer with the group.
"That's fine, but I don't mind something a might bit stronger than that, if ye have the coin."
Harry shook his head, and pressed a few sickles into dustbin lid sized hands. "Get what you like, my friend, I need run a quick errand. I'll be back in a bit."
Charles, Harry, and Regulus exited out the back and down the way to the house. The entire color scheme had been changed, new furniture, different sized rooms even from the old house.
Sir Hector looked at Harry, but he was pulling out his mirror the minute they were inside the strong privacy wards.
**OO**
"I don't like it. Too risky." The Knight Commander complained.
"But the diary is here! We need to find it and destroy it. I need to get into the castle and find it. I won't do anything stupid!" Harry defended.
"You won't do anything stupid? What do you call this plan?" Sir Romano accused.
"I'm the only one who can improve the wards! With them at full strength, I can track down, and contain the diary. Severus Snape was made deputy! Please, sir! Do you think even if he had access, that he would strengthen the wards? That would tip off the other side." Harry pointed out.
"No. No he wouldn't. Take Sir Hector, Sir Jerome, Monseigneur Brown. The Delacour parents were there today? Watching?" The commander queried.
"Fleur said that they were coming. I sent Alain a request for a meeting. If they are here, they should be at the carriage." Harry informed him.
"Take Madame Delacour. Regulus, tell her normal rates, but if she succeeds, she will get a bonus." Sir Romano looked distressed over this. He didn't like including civilians in operations.
"Yes, sir." Monseigneur Brown bowed.
"You have your orders gentleman. Out of the castle by midnight. Dismissed. And Potter, remember." Sir Romano advised.
"Yes sir. No plan survives first contact and all."
"I need you all back safe just as soon as the last task ends. Romano out."
"Can you tell us why we're bringing Madame Delacour?" Harry asked, as they made their way back to the compound to change into battle tunics.
"She's the Necromancer that we found. She knows the assignment and has prepared for it. Harry, please. Please remember what Luna said."
"I do sir, and I will." 'To win, the champion must kill the dead.'
Harry would send the next piece to St. Peter, and had to choke a laugh at the thought that popped into his head.
A frustrated Guardian of the Gates of Heaven, sitting down at a table with odd shaped puzzle.
"Can anyone see where the edges of this thing are? Or how many pieces?"
Ragged shapes refused to join, possible parts missing, and St Peter frustrated, asking for help.
"One more, good Apostle. One more piece. Well, two more with the original. I'll be sending them on soon."
**OO**
The boy was back. Good. There was far more than one living Heir, but he was the only one who knew how to tap into the wards. Oh, yes, James Potter figured out how to make their clever little map. How Wormtail had suffered for losing his copy of the map back in the day. At least he had this copy now.
What were you up to Potter?
Seeing the movement of the name and the trajectory, and knowing that the boy was the only other one with access he called for help. Potter had to be stopped. And stopped now.
**OO**
Umbridge bowed.
"Go get at least one, and bring it back now. I don't care from where! I want it here in thirty minutes."
"Yes, my lord, I know where a local one is."
Dolores was prepared. Always prepared. She had stationed a half dozen dementors in a lonely fen where they wouldn't be seen. They were however, getting restless, wanting to be fed.
"I need someone who will not kill a random pureblood, but act appropriately. Maybe we can find you a nice muggle...I mean mudblood to feed you, hum?" A dementor preferred magical souls, after all.
She was back so quickly that she thought the Dark Lord was going to punish her.
"Carefully, we don't want to scare the students. You, you two may feed when I tell you." The Dark Lord said, red eyes gleaming.
The being felt the partial soul, recognizing the 'feel' of that soul, and shared it will the others. HE was back, and had promised many souls to feed on.
Maybe he would keep his promise this time.
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