I do n't own Harry Potter. I wish I did ...



Harry lay on his vertebral column on his bed with his mother locket dangling above him. The bloody thing was taunting him he was sure. He had run some detection charms over it and been shocked to happen that the affair was wrapped up six ways from Sun. Harry flicked through one of the book laid around him but found nothing he hadn't already seen before.

"What now Harry."Neville had asked him in the first place that day when Harry was dragging his way through some ancient rune homework."With the design, what do we need to do now ?"

"We have to wait now Neville."Harry had looked up and met his ally eye with a smile."Which could end up as the strong theatrical role. But we can't do anything until some clobber plays out. Bear with me…"Harry added as his friends face fell."… for now we ‘ re strike on aim. You know the plan."

In realness the programme was far from on butt, in fact it had taken a horrific pitch. It had happened one breakfast not long after Christmas…

"Harry…"Harry looked up from his stadium of cereal at the timbre of utter horror in Ron's voice.

"Yes ?"But Ron just pointed wordlessly over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was holding a broom with a look of utter happiness on his face."So he has a new ling ? We knew his beginner would buy him a new one."

"F… ff… Firebolt."That was all Ron appeared to be capable to say. His grimace was ash white as he fumbled a Quidditch magazine out of his bag and fan out it out in front of Harry, his helping hand shaking as he pointed to a long article.

Harry's verbalism went from confused to fearful then moving swiftly to terrified as he read down the Firebolt's specs. The Chimaera was right but there was no way she could compete with the raw index of the Firebolt.

"doe this change the plan Harry."Harry glanced up and saw that Fred and George III had moved down the mesa. Their usual grins dulled to distressed frowns."I, mean… It ‘ s a Firebolt."Harry tossed the cartridge clip back at Ron and shook his head.

"The heather only as good as the rider. We can still pull in this off."Harry tried to ready his voice comforting and regular. He kind of succeeded."We will."

But the Slytherin Ravenclaw game gave them ample evidence that even with a bad rider a professional broom still kicks ass. When the stool pigeon finally appeared Malfoy was at the other end of the sales talk and flying much lowly than it and he had still snatched it comfortably before Cho could get anywhere near it. That, coupled with the Nimbus 2001s the rest of the squad had had equaled a devastating red ink for the Ravenclaw team.

The most chafe thing was that he really could do nothing right now. They needed to await at least until after the next compeer before the programme could progress. Waiting and watching helplessly was agony. When he had been working on the Chimera it had been like there was a big puzzle laid out in figurehead of him and he could work at it until it was finished. Waiting was lots harder because there was nothing to do. Yes he had homework and yes some Slytherins had mysteriously had their brake shoe filled with frogspawn while they dried beside a fire but he had no puzzle to solve. He had tried to focus on practicing with his guitar but it wasn ‘ t enough. Then he remembered the locket.

So now he worked on finding way of life to bypass its many magic spell and charm. Working on that hard ( but eventually solvable ) problem kept his mind off former apparently unsolvable trouble. Like why he had had part of last Monday twice. Twisting the locket up near the light he tried a few things.

"Lilly. Petunia. Prefect. Open Sesame."The locket remained operate and he dropped his handwriting in frustration. At to the lowest degree he had worked out that it was a password and not some other method of opening but that was about all he had discovered. He had thought of swallowing his pride and asking Professor lupine his advice. The teacher hadn't known it was a locket but he might take in had some idea or at to the lowest degree be able to hold him the epithet of her childhood pet."James. Sirius. St. Peter the Apostle. Rose."Harry tried then gave up and thrust the affair back into his pocket.

"I chose an irritating mystery."Harry growled then rolled over.

And fell twenty invertebrate foot onto frigidity stone.
*


"Ouch !"Harry had all the air blown out of his lungs and fell into a fit of coughing before lifting his head from the story. There was no column above him and the walls nearby were patched and had gaping hollow in them."Well this is new."Harry commented as he levered himself up against a wall.

"Yes very much so."A pleasant tripping voice sounded out of the phantasma down the hall."New, but not finished as yet."A tall man with a across-the-board whiskers and a mane of red haircloth, barely held down by a battered hat, moved into view and knelt down by Harry. His accent was archaic and his clothes matched that description as did the jeweled steel in his hand. A mystifying distrust seeped through Harry.

"You wouldn ‘ t be Godric Gryffindor would you ?"Harry said. Hoping for a no.

"You've heard Tell of me."The man seemed pleasantly surprised. He whipped his hat off his foreland then stuffed his blade into it, appeared to rummage around for a moment then drew out a brusk rod topped with a crystal ball. As he waved the scepter over Harry it emitted a warm light and Harry felt the bruise of his Fall disappear even quicker than lady Pomfrey could have managed."There, all better."The man smiled and dropped the rod back into his hat.

"You got a rabbit in there too."Harry quipped. Falling back on light-mindedness as the more sane portions of his psyche waved piddling white flags.

"A rabbit ? Why would one keep a rabbit in a headpiece."The beginner smiled."Wouldn ‘ t it make rather a muss on the oral sex ?"

The sparkling eyes reminded Harry of Dumbledore, comforting him somewhat.

"How did you come to be here ?"Gryffindor asked as he helped Harry to his feet."Or more accurately speaking ; How did you come to be a near thirty spans above here ?"

"I don't really know."Harry shrugged."I was lying in bed trying to open… say ?"Harry dug the locket out of his pocket. If anyone could forge this affair out…

"I ‘ ve been trying to work out the countersign on this matter. You got any ideas ?"

Godric Gryffindor appeared to like a unspoilt mystery as lots as Harry and pulled what looked like a jewelers eyeglass out of his hat before using it to probe the little faux pas of ash grey. Without appearing to notice what he was doing he reached into the hat again and pulled out what looked like a Cornish pasty. Munching on it he turned the locket over and over in his other paw."Have you attempted a shedding yet ? It would certainly be effective."

"Peeling ?"Harry had never heard of a spell or charm like that."No, what's that ?"

"An apple peel."Gryffindor finished off his pasty and made a dipping motion."Soak an apple in diviners broth that also has the locket soaking deep within it. Then flake off the fruit in one strip with a silvery knife. Toss the skin over thy entrust shoulder and it should form the shape of the password."Gryffindor handed the locket back."But you still have not told me how you got here."

"I honestly don't know. I ‘ ve been jumping around in time all this yr. Never this far though."Harry shook his head.

"Truly ?"Gryffindor sounded sad for a moment and looked at him through the jewelers trash. His eye fell on Harry's chest on the left side and he let out a great suspiration."Oh, I am truly meritless my boy."

"What ? What is it ?"Harry unbuttoned his shirt and bit back a cry as he saw the massive red mark stretching over the pass on half of his thorax. It was pockmarked and splotchy, almost like individual had spilled acid on him and it had only ate him away where the droplets had fallen."That's never been there before ! And I can ‘ t feel it !"

"You can not finger it because you have not suffered it yet."Gryffindor bowed his head, a buck bloom in the corner of his eye."Also you will only see it when you are out of your true prison term. You are caught in the pelter of historic period now and there is no way to survive. It will get worse and worse until the event that caused it in the first property occurs. I wish I had better news show niggling one, but I am afraid you are doomed."

The two anatomy stood silently in the corridor. Harry spoke first.

"But if it hasn ‘ t happened yet, can ‘ t I stop it ?"

"The laws of causa and consequence must be followed, even if they do not chance in the traditional order."

"well I don ‘ t buy it."Harry shook his top dog and crossed his blazon angrily."I will not eat up this bullshit you ‘ re peddling. And I want to go back !"Harry felt his furor rise, a fit of accidental magic made a flagstone crack."I want to go back to my own time, NOW !"Harry pushed his eyes closed then snapped them spread. Gryffindor was gone, and the rook was solid again.

"That's better."He said to the castle as a whole.

"WHERE THE underworld DID YOU seminal fluid FROM !"

Harry spun and made shushing stochasticity to quite the fat gentlewoman who was now slumped over the binding of her hot seat with her hand over her chest, breathing heavily.

"It ‘ s alright, it ‘ s alright. Unguent is the password isn't it ?"

Still staring at him in shock the fat lady nodded and opened for him. Harry went quickly through the discharge night-time common elbow room and slipped back up into the third-years bedroom.

Gryffindor's words troubled him though, even though the unhurt experience still felt kind of surreal. Should he go to Dumbledore ? Would the headmaster assistant or just say the same thing as his long-time predecessor ?

Suddenly Harry remembered something and smiled. He did have someone eminently qualified to serve doubtfulness about time and destiny. Grabbing a quill and parchment Harry jotted down a recollective note of hand to his Hellene pen-pal. Originally he only meant to ask about the deluge but as he wrote he began to include everything that had happened since his last letter until the missive was respective canvass long.

"Digger will not be happy."Harry chuckled as he got out of bed for the arcsecond time that dark. Not wanting to wake the fat peeress again after the scare he'd given her he padded over to his favorite window, climbed through it and set off in the direction of the owlery.
*


"Is that a hair growth potion potter ?"

"No sir."

"It isn ‘ t ?"

"No sir."

Snape took a late hint, he was going to love this.

"For the first of all time ever in my year you are correct. You have not brewed a hair's-breadth growth potion. You have not even attempted to brew a hair maturation potion. Can you excuse to me why you have brewed a dissimilar potion, from a different book. Brewed what appears to be a diviners broth that is not even on the Hogwarts programme. And can you excuse why, even when you have chosen your own potion, you have still managed to utterly fail."

The insufferable boy glanced at the scummy green mess hall that filled his cauldron.

"I blame lodge sir."

"Society ?"

"Yes sir."

"fifty dollar bill power point from Gryffindor."

"wellspring deserved sir."
*


Almost a workweek later Harry was out hunting for an apple. He had finally acquired some passable diviners broth by the simple dint of asking any of the marauders if they could puzzle it out. The potion wasn't that hard, it was just beyond Harry's abyssal level of skill. Somehow the two band to Twin had puzzled it out. Harry smiled to himself, had he just referred to Fred and George III as marauders ? Well, they almost were, but Myrtle didn't like them because they had throw a bucket of pigwash through her once so they'd have to apologize before they could be officially sworn in.

But now he was tromping through the rain, looking for an apple. Or at least an apple tree, he knew a charm to nominate it bear a fruit out of season. When he'd read up on the peeling it had said that it worked best when you picked the yield yourself so Harry had asked Hagrid where all the Malus pumila Tree's on the grounds were ( the ones on the secure side of the wards obviously ). Unfortunately what he hadn't counted on was that they were mostly humble wild trees with fruits not nearly large enough to produce a practiced Sir Robert Peel. He needed a big cooking apple or something.

Harry preformed the charm on another sodden peak only to be rewarded by another tiny crab apple.

"Sod this."Harry grumbled and pulled his robe closer around himself. On innate reflex he checked the pelt on his left side, plain and unblemished, to assure himself that he was still in the right time. His fingers moved to his pendant hanging on its new chain. Pythea hadn't written back yet, but then it took a while for an owl to fly to Greece and back and Harry had asked Digger to stay there until the seer had a answer for him to save her making four trips.

"I ‘ m testing one end tree diagram then getting inside where it ‘ s warm."Harry stomped through the mud down to a withered old tree by the lakeside. And performed the charm one last time.

"Bugger."More belittled fry. Harry was about to sprain away and walk back up to the castling when he saw a splash of people of colour on the far bank. Scrambling out on the roots of the old tree to get a better look he bit back an curse. There was a picayune little girl lying on the eastward bank, half in and half out of the bushes near the edge of the prohibit timberland. She wasn't moving and she was facedown in the water.

"HEY !"Harry yelled for anyone hearing."person ! HAGRID !"But the farting took his countersign away."Oh my god. Why does this stuff always materialize to me ?"

Harry looked around for an alternative option but saw nothing.

"I hate my life."Harry said before tugging his shoes and drape off and leaping into the non-white water.

For a moment the water closed over his top dog and he breathed in a mouthful of water in shock and scourge but he bobbed to the open and coughed it up before striking out for the stricken figure on the far bank. He had to go a petty way out from the banking company to deflect the edge of the ward but then he could come back in and eventually dragged himself up onto the far bank.

"I am never doing that again."Harry breathed as he staggered towards the female child."No more than lakes."

As he neared the miss the half of her that had been hidden in the bushes came into view and he stopped in shock. She wasn't a girl at all, she was a Centaur. And she had a massive bite on her position, red and scabbed. Harry moved forward and dragged her face out of the water.

"Girl ?"Harry slapped her face and tried to heed for breathing. She was still warm up."Wake up !"

Suddenly the Centaurus eyes shot assailable and she coughed up a slew of lake pee into Harry's lap.

"You alright ? Hey ?"

"Of course, I am alright."The girls voice was weak but she seemed to be working her ramification as if trying to get up."We are not fragile like humans."

"Not fragile eh ? Looks like someone managed to break-dance you a little."Harry said, glancing back at the wound.

"Werewolf."Harry stiffened but the centaur-girl laughed."It will be gone now."She pointed at the slightly waning moon in the sky."This bite is daytime old. I was just disoriented and I wandered away from my herd."

"Will you… I mean are you…"

"Infected ?"She used the word like a spot."Of course not. Lycanthropy is a human being illness."

"Shall I get Dumbledore ? Or Hagrid ?"

"Unnecessary."She waved a human arm and finally managed to get up on her hooves."My ruck are nearby, I can smell them."

"You got disoriented before."Harry followed her as she began to gimp off into the forest.

"The bite was infected. It has healed now."

"Are you sure you don't want to go to Hogwarts instead ?"Harry pointed back at the castle being rapidly obscured by trees."It ‘ s right there."

"I do not want Humans."

"Sure."Harry said mockingly"Because you were picking yourself out of the water just ok by yourself."

"Shut up foal."

Harry frowned but followed the lame centaur deeper into the forest. After half an hr or so Harry heard something vast approaching and tensed. But then relaxed as three centaur emerged from the undergrowth.

"Lachesis !"One of them cried and ran forward to adopt the little centaur."You are safe."

"Of class father."The girl replied irritated and pushed him away.

"We ‘ ll this worked out finely. I ‘ ll just be…"But Harry trailed off as the elderberry bush centaurs turned to him.

"You !"The largest centaur spat and Harry suddenly found two arrowheads pointed at his neck."Abomination !"

"Bane, we need to kill him now !"The third centaur said shock and awe dripping from his voice. Lachesis and her father were standing off to one side."We can not risk him living."

"I thought we did not harm foals."The Church Father moved in finisher and reached out for the leadership shoulder.

"He is an exception."The tierce spoke."Do you knot live how aberrant he is ? How dangerous ?"

"Um…"Harry's drumhead just kept flicking from slope to side, trying to follow the conversation. Running was unsufferable, he was in their forest."Is this about the torrent…"But Lachesis interrupted him.

"He saved my life-time father. The herd has sprightliness debt to him."They did ? get-go Harry had heard of it. The leading centaur had still not spoken but grimaced and lowered his bow.

"For the debt the unseasoned one bears you…"He began, his voice deep and malevolent."… you live today. But heed me foal, if we find you in our forest again not even Lachesis will hesitate to kill you."Harry looked at the Pres Young Centaurus and saw her give a confirming nod.

"Understood. But the thing is I don ‘ t know if I can obtain my way back."Harry glanced apologetically over his shoulder.

"Damwain, show him to Hogwarts."Bane was already turning and moving off through the undergrowth. Harry was relieved to see that Damwain was Lachesis'father and not the thirdly Centaur who had been so intent on killing him. Damwain set off the way Harry had come and Harry had to trot to retain up. After a while the quiet began to grate on Harry and he decided to ruin it.

"Why did the other centaurs want to vote down me ?"Harry asked as he stumbled over a root.

"Not other."The Centaurus said curtly.

"What ?"

"Not early centaur. I also want to kill you, but I will stay fresh to the laws of our kind that prohibit harming the Cy Young and I acknowledge my girl debt to you."

"But why ? What have I done to so royally piss off the entire Centaurus state ?"

"You have done nix. You merely are."Damwain shook his caput."As you heard before. You are aberrant."

"It this about the torrent of ages ?"Harry guessed. The Centaurus looked up and the lead and sighed.

"The torrent ? It is at the midpoint of it."The Centaur lapsed into muteness again but didn't seem wild or anything. Harry decided it was probably alright to ask another question.

"Does the torrent have anything to do with why the lycanthrope are gathering ?"

"What potential connecter could there be between those things ?"The centaur scoffed."No the werewolf gather for an altogether different reason."

"Which is… ?"

"Their leader had come."Damwain sounded wild now."A man almost as very much an abomination as you. He has gathered them here. He seems to retrieve he has some way to enter Hogwarts."

"Does he ?"Harry asked.

"I seriously doubt it."Damwain scoffed."The Hogwarts wards have stood against the greatest minds in propagation. They will not precipitate to something little more than an animal."Damwain fell mum then came to a halt. He turned to Harry and said…

"leave now."Harry started, then realized that he could see the castle through the trees. They had returned by a much more manoeuver rout than he had left."Take bane ‘ s warning seriously, to be caught in the forest again means death for you."And with that the centaur turned and galloped off into the wood.

"Do you conceive I want to keep back visiting the flaming disallow forest !"Harry yelled after him.
*


"A leader ?"Padma leant over the marauders set back and spoke just above a whisper.

"That's what he said. form he also said I was an abomination."

"A man who knows what he ‘ s taking about."

Harry stuck his clapper out at her.

"Oh be serious !"Hermione chided them."This is important."

"You're telling me. The centaurs want to down Harry !"Ron said, aghast.

"I meant about the wolfman !"

"But the Ward keep them out."Ron narrowed his eyes. Harry groaned, an debate was about to start."I think a hale species who want to fill Harry with arrows is more important."

"Then Harry just doesn't go into the timber. Which he shouldn ‘ t be anyway."Hermione gave Harry a piercing stare.

"If he hadn ‘ t we wouldn't know about the centaurs or your treasured werewolves."Ron crossed his arms triumphantly.

"That doesn ‘ t make it a good affair ! We should…"Hermione continued talking as Harry gently stood a great book up on its edge between the arguing couplet and the rest period of the marauders. The argument safely contained Harry turned and asked…

"Any scuttlebutt from the non-old-married-couple discussion section of the mesa ?"The marauders grinned ( except for Parvati who was moping a little. She hadn't liked having her illusions about centaur shattered. )

"I actually agree with Ron."Neville said quietly and hesitantly, as if waiting to be iridescent down.

"So do I."Padma nodded."There has to be a understanding the centaurs want you dead."Harry was forced to nod, he had never actually told the predator about the prison term jumps.

"Well I agree it's a puzzle."Harry said shaking his head."But I ‘ m really not going to be visiting the wood anytime soon so I think its probably not a job. Or at least not a pressing one…"Pythea still hadn't written back. Had Digger got into some variety of problem ?"… so I think we need to focus on the werewolves."

Reluctantly the marauder nodded.

"Damwain said their leader had come. Which means he arrived some time in the summertime Holliday. I doubt he caught the horse bus so how did he get here ? And why ?"

"Oh !"A noise came from beyond the script barrier and a consequence later Hermione pushed it down."Maybe he did."

"What do you mean ?"

"Well…"Hermione began fidgeting nervously."… what if there was a werewolf in Hogwarts castle."

"Wards would block off it getting in."Ron said dismissively.

"But if it was already inside the wards."

"Hermione…"Harry clicked irritably."… get to the point."Hermione seemed flustered for a bit. Ron glared at him.

"I think that professor Lupin is a werewolf."

The remit went silent in electrical shock. Then…

"Of form ! It all fits, he ‘ s ‘ sick'during wide Sun Myung Moon. His bogart is the good moon ! It all fits !"Parvati snapped her fingers.

"I wonder if Dumbledore knows."Neville said.

"He must not or lupin wouldn ‘ t be here."

"I can't believe Dumbledore wouldn ‘ t know."Neville shook his school principal."If we could work it out Dumbledore could."

"Professor Snape knows."Hermione added."He must do, that's why tried to instruct us about werewolf. So we ‘ d work it out."

"Do you think he ‘ s gathered the werewolves."Parvati said in a still tone.

"it's the properly timeframe but…"Hermione began but Harry cut her off.

"No."The others stared at him."No no no no no. We're not doing this."Harry stated flatly. The marauder stared at him.

"Doing what Harry ?"Ron asked.

"I have had adequate déjà vu this year without intentionally repeating lowest year. We. will. Not. jumping. To. Conclusions."Harry punctuated each Book by poking the hold over hard."terminal twelvemonth we went off all righteous against prof A. A. Michelson and we turned out to be utterly amiss. We won't do that again."

"Harry…"Ron said as if explaining something to a shaver."We have a werewolf, we have a gathering of loup-garou. That's not jumping to conclusions that's putting two and two together."

"You all think its Lupin."Harry said it flatly. virtually of the marauders seemed unclear as to whether it was a question or not. Ron nodded quickly, Parvati as well. Neville seemed to be trying to deflect being looked at but shook his head, Padma smiled at him and also said no. Harry turned to Hermione."Two right to vote yes, two votes no. Ginny ‘ s at recitation and myrtle ‘ s not here. You ‘ re the last un-voted marauder."

"I…I don't know Harry."Hermione faltered."I don't really know."

"No ?"Harry stood up suddenly."Lets ask him."

"WHAT !"But Harry was already making for the portrait hole.
*


"Professor lupin listen…"Harry pushed open the room access to the teachers office without knocking and began talking as soon as he was over the verge."…we know you're a werewolf."Lupin went from angry to gob-smacked in a fraction of a second. His rima oris began working but no sound came out.

"Actually we didn ‘ t know for sure…"Harry conceded."… but I think you just confirmed it for us. Thanks !"By then the residuum of the predator had caught up and were standing in the doorway, speechless.

"So we know you ‘ re a werewolf, we know the timberland currently has a wolfman problem. Naturally certain interrogative have arisen from this state of affairs namely ‘ Are you in any way involved ? ’. I personally think the resolution is no, certain of my Quaker are not so sure and it would be remiss of me to dismiss their distrust as they are, after all, not unfounded."Harry said all this in one breath then stood waiting for an answer. A polite coughing made him ferment around. Professor Dumbledore was sitting at a table behind him. He did not look pleased.

"You ‘ re obviously busy I ‘ ll come back later."Harry hadn't moved a single step before the door slammed shut."Or not."

"Harry, I am glad you came here."professor Dumbledore spoke softly."It has saved us the trouble of fetching you. Can you please excuse why you left the school solid ground live Nox ?"

Damn.

"Um… There was a centaur trauma, at the face of the lake. I went to see if I could help. She was face down in the water."Harry was warm to add."If I had gone to fetch someone she could have got died in the mean time. Ask Damwain, or… or curse. They were there."Harry had though centaur-name dropping might lend credibility to his fib. In fact neither Dumbledore nor lupin reacted to his statement.

Suddenly the way darkened, the igniter from the windows fading into dark. Harry quickly checked his bureau, the wound was there. Harry looked up too see that Dumbledore and Lupin were still in the room, this metre sitting in two comfy chairs.

"It ‘ s just…"lupin began, his vocalization catching."… he looks so like him."

"I know Remus, I know."Dumbledore was holding a mug of something steaming. It had a marshmallow floating in it."Have you been watching him ?"Dumbledore gestured to a raged piece of theme on the table between them. From where Harry stood he could just about make out the outline of Hogwarts but didn't want to get faithful for fear of being seen.

"Yes. I have."Was all Lupin said before the room lit back again and Harry was forced to try and think of what had been said just before he left.

"So you see, I variety of had to leave the grounds."Harry finished lamely. Both prof looked unconvinced. Harry sighed,"Can you at least tell me whether you knew professor lupine was a werewolf before you punish me ?"

"I was cognisant. It is under control."Was all Dumbledore said on the topic."And as for punishment…"
*


"The unscathed castle ! ?"Ron squeaked.

"Every square inch of corridor."Harry repeated to the dumfounded marauder."With this."He held up a small hand brush.

"That's rough. Especially for Dumbledore."Ron said shaking his head.

"I have a flavor that they ‘ re using this one thing they can prove as an self-justification to punish me for all the things they can't."Harry shrugged, unconcerned."It won ‘ t take that long."

"You ‘ re taking this awfully calm."Ron's brow furrowed. Harry laughed.

"Of all the things currently happening Ron this is the least of them."

"Oh !"Ron said as if he'd suddenly remembered something."myrtle found you a good apple tree. Just left of the logic gate to Hogsmead."

"I ‘ m could marry that shade !"

Harry went out that day and acquired a monolithic light-green apple from the Tree. Returning to Gryffindor tugboat in a Benjamin Rush he set up the diviners broth and dropped first the locket then the apple into it.

"semen on, derive on."Harry urged, looking at the clock. When the needed five minutes were up he fished both item out of the broth and reached for a silver tongue. He had to be careful now, a mistake would imply he had to start all over. Slowly, carefully he peeled it in a undivided longsighted coil that ended up all over the board. He'd cut quite deep so the Peel wouldn't break and now wondered if that was a problem.

"Only one way to find out."Harry moved so that the table was behind him and threw the peel over his left shoulder. Turning he saw the peel snaking around violently, kinking and twisting as it formed recognizable letters. A longsighted password for an apple peel, it had had to extend and still only just managed it.

Harry picked up the locket and, with some trepidation, spoke the parole. The locket fell receptive in his helping hand and he held it up to his eye to get a better looking at what was inside. And snapped it shut, dropped it back into the box, locked the box with the strongest charm his suddenly beleaguered head could make out up with, slid the box into his bag, grabbed the peel, tore it up so no one else could understand the password then, to be sure, threw the peel in the fire and then sat down.

"I hate mysteries."Was all he said.



Ooooo ... orphic ! Please review.


Disclaimer ... blah blah blah ...



"That was amazing !"Ron was yelling as they walked back from the lakeside Quidditch sales pitch."She didn't even let Cedric get close."

Harry rolled his eyes, Ron would be talking about this all hebdomad. The Chimera's carrying into action had been impressive though, he had to concede. Ginny had slipped past Cedric Diggory, using her brooms improved manageability to body-swerve him, and had left him floundering in the centre of the pitch while she snagged the snitch.

"I mean really amazing."Ron continued, caught in reminiscence.

"I ‘ m just glad its over."Harry sighed and put his bridge player behind his head."It means we can actuate on with the plan."

"You think it ‘ ll work Harry ?"Padma asked, frowning."I mean all it takes is for one of them to…"

"It ‘ ll work."Harry grinned."confidence me."

"Why does that give way to fill me with confidence."

"Because you ‘ re a sourpuss."Harry tutted at her in mock anger then turned to her baby."You sure about your info."

"You know me Harry."Parvati said happily."It it ‘ s gossip I know it."

"Awesome."Harry grinned and peeled away from the former marauders."I ‘ ll go find us our helper."
*


"Pathetic ceramicist. Absolutely Pathetic."

Harry leaned over and looked at the congealed mess at the bottom of his cauldron.

"Oh I don't know."He said."It ‘ s definitely not a sleeping potion, but it could make a serviceable bathroom grout."

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for your insolence ceramist and ten more than for the potion. Honestly potter, having you in this schoolroom is nothing Sir Thomas More than a waste of time and potion ingredients."

"Just because I can ‘ t brew a sleeping potion…"

"WE WERE NOT qualification A dormancy POTION !"

"Oh…"Harry flipped to the next Thomas Nelson Page of his book of account, then back to the one he had been looking at before."So I wasn ‘ t meant to add cedar sawdust ?"Snape's rage was actually making him vibrate as he stood in front of Harry's desk."How about the sheep ‘ s liver, was I meant to add that ?"

"ceramist I seriously doubt a single correct constituent went into this… this… travesty."Snape stalked away as Harry moved to solve up his desk. Then he had a thought…

"Water !"He said at the retreating potion masters back."That must have been a correct ingredient, that's in every potion !"

Snape turned around, his regard screamed bloody murder.

"Potter."The professor growled, grinding his tooth together."Detention."

Harry sighed theatrically then stiffened as he felt another painful stab at the back of his psyche. He tore his eyes away quickly and mumbled.

"Yes sir."Snape turned away.

"Occlumency still not working Harry ?"Parvati was leaning over her own desk to whisper in his ear.

"I think I was better at it before I started trying."Harry lowered his head onto his weapon system dejectedly. He honestly wasn't that bothered about Occlumency any more but it had reminded him of something else. Pythea still hadn't wrote back.
*


The day of the Gryffindor Ravenclaw game dawned mucky and wet. A steady downpour that patterned great grim stains across the rook paries and made it look like it was crying.

Harry was a screaming ball of nerves as he sat with the other predator near the top of the Gryffindor pedestal. Anything could go awry, absolutely anything, but that was formula. What was making him so insane was that there was now nothing he could do about it. The metaphoric pointer had left the bow, it would either hit or it wouldn't, there was nil he could do.

"Will the pelting screw up the plan ?"Neville was muttering beside him."Will the wet ? Will…"

"No."Harry snapped irritable."It ‘ ll all be fine."

"How can you say that ?"

Because I'm aliveness in denial ? Because I don't want to disappoint anyone ? Because I'm delusional ? Because if I actually admitted that there's a very dependable chance this could go fantastically Pyrus communis shaped on us I might just start crying ?

"I just have this feeling."Harry said and tried to grin."reliance me."

"plosive consonant saying that."Padma was grinding her teeth together."It doesn ‘ t help."

"Shh ! Here they come."

"forest ! President Lyndon Johnson ! BELL ! SPINNET ! WEASLEY, WEASLEY AND WEASLEY !"

The team swept onto the pitch, their gown quickly becoming spattered and sodden.

"Here we go."Thought Harry as he tugged his coat closer around him.

"How much do we take to win by ?"Harry heard a representative say below him and looked down. On the row beneath him Colin Creevey was leaning over to talk to Luna Lovegood."The snitch is worth one hundred and l so…"

"We have to have at least dozen goals when Ginny catches the sneak or we lose to Slytherin."The second year said dreamily."Ravenclaw have to get thirty seven finish before they catch it. Its as plain as frackswhiskers."

Harry smiled, how wrong she was.
*


"Another goal for Ravenclaw !"Ginny saw the blueness part of the stall erupt in cheerfulness beneath her.

"Sorry Angelina ! I was aiming for Hunt !"She heard Fred yell their team-mate shoved two fingerbreadth up at him.

"Gryffindor now ahead by just four goals !"Yelled Lee Jordan."Wake up twins ! What are you doing out there !"

Ginny shook her head teacher. Gryffindor had had a comfy six end jumper cable but now they were down to just four. And they still didn't have enough to tick Slytherin. She could see Cho out of the corner of her eye, shadowing her. She liked to do that, King Oliver had told her, it was her favorite tactic.

Ginny scanned the crowds through the rain, searching for any hovering glint of amber. The snitch had to come out sometime, not that it would do either team any dear. Gryffindor needed another goal and Ravenclaw needed twenty or something. She craned her neck around and saw it. Fluttering behind her, nearer to Cho than to her. Trying not to stool it obvious Ginny turned away from the snitch. But Cho must have sensed something was improper and a second later had spotted it herself. The quondam seeker torus after it and Ginny was forced to tail her, cursing.

Ginny tried to get between Cho and the snitch to stop the quondam seeker. Ginny knew she couldn't catch it yet, they'd win the compeer but lose the cup. But Cho wasn't letting her in, they were articulatio humeri to shoulder with the snitch tantalizingly close in movement of them. Cho reached out and Ginny knocked her hand away. So close, Gryffindor just needed one more destination. Cho was reaching again and Ginny shoulder barged her to give her miss. Ginny tried to take out ahead but whatever she did Cho seemed to be able-bodied to play off her. However tough she pushed Cho seemed to be able to ride out just a little bit ahead of her. It was just a subject of meter, she couldn't keep the Ravenclaw off forever. Cho was reaching out again…

"Sorry Oliver."She thought, and grabbed the snitch. A cheer went up around the lakeside stadium.

"I had to."She said as she hovered down by her team-mates."Cho was going to get it. I thought it was better to at least win the match."

"I know Ginny."Oliver Wood looked resigned."I don ‘ t inculpation you."

"Cheer up Olli !"Fred floated past, strangely jubilant.

"Yeah, we didn't recede to Slytherin. We were only one goal shy, we drew."George VI flew around the early side.

"What does that entail ?"Ginny frowned. But it was as if a light had just gotten switched on in Joseph Oliver woodwind head."What happens when we draw ?"

"Hasn ‘ t happened in over two hundred years."Fred had his arm on one of her shoulders now and was smiling down at her."The convention ‘ s so old they never bothered to countermand it."His Twin Falls came up, placed his arm on her early shoulder and said….

"It ‘ s decided, once and for all, by a seeker duel."

Ginny's eyes went wide and she looked over at the Slytherin viewpoint and caught a cold greyness gaze staring back at her. It could have been her imagination but she could have sworn she saw Malfoy mouth the word ‘ replay ’.

"Do you roll in the hay how the Duel works Ginny ?"Joseph Oliver wood sounded like he could barely maintain the joy from his voice.

"We both go for the snitch ?"She guessed.

"Not quite, the rules are different than in world-wide sport. Specifically the formula for fouls."

"No magic and no interfering with the former seekers broom."Angelina said, off to one side."Everything else is on the table. He could really ache you up there Gin."

"Ginny…"Oliver Wood was talking again."I didn ‘ t want to ask this of you, but this is my hold up probability at the Quidditch cup. My very close chance, so catch the snitch or die trying."

Ginny's oculus went wide with fear.
*


"Are both seekers ready ?"lady Hooch asked, looking between them. Ginny took her broom from Harry and nodded, he ‘ d been giving it a hold up minute once-over before the duel. Malfoy just scoffed."Very well then."She opened the box that contained the fink and held it in her hands. Ginny looked over to see the almost savage look in Malfoy's eyes.

"On, your marks."

He'll stamp out me…

"Ready…"

Oh god…

"Set…"

I'm going to die !

GO !"She tossed the snitch straight up and the seekers shot after it.

Ginny felt finger curl into her whisker and try and yank her backwards, she kicked out savagely and managed to pull away. The snitch was still shooting upwards and the seeker followed it. Malfoy was scratching and punching at her and she responded by elbowing him in the kidneys. Having six brothers gives you a lot of education in brawling. Malfoy jerked instinctively and Ginny swerved in strawman of him.

She had to remain ahead, with the firebolt's power she knew that if she let him get in front man she'd never be able to catch up. He swerved left, she blocked him. He swerved right, she twitched in battlefront again and heard him cry out in frustration.

"You shot yourself in the foot Malfoy."She thought triumphantly."You can ‘ t handle that broom at these speeds."

Once more he tried to pass her and she used The Chimera's hair-trigger turning power to cut him off again.

"goodness girl."She urged the broom on. The snitch was tantalizingly close."Just a little more."But she felt something brush her leg. Malfoy had managed to mouse to her side ! In another second he would be in front of her !

With the medical prognosis of losing the cup filling her mind she did the only matter she could think of. She pulled back her leg and aimed with her heel. She just had clock time to read the cushion hit Malfoy's face.

"retribution snake-boy !"She thought as she slammed her foot into his grimace as hard as she could. She saw a spurt of pedigree that was quickly lost in the wind and rainwater then Malfoy peeled off and spiraled away, holding his aspect in both hands."Yes !"

She looked back up and caught sight of the halcyon formal. Straining up she reached…
*


"YES !"The Gryffindor stand erupted in cheers. Harry even leapt to his feet and yelled himself sawhorse. Not so much for the cup, but for the fact that everything had gone perfectly. Harry and the predator rushed down the point of view and reached the pebbled beach just as the Gryffindor squad was landing. Joseph Oliver Wood was floating down with his arms wrapped around Ginny whispering…

"Thank you, thank you."And the residual of the team were clustered around them.

"Se ‘ oke'I nose !"Malfoy was floating down nearby, holding a hand to his boldness to halt the menstruum of blood.

"Perfectly effectual in a seekers duel Malfoy."Fred said airily.

Harry just stood their laughing as the Quidditch cup was brought out.
*


Damn.

Professor Snape clenched his mitt into clenched fist and he saw the cup being brought out. And Slytherin had been on such a winning run. He had got so used to the cup being in his bureau that he even had a little ledge in his cabinet for it.

To have come down to an exact draw, of all the abysmal luck. Then being forced to rely on a seeker that had bribed his way onto the team. The trivial berth of a Weasley female child had humiliated him. And he could not even pick this deprivation on Potter ( he refused to believe the ridiculous hearsay that ceramist had made the girls broom ).

Then why was Potter looking so triumphant ? Snape recognised that face, he had come to hate that face all seven old age of his prison term at Hogwarts. The Potter boy caught his eye and shifted to a mysterious grin, then nodded towards the scoreboard. Snapes eyes followed.

What were the prospect that it would get along to an accurate draw play ? Snape felt a horrible foregone conclusion rising inside him. And the Weasley Gemini who, for all their ineptitude in the schoolroom, were not bad beaters. But they had performed horribly in that match, hitting or just missing their own team-mates. Stopping Gryffindor from getting that last goal. The Chang Jiang girl, missing the snitch three times ? Even for a Ravenclaw that was unlikely. Even the finis plot with Hufflepuff. Cedric Diggory had shown no craft, he had practically shown Malfoy where the snitch was. Of form he had, Snape realised, if the game had gone on too long and Slytherin had won by too lots Gryffindor could not bear been able to equalize.

Snape's centre were once again drawn to the thrower boys fleeceable ones.

Legilimens

He cast non-verbally and after a moment immunity a storage floated to the surface…
*


"You know me Harry."Annapurna said happily."It it ‘ s gab I know it."

"Awesome."Harry grinned and peeled away from the former predator."I ‘ ll go find us our helper."

Harry wandered up into the castle. If he was flop about her schedule she should be right… Ah !

"Cho ! Cho wait up."Harry trotted up to the senior girl, who had just left spell category."Been looking for you."

"Me ?"She turned, looking curious."Why ? It can't be to ask me to Hogsmeade, I know you're not allowed to go."

"As if that could give up me."Harry rolled his heart."No, what I was going to say was that I kind of need a favor."

"What sort of favor ?"

"A big one. Listen I ‘ ve never cashed in on the whole saved-everyone-from-Voldemort-before-I-knew-how-to-walk-and-then-twice-again-in-the-last-two-years affair but I really need your help."Harry motioned Cho into the now empty classroom and closed the door."Firstly we need to get some matter clear. You can ‘ t win the Quidditch cup, can you ?"

Cho stared at him indignantly.

"I'm just saying you have to win with how many goals ? Thirty-four or something ?"He knew it was exactly xxx four but he wasn't gon na say that.

Cho held out a moment longer, then her shoulder joint slumped.

"You 're right, it ‘ s not going to happen is it. It ‘ s your flaw you know."Cho pointed at him."When Ginny broke her Scots heather and didn't get a new one straight away I thought we were in with a chance."

"I know."Harry nodded, not believing his luck that Cho had brought this up of her own accord."Horrible business that wasn ‘ t it ?"

"Malfoy should be hogtied !"Cho said hotly."It was disgusting what he did !"

"God I must be the lucky man on the planet."Harry thought, then continued out brassy."I agree. And that's sort of what this is about."

"How ?"

"I want to make it so that Ginny can humble him in forepart of the intact school. Not the whole team, just him. One on one."

"Harry the teachers won ‘ t allow a challenge game like that."Cho shook her head."And even if they do no-one will arrive to watch."

"Not if it happens at a match."Harry smiled."There ‘ s an old rule that says that if two houses tie for the cup the issue is decided by a seekers duel."

"But Harry there ‘ s no way you can reach for sure the games will issue forth down that way."

"I can ‘ t."Harry held out a hand to her."You can."

"No !"Cho's centre suddenly narrowed with understanding."I won ‘ t do that ! Even for you Harry."

"You said yourself Ravenclaw can ‘ t win the cup."Harry pleaded.

"But we can still put in a good showing."Cho said primly."I won ‘ t throw the match. I'm surprised at you Harry."She added."I didn ‘ t think you wanted the cup this badly."

"The cup ? I don't give way a rascal's about the cup !"Harry shook his nous."If I did don't you think I would be telling you to throw the game totally instead of just letting us pull out ? This is about what Malfoy did to my friend, your admirer too after last class, and letting her get even."

"Ginny doesn ‘ t know about this does she."Cho said as if suddenly realizing.

"No. She ‘ s going to perplex Malfoy on her own."

"I ‘ m not even sure I can force Ginny to catch the snitch."Cho said, biting her lip."She might just draw in front of me until Gryffindor have the goals they need."

"Two points. One : Fred and George will be stopping Gryffindor from getting that finis goal. Two : I built The chimera especial for this."Harry grinned evilly."There's a picayune surprise on there that I ‘ ll remove before the duel. trustingness me, she can't pass you."

"She did OK in the Hufflepuff game."

"I removed it for that too."

"I still don't know…"

"Well…"Now this is where the petty known welfare of having gossip-queen Parvati as a marauder comes in."… I ‘ ve already got Cedric Diggory on my side. You know him, right ?"Cho's eyes widened a little and she nodded.

"Well, he ‘ s agreed to help me. Little thank you for the hale snake-army incident in the cellar live on year."Harry smiled knowingly at the older girl."If you did want to facilitate us then we should probably arrange for you to converge up with him. Discuss… strategy… and stuff."

"You ‘ re a bad person Harry Potter."Cho shook her head, but she was smiling.

"I know."
*


Snape tore his eyes away. He could feel the rage bubbling up in his bloodstream.

"You !"He pointed at the boy.

"Me ?"Potter put his deal to his chest in pretend innocence.

"You… you… you…"

"Me, me, me !"thrower was grinning in his unsufferable way. By Falco columbarius he was exactly like James potter !

"You will not get away with this !"

"With what pray Tell ?"

"You know exactly what"Snape strode forward and grasped the front of the male child robes in his fist."You will not get away with this !"

"Really ? And you can prove it how ?"thrower smiled and knocked away his helping hand."Bearing in thinker that Legilimency on scholarly person is illegal."

Oh the Potter boy thought he was smart did he.

"Well Potter perhaps you are correct."Snape's angriness changed from a raging inferno to an icy, vengeful ache."But I am still your teacher and I can reach your four more than years here a living hell."

"Was that an invitation to take your NEWT class prof ?"

"Potter…"Snape released him and turned away."… you will repent this. Mark my words, you will repent this."
*


Harry gulped as the potions master strode away. Perhaps he'd overdone affair this prison term. Harry glanced over at the still celebrating team. No, it was worth it. Whatever Snape did couldn't be that bad could it ?
*


"Do you call this a silencing tipple potter ! ?"

"I…"

"I DO NOT predict THIS A SILENCING draught !"

"Maybe that's because you ‘ re yelling."Harry said through clenched teeth.

"This is a despicable mess Potter !"

"It ‘ s only barely started, I haven't even added…"

"And you won ‘ t ! I will not have any more desolate fixings !"Snape vanished the contents of Harry's cauldron."You will be doing lines for the rest of this example Saint James the Apostle Potter. You will write ‘ I will not be an incompetent person, piteous, halfwit and a pariah on this school.'in the hope that perhaps the suggestion will dip in."

"My figure is Harry."Harry muttered under his breath but Snape didn't seem to pick up him as he strode away.

Harry motioned to Padma who held out her arm without speechmaking. Harry groaned, they had barely had fifteen minutes of a two hour deterrent example. Harry pulled out a quill and a sheet of parchment.

Snape had been making sound on his ‘ aliveness hell'hope since the lucifer but Harry was beginning to think that the potions master had more deep seated offspring than a uncomplicated game of quidditch. The fact that he kept calling him James IV was a definite clue. Snape seemed to be taking out XIII years of pent-up, un-sated rage on Harry.

"Thanks dad."Harry thought sarcastically as he dragged the quill across another line."Thanks a lot."

"What are these Potter."Oh no. He's back.

"parentage Sir."Harry had been trying to hold his cool in Snape's classes. With spotted success.

"These chicken scratchings ? This scrawl ? !"

"Would you like me to redo them Sir ?"Harry had to jump back as his sheepskin caught on fire and burnt away before his eyes.

"Please."Snape blew the parchment ashes into Harry's face before stalking off across the dungeon.

Harry got another composition of sheepskin out and got to writing.

"How long are you going to put up with this Harry ?"Hermione asked him after the lesson."This is beyond unjust, you should go to McGonagall. Or Dumbledore."

"And they ‘ ll ask what I did to get him so angry in the first place."Harry shifted his bag eminent on his shoulder."And that will lead to inauspicious questions."

"He ‘ s powerful Hermione."Ron said from the former side, then added to Harry."Don ‘ t worry mate, you can drop his category after OWLs."

"That's not the justly attitude."Hermione said shrilly."Harry needs to learn at least BASIC cognition of potions to affair in wizard society and Professor Snape is stopping him from even participating. You ‘ ll have to study really punishing if you want to choke the end of year exams at this rate."

"I ‘ m beginning to think I won ‘ t be alive that long."Harry joked.

The marauder laughed but Harry stiffened as he realized the Truth in his news. He still had the torrent of historic period hanging like a guillotine above him. He hadn't had any major time saltation lately, just a few minutes here and there. For the love of Merlin why hadn't Pythea written back ?

As if his thought itself had been a charm shovel dropped out of the afternoon sky clutching a varsity letter in his nipper. Harry grabbed it and hastily made an excuse to the startled marauder before slipping out onto the weed outside Hogwarts. Harry sent digger back to the owlery, promising him treats later to give thanks him for the yearn trip. His hands shaking, Harry tore undefended the envelope and pulled out the letter of the alphabet inside.

honey Harry

It is so ripe to hear from you. I am glad you have taken up my proffer to see Occlumency, you will find it a useful skill I assure you. I can easily imagine you with a guitar, wandering Hogwarts or sitting in your vernacular room entertaining the other students with songs and narration. You are trade good at spinning a upright tarradiddle you know, I can tell from your letters.

Harry almost scrunched the letter in frustration. Usually he enjoyed varsity letter from the little seer but wasn't it about clip she got to the degree ?

I learnt to recreate the harp as part of my apprenticeship here…

Harry quickly looked ahead through the varsity letter, scanning down and down. There was no mention of the torrent or time locomotion anywhere. Harry fell to the story in despair, had she simply abandoned him to his fate ? She had been his last hope. Pythea's alphabetic character ended without so a lot as a hint that his own missive had contained the threat of his inevitable death.

I hope it the weather is a pleasant where you are as it is here.

Your Friend
Pythea

Friend ? Ha ! That was a joke.

"Harry ?"Harry looked back towards the castle. Neville had come after him and was not standing just a few foot away."Are you feeling ok ?"

"Yes Neville I ‘ m fine."Harry said quietly, but he could finger the lubber in his throat and the rent beginning to form in his oculus. Neville's eyes flickered to the letter still clutched in Harry's hand but he scrunched it up and ingurgitate it in his pocket.

"Well defense family is starting now."Neville pointed back towards the rook."You sure you ‘ re alright Harry ?"

"No."Harry pushed himself up and trudged towards the castle."To be honest I ‘ m feeling a little… abandoned. Betrayed."Neville fell into step beside him.

"Anything you want to talk about ?"

"Not now. Maybe when it ‘ s a little less fresh."Harry pushed open the door to the defense classroom. At least he could be assured of a placidity lesson, Professor lupine tended to ignore him in classes.

"fountainhead ceramist, I see you decided to deck us with your presence."

Standing arrogantly at the front of the class was prof Snape. Harry felt like a block of ice was settling into his chest as he sat down in his usual chairwoman, he couldn't take this mighty now.
*


Harry tried to hide behind his book as Snape stalked around the category. He could still feel the ice in his chest and the stumblebum in his throat, if Snape provoked him he would never be able to hold back.

"Potter…"

No.

"…Is this your essay ?"

Please no.

"Yes Sir."Harry managed to say while breathing deeply to keep himself under control.

"It displays no brainwave into the subject…"

amercement, I had no insight.

"…for most of the essay you seem to get Kappas and Grindylows mixed up…"

Did I ? Who the hell cares.

"…certain passages were clearly lifted from a textbook…"

They weren't, they were lifted from Hermione's essay.

"…and you could not feature mangled the spelling and grammatic rules of the English language linguistic communication Thomas More if you had tried. All in all…"Snape slapped the essay onto the desk beside Harry angrily."… a true T if I ever saw one."

"I ‘ m glad you made that judgement Sir."Harry kept his eyes down on the book in social movement of him."It ‘ s the same one as Professor lupine made."

"But of course hero Potter doesn ‘ t need to larn defense against the saturnine arts."Snape scowled down at Harry."You don't need to get wind how to duel someone properly if you and your three little booster sneak up behind them and plan of attack from ambush like cowards."

I have more than than three friends.

"You are arrogant Potter."Snape continued."A trait shared by all Potters apparently."

Oh, so now you've remembered who I am.

"You are nothing but a mediocre wizard at best and a worst you are a disgrace and yet you are under the belief you are untouchable. How I wish this class gave me the opportunity to prove you precisely how amateurish you truly are."

"Alright."Harry set his quill down.

"What ?"

The whole class was watching by now.

"I said alright. appearance me."Harry didn't meet Snape's centre but moved out to the straw man of the class.
*


"come on Professor."The ceramicist boy was just standing there holding his baton and looking at his shoes."Show me."

The course of study was deathly quiet. Not a student dared move or speak. Out of the street corner of his eye Snape could see ceramist's small friends, broad eyed and frightened, in their seats.

"Are you life-threatening Potter ?"Snape asked.

"Yes."Was all the boy said.

"You will lose."

"Try me."

"You do not experience a chance."

"Try me."Was all the Potter boy said again but he mouthed under his breath ‘ Noel Coward ’.

Snape felt the choler that was his perpetual companion rising again as he moved to take a berth opposite Potter.

"Mr Hopkins you will count us in."Snape gripped his scepter. He would end this with one spell. The ceramicist boy was still looking at the floor.

"Um… Three."The uneasy Hufflepuff boy Mad Anthony Wayne Sir Anthony Philip Hopkins began to count.

Potter was not even in a dueling posture. Pathetic.

"Two…"

Potter looked up suddenly, his middle meeting Snape's.

"One…"

A memory floating to the airfoil, Potter in the Gryffindor common elbow room holding a shining physical object. Lily's pendent ! He would know that little slip of silver anywhere. thrower bending over the pendant in his hands and whispering something. The pendent splitting undetermined. Looking inside, a delineation. Lily Evens bundled up against the Baron Snow of Leicester for a Hogsmeade weekend, the blow even still falling in the delineation, and holding her by her articulatio humeri keeping her warm… his own face… himself… that picture had been taken in quartern year.

She had worn it around her neck the unscathed meter. Even after she had married, she had worn it the unscathed time.

"Duel !"

"Expelliarmus !"



limited review please.


The gerbil made me do it.







Snape's wand clattered to the floor but the teacher didn't seem to have noticed. Harry watched as the potions maestro fell to his knees on the storey, foreland bowed, his face hidden by his lank greasy hair.

Harry watched, waiting for the explosion, but none came. Harry, with often trepidation, knelt down and tried to look at the teachers face. Which was why he was the only one in the social class to observe the tear fall down from the end of Snape's long hooked nozzle and driblet onto his knees.

"Oh my god."Harry thought in suppressed shock."I ‘ ve gone too far this time."Harry turned to the class and spread his hands.

"Everyone out."He snapped, brooking no argumentation."Corridor now."

The pupil needed no more incentive and quickly scrambled for the relative safety device of the corridor.

"Stop !"Harry yelled at some of them as they tried to escape away."I need to tattle to all of you."Harry closed the schoolroom door behind him and corralled the students within earshot.

"None of you will refer this moral to anyone."Harry said, looking each pupil in the eye as he did so."None of you will speak about it, even to each other. None of you will retrieve about it the next time you have Snape for your example. In defense or potions. For each and every one of you, this lesson Did. Not. Happen. Don't think I won't find out if you do talk, I find out everything. Remember Malfoy ? You have all seen what happens to people who cross me. Understand ?"

Harry didn't let them leave until he had looked each scholar in the eye and heard them promise to that essence. They began leaving in 1 and twos, scurrying off along the corridor. Harry turned back towards the classroom.

"You ‘ re not going back in there are you ?"Susan Bones asked, amazed.

"I kind of have to."Harry answered.

"He ‘ ll kill you."She said matter-of-factly.

"I may deserve it."Harry shrugged and slipped back through the door.

Snape was still where he had been before they left. Harry took a deep breather and sat down cross legged in front man of his teacher.

"I am so sorry."Harry said."I didn ‘ t realize it would do this to you. I thought it would just deflect you, you know… freak out you out for a bit so I could disarm you. I never thought it would move you like this."

Snape still said nada, he just stared at the floor.

"I told all the educatee not to say anything."Harry glanced back at the door."I think they ‘ ll do it."

Snape was still not moving. Harry began to marvel if he had been rendered catatonic or something, but there was still an periodic drip-drip of teardrop from behind the fringe of hair.

"Maybe…"Harry dragged his bag off his back and pulled the box out. He opened it and placed the locket in Snape's unresisting hand."You take it. I don ‘ t want it. You saw the countersign right ?"

Snape stayed motionless for a moment more then slowly brought the silver locket up to his backtalk. Then, in a choked, weeping voice he said…

"Spinners end."

The locket cracked loose. Snape seemed to go against all at once and started sobbing. His completely, long, lanky body shaking with each sob. Harry didn't really recognise what to do, he certainly couldn't comfort this man who had tormented him so much.

Harry dug into the box again and grabbed a photo, it was his mother and her babe when they were Thomas Young, but obviously over eleven since the picture was moving. He wordlessly handed it to Snape, who took it and kept crying. He grabbed another photo and poked his father out of the material body before handing that too over.

He kept going until the box was empty. Giving a few words each to order Snape what it was he was giving him, an essay, a missive, a prefects badge. Harry hid the love letters from his father back in his bag. By the time nothing was left Snape had stopped crying, he was even breathing a little wanton, deep breathes instead of the racking sobs that had plagued him a instant ago.

Snape sniffed loudly and put his hand into a pocket of his robe but drew it back empty. He searched another pocket while sniffing louder. Harry realized he was searching for a tissue. Struck by a pang of mischief Harry grabbed something back out of his bag, scrunched it between his deal and handed it to Snape.

The potions captain took it and blew his nose on the parchment. After doing so he brought it away from his nose, a shadow of curio crossing his face, and looked at it. After a moment of reading the ( now hideously smudged ) letter his optic flickered up and met Harry's. It could experience been his imagination, but for a moment Harry thought he saw a flicker of a smile.

"Seemed appropriate."Harry said and shrugged. Snape chucked the letter away and glanced at the door.

"You mentioned that you told the rest of your class to celebrate silent."Snape's voice was almost monotone.

"Yes."Harry nodded."They ‘ ll do it too. I threatened to do to them what I did to Malfoy."

"Why ?"The potions master regained a small of his old spite and sneer.

"I just…"Harry licked his backtalk and started again. As unwilling as he was to impart Snape ammunition to use against him…"finale year I broke down completely in the hospital annexe. right on the floor. It was after Colin Creevy got petrified, it all just got too much for me. At the fourth dimension I remember wishing everyone there would just leave it ever happened. I thought you might finger the same."

Snape snorted. He seemed to be recovering himself. Harry took this as his cue to go out. He picked himself up off the floor and headed for the room access. Snape made no move to stop him. When Harry reached the doorway he turned back for a moment.

"I probably shouldn ‘ t say this…"Harry thought."But if I don ‘ t it ‘ ll just eat at me."

"Sir ?"Snape's headland snapped towards him."Can I severalize you something I ‘ ve noticed about wizards ?"Harry took Snape's quiet as an affirmative."Wizards… wizards use quills."

"Fascinating Potter…"Snape sneered, but Harry interrupted him.

"And they use trunks even when they can charm dish to withstand more. You use a steam train to get to Hogwarts. This class a steam-boat. We live in a medieval castle, the workshop I bought my wand in predates Savior Deliverer and we write on rolls of lambskin. But its more than just that, lots of wizards are named after members of their kinfolk. A lot more of them than muggles. Even portraiture and trace ; half the time we seem to be surrounded by hoi polloi who died centuries ago. What I ‘ m getting at is…"Harry swallowed in dread at what the reaction to his following point would be.

"… wizards seem to spend a lot of time living in the past."Harry forced himself to meet Snape's middle."Maybe it ‘ s time you moved on."

Snape just stood there, his sneer seemed to experience frozen on his mouth but his oculus just seemed confused, even a lilliputian doomed. Harry opened the threshold and left quickly.

He managed to get almost halfway down the corridor before his nervus broke and he made a mad panache for Gryffindor tug. When he was through the portraiture hole he leaned against the wall and caught his breath.

"You're alive !"Harry turned and saw that the marauders were waiting on their usual table. He staggered over to them and sat down.

"We honestly thought you were a goner Harry."Ron said, shaking his head. But then his nerve broke into a grin."But that was fucking smart as a whip what you did !"

"You wouldn ‘ t say that if you knew how I won."Harry said waving his friend to still."It was cruel, just cruel."

"What spell did you…"Hermione began but Harry shook his head.

"I won ‘ t say. I won ‘ t ever say."

"Snape deserved it whatever it was."Parvati said."However cruel it was he ‘ s been atrocious to you for three years. You can't tell me it was worse than what he ‘ s done to you."

"No, it probably wasn ‘ t. But it was worse than I ever want to do to anyone else."Harry leant down and lay his head word on his cross limb."I don't want to be like them."

The marauders assured him he was not but Harry just sighed. Impending death aside if he jumped back in time now he'd consider it a blessing.

It was only as Harry got into bed that night that he remembered the alphabetic character from Pythea, the affaire d'honneur and its aftermath had blown it completely out of his drumhead. He dug it back out of his gown and read it again, trying to feel some touch of a hint. But there was nothing. zilch at all.
*


professor Snape dropped the photograph back onto the oak table of his quarters and held his headland in his hands. The solely luminosity in the way came from the guttering candela before him and faded into the wickedness around him. Snape refilled his glass with alertness potion and tried to take himself sip it this prison term. Sleep was not an option, not at least until he was too tire to dream.

"motility on."Snape growled into the darkness."Were it that easy thrower, everyone would be doing it."

The amentia of the boy, telling him to travel on while at the Sami time giving him a pile of exposure and a locket that proved she loved him all along. Snape gave up and knocked back a mouthful of the searing potion.

The locket lay on the mesa in nominal head of him. He hadn't dared capable it again for fear of breaking down once Sir Thomas More. He picked it up and trailed its silver medal chain through his fingerbreadth. stupefied thing. Snape smacked it back down onto the tabletop. But even then his digit instinctively curled to protect the thing and he ended up skinning his knuckles. His cause blew the candle out too and he was left in bitter shadow clutching the damn thing so grueling it hurt.

Snape drew his scepter out to relight the wax light but stopped with it held loosely in his paw. Another spell was floating in the social movement of his mind.

No.

He shouldn't do it. He was already sickening himself with his wallowing in heartache. He was acting like a Gryffindor. Ha ! He shuddered, he was acting like a Gryffindor and the Potter boy was acting more and more like a Slytherin. Potter boy… Saint James the Apostle Potter… who took Lily away. Snape could still find the boundary of the locket cutting into his palm.

"Why…"Snape forced himself to afford his hand."Why wear this but marry him ?"What mother wit did that make.

You abandoned me.

No. Snape curled his script over his face and tried to force the memory board down using Occlumency. But in his consideration he could barely support it back and another surfaced just as quickly.

You chose your admirer Sev.

I did, but it was always you.

They hate me.

There was no one else.

You hate me.

Never. Why will you not give me peace treaty ?

You were my proficient friend.

Be silent.

But you betrayed me.

Please.

I can't pretend anymore Sev.

I just want to forget.

You've changed. You've changed too much.

Snape curled his finger's breadth around his ears, trying to lay off listening to his own mind. He knew what came next.

I can ‘ t love this you, not even as a friend. au revoir Severus.

Snape threw his pass back and howled in pain. Oh why scrap it. Snape pointed his wand out and yelled…

"Expecto Patronum !"

The room was lit once Sir Thomas More by silver grey light as the trance erupted from Snapes wand. The silver doe just stood there cocking her head at him. Snape felt tears running down his cheeks again.

"I love you."

The doe said nothing, she never did, but she walked over on her silent hooves and rested her head in his lap. She felt warm but Snape knew it wasn ‘ t real, if he tried to allude her she ‘ d just experience like mist.

Snape laid his head down on his arms and closed his eyes. Later he finally fell asleep like that, leant over the table with his cheek in his munition, the doe warming him like a pet dog and the locket still held crocked in his hand.
*


Harry stared down at his thorax and well-tried hard to keep his external respiration in assay as the huge combat injury faded in and out. Harry gritted his teeth and concentrated on staying in this fourth dimension. The wound began to pass off more than, after a few hour if vanished completely. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, but it was one tainted with reverence. It was getting worse.

"Harry you ok in their ?"Ron's interpreter sounded from the bathroom door.

"Yeah Ron I ‘ m amercement. Just think I ‘ m coming down with something."Harry almost chuckled to himself, that was the understatement of the 100. Harry looked up into the mirror in front of him, even without the wound he looked like a wreck. Harry opened the door and smiled at his admirer."Probably flu or something."

"You don't say ? You ‘ ve been variety of… um…"Ron waved his hands as if searching for the right-hand word."…muted… for hebdomad. Ever since Snape."

Harry nodded, he had been a short quiet. Intentionally in the root, he had known that he needed to proceed a low profile. But Snape seemed to be pulling a Lupin and ignoring Harry in his lessons. Not that he was paying much attending to the rest of his grade either, Snape spent most of his lessons at his desk and had large bags under his eyes.

But lately the torrent had been getting worse. He had thought that it getting regretful would mean he'd jump further back but in fact it was the opponent. He kept jumping arcsecond, bit or hour back and forth, several times a day now. Sometimes the world would simply thrill like a Alexander Bell and he'd be left spinning as he flickered between prison term so fast he couldn't even catch it. And then there were the times like this morning when he simply slipped back and Forth like a metronome, the wounds on his chest opening and closing like hideous sphincters.

Even worse were the times when he didn't even realize what had happened. He'd be going to lunch then be asked why he wasn't at breakfast. He'd sit down to dinner and find oneself cereal and toast appear in front man of him. object lesson were even worse, they could be twice as long as normal or the bell could sound when Harry had barely put his book down. His crisscross in course were falling, homework was voiceless to hand in on clip when you didn't know what day it was. Harry knew he should tell Dumbledore or McGonagall or Hermione even, but somehow he couldn't muster the energy. They'd only tell him what he already knew.

He was doomed.

"You sure you ‘ re alright Harry ?"

Harry was drawn back from his sentiment by his friend voice.

"Yeah."Harry nodded again."Fine."

"That just proves you ‘ re not alright."Ron said triumphantly."You ‘ re usually loud, talking and wisecracking all over the place, you're never monosyllabic."

"You want a wisecrack ? Ok…"Harry grinned evilly at his acquaintance."‘ monosyllabic ‘ ? Been reading the dictionary Ron ? Or just spending more sentence with Hermione ?"Ron blushed and began spluttering…

"No just… I mean why would I…"

"It ‘ s alright Ron. Never mind."Harry shook his nous, smiling wanly as he wandered away.

"You coming to Hogsmeade Harry ?"Ron called after him.

"You know I can't."Harry turned back, frowning quizzically.

"seminal fluid on Harry, sneak out again."Ron wheedled."It ‘ ll brand you feel better. Get some sun, you ‘ re getting all white and viscid like Snape."

"Probably because I haven't been sleeping much."Harry thought."oasis ‘ t been eating practically either… My body clock ‘ s all screwed to hell by the jumps."

"I might get caught."Harry said lamely.

Harry rightly deserved the horrified public eye Ron gave him.

"Alright."Harry shrugged."I ‘ ll come. At to the lowest degree the water ‘ ll be warmer this time !"
*


Harry dragged himself out of the lake and gave himself a drying charm before wandering up towards town. After meeting up with the other predator the first plaza they visited was Zonko's jest shop.

"Pretty upright don't you think ?"Harry grinned through the wizardly masquerade that made him look like an old man. He had a big Second Earl Grey moustache too and a super acid felt hat.

"You ‘ re not actually going to buy that scraps are you Harry ?"Padma asked him shaking her head.

"Of course. And I ‘ m wearing it all day."Harry said from behind the scrunch face.

"Why ?"She shook her brain."Why would you do that ?"

"So that no Slytherin will say that they saw Harry Potter in Hogsmeade."Understanding dawned on Padma's face then she suddenly frowned.

"So all they'll see is person obviously disguised walking around with all Harry potter ‘ s champion ? I think they might work it out Harry."

"These are Slytherins we ‘ re talking about."Harry said, paying for the merchandise."Don't expect expectant mental feats of them, you ‘ ll just be disappointed."

Harry found that he was enjoying the day despite himself. He had only jumped a few minor times and he did like the town ( having not really had a chance to see it on the last visit ).

"Just about time for the Three broomstick before we head back."Parvati said cheerily as they walked down a backstreet, away from the main concourse."We all need some butterbeer !"

"You ‘ ll erotic love butterbeer Harry."Neville said to the disguised Harry."It ‘ s all ardent and quiet and… and…."

"Buttery ?"Harry wheedled, grinning.

"Well yeah."

"I don't know. A drink based on a fat bed cover doesn ‘ t exactly wakeless appetizing."Harry grinned to show that he was joking."Or healthy !"

"It ‘ s very well Harry."Hermione said laughing."My parents went mad when they heard about it but it turns out its actually pretty commodity for you. It contains antioxidants."

"Anti-oxygen…"Ron's brow furrowed."That sounds bad for you."

"Honestly Ron it just means…"

Harry rolled his eyes as Hermione started into an explanation. Ron's center glazed over after about the third word.

"I really like this place."Harry said over the account."I ‘ ll have to find some way to descend here more often."

"It ‘ s not all nice."Padma commented."There ‘ s weaken glass here."

Harry looked down. There was crack crank, he looked around and saw that it had come from the upstairs window of a nearby house.

Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, perhaps some latent talent as a visionary or perhaps some gist of the downpour but right at that moment Harry felt his breadbasket pitch. There was something painful behind that conk out window.

"wait here."Harry said quietly. The marauder heard his tone and fell silent. Harry slipped in through the garden gate and felt the stones of the wall. Rough, like Hogwarts. Harry gripped the blocks with his fingerbreadth and clambered slowly up to the windowpane. He pushed aside the heavy curtains but inside the room was discharge. A dim storeroom piled with corner with the door open onto the well lit corridor behind.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief and began to go up down. When he was about halfway he heard a sound from inside the star sign. He stopped, his fingerbreadth gripping the rock tight. There it was again. Harry scrambled back up and hurtle his foreland back through the window.

Harry just had clip to see yellow tooth streaked with grime and smell rancid breathing place before he was thrown backwards off the wall. He landed with a clunk in the garden and looked up in time to see a disheveled man, covered in grime and dressed in spoilt rags leap from the window with something clutched in his manus. Harry rolled out of his way and the man hit the earth running game, panting like a dog as he dashed out through the gate and down the street.

"Stop !"Harry looked up and saw a wizard leaning out of the windowpane franticly sending bolt of lightning of red luminousness after the take flight figure."diaphragm him ! He took my son !"

Harry jolted himself off the ground and vaulted the wall after the fleeing man. He could discover the marauders trying to keep yard behind him.

"Annapurna ! Go to Hogwarts ! Go and enjoin them what's happened !"Harry felt his words carried away by the malarkey and had no idea whether he was being heard."Neville ! Go warn the village ! Get help ! Or broom !"

They had reached the end of the short road now and hit the theater of operations beyond. Harry jumped the fence and fought his way through the ling after the distant trope. Their fair game had made it leisurely for them by flattening a path but it was still sonorous going. They were not gaining on the man. Not by a long shot.

"We're… can ‘ t…"Hermione panted."We're… not…"

"Whatever it is, we are !"Harry yelled back as they crested a little mound."Try to hit him !"

Harry aimed and shot a bludgeoning hex at the man, now little more than a smudge of smuggled on the distant purple heather. The smudge dodged and scene sideways behind a declamatory rock before the former marauders enchantment could connect.

"Harry what are you doing !"Hermione screeched angrily."A bludgeoning hex ? It ‘ s carrying a baby !"

Harry cursed and began running forwards again. He should have known that ! Harry felt like he was passing back breaker through his lungs instead of air by the clip they reached the stone. The heaving and gasping he heard behind him told him the vulture were in even poor cast. Worse, the figure was nowhere in sight and there was no clear up trail to follow.

Ignoring the pain in the neck in every muscle Harry pulled himself to the top of the boulder and looked around. From here he could see the dark shape of the proscribed woodland spreading out to the south. A rampart, like the wall of Hogwarts, sealed it off from the rest of the world. Harry squinted through his ice and just made out a saturnine Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe silhouette against the brighter bulwark before it disappeared. Harry tore off the masquerade party to get a better feel but there was nothing more, just blank wall.

"He ‘ s gone into the forest."Harry called down, trying not to take his eyes off the place where the man had disappeared."Let ‘ s go."Harry slid off the rock and landed beside Ron, Hermione and Padma.

"Harry are we really going to follow it into the forbidden forest ?"Padma was clutching her stomach and wheezing."We should mark where it went and wait for help."

"He ‘ s going to have as often trouble with the forest as we are."Harry argued."We can still catch him !"

"But Harry it ‘ s a wolfman !"

Harry was jolted back by her words. Of course it was a werewolf and not just some unwashed snatcher. And it had gone straight back to its menage. Harry shook his read/write head, once again he wasn't thinking straight.

"When ‘ s the next full moon ?"Harry asked quickly."When is it ?"

"Tonight."Hermione answered, pained and breathless, but also resigned.

Harry shook his head.

"Then we can't delay for aid. We have to find them before gloam or that little kid is going to get one hell of a lovebite. We can ‘ t waiting for help, its us or no one."Harry looked back at the marauders and saw them shimmer and fade.

NO !

He bridge player clenched around his pendent and he squeezed his eyes shut. He did not have fourth dimension for this ! When he opened his optic again his friends looked hearty, but confused.

"Harry you alright ?"Ron asked.

"I ‘ m fine."Harry forced himself to stop gripping the little shell.

"Are you sure Harry ?"Padma added."You screen of… blurred."

"Fine, amercement. Lets go."Harry started off at a run towards the forest again and find out the others follow.

In Harry's head he could see the give-and-take ‘ We can't delay for help. Its us or no one'repeating over and over like a amulet against the holy terror rising inside him. That terror itself had its own voice saying ‘ We are following it into its forest where it knows its way around and we don't and you can't even remain in your own time for five mo. And that's not even mentioning the centaurs… ’. Harry was forced to admit that that phonation as well was right. What they were doing was stupefied and grave. But as the first base part said, there was no one else.

As Harry neared the wall a third short voice piped up. Spiteful, sarcastic and whiney but, like the early two phonation, essentially right.

"Why me."Harry thought."Why is it always me."
*


They reached the wall and Harry instantly saw how the werewolf had gotten over. A huge tree diagram had fallen over the paries, crushing the top persona of it and resting on the remaining metre of daft stonework. Everywhere else the wall was at least two storeys tall of lacuna greyish pit. Unscalable.

"The tree…"Hermione had caught up to him but her and the early two marauders were still very wind."Must have weakened the wards."

Again Harry felt like a fool. Obviously it would be warded. His brain seemed to be in a fuzz. Harry grabbed some of the lower subdivision of the tree and pulled himself up.

"Are we…"Hermione began again but Harry cut her off.

"Look, I know this is looney but there ‘ s no one else here to help. I ‘ m not leaving now. Any of you who don ‘ t want to follow me go back and tell them where the gob in the wards is."Harry pulled himself on to the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree automobile trunk and looked down at his admirer."Anyone else shut up and get in the tree."

Harry began climbing along the trunk and felt it agitate as someone else began to climb. When Harry reached the early end he climbed down by the origin and dropped onto the mulch of the timber level. He turned and looked up at the tree, a moment later Padma pushed her way through the branches. Harry waited a present moment more but no one came. Harry felt a lump form in his throat, first Pythea abandoned him then them.

"Did they…"Harry began but was cut off as Ron and Hermione pushed their way in through the branches.

"We were marking the spot."Hermione said upon seeing Harry's facial expression."If we ‘ re going to do this we should do it right and give ourselves a chance of getting out alive."

"We weren ‘ t gon na let you do this alone mate."Ron scratched the back of his question and shrugged."And after all we ‘ ve been in worse scratching than this."

"Did you think any of us wanted to see a kid turned into a werewolf ?"Padma added to cut him off with a shake of her head and began to climb down. Harry helped her down the last few groundwork then moved to do the like for the others.

"Just one affair Harry."Hermione said once they were all down."How are we supposed to know which way it went ?"

Harry's grimace fell and he looked around for some obvious mark. There was nothing, now that they were in the timberland the werewolf knew how to plow his tracks better.

"Spread out and look. Don ‘ t go too far."Harry said and the predator obediently fanned out. Harry was about to join them when his brain fixed on a disturbed idea.

He had been able to hold the cloudburst at bay a few clock time. Could he force it to come to him ?

Harry undid the front of his shirt and looked down at his unblemished chest. He splayed one deal across where he knew the combat injury would appear and clinch the former around his pendent.

"About five minutes ago."Harry thought as he gritted his teeth down hard."That's where I need to be."

Harry forced everything he was into that one idea. For a second he felt blood well on his pectus but it was gone a bit later.

"Harder !"He thought desperately. His fingers were slick on his chest of drawers but it wasn't blood, it was sweat."seed on !"

Harry saw his admirer fade in strawman of him. Ron turned back towards him and yelled in surprise. But the audio was like a remote whispering and Harry gripped his bloody breast tighter. He could still hear his admirer as ghosts on the wind but couldn't see them anymore.

He was swaying with the feat and fell to his knees on the wood story. The leaves that were kicked up by his gesture only swirled in the air for a moment before fading as he pushed himself further back.

Then, just for a moment, a wispy bod dropped out of the air above Harry and scampered away into the trees with something held in its knotted hands. Perhaps it was his imagination, but Harry thought he could try a baby's scream.

Harry let go with both hands and collapsed into the leaves. A moment later he felt hands pulling him up. As his head was tilted back for him Harry saw his friends shocked faces.

"What the blaze was that Harry ?"Ron asked fearfully."You just disappeared ! We couldn ‘ t find you anywhere !"

"You can ‘ t have Apparated."Hermione sounded just as mark."You aren ‘ t old…"

"That way !"Harry cut her off and raised a shaky fingerbreadth."Went that way."Harry grabbed Ron's shoulder and managed to push himself to his feet."We need to hurry."

"No Harry !"Hermione crossed her arms."You need to tell us what you just did !"

"Hermione now is not…"

"It is the time. You just faded out of existence then returned with your deal covered in blood."Harry looked down, his helping hand was bloody. This was the first time any signal of the torrent had remained after he returned to his own meter. Hermione continued…"We deserve an explanation, is this to do with why you ‘ ve been poorly for weeks ?"

"Yes."Harry gulped in some air and nodded."And I promise I will say you later but just now we don't have meter. Please Hermione, it already has too very much of a channelize get-go on us."

Hermione still looked obstinate but Padma took the billet out of her hands.

"Well I ‘ m not waiting around."The twin turned and began to walk off in the direction Harry had pointed. Harry grinned and staggered after her. A instant later he felt Ron catch him and put an arm around his berm to steady him

"You ‘ re in really bad shape mate."He commented.

"Tell me about it."Harry quipped to his taller protagonist as they stumbled forward."I ‘ d like to end just one year without ending up a wreck of one kind or another."Harry turned back and saw Hermione following and smiled.

They walked in silence for a while. Padma spotted a set of footprints on the ground that told them they were still going in the right counselling. It looked as if the werewolf was following a sort of deer lead through the woodland. After ten minutes or so Harry was capable to walk unaided again but he was still gladiolus they had found the trail. He really didn't want to consume to drop himself into the torrent again.

"Shush…"Harry waved the others to hush."Do you ridicule listen that ?"Faint voices drifted between the trees before them. wild vox and one high pitched cry.

Harry dropped to a scrunch and went forward as quietly as he could. He couldn't hear the marauder following but he knew they were. The voices got louder as they approached a shaded dell in the woods.

"slice of dirt !"A loud smacking phone filtered up from the dell. Followed by a thud like a body hitting the flooring. Through it all Harry could find out a baby yell."Why did you have to have a go at it it up !"

Harry crawled to the edge of the dingle and poked his pushed a hole through some tuft of grass to see down. The loup-garou they had chased was cowering on the storey in front of a huge bear like man. A huge bear like werewolf, Harry amended as he saw the incisive brownish tooth and yellow eyes staring balefully out of its oral sex. Now that he could get a clear look at them Harry could see that they were both wearing the Lapp mud and poop encrusted rags, their original colouring material and cut lost completely beneath the grime. Their hair and custody were caked in mud as well, as were their unshod feet.

"You bastard Verrine !"The great man growled as he picked the wiry wolfman off the floor and shook him.

Harry could see the baby lying abandoned on the ground nearby. He could experience the marauders getting in office beside him. Making their own viewing holes.

"Why now !"The man continued to mouth off."Why do it now ! When we ‘ re so close to getting the mother-load you go out and abstract one tyke ! They ‘ ll be on the sentry for us now !"

"But Greyback."The minuscule man ( who seemed to be called Verrine ) whined."This was what you told us all to do. What you taught us. Get the children so we can flex them. When I found the gap in the Ward I had to chance it. I thought you ‘ d be happy."

"Happy ? happy ! ?"The burly loup-garou threw the former to the ground and kicked him in the stomach."You moron ! We ‘ ve been working for calendar month and you screw it up in a day !"

"But… but…"Verrine wrung his work force."They still don't know about it ! We can still go through with it !"

"We ‘ ll have to you runt ! I haven ‘ t worked this operose to blockade now."greyback aimed another savage kick at the man on the flooring and Harry slid back a trivial from the dell. Harry figured the cry babe was cover enough to speak without being heard and whispered…

"Any theme ?"

"We can ‘ t prowler by them."Hermione said under her breath."Maybe if we levitate the baby…"

"They'll see that."Harry shook his chief."They'll see anything inside the clearing. We need to take them out."

"Two full moon grown werewolves ?"Padma shook her top dog."We ‘ ll need a plan."

"Will we ?"Ron asked, glancing back at the sess between them and the puppet."I mean there are four of us and two of them. Why don't we just alternate them ?"

"Ron !"Hermione hissed."Of all the stupid…"

"Brilliant !"Harry interrupted."He ‘ s right hand !"Padma and Hermione looked aghast. Surprisingly so did Ron.

"We've got so used to being the underdogs we didn ‘ t see it. There are more of us, we have baton and we have the ingredient of surprise. Hermione, Padma…"Harry pointed back at the clearing."… you aim for the big guy. Me and Ron will aim for the littler one."

"What are we firing ?"Padma asked.

"Anything disabling, and aim luxuriously. We don't want to hit the baby."Harry crawled back to the edge of the dingle."On three. One… Two… 3 !"

Harry raised to his knees and aimed his wand at the startled werewolves. Hermione had fired a full-body-bind that froze Reb in his racetrack before Padma's blasting curse threw him to the ground. Harry had stuck by the reliable bludgeoning hex. He didn't hear what Ron cast but whatever it was combined with his own approach threw the scrawny werewolf realize across the clearing and smacked him into a rock.

Harry rushed into the dingle. He followed Hermione's example and lapidify Verrine from close range as he tried to get to his feet. The wolfman's limb smacked to his sides and he toppled like a tree. Harry turned back and saw that Padma had already reached the crying bundle on the floor and was picking him up.

"Is he alright ?"Harry asked worriedly.

"I have no idea."Padma admitted."Since he ‘ s been dragged through the Wood with only a blanket to protect him, I ‘ m guessing he ‘ s a short cranky. undecomposed affair it's a lovesome day."

"Harry…"Ron was standing over the big werewolf with his wand still out."… should we… you know… do something permanent to them ? stop them ?"

"You mean kill them."Hermione said flatly."In moth-eaten blood. While they ‘ re petrified."

"Hermione ‘ s right."Harry shook his psyche. In his short-change life-time he had already killed two masses ( Tom Riddle didn ‘ t count ). But both prison term it had been to deliver his life story or the aliveness of his supporter."We can ‘ t. Maybe we should, but we can ‘ t."

"They ‘ ll kill early people Harry."Ron said hesitantly."They ‘ ll turn other people. They ‘ re animals."

"Fine then. Do it."Harry pointed at the immobile men on the storey."Finish them."

Ron's eyes widened in shock. He raised his verge and pointed it at the big werewolf on the trading floor. For a minute he stood there, indecision unclouded on his face, then he dropped his arm to his side of meat again.

"See. Not so easy."Harry turned and began walking back the way they had come."Come on guys. That was enough moral for today's story."

The predator were about to stick with him when…

"Harry…"Ron said worriedly."Isn ‘ t it a bit… dark ?"

Harry felt the frigidness sweat of holy terror again. The last of the sunset was just visible over the trees and the shadows were at their longest.

Not long before gloam. Not long before the moon.

"Oh god ..."Harry said, wide eyed."RUN !"
*


Harry dared a glimpse back through the woods as he pelted as fast as he could polish the course they had come up on. It was full phase of the moon dark now, and the moon rode over the trees.

"Wah ! ! Wah ! !"

"Can ‘ t you shut that brat up !"Ron yelled at Padma, who shot him a deadly glare.

"Bring him here."Harry slowed down and pointed his sceptre at the squalling sister."Silencio !"The baby's mouth still worked but no strait came out. Harry breathed gentle for a instant, then he heard a howl go up from the Tree behind them.

"Run !"The marauders were jolted into motion again."Hermione go ahead ! living Padma and the terror in the middle !"

Harry looked back over his shoulder joint and saw a shape hurtling down the way of life towards them.

Not a fourth dimension to take out punches.

"Acerbus Cuspis !"

The sickly light enveloped the snaring matter and it's momentum rolled it into a mound at Harry understructure. He petrified it for beneficial measuring rod. Harry turned and sprinted to catch up with the rest of the marauders.

"How… close…"Ron panted."… tree."

"Further."Was all Harry managed to puff out. A growl behind him was all the monition he got and he threw himself on Ron, knocking them both to the basis as a werewolf pounced over their head.

"Ferio !"Harry yelled from the trading floor, but his hex missed and smacked into a bush. The wolf snarled and lifted itself to its invertebrate foot before getting hit from behind by Hermione and being slammed into the dry land. Harry pulled himself and Ron off the floor and began running forward again.

"There it is !"Harry heard Padma cry from far ahead. Harry squinted and realized he could throw out the dim shape of the rampart in front of them. Another howling went up behind them and was picked up by another voice and another and another, stretching across the forest.

"Come on come on !"Harry skidded to a stop by the buttocks of the fallen Tree and scanned the darkened forest. social movement ? Harry fired another curse into the darkness but it hit nil."Hurry up !"Harry helped Ron into the Tree then scrambled up behind him. He heard a snarl behind him and whirled, aiming his baton at the sound.

"Acerbus cuspis !"

The brightness brightened the glade like a firework but the werewolf dodged it. Harry slipped and fell onto the leaf mulch. The wolf pounced at him but was hit in the air by three spells from above and fell hard. Harry scrambled back into the tree and ran as hard as he could for the guard of the outside. He dropped onto the footing outside and stumbled a few steps to where the piranha were standing. He saw Hermione point back at the wall and yell.

"Harry !"

A werewolf was clambering along the tree, its long slavering tongue glistening in the moonlight.

"Depulso !"Harry banished the werewolf and saw it voyage back over the wall.

"Wingardium Leviosa !"Harry heard Hermione cry and saw the tree rock on its detritus provenance."help me !"

"Wingardium Leviosa !"Harry yelled, pointing his wand at the tree.

"Wingardium…"Ron began but Harry cut him off.

"No ! You two give up any more of them getting over !"

Harry concentrated on the tree diagram, trying to shake it free of its trestle. Another drear physical body jumped onto the trunk and Padma blasted it off. Two more jumped on and Harry forced himself to concentrate only on the tree diagram and trust his friends to deal with the werewolves.

Suddenly, with a shuddering crack, the tree came dislodge of the wall and jumped a few metre into the air. Shaking its passengers off in the appendage. At Hermione's urging they pulled the Tree forwards and dumped it on the primer nearby. Harry yelped in surprise as they saw a loup-garou Scrabble over the damaged rampart, its curse giving it strength beyond any natural animal.

"No !"Hermione said as Harry raised his wand."I want to see if its worked."

Harry kept his wand trained on the thing but didn't cast anything. The grim soma squatted on the top of the rampart for a second then bunched up and leapt at them. There was a great flashing of ignitor and it was repulsed, thrown back into the woodland with a yip of pain.

"Hermione ? What the bloody hell…"Ron asked.

"The wards. The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree was disrupting them."Hermione brushed her hair off her sweat-dripping forehead."They should be back now."

"Hermione…"Harry didn't finish the prison term, he just stepped forward and hugged the startled girl fiercely."dungeon being saucy ok. God knows one of us has to be."Harry released her and looked back at the wall. Three werewolves sat there now but they made no motion to come any closer. Perhaps they had retained just enough of their human mental capacity to see a lesson. Harry gave them the finger then turned back to his friends.

"We should go."Harry lit his wand and waved the marauders back towards Hogsmeade."I may be wrong. But I think we ‘ re past curfew."







Try to forget a negative review here. I want to acknowledge what I can alter for the better. Not spelling, I do n't worry about that. Do you call back the pacing 's ok ? I sometimes think I 'm moving the plot too fast.


Yeah, i know this chapter 's a bit short but it was a lucid stead to stop.



Hogsmeade looked a lot more menacing at night. Perhaps it was the way the old theater seemed to be given out over the street. Perhaps it was the eery lack of interference or that twinkle smell you get at the first of night.

Or perhaps it was that the professor that had eventually found them were McGonagall and Snape.

When the marauders had wandered back into the village they had had the ( then sleeping ) baby taken off their manpower rather swiftly and been hurried back up the road towards Hogwarts.

"Of all the irresponsible, madness and idiocy you lot have got yourselves into !"McGonagall raged as they walked back along the road. Snape was uncharacteristically mute but he glowered at them with his bloodshot eye. All of them except Harry, who's center he didn't seem to want to meet.

"I hope all of you are gallant of yourselves !"McGonagall continued as they passed the gates of Hogwarts.

"‘ Oh, thank you for saving the baby.'” Harry muttered under his intimation."‘ Without you Thomas Kid he would sustain suffered a fate worse than expiry. You ‘ re heroes.'” But the instructor didn't seem to get a line him ( which was perhaps for the secure ).

They walked in silence up the long route towards Hogwarts but McGonagall surprised them by not taking them inside. Instead she led them cycle to the left towards the glasshouse. Harry could see the shimmering line of the wards, easily seeable in the dim light.

Harry then saw who they were heading for. Dumbledore was standing on a patch of scuffed ground near the edge of the greenhouses staring out towards the forbidden woods. Occasionally he would have a few steps and glimpse at a particular office in the wards. He also kept glancing at a get to piece of parchment he held in his paw. As they approached he folded it calmly and slipped it into his robes.

With a frown Harry realized it was the Saami piece of lambskin he's seen lupine and Dumbledore pawing over in a flashback. What did it do ? Harry tried to suppose back, it had been a map of Hogwarts and they had been keeping sentinel on him with it. Did it somehow designate what he was doing ?

"Mr Potter."The master had turned to look at him. He did not look pleased."So you return to us again."

"Yeah, like a bloody boomerang."Was what Harry wanted to say but he wisely replaced it with"Yes Sir."

"And can you tell me why you think you have the right to shamelessly ignore schooltime rules and show off the shelter set up specifically to protect the pupil of this school ?"

"We saved a baby."Harry said through gritted tooth."Doesn ‘ t that count for something ?"

"Mr Potter this is not a thing of solution it is a matter of intentions."Dumbledore said, staring at him over the rims of his eyeglasses."Do you await me to continually look across your rank rule breaking simply because it coincidentally causes some ripe ?"

"We coincidentally saved a baby !"Harry argued. He heard Hermione trying to shush him and pulled back a little."There was cipher else we could do. No one else was there to help."

"Why were you in Hogsmeade in the first shoes ?"

"Testing how well that picayune scrap of paper in your pocket works."It was a shot in the dark but Harry saw the look of electric shock cross Dumbledore's face before he steadied himself again. Harry noticed that both Snape and McGonagall looked confused. Was Lupin the only teacher who knew ?

"I do not do it of what you speak Mr Potter."Dumbleore said lightly.

"The map of Hogwarts."Harry spoke slowly and carefully. Taking an vicious gloat in seeing every word bring further shock to the old man's face."The one you and Lupin have been using to watch me. watch everything I do. You sit up at Night, with a mug of coconut palm and a marshmallow and sentinel me."

The muteness between the youth adept and the old one was almost palatable. Harry broke it first.

"Why didn ‘ t you use it to find the kid ? Or Ginny at the end of last year ?"Harry stared Dumbledore down. He felt a ennoble prod on the back of his Einstein."And don't even think about Legilimensing me. Honestly, and you talk to me about breaking regulation ?"The prod receded and Dumbledore looked down at his feet.

"I could not use it to get hold the child because it does not offer beyond the borders of Hogwarts."Dumbledore said slowly. His voice oddly shamed."And I could not use it to receive Miss Weasley because neither the bedroom, nor the passage leading to it, nor the sewers under Hogwarts are displayed on it. It ‘ s Lord never ventured into them."

A secretiveness fell again. Neither company seemed to have anything to add to the conversation.

"The werewolf said they had a plan to get into Hogwarts tonight."Ron blurted out in a boot. Everyone looked at him and he blushed to the ascendant of his hairsbreadth."wellspring they have to know."He defended to Harry.

"I know Ron."Harry turned back to the Headmaster."He ‘ s in good order, they did say that."

"Harry they are improbable to do anything now that we have been roused."

"No, they are."Harry shook his head."They specifically said they were going through with it anyway."

"Perhaps."Dumbledore conceded."But in a thousand years the werewolves have never breached the wards around the sharpness of the forest."

"But I breached them earlier this year !"

"Yes."Dumbledore nodded."By swimming out into the lake past their boundaries."

"wellspring couldn ‘ t the werewolf do that ?"

"Harry…"Dumbledore seemed to regain some of his old humor."To you the heavyweight calamari is merely a playful lake tool. But it in fact one of the most ancient guardians of Hogwarts. If any benighted creature attempted to progress to Hogwarts through the lake, trust me Harry, they would not get far."

"And what…"Harry swallowed nervously."… what if all this is connected to… you know… Voldemort ?"

"My information tells me that Voldemort is in hiding in Albania."Dumbledore explained."As he has been since you evicted him from the body of professor Quirrel."

"Oh…"Harry felt anger ebbing out of him, leaving a variety of hollow."… good."

"Now…"prof Dumbledore raised both his decoration, facing out. A calming motion."… we will continue this give-and-take, and discussion of any punishment incurred, in the morning time. please payoff to your common room, Severus will accompany you. Minerva, would you help me check over the Mary Augusta Arnold Ward one concluding time before we all retire ?"The two old instructor moved off, leaving the marauders with only Snape for company.

"cum on."Snape's part sounded knight and Harry realized that this was the foremost metre he had spoken during the total exchange.

The vulture followed him in secrecy up to the fat lady's portrait and spoke the password. Snape didn't even say anything to them then, he just stalked off with his head bowed down into his neck.

Harry shook his capitulum. Every prison term he saw Snape like that it reminded him of what he'd done to him.

Harry walked into the Gryffindor common room.

"You're awake !"Harry heard individual yell.

"Wait."Harry closed his centre and held out his hands for quiet."Did I just come back from a Hogsmeade weekend that ended with us chasing a werewolf into the forbidden timber ?"

"Um… yes ?"

"Oh good."It had just been pattern déjà vu, not the time travel kind. Harry opened his eyes and walked over to sit at the marauders tabularize with Ginny, Neville and Annapurna who had been waiting for them. The former marauders sat down too. It was the middle of the Nox but somehow everyone knew they couldn't go to catch some Z's yet. The four who had come from the woodland hastily outlined what had happened to their friends.

"What am I missing ?"Harry murmured, tilting himself back on his hot seat."How else could they get into the grounds ?"

"If they hired some curse ledgeman somehow…"Neville's vocalisation trailed off as they all contemplated the possibility of penniless timberland behemoth hiring the servicing of skilled wizard and of the skilled wizard working for them willingly and of the wolfman retaining decent self control after transforming to not eat them.

"Unlikely."Harry decided and closed his eyes. God he was tired.

"If some of them trained as curse breakers…"Ron began but Hermione cut him off.

"Then they ‘ d forget everything once they transformed."

Harry massaged his temples with his fingerbreadth and felt the sand on them, they were still all mucky from the forest.

"Could they somehow distract the heavyweight squid ?"Ginny asked looking tired as well. No one answered her. No one had any solution. But Harry was will to swan that whatever it was was right in social movement of his face.

"Can werewolves even swim ?"Ron asked and Harry groaned. They weren't getting anywhere. Not a surprise really. Harry looked over his troops, Ginny was virtually asleep on her president ("We keep forgetting she ‘ s not as used to this as us."Thought Harry. ) Hermione looked almost ready to faint, the focus of all the course this year on top of the day they'd all had was just too a great deal. Neville and Parvarti were fine but himself and Ron ? Ha ! Harry laughed to himself. Both him and Ron, and to a lesser extent Padma and Hermione, looked like they'd rolled in the dirt all night. Which, Harry admitted, they had.

Harry looked at his dirt encrusted mitt. There was something there. Something just out of reach.

"Guy ‘ s…"The piranha's head word snapped to him."… flavor at my hand. There ‘ s something we ‘ re missing and it ‘ s here."

"Harry you ‘ re imagining things."Hermione sounded like she was barely remaining conscious."I know, I keep thinking I ‘ ve thought of something too."

"No, no there is something."Harry shook his brain. His bridge player, what was there ?

"Harry you look faint mate."Ron's vocalization, but Harry wasn't listening.

His hand, beaten and scratched. One fingernail broken a little from a descent. grime under his fingernails. shit everywhere on his manus. grunge everywhere on their hands…

Harry stood bolt upright piano and scrambled for the door.

"They were covered in grime !"He yelled, a bit hysterically."Why didn ‘ t I see it before !"

"See what Harry ?"Hermione asked. The marauders were staring at him.

"They were too lousy. Don't you see !"Harry motioned them to get a move on out of their chairwoman but they didn't budge. Harry threw up his men in exasperation."You don ‘ t get that dirty just running around a forest. And it was the wrong type of grime too… loamy… dark. Under their fingernails and in their tooth !"The marauders still looked on in bleak incomprehension.

"Don't you see what they're doing ! heel behind a fence !"Harry saw understanding dawn in one or two sets of centre."They ‘ re digging a bloody tunnel !"
*


"Neville : McGonagall ! Ron : Dumbledore ! Padma : Snape !"Harry rattled off as they raced out the portrait hollow. Harry cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled."MYRTLE ! Sweet marauder house shade ! Get here NOW !"

"Harry ?"The glowing lady friend slid out of the stonework and flew alongside him as he pelted down the corridor."What is it ?"

"wolfman, tunneling into the school."Harry saw the spectre already livid human face spell whiter and her eyes protuberance."Is must come up somewhere on this side of the wards. Go under…"

"Go metro and get it."myrtle finished for him. She sounded absolutely panicky. Her smoky configuration was ever quavering in the air. But she swooped off in the counseling of the greenhouses, her lank hair whipping in the idle words behind her.

"Wonderful."Harry thought as he shot down a stairway."At least one of the marauders has her point on straight."

Harry barged through a face threshold and the night air hit him like a wall. He breathed it in, welcoming the frigidness into him because it would help arouse him up.

"Lumos !"Hermione had lit her wand. Smart that one. Harry followed wooing and soon the four marauders were scowering the undercoat. Harry glanced over them, had he chosen wrongly ? He'd sent the tired marauders to rule the teachers and kept the relatively refreshed ones with him. Except for Hermione of line, who he ‘ d kept because he relied on her to be the mental capacity of the surgical procedure. But was she alert sufficiency to do that now ? Harry cursed as he realized his selection also meant he had put the youngest member, Ginny, in harms way.

Harry shook his head, zippo to be done about it now. Harry saw Myrtle arc out of the ground like a dolphin, arouse her bridge player as if to say ‘ I'm going as fast as I can ’, then dip back underground.

"Where would they be ?"Harry peered at the tree line, trying to catch some hint of movement. zilch."Damn it !"Where would they tunnel up to ? Would they even be able to aim at a specific place when underground ? The world blurred around Harry and he clamped his hired hand over his pendent.

book binding ! Not now ! The wound on his leftover chest was beginning to hurt now, and was streaking his shirt with blood. I need to be here !

After what felt like an age the torrent retreated and Harry stumbled forward to resume the search. Suddenly Harry heard a ghostly squeal and saw Vinca minor catapult out of the ground.

"There ! There !"Myrtle was panicked and shaking, pointing back down at the ground.

Harry followed the line of her mitt, it was the objet d'art of scuff turf they had stood on earlier that evening during their treatment with Dumbledore. With some trepidation Harry got closer and stopped to listen. From under the footing came the manifest sound of scrabbling claws.

"Oh no no no no no."Harry shook his head teacher to try and dispel the icy travelling bag of fear and looked back at the castle. No instructor yet, the piranha must induce been having trouble convincing them. Harry looked back at the ground, they would give through any mo."Colloportus."He tried, desperately, aiming at the ground. But cipher happened, the spell wasn't meant to be used that way.

"guy wire ! Get back !"Harry waved the predator away."Get behind stuff, we ‘ ll need to keep them back if they break through."Harry looked around, panicked. Was there something they could cover the ground with ? No.

"Myrtle !"Harry looked up at the quivering ghost."I don ‘ t want to ask this but… can you go down there ? Distract them. Try to keep them from digging up."

The wraith shook her head vigorously, her eyes blanket behind her goggle-like glasses.

"Please Vinca minor !"Harry begged."I can't think of anything else !"

The ghost began crying and hugged her implements of war into herself but she slowly floated down and slid into the priming. After a moment the scrabbling stopped and a growling and yelp filtered up through the worldly concern. Harry glanced around desperately, that had bought him secondment at nearly. His center lighted on a pile of plant cuttings in a wooden bin beside the greenhouses. Yes !

"helper me guys ! Wingardium Leviosa !"Harry pointed his baton at the bin. It rocked on its base and Harry heard his friends add their voices to his. Glancing fearfully at the bulging ground Harry maneuvered the bin onto the priming and dropped it with a crunch.

"Incendio !"The bin burst into flaming. Harry sent a few bludgeoning hex's at the incline of the thing and it collapsed into a bonfire. Harry saw the other marauders levitating outgrowth onto it from where they hid near the greenhouses.

"fountainhead, that won ‘ t bar them from digging up."Harry thought, scraping perspiration off his brow."But it ‘ ll give them a surprisal when they do."

Suddenly the bonfire sagged in the middle. Harry looked around and realized he should probably be behind something. He turned and dashed towards the door of Hogwarts. Behind him he heard a howl of inhuman annoyance and a dry crash as the bonfire caved in on itself. more howling of pain, filling the air with sorry fear. Harry glanced over his shoulder at the fire.

A burn wolfman, howling in searing pain, burst up through the ground like an ancient god, feral and powerful. It clawed its way onto the pot and set off like a bullet towards him. Harry was so dash he tripped and was sent sprawling across the primer. He rolled and tried to aim a hex at it but he was shaking so a lot it missed by a international nautical mile. Harry could see another werewolf erupt out of the ground and saddle the predator but all his aid was focused on the one in front of him. The one that was going to kill him. He shot again but it barely grazed its side. It lunged, and Harry felt its celebrate breath.

"Sectumsempra !"

The brute's neck opening exploded in a bloody fountain but its momentum carried it onto Harry, crushing him under its. Harry could feel his rib fissure and smack its putrid stench but then it was lifted off him and tossed aside. Harry looked up and saw Snape framed in the doorway, a spirit of murder in his eyes.

"Stupefy !"The potions master yelled and a red spell shot across the ground and the werewolf that had been chasing the marauders fell limp onto the basis. Harry heard a scrabbling sound and saw another just clawing its way out of the hole in the ground. Snape said no incantation this time but it's point snapped back as if it had been shot and it slid back into the hole. Three More scrambled out, slavering and growling to take its place.

"Ferio !"Harry yelled, and the one he had been aiming at jerked back."Confringo !"The blasting execration threw it back into the hole.

"Leave them to me Potter."Harry heard Snape growl."Go avail your friends."Snape curled his arm back and yelled something guttural before throwing a ball of red illumine down into the gob in the terra firma. Harry was knocked off his base as an earthquake rocked the earth and a cracking cloud of dust poured up from the pit. Snape had collapsed the tunnel. She potions master smiled evilly, the gage and detritus giving him an almost demonic kisser as he turned and began throwing curses at the remaining two werewolves.

Harry ran towards the marauders and skidded to a stop in front of them. They looked tired and pit and Hermione was leaning on Parvati and not putting weight on her entrust foot, but for having just battled werewolves they looked alright.

"Snape's beginning to get on me."Harry grinned. The vulture smiled, then Hermione seemed to recognise something and put her hand to her neck in horror.

"No !"
*


A consequence of coincidence can change everything.

Only mortal floating above the scene could have seen the whole thing.

Hermione pointing to something sparkling on the reason. Pushing herself off her friend and hopping towards it frantically. Tripping…

Harry turning and stepping over to break up it up, holding its golden chain clenched in his fist.

Snape throwing oath at the live werewolf, laughing as it scrabbled backwards, trying to get away from him. Snape throwing another curse but, in his mirthfulness, missing. The curse flying through the air, rippling it like a heat wave. Shooting straight into the sparkling prosperous hourglass handing from Harry's hand.

The sound of shattering class. Far meretricious than it had any aright to be.

The nebuliser of silver gumption, fanning out and covering the right side of Harry chest of drawers, burning through his shirt and eating away the flesh underneath.

Each grain of moxie making a minuscule potholed hole, like drops of acid.

Snape looking on in horror, wand still outstretched.

Harry screaming. Screaming and falling to the trading floor, clawing at the bloody spate of his dresser. Screaming like he'd had his heart cut out.

Then slowly, fading. Fading as his scream grew easygoing and softer. Until it was nothing more than a breath of wind.

Then gone.


Pain, everywhere, burning. Flickering too fast to see anything but his damaged consistence beneath him. Roaring, he could find out the river here, louder than ever before. Nothing made common sense, nothing was very but the pain.
*


"Severus… Severus are you asleep ?"

Snape slowly raised his school principal from his manpower and looked up at madam Pomfrey. Had he fallen asleep ? There were times when his idea had curled round each early enough to look like ambition. But no, he mustn't have. Surely he would take dreamt of her.

Snape could feel the locket in the top pocket of his robe. He had carried it with him since he had got it. A constant drainpipe on his will. Walking around, every day, trying to follow his modus operandi with a venomous cocktail of grief and heart clenching rue. But he couldn't leave it, every time he tried he just felt his fingers close around it tighter.

And now he had guilt to add to the mix. Guilt he richly deserved. He had killed him, killed the last part of Lily Evans left on this earth. He deserved everything, he clenched his fists until he could palpate his nails digging into skin. It meant nothing.

"Severus some mass are here."The school nurse spoke softly, as if he were a dying patient. Which, Snape conceded, he looked like rightfield now. He wearily dragged himself to his understructure and moved out from behind the drapery surrounding his bed.

The hospital annex was wide but tacit. Snape looked over at the bed where the husbandman girlfriend was lying. Her ft healed of grade but no one had asked her to impart. ceramicist's other Friend were there too, in chairs, propped on nearby bed or, in the shell of Longbottom, simply collapsed on the floor. Snape could sympathize right now.

On the early side the wolfman were chained, the two that had survived his approach and transformed back with the lighter of day. They had been dragged up here by the aurors so that they could be treated before being thrown in Azkaban. No run would be had. None was necessary. They neither had the right hand to one nor deserved that right. Snape felt no grief for the ones that had been carted away to be burned or for the many that had undoubtedly died when he collapsed the tunnel. Any vestige of world they had they had given up when they agreed to stick with Greyback.

A paring of a sentiment wormed its way into Snape's brain. Why hadn't Greyback been gift at the attack ? The kid claimed to get petrified him but that would barely take in lasted an 60 minutes on a werewolf. He should stimulate been there. It would have been gratifying to number him as one of the stagnant. Then at to the lowest degree Snape could have said something good had come of everything.

"professor Severus Snape ?"

The clipped vocalization brought him out of his thought and he looked at the two new figures in the wing. Even in his wasting state Snape took in the flat greyness robes, the file brochure, the slightly chesty deportment without any evidence of real great power and neatly labeled both of them.

"From the Ministry,"Snape said. It wasn't a interrogative sentence. But something was off about them he realized, the woman, her eyes far too appraising under her peachy forgetful hair and the man perhaps a tad too relaxed for a administrative official dragged out of his bureau. Not aurors, they didn't have that feel… Oh !"Unspeakables ?"

"Correct Professor Snape. full phase of the moon marks."The woman smiled and raised her eyebrows. Snape sighed inwardly, he hated people under the head game they were impertinent than him."My name is Natalie Zhao and my confrere is Sean Rhyfedd."She indicated the man with a wave of her hand. Rhyfedd opened his oral cavity to speak but the adult female continued talking and he shut it again.

"We are here to investigate the Holocene epoch events here."She smiled and pulled a quill and parchment from her folder."I understand that you have had a trying clip but certain interrogative must be answered."

"I thought the post was being investigated by them."Snape jerked his head towards the aurors. One of the werewolves on the level looked up at him and leered.

"You misunderstand Mr Snape."The man spoke for the first time."The werewolves are indeed being dealt with by the aurors. The billet we were speaking of was the death of Mr Potter."

"Harry !"

Snape heard a curtain being thrown back and a import later felt himself surrounded by ceramicist's clique.

"Do know where he is ?"

"What happened to him ?"

"SILENCE !"Snape snapped, far flash than he intended. They fell silent and he turned back to the Unspeakable. Taking a moment to assess the king structure he addressed the womanhood directly."You mean the disappearance of Mr potter,"he said hopefully.

"No."Rhyfedd cut in at the same time as his co-worker said.

"I ‘ m afraid not."She waved her wand at an hollow bed and nine pot fell around it."Let's sit down."

Snape heard a chuckle from the other slope of the room.

"Something to add, werewolf ?"Rhyfedd said angrily.

"doomed your hero."The werewolf chuckled insanely as he stared out from behind his crust hat."Why don't you use the little map ?"

The auror kicked the inhuman matter and it fell silent, muttering to itself.

Snape dismissed it and select a stool next to the bulwark, at to the lowest degree that way he could not be surrounded by children.

"You are aware that Miss…"Ms Zhao consulted her papers"… Granger, was given special permission to feature a time-turner this yr ?"

"You know that I am."Snape replied acidly."Unless the thirty page form myself and the other teacher here were asked to fill out was somehow lost in the Ministry's organisation. In fact that setting is not unlikely is it ?"

"We convey more attention in our department,"Rhyfedd said. He turned to the children at the table."Did you notice Mr thrower displaying any odd doings this class ?"

"Odd behavior…"Weasley scratched his head."Odd demeanour is formula for Harry."

"Time loss."The Unspeakable crossed his arms irritably."Did he sometimes seem to not know when or where he was ? Did he seem to know what was about to happen ? Did anyone attestator him in two billet at once ?"

"Yes,"The vernal Weasley answered quietly."The number 1 two."

"I saw him in two situation,"Longbottom said wetly. They all sounded as tired as Snape felt."I was with him in the library and I looked out the window and I saw him on the grass outside too. I just thought it was some sort of antic he was pulling."He sounded like someone had drowned his puppy. Or perhaps a bag of puppies.

"Don ‘ t look bad,"Natalie Zhao smiled at the students."Even if we had known earlier there would stimulate been zippo we could have done. It's an effect we call the torrent of ages."

That sounded intimate, some old story ?

"Those lost in the torrent of ages…"he said, trying to recollect the passage."… are lost to sentence and light. Living in zip. Trapped in eternity."
*


Flickering, even the tidy sum crawled up and down like waves. The sky just one arching fuzz of grey. The terra firma under his feet felt shadowy and unreal.
*


"Yes that's correct,"Ms Zhao nodded, pleased."You see, a time-turner only works because of the sand inside it. It is literally the sand of time. Usually it is inert but there are fashion of drawing out its power. Now, the social organisation of a time-turner is designed so as to tackle that might safely. Moving a person back in time a curtly way relatively safely."

"Relatively safely,"Rhyfedd said, chuckling dryly and shaking his head.

"But…"Zhao continued."If the sand is loosed from the time-turner after it has been activated and it touches a somebody. That person gets the to the full brunt of the sands'power."

"The gist has been known since ancient times."Mr Rhyfedd pulled a bundle of around twenty paper out and spread them out in front of Snape. The all had pictures in the nook. The oldest unity were undecipherable, the raw mostly looked like Unspeakable themselves."As you can see the recent unity are mostly departmental accidents."

Snape nodded.

"What is this torrent then ?"he asked.

"Essentially… time."Ms Zhao shook her pass sadly."Imagine the time-turner effect multiplied by a billion, and totally uncontrollable. The person begins moving through prison term without ever stopping in any one moment for more than a millisecond."

"Of course we can only approximate at the effect…"Rhyfedd said."… Since no one has ever come back."

"So what are you going to do ?"Annapurna Patil demanded shrilly."How do we fix it ?"

"Miss…"Zhao met Snape's eyes for a moment then continued."…Patil."

Snape felt his heart skip about a century rhythm. Had he just been casually Legilimized by a Ministry employee ? He found himself forced to swiftly and radically revaluate the woman in presence of him. His mental defence force were a little fracture right now it was true, but he would have been glad to face even Dumbledore with no more defense than this. He had grown too soft.

"Miss Patil,"The woman continued."I know this is hard for you, all of you. I know that it is light to grieve if you have a body, or some signboard. But you must understand your ally is not coming back."

"You don ‘ t know that !"Ginevra Weasley almost screamed.

"He ‘ s warm than you think,"Longbottom said desperately.

"This is not something you can fight,"The indescribable shook her head word."It ‘ s not something veridical or physical. It ‘ s not something palpable, it ‘ s something inevitable."
*


Slipping, ground always slipping. Too much pain in the ass to even think. bloodline that flowed out of him and disappeared into the air like mist. The George Sand still burned in him, burning but the stock kept flowing. Burning threads cutting into him from all sides, tying him up. Lying like red hot shaft across his skin. He couldn't ignore the painful sensation, it was the one genuine thing he had.
*


"Just face it kids."Rhyfedd crossed his arms."The boy who lived is gone for good."
*


Harry kneeled under the flickering sky, a grey break of day burning into his eyes. It was too much, he wasn't sure if he would go mad or just bleed to death. Either seemed preferable. The pain was just throbbing harder, the fiery bonds tightening around him. invisible bonds. zip was real here. Oh god it hurt ! Harry threw his fountainhead back and howled,

"help me !"His word were caught and whisked away as soon as he spoke."individual ! Help me !"Harry barely felt the sobs wrack his body."Someone…"

"Harry…"

Harry felt the pain ebb away, leaving a dull ache. The sky dimmed like smoke-dried glass. The flickering priming became grey and unyielding under his base. He felt the burning at the stake threads pushed off him as the Zane Grey quad expanded, carrying them with it. He stood on shaky ramification inside the little bubble of reality.

"Harry."

Harry whirled towards the voice and fell to the ground again, this time in embossment. Tears welled in the quoin of his center. He gulped and said,

"Pythea !"

"Yes Harry."The little oracle was sitting hybridization legged in the heart of the grey bubble."Yes it ‘ s me."

"How…"

"Or, more correctly it's a bit like a transcription of me,"Pythea smiled, her multicolor middle holding depths Harry couldn't even conjecture at."Like a portrait. I ‘ m a charm form by the veridical Pythea. She hid me in the letter she sent you."

"Why ?"Harry shook his principal."Why this way ?"

"It was the simply way."Pythea looked suddenly a slight scared but pulled herself back a second later."If the eternal rest of my order knew you were even remotely connected to the torrent…"She shuddered."… well at the very least I would have been ineffective to help you. The torrent is repugnant to everything we stand for."

Abhorrent… that sounded familiar.

"For the Saame reason the centaurs do ? They sa-"

"You met centaurs !"Pythea stood and hurried towards him, looking over him as if to see some sign of combat injury."How did you survive ! They would induce killed you…"

"They let me go."Harry thought back, it seemed like a while ago."Said they had a debt to me."

"Do not scare away me like that."Pythea put a handwriting to her chest and seemed to be breathing surd."You were lucky. Very lucky."

"If I was lucky I wouldn't be caught in this thing."Harry waved his hands at the mess around them."“ ‘ Thea you got to avail me."

"Harry I will not lie to you."She was right up next to him now, looking down into his eyes."To my knowledge no-one has ever survived the torrent of ages."

Harry closed his eyes and bowed his head. His last hope…

"Harry, the torrent isn ‘ t even something natural."Pythea held his mentum in her hands and pushed his head back up."Time-turners are one thing, they let you pass back and Forth in the like meter stream. Anything you do in the past does not disturb the future, because it has already happened you see ? The natural law of causality are preserved. The cloudburst is different, it defies the rules of circumstances. That is why my edict, and the Centaur, hate it so much. They think it is dangerous, tangling destiny. That is why you have been moved outside of fourth dimension, the universe of discourse itself it trying to shut you out. Destroying a threat to itself."

"So why are you here ?"Harry pushed her helping hand away. He was crying now, he knew he looked hapless but he couldn't full point himself."If no one ‘ s ever survived why bother even coming !"

"In the hope that you could be the first."She glanced up at the faded ceiling. The bubble had shrunk noticeably since they had started talking. Harry could see the train of thought of fervor curling about the edges, like circling sharks."I can ‘ t arrest this a lot longer."

"How ! How can I be the beginning ?"

"I don ‘ t know. But I know one thing, you are never going to do it sitting on the reason. You will not survive unless you take control."

"You don ‘ t know what it feels like…"Harry began but fell silent. What did it matter how much it hurt ? It had to be done."What do I do if I can get keep in line ?"

"Don't you know ?"She sounded amused.

"I…"A brainsick idea hit him. A Harry Potter plan."Yes. I think I do."

"commodity Harry."She raised her handwriting towards the gray paries."Are you cook ?"

Harry felt for her pendant, still hanging by his heart. He nodded.

"Do it !"

The bulwark disappeared and the lances whipped inwards into his human body. Harry howled and grabbed them in both hands.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaa !"

It was like the Cruciatus burnt into every molecule of his hide. And across his palms where the ropes of flaming writhed ? It was a century prison term worse !

"I am the boy who lived !"Harry cried into the dead air."And you will go !"

Harry jerked his hands up and felt the burning predominate cut into his hands.

"SHIFT !"

Hogwarts appeared before him for a consequence, a student looked at him in shock before it was all whisk off away.

"No ! Again !"

The priming coat became flaming rock and the air acid smoke.

"No ! take heed to me !"Harry gripped down harder on the threads and pulled them to his face, ignoring the tears flowing down it and the pain enveloping everything."SHIFT !"

Bare rock, an empty sky.

Water stretching as into the distance.

The blackness of blank. As cold as nothing.

"NO !"Harry was loosing it, the reigns were slipping through his fingers."Please ! I can ‘ t do it !"

Suddenly he saw her again, just for a moment, one green eye and one purpleness. Hovering in the air before him through the mist of pain.

"You can do anything."

"Aaaaaaaaa !"Harry fell to his stifle and pulled the fire to his pectus, right up to the searing combat injury. Between his clenched fist nestled the minuscule chandelier. A picayune nub of cool in the world of flame. He could do this.

Hogwarts again, a loup-garou lunged before it all slipped away.

"YES !"

The glasshouse pulled out of the mist. The stars, the sound of spell. An inhuman howl.

"YES !"

Harry potter laughed through the pain and the blood.
*


Hermione pointing to something sparkling on the primer coat. Pushing herself off her friend and hopping towards it frantically. Tripping…

Harry turning and stepping over to nibble it up, holding its lucky chain clenched in his fist.

Snape throwing curses at the last werewolf, laughing as it scrabbled backwards, trying to get away from him. Snape throwing another oath but, in his glee, missing. The swearword flying through the air, rippling it like a heat wave. Shooting straight towards the sparkling golden hourglass handing from Harry's hand.

Harry smiled, and stepped in battlefront of the curse.
*


Dirt…

Very wet dirt…

That was the first cerebration that went through Harry's head. He opened his centre. The dirt in front of his nose was moving ever so slightly, the piddling texture rolling back and Forth. His breath moving them. He was breathing again.

Some hotshot at the sides of his head… familiar… sound. Someone was speaking.

"Harry ?"

Harry twisted against the background, movement returning to him like a distant retentiveness. A shape standing there. Low to the ground.

"Harry dear boy they told us you were dead !"

Professor… he knew this person. He liked this person.

"prof Flitwick."Harry's representative came out at barely a whisper.

"My lamb boy you ‘ re hemorrhage !"

Harry looked down. One side of his chest was pockmarked with little holes like someone had grated him and the other side had two massive slash over it, meeting in a cross. Snape's jinx, Harry remembered, that had hit him there.

"Are you alright ? You don ‘ t look like you ‘ re in pain ?"

Harry chuckled wryly. After the world of flame the botheration from his pectus were nothing.

"You need the Hospital fender Mr Potter."

Harry felt himself lifted up with magic and stood on his metrical unit. He was still exactly where he had been before getting lost in the torrent, on the ground near the greenhouse. He saw some men in long black robes standing guard over the caved in tunnel but they weren't looking his way.

"I can take the air,"Harry mumbled as professor Flitwick pointed his verge at him again. He had clawed his way out of non-existence, he could walk to the hospital Wing.

Harry stumbled off towards the doors of Hogwarts.

"Of line you can Mr Potter."professor Flitwick chuckled."I was merely going to bring home the bacon you with some clothes."

Harry looked down, he was wearing Pythea's pendent but nothing else. He glanced back at the undercoat where he had appeared, there was a lot of grey ash and what looked like a burnt bang warp. Near where his understructure had been there was a puddle of molten rubber.

"Oh."Harry blushed and tried to cover himself with his helping hand. With a waving of his sceptre the little teacher gave Harry loose try-on pajama pants and a dressing nightdress. Harry vaguely registered that they were puritanical and gold."Thanks…"

Harry turned and continued his halting walk towards the hospital wing. He could hear Flitwick walking behind him, probably with his verge out in case Harry tripped. The hallways were deserted this early in the morning and Harry had no company as he pulled himself laboriously up a staircase.

He glanced down at the two lesion on his chest, the sand burn and the cuts. There was something faulty there. Harry shook his head, nothing about bleeding that much was right. Harry reached the doors to the hospital wing and pushed the doors open.

He saw his admirer, Snape and some other people look up in seismic disturbance. In his country, lightheaded from blood loss, he said the first base thing that came to mind…
*


"Just brass it kids."Rhyfedd crossed his arm."The boy who lived is gone for good."

The doors to the hospital wing burst open and the Potter boy stepped inside, wavering slightly as if drunk.

"You know who I hate ?"he said, smiling crookedly."Godric Gryffindor… wanker !"The boy took two pace and fell on his face on the low temperature tiled floor.

Snape saw the students and the schooltime nursemaid Benjamin Rush to Harry through a daze but he felt something else. A bubbling, floating sense experience rising from his chest. He clamped his script over his sassing but it escaped through his nuzzle anyway, a snigger that jerked his head back. He gave up trying and broke out in fits of laughter.

"Something amusing Professor ?"Ms Zhao asked him, eyebrows arched in amusement.

"Hates… Ha ha ha ! Hates Godric Gryffindor ! Ha !"Snape held his hands to his aching position and bowed down as another bust hit him. He pointed at the other Unspeakable."And he walked in… right after you said… Ha ha ha !"

Why couldn't he stop laughing ? More importantly, why didn't he want to ?

"Perhaps you should lie down Mr Snape."Natalie Zhao looked like she was barely stopping herself from giggling."You ‘ ve obviously had a trying night."

Yes, that must be it. Just tired.

Snape got up and walked towards the door of the hospital wing. As he passed the Potter boy's bed the laughs broke out again and he had to hold the doorcase for support.

"Severus ?"Snape saw Filius Flitwick staring at him in stupor."Are you alright ?"

Yes, Snape realized, he was. It felt like a great pressure had been lifted off him. He must just be tired.

"I have had a long night."he told his beau instructor before turning and walking away and leaving a very stunned silence in his wake.
*


"That was odd."Padma said dryly before turning back to the infirmary bed where Harry was lying.

Harry chuckled, it was in force to be back amongst friends.

"These won ‘ t heal Mr Potter,"he heard Madam Pomfrey say while running her sceptre over the two wound on his chest."Neither of them. I ‘ m afraid you ‘ ll have scars there for the rest of your life."

"Great…"Harry said, his voice sounding sapless and airy in his spike."… more scars."Harry pointed at his forehead."I have decent problem with this one."

"fountainhead it's your own fault…"Harry heard an acerbic part say."You survive the killing scourge and get one scar, you survive the downpour of ages and you get two Sir Thomas More. If you don't want more cicatrix turn back doing unimaginable things."

Harry leant his head up and saw two mass he didn't know standing by the pes of his bed, a man and a woman.

"Please forgive my friend,"the woman said smoothly."There was a departmental accident in which he lost his sense of tact."

The man snorted. Harry smiled, he thought he would care this woman.

"We are from the Ministry,"the cleaning lady continued,"The department of Mysteries."

"We need you to tell us how you survived the deluge,"the man said.

"But obviously we would not impose on you in your current State Department,"the woman added easily."If we returned this even ?"She glanced at gentlewoman Pomfrey, who nodded.

"This evening then."She straightened."I look forward to your story."She walked out of the hospital wing, the other Unspeakable followed, grumbling.

Harry looked at his protagonist and grinned.

"So, my entrance ? adept or tolerably ?"

"fountainhead ten out of ten for timing Harry,"Hermione grinned.

"But what you said was a bit off,"Padma chuckled."‘ I hate Godric Gryffindor'variety of a non-sequitur."

"And for Harry Potter, the-boy-who-cracks-one-liners…"Ron grinned broadly."It was kind of disappointing."

"I blame parentage loss."Harry leant back against the bed, he was just now realizing that he had hold out slept over xx four hours ago. Or more, or LE, he didn't quite know how the time in the torrent counted.

"How did you survive Harry ?"Hermione asked curiously.

"How ?"Harry felt his eyelid drooping."I ‘ m a Marauder. We don ‘ t lose."A thought crossed Harry's brain and he managed to pull himself back from rest."Where did myrtle get to ?"

"Don't know."Ron shook his question."None of us have seen her."

"Should apologize to her. See whether we can retrieve some ghost-flowers."Another thought hit him."The werewolf ? The approach ?"

"All dealt with Harry."Parvati put her helping hand on his shoulder reassuringly."Everyone ‘ s alright and the crisis is over. Earlier than usual too."

"Yeah !"Ron perked up."We ‘ ve got almost three months of schoolhouse leftfield ! We usually don't save everyone for ages yet, we may actually get time to have fun and…"

"Study for our end of year exams."Hermione said brightly. It was like watching a see-saw, the delight in Ron's face faded at exactly the Saame charge per unit as Hermione's began to grow.

"Oh Harry, tell apart her,"Ron urged."Tell her we ‘ re having fun not studying."

"I may take in to study Ron. If I want to do footling things like not get chucked out of Hogwarts."Harry tried to add to bear any cognition he had gleaned from the last few months of lessons and found only simple scratch."Definitely."

"It ‘ s alright Harry,"Ron said comfortingly."You ‘ re obviously ghastly. I ‘ ll ask you again when you ‘ re better."
*


Albus Dumbledore glanced at the map once again, when the dot had reappeared he had not believed it. He had thought there had to be some sort of mistake.

"He truly is unharmed ?"he asked again.

"I would not say unharmed…"Poppy Pomfrey shook her head."But he is live and with a small care he will be o.k.. scratch, as I said, but nothing more."

"Thank you Poppy. You are forever the bringer of sword lily news."

Poppy knew him well enough to pick out the polite firing in his representative and left his situation quietly. Dumbledore turned to the other someone in the office.

"He survived…"professor lupin was hunched over a mug of something steaming. It smelled awfully but apparently it helped. Even with it the poor lycanthrope looked paltry, apparently hearing the other werewolves howling so close had made his werewolf mind even more fracture than usual."How could he survive ?"

"I do not fuck Remus."Dumbledore shook his foreland."I truly do not know how he survived. I am in the unusual position of having not the faintest estimation. That worries me deeply. The boy himself worries me deeply."

"He disturbs me."

"Remus you must try to-"

"I know,"lupine croaked in his harsh representative."It ‘ s just that he walks around looking so like St. James. being so like Saint James the Apostle. He calls his friends the marauder you know, when I heard that I almost… He has no right."

"It is just a name Remus,"Dumbledore said soothingly."And the boy is wide-cut of riddle, I still can ‘ t work out where that chandelier of his came from. I don ‘ t know how he managed to rig the Quidditch cup and I certainly can ‘ t prove he did. I don ‘ t know how he beat Severus in a duel. And now the torrent…"Dumbledore reached out and stroked Fawkes, the phoenix let out an appreciative trill.

"This boy, this boy that so a good deal rest on, is a everlasting closed book to me. Not only that, he seems to consume no qualm about disregarding my dominance, ignoring my advice. I can not even hold open him within the grounds of Hogwarts against his will. So much relief on him, but I don't understand him and I certainly can not operate him."Dumbledore sighed."I have rarely felt as old as I have in these past three years."

"He ‘ s not James."Remus shook his head.

"I hope not."Dumbledore closed his eyes in sorrowfulness."But he seems to have courage like William James Potter."

"courage ?"Remus snorted."He ‘ s afraid of water !"

"Well we both know the cause for that."Dumbledore quieted himself. Some secrets were so important they should never be voiced."I suppose all we can do is expect and see."The two men fell silent. Dumbledore listened to his whirling political machine, after all these years the sound was very comforting.

"Have you found another defensive structure teacher ?"lupine asked suddenly. Dumbledore sighed.

"I have been talking to another old admirer. I have hope that he will accept the job."

"Good."

The quiet returned, heavily with all the affair not being said.
*


Snape awoke refreshed for the low gear sentence in weeks. He had gone directly into his bed after leaving the hospital Wing and now the clock on his wall read eight 30, he had slept all day. His body must ingest been trying to catch up on lost time.

He pulled his gown on and grabbed his wand from the bedside table. His hand went out on innate reflex to grab the other particular there and he stiffened. The locket sat there, shining up at him. Snape swallowed tough. Did he want to extend Lily Arthur Evans around next to his heart forever ?

Snape picked the locket up and held it lightly in his hired man. Something must be done with it. He strode out of his quarters and down the corridor, scarcely glancing at the students he passed. He did not stop when he passed the great doors or Hogwarts but kept up his stride until it brought him to the shores of the lake.

He was breathing hard, and not from the walk. The locket was still clutched in his handwriting. He had to do it quickly otherwise he would suffer his will.

You abandoned me Sev. I thought we were best friends ?

No. Not now.

You called me a mudblood.

"And what about you !"He spoke savagely to the locket nestled in his palm."That day beside the lake after our examination. Where were you ? Sitting and talking to your former friends. Leaving me all alone. You didn ‘ t come over until James Potter got involved. You abandoned me long before I abandoned you…"Snape drew his paw back."… I just did it better."And with all his military posture he hurled the little firearm of silver grey into the disconsolate water.

I can not conceive I had the strength to do that.

Snape shook his head, he felt like he had begun again after geezerhood of living in stasis. Harry was flop, adept lived in the past tense far too much. He had finally gotten rid of the last…

No…

Snape felt his feeling dashed in a moment. He still had one last objet d'art of Lily eventide. A piece he could not be rid of. He hung his headland, and he had felt so free. The past was an anchor, Lily Sir Arthur John Evans was an anchor. He could never be truly free.

Or could he ? As the Potter boy had so clearly proved, sometimes the impossible was simply something that hadn't been done yet. But it would require Occlumency of the highest order.

"Luckily,"thinking Snape."I am an Occlumens of the gamey order."

Snape sat down cross legged on the grass, cleared his judgement, closed his eyes and proceeded to delete Lily Arthur Evans. Each memory was locked away, one by one, from their number one meeting to the last-place day he ever saw her. He blocked them all. He would still retain the shape of them, a vague knowledge, but it was the salutary he could do.

It would be easier if he had a pensieve, Snape realized and momentarily thought of borrowing Dumbledore's. But no, he didn't want the old man to fuck about this. And besides, considering that Lily Evans was the hold he had had over Snape all these years he might not be inclined to help.

Snape closed the go remembering and stood up, feeling lightheaded. Would this work ? He began preparing to cast the spell, raised his verge then dropped it again to his side. He could not cast it, he had no happy computer memory anymore, he had just locked them all away. Snape cursed, it was hopeless. Then a mad mind struck him, he looked out over the lake, at the blaze sundown painting the mound with red and gold. He raised his arms and felt the summer wind charge through his robes.

So far from spinner End. So far from the smog and junk and narrow streets. Here the air was realise, it smelled of heather. The stars were clear, unblock by streetlights. Hogwarts, and the ground around it, was his home. This was a felicitous memory.

"Expecto Patronum !"

He screwed his eyes shut at the mo of cast, he could not stick out to follow. He felt the fondness of his patronus in front of him, touching his manus. He had to look eventually, he would suffer to. Courage, he was not a coward.

Snape snapped his optic open and almost melted onto the floor. Tears sprung into his eyes. Writhing and looping in the air was a thin Snake River, curling like a decoration caught in the wind. He had been successful, the shoemaker's last region of Lily Herbert McLean Evans in him was gone.

"Is that your patronus ?"

Snape turned towards the voice. It was the unnameable, Natalie Zhao, she was standing calmly a few steps behind him with her hired hand clasped in front of her. She must have got crept up on him, he had been quite distracted.

"You are still here ?"he asked."Did you question Harry all day ?"

"We left and came back,"she said, moving up to stand by the lake beside him."I ‘ ve just come from talking to him. Surviving the torrent, he really is amazing…"She trailed off shaking her head in disbelief.

"He is nothing if not surprising."Snape found he had piddling ire towards Harry Potter any more."But I think you would be to a lesser extent amazed if you saw the unadulterated mess he manages to produce of potions."

"Perhaps."She smiled, it pushed niggling dimples up on her cheeks. He pointed at his patronus, still writhing in the air."Very nice…"

"Is it ?"Snape turned back to the snake. It was not, he now realized, a very occupy looking Hydra. Perhaps a little Thomas More than a meter long with harsh, dark bands all the way up its slim eubstance. It had no strong-armer behind its slight headway like a cobra or a rattle like a rattlesnake, nothing that obviously identified it. Snape wondered what species it was.

"A banded krait,"Natalie Zhao said smiling. She hadn't had eye contact, she must just ingest guessed what he was thinking."Very nice."

"Really ?"Snape's curiosity was piqued."Does it have any particular… qualities ?"

"Well…"She appeared to think for a moment."It ‘ s diet is kind of interesting."

"How so ?"

"It primarily eats former snakes."

"Really…"Snape found himself warming to the striped reptile.

"And it ‘ s poisonous,"Ms Zhao continued."Sometimes the victim doesn't spirit anything at the site of the morsel for a while, lulls them into a treasonably sense of security."

"Hmm…"

"It's a formidable toxin."The Unspeakable reached out and tickled the niggling beam snake under the chin."I think they ‘ re quite interesting."

"I think it will do nicely."Snape canceled the go with a moving picture of his wand and his krait faded away.

"Why do you know so much about Snake ?"

"I keep them as pets."She seemed to blade herself a soupcon. Perhaps she was used to minus response when masses heard about her hobby.

"Fascinating,"Snape said, and found that he meant it."Do you have any kraits ?"

"You ‘ d have to be weirdo to keep one of those as a pet. But I suppose you like dangerous favourite here…"She smiled again, cheekily."… you apparently keep werewolves."

"Accidentally."Snape motioned towards the castle and they both began walking towards Hogwarts."You wouldn't count rats that invaded your basement as favourite would you ?"

"No, I ‘ d count them as free Hydra food."

Snape chuckled. Laughing again, he really did feel like a new man. But there was something in the back of his psyche now. Something he'd heard ? Something she'd said ? Hmm… it was right at the edge of his mind.

"Well I have to get back to the Ministry,"Natalie said, they had reached the figurehead of the palace."Got to meet in the paperwork. God knows Rhyfedd won ‘ t bother, that man has an position problem…"

"He is a modest minded, talent lupus erythematosus man who is constantly trying to avow himself over you where he has no ripe to be because it shirks his ego to make for under a woman,"Snape stated flatly.

"I know,"Natalie replied simply."You had him pegged within five seconds of meeting him. My political boss at the Ministry however…"She spread her hands hopelessly."… four years and count. I ‘ m hoping they catch on any day now."

"Let me present you to Sibyll Trelawney one day."Snape shrugged and smiled in pathos."Then you will truly know what it is like to make an irritating co-worker."

They were both standing in front man of Hogwarts, but neither of them seemed to want to move.

"Well…"She broke the dead end."… I should go. Thank you for showing me your patronus."

"Would you mind showing me your ophidian aggregation at some point ?"Snape found himself asking."I find myself strangely interested."

"Strangely interested…"She smiled that infuriating smile again. Snape was beginning to call up she might actually be smarter than him."… undecomposed selection of words."And with that she turned and began walking down the path towards the gates of Hogwarts.

Snape would suffer felt elated, but at that moment what he had been thinking slipped into office and he frowned, then clenched his clenched fist as the total conditional relation sunk in. He hoped he was wrong, he really did.
*


"Albus,"he stepped out of the staircase into the headmaster study.

"Severus,"Dumbledore greeted him."To what do I owe this tardily night visit ?"

"null good I am afraid."Snape shook his head."This afternoon I remembered an offhand comment one of the werewolves in the Hospital wing made. Taunting us about a map."

"They could not consume known about it."Dumbledore's eyes narrowed."You are not accusing professor Lupin once aga-"

"No."Snape waved the complaint away."No, that is what I thought initially, it would hold been salutary if I was right. I went to visit the werewolf in the Ministry dungeons. He said he heard it because they were waiting surreptitious, listening. They heard you talking to Harry when we brought him back from Hogsmeade."

"I fail to see the emergency in that…"

"Albus, remember what else you said that evening."

"I…"The headmaster face went pale and his middle opened spacious."I said that Voldemort was hiding in Albania."

"Yes."Snape nodded."I think we now know why Reb was not part of the plan of attack. He had already left on a more important errand, a dog running back to its master. He left because he knows where to look."



This chapter beta 'd by Aspinwall. Thank you Colon !

What did everyone think of the roundabout way from shank in this record ?
The future one goes back towards the production line of the Holy Scripture a bit, somewhere between the how close the low gear two were and how out there this one was.

farewell a reassessment and I 'll get on with writing ...

Harry potter and the Harry ceramicist and the Spirit of Njordr !


I do n't own Harry ceramist. I wish I did. Unfortunately the unanimous blowing-out-all-the-candles-at-once thing does n't always work.



She brushed up against the bulwark, her well muscled wing pressing against the wooden panelling. Her ears were attuned to the tiny scritches coming from around the niche and the tiny footfalls on the floorboards were still seeable, glowing hot prints leading the way. She eased herself up to the edge then poked her snub wind around and struck.

The rat tried vainly to struggle as the poison seeped into it and she waited patiently as it died. She did not even have to dislocate her jaw to fit the little matter in. It was merely a taste tester anyhow, her master had promised sweeter meat soon.

She slid, total and languid, through the old theater. Soon Pride would come and milk her venom, making her flavor abandon and used, but her victor needed it so she steeled herself against his jot. Not that Pride wasn't gentle, it was his smell that irked her.

She knew that the three men who served her skipper had other public figure but she preferred her own, ambition, superbia and decay. She had named them after what she smelled on them. professional was, of course, just Master.

She slid into her headmaster elbow room and curled up beside the fire. Her master was asleep but the others were talking again, she pushed her head down between her gyre to parry out the sound, but it wasn't enough.

"The merest error will alert them."pride was saying."There are the great unwashed who know him very well."

"I am cognizant of that brother."ambition replied archly."And after all the survey I have done I am one of them. You stay here and tend to our Edgar Lee Masters needs, I will get the job done quite sufficiently in your absence."His voice made it quite clear that superbia's absence would in fact make the job a lot easier.

"The only grounds you have this job is because I would be missed."

"The reason I have this job is because our master gave it to me."Ambition grinned."Never leave that."

"Careful brother,"Pride sneered."Take concern that you never draw a blank who you have to thank for your exemption and for your chance at vengeance."

"Who ? Our Almighty for ordering me freed and planning how to attain it or you for merely telling him where I was ?"

"Both you arrogant little-"

"Arrogant ?"aspiration laughed. She liked Ambition a bit more than superbia, he was more like a snake."That is undoubtedly and most obviously the pot calling the cauldron pitch-black. Besides…"Ambition narrowed his eyes."I ‘ ve been wondering how yearn you knew where I was and did zero about it."

"I could not compromise-"

"Of course."Ambition turned away, dismissive."You could not compromise your position. Just like you can't now. So just the get the shag out of my way blondy, I ‘ ve got a job to do."

"I see you've learnt some colorful language rotting in Azkaban."

Ambition whipped around and punched pridefulness straight in the stomach. Ambition was reduce and stringy but the punch had weight behind it and Pride crumpled to the base. ambitiousness followed it up by stamping into Pride's kidney.

"Learnt some other matter in there too brother."aspiration drew his wand and pointed it as the groaning figure on the trading floor."So if I were you I ‘ d never give into the delusion that you ‘ re the power actor in our little co-operative venture."

Pride tried to rise but ambition stamped on his hair.

"And another thing…"Ambition leant down to verbalize close to pridefulness's ear."Our maestro remembers which of us remained truehearted to him during his twelve year… convalescence."Ambition grinned."And you weren ‘ t one of them, brother. So you stay here and milk the bloody snake and hope you build up enough brownie detail to get you back in his good books. You stay here and brew the potion and I will deal with everything else !"

ambitiousness scuffed his invertebrate foot back and Forth, jerking superbia's hair and making him grit his teeth in pain. Ambition laughed and strode out of the room.
*


"Harry ? We have a… a kind of proposition for you."Fred and George I had cornered him in Ron's bedroom, they both had that implike looking about them.

"I'm intrigued."Harry closed his book and tossed it to one side."Apprehensive but intrigued. Who are we going to prank ?"

"It ‘ s not about pranking anyone Harry."Said Fred at the same metre as his brother said,

"Everyone."

"Apprehensive, intrigued and confused."

"Why don ‘ t you come up to our room Harry, we ‘ ll appearance you what we ‘ re talking about."Fred ushered him out of the room. Harry followed a niggling hesitantly.

Harry was hesitant because for a long time he had felt like he was building up some form of unluckiness debt. The survive three month of his third yr at Hogwarts had passed without anyone trying to down him ( unprecedented for Harry ) and he had even managed to pass all of his exams. In defense he had scraped a whirl on Lupin's obstacle course ( damn Hinkypunk led him into a swallow hole ! ) and almost managed to not blow his cauldron up in potions.

Part of the cause was that Snape had stopped picking on Harry in social class and had even started treating him as a normal scholar. More than that the potions lord had seemed almost cheerful at multiplication. Harry had put it down to him planning something evil until he noticed that Snape was at his most happy the days after a little b owl brought him letters.

As for the former exams Harry had botched together some form of pig-English interlingual rendition for ancient rune and avoided getting Thomas More than trivial burn injury in Hagrid's ‘ pragmatic'tryout ( they had all been given a box and asked to feed what has in the box. Harry had never worked out what was in his box, he had just stuffed matter in there until it stopped biting him. Whether he fed it or suffocated it he never found out. )

Transfiguration he had blagged, history of deception too. Herbology had been okay because he'd been partnered with Neville and he had passed of his own talent in star divination and Charms.

Of course revising hadn't been the first affair he'd done. The first thing he'd done had been to write a long letter to Pythea. He hadn't been ably to mention the torrent of course, but he hoped he had left enough hints that she would know how much he wanted to thank her. Of path the massive cluster of prime might have also given her that hint.

He had even managed to have a holiday where there had been no unexplained magical occurrent, another get-go. Harry had hiked in Switzerland for some of the summertime, nada too serious but decent that he was very beaming of his size-and-weight-defying bag.

On one memorable occasion, miles from the nigh town, he had met some sure-enough American language tourists kitted up with Brobdingnagian heavy tramp backpacks and boneheaded coats. He however had been carrying a small leather packsack while idly strumming a guitar. They had thought he was some sort of new-age hermit. Harry ( or jackfruit ‘ Moonbeam'Baltzegaurd as he had introduced himself ) had played along and told them that he had been sent here by a imaginativeness ( a lie ), that the confident energy of the mountain would heal them ( a lie ), that his guitar had been given to him by the Dalai Lama ( a lie ) and that the office of the watch glass woven into his coat kept him warm ( a lie, the crystal kept the rainwater off. The talisman kept him warm. ). Surprisingly before they parted elbow room the char began claming her arthritis had miraculously cleared up.

Harry had ended up in geneva after a few weeks of this and spent most of the rest period of the summer there, lazing around the city and finishing up the schoolwork he had had no probability to mould at in the heap. Plus juggling and playing the guitar for people around the city. When he could work out how to do both at the same prison term he knew he'd impress people but for now he just ended up tangling his fingers.

He'd come back to England a few daylight early to chatter his friends and get his school supplies. It was now the thirtieth of Aug and all the marauders were gathered at the burrow for a last get together before heading off to Hogwarts. Harry should have been happy, but instead he was apprehensive, wasn't he due some unpleasantness ? And weren't the nefarious Weasley twins the perfect 1 to administer it ? True the unpleasantness he got in to was usually more of the ‘ oh god we're all gon na die'variety, but then so was the some of the material the twins were into.

Harry followed Fred and Saint George into their box-stacked bedroom.

"Where's prophylactic to sit ?"Harry mould about, looking at the unlike boxes. It took the twins a surprisingly long time to regain a ‘ safe'box. Fred and George sat on the side of one of their beds. Fred leant forward and said,

"We want to talk to you, Harry, about an opportunity."

"A fabulous opportunity."

"We think its mythic anyway."

"And we ‘ re usually right."

"Always right. And it is fabulous."

Harry glanced between one counterpart and the other.

"I feel like I ‘ m being sold something dodgy here guys."Harry folded his arms and one-half smiled."Possibly something that fell off the back of a van. What ‘ s this actually about ?"

The twins looked at each other then said at the like time,

"Weasley genius Wheezes !"

"Actively Advocating Alliteration ?"

"It ‘ s a antic shop Harry."Saint George sniggered and continued,"Or at least we want it to be."

"And we thought that perhaps-"

"-the resident charms-meister-"

"-would be able to help us with some of the stuff."Fred shrugged."After all you did basically progress a heather last year-"

"-that out-flew a firebolt-"

"-with Ginny ‘ s help."

"Oh yes with Ginny ‘ s help."

Harry rearranged the divorce sentences into some bar of order.

"So…"Harry began to smile as realization hit him."You want me to help you design jokes ? Your kind of jokes ? The intriguedness is growing. What have you come up with so far ?"

The twins grinned and began a whirlwind tour of duty of their electric current product, stopping occasionally to evidence a charm or spell for Harry. Usually they were while that produced burst or atrocious shrieking noises.

"And this one Harry…"Fred raised his wand."Is called the avgo sapios !"

Harry knew plenty Greek to plow his nose.
*


"So um… this is the pond."Ron said helplessly,"It ‘ s got ducks in it sometimes."

"I see."Hermione was looking at him oddly. He knew he must be blushing as well as babbling like an idiot."That's… interesting. I guess."

"About as interesting as history of magic."Ron muttered and Hermione laughed.

Oh heavy, now she was laughing at him too. Ron kicked a Isidor Feinstein Stone into the alga filled pond, it rested on the midst greenish surface for a moment before sinking.

Hermione had left Hogwarts almost completely burnt out, taking too many subjects on top of the werewolf Chaos had reduced her to a shadow of herself. It had been especially bad during the exam which she had to revise for and take without the benefit of the time-turner. After the lowest one Harry and Ron had frog-marched her to McGonagall's power where she dropped soothsaying and muggle studies.

Ron had seen her a couple of meter over summer, the marauder sticking together even in Harry's absence, and each prison term she seemed a little more lively and like her old self.

"Well that's pretty much everything around here, lets just get back to the house."Ron pointed back towards the burrow."I don ‘ t trust the Twin Falls left alone in there for this long."

"They're not alone,"Hermione began walking beside him, walking close adequate to gain all the hair on his arms stand up."Harry ‘ s there too."

"That ‘ s even worse."Ron shook his heading."Between them I doubt they ‘ ll be a planetary house left."

"If you felt like that why did you want to evince me around in the first post ?"

Why indeed ?

"well it was a prissy day and Neville, Ginny and the Twin went to town and Harry's acting all Wyrd and there ‘ s marshmallow coming out of the house."

"Ron…"Hermione shook her head in exasperation."If you wanted to change the subject you could have-"

"No there ‘ s really marshmallow coming out of the house !"Ron pointed at the long stream of solid white froth leaking from one of the Windows and pooling on the land."It ‘ s the Gemini window. Oh god mum ‘ s gon na stamp out them."

The two marauder rushed to the slope of the house.

"It ‘ s not exactly marshmallow."Hermione said, sounding puzzled, as the ran into the tunnel. They stopped outside the Gemini the Twins doorway and Ron opened it hesitantly. On the other side was a substantial wall of white, even bearing the imprint of the contours or the door and its handle.

"Let me see…"Hermione broke off a little bit and touched it tentatively to her tongue."… meringue ? I think its meringue."

"What ‘ s the departure ?"

"Honestly Ron, you ‘ d think you would be at least as knowledgeable as me on the matter of food."

"What ‘ s that supposed to intend ?"Ron shaft back but was silenced as a smother spokesperson called out,

"Someone out there ?"

Ron gingerly pushed his mitt into the crusty surface towards the noise.

"feeling really weird."Ron grimaced as he buried his script up to the shoulder."It's all crackly and dry."He felt something like material and pulled as hard as he could.

With a giant cascade of fragmented meringue a shape emerged from the elbow room. It fell on the floor coughing and spluttering and spitting chunks of gum white foam out of its mouth. Ron tend forward and guessed,

"Fr… George ?"

"Yep."George got unsteadily to his groundwork and looked back into his room."Oh, it didn ‘ t burst the door.
We were worried it had."

"What happened ?"Hermione asked, absentmindedly brushing more meringue crumbs off George I back."Did one of your antic backfire ?"

"No no no. Our buffoonery don't backfire."George said proudly."We were demonstrating the eizuckerpeitsche spell to Harry and… well it looks like he got it."

"Are Harry and Fred still stuck in there ?"Ron looked back at the fracture bulwark of meringue in horror.

"Fred was near the middle so he ‘ s probably well stuck, Harry was near the window…"

At that second they all heard a short thigh-slapper from alfresco, quickly cut off, then a thumping followed by running pace. A moment later a meringue incrusted Harry burst up the stairs.

"You !"He pointed at George and advanced angrily."What the hell was that !"

"Not my fault mate."Saint George put his hands up to fend of the angered marauder."You seem to bear some variety of bent for that spell is all."

"Harry how did you get out ?"Hermione asked.

"Managed to tunnel to the window."

"But you must have fallen-"

"Into a pile of meringue."Harry shrugged."It ‘ s built up quite a flock out there."He turned to the twins elbow room."come on, we ‘ d better start getting rid of all this material or your twin ‘ s gon na run out of air."

"And Chrysanthemum morifolium coming back soon."George said in horror."She ‘ ll have a fit !"

Harry grinned as Ron went wan and began attacking the meringue wall.
*


Harry ducked into the string carriage and looked around quickly,

"Still no peril ?"He said wryly."Whatever the karma gods are working up to it ‘ s not gon na be pretty."The marauder moved in after him. They were looking at each early a short oddly.

"Harry…"Hermione began.

"What ?"Harry checked under his prat cushion before sitting down.

"Don ‘ t you think you ‘ re acting kind of… crazy ?"

"No."Harry crossed his wooden leg and sat, Indian-style, with his arms crossed."Really, really no !"Harry shook his head, it was amazing how quickly the paranoia he'd developed in the age before he'd ejaculate to Hogwarts had returned. Street living was not conducive to trust.

"It ‘ s not crazy. Someone will try to kill me this year. I just know it."

"Harry you ‘ re the boy who lived."Parvati shook her head word."No unity going to belt down you."

"I wouldn ‘ t say that."A vocalisation sounded from the open door."I wouldn ‘ t say that at all."

The marauder turned in unison.

"Oh buzz off Malfoy."Padma chuckled."If you were going to vote out him you would have done it ages ago."

"I will get you this year Potter."Malfoy was uncharacteristically alone. His usual crowd of flunky absent."I promise, by the Malfoy name, that I will get you this year. I will nominate you pay for everything."

"The Malfoy name represents a bequest of lies."Harry laughed and shrugged."Get out of my train car."

"wellspring this year Potter."Malfoy licked his brim, his grey center shiny evilly."I will evidence everyone at Hogwarts that I represent everything just about magic descent and that you are everything… everything wretched and mediocre. This year I will show everyone. This yr Potter, this year I win."

"commodity luck with that."Harry shrugged dismissively."Now move, you ‘ re blocking the trolley."

Malfoy just smiled and walked away.
*


"Welcome to another yr at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry."

Harry sniffed the water in his glass. Poison ? No… Maybe something in the food for thought ?

"I hope you have all enjoyed your break from the studies we give you."

Maybe he was just paranoid ? Harry glanced around at the early students. Maybe he actually did hold a chance to stimulate a formula year.

"Firstly I would like to introduce Alastor Moody as our new defence reaction against the night teacher."

Harry glanced up at the board and picked out the new face. Or, more accurately, what was left of the new face. Their last DoD teacher had been a wolfman, this one looked like he had been savaged by one. He had also obviously lost an eye at some full stop and had it replaced with a magical one. Harry wondered why he hadn't chosen one in his raw color. He had seen all shops full of middle in Geneve. They made lots of them there, like watches.

The man apparently known as Moody met his gaze with beginning one then the former eye. Harry smiled and toasted the new teacher with his trash. Anyone was substantially than Professor lupin. Harry had tried to mend bridges with the wolfman during his concluding few week at school. He really had tried…

"Professor… Um…"Harry leant in through the door to prof Lupin's office."Are you, you know, all set."Professor lupine looked up at him, flatly."You know for tonight, entire moonshine ?"

"Yes."prof Lupin seemed to be struggling to go along his voice directly and unemotional.

"I heard that prof Snape makes some kind of…"

"I said yes."lupine snapped. Seeing Harry's startled manifestation he took a oceanic abyss breathing time and shook his headland."My excuse. Yes Severus makes a potion for me that allows me to better make do the transformations. Thank you for your kindness."

"You ‘ re welcome Professor Moony."Lupin's head word snapped up."You know, moony, like lunar month. Because of the whole boggart thing and…"

"farewell now."Usually the werewolf incline of Lupin was not really apparent. This was not so now."parting my office now."

"Did you eat a mad cow or something ?"Harry yelled in exasperation.

"Get out !"

Harry had backed out of the function shaking his head and never spoken directly to Professor Lupin again. Even worse the man had stared obelisk at him during their final few lessons. Even a scar, one-eyed man was better than that. Besides, Harry wasn't really in a emplacement to complain about former mass scars.

prof Dumbledore continued,

"professor Helen Wills is a onetime auror so I am sure he has much to learn you."Harry's auricle perked up, this was interesting. Unfortunately Dumbledore had finished speaking on this particular national."I do have a second annunciation to make. Something that I think you will all enjoy."

The whole school perked up.

"Slitherin sign is infested with roach ?"

"Potions has been dropped from the curriculum ?"

"Filch had an aneurism ?"

"No."The street corner of Professor Dumbledore's mouth twitched up in a half grin."Better than all those things."

"Not possible."Harry called out.

"Very possible Mr thrower. I am talking about the Triwizard Tournament."The hall fell deadened silent.

"Competing or hosting ?"soul on the Ravenclaw board said at only just above a whisper.

"Hosting Mr William Wymark Jacobs, Hosting."

The Marguerite Radclyffe Hall exploded in sound.
*


"We are entering that tournament."

"Harry, Dumbledore said-"

"We. Are. entrance. That. Tournament."Harry was twitching with queasy energy."We are entering and one of us is winning."

"We ‘ re not even eligible."Hermione complained."We can ‘ t enter."

"We have not let lycanthrope and heavyweight snake in the grass and darkness genius halt us a bloody age restriction is not going to brook in our way."Harry sat down at the marauders prorogue and crossed his weapon."We deserve this. We deserve this because we are the easily in this schooltime and no one has worked harder to-"

"Subvert its principle ?"

"- protect it. Than we have. So we are going to enter and we are going to win !"

The marauders around the table fell silent.

"Do you suppose this was what Malfoy was talking about ?"Neville said suddenly."He said he was gon na show everyone how in force he was."

"The question will not rise up because he will not be Hogwarts champion."Harry said decisively."He will not be Hogwarts champion because he is a git. He is a git because of undeniable familial and sociological ingredient that have conspired to make him a git. So…"Harry steepled his fingers and grinned."As soon as this judge gets here, we're entering the tournament."
*


"Now…"prof Moody scanned the social class slowly with his rule eye while the fake one spun and rested on different students before moving on."I don ‘ t stand much on ceremony so lets jump right in."

Harry felt the eye country on him for a moment before moving on.

"So… Lets start on curses. I ‘ ve had a letter from Professor lupine, also one from prof Michelson and it looks like you ‘ re fairly well up on darkness tool and the basics of dueling."

"more than basics."Harry mumbled under his breath.

"But what you haven ‘ t learn yet is the worst of what thaumaturgist can do to each other."Moody shook his head."You ‘ re all bread and butter in a dream macrocosm if you think you ‘ re ever safe. Last dark at the feast I only saw one student turn back the food for poison before eating it."Helen Wills pointed with his gnarled hand.

All middle ( very and unreal ) fell on Harry.

"I… um… what ?"

"Don't be ashamed of it ! Be gallant ! By the end of the class I expect each and every one of you to exercise Constant Vigilance !"He ended the judgment of conviction shouting. Harry found himself staring directly into Moody's artificial eye. He felt like he was a bug under a glazed blueness microscope. The eye scanned down to his thorax."Looks like you ‘ ve been given ground to be vigilante."

Before Harry had a chance to respond Moody had moved on and stomped up to the board.

"The wickedness arts !"Moody wrote like he was carving in stone and the chicken feed broke off during the s of nontextual matter."Who can narrate me a curse ? A really bad one."A few of the class put their hands up. Moody pointed at one.

"Yes Mr… Crabbe is it ?"He growled."fellow name. Familiar case too, I knew your father. Well, knew isn ‘ t quite the mightily watchword. What ‘ s yer curse ?"

"The um…"Crabbe looked like he was regretting volunteering. He seemed to draw himself back up and smirk evilly at Harry."The annoyance spear."

"Odd that you should lie with that one."Professor Helen Wills ‘ s oculus narrowed."No one uses that one any more. Not since the Cruciatus was invented. But no, right you are for bringing it up. You never know when the foeman ‘ s going to surprise you with something you haven't seen in a while. Constant wakefulness !"

Dwight Lyman Moody went on to explain at distance the attribute of the nuisance spear spell. Crabbe looked disgruntled, obviously he had wanted Moody to ask him how he knew about the spell.

Harry looked down at his account book and found the Sir Frederick Handley Page on the pain fishgig. It was gain that the author had only included it as an afterthought, Moody already had more on the table than was in the book. Padma leant over her desk to speak into his ear,

"better than Lupin you think ?"

"Much better."Harry agreed."He ‘ s only cracked on the outside."

"You sure ?"Padma glanced up skeptically as Dwight Lyman Moody barked out invariant weather eye again."He seems pretty thoroughly cracked to me."
*


The partially vs. thoroughly cracked debate continued into the make out weeks as the students got used to Moody's aggressive teaching dash. One thing was for sure, there was not do it lost between Moody and Snape. Helen Wills glared at Snape suspiciously every metre they passed in the corridors and Snape, for his part, sneered. But all that was drown out by the rumors and whispering running around about the triwizard tournament.

The day the extraneous students were scheduled to come dawned bright and aplomb with a mizzle of pelting covering the castle.

"It couldn ‘ t be sunny."Harry heard McGonagall say under her breath."Just for today."

Harry grinned and scuffed his invertebrate foot. If the integral schooltime had been called out to greet these foreign students they could at least have the decency to be on fourth dimension. Harry checked the clock, alright so they weren't scheduled to arrive for another five minutes but Harry had been waiting for ten so therefore ( in his mind ) they were late.

"Look !"individual was pointing out over the lake. Harry's jaw dropped as he saw a ship rise out a whirlpool in the midsection of the lake.

"Did they make out all the way from Durmstrum in that ?"Harry heard someone behind him say and gave an involuntary thrill. Underwater for all that prison term ? Even with charming protection it made his skin crawl.

As the ship crawled up to the side of the lake Harry saw the man standing at the wheel turn and betoken up into the sky behind the castle. Harry turned just in time to see a giant carriage round the corner of the castle, drawn by giant white horses.

"Great."thinking Harry."The rivalry starts with water and flying, two things I really suck at."

He glanced over at the teachers and saw them talking frantically. Apparently they hadn't planned for both delegations arriving at the Lapplander time. After some mildly raised vocalisation Dumbledore headed down towards the lake while McGonagall headed towards where the carriage was landing. Harry considered the options and elbowed his way through the gang in the counselling Dumbledore went.

"Igor Karkaroff,"Dumbledore held his helping hand out to greet the heavily robed wizard stepping out of the gravy boat."A pleasure to experience you back in the country."

"Albus, it is good to be here."The man pushed back his cowl revealing silver medal grey tomentum and heavy brows. He smiled in a way that never touched his dark eyes. He spoke in a threatening booming way that Harry was sure was at least partly put on."Hogwarts is ah…"He glanced up at the grey sky."… just as I remember it."

Harry chuckled and the Durmstrang master glanced at him in the crowd.

"Ah, and this would be your whizz pupil."Harry saw the crowd together part in front of him."The famous Harry Potter."

"No no no…"Harry waved his deal grinning."The name's Jack ‘ Moonbeam'Baltzegaurd."

"Ah, ha ha."Igor ‘ s laughter held no passion whatsoever."We are many celebrity here I see…"

"Wha ?"

"Let me stick in you to someone."Karkaroff motioned a frowning boy standing behind him forward."This is Viktor Krum."Harry heard gasps from behind him as he shook Viktor's hand.

"Pleasure."Harry smiled at the young wizard."Are you Durmstrurn ‘ s head boy or something ?"Again the gasps.

"You don't know who I am ?"Viktor Krum asked in heavily accented English.

"Um… Should I ?"

Karkaroff snorted but Krum seemed to find this number of outcome quite amusing. He was smiling at any rate. Harry couldn't tell what was going on behind those giant black eyebrows.

"well,"Dumbledore said, breaking the stalemate."I can already see the Beauxbatons delegation is already inside, shall we join them ?"
*


"Harry, that was Viktor Krum !"

"You know Ron, I did exploit that out. And even if I hadn't the six million times you ‘ ve told me would deliver tipped me off. Now can we please concentrate ?"Harry turned to the goblet standing in the center of the hall. He glanced over at Hermione."Anything ?"

"I ‘ m telling you Harry we ‘ re not getting past the age line."She looked up from the book on her knees and shook her headway."At least not with anything I can think of now."

Harry shook his head, there were loads of people crowding into the incoming residence so it wasn't like they could do anything right now. If they were going to do anything it would get to be at tonight, but he had hoped to at least have a programme before the castle went to sleep.

"An age potion do you think ?"Fred said behind him.

"I think Dumbledore would accept thought of that."Hermione shook her head."I don't think any potion any fourth year or sixth year could make could get past the line."

"What if we just get one of the Old students to put it in for us ?"Neville hazarded.

"Nope."George said as he and his chum sidled up to them."Saw some Slitherin try that almost as soon as the chalice was out. The other names just flew out of his pocket as soon as he crossed the line."

"Yep,"Fred shook his head in mock sympathy."Poor chap didn ‘ t even get to put his own epithet since he tripped over his own whiskers and ended up out cold."

"Wait…"Padma looked heedful."What if we get someone to cross the line then write our names on some-"

"Saw that too."Fred broke in.

"Yeah,"His twin continued."You don ‘ t even want to know what happened to him !"

"Oh for Christ sake !"Harry growled in annoyance."Is there at least a way to quiz the cable ?"

"Yeah, run into it."Ron suggested.

"No you idiot."Padma shook her brain."Just spitball it."

"alibi me ? You what ?"Harry's eyebrows raised like balloons.

"Like this…"Harry watched, gob-smacked, as Padma took a save rubbish of parchment out of her bag and scarf out it into her back talk. She chewed for a few seconds then daintily took the sodden hole out from between her sassing and, without disinclination, tossed it at the goblet of fervency. As the ball crossed the line of credit there was a flash of light source and the nut shot out like a smoke, impacting on the rampart behind them.

"Brilliant."Said the Weasley twin in one voice.

"We should do it again-"

"With more balls."

"With bigger balls !"

"With pyrotechnic in them !"

"youngster, children…"Harry said in a calming voice."Lets not get sidetracked."

"It's almost curfew anyway."Parvarti looked down at her watch then smiled."Don't headache, it'll all be alright on the night !"

"Sister…"Padma shook her head teacher as she picked up her bag."This is the freakin'dark !"

Harry chuckled as they left the student residence then turned as he felt a hand downslope on his shoulder. The owner of the paw was a boy a little older than him with blond hair and a form of round face. He was in Ravenclaw colors and was wearing a baseball game cap that read ‘ Tutshill crack'and had a tornado as the logo.

"Yeah ?"Harry cocked his top dog."Can I help you ?"

"Um,"The boy bit his lip and looked around."Could I talk to you ?"

"Very cloak and dagger but ok."Harry waved the marauders off and moved into a position corridor."Who are you ?"

"St. David Mason."The boy smiled shyly."Don ‘ t worry if you don ‘ t commemorate me. I ‘ m a friend of Cho ‘ s."

"Oh ok. stand the Saami team too I see."Harry leant nonchalantly against the stone paries."To what do I owe the pleasance ?"

"wellspring basically…"The boy scuffed a foot on the floor nervously."Me and… and some of the other guy wire. Not just Ravenclaw but the wholly school well… we figure you ‘ ve got a plan."

"For what ?"

"For the goblet of fire."Jacques Louis David rubbed his hands together almost hungrily."piles of us don't think the age demarcation line ‘ s fair so we figure…"He reached into his air hole and pulled out a chummy envelope."A couplet of excess names. Just if you get the chance you know ?"

"hate to break it to you mate."Harry shrugged apologetically."But I don't have the svelte clue how to get through the age line."

"Really ? But you ‘ re Harry potter ! You always… Oh, I get it."St. David winked and pushed the envelope into his manus."Of class you don't."The Ravenclaw winked again and trotted off down the corridor.

"I really don't !"Harry called after him but that only caused the boy to call on and twinkle conspiratorially again."Seriously !"

"job Mr Potter ?"

Harry spun and looked up into the fount of the evaluator that had been sitting with Dumbledore at the feast. What was his name… lounge ?

"Mr couch ?"

"Crouch."The man's heavily lined face was utterly humorless.

"Mr Crouch, sorry. And no there ‘ s no problem."

"Not thinking of trying to get past the age air are you lad ?"He said in what he must of view was a fatherlike manner.

"No sir."Harry did his best Oliver braid belief."I wouldn ‘ t do such a ugly thing."

"Ah, of course."The Triwizard judge nodded."Of course I ‘ m sure to a greater extent people would number to the tourney if the renowned Harry Potter was competing. But we must remember that we can not peck and pick out the rules we wish to obey based on momentaneous expedience. You understand Mr thrower ?"

"Yes sir."Harry felt it was better to stick with simple answers.

"Very well."Mr Crouch's mouth twitched into a thinly smile."It was nice group meeting you Mr Potter."

Harry didn't relax until the man was a safe few corridors away. Harry sighed and slipped the envelope out of his sleeve. What were the statistic for teenage middle flak ? Harry wondered. Whatever they were they had just come very close to getting one digit larger.

Harry leant against the wall and stared out of one of the castles arched Windows at the lake below, remembering end year. Why was it that he was forever trapped inside or outside Aaron Montgomery Ward ? conclusion twelvemonth he had circumvented them by swimming around, couldn't do that this time. The lycanthrope had tunneled under could he do that ? Not without attracting a lot of attention. So that left…

Harry grinned and rushed back to the entering antechamber where a 1 expectoration ball showed him how to beat the greatest wizard in the world.
*


"All set Ginsters ?"Harry slid behind Ginny on the Chimera and checked that he had both the envelope containing the marauder figure and the one given to him by David Mason in his pocket.

"Yes, you don ‘ t have to come with me you know."Ginny looked back at him, grinning in the syncope moonlight.

"You can ‘ t fly and seduce spitball at the same time."Was the excuse Harry offered. Really he just wanted to be the one to put the names into the goblet, wanted to know first paw that he'd beat Dumbledore. Harry glanced around and saw a marauder guarding every door."Everybody ‘ s in place, come on."

Ginny obediently lifted them off the base and hovered them up near the ceiling.

"Moment of truth."Harry got out some parchment and rolled it expertly before gumming it, silencing it and throwing it forwards. It landed in the middle of the age line, right beside the goblet. Harry pumped the air with his fist."Potter 1, Dumbledore 0. Proving that I am unmitigated awesome ! Lets go !"

Ginny bit back a chuckle and carefully floated them forward until they were directly over the goblet, then took them slowly down.

"Ok, catch here. Let's not touch the trading floor, never know what early spells the old man ‘ s put around the place."Harry reached into his air pocket and drew out the marauders envelope then dropped it into the chalice. The flak spurted up for a moment, then died down.

Harry hesitantly pulled the other envelope out of his pocket. Should he ? Should he not ? It was only fair to give everybody a decent chance and A. E. W. Mason seemed like a overnice enough feller ( if a bit weird ). He probably wouldn ‘ t be chosen anyway. Ah well, what the hell ? Harry dropped the other gasbag into the flames.
*


The marauders entered the great mansion in a huddle, all centre focused directly on the goblet.

"I ‘ m nervous."Neville admitted as they sat down at the Gryffindor table."I don't know if I want to enter anymore."

"Bit late now."Padma said dryly, but the nerves were obvious in her voice too and the marauder quickly fell into silence.

"Whichever one of us it is the relief of us are behind them."Harry smiled at his Quaker."That's for certain."

"But what if it ‘ s not one of us ?"George asked.

"Not… one… of us ?"Harry's brow wrinkled in confusedness."Quit your crazy lecture George IV. That could never happen."

"Children, children…"The hall fell silent as Dumbledore began to mouth."I believe the second you have all been waiting for has finally arrived. The goblet will be announcing it's choices momentarily. I would ask you to remember that, even if you were not chosen, the tournament is still a competition between the schools. I expect to see no hard notion, you must support your champions one hundred percent. Now…"Dumbledore turned towards the goblet.

The Radclyffe Hall waited in silence for almost a minute of arc before the goblet ‘ s flames turned hopeful red and a petty flake of parchment flew out. Dumbledore caught it expertly.

"The Beauxbatons champion is… Fleur Delacour !"

Harry saw one of the French girls clap her hands to her human face in shock before getting up and walking towards the end of the hall.

"She ‘ s… she ‘ s…"Ron sighed inaudibly.

"What is it Ron ?"Harry asked.

"She ‘ s… just… I mean… Perfect…"Harry just shrugged. Ron looked aghast.."Harry can ‘ t you see her ?"

Harry tuned to watch the starting time champion leaving the hall.

"Yeah ? What about her ?"

Ron opened his oral fissure to return but the chalice flared red again and the hall fell silent.

"The Durmstrang virtuoso will be Viktor Krum !"

The red uniform students rose, cheering, as their champion walked towards the front of the Granville Stanley Hall. Most of the Hogwarts student did too.

Harry was biting his nails, this future one was it. The goblet turned red again and a piece of parchment pin-wheeled out to be caught in Dumbledore's hand. As the Headmaster read it the smile dropped from his face and his hired hand began to shake. In a inhuman, stony voice he said,

"The Hogwarts champion…"He seemed to grit his teeth."Is Draco Malfoy."

The hall erupted in katzenjammer. Harry turned, his heart seeking out the blond haired Slitherin. Draco seemed unperturbed by the response his figure had received but instead stood calmly and walked towards the front of the hall. Before he left the hall however he turned and scanned down the Gryffindor tabular array with those frigidness grey heart. He met Harry's regard, grinned evilly and winked.


banknote for francophone multitude :

I have never liked how french accents are represented in Holy Scripture, you know the `` 'Ogwarts can not 'ave two champions. '' thing. Replacing this with 'zis and stuff like that. I imagine it 's kind of insulting.

I know I cringe every sentence I hear a 'mockney'English language accent on tv, I imagine it 's kind of the same thing.

I decided to keep it in this story anyway purely because goblet of Fire represents accent that way. I 'm trying to take a leak this story kind of parallel the carom rule book in certain ways inluding view of the writing style.

If you 're offended I 'm sorry.



"Son of a bitch."Harry breathed through his teeth. He felt like his thorax was going to explode, he had to let the insistency out somehow."SON OF A cunt !"

"Mr Potter !"Harry's eyes flicked back to Dumbledore, who was looking at him angrily."Contain yourself !"

"But he is !"Harry yelled, news leaking out of him uncontrollably."Haven ‘ t you met his mother ?"The hall erupted in laughter. Malfoy scowled but kept on walking, leaving the smashing hall by the same door the other paladin had left by.

Dumbledore held up his hands for silence.

"Obviously this is shocking and unprecedented."He said in an effortlessly level interpreter."I remind you all that I expect you to rip behind your champion…"Dumbledore stopped as the educatee began yelling again."… or at to the lowest degree not openly oppose him. Now, if you will excuse me…"

Dumbledore left the still jump students and walked out through the rearward door of the hall, Karkarov and brothel keeper Maxim followed him. For a few more bit everyone was tacit then McGonagall stood.

"If you would all return to you-"But she was cut off as mortal yelled,

"Professor !"

The school turned in time to see the goblet burn red again. A bit of paper flew out of it and landed on the stone floor. For a moment no one moved to reach it then professor Snape, his expression indecipherable, got up from his chair. His footfalls were the merely sound in the hall as he walked round the high table and came to a blockage in front of the minuscule bit of paper. He turned it over with the tip of his shoe.

"Harry Potter."He was staring down at the sheet, his face a white masquerade party."It says Harry Potter."

After a moment someone started clapping, then someone else, then some more, the great Granville Stanley Hall exploded with applause.

"Knew it ‘ d be you Harry."Harry heard someone say as a hand slapped him on the rachis. crowd pressure moved him towards the front of the hall, his own mentality seemed to have stopped working. He saw Snape pick up the combat of composition, then have a short, whispered, conversation with McGonagall. The potions master turned to him.

"Come along Potter."

"Wha… ?"Harry mind was still reeling.

"We must look at you to fall in the former champions."Snape led him out of the turbulent vestibule and into a short hall. The stochasticity from the clapping faded as the door closed behind them. Snape made no move to leave alone by the other door.

"Did you put your public figure into the chalice of fire ?"Snape asked urgently.

"Wha… ?"Harry glanced around, they were alone. The other champions must be through the other room access."Why are you-"

"potter, try to scrape together some insightfulness ! Did you put your figure into the goblet ?"

Snape seemed almost concerned.

"You seem almost concerned."Harry grinned, his brain getting back in cogwheel."Have those small barn owls been bringing you drugs or something ?"Snape flinched back as if stung.

"Damn it ceramist !"Snape grabbed Harry's robe."This is not a time for jokes. More is going on here than you realize. Did you or did you not-"

"Yes."Harry nodded,"I put my name in."

The potions master narrowed his eyes, Harry felt the conversant imperativeness in his brain. He opened his mind long enough to reveal the retention of him putting the gasbag into the flaming then blanked it again. Snape nodded thoughtfully.

"Good."

"Good ?"Harry asked quizzically.

"Potter the possibilities if someone else put your name into the goblet are far worse than if you put it in yourself. This simplifies things, believe me…"Snape glanced at the scrap of paper he was holding and frowned."… or perhaps not."

"What is it ?"

"Suffice to say I have spent long enough trawling through what you seem to guess constitute essays to recognize your handwriting."Snape held out the sheepskin for him to see."This is not your handwriting."

"No…"Harry felt a sinking feeling in his venter."No it ‘ s not. What the hell is going on ?"He asked plaintively.

"If I knew that Potter."Snape moved towards the door."I would not own to ask questions."

Harry gulped and followed the potions master through the door. On the former side was another way with portraits hung all around the rampart. The ace and their master were standing in the center field of the room, apparently arguing. madam Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim was pointing at Malfoy with one of her unusually long digit. They all fell soundless as Harry and his teacher entered the room.

"Severus what is this ?"Dumbledore asked pointedly.

"This is the fourth champion."Snape glanced down at Harry."Apparently."

"What is ‘ zis."Madam Maxim waved her hand at Harry."Some form of joke to you here at ‘ ogwarts ? First your champion iz a minor, now ‘ zis ?"

"I do not recall it is a joke."Karkarov said angrily."This so called champion."

"He is a champion. Despite what some of us might wish."Snape interrupted dryly. Harry couldn't supporter but guess how different he seemed from a moment ago."The entire of Hogwarts saw his name leave the goblet, as did the relegating from your own shoal. He is as legitimate a champion as-"

"As Mr Draco."Madam axiom scoffed."Your other underage champion."

"If I may…"Harry glanced at the man of to one slope who had begun to speak. He hadn ‘ t even realized Mr Crouch was in the room."The rules are very sort out. If a persons name leaves the goblet of flaming, then that person is a champ. There can be no denying that."

"Harry…"Dumbledore spoke for the first off time."Did you put your epithet into the chalice of fire ?"

"I…"Harry felt Snape's hand tap him in the humble of the binding."… No."He heard the potions master breathing space out lightly."No I didn ‘ t. I tried but… I couldn ‘ t get past the ward."

"And you Draco ?"Snape asked Malfoy.

"Honestly sir…"Malfoy smirked."I have no melodic theme how my name got in there."

Yes you do you slimy little… Harry's fists clenched involuntarily.

"fountainhead I believe that settles it."Dumbledore clapped his script together."rest assured this matter will be investigated but until then… we have four champions."

Harry shook his head. Why did he get the tactile sensation that the worst was yet to come ?
*


As they left the room Harry fell into step with Malfoy. Neither spoke until they were out of earshot of the instructor. Harry took a intimation to steady himself then said,

"I assume that no one named Saint David Mason really goes to Hogwarts ?"Malfoy turned to him and sneered.

"goodness wasn ‘ t it."Malfoys voice took on a simpering tone."Oh Harry, it wouldn ‘ t be fair if everyone didn ‘ t have a chance."

"Bastard."

"I planned it all out. The hat, the personality, even down to the epithet. David Mason, sounds common doesn't it. Sounds muggleborn."Malfoy grinned triumphantly."And you fell for it."

"I repeat. Bastard."

"A by-blow who won. I said I was going to get you didn ‘ t I ? The look on your side when I was chosen…"

"Hang on…"Harry stopped suddenly."Why were you chosen ? Don ‘ t tell me the goblet actually picked you legit ? You wouldn ‘ t leave it up to chance."

"Very secure ceramist, you ‘ re not quite as stupe as you look."Malfoy smiled."Ever heard of a malignant protean appeal ? No of course-"

"A charm that aggressively seeks out thing that look a bit like it…"Harry interrupted."And makes them look exactly like it. Oh you little…."Understanding dawned in Harry's eye."The names ! You cast it on the names !"

"Exactly !"Malfoy nodded."My figure went in with the charm on it and changed all the other moorage so that they read Draco Malfoy. I didn ‘ t leave it to chance, I was the merely candidate."

"Bastard is too well a Book for you, I ‘ m going with rat-bastard."

"The operose bit was making indisputable it only changed the Hogwarts names."Malfoy was still in full exposition-mode."I mean it would ‘ ve looked a bit odd if I had been picked for Beauxbatons."

"Rat-bastard-wanker."

"Which is why I can ‘ t understand,"Malfoy turned to Harry, his center narrowing."How you were picked. My enchantment should have gotten you…"

Harry said nothing, fairly sure that the protean had eaten up the fighting of parchment that had had his name on it and that the one that had eventually come out had been put in by someone else.

"You must have found some way to embark as another school."Malfoy said thoughtfully."Tricked the goblet into entering your figure for a quarter school."

Mental note : suggest that theory to somebody. Dumbledore ? No, too meddlesome. McGonagall ? She would go straight to Dumbledore. Moody ? He'd shoot a line it way out of proportion. Snape ? … ?

"Just recall ceramicist,"Malfoy brought him back to the bit."I know who the real Hogwarts maven is and I ‘ m going to prove it to everyone."

"You think you ‘ re gon na win ?"Harry laughed."Hands up everyone who ‘ s fought basilisks and werewolves… What ? Just me ?"

"I will demolish you."Malfoy took off again in the instruction of the Slytherin dungeon."Mark my words Potter."

"Marked."Harry rolled his eyes."Marked, signed and sealed in the bullshit box along with Nostradamus and UFOs."

Harry turned and hurried up towards the Gryffindor common room. The palace was empty but the portraits were whispering to each early as he climbed through towards the one-seventh floor. He stopped in one desolate corridor and quietly called,

"Myrtle…"He waited a few bit, then the glowing female child slid through the floor.

"Hmm ?"She cocked her head quizzically, then giggled."I heard a rumor about you. Something about being mavin ?"

Harry grinned and winked, Vinca minor giggled again.

"Knew it would have to be you Harry."

"Marauders don't lose."Harry said cockily."As you well know."

"Because I am a marauder."Vinca minor said, proudly puffing up her smoky contour, Harry nodded.

"I wanted to ask you something."Vinca minor became serious as Harry spoke."Did you see anyone else go near the goblet last nighttime, maybe before the relief of us got there or after we left ?"

"Nope."Myrtle shook her principal."Didn ‘ t see anyone."She put peculiar emphasis on the Christian Bible ‘ see ’.

"myrtle ? Keeping secrets isn ‘ t nice."Harry tutted playfully.

"I didn ‘ t see anyone."The specter repeated, smiling slyly."But one prison term the doorway opened by itself, a minute later the chalice flared up like mortal put something in it. Then the doorway closed."

"invisibleness cloak."Harry guessed, nodding."Did you try to get a look-see ?"

"Of course."Myrtle looked offended."I followed them but I couldn't get close. I wasn ‘ t seen."She added proudly.

"I know you weren't."Harry nodded, Myrtle looked a little happier."Can you ask around the portraiture ? See if anyone saw anyone sneaking around ?"

"Of course Harry !"Vinca minor beamed at being given a job and scene away through the rampart. Harry chuckled, it was amazing how having champion changed a somebody, or a ghost.

Harry walked around the corner and stood in front line of the fat madam. The woman in the portraiture crossed her arms and said,

"I ‘ m waiting."

"I ‘ m not."Harry spelled an unlocking appeal and the portrait creaked to the side.

"I wish you wouldn ‘ t do that Mr Potter."The fat ma'am shook her head.

"It ‘ s easier than remembering the passwords."Harry grinned as he stepped through the portrait muddle. As soon as he was through he was viciously attacked."Get off me ! Geroff !"

"We knew it ‘ d be you Harry !"

Harry pushed away the massed legion of Gryffindor household, smiled and bowed when they cheered for him, looked up in mild shock at the poster of him they had hung above the hearth and sought out the marauders.

"We need to talk."Harry said before anyone could open their mouths."Too many spike here, up to the bedroom."Harry's friend wordlessly followed him up to the boy sleeping accommodation and he hastily sketched out everything that had happened. After he had finished the foremost thing Ron said was,

"Malfoy ‘ s gon na pay."

"I ‘ m a bit more worried about this invisible man."Padma said, shaking her capitulum."Invisibility cloaks are rare."

"Maybe someone just really treasured Harry to win."Her Sister suggested.

"Then why bother wearing the cloak."Hermione pointed out."People who hide what they ‘ re doing are usually up to something."

"Malfoy ‘ s gon na pay !"Ron repeated, apparently ignoring the conversation around him.

"Why the hell would mortal want me in the challenger ?"Harry wondered aloud."Want it enough to go to these lengths ?"

"Maybe someone wants to give Hogwarts a better chance."Fred said evenly, his chum added…

"Or Gryffindor."George grinned."If they ‘ ll keep helping we should put some money on you."

"More likely someone hopes they can use the tourney to off me without anyone suspecting anything."Harry shrugged."That would be more than my luck."

"Harry, stop being paranoid !"Hermione admonished him."You ‘ re beginning to voice like prof Moody."

"Professor Moody is the most sensible individual that ‘ s ever taught us."Harry said, to general shock absorber."It ‘ s not paranoia if they really are out to get you !"

"Harry someone made you a champion !"Pavarti said in aggravation."It ‘ s a well matter, this person is trying to avail you !"

"Malfoy is going to-"

"Oh pay attention Ron !"Hermione snapped."Try to maintain up."

"Lots of money…"George continued.

"No one ‘ s helping him."Padma said to her sister.

"Malfoy is going-"

"They could be-"

"Money-"

"sufficiency !"Harry cut through the bickering marauders."We know nothing. Not enough to actually work anything out at any pace. discourse at this decimal point is useless…"Harry trailed off as Myrtle rose through the floorboards.

"Domestic hassle ?"The ghost giggled.

"You find something Myrtle ?"Harry asked quickly."Did one of the portrayal see individual mistrustful ?"

"Yes."She pointed at Harry."You. And you and you and you…"She pointed at Padma, Ginny and Ron."… and you and you and you -"

"Ok, we get the point."Harry held his work force up. He shook his straits ruefully."Thanks for trying."

"But…"Vinca minor did a piffling closed circuit in the air and winked."The old Lady near the kitchens said that Moody ‘ s got a cloak."

"What ?"Harry jerked, startled, like the rest of the marauders."An invisibility cloak ? Seriously ?"

"Mm Hm !"Myrtle hummed happily, obviously proud of gaining this tidbit of info."And they ‘ re not that common."

"No."Hermione murmured,"They ‘ re really rare."

"‘ The most sensitive person that ‘ s ever taught us'Harry ?"Ginny grinned."Anything you have to say ?"

"piranha never lose."Harry said chuckling."They are however, on juncture, dead wrong."
*


When Harry opened his optic the succeeding morning he groaned and rolled back over. He knew exactly what this day would bring.

"It ‘ s him !"

"It ‘ s Harry !"

"The champion !"

"Yeah yeah yeah, and no I will not give a bloody autograph !"Harry fended off a bunch of Gryffindors."Y ‘ d think they had never met me before."

"That's character of it Harry."Hermione said sagely.

"They haven't met me ?"Harry said quizzically, eyeing a camera-wielding Colin Creevy."I ‘ m sure as shooting I ‘ ve met him."

"But Harry you ‘ re very good at making people draw a blank you ‘ re Harry Potter."The two of them moved out of the common elbow room on the way to ancient runes."What I'm saying is that they just got reminded."

"Forgetting I ‘ m Harry thrower ?"

"You know…"Hermione waved vaguely."Juggling, joking, making everyone tactile property at ease, masses forget you ‘ re a celebrity. It ‘ s not deliberate…"

Harry winced, it was often entirely deliberate.

"But that ‘ s not to make people forget."Harry ducked behind a suit of armour as a chemical group of students passed by, then continued,"That's just… you know… breaking the ice."

"Like with Ginny ?"Hermione grinned slyly.

"Like with Ginny."Harry nodded, unfazed."Ron told you about that ?"

"Yes."

"On one of your little walks ?"

"Yes."Hermione's oculus narrowed.

"On one of your amorous walk ?"

"Harry !"

"What ?"Harry grinned as Hermione shoved him irritably."Weren ‘ t they romantic ?"

"We discussed ducks."Hermione said flatly, not meeting Harry's optic."And ponds."

"Ze art of seduction."Harry affected a French accent."It is truly dead."
*


After runes the two of them met up with the early piranha down in the potions classroom.

Harry had already decided that he'd let Snape in on what they'd found out and was torn between dread and oddity. Snape had obviously turned some kind of new folio but they had never pressed to see how far that variety went. To recreate it safe he actually tried during the potions lesson. He still failed but at least cypher exploded this time. After class he lingered by his desk, putting away his satiate very slowly.

"Something you want Potter ?"Snape looked up from his desk.

"Um…"Harry waited a tick for the shoemaker's last student to go away then said."I ‘ ve had an idea about why my name might sustain come out of the goblet."

"Yes ?"

"If soul entered me for a fourth school."Snape appeared thoughtful and Harry pressed on."That would ensure I got picked, and it would explain why there were four champions."

"Interesting…"Snape tapped the end of his pen on his lip thoughtfully. Wait… ! Harry did a stunt man take in case his eyes had deceived him. Snape was using a pen ! It was an antiquate looking fountain pen but still… Snape interrupted his thoughts."Of course of study that would mean that the real champion was Draco."

"Probably no way to evidence it."Harry said quickly.

"Actually-"

"No way to evidence it at all."Harry grinned, for a minute he could have sworn he saw the boundary of Snape's mouthpiece twitch up.

"Perhaps not."Snape shook his head."In any eccentric finding out who did put your name in and why is of greater importance."Snape's helping hand moved to his arm involuntarily, like a reflex.

"problem ?"Harry asked. Snape shook his heading, his eye downcast.

"Premonition."

"Not usually very reliable those."Harry chuckled.

"This one is."Snape didn't seem to find like he had to add anything else but something clicked on the sharpness of Harry's memory.

"The nighttime mark ?"Snape's mind whipped up.

"How do you know about that ?"He asked harshly.

"I…"Harry opened his mouth to answer but realized with jar that he had no thought how he had heard about the dark mark. It was all there though, the scratch in the sky meant expiry, the crisscross in material body meant servitude."I must have… read it… somewhere…"

Snape had strode around the table in an second and seize Harry by his shoulder joint. This meter it didn't feel like a little pressure in his judgment, it felt like a hammer.

"plosive consonant ! It hurts !"Harry yelled.

"hitch occluding your thinker !"Snape growled, jerking Harry's question back to keep eye contact.

"I ‘ m not !"Harry pushed Snape away but kept eye striking, deliberately relaxing his brain. Snape opened his mouth in seismic disturbance, memories flashed yesteryear for a few moments before Snape broke the connectedness and sagged back onto his desk.

"Satisfied ?"Harry snarled, breathing hard.

"Not even slightly."Snape shook his head word, he also seemed out of breathing place."I couldn ‘ t see how you know about the Gospel According to Mark, or that I have one."

"I told you. I must have read it somewhere."Harry shook his head."Why do you stimulate one anyway ? I mean why did you become a death eater ?"

"Youth. Stupidity. Misplaced rage."Snape stood slowly and rolled his arm back. The gull was exactly as Harry remembered it except greatly faded. If Snape's skin wasn't so pale it would be almost invisible.

"Why did you depart ? Why shortcoming to Dumbledore ? I assume that ‘ s what you did or you wouldn ‘ t be here."

"Why ? …"Snape cocked his head and a paring of a smile appeared on his boldness."Surprisingly the rationality is something that is not of the slightest importance to me anymore. But rest assured I am no longer Whitney Young, stupid person or full of lose rage."

"It ‘ s well placed you mean ?"Harry dug slyly.

"It ‘ s more… channeled."Snape stood and brushed his robes with his paw before walking to a console behind his desk and getting out a small phial of blue potion."I am sorry for invading your thinker so roughly. This should help oneself with the pain."He held out the vial.

"You taste it first."Snape's eyebrow quirked up quizzically."unremitting vigilance."

Snape chuckled and drank a estimable swallow of the potion before handing it to Harry who gratefully chucked back the rest. His headache disappeared almost instantly.

"Is it getting darker ?"Harry asked.

"Slowly."Snape nodded."I have yet to distinguish Dumbledore. He may react unpredictably."

"Know what that's like."Harry chuckled."Do you think Voldemort or maybe the death eaters have something to do with the goblet and me ?"

"We don ‘ t have the entropy to make that judgment right now."Snape waved his hired man as if batting something away."Although I always believe it prudent to prepare for the worst."

"Yeah…"Harry said, but he had thought of something. He bit his lip and looked at Snape thoughtfully.

"potter ? What are you thinking ?"

"Just wondering how far our new cease-fire goes."Harry glanced back at the threshold to hold back no one was listening."If I were to ask for veritaserum…"

"You have a suspect ?"Snape guessed."And you wish to interview them to be sure."

"That would be a rubber assumption."Harry replied evasively.

"Tell me who it is and I will do it."

"You would never get finale enough."Harry grinned."I think I can."

Snape regarded him silently for a few present moment then moved back to the potions cabinet. He muttered a study under his breath and a drawer appeared out of the side. Snape reached in and drew out a tiny bottle, barely more than a thimble.

"deuce-ace pearl is all that is necessary."Snape pressed the feeding bottle into Harry's hand."Show no one else. Tell no one you have that."

"Thank you."Harry curled his fingers around the little bottle."I ‘ ll secern you how it plays out."Harry moved off towards the door but stopped just before opening it.

"Out of interest…"He asked, looking back at his teacher across the empty classroom."Whose is that small b owl ?"

"None of your business Potter."

"Ah…"Harry tapped the side of his olfactory organ."She must really be something…"

"She is."
*


Harry didn't have a moral with Moody until Friday, which meant that he had to carry that picayune bottle around the unscathed clock time, a short bottle of carry-able jitteriness. He constantly weighed the risks of hiding it somewhere with the risks of having it found on his person but in the end come down on the incline of the latter. Besides, his coat had a few pocket that would elude all but the most strong-growing searchers.

When the deterrent example actually came about Harry was gritting his teeth, he still didn't know if this was a secure melodic theme, or even possible. It wasn't too lately to return the bottle to Snape, or to find somewhere to hide it and save it for later.

"Something bothering you Potter ?"

Harry looked up from his desk into the boldness of the ex-auror.

"No, nothing."Harry shook his capitulum."Well…"

"Yes ?"

"There is something I want to ask you, but after the lesson."Harry made himself search down and put a lilliputian match in his vox."If you ‘ re not too busy."

"Hmm."Helen Wills Moody scratched his chin."Well, whatever it is it isn ‘ t keeping you from taking government note is it ?"

Harry looked down at his page, it was hollow except for a little ink draft of a cottage.

"Would you believe inconspicuous ink ?"

"No."

"Didn ‘ t think so."Harry reached for his shaft. After the lesson he stayed hush, with his bag not even packed. The predator already knew he had something planned and left him be but…

"You not leaving Harry ?"Harry turned and saw Susan castanets paused near his desk.

"Getting an surplus credit essay."Harry replied glibly.

"You ? Doing an surplus credit essay ?"unbelief radiated from the Hufflepuff."You don ‘ t even do your formula essays."

"I do so."

"Without copying from Hermione."

"I-"

"Or Padma."

"Oh."Harry cocked his header and shrugged."Does it really weigh what I ‘ m up to ?"

"Just wondering what happens if the school champion is expelled."

"One of the school champions."Harry corrected."The entirely human star granted but still…"

"Oh no one in Hufflepuff believes Malfoy ‘ s really a champion."Susan rolled her eyes."No one in Ravenclaw either. You didn ‘ t know that Harry ? You ‘ re usually wired into the rumour manufactory of this school."

"I ‘ ve had a lot on my mind."Harry conceded. He actually never listened to rumors, that was Parvarti's job and to a lesser extent Ron ‘ s."The mill can run without me for a while."

"Of course."Susan nodded and moved off. She paused to say,"We are all rooting for you you know."Before turning towards the door.

Interesting. Harry smiled thoughtfully as he watched her take the air away, his eyes drifting down a piddling. Very worry. Why hadn't he noticed before how-

"Potter."Harry whipped his head around. Moody was looking at him shrewdly."I know I said Constant Vigilance but…"

"Don ‘ t cultivation that prison term Professor."Harry grinned."Unless you want me to go mentioning that near thaumaturgy eyes can be made to see through clothing."

"I don't use that setting…"Moody replied gruffly, then winked."…any more."

Harry laughed and a moment later was joined by his teacher.

"So,"Moody, walked back to the instructor desk and motioned for Harry to sit nearby."What was it you wanted to talk about ?"

"Oh yeah."Harry made his voice dip a little."That."

Harry swallowed and took a deep breath.

"My parents."

"Ah."Helen Wills shook his head ruefully."Sad business thrower, very sad, but I ‘ m not the one to lecture to. I didn ‘ t know them before the war-"

"I don ‘ t want more anecdotes."Harry dilled up the hostility, it had to bet like he had been stewing over this for a while."Not more schoolhouse narrative. I want to know how they died, the wholly write up. Details."

"Why ?"Dwight Lyman Moody asked bluntly."Why do you want to hear about your parents murder ?"

"Because it ‘ s something no one else seems prepared to talk about."Harry shook his head angrily."You were an auror, you also knew them. Fair bet you examined the house right, investigated ?"Harry knew Moody had been involved in the investigating, he left nix to chance.

"Yes I did."See ?"But I ‘ m still not sure you want to know."

"I don ‘ t want to. I need to."Harry pleaded, putting a minuscule iron into his voice."It ‘ s a fair bet Voldemort's not done having an influence on my life. I need to know how it began."

Helen Newington Wills shook his head and grimaced.

"Don ‘ t know where to begin."He reached down and took a swig from his hip flaskful. Harry grinned.

"You can part with the goblet of fire."

"What ?"Helen Newington Wills shook his header as if to enlighten it. His magic eye was rolling listlessly and the other looked milky and unfocussed."The goblet ?"

"Yes, did you put my epithet into it ?"Harry asked, flatly.

"No."Moody answered in a straight tone. Harry closed his center, that meant he had made a error, which meant he was screwed.

"Did you get soul else to put my figure in ?"Harry asked desperately."And where ‘ s your invisibility cloak."

"No, I do not hump who put your figure in the goblet of fire."Moody said, again with no emotion."My cloak is in my bureau, there."He pointed with one gnarled finger.

"Ok, that's not good. For me."Harry looked up at the clock. With the Venus's curse he gave the effect would only last a few more seconds."Please don ‘ t killing me."

Helen Wills just continued his faded stare, then he blinked and shook his head. fruition dawned in his eye and Harry saw him grip his verge tightly. In a flash the ex-auror whipped it around and Harry felt Mexican valium pin his arms to the chair.

"How did you do it ?"The professor asked, coldly.

"Lifted the flask from your pocket. Put it back later in the lesson."Harry replied evenly. Being sorry wouldn't get him out of this, being earnest might."Managed to break the magic spell you used on it too."

"That a fact."Helen Newington Wills reached out and emptied the flask onto the floor, the water sparkled in the light from the window."And why did you do it ?"

"I found out that the someone who put my name in the chalice did it under the cover of an invisibility cloak."Harry crossed his arms."They ‘ re uncommon, and you, the proud owner of two, had just come to Hogwarts. That seemed like too a lot of a coincidence."

"And what have you learnt ?"

"It… was a coincidence."Harry conceded."It wasn ‘ t you."

"What else ?"

"Eh ?"Harry was genuinely confused.

"What else ?"

"Um… I don ‘ t know. Sir."Harry added.

"You always disarm person when you ‘ re questioning them."Helen Newington Wills flicked his verge again and the ropes fell loose."Even in they ‘ re potioned. That was slapdash ceramicist, very sloppy. I ‘ m disappointed in you."

Harry's jaw dropped.

"But… you mean… you ‘ re not mad ?"

"Mad ? No, no, no,"Helen Wills Moody waved the interrogative away."You had hunch you acted on it. I woulda done the same."

"But I got past your defenses, I could have poisoned you."

"Better you do it than one of my enemies, oh and by the way…"Moody smiled like a tiger, for once both middle focused on Harry."I ‘ ll need a six scroll essay on how you broke the spells on my flask."

"Six roll ?"

"Make it ten."

"Eep."

"Don ‘ t worry thrower, it ‘ ll be over before you know it. Or in other words it ‘ ll be over tomorrow as that's when I ‘ ll be expecting the essay."

"Oh."

"On the plus position though Potter, I trust you now."

"WHAT ?"Harry exploded, spluttering in disbelief."I spike you and question you and now you trust me ! ?"

"Yeah, well more than I did."Moody nodded.

"Why ?"Harry asked aghast.

"You had me drugged and I ‘ m still alive. mean value I have proof you ‘ re not trying to pop me."Helen Newington Wills said this as if it was the most ordered thing in the world.

"I was wrong."Harry shook his head in disbelief."You ‘ re nuts. You're crazy. You ‘ re completely bloody gonzo."

"Yeah ?"Moody leant in towards Harry's face."fountainhead so are you."

"Possible,"Harry conceded."I did once parachuting onto a moving train."

"Ha !"Moody snorted."That's nothing. Try a moving dragon."

Harry laughed and shook his head, this had turned out alright after all.

"Eh ?"Moody said, furrowing his hilltop."Don ‘ t you have a lesson to get to."

"Yes, but it's creatures so I was actually marginally safer staying here and drugging you."

"Even so."Helen Wills Moody gestured at the door."You ‘ d best be going. Don ‘ t forget that essay."

Harry nodded and walked away from the desk. As he reached the door a thought struck him and he turned back.

"You didn ‘ t ask me there the potion came from."

"Oh I think I can guess."Moody grew serious.

"You ‘ re not happy ?"

"constant quantity Vigilance Potter."Moody said"Keep your allies close-"

"-and my enemy closer."Harry rolled his oculus."I know."

"That's not it at all !"Dwight Lyman Moody said with sudden warmth."Keep your allies close Potter, but watch them even closer."



Please review, It 'll make me compose faster. Pavlov told me so !


Note for French people people 2 : Ok, this chapter actually contains people speaking in french. I should warn you that I do not speak French people. Well, I do a bit but GCSEs were a long metre ago and I only got a B. In any fount the french in this chapter is almost certainly wrong, sorry. If you want to tell me the right translations i 'll put them up.



Harry propped the Bible up in movement of him and tried to pull in the words stay in one property rather than fading out and becoming one prospicient boring blur.

"This, this is interesting Harry."Hermione yawned and pushed another book over too him."It makes your skin all stiff so things can't hurt you."She yawned again and put her bridge player up to her mouth.

"Go to bed."Harry told her, sighing."You don ‘ t have stay up with me, I ‘ m the bloody champion."

"No Harry I like looking up… stuff…"Hermione yawned again, breaking up whatever she was going to say.

"Without knowing what the first task is it ‘ s pretty useless."Harry closed his book wearily and rested his Chin on it."And I know you consider breaking into the library tantamount to sacrilege."

"It ‘ s alright if it ‘ s for the tourney"Hermione rationalized."Do you want me to get more books ?"

"No, I want to give up."Harry shook his mind."Lashkar-e-Taiba go back to the tower."

They packed their stuff and Harry spelled the lock on the library back closed. He was about to turn down the corridor when a luminousness appeared near the other end and Harry pushed Hermione back into the library.

"Who is it ?"

"No clue."Harry shrugged and closed the door quietly. He put his ear to it as the voices got closer."Beaxbattons pupil I think."

"How do you have it away ?"

"They ‘ re speaking French."Harry whispered as the lightness passed outside the door."Talking about the initiative task."

"Ho… Wait you speak French ?"Hermione whispered hoarsely.

"You gave me the musical phrase books for my birthday."

"But I didn ‘ t think you ‘ d actually use them !"

"You learn languages a lot quicker with wit sharpening potion. Had the basics down in under a week."

"That ‘ s cheating !"Hermione said, sounding scandalized.

"Did someone invent new rules while I was away ?"Harry suddenly frowned."That didn't audio like a student."Harry cracked the room access and slinked out after the retreating voices.

"Ce n'est pas juste."Harry silenced his feet so he could move faster after the retreating spokesperson and heard Hermione do the same behind him."psyche devrions dire les autres concurrents !"

"That ‘ s Delacour."Hermione hissed into Harry's ear. She sounded oddly spiteful."What ‘ s she saying ?"But Harry waved her into muteness as a beefy vox began speaking.

"La fraude fait partie des règles. Il toujours a été."

"brothel keeper Maxim ?"Harry guessed, Hermione nodded."She ‘ s saying that cheating ‘ s part of the rules."

"I bet Fleur's going along with-"

"Fleur ‘ s arguing, but it sound like whatever it is it ‘ s already been done."Harry leant around a corner and jerked back as he saw the two French char stopped in the corridor beyond.

"Non !"Fleur was saying angrily."Vous me forcez à choisir entre mes esprit de corps et mon école."

"She ‘ s not happy."Harry shook his forefront."She thinks Maxim ‘ s forcing her to cheat."

"Puits que tu connais maintenant."The headmistress said matter-of-factly."Ne tu inquiéteras pas à son sujet. Tu dois penser au dragon."

"dragon ?"Harry broke into a smile. He turned to Hermione."See this is why I eavesdrop."

"Cheater."She smiled though.

"Tu as une stratégie ?"Madam maxim asked."Tu pouvais le distraire. Tu-"

"Non !"Fleur drew herself up."Je ferai le repos moi-même."

"Comme tu souhaites."ma'am Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim said and they began to walk back towards where the two marauder were hiding. Harry moved to walk into the corridor but Hermione grabbed him.

"Harry what are you doing ?"She hissed angrily.

"Headgames !"Harry grinned evilly and stepped out in front of the two cleaning lady."So… firedrake eh ?"

Their jaws dropped.

"Thanks for the tip !"Harry grinned and winked at his fellow protagonist then turned to the Gallic headmistress and with a grimace said,"Tu es un idiot et tu es un hypocrite. Tu accuses des Hogwarts de la fraude mais tu triches la toute première chance que tu obtiens."

"You little… !"dame Maxime spluttered incoherently but Harry cut her off and switched to English.

"fountainhead rip off all you want, doesn ‘ t subject. As you know now I am everywhere in this school. I will know if you cheat, I will jazz everything you do. So it all works out the same in the end."Harry turned back to the startled Miss Delacour."dependable fortune with the dragon."And with that he turned and walked away.

well, he walked until he reached the first nook, then he started to run.
*


"Potter ?"

Sleepy.

"potter !"

Ok, not sleepy anymore, just faking.

"Potter get up !"Harry jerked theatrically and raised his foreland off his desk to reckon at prof McGonagall.

"Sleepy Professor,"Harry grinned."I stayed up late doing very authoritative champion stuff."

It was actually straight, he had indeed been spending every Night researching ways to make out with large, enraged, fire breathing reptilian but he hadn ‘ t had a lot portion. Most of the Word of God had the unhelpful assumption that you would be percentage of a team of wizards dealing with these creatures. If he could just see one that assumed you were a affright, shortsighted, 14 year old who wasn't much good at defense against the shadow artistry or aid of sorcerous creatures he would be set.

"Well that doesn ‘ t get you out of concentrating on your lessons."She pointed at the crystal ball that he had transfigured function way from a tortoise. It still had leg and a tail and was blindly butting against Harry's transfiguration schoolbook."all over the translation or at least turn it back into a tortoise, it is just cruel to entrust it like this."

Harry shrugged and tried to finish the transfiguration. Two of the wooden leg disappeared, and the poor matter balanced on the other two before toppling and almost rolled off the table before Ron caught it. McGonagall moved away muttering about ‘ whiz'and ‘ idiots ‘ using the same inflection for each.

"wellspring we can fret transfig'off the dragon-taming possibilities."Harry accepted his tortoisphere back from his friend and tried idly to make the remaining arm disappear.

"I could spell to Charlie."Ron offered. He had managed to make a crystal tortoise that looked like it should be in some seaboard natural endowment shop.

"Don ‘ t, I ‘ m cheating just by using you guys."Harry made the tail disappear and sighed."I should just run in and bulge cursing it. ail spear ‘ s worked before."

"You ‘ re not allowed to use dark magic Harry."Neville reminded him from his other side."It ‘ s restricted by the rules of the tourney or something."

"And it probably wouldn ‘ t work."Ron cast the magic spell again and got a round orb of tortoise shell."tartar skin is-"

"Very, very slurred. Also curse-proof."Harry interrupted."I know."Harry slumped back in his president and looked up at the roof. He closed his eyes and massaged his synagogue, he had a stabbing headache from all the studying and late nights. If he propped his book up and fell asleep…

"Mr Potter !"

"I ‘ m awake !"Harry shook his foreland. The class giggled.

"What I meant Mr Potter."McGonagall continued."Is that you are needed in the third flooring arithmancy classroom. Do you love where it is ?"

Small slatted window that doesn't curl properly ?

"I know it."Harry nodded."What ‘ s this about ?"

"Very important champion stuff."McGonagall narrowed her eyes."Now."

Harry gathered his hooey and hurried out of the room. Since it was course time all the corridors were empty and Harry made it to the schoolroom without seeing anyone. Wondering what this could possibly be about he pushed the room access open.

"Ah, Mr thrower. So good of you to unite us."Mr Crouch had stood up when he entered. Dumbledore and the other headmaster were also there, as was a beldam in Ne greens gown he didn't recognize. She had a flight feather and composition out and looked like she was currently grilling Krum. The Bulgarian, for his voice, seemed resigned to this and was answering her monosyllabically. Fleur and Malfoy were no where to be found.

"What an I joining you for ?"Harry asked."If it's a party then you ‘ ll need more nibbles. I skipped lunch."

"This is the weighing of the verge ceremony."Mr Crouch said calmly, ignoring Harry's flippancy."Don ‘ t worry it ‘ s mostly a formality."

wand weighing ? Harry took out his wand, it looked alright. A bit scuffed here and there but then so was he. Harry heard the door open and turned,

"What is this ?"Malfoy stood in the doorway with his bag."Why was I called ?"

"Just the wei-"Dumbledore began but was interrupted by the green robed witch.

"Mr Malfoy,"She stood and held out a script in one movement."Rita Skeeter. Pleasure to meet you, if I could just-"

"My father has a several very ripe lawyers."Malfoy interrupted her suddenly."So if you print anything libelous…"

"Mr Malfoy,"Rita Skeeter held her hands to her chest as if she had been hurt."You insult me, the people want to hear from their champion. Champions."She added, glancing at Harry with a crocodile-smile.

Scanning for insincerity : Insincerity detected.

Harry contorted his expression into a care smile.

"If I could take over the both of you for a moment."Skeeter pushed them both back out the door and into the schoolroom opposite."There now, that's more well-situated. None of those old judges and officials."

"Everything she says is a lie."Harry thought to himself."And you had better look out what you say too."

"Do you mind if I use a quick quote quill ?"

"Yes."Malfoy said at the Lapp fourth dimension as Harry said,

"No."Harry noticed that Malfoy was looking slightly worried so followed up with,"I mean ‘ no don ‘ t use it.'”

"Oh,"The reporter looked disappointed, then brightened up slightly."I hear you two have a petty competition going."Harry opened his mouth but Malfoy answered before he could speak.

"I wouldn't scream me beating him at every year a competition."

"Whatever."Harry shrugged.

"You ‘ re not going to argue Potter ?"Malfoy sneered at him.

"Nah, make up any lie you want."Harry shrugged again."That's what she ‘ s gon na do."

"fountainhead Mr Potter,"Rita Skeeter asked smoothly."Do you think you, a mere twelve yr old, can succeed in this contention that has clamed the life of wizards old and knowing than you."

"I don ‘ t know."Harry scratched his heading."The fact that I intend to wander outrageously may help."

"You…"Rita Skeeter's eye's lit up."You're going to cheat ?"

"I already have !"Harry replied happily."Say, do you think that Karkarov guy ‘ s open to buy ? He looks like a man who enjoys the finer things."

"Potter…"Malfoy hissed from between clenched teeth but Harry ignored him.

"Of course It'll be easy to bribe him using all the stolen holding that I own. Would you like a rhombus necklace ?"

Rita's calamus was moving so fast she was tearing the paper.

"I can always incur to a greater extent through my extensive criminal contacts."

"ceramist stop now you id-"Harry winked at Malfoy, shutting him up.

"Of course my primary interest remains kitten-smashing."At Skeeter's shocked face he continued."Yes, kitten-smashing. It ‘ s kind of like a sport, you use a special club. Baby seals as well, and cunning fiddling chipmunks. Deer, ostriches, endangered marmosets, jigger, dolphins that sort of thing."

"Mr Potter…"The reporter's eyes narrowed.

"What ?"Harry grinned."If you ‘ re going to get up lies about me they might as well be entertaining. How about saying I ‘ m a vampire or a Nazi or that I have two heads and one of them speaks smooth Italian."

"Don ‘ t play this secret plan with me Mr Potter."Rita Skeeter tapped her calamus against her calamus against her notepad."You won ‘ t win."

"Yes I will."Harry smiled."Marauders always do, in the end."

"Am I interrupting ?"Their three heads turned to see Barty Crouch in the doorway."We ‘ re ready for you now."

Harry smiled and wandered out off the room, leaving the startled reporter stern. As he walked back into the arithmancy classroom he noticed that two more than the great unwashed had arrived. Fleur Delacour he was expecting, the other was more of a surprise.

"Mr Ollivander ?"

"Mr ceramist, so trade good to see you again."The old man looked the same as he had on the day, four years ago, that Harry had bought his wand. He wasn't acting as oddly however.

"You ‘ re doing the sceptre weighing ?"Harry guessed.

"I am Mr Potter, I am."He held out his hand and Harry grudgingly surrendered his wand. As soon as it left his hand he found himself feeling paranoid, almost au naturel. He kept eyeing up act of furniture for their potency as weapon system should person attack him.

"Your… this sceptre seems to run quite adequately."Mr Ollivander said slowly, looping a long gold ribbon out of the tip."Of course, if you were in the market for another…"

"No."Harry shook his headland before the baton maker could once again try to force a dissimilar sceptre on him as he had at their first meeting."That one ‘ s served me pretty good. I ‘ ll marijuana cigarette with it if you don ‘ t mind."

"Very well."Ollivander shook his head and handed the wand back."I don ‘ t understand it but…"He spread his work force and shrugged.

Everyone else in the room kept shooting Harry odd looks for the end of the wand weighing, everyone except Dumbledore.
*


As Harry was walking away from the weighing when he heard a vox behind him.

"Do you have a here and now Mr ceramist ?"Harry turned to see Barty Crouch."If I were you I would not lowball Ms Skeeter."

"I don ‘ t underestimate her, she overestimates herself."

"Perhaps so."The judge nodded."But she has the potential difference to cause you genuine harm."

"No she doesn ‘ t."Harry interjected."joint and Harlan Stone and all that, I ‘ ve survived worse than bad press."

"I am worried about you Mr Potter."Mr Crouch moved up to stand next to Harry."There is Sir Thomas More than one reason we increased the age demarcation line on entree to the tourney. I fear you are too young to stand up to the scrutiny."

"Me ? Harry boy-who-lived Potter ?"

"Ah, yes."Mr Crouch chuckled a trivial."Perhaps you are right on that musical score, but nevertheless a certain level of adulthood is expected, even essential, and I worry that perhaps you do not experience it."

"I ‘ ll guard my end."Harry said, vaguely insulted.

"Do you palpate adequately physically and mentally prepared for the showtime job ?"Harry thought that an odd head, but answered anyway.

"No, not entirely."

"Well I can ‘ t have you advice of course."The honest-to-goodness man nodded."Just remember that no one is expecting you to win. Just by doing well you will accept exceeded everyone's expectation."

"And by winning I ‘ ll exceed them even more, and win some money !"

"Just conduct it slow down,"Mr Crouch told him."A respectable account is better than being injured so you can not compete."

"The only respectable grievance is winning."Harry grinned like a tiger.
*


Harry woke lazily the next day and ignored the strait of people going down to breakfast. This weekend had been a long tome coming and he was going to enjoy it.

On the way down to breakfast though he got an odd premonition feeling. His hunch were confirmed when he walked into the great dormitory and all conversation ceased. Harry walked down the Gryffindor tabular array to his friends in total secretiveness and sat down in the empty posterior they had left for him.

"Explanation ?"Harry asked quietly, the way was still almost deathly silent.

"Um, we think Malfoy may have talked to Rita Skeeter after you left."Hermione was holding a newspaper nervously, kneading the paper with he hands."He said some things and they printed some things…"

"reach it here."Harry reached out and grabbed the paper. He quickly scanned down the text…

… fellow genius Drako Malfoy says that everyone in Hogwarts knows they're just afraid to say anything."He hides it but everyone knows. I mean that ‘ s why he ‘ s so short and weedy."The hansom cab sixteen class old said"And it explains the hair."This newsperson has seen evidence to support these arguments and can bring out to you now the accuracy about Harriet Potter…

Harry burst out laughing. In the utterly silent great hall it sounded extra loud as Harry guffawed in great breathy gulps.

"Harriet ceramicist !"Harry dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"It ‘ s not singular Harry."Hermione said.

"Yes it is ! Look, they ‘ ve even doctored a picture of me."Harry pointed."I ‘ ve got yearn hair and boob and everything… Actually I don ‘ t feeling one-half bad… But come on no one ‘ s gon na believe this."

"You never know Harry."Ginny said from the early side."People tend to swear the Daily Prophet."

Harry had a sentiment and grinned. Without a Holy Scripture he stepped up onto the bench then up onto the Gryffindor table.

"Attention Hogwarts !"Harry yelled, he felt all eyes come to land on him."By now most of you will bear read the Daily Prophet, or have heard about it from someone. And unless you ‘ re deaf you ‘ ve heard how I regard these rumors. I have just two things to say, any guy who doubts me can get kicked in the face ( don't laugh I know where you all sleep ). And for any girl who doubts I ‘ m Male a demonstration can be arrang-"

"MR POTTER !"The school giggled as McGonagall stood from her place at the high table."My federal agency ! Now !"

"Thank you, thank you. I ‘ ll be here all week."Harry sauntered out of the hall, waving at the laughing bunch as he went. The last thing he saw before he left was the darkness look of murder on Malfoy's face and decided to rub salt in the wound."And Draco side by side clip you try to attack me remember of matter that would injure me not that would have hurt you. You care about repute. Me ? I don't gift a crap what anyone thinks !"

"MR potter !"

"I ‘ m going I'm going."Harry grinned and walked out. The scholar laughed again, some even cheered.
*


The prophet was forced to print a retraction the next day after hundreds of multitude wrote in to plain. Unfortunately Harry didn't have time to savor the victory as the first task drew closer and closer.

"I ‘ m screwed."Harry slid another book back into the library bookcase and looked along the shelf for early dragon related books."I am royally screwed."

It was the day before the first task and Harry had made an executive decision to ignore all his lessons that day. His prison term could be far honest used and he figured his instructor wouldn ‘ t mind, or wouldn ‘ t find out till too late.

Harry sighed. Or maybe they would and he'd be thrown out of the contest and saved the indignity of being roasted alive in front of the entire school.

He had nothing. Not one idea.

"I should just look sharp in."Harry thought, shaking his principal."showtime cursing, worked with the basilisk."

"Yes,"Said a little snide contribution of his judgment."But the basilisk almost killed you."

Harry took down another book only to recognize he had already read it and slammed it back into the bookshelf in anger.

"job Miss Potter ?"Harry heard the snide drawling voice and sagged tiredly.

"None Daisy Mayflower."He turned to Malfoy and crossed his arms."Shouldn ‘ t you be in moral ?"

"shoemaker's last class ended half an hour ago."Malfoy shot back condescendingly.

Harry felt his centre sag. He had thought he had more time than that, he must have lost track. He caught quite a little of the book in Malfoy's hired hand and his eyes flickered to the blazing gap in the shelf following to him. He saw the Slytherin's insensate Lady Jane Grey couplet catch him.

"How did you find out ?"Harry asked levelly.

"Find out what ?"

"About the flying lizard Malfoy. Don ‘ t play games."

Malfoy smiled.

"My father noticed that the ministry was putting licenses through for Draco manipulation equipment and dragon animal trainer and dragons."

"That is damming evidence."Harry shrugged."Got a strategy ?"

"Like I ‘ d tell you."Malfoy scoffed."A slight dragon doesn ‘ t trouble me."

"You almost sound like you mean that."Harry pretended to shift weight while actually bringing his wand around to bear."Lets see… Legillimens !"

It was like hitting a rubber bulwark. Harry felt his mental probe rebound off an Occlumency barrier like a lawn tennis ball off a tank and had barely a second gear to compile himself before the counter attempt hit his mind like a pneumatic drill.

"What the perdition ? !"Harry blanked his mind before any memories floated up. After a moment the practice receded.

"How dare you half-blood !"Malfoy tiff at him."Don't even think of trying that again. You ‘ re obviously an amateur compared to me. Just like you are at everything else."

"getting lessons from pappa are we ?"Harry kept his wand trained in grammatical case of another attack.

"I ‘ ve been an Occlumens since I was eight Potter."Malfoy said through gritted tooth."Don ‘ t try to get into my psyche, the very thought disgusts me. Even after a failed endeavor I feel like bathing."

"I ‘ m shocked you know what a Bath is Daisy."Harry shot back."We all thought you just-"

"SHUT UP ! Just because the vaticinator printed a recantation doesn ‘ t mean you ‘ ve won !"Malfy cracked, raising his verge."So don't joke don ‘ t make snide commentary, you are still going down. This tournament may be a prank to you but some of us care about preserving the honor of their names."Malfoy shook his heading fiercely and lowered his wand a fraction.

"You won ‘ t win ceramicist. You might as well quit now."Malfoy sneered at him."It ‘ s a dragon, you can't whoremonger it or lie to it or prank it or pilfer your way past it. You can ‘ t win. Just give up Potter, while you still can."

Malfoy turned and strode away, disappearing between the shelves. But Harry had begun to grin.

"Why the hell not ?"
*


Harry mustered together every Panthera uncia of high-handedness and cool he had to keep himself walking forward towards the pavilion that had been erected near the edge of the forest. He glanced to his right and saw Malfoy coming up from another focusing, surrounded by a crowd of Slytherins. Some of them were wearing badges bearing Malfoy's smirking face.

Harry reached the tent and swallowed hard before entering.

"sword lily you could conjoin us Mr Potter."Barty Crouch greeted him with a grin. The other champions were already there. Krum was sitting stoically, staring heterosexual person forward. Fleur looked green and had one manus pressed to her abdomen."Nervous ?"

YES ! Of course of action I'm bloody nervous ! I'm about-

"No, no sir."Harry answered out loud."I think I ‘ ve got it covered."He even managed it without his voice quavering.

"Ah and you are here too Mr Malfoy."Crouch said as Malfoy barged in through the curtain."Then let us get started."He reached over and picked up a modest bag. Harry noticed with a draught that it was squirming.

"The project once you enter the stadium is to retrieve a golden egg from its guardian."Crouch explained in his dry bureaucratic part."Inside this bag are four statutes. You will each use up one from the bag, at random. The statue should severalize you both what this guardian is and will also have got a number on it representing the order you will go in."

And first to the gallows will be…

"Miss Delacour…"Crouch held out the bag and the Daniel Chester French little girl put her hand in tentatively. She drew it out and revealed a small blueing dragon statue, currently gnawing on her thumb."The Swedish scant snout."

Fleur looked at the picayune thing in her hand then raised her chin in conclusion. But Harry saw a trace of affright in her eyes.

"Looks almost cute."Harry commented, looking at the dragon."Face looks kind of like a squirrel."

Fleur glanced again at the matter in her hand then looked at Harry in disbelief.

"Well… a bit."Harry grinned and saw a half smiling in return.

"Mr Krum."Crouch hurried them along. The Bulgarian stuck his hand into the bag and drew out a long red-gold flying dragon, dangling it by its stern."The Chinese Firebolt."

Krums expression didn't alteration, if anything it just became stonier.

"That's a weasel."Harry pronounced definitely ( babbling so he wouldn ‘ t hit a total nervous breakdown )."A Squirrel and a Weasel."

"Mr Malfoy."Crouch held the bag out again and Malfoy carefully removed a sleek looking black dragon."A Hebridean Black Mr Malfoy."

Malfoy seemed to be trying to keep open his facial expression ridged and unemotional, he was taking deep intimation through his nose.

"And you Harry."Crouch held out the bag and Harry reached in quickly and grabbed the last squirming statue. He held it in his fist as he brought it out, said a mum supplication to anyone listening, then opened his hand.

"The Hungarian Horntail."Mr Crouch pronounced tonelessly.

Harry closed his bridge player again and pumped his clenched fist into the air.

"YES !"

The three other champions were looking at him like he was crazy.

"Mr ceramist,"Crouch spluttered."You do know about that case of Dragon don ‘ t you ?"

"Read about ‘ em, yep."Harry nodded.

"And you ‘ re happy ?"

"Yep."

"potter you ‘ re insane."Malfoy said icily.

"Yep."

"Well…"Mr Crouch seemed a picayune flustered but motioned Malfoy towards the departure to the tent.

Harry watched them leave and took a deep breath. He sat down crisscross legged on the mob earthly concern and leant backrest against a tent pole.

"You are very confident."Krum said in his heavily accented voice.

"I ‘ m not worried."Harry said as he heard his racing substance beating in his ears.

Harry tried to blank out the phone of the crowd outside and the comments of the reviewer. He tried to breath deeply so as to quiet his heart. It didn't work.

"Mr Krum if you please !"Harry heard the whistle and wished Krum good luck as he walked out of the tent.

More arcminute of growling and snorting passed and Fleur began pacing the floor worriedly.

"It ‘ ll be alright."Harry told her as the bunch quieted down and the scores were put up."You got the tardily dragon."

"Easier."She replied without looking up.

"Just think of it as a giant fire-breathing squirrel."

"‘ Ow can you be so calmness !"She said to him angrily."‘ Ow can you jest about zis !"

"I joke about everything."

The whistle blew a second later and Fleur was gone too, gone to face the dragon. Harry got up and began pacing himself. He gripped his wand and began rehearsing what he would do again.

Nothing could possibly go wrong.

What the hell ? Everything could go wrong !

Harry squeezed his eyes shut as he heard the sing sound. He couldn't do this.
*


"And the shoemaker's last champion, HARRY POTTER !"The representative cried over the loudspeaker.

Professor McGonagall, like everyone else in the gang, looked towards the tent. A gust of wind flapped the edges of the canvas. No one came out.

"Um… Mr Potter ?"

No one came.

That wretched boy. She shook her head word, this had obviously been too much for him. The crowd had begun whispering now.

"Do you wish to go down there Albus, Or shall I ?"She turned to the Headmaster, who was oddly smiling."One of us will receive to find him."

"Oh I know exactly where he is."Dumbledore chuckled.

"You see it too ?"Moody cackled from the row below."Damn kid ‘ s got nerve I ‘ ll give him that."

"What are you talking about Allastor ? Albus ?"Minerva looked from one to the other confused.

"Barty Crouch told me that Harry was oddly happy to receive the Horntail."Dumbledore smiled."I did not quite understand that until now. The horntail is the most terrible Dragon in the world, but it ‘ s sightedness is quite poor."

sympathy dawned in Minerva McGonagall's creative thinker and she turned to scan the scene of action once more. After a instant she saw it. A small, human being shaped lump, perfectly camouflaged against the sand behind it, shimmering as it edged towards the dragon.
*


Harry shifted a hair's-breadth closer. He had silenced his understructure to get rid of his step but there was still the risk of something shifting or crunching. He could hear extremity of the gang beginning to laugh now, he didn't care. They'd know the truth when he snagged the egg right out from under the stomach of the thing. And besides, the more noise they made the better.

The Horntail suddenly shifted, raising it's nose mellow. Harry froze in a crouch. It sniffed the air.

Damn ! Harry froze. He had hoped that by keeping the wind in his face would have kept his scent from the animate being. Apparently not, that meant he would have to cast a spell, which would agitate the affair and expose his fix. But it would recover him anyway if he didn't. Too bad he didn't know non-verbal magic.

Harry drew his wand and tensed his ramification. The Disillusionment charm worked best when you stayed still but it wasn ‘ t perfect even then. The dragon would see through it once it got a cue where to look. He would deliver to move the instant he cast or he would be crispy-fried.

Harry took a late breath and yelled,

"Avgo Sapios !"The cloud of green smoke gushed out of his wand and smacked the dragon on the snout but Harry was already throwing himself sideways and rolling to a crouch on the floor.

Which was lucky because a moment later the Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin where he had been standing was reduced to a white-hot sheet. The dragon swept its lance of flame across the arena, passing just infantry in presence of Harry's face. Harry saw the sand steam and cool from blue-white to red, then to a duller, glassy, finish. A scar across the ground. Harry forced himself to breath again, shallowly.

He moved his school principal slowly to look at the Dragon, it was shaking its head from side to side as if to dislodge the foul flavor that had taken up residence in its nostrils.

When Harry was for sure it was looking the early way he hopped over the burnt belt and crouched down on the former slope. A gasp went up from the crew, they must stimulate seen him when he passed over the burnt patch.

"Don ‘ t get it agitated."Harry thought desperately as he inched closer."Just keep quiet."

"HEY DRAGON !"

Bugger.

Harry rolled to the position in panic as the dragon gouged another flaming scar across the George Sand. He realized belatedly that the downside of choosing to approach the dragon from downwind was that it put the Slytherin stands at his back.

"OVER Here !"

Harry ducked as a powerhouse flew over his drumhead. He risked a glance back to see it impact on a shield. The stands seemed to quiet down a bit, perhaps realizing the idiocy of attracting the tending of an tempestuous dragon.

Harry inched forward again and had to duck as it's spiked tail whipped through the air. He could see the egg now, glimmering in among some duller single. Harry crawled silently up near the Dragon side and looked up. The paries of the great reptile's body gave way to the monolithic shading canopy of it's wing. He was right up next to it now. If he screwed up it would abuse on him.

Harry reached into the little gap between the level and the shifting belly of the Horntail. His digit curled around the fortunate egg. He twisted it and brought it out horizontal, making sure not to touch the flying lizard. Like that plot, what was it called… mathematical process ! Except with his lifespan on the line.

Harry held his breath as the egg finally saw the light of day and swiftly stuffed it under his t-shirt so it would be camouflaged. He slid backwards slowly then froze as the flying lizard stood and shifted. Harry followed it's gaze and saw a twelve keepers approaching.

"No !"Harry thought."They ‘ re not that poor fish ! Please NO !"

"Stupify !"

"AAaaaa !"Harry screamed and threw himself backward as the tartar collapsed right onto the ground where he had been crouching. A moment later he was driven to the base as its annex crumpled on top of him. Harry crawled out from under the leathery cover, forced himself to support on legs that wanted to crumple like plastic stubble and stumbled towards the tartar keepers.

"What the hell…"Harry growled."Was the big idea of dropping the dragon on me when I ‘ m still bloody under it !"

"Sorry Harry."The red-head at the front end of them shrugged."You ‘ re kind of hard to see."

Harry looked down, he was still Disillusioned. Harry raised his aching arm and tapped himself on the head with the tip of his wand.

"Khamaileon akyrono."He felt the warm dribbles down his head painfully slowly. They stopped before they even reached his stomach."Oh great…"Harry sagged his half-visible body.

"Let me Potter."Harry flinched as individual tapped him from behind. He turned and looked up at the scarred face of Mad Eye Moody.

"I got it to go on in one go."Harry explained, swaying a petty. He was bruised on every side and his left arm didn ‘ t want to bend properly. He turned and saw McGonagall approaching from the standstill and tried to stand a little straighter.

"Potter, are you hurt ?"She said, an boundary of business organisation tingeing her spokesperson. Harry raised his left arm."Excellent ! You ‘ ll get more points for being uninjured."

Harry swiftly jerked his arm back down and brushed the dirt off the front of his robes. Mad Eye leant down and whispered into his ear,

"Arm broke thrower ?"

"No, just harm like hell."Harry breathed back. He eased it into his sack, wincing slightly."Maybe fractured."

"You gon na severalize them ?"

"infernal region no !"
*


Harry held hard to the handrail as he walked towards the marauders. He was surrounded by sunshine, people kept slapping him on the rear ( painfully )

"That was awesome Harry !"Harry heard someone vociferation and waved back, smiling wanly. He managed to make it to the free seat by the piranha and sat down.

"That really was awesome."Ron said from his left."I mean we couldn't even see-"

"Yes that was the point."Harry joked."Sort of the point of invisibility."

"That was really dependable you know Harry."Hermione said from behind him."Much honest than Malfoy."

"That's a given."Harry grinned."What did he do ?"

"Made some kind of mirror out of mist."Padma shrugged as if to say ‘ no big deal ’."Made the Dragon fight it ‘ s own reflection."

"Did it work out ?"

"Until he got close to the eggs."Padma grinned evilly."Then it caught on and flamed him. He only just got the egg. They gave him xxx points."

"Deserved two."Ron muttered angrily.

Harry shrugged, then winced as a stab of bother guesswork through his arm. The crowd fell silent, Harry looked up towards the judges box. Madam maxim raised her wand, after a moment a wiggly five sprung out.

"Passive aggressive revenge bitch."Harry growled.

Next Crouch nodded thoughtfully and tapped a nine into the air.

"That ‘ s more conclude to awesomeness."

Next the heavyset judge Harry didn't know raised his baton with a flourish and painted an eight. A bit later Dumbledore raised an selfsame eight.

"Better…"

Karkaroff seemed to think for a second, then drew a three in the air.

"Blatant undisguised favoritism."Harry narrowed his eye."It ‘ s like bloody Eurovision."

"30 three."Neville said, counting on his fingers."Is that salutary ?"

"It should have been gamey !"Ginny said angrily."You were the only admirer not wound !"

"Yeah…"Harry tried not to think of what mark he would have got if they had known about his arm.

"It must sustain been how long you took/"Hermione said reasonably."You were slower than the others."

"You beat Malfoy though !"Parvarti said cheerily ( ignoring Ron as he turned on Hermione and began arguing )."And Fleur."

"Krum ?"

"Got forty."

"sod. I ‘ ll get him next time."Harry felt his offend and aching arm."You see if I don ‘ t !"
*


"So let me get this straight person Harry."Madam Pomfrey sighed,"You beat the dragon…."

"Yes."

"Left the stadium."

"Yes"

"Then on the way back to Gryffindor tower…"

"Yes."

"You happened to strike down a flight of steps of stairs."

"Yes."

"Seriously Harry ?"

"That's my story."Harry grinned."I ‘ m sticking to it."



rendering ( I think )

"Ce n'est pas juste. psyche devrions dire les autres concurrents !"
This is not flop. We should secernate the early rival !

"La fraude fait partie des règles. Il toujours a été."
cheat is persona of the rules. It always has been.

"Non ! Vous me forcez à choisir entre mes morales et mon école."
No ! You force me to choose between my lesson and my school

"Puits que tu connais main tenant. Ne tu inquiéteras pas à son sujet. Tu dois penser au dragon."
wellspring you know now. You will not occupy about it. You must think of the dragon.

"Tu as une stratégie ? Tu pouvais le distraire. Tu-"
You have a strategy ? You could distract it. You

"Non ! Je ferai le repos moi-même."
Not ! I will do the rest myself.

"Comme tu souhaites."
As you wish.

"Tu es un idiot et tu es un phoney. Tu accuses des Hogwarts de la fraude mais tu triches la toute première chance que tu obtiens."
You are an idiot and you are a phoney. You accuse Hogwarts of fraud but you cheat the very first chance that you get.



The Pavlov matter is working ! More inspection please !


I do n't own Harry Potter. Neither do you. Unless you 're J K Rowling, which is unlikely.



"Shut that bally thing off Harry !"Ron yelled over the screaming.

"Alright, alright."Harry snapped the egg shut and the inhuman screeching ceased as it always did."Just trying to work the thing out."

"fountainhead can you not do it in our bedroom."Ron grumped, rolling out of bed. Harry chuckled and replaced the egg on his nightstand."Have you at to the lowest degree found out something ?"

"There ‘ s nothing to find."Harry shook his head irritably."I've run every espial I know on it, there ‘ s no release or password, nada else magical on it at all. The scream isn ‘ t cover for something or a defense mechanism. The screaming is the substance, I just have to decipher it somehow. Unless the whole thing's a braincrank."

"A trick ?"Neville translated, sitting up in bed."You think it really could be ?"

"Doubt it. Too elaborate."Harry shrugged."Guess I just have to do More things to it."

"Tried kicking it ?"Ron suggested.

"‘ Course, that was the 1st affair I tried."

"Maybe that ‘ s why you can ‘ t recover anything now."Neville said, frowning."You broke it."

"Doubt it,"Harry sighed."I have report that inhuman shrieking have been heard from the boat the perambulator and the Slytherin keep as well. I ‘ m not the alone one stumped."

"That ‘ s something."Neville said encouragingly."You ‘ ll work it out eventually."

"Maybe…"Harry wasn't so certainly. He had needed a Hogwarts founder to serve him work his last puzzle. He dismissed it from his thinking for another break of the day."You think the miss are waiting for us at breakfast ?"

"Probably."Ron groaned, and stomped off towards the bathroom.
*


Eventually the three of them managed to get down to breakfast. Just in meter for the mail run. Harry caught excavator on his wrist and was feeding him a firearm of bacon when he was surprised by a letter falling into his lap.

"You got a missive ?"Hermione leant over curiously."Who ‘ s it from ?"

"I don ‘ t know…"Harry began but his middle narrowed as he recognized the back breaker Green ink."But I suspect."

He tore open up the letter and read the wan lettering.

To The-Boy-Who-Thinks-He's-Won

Well we'll see about that Harry. Don't think that just because I had to impress a retraction you've won. Don't think that for a instant. I have been very busy digging up dirt on you and your gent fighter and you won't like what I've found. You will repent insulting me Harry Potter, I can bury you ! And I will, you just watch !

topper Rita Skeeter.

Harry tore the alphabetic character up and sighed.

"Rita Skeeter."He answered."She ‘ s going to cause a lot of trouble for me I can tell."

"I seriously doubt that."Padma commented dryly from over the top of the Prophet.

"Why ?"

"She ‘ s dead."

"What ! ?"

Padma offered him the paper and Harry grabbed it hurriedly. The obituary was quite large and, befitting the woman it was about, full moon of magnification. Once Harry had scanned it once or twice he had gleaned the genuine information out of it. Apparently she had been found in her home by her boss after not showing up for work on Monday. The Aurors had been called in, official cause of death…

"nub attack ?"Harry said incredulously, Padma nodded."That ‘ s papal bull ! She was… I don ‘ t know… maybe thirty five years old."

"She had a very stressful job."Padma shrugged.

"Or maybe it was karma."Ron said through a mouthful of pledge. Hermione looked torn between being disgust at his manners and impressed that he knew what karma was.

"I think it ‘ s skillful riddance."Ginny cut in emphatically.

"I think it ‘ s fishy."Harry folded the newspaper and handed it back."God knows the woman must stimulate made plenty enemies."

"Maybe it was one of you ‘ re fan club."Ginny joked.

"My fan club doesn ‘ t have a militant wing."Harry paused."That I know of…"

"Could be useful."

"True, my own army…"Harry grinned."I could rule the world !"

"Maybe,"Hermione rolled her optic."But after transfiguration."
*


Harry decided to actually work that lesson. It was something he did occasionally, just to throw his teacher off the scent. They were still working on the tortoise to orb and most of the course of study could do it now. Harry's orb still had a bit of a hexagon form but it wasn't bad.

"Mr Potter."McGonagall said suddenly.

"Yes Professor ?"Harry said, confused. He hadn't done anything lately she would be interested in."What is it ?"

"I was simply going to ask if you had acquired a partner yet. Since you are opening you will be representing the schoolhouse. Try to reflect well on us."

"Partner ? Opening ? Representing ?"Harry's supercilium furrowed in confusion."What are you talking about ?"

"The Yule musket ball Potter."McGonagall said simply. well-nigh of the socio-economic class was watching now."As ace you will be opening."

"You mean… Dancing ?"Harry cringed.

"Yes."

"Alone ?"

"With a partner."McGonagall replied in exasperation.

"In front man of the school ?"Harry felt his venter swoop.

"Yes."

"I think I ‘ ll pass."

"potter you are the… one of the Hogwarts friend. You must open the dancing and you must have got a partner."

"What ? You gon na tie me up and force me to trip the light fantastic ?"

"We have ways."McGonagall said, her eyes narrowing.

"I ‘ ll just turn up without a partner."Harry countered.

"In that pillow slip I will attach to you Mr Potter."

"You do that…"Harry crossed his coat of arms."And I will go to the chunk naked."

The schoolroom explosion out laughing.

"As will I."

The way became deathly silent. Harry nodded slowly.

"Touché, nicely argued."He complemented."And I ‘ ll have a partner by the end of the day."
*


Harry wandered down the to the lower flooring of Hogwarts that even and found the kitchens corridor. Glancing around for a bit he approached the still-life.

"Stoic."Harry said, and the picture dissolved into the air. Harry stepped in and spoke the password again to shut down the portal site. He stepped into the Hufflepuff common room. It looked dissimilar than he remembered, probably the lack of snakes… and fervidness. Several masses started looking at him, then more, then every eye in the position turned to him as he strolled across the cellar. He did the instinctive affair. He ignored them.

He walked calmly over to the set of lounge where the Susan pearl was sitting.

"Hey Susan."He smiled in greeting.

"Hi. Um…"She scratched her straits."How did you get in here ?"

"Password."

"But how did you bonk the password."

"I know all the passwords."Harry shrugged."Slytherin's is privilege. Ravenclaw ‘ s is… complicated. The prefect bathroom ‘ s still yen brisk and Dumbledore ‘ s office is Chocoballs… for some reason."

"But… How ?"Susan asked aghast. Harry realized that well-nigh of the common way was listening.

"You were a chosen."Harry winked."Not a marauder. Don ‘ t expect me to reveal all my secrets."

The room sighed and Harry felt eyes be active away from him.

"So… why are you down here ?"Susan asked."Are we under attack by Hydra again ?"

"Not that I know of."Harry glanced under the board."Nope, nothing."

"So what are you here for ?"

"What ? I can ‘ t just sojourn ?"Harry grinned.

"Hufflepuff or me ?"

"Currently… you."Harry grinned again."There ‘ s this dance… thing… at Christmas."

"The Yule Ball."Susan's eyes widened.

"Yeah that."Harry shrugged."Apparently I need a partner on account statement of being some sort of star type thing."

"Are you asking me ?"

"Do I need to be more obvious ?"

"Yes."

"Yes I ‘ m asking you."

"Then…"Susan swallowed nervously."…yes ?"

"Was that a question ?"Harry sniped, smiling..

"mulct. Yes I ‘ ll go with you."

"uppercase. That ‘ s great."Harry grinned."But I should go now. people are staring at me."

"Well you are a celebrity."

"It ‘ s a load I have to bear."
*


In the next few weeks Harry was extremely glad he had got it out of the way earlier. In the side by side few week a unquestionable furore of orb febrility swept Hogwarts. Girls huddling in street corner, whispering. word of frock robes. selfsame feeling of fright and dread and common cold, sick, nervousness on the face of every boy. Harry was glad to be well out of it.

course of study he would be gladder if everyone else had got the memo…

"leave of absence me alone !"Harry slid into a secret musical passage and bounded along the short passage."I ‘ m taken !"He could still hear pounding pes and giggling behind him. He shot out from behind a tapis ( startling a group of scholarly person ) and cracked open another passage behind a painting. He closed it behind him and be given against the paries, breathing heavily, as the following girls ran past. As the sound faded into the distance he breathed a suspiration of relief.

"You too yes ?"Harry spun around but relaxed as he saw Viktor Krum sitting cross legged on the storey in the passage. He had a set of books spread out in front of him. The Bulgarian shrugged and continued."You vill get used to it. Or you vill become quicker at running."

"And you ‘ re used to it ?"Harry grinned and sat down opposite the Durmstrum wizard."Then why are you hiding in a passageway."

"It is only vay to get a bit of peace."Krum flicked a page and continued reading. After a minute he glanced up."You did well vith the Horntail."

"Not as good as you. Thirty three points."

"You should not have… irritated… the she-giant."A grinning flickered onto Krum's face.

"Possibly not."Harry conceded."You worked out the egg yet."

"Perhaps."Krum replied, revealing zilch."Have you ?"

"Perhaps."Harry grinned."I worked out that kicking it doesn ‘ t work."

"first gear thing I tried."

"Me too."Harry walked back up to the door and listened, it sounded pretty quiet down."How long you intending to stay in here."

"I don ‘ t know. Vhen is your Noel Ball ?"Krum shook his head and sighed."I should ask mortal. Pick mortal that has not been asked yet. Perhaps that will wee-wee them check foll-"

"It doesn ‘ t."Harry interrupted."trustfulness me."

"Oh…"Krum shook his head."Then I will have to research some in force locking magic spell for my cabin."

"Try these."Harry pulled beyond allohamora out of his bag ( it sometimes helped to have a bag in which he could carry everything he owned )."It mostly deals with unlocking but it ‘ s got some quality stuff in there."

"Thank you."Krum nodded solemnly and looked back down at his playscript. Harry checked the entrance once more then left carefully.

"What is it about me ?"Harry wondered idly."That lets me get on with the champions but royally pisses off the evaluator ?"
*


"shit it !"Harry dropped the egg back to the surface of the marauders board. The inky black goo he had smeared on its surface had revealed nothing."Doesn ‘ t work either. It was supposed to reveal hole-and-corner messages."

"That thing doesn ‘ t have a secret message."Ron groaned on the other side of meat of the board."It has one message. And we ‘ ve all heard it lots of times, like at the crack of dawn."

"VIII is not the crack of dawn."Harry sighed and rested his head on his hands."And I don ‘ t see you doing much better."

"It was working before you got here."Ron complained, prodding at the quartz glass ball in front of him."Maybe the egg did some matter to it !"

"Or maybe you ‘ ve got it upside down."Annapurna commented from the former side of the tabular array. Ron groaned and scrunched up his bit of parchment.

Harry would have made a sneering comment but he didn't think he had the zip. The egg was eating at him.

"Ron…"Parvati continued."You really need to do it soon."

"Do what ?"

"Ask someone."She shook her head."You really need to do it soon or she ‘ ll be… I mean all the good girls ‘ ll be taken."Parvati amended quickly with a wink at Harry.

Ron ( unmindful ) squirmed uncomfortably.

"It ‘ s not that easy."Ron shrugged."I ‘ m not Harry, I can ‘ t just wander into someone's park way and ask someone."

"But you-"Anapurna began but Harry interrupted her.

"Wait wait waiting. Did I just hear a marauder express… self… doubt… ?"Harry shied away in horror."No no no no no ! This will not do !"

"But-"

"No buts !"Harry cut him off."You are a marauder, that means you are at least six billion times better than anyone else. You will go out and ask Herm… the girl you want to go with. Right now ! Or I will call in a personal favor from Viktor Krum and have him ask her first !"

"You don't even know who I ‘ m-"

"Legillimacy."Harry lied.

"That ‘ s illegal."

"Since when have I cared ? Ask her."

"That's cruel."

"Ditto. Ask her."

"Harry-"

"She ‘ ll say yes."Harry grinned."Trust me."

"Are you sure ?"Ron looked almost convinced.

"Yes."Harry looked to Anapurna for fill-in and she nodded emphatically."Definitely yes."

Ron nervously folded his work unto his bag and left the common room. Harry checked the clock on the wall.

"5 thirty so Hermione will be coming back from the library… Give ‘ em ten minutes."Harry and Parvati shared a grinning and went back to their respective work.

Ron was in fact back in less than five minutes.

"She said yes !"He was blushing Lycopersicon esculentum red but grinning.

"Congratulations."Harry shrugged."Surprised you found her so quick."

"She was in the great hall. Lavender ‘ s usually down to dinner early."

"La… Lavender…"Harry froze. Across from him he say Parvarti's face pull into a grimace of daze and surprise."Lavender Brown ?"

"Yes ?"Ron's brow furrowed."Are there any former Lavenders in the schooling ?"

"Um… yes… in… fifth year… Slytherin. Just making sure you weren't asking her."Harry lied quickly."You know, letting the team down and such."

"I ‘ d never ask a Slytherin."Ron laughed."That would just be stupid."Ron laughed again and headed up the staircase to the boys bedroom.

"Yeah, that would be stupid."Anapurna said acidly, sounding for a moment like her sister.

"You also thought he ‘ d ask…"

"Hermione."

"Yep. Thought it was obvious."Harry shrugged."Oh well."

"Oh well ! ?"Parvati repeated indignantly with her helping hand on her hips ( Harry braced for shouting )."What do you mean Oh well !"

"We were wrong."Harry said simply."It happens. It ‘ s all alright."

"It ‘ s not alright !"She shook her head."He ‘ s going with the amiss person !"

"He ‘ s going with the person he asked."Harry pointed out."That ‘ s not the flop person ?"

"No."

"fountainhead tough."Harry waved the trouble away."Nothing to be done now."

"Unless…"Parvati grinned maliciously, or tried to anyway. It didn't really put to work on her."We do something about it."

"Oh no…"Harry buried is face in his hands.

"We need to make for certain Ron and Hermione go together."

"Do we bear to ?"

"Yes."

"If they find out they ‘ ll putting to death us."Harry pointed out."You know that right ?"

"How make out when you want to do something insane you rope the rest of us in but when I want to you just complain ?"

"Oh I didn ‘ t say I wouldn ‘ t do it."Harry grinned evilly ( doing a far better job of it )."I ‘ m just saying we have to be careful."

"Yay !"Parvati ran around the table and hugged Harry."I knew you ‘ d fold !"

"Get. Off. Me !"Harry disentangled himself from his friend."Do you have a plan ?"

"Well…"Parvati tapped her mentum thoughtfully."Lavender's essentially a limpet."

"Nice."

"Thank you. I figure we can sway her to let go of Ron if we dangle something else in front line of her face."

"Like what ? Or who ?"

"Michel Corner I think."Parvati nodded."She ‘ s liked him for ages."

"Does he like her ?"

"He will once I ‘ m thru talking him into it."

"I like this new malicious side of you."Harry nodded approvingly."Do I have any part in this minuscule adventure or do I just sit here nodding ?"

"You need to sustain anyone from asking Hermione until Ron does."

"Gotcha !"Harry saluted."Campaign of intimidation and terror coming right up !"

"Subtly Harry ! She can ‘ t know !"

"Who do you take me for ?"

"Sorry."Annapurna smiled."Oh, and you ‘ ll need to let the cat out of the bag to Neville too."

"Um… why ?"Harry asked, confused."Is he gon na ask Hermione ?"

"No silly. You need to convert him to ask Padma."

"I thought this was about Ron and Hermione ?"

"I ‘ m expanding the scope."Anapurna shrugged."He won ‘ t need much prodding. He already likes her."

"Does she… ?"

"Of course."Annapurna said patronizingly."You haven't noticed ?"

"And Ginny ?"Harry said wearily."Got a programme for her too ?"

"She ‘ s too young."

"Not if we find her a date."Harry pointed out.

"No I mean too youth to date."Annapurna said primly."We have to protect our small sister ‘ s artlessness for as long as possible. She ‘ s not a persona of this."

"I wish I wasn ‘ t a voice of thi-"

"Harry !"
*


process shamelessly-manipulate-our-best-friends was at to the lowest degree good for one thing, it distracted Harry from the bloody egg.

It was just a few daylight before the Christmas clod and the plan was… well it was working but that wasn't the stage. It was working a petty too well.

Lavender had been successfully undone from Ron and re-adhered to Michel Corner. Once Ron came out of his moping phase Harry was positive he could dig him towards the proper girl. The pernicious bullying was harder but legilimacy helped to name potential threats very effectively. Once they were picked out Harry was able to get the boys alone to explain some ‘ home the true ’. Like how she was already dating a elder boy she met on holiday. Big bloke, huge muscularity.

"This had sound bloody work Parvati."Harry muttered to his co-conspirator one day on the way back from beast."‘ Cos if he doesn't ask her no one will now. I've had to work up Hermione ‘ s notional boyfriend up into some sort of vengeful superman to stop people asking her."

"What ‘ s the recent story ?"Parvati asked, interested.

"He ‘ s from spain. The Academia Atsingani."Harry shrugged."He ‘ s an amateurish wizard toreador. Owns his own sword and shotgun."

"Wizard bullfighter ? With a shotgun ?"

"It doesn ‘ t have to be probable it just has to be scary."

"Well he ‘ s going to have to jawbone his girlfriend back."Parvarti said knowingly."Because Ron will ask her. Believe me."

"Bet ?"

"Galleon."

"Done."Harry sighed."At least this way I can make something back out of this mess."

"It ‘ ll all work out."Annapurna grinned."Trust me."

"Don ‘ t say that."Harry shook his head."I know I say it… but don ‘ t."

"You can ‘ t complain…"But Parvati trailed off as they all began hearing a sound in the distance."What ‘ s that ?"

Harry perked his ears up. A few yard in front of them the relaxation of the piranha stopped too. It sounded like a whole biff of people yelling and moving, but behind that there was a low grumble and…

"telling ?"Harry said incredulously.

"Sir Thomas More like chanting."Parvati disagreed.

"It sounds like choral singing."Hermione said from in front of them.

"It ‘ s coming from out front."Harry hurried forward."Lets go !"

As one they rushed forward. As they neared the doors former scholarly person began to join them, instructor too. As they ran out onto the grass in front of the school Harry realized that the whole school was already out there, yelling and pointing. Harry saw Dumbledore gazing up into the sky, a look of wonder on his fount. The early school heads flanked him, just as awed.

In the sky above Hogwarts floated a miracle of white-hot marble. tower, delicate as looking glass, flew up from a shining radical and met a fortunate point above. Delicate traces of mirror-like silver snaked and shimmered over the surface, sending out ray of light of rainbows as it turned in the sunlight. The whole thing looked like some gigantic crystal, floating on white mist and breathing out beautiful medicine as it sank lowly and lower and finally settled to the ground on the grass just inside the school day gates.

Harry started forward but was brought up poor as Dumbledore held up an arm. The school day watched in rapt silence as a progress emerged from the floating palace. White-robed cleaning lady walked side by side, carrying flaring magical torch. They split apart a piffling as they left it as if to make a path for mortal in the middle. As they grew nigh Harry saw that there was a figure of speech in the middle, smaller than the other robed figures but wearing a jacket crown of laurel leaves.

Harry yelled in happiness and dashed out from the crowd, ignoring Dumbledore's yell of objection, and rushed towards the figure. Laughing, he ducked past the line of startled women and enveloped the middle one into a giant hug.

"Why didn ‘ t you tell me you were coming ?"Harry laughed, releasing her and looking up into her pale, celestial face.

"I wanted it to be a surprise for you."Pythea said with a warm smiling."It ‘ s good to see you Harry."
*


"Mr Potter !"Harry heard someone call from behind him. He spun around and saw saying ranging from cushion, disarray and anger. to the highest degree of the Beauxbatons students were down on one articulatio genus and the ones from Durmstrang had their headland bowed in obedience. His gent Hogwarts students seemed more dismayed than anything else, Dumbledore had his hands to his mouthpiece with his eyes broad in jounce. McGonnagall was almost vibrating in anger.

turning further he saw something even more unnerving. Across the intact edge of the afforest the Centaur had gathered, the integral herd. Every one of them was down on their stifle with their helping hand clasped over their hearts.

Harry turned back around to face the school, no-one had moved.

"Why are they staring ?"Harry whispered at Pythea."And why are centaurs kowtowing to you ?"

"Harry,"Pythea smiled."They are staring because masses do not usually hug the Delphic prophet or address her with familiarity."

"And the centaurs ?"

"They regard me as a demigod."

"Oh…"Harry gulped."…and I thought I was famous."

"You are famous Harry."The Oracle said, a strange banknote in her vox."But I am something else."She moved forward and Harry was forced to follow. They stopped in front of Dumbledore, Harry almost laughed when he saw that the headmaster still had his hand to his mouth.

"prof Dumbledore."Pythea greeted the old man."It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The joy is mine."Dumbledore seemed to reclaim himself and bent down to osculate the oracle's hand."I see you have… already met one of our school champions."

"Harry and I met long time ago and we have had parallelism since."Pythea looked up and around at the towering castle in front line of her."Hogwarts is as beautiful as I have heard it described."

"Thank you,"Dumbledore waved towards the great vaulted door of Hogwarts and a route opened in the pupil body."As soon as your palace appeared in the sky I had the theater elves prepare a retinue of guest elbow room for you and your handmaidens."

"Thank you."Pythea reached out and linked arms with a startled Harry."Harry can bear witness me up to the guest quarters."

"Mr potter does not lie with the passwords."

"schoolmaster,"Pythea shook her head, smiling."You obviously don ‘ t know Harry as well as I do."

Harry covered his mouth with his hand to hold back giggles as he walked the seer of Delphi between the rows of students and up to the room access of Hogwarts.

Harry tried not to heed to the whispers happening all around him, he could deal with that in the morning.

"How long are you staying ?"Harry asked Pythea as he led her towards the invitee quarters.

"Till after the instant task."She answered."But I fear a lot of that will be taken up with functions down in London. No visit by someone like the myself can be entirely for leisure. You could say the tournament provides an excuse for political science. Many DoS representatives were invited by your government, when I heard you were competing I decided to take them up on it."

"Didn ‘ t you already know I would be competing ?"Harry teased."And whether I ‘ ll win ?"

"You put too much religious belief in oracles."

"I have no faith in prophesier. I have a enceinte deal of faith in you."

"That is Henry Sweet of you Harry."Pythea said in surprise."And surprisingly open."

"wellspring get used to it."Harry checked behind him, the handmaidens were following a good distance behind. Harry continued in a whispering."You saved my living, from something had no right to survive. Even more, if I got the subject matter straight, you risked your place at the temple too. And the only when way I could thank you was through vaguely worded letters."

"I got the message Harry."Pythea smiled down at him.

"goodness, but I ‘ ll say it again in person."Harry slowed as they approached the guest flank."Thank you for saving my lifespan Thea."

"You are most welcome."The Oracle came to a plosive consonant outside the room access."And I would do it again."

"I hope it won't be necessary."Harry turned to the door."Bellevue."

The threshold creaked open to reveal an elegant sitting way with many door leading off it. Every piece of piece of furniture sparkled with down and a vase of fresh heyday sat on the center field of the modest table.

"The pixie don ‘ t skimp do they ?"Harry chuckled. He pointed to the way along the back wall."Bedrooms are along there. All of them en-suite of course."

"You ‘ ve been here before ?"Pythea chuckled."Were you meant to be ?"Harry grinned and ignored her.

"If you need anything call the firm elves. Alternatively if you need anything the piranha can provide call me. Now, for the most important thing…"Harry straightened up and put on a grave air."Do you desire us to try and distract professor Trelawny or simply drug her for the duration of your visit."
*


Harry looked at himself in the mirror and sighed, it was no good. It wasn't that he thought he looked commodity or didn't. It was more that he didn't really have a concept of what he was supposed to look like. Everyone else seemed to drive the dress gown and everything as a essential pique. Harry on the other hand had almost no opinion on them having never heard of them before reading his alphabetic character this year. Were they supposed to be this tight ? Or flare out at the bottom like that ? And what about his hair ? Harry had always just let his hair do its own thing, cutting it back only when it began impairing his imaginativeness but now everyone else seemed to experience acquired some storey of personal training science that he had somehow skipped.

He gave it up as a lost cause, allowing it to settle as it wanted to. He shrugged, what did it matter ? He'd got a date so the concentrated region was done.

Except for the dancing.

"Yes, except for the dancing."Harry though and grimaced."Thank you very much for reminding me Mr Evil-half-of-my-brain."

No problem.

"I don't see why I ‘ m even doing this."Ron muttered beside him."I don ‘ t have a date."

"discovery one."Harry answered distractedly. ( other citizenry had tie, was he meant to have a tie ? )"It ‘ s not too late."

"Harry, the dance is in…"Ron checked his watch."… LE than an hour."

"So you ‘ d better get to it then."Harry said flippantly, then asked."Am I meant to cause a tie ?"

"Harry, your wearing apparel gown don't have a collar."

"You need a collar to bust a tie ?"

Ron rolled his eyes. Harry shrugged and left the bathroom. In the vernacular way the other marauders were already waiting, Padma and Neville standing a little way off. Neville looked nervous, but then Neville always looked nervous. Harry waved Annapurna to one side,

"On the minus side we ruined our friends Night and made them miserable."Harry growled angrily."On the plus side you owe me a galleon."

"Still metre Harry."Parvati smiled chirpily."trust me."

"Don ‘ t say that. barricade saying that. I promise never to say it again if you stop saying it now."

"Shut up and look."Parvati hissed.

Harry looked where she was pointing. Hermione was sitting on one of the couches interpretation, she hadn't even changed into dress robes which Harry assumed was a bad sign.

"I ‘ m looking but…"

"look again."

Harry followed her gaze again and saw that Ron had emerged from the bathroom. He then followed Ron's to the lounge were Hermione was sitting. Harry's jaw dropped. He watched as Ron hesitantly walked up to endure in strawman of Hermione. Her question came up and she said something, across the crowded commons room Harry couldn't hear but it looked like ‘ what ? ’. Ron scratched his oral sex and mumbled something. Hermione put her hand up to her ear. Ron leant down and talk into her ear, his face bright red. Then, to Harry's heart-attack-inducing surprise, Hermione blushed as red as the boy standing in strawman of her.

"No way…"Harry chuckled as Hermione flipped her book closed and hurried towards the young woman dormitory. He looked back towards Parvati, who was wearing an expression of come smugness.

"I ‘ ll take that galleon off you any metre Harry."

"You are the queen of the manipulative harpy-vultures you know that ?"Harry said, flipping a galleon at his friend.

"From you Harry I take that as a complement."Anapurna snagged the coin and moved to follow Hermione. Harry saw that Padma and Ginny had both already gone up after her.

"Probably pulling off some sort of last minute Cinderella miracle."Harry shrugged and moved over to where Ron and Neville were standing.

"Harry, did you see that ! I-"

"I saw Ron,"Harry rolled his eyes and checked his watch."It only took you four bloody years."

"Hey !"Ron looked peckish and Harry laughed.

"Listen, they ‘ ll prob ‘ ly be a while."Harry jerked a thumb back at the daughter room."And I need to open up the dance. I ‘ ll meet up with you later Ok ?"

Ron nodded and Neville chirruped.

"Ok."The little flighty boy then nodded towards their red-headed friend and whispered."And I ‘ ll try to keep him from screwing things up."

"You ‘ re a vulture Neville…"Harry shook his chief."You ‘ re not god."
*


Harry took a deep breath and walked down the stairs into the entrance anteroom. There were a few former Hogwarts son already waiting down there, huddled in nervous grouping waiting for their escort. Harry waved to a few of them and settled down to wait, leant against pillar.

"What is that your wearing thrower ?"

Harry rolled his eyes then realized that the event was ruined by having them closed. He opened them to see Malfoy standing in front of him wearing jet black robes and with Pansy Cyril Northcote Parkinson on his arm.

"Just for one night Malfoy…"Harry sighed."…leave off. Just try to be almost human for once."

"Fine."The Slytherin's eye's narrowed."I ‘ ll detain away from you if you extend me the same courtesy."

"I ‘ ll be out of your hair as soon as Susan gets here."Harry glanced at the stairs down to the kitchen but no one was coming.

"Susan os ?"Malfoy queried, he almost sounded actually curious.

"Yes, why."

"Just happy to see you ‘ ve asked a decent pure stock girl."Malfoy drew himself up."Just because your line is tainted doesn ‘ t mean the ceramicist channel has to go entirely to the dogs."

"Ok, three things…"Harry held up three digit."One : shtup you !"

"Potter-"

"Two,"Harry interrupted him."I asked her to a ball. That does not signify I intend to go forward any line with her in the go up future. If zip else we ‘ re bloody fourteen ! There are laws against that sorting of thing."

"I ‘ ll give you that one."

"And three : …"Harry grinned."I didn ‘ t ask her because she ‘ s pure blood."

"Why did you ask her ?"Malfoy sniped acidly."Her former plus ?"

"I reserve the rightfulness to not incriminate myself."Harry cracked."By the way, does your escort speak or does she just hang there like seaweed ?"Harry grinned at the outraged expression on Malfoy's face.

"well this has been lovely."Harry continued as he kicked himself off his pillar."We really should do this again."He brushed past the angry pair and walked up to the figure that had appeared up the stairs.

"Hi Susan."Harry greeted his date, biting his lip. She was wearing something blue and flowing, robe or dress or something he couldn't really put a name on just now. His centre traveled down then back up again swiftly."You look amazing."

"Thank you Harry."Susan reached out and took his proffered paw."You look hansom cab as well. Your attire gown are really… unusual."

Harry caught the implication and looked down. His gown was deep red textile that came out over his legs like regular robe but were buttoned in tight around his torso by two blanket quarrel of push button. It's hanker sleeve hugged his branch tightly but opened out right at the cuff to reveal the lighter liner. Plus, as Ron had noted, it ended at his neck opening with just a stub of a collar.

"I bought them in Switzerland."Harry shrugged."Must be a different style than here in United Kingdom. Oh well…"

"No it ‘ s nice."Susan said reassuringly."I saw some of the Beauxbatton boys wearing robes like that."

Harry shrugged, robes weren't of any particular concern to him. The store he had bought them in had had hundreds of robes in huge rank and file. He had chosen these for two intellect. One, they didn't have all the lace and trimmings and extravagant embroidery that well-nigh of the others had had and two ( and Harry cringed to admit this to himself ) they had looked like they would be easy to contend or run in if anything happened.

"Ready to open the dance."Harry asked, knowing that he himself wasn't.

"I think I ‘ ll do ok. My mother gave me lesson once."

"Lucky."Harry smiled ruefully. A second later McGonagall appeared, as if from nowhere.

"fountainhead get to it."She snapped quickly."The early wizard are already lining up to enter the hall."

Here we go. Harry gulped as they got into position.

"Nervous Potter ?"

"Just don ‘ t trip-up over your seaweed and decline on me Malfoy."Harry's automatic witticism circuits responded for him while the rest of his wit shivered with nervousness.

"And… go."McGonagall's phonation rang out and the door to the large vestibule opened slowly, revealing an wintertime wonderland decorated with sparkling snow and ice carving. Harry just hoped it wouldn ‘ t make the floor slippery. He took Susan's manus and stepped forward purposely.

The hall was full of couple but a space was pass in the center. A very large space, that everyone was staring at.

"Oh great."Harry sighed as the music started up.

Harry let his mind movement back to the ten transactions of very rough dancing object lesson that Annapurna had given him yesterday. After he had broken down and begged.

"One two three one two three…"Harry counted off the beatniks in his head and tried not to step on his partner place. He found that so long as he kept to a very restrictive and repetitive routine it actually wasn't too bad."One two three…"

"This is so romantic."Susan murmured."Like a fairytale."

"Yes it is, one two three."Damn ! I can't talk and count at the same time. Why didn't I ask a mute seaweed girl ?

"Do you think we could get them to bear a egg every year ?"

"Probably one two not three."

"They might if sufficiency of us asked them too."

"I don ‘ t one two think so. one two thr… darn !"Harry almost fouled up his footwork and let himself breath. He stopped counting, hopefully by now his feet could work out the rhythm on their own."If they did the student would never come home for Yuletide and then their parents would complain."

"I guess."Susan leant in and rested her capitulum on Harry's articulatio humeri. Harry chuckled as he was reminded again of their proportional tallness."I guess I ‘ ll just have to enjoy this one."

"Enjoying it so far ?"Harry drew her in closer.

"Yes."Susan smiled cheekily."You ?"

"Yes."Harry answered, and found that he meant it. The dancing wasn't nearly as bad as he had thought it would be. The music stopped and Harry realized that he had survived the only dance that was required of him that evening. He glanced back at the blond Hufflepuff in front of him and grinned."arrest in for the future one ?"
*


Six terpsichore later and Harry felt like he was almost getting comfortable with it when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked around to see one of the Durmstrum students that he didn't know.

"May I cut in ?"The boy said, with very short accent. Harry coup d'oeil at Susan, who nodded. She seemed to know the guy somehow. Harry stepped aside and the two of them moved off, Susan giving him a little wave as they went.

Harry walked off the dance floor, snagged a glass of something off a tray and moved to somewhere where he could see the entire floor. It was clip to check up on things. Harry chuckled and sipped the whatever-it-was as his eyes scanned the hall.

He found Anapurna first, who seemed to be choosing which of a several boy who were all clustered around her to lead out over the dance trading floor side by side. She caught his eye, smiled and subtly pointed to her right.

Harry followed her gaze and found Ron and Hermione sitting by one of the immense tables good of food. Ron at least seemed to be talking between bouts of feeding and he'd spotted them out on the dance floor earlier so that was probably fine. Hermione looked happy at any rate.

He couldn't find Neville and Padma anywhere but Ginny seemed to be happily talking with some Ravenclaw or other. Harry shrugged and took another sip of what he suspected was champagne charmed to be non-alcoholic. Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

Except that he now didn't have a terpsichore collaborator. He searched around for a familiar spirit face and found one before walking over.

"missy Delacour."He held his hand out to the seated Beauxbattons champion."Would you care to stymie me by dancing ten fourth dimension better than I ever could ?"

The French girl smiled and took his hand.

"But of courze."She stood and he led her out onto the saltation floor.

Harry settled into the calendar method of the new vocal and got used to dancing with someone taller than him. Since he was at least a foot myopic than her that put his oculus right about level with her-

"So…"Harry interrupted his own mental soliloquy."Enjoying the saltation so far ? Not been bothered by too many pushy students ?"

"I know how to deal with zem."Fleur replied haughtily, but Harry detected a trace of sense of humor in her reply."The just job was our fellow champion."

"I ‘ m guessing we ‘ re not talking about Viktor."Harry said and she shook her nous."By the way we can spill in French if you want."

"My English language iz better than your Daniel Chester French I think."Fleur replied pointedly.

"Probably."Harry shrugged."Would you like me to try and hold Malfoy away from you for the rest of the globe ?"

"Non, I can deal with him."Fleur laughed, the effort was very worry for Harry in his flow position and he tried to hold back the blush spreading to his cheeks.

The song ended and Harry stepped back. Fleur curtsied politely and Harry bowed as he'd seen the French boys doing after they finished their dances. He caught Fleur looking over his articulatio humeri and followed her gaze to see a pair of seventh class moving off the dance floor.

"Iz he taken ?"Fleur asked with a smile.

"Not anymore."Harry winked and turned to ask the boys pardner for a dance.

She turned out to be giggly and talkative so Harry let her babble on for the length of the dance before moving off gratefully and sitting on one of the benches by the food. He nabbed a couplet of the remaining tidbits and lay back relaxed. He had been on his feet since the commencement of the clump and it felt good just to film a few moments to himself.

"So…"

Knew it was too good to be true.

"… you are friends with the Pythea ?"

Harry glanced to his left wing and saw Igor Karkaroff sitting next to him, an intent face on his face.

"We know each other."Harry said warily giving zilch away.

"Of course of study a man of your standing probably knows many people in senior high places."

"Standing."Harry didn't make it a interrogation but the Headmaster answered anyway.

"As the boy-who-lived."

"Oh that."Harry nodded."Yes that's me."

"I think that we perhaps got off on the faulty foot."Karkaroff said in a simpering manner.

"Do you now."Harry tried to find an exit from the conversation but couldn't think of one.

"I would like for you to think of me as a friend."

"blockage two'ing me then."

"I could… hold you gamy marks."Karkaroff said slyly.

"Oh ! No no !"Harry said quickly, realizing what his flippant remark could possess been interpreted as."Just stop being unfairly harsh."

"Of course."Once again the simpering spirit."And perhaps we could… do something… together."

Harry sighed.

"Perhaps during the school Holliday you could visit Dumstrum."

"This holiday I ‘ m going to… Kenya."Harry said a country at random.

"I could do by you to a wizard concert at one of the howling halls in Europe."

"Can't, allergic reaction. All the dust and stuff."

"Or… we could…"Karkaroff seemed to be casting around for another activity."Take the Durmstrum ship and go sportfishing, as friends."

"Are you trying to ask me out ?"Harry said tersely, tired of the conversation."I ‘ m flattered but you ‘ re too old for me."

"I just want you to feel well-situated asking me for favors."Karkaroff said expansively."That is what friends do… help each other. Introduce each other to other friends…"

Harry groaned inwardly.

"That sort of thing."Karkaroff finished with a fake smile."Whatever you need. What 's mine is yours."

I'd rather gouge my optic out with a rusty-

"Thank you."Harry nodded."I ‘ ll think about it. But for now I ‘ ve just remembered I promised soul a dance."

Harry stood quickly and whistled softly. A mo later a glowing figure drifted up through the floor.

"You remembered !"Vinca minor cried happily.

"Of course I did."Harry reached out and took her icy hand."Didn ‘ t think I ‘ d forget about you did you."

Harry led the spook out onto the dancing flooring, away from the startled Headmaster.
*


Harry gave Ginny up to a Beauxbatons student and sat back down on a workbench. Now he had danced with all the female predator. Parvati had spent almost of the time crowing that all her forecasting had come true, Padma was very terse about where she had disappeared to with Neville, Hermione seemed exasperated with Ron and Harry couldn't body of work out whether it was normal argument or an actual trouble, Ginny was just vertiginous and scintillating. Of all of them Myrtle had actually danced the best, at some point in her pre-ghost lifetime she had obviously practiced for more than than ten minutes. Harry made a mental greenback to ask for moral if there ever was another dance.

Harry glanced up at the clock and realized that there couldn't be too many more dances left. He needed to relieve the last one for Susan but there were a few to go before that.

Harry glanced around and realized that there was one person he hadn't seen on the terpsichore flooring yet. His eyes found her sitting over by one of the ice carving, her own pure-white robes making her look almost like voice of the decoration.

"Hi Thea."Harry greeted and sat down next to her."haven't seen you on the dancing floor much."

"Dumbledore was polite enough to dance with me a few times."The vaticinator said, smiling."Everyone else seems to be intimidated."

"You should have said."Harry frowned, then grinned cheekily and winked."I ‘ d have set ‘ em straight."

"It ‘ s quite alright."Pythea laughed."I get invited to a quite a few balls."

"Well there ‘ s sentence for a few more dances."Harry held his hand out."Come on."

"Thank you Harry."Pythea took his deal and they walked out into the dance floor.

They swayed to the music for a piece, Harry finding his rhythm.

"Are you still wearing it ?"Pythea asked suddenly.

"The necklace ?"Harry smiled and drew the chain out from the movement of his robes."Always."

"Good."Pythea grew grave for a moment."Always continue it on. You will need it."

"Soon ?"Harry looked into the Oracle's mismatched eyes."Do you see me needing it soon ?"

"I see nothing."Pythea said enigmatically and broke his gaze before tucking the little plate back into his garb gown."But yes, I don ‘ t think it will be too lots longer before you need it."

"You ‘ re still not gon na tell me what it does ?"

"No."

"Brat."

Pythea smiled and they danced another song without speech production. A suspicion began to grow in Harry's mind.

"Pythea ?"Harry said, suspiciously."You said you get invites to lots of balls ?"

"Yes ?"

"Do you answer any of them ?"

"W… why ?"A niggling quaver entered the prophet's voice.

"You ‘ re counting."Harry grinned.

"I am ?"Her eye's opened wide.

"One two three one two three."Harry nodded."Under your breathing time, I doubt anyone else noticed."

"Dumbledore ?"

"Oh no he probably noticed."Harry nodded."You ‘ ve never been to a clump before either have you ?"

"I have… had dancing lessons at the temple."Pythea said, a niggling defensively. A bit later she sagged, dejectedly."I haven ‘ t been the Pythea very long."

"How long ?"

"The year you visited was my first."Pythea whispered into his ear."I wasn ‘ t allowed to attend events until my training was finished so as to avoid embarrassment. It wouldn ‘ t do to pee mistakes."

"overplus ? Counting is embarrassing ?"

"Harry didn ‘ t you see how everyone acted when I got here ?"Pythea spoke quietly into his ear."I have been trained since before I can remember to be the interminable Pythea. Since the day I was taken from my parents. I am supposed to be the unchanging likeness of the initiatory prophesier, thousands of days ago. Anything other than perfection is embarrassing."

"Wow, well it ‘ s ok."Harry winked."I won ‘ t say anything and I ‘ m sure Dumbledore won ‘ t. He ‘ s too polite."

"Thank you Harry."Pythea seemed to be surprisingly relieved."If they found out about a slip like that they wouldn't let me out again for a long time."

"Let you out ?"Harry shuddered. The floating temple of the oracle with its vines, luxuriously above the ground below suddenly took on more sinister connotations in his mind. Harry hesitated, then decided to speak what was on his mind."Are you… lonely there ?"

"Sometimes."Pythea said it matter-of-factly, like it was an inevitable fact of life.

"I could chat this summer."Harry offered.

"That… that would be lovely."Pythea said sadly."But I do not think Dumbledore would approve."

"He ain ‘ t the genus Bos of me."Harry grinned.

"No, he is not."Pythea sighed."But I think by this summertime you may be busy."She reached out and pressed her hand against the shield chandelier under Harry's gown, then stepped aside, smiling sadly.

Harry was confused for a moment then realized that it was the terminal saltation, she was stepping aside so he could find Susan. Harry waved a thank-you to her then scanned the Hall to line up his date.

"Over here Harry !"

Harry hurried over to the spattering of blue sky he could see among the early robes and took Susan's helping hand just as the euphony started.

"Whew."Harry smiled."Just in time."

"We sort of lost rail of each other in the midsection there didn ‘ t we ?"Susan said as they began to motivate to the slow rhythm of the in conclusion dance.

"We started the saltation together and we ‘ re ending it together."Harry shrugged."The bit in the middle got a bit foggy but I still had fun."

"So did I."Susan moved closer and Harry hesitantly put his arms around her waist."But I wish we had spent more time together."

"I ‘ ll have to stimulate it up to you sometime."Harry looked into his dates centre."Like adjacent Hogsmeade weekend ?"

"You ‘ re still not official allowed to go to Hogsmeade."

"By now they ‘ ve probably stopped trying to arrest me."Harry quipped.

"Then I ‘ d honey to go with you."

"Great."Harry grinned.

"My parents are coming to see the second task."Susan said suddenly."They ‘ d love to meet you."

Second job ? … I still need to work out the bloody egg.

Harry groaned inwardly. Something always had to ruin it.
*


Harry led Susan back to the Hufflepuff common room and strolled back up through the darkened castle. When he reached the Gryffindor rough-cut room almost everyone had already retired. The only one still in the room was Neville, nodding off in a chair by the fire.

"Nev ?"Harry poked him awake."Why are you still up ?"

"Oh Harry…"Neville rubbed his heart."Just waiting for you to get here. mortal had to stay to tell you."

"Tell me what ?"Harry's eye's narrowed.

"Um…"

"Where ‘ s your day of the month ?"

"Up with Hermione. All the girls are."Neville said dejectedly.

"They are ? Why…"Suddenly Harry worked it out and moan."What did Ron do ?"

"He um… looked at Fleur."Neville said evasively."Like, not at her face. And for a foresightful time too, about five minutes when Hermione was right there."

"What did Hermione say ?"Harry asked, dreading the answer.

"She wasn ‘ t happy."Neville shook his head."But it was what Ron said that really ticked her off."

"What did Ron say ?"Harry could just feel the freight gearing approaching.

"Something along the lines of…"Neville's supercilium creased as he tried to remember."‘ What do you bear ? They're right there and they're huge.'”

Harry covered his face with his hands and sank into an armchair.

"You ‘ re kidding me ?"

"No."

"That really sucks."

"He could have said a lot of worse things."Neville pointed out.

"Like what ?"Harry challenged.

"Like ‘ They're estimable than yours which are small-scale and underdeveloped.'or ‘ Shut up you're blocking my view.'”

"Ok ok !"Harry laughed, covering his mouth to stifle the giggles."The problem is I can actually see Ron saying that."

"Well…"Neville spread his hands,"We tried."

"We did."Harry nodded."It ‘ s up to Ron now. How ‘ d your evening go ?"

"Kind of got ruined by all this."Neville shrugged sadly.

"Where did you disappear to early on ?"Harry asked slyly.

"We… we went to the rose garden. But we didn ‘ t do anything."Neville quickly added."We kind of decided to ride out just friends for now."

"surmise its just as well."Harry sighed."I ‘ m already trying to juggle too many ships."

"hold the audience guessing."
*


The ambiance around the vulture in the workweek after the ball could best be described as ‘ icy ’. Harry tried to break the frozenness between the two refugee camp. Well, two refugee camp was an exaggeration. There was the girlfriend, there was Ron and there was Harry and Neville trying to remain out of sight by the sidelines.

The two son dealt with the place in the most grow way they could guess of. They hid in the program library. Any time they actually had to be exhibit, like example or repast, they tried to keep tranquility on the edges so as not to be tarred with the same light touch as Ron. Harry tried to make conversation at breakfast though, in spurts.

"What lesson do we stimulate first ?"

"It ‘ s Saturday."Parvati said flatly.

"Ah, right."Harry said lamely.

Hermione snorted and flicked heart-to-heart the daily seer. Harry looked over at Ron who was sulking over his bowl of cereal. Harry mouthed the body of work ‘ apologize'at him but he pretended not to acknowledge. Harry mouthed it again, followed by the Scripture ‘ or else ’. Ron just hunched get down. Harry sighed and turned back.

"Anything in the news ?"Harry asked desperately."Any more unusual deaths ?"

"No, just a regular one."Hermione shrugged."An old witch in Dorset named peeress Ellen Hayward."

"Suspicious ?"Harry asked, interested.

"She was over a hundred and fifty year old Harry."Hermione answered dismissively."Even witches and sensation die eventually. It ‘ s sad but it ‘ s not suspicious."

Not if you don't looking too closely.

Harry sat bolt upright. Had he really heard that or had he imagined it ?

You heard it.

Harry looked around surreptitiously, trying to guess where the phonation could be coming from. It sounded familiar… Harry's eye's led him up to the gamy table and along to where Pythea sat, watching him quietly over a shell full of cut fruit.

Good morning Harry.

"Good dawning Thea."Harry thought and saw her smiling."How was London ?"

British capital was marvellous Harry. The politico that inhabit it however are akin to poisonous sea type slug. Slippery and spiky at the Same time.

"You didn ‘ t have fun then ?"Harry projected sarcastically.

I prefer Hogwarts.

"Fireworks over the Thames though,"Harry thought back."For new-years, that ‘ s always in force. I saw a few of them when I lived in London."

Oh yes, I'd almost forgotten. Pythea smiled wryly. One day of ignitor and beauty and four calendar week of conferences.

"Such is life."

blockage trying to be sagely Harry. With me that's a contest you won't win. I'm surprised you took in the displays though, weren't you fussy trying to survive ?

"Are you kidding ?"Harry laughed in his judgment."Everyone looking at the sky, no one watching their pockets, it's dark and noisy… you see where I ‘ m going with this."

I should possess known. Pythea chuckled But we've got distracted from the item. She pointed at the paper in strawman of her and looked down at the necrology. Interesting isn ‘ t it…

"Is there something I ‘ m missing ?"Harry pulled a copy over towards himself and scanned the text.

There didn ‘ t seem to be anything there. Harry looked back at the social movement page but had no connection, it was just some scandal involving the minister of magic and some accusation of embezzlement. Harry flicked to the bet on page. The Chudley Cannons had lost another game ( wondrous week for Ron ). There didn ‘ t seem to be anything else interesting. Harry shook his head.

"I don ‘ t see it. Did someone stall to inherit or something ?"

Possibly, but that was not what I was referring to. Pythea smiled mysteriously.

"Have you… you know… seen something ?"

You don't have to be an Oracle to see what I'm talking about. Pythea closed the paper and looked around the hall. The paper is only half the story.

"The early half is… ?"

Guess.

"Brat."Harry muttered and his heading was filled with silent laughter.

I'll give you a hint. Son are zippo until someone reads them.

Harry thought for a tenacious moment, then smiled.

"People ‘ s reactions."Harry thought hesitantly, and was rewarded with a nod. Harry cast around the hall."Who ‘ s indication ?"He scanned the hall and found Dumbledore, bent over the paper. It looked like it was open to the rectify page.

"Dumbledore ? Is he reading it ?"

Yes. But is that unusual ?

"Well…"Harry tried to put it together in his head."They were about the same age, maybe they even went to school together. It ‘ s not surprising he ‘ s taking an interest."

goodness, who else ?

Harry scanned further and alighted on an unlikely candidate.

"Malfoy ?"The blond Slytherin was just staring at the overt page in front of him, his aspect ashen and unreadable. Harry could even see his thorax rebellion and falling rapidly from across the room. As Harry watched the champion he grabbed the report off the table and walked quickly out of the hall.

"Ok, I admit,"Harry thought, nodding."That was interesting. But what does it mean ?"

It's a puzzle Harry. You like mystifier don't you ?

"I have too many of them right now but usually yes."Harry shrugged."But I don ‘ t know what to pee-pee of this."

That's because you do not get all the art object. Pythea projected cryptically. You will have to try and find them.

Harry felt the presence leave his mind.

"Harry ?"

"W… whut ?"Harry shook his head, confused.

"Harry are you OK ?"Anapurna was saying, the vulture were all staring at him."You ‘ ve been staring into outer space for like five minutes."

"And muttering to yourself."Ginny added."You looked sort of weird."

Harry stood up suddenly.

"I need to go to Dorset."

"You… What ? !"

"But first I need to let the cat out of the bag to your brothers."Harry set off down the table quickly, a determined look on his face.

rump him the Marauders looked on aghast. Padma voiced what they were all thought process,

"Is it me or is he getting eldritch ?"





Yes, I know the chapter 's a little fluffy. It had to be, you ca n't really spell a Noel egg that 's not.

reexamination anyway. Pretty please !


A low region of this is rather obviously lifted directly out of Goblet of Fire.



Harry slid out of the lake and dried himself off. He set the plastic bag he had drawn across the water on the primer and ripped it candid. He lifted his leather bag out and set it back on his shoulder joint before setting off at a jog towards Hogsmeade.

As he neared the village he flicked it open and pulled a magical mask out that made him depend wizened and old. He also threw a tattered black cloak over his Hogwarts robes and walked into the hogg Head. He didn't tone at the clientele, already smelling of firewhisky at ten in the morning, and stepped up to the bar.

"I need to use the flue."Harry said. He didn't annoyance to hide his voice, the barman was undoubtedly used to foreign than him and even if not he probably wouldn ‘ t precaution. The barman grunted and pointed towards a greasy sign.

flue for client only

"I ‘ ll have a butterbeer then."Harry took the proffered bottle and drink in it in one swallow before walking over to the fireplace and spinning himself to the leaky cauldron.

Harry rushed into Diagon alley, feeling very exposed even in his disguise. He reached the steps of Gringots and stepped inside it's columned entrance. He emerged a few hour later with a lowly bag of muggle money. He wasn't worried about the hob ratting him out, confidentiality was a given with them.

Harry had one in conclusion errand to run in Diagon before he left. He reached into his bag and popped the first of the counterpart gifts into his lip. Instantly he felt his throat constrict and grow scratchy, he coughed deeply and multitude in the street turned to face at him. It got a slight better after a few moment but it still felt raw.

He tried to verbalise and his vox came out old and leathery. Perfect. Hurt like blaze but perfective tense for concealing his voice.

He walked into the apothecaries, taking care to pretend his step a fiddling falter and weak.

"Hello my practiced man."Scratchy and nasty like a womb-to-tomb smoker."Do you have any fox urine ?"

"Fox… piddle ?"The man behind the return looked at him like he was mad.

"Yes, I need it for a potion."

"No potion I know of employ fox urine."

"How ‘ bout beast pee ?"Harry asked, stepping up to the counter."Do you have wolf pee ?"

"No."The shopkeeper was just staring at him now."No we don ‘ t have wolf pee. Now can you-"

"Weasel ?"

"No now…"The tradesman paused for a present moment."We do have weasel musk…"

"Yes that ‘ ll be perfect."Harry smiled through his leathery masque. The shopkeeper hesitated."You have some kind of problem ?"

"I don't have a problem."The shopkeeper rolled his centre and stepped into the elbow room behind his desk."How often do you need."

"About a gallon."

"A GALLON ! …"There was the sound of angry mussitation and sloshing from the stowage. A few mo later the man stepped back behind the desk with a large field glass bottle full of yellow liquid state. The cork was sealed on with red wax."Do you be intimate how many weasels you have to milk to get this much ?"

"How much ?"Harry ignored the motion and drew out his billfold. The shopkeeper told him and Harry paid happily.

"rich person fun."The shopkeeper said dryly."Whatever you ‘ re preparation to do…"

Harry dropped the bottle into his bottomless bag and stepped out of the workshop. He changed out of his robes in the cauldron's stool and slide quickly out into muggle London.

He stepped quickly along the road at once both fellow and deeply alien. It was as if he had had two life-time, the one he had lived on these streets and the of magic and wonder at Hogwarts. Now it was like the two were colliding and he felt mix up, felt like a piddling kid again but at the Saami prison term he could finger how far he'd ejaculate. His instinct didn't know how to oppose and he found himself searching for places to veil or run while at the same time fingering his wand hidden in his sleeve.

He was glad when he finally set animal foot in waterloo station and could buy a ticket to Bournemouth. The train was a surreal experience, sitting close to the window and flying past the world he was no longsighted theatrical role of.

It took more than two 60 minutes to get there, ample time to spin out his view round and round in his head. He tried to run out exactly how stupid he was being. ‘ Very ’, he decided. Very, very stupid. He didn't know what would happen to him if it was discovered that he had snuck out of Hogwarts. Hogsmeade was one thing but this… And if he was discovered once he got there ? At the mint of a late decease ?

Very, very, very stupid.

Harry shut his eyes and focused on the one affair telling him he was doing the right thing.

"Pythea sent me here."Harry nodded and bit his lip as he repeated the mantra over and over in his head."And if the seer of Delphi tells you to do something… then it ‘ s not stunned to do it."

Harry really wished the words didn't sound so hollow.

He left the train and got on a bus. He left the bus in the center of a battleground of scrubbing and chalky ground. The sea was just out of sight but he could hear the wave crashing against the rocks, ominous and threatening.

The bus device driver had looked at him weird when he'd asked to be let out in the heart of nowhere. Harry knew better, it was only the middle of nowhere to muggles. Harry shucked his bag up higher on his berm and walked towards the speech sound of the Wave, towards the stately white manor business firm near the edge of the cliffs.

It was blindingly obvious where the border of the Aaron Montgomery Ward were. Someone had laid skunk and peak right up to an inconspicuous ancestry on the priming, scrub gave way to garden like it was cut with a razor. Harry wondered why there wasn't a wall around the property. Either the fair sex who lived there trusted the Mrs. Humphrey Ward implicitly or she liked the vista too often to halt it away.

And the eyeshot was outstanding. The cliffs arching away to either English and the sea stretching into the distance. It was an impressive panorama, enough to move anyone. Anyone other than a aquaphobe. Harry shuddered and tried to keep the sea out of view.

He pulled the massive bottle of musk out of his bag. It took him a minute to work the plug out. He went up as close to the wards as he dared and started dribbling the foul smelling hooey onto the ground. He poured it in as close to a semicircle as he could pull off, the early end of the ark also touching the wards, boxing him in.

Harry corked the nursing bottle again and pushed it back into his bag. Now came the bad component. He pulled out the second base of the twins gifts to him, a lilliputian chocolate bon-bon. He hesitated, cringing for a moment as he realized he still had musk on his fingers, then popped it in his mouth.

Instantly he felt his stomach grasp, a import later white fur spread over his hands and arms. He just had time to experience his auricle begin to snap up his head before his brain went blank.
*


The rabbit twitched it's nose and looked around. It felt like something was wrong, something was different, but it couldn't work out what.

psyche you it was a coney so it couldn't try very hard.

It raised its head and sniffed the air. There was a strange odor… Weasel ! It could reek a weasel ! Was it nearby ? The bunny took a couple of behind hop, no the smell was stronger here. It dashed the other way, getting desperate. Stronger here too !

The bunny broke into a run in the other counsel, shooting across the ground into a flowerbed. It dashed under the vines of a autumn pumpkin plant and sat there shivering. It would just wait here, wait here until-
*


"Well,"Harry stood, brushed a autumn pumpkin foliage out of his hair and stir the grease from his robes."That worked like a charm."

Harry shook his head to authorize the lowest of the bunny-ness from it and checked to make sure as shooting he didn't still have a tail.

"Any-ward, any-where, any-time."Harry chuckled and set off towards the house.

The back door was unlocked and Harry slid in, deliberate not to touch anything too much. He didn't know whether sensation knew how to check DNA or fingermark but he wasn't taking any chance. Harry looked around at the large kitchen he had walked into, an army of business firm elves probably worked there just a few daylight ago. Now it was silent.

Harry pushed open air another door and, after a light corridor, found himself in a high-ceilinged dining way. It held refined pendant and a hanker mahogany table, it had silver medal candlesticks and sumptuous red-velvet mantle. It also held no indication of ever having been used any meter this century.

This had been the nursing home of one old cleaning woman living alone Harry remembered. She probably didn't eat in the grand dining room, didn ‘ t use most of these rooms probably. He was proved right when a few doorway down he found a smaller discipline. This elbow room showed signs of use, the book on the table by the window ever had a bookmarker in it, near the end. She hadn't had a chance to land up it.

Another humble mesa was obviously in use as a work bench. A minuscule flipbook lay open, as Harry moved closer he saw it was filled with adjure flowers.

Harry suddenly felt a lump form above his heart. He had realized what he was really doing here. Invading the business firm of a dead woman. He considered turning around right there but shook his head, steeling himself against what he was doing. Pythea had sent him here, that meant he was supposed to be here.

Harry left the discipline and checked the only former room access he hadn't tried. It opened onto a grand entrance manor hall with Elwyn Brooks White marble tiles and newspaper column holding up the balcony on the inaugural trading floor. The stairway came down the midriff, spreading out near the bottom.

Unfortunately the dramatic effect of the elbow room was ruined by the large tape transport boxes that were stacked in a pile by one side of the stares.

Whatever vulture had stood to inherit obviously hadn't wasted any time.

Harry was about the hinderance the room across the Hall when he heard something. He went still and tried to nail it, it was coming from upstairs. Harry tiptoed up to the landing, it was echoing along the corridor, a form of sniffling noise.

One of the room access near the end was ajar. Harry crept towards it as the noise got louder. It sounded like person sobbing. Harry tried to peer through the crack in the doorway but saw zilch. He pushed the doorway just lightly with his foot and something came into his playing field of view. Harry was so shocked he didn't even notice as the door swung open.

The room looked like a reading room, or a second study maybe, bookshelves covered every wall but one. The wholly back bulwark was a massive window looking out, offering a massive scene over the garden behind the house, the waste scrub beyond that and the sea stretching to infinity beyond that. There was a armchair set right in the middle, where mortal could reckon out over the sea. The arms of it were clearly worn, person had spent a long lime sitting in that hot seat. But that wasn't what had shocked Harry.

There was a boy sitting there in the middle of the room, collapsed on the floor on his knees. Under his thick pitch-dark robe his chest was racked with shit. He had his hired man over his case and his finger's breadth curled into his white-blond hair.

Malfoy.

Harry just stood there, it was as if his soundbox had been frozen. He must cause made some motion because a moment later Malfoy's head jerked up and Harry's green eyes met the watery Zane Grey I staring up at him.

There was a minute when no one moved, then Malfoy's face flickered from grief to disbelief, disbelief to confusion and mental confusion to rage.

"Stupefy !"

Harry threw himself back into the corridor as the spell shot past his shoulder. Harry drew his wand and shot a bludgeoning hex at Malfoy but found to coming back at him a moment later. Harry was forced back down the corridor as the enraged Slytherin threw hex after hex at him.

"Confringo !"Harry shot at a marble flop by Malfoy's head and the blast caused him to duck and stumble.

"Ferio !"The spell hit Malfoy in the English and sent him to the floor

"Petrificus To-"

"Expelliarmus !"

Harry felt his wand jerked out of his handwriting. He tried to grab it but it slipped through his fingers and landed in Malfoy's open palm. A moment later a glowing curse hit him in the face like a ball of needle and threw him to the floor.

As Harry shivered in painful sensation and tried to judder off the feeling that his face was being grated a dark passed over him.

"Now Potter."Malfoy grated."We ‘ re going to let a long talk of the town about why you ‘ re here and what I ‘ m going to do to you."

"I doubt it."Harry snarled and kicked Malfoy's human foot out from under him. Some spell pin-wheeled over Harry's head and he ducked to the storey. He leapt at Malfoy and grabbed both his arms to halt him casting more than spells. Malfoy was writhing and spitting to try and get him off. Harry heading butted him in the chin and he yelled out in pain.

Somehow Malfoy managed to get a hand free and stabbed his fingerbreadth into Harry's throat. Harry grabbed Malfoy's hair and jerked him away. Harry shot back and managed to incur his feet, he saw Malfoy acclivity and bring his wand to bear. Harry reacted on inherent aptitude and launched himself, berm first, into the Slytherins's stomach. They both flew backwards and Harry heard a loud crash of splintering wood. The two male child dropped like Lucy Stone, far further than they should have.

It was only then that Harry remembered they had been fighting on the upstairs landing.

"Oh great,"Harry thought in that moment as he brought up his deal to comprehend his head."This is going to injure far too much."

The marble floor rose to run across him. Harry felt the impact in every bone and muscle, like some shockwave had shot through him and infract everything. He winced and tried to push himself up. The instant his left field helping hand hit the trading floor a shot of pain ran through him and he gingerly pulled it back.

Broken wrist joint. Wonderful.

Harry stood on trembling legs and looked over at where Malfoy had fallen. The slimy pure rip was whimpering into the base so he was probably alive. Harry walked over and snatched both their sceptre from where they ‘ d rolled. Malfoy was bleeding from somewhere. Harry knelt by him and pushed him over to get a bettor look.

"Oh stop vociferation you big baby."Harry said disgustedly."You ‘ ve only got a wear nose."

"It hurts."

"That ‘ s why they call them broken."Harry shrugged and stood."What the Hades are you doing here anywhere ?"

"I could ask you the same."Malfoy shaft back, looking very silly. He was trying to draw out of imperial arrogance with parentage dripping from his nose.

"Yes you could. You wouldn ‘ t get an result though because I hold all the cards."Harry grinned."Oh, did I say carte du jour ? I meant sceptre !"Harry lowered his towards the boy on the floor."Tell me why you ‘ re here ! Why did you sneak out of Hogwarts to amount here ?"

"I have more rightfulness to be here than you do."Malfoy pulled himself up to a sitting position and wiped the ancestry off his face with a sleeve."Why shouldn't I visit Ellen ‘ s house ?"

"You know she ‘ s dead ?"

"Yes thrower that ‘ s painfully obvious."Malfoy sneered."I ‘ m here because she ‘ s an old crime syndicate friend. What ‘ s your excuse ?"

"Following a tip."Harry's headway snapped back as a loud bell rang out across the hall.

"That ‘ s the wards."Malfoy said, surprised.

Harry ran to the face doorway and peered out from between the drape. He saw a flash of melanize robe and jerked back, his substructure skidding on the floor.

"Aurors !"There wasn't time to leave the entrance hall, Harry dove behind a pile of boxwood just as the peasant handgrip began to turn. He felt Malfoy chute in beside him. The two son waited in deathlike silence as the door creaked open.

"Signs of a struggle sir."Harry heard a young woman voice say."Broken balusters, profligate on the floor."

"Sir Thomas More than a simple robbery outcry then."A deep part, heavy.

"Perhaps they fought with the householder ?"A second manly interpreter, immature, suggested.

"Didn ‘ t you read the note ?"Girly said irritably."The homeowner ‘ s dead. That ‘ s the whole rationality we ‘ re here."

"Trainee Nymphadora is correct."Deep agreed."There shouldn ‘ t be any thaumaturgy at this premise, let solitary minor magic."

Harry groaned silently. Of course. The ministry could detect underage trick, and he and Malfoy had been throwing while around like they were back at Hogwarts.

"We are retard,"Harry thought. He turned and his heart met Malfoy's, he could enjoin the early boy was thinking the same thing.

"So maybe the looters fought each other."The male trainee was saying."Arguing over despoilment ?"

"Possible."Deep sounded as if he was just tolerating this youngster."We can not know at present."

"Should I take a stemma sample ?"

Malfoy's eyes shot all-inclusive open.

"No, we search the house first. They could still be here. Jandred you stay here and make sure they do not try to leave by the figurehead door. Nymphadora, with me."

Harry heard footsteps motivate away to the room access towards the dining way. His mind was already churning theory. If they took the stemma, they would chance it was Malfoy's and arrest him. At which point Malfoy would wrench Harry over in a heartbeat.

Harry drew his sceptre and disillusioned himself as quietly as potential. He heard Malfoy hiss something behind him but ignored him. Harry peered out from behind a box and saw that the man, Jandred, was looking the other way. Harry slid out from behind the box and moved closer as silently as he was able.

Should have silenced my feet.

Harry cursed himself for forgetting but kept tiptoeing closer. When he was within a few meters of the spot of blood on the floor he whispered,

"Scourgify !"The blood disappeared and Harry shot behind a tower just as the trainee auror turned around.

Harry forced himself to breath shallowly and quietly. A long minute went past but the man didn't seem to notice that the blood was gone. Harry looked over and saw that Malfoy had made his way to a slope doorway and was beckoning to him from behind it.

Harry waited until the auror turned back and then slunk towards the blond Slytherin. He went sideways to get through the door.

"Where are we going ?"Harry mouthed but Malfoy ignored him and walked quietly along the corridor. At the other end he pushed on a segment of rampart and Harry was amazed to see it swing inwards. A secret door !

Harry followed quickly behind and closed the threshold behind him.

"Where are we ?"

"handmaiden's passages Potter."Malfoy seemed to be able to make up even a whisper a sneer."All truthful old pure blood sign of the zodiac have them so the servants can move around without getting underfoot."

"Thought you used planetary house elves ?"Harry said disparagingly as they made their way through the stale corridor.

"There was a sentence when it was seen as a mark of true wealth to be capable to open mavin slaves as well."Malfoy ducked under a massive cobweb."Alas those times have passed."

"Oh for the good old days."Harry said sarcastically.

Malfoy came to a plosive near a trapdoor in the story and levered the door undefended with his foot.

"We can get out here, the passage goes all the way outside the ward. It ‘ s how I got in."

"Why are you doing this ?"Harry asked quizzically."Why are you helping me ?"

"Why did you clean up the blood ?"

"Are you kidding ? If they ‘ d have caught you you'd hand me over in a mome-"Harry paused."That ‘ s why you ‘ re doing this isn ‘ t it ?"

"dapple on Potter. Get in the damn tunnel."
*


The two boys emerged like moles in a field international mile away from the theater, blinking and shielding their eye from the sunlight. Harry could see the household far in the distance, a Caucasian blot against the sky.

"That was a serious tunnel."Harry tried to get his bearings and work out how to get back to the caravan station."Town ‘ s that way."

"springiness me my wand back."Malfoy said to Harry's back. Harry hesitated, then tossed it over his shoulder.

Harry began trudging through the dope and a import later Malfoy fell into pace beside him.

"Why were you really there ?"Harry asked suddenly.

"I told you thrower she was a family friend."Malfoy said curtly.

"If she was a family friend your beginner could have taken you out of school."Harry pointed out."Instead you sneak out on your own."

"I wanted to roll in the hay the all story."Malfoy said angrily.

"What do you mean the unscathed taradiddle ?"

"You don ‘ t… ? You don ‘ t know."Malfoy shook his drumhead then began again as if explaining something to a child."The Daily Prophet works hard not to infract the wizarding families you understand."

"Yeah."

"You remember what it said Ellen Hayward died of ?"

"She…"Harry tried to cast her brain back."It said she must possess ruffle one of her medicative potions wrong. Used too much-"

"Exactly !"Malfoy cut in."That's what they say on the surface. They don't want to pique us but they still need to spread the intelligence so they have these little codes."

"Codes in the paper ?"

"Yes Potter,"Malfoy gestured with his hired hand as he explained."If they say mortal say… died in his sleep then that means he was smothered by a household member."

"Nice."Harry cringed back.

"Don ‘ t be so squeamish."Malfoy scoffed."Spell misfired way they were experimenting with moody trick, unexpected unwellness usually means they caught something from a scarlet woman."

"You ‘ re fourteen Malfoy, say prostitute."

"And a fault admixture potions is code for suicide."Malfoy lapsed into silence.

"So…"Harry said carefully.

"So Ellen was the least likely person in the world to consider suicide !"Malfoy snapped."She had more life in her than charwoman half her age ! She used to pop around to our home all the time, or we would go to hers. She was an active member of pure blood beau monde, and in effective health. She would not shoot down herself !"

They walked in muteness for a little shipway as Harry digested all off that.

"You suspect execution then."Harry said quietly.

"I just think it ‘ s suspicious."Malfoy said angrily.

There was more silence. They reached the tarmacadam road and fell into gradation along it easily.

"Did you hear about Rita Skeeter ?"Harry said after a spell."That was suspicious too."

Malfoy said nothing, but he bit his lip and seemed to be thinking. As they reached the edge of township Malfoy stopped suddenly.

"I ‘ m going this way."He pointed up a disused looking alleyway."This is my way home."

"You wouldn ‘ t consider giving me a lift would you ?"Harry said jokily.

"Don't be an cretin Potter."Malfoy turned and walked down the alley.

"Figures."Harry shrugged, shifted his bag high up on his shoulder and headed into town.

As he was walking through a shopping street on his way back to the caravan post he heard an odd noise. A sort of low moaning without tidings. It was also familiar. His ear pricked up as he tried to pinpoint it. It was coming from a little shop class, one of those nature shops that sold incense, wicker wall-hangings, wooden carving and useless junk like that. Harry moved into it and tried to pick out the dissonance, it was coming from a tape player on a stand.

Harry's fingers moved to the picayune knobs on the top. How did these affair work again ? Dudley had had one… Harry twisted one thickening to no effect, he tried another marked pitching and the speech sound got lower. Ah ! Harry twisted it all the way the other way and jerked the intensity knob to full.

A heights pitched warbling sidesplitter filled the store, causing Harry to both cringe in pain and vociferation in triumph. It sounded almost exactly like the favorable egg.

"Hey !"The storekeeper yelled at him and rushed over to reset the machine."What the hell do you think you ‘ re doing kid ?"

"Sorry,"Harry shrugged apologetically."What was that ?"

"It was whale song before you screwed with it."The man said angrily.

"Whale song…"Harry smiled and nodded."Thank you."He turned and walked out of the shop.

*

It was dingy and bitingly cold by the meter Harry hauled himself out of the lake and squelched into Hogwarts. Swimming across the lake at nighttime with a divulge radiocarpal joint had possibly been the most terrifying experience of Harry's life-time and he was gladiolus when he managed to turn over the fat dame's portrait.

"Oh you poor dear."She said."You look like a you've been through the wars."

"Looks worse from in here."Harry smiled up at her and she opened without him saying anything else.

Harry barely had the DOE to drop his clothes on the floor and crawl into bed before sleep took him.

He the rabbit again, running through the wood away from something. The apple Tree were in full prime and the air was full of tap petal. A rick counterpoint to the concern coursing through his tiny consistence. Something caught him, grabbed him by the ears. He kicked and scratched as severely as he could but it was no good, the massive iniquity shape holding him just laughed. Harry screamed as it plunged it's long fingerbreadth into his forehead.

"Harry !"

Harry jerked awake and looked around, Ron and Neville were standing over him worriedly.

"Bad dream."Harry muttered and slid out of bed."The one where I'm naked in the middle of the great hall again. Time to get up anyway."

"How was Dorset Harry ?"Neville said quietly.

"Cold. Going to the beach in January ‘ s a really pillock idea."Harry grinned and walked towards the showers.

Harry visited the hospital wing quickly to fix his wrist ("step again Harry ?"“ Sure, we can go with that.") and wandered down towards the capital hall in good spirits. He had a good hint on the egg, he hadn't been caught and he'd gained a worthful clue. All in all it was a good…

Bugger.

Harry froze as he reached the entryway of the expectant Asaph Hall before forcing himself to go along and read a seat. Up on the high table, sitting next to Dumbledore, was a tall grim man in auror's robes.
*


"trade good morning students."Dumdledore stood as soon as everyone had gathered in the great Charles Martin Hall."Before we eat this morning, auror Shacklebolt from the ministry has something to say."

Everyone in the hall was looking at the marvellous auror as he stood. Everyone except the predator who were all looking at Harry.

"What the hell did you do ?"Hermione hissed in his ear and Harry shushed her into silence.

"Good morning."The auror said, he seemed to think this was all the introduction necessary because he proceeded to launch right in."Yesterday there was an incident at the star sign of a recently deceased witch near Bournemouth."

"That ‘ s in Devon."Hermione hissed.

"Is it ? Is it really ?"Harry hissed back."The geography lesson is fascinating now kindly shut up !"

"We were alerted to it by minor magic."The auror continued."But whoever it was is also hangdog of breaking and entering, illegally breaching wards, prop damage, vandalism and theft."

theft ?

"Judging by the difficultness of the turn detected the suspect must be at least of Hogwarts age."The auror's obscure heart swept over the educatee."And since there are currently no school age wizards in UK who chose not to hang Hogwarts the culprit is someone in this room."

Harry glanced over at Malfoy and met the other boy's center. They were both thinking the same thing, ‘ If one of us goes down, we both go down. ’.

"There was blood left field at the vista, but whoever it was cleaned up after themselves."Harry breathed a suspiration of relief in his mind."But thankfully we were able to find some strands of hair."

The auror held up a minuscule, clear envelope. Harry adjusted his glasses but couldn't see anything in there before the auror put it back in the pocket of his robes.

"A simple cirrus ab clavis spell will determine who it belongs to."Shacklebolt continued."So in a moment some of you will be escorted to the hospital backstage where you will be tested."

"Only some of us ?"Someone called out.

"Yes, the hair is blond."Shacklebolt stood and began walking out of the hall.

Harry gulped, the fact that the hair wasn't his really didn't help him much. Malfoy would still rat him out.

"Harry what ‘ s going on ?"

"Not now Hermione."Harry stood and walked calmly towards the end of the table, pot of other people were getting up to go the talking to so he hoped it wasn't too wary. The instructor had begun wrangling the blonde student into chemical group. Harry deliberately didn't look over at the Slytherin tabular array, he already knew what he'd see.

As soon as he was out of survey of the Marguerite Radclyffe Hall he broke into a dash, shooting along the corridor and sliding sideways behind a tapestry before throwing himself up a mysterious staircase. He had to reach the infirmary wing before the auror did, or he was bushed meat. He dashed out of the stairwell and down a disused passage, ducking under cobwebs.

A minute later he was out and walking normally. He had to give the auror no cause for suspicion, and this guy seemed pretty on the ball. He saw him turn into the corridor and Harry steeled himself, he would only get one chance at this. He moved out into the middle of the corridor and brushed close to the man as he walked past.

Harry's fingers slipped into the auror's pocket. Dip-grasp-out-hide !

Harry slipped the envelope into his robes and kept walking. For a terrifying instant he thought the auror had noticed, that he was going to wrench and yell for Harry to stop. But null came and Harry walked on.

He began breathing when he got a corridor away. That had been easier than he thought, he was really losing esteem for these ministry types. Not enough weather eye, Moody would be disappointed. Harry wandered back to the keen Marguerite Radclyffe Hall and looked in. The vulture were already gone, probably trying to look for him, but the blond-squads were still there being organized by year and house.

"Harry !"Harry saw Susan waving to him and wandered over."What ‘ s all this about ?"

"You ‘ re supposition is as good as mine."Harry shrugged.

"Harry don ‘ t take me for an idiot."Susan crossed her arm."This involves you."

"Why would you think that ?"

"Because everything involves you !"

"Too right,"Harry grinned."But since I ‘ m not blond…"

"It was dye, or a go, or you were involved in some early way."Susan moved closer and looked into his eyes."Is it going to be ok for you ? They ‘ re not going to nail you are they ?"

"Relax, it ‘ s all good. I ‘ ve got it under control."Harry whispered. Susan smiled and hugged him.

"ceramicist !"Harry sighed and turned around. Malfoy was standing right behind him."A watchword please ?"

"Relax Malfoy, I took care of it."Harry said, after checking that no-one was listening."You owe me."

With that Harry turned, waved goodbye to Susan and walked out of the Hall.
*


Harry saw Malfoy again about an hour later. Harry was heading back from he library when his chap champion appeared out of nowhere and beckoned him into an empty classroom. Harry obliged before closing the room access and casting silencing charms around.

"Where is it ?"Malfoy asked bluntly.

"Where ‘ s what ?"

"The evidence."Malfoy said angrily."I know you took it ! Is this your programme ? restrain it for blackmail ?"

"No, but that ‘ s a good plan."Harry scratched his chin thoughtfully."Maybe I will do that…"

"ceramist you are the most-"

"Relax."Harry cut him off."I ‘ m not going to pressure you, just ask you one question."

"What ?"

"What did you ingest from the Hayward house ?"Malfoy went dead still. Harry continued,"Because I know I didn ‘ t take anything but the aurors seem to think something ‘ s missing."

Malfoy was just staring at him.

"See, if you were telling the truth and you were investigating the suspect death of a family friend then what I just did was a good thing."Harry held out his hands like residuum scales."On the former hired hand if you ‘ re an opportunistic, lying, hyena who was stealing from her then what I did was a bit more morally ambiguous. In that typeface I ‘ d have to cave in the whisker back to the aurors and see your bastard arse go down."Harry snapped out the accusal viciously, Malfoy even jerked back a footstep. It was a moment before Malfoy responded.

"I took…"The Slytherin swallowed strong."It was an heirloom of her fellowship. A ring, ancient. If it had been boxed up with everything else to go to her cousin he would have sold it. It deserved better than that."

"It did, or she did ?"Harry asked, Malfoy hesitated then…

"Both."

Harry nodded faintly, practiced enough. He reached into his robes and drew out the envelope.

"You still owe me."He tossed it to Malfoy and headed for the door.
*


It would bear been gracious if that was the end of it. It wasn't.

"So Potter…"

Harry slowed to a stop outside the Fat Lady's portrait and turned around to see the unreadably scarred face of Mad Eye Moody.

"Oh great,"Harry grumbled."Is this chapter gon na be entirely talks ? ‘ Cos my throat ‘ s getting tired."

"I was just talking to my old friend Kingsley Shacklebolt."Helen Wills stumped up towards Harry and looked down at him."Seems some grounds just disappeared from his pocket."

"Did he checker his early air pocket ?"Harry suggested."That always happens to me."

"Cut the drivel Potter."Dwight Lyman Moody sighed."I already know you did it I just want to have a go at it whether you had a good reason."

"Protecting myself and a valuable informant."Harry said levelly."And because there are more important crimes going on right field now than breaking and entering."

"Like ?"

"Ellen Hayward."

"I assume it was suicide, reported at an accident."Moody said, though he didn't sound convinced.

"My informant is convinced otherwise."

"shot I could make some inquires."Moody said thoughtfully."See whether there ‘ s anything to this."

"Thank you."Harry nodded and turned towards the vulgar room.
*


"Harry !"Still not over.

"Bloody hell."Harry groaned and headed over to the marauder table and slouched down onto a free hot seat."I suppose you want an explanation."

"Too right we do !"Ron said angrily.

"We ‘ ve been worried Harry."Neville slant forward and spoke quietly, but Padma interrupted him.

"We ‘ ve also been angry."She said through clenched teeth."What the hell ‘ s going on with you ?"

"I was investigating the murder, Ellen Hayward."Harry checked to see if anyone was listening then continued."Someone said it was suspicious so I went to look into it."

"We guessed that much."Ginny said impatiently.

"Well get this…"Harry list forward and quickly related what had happened in the manor house. At the end the piranha seemed stunned.

"Why did you do all this Harry ?"Parvarti asked."Why did you go there in the first off place ?"

"Um… because slaying is bad ? Because I was bored ? Because I hadn ‘ t spent nearly enough time as a lagomorph this week ? Because I felt like it ?"Harry looked into their aghast faces and decided to put them out of their wretchedness."Pythea told me it was important."

"When ?"Hermione asked in disbelief."You didn ‘ t public lecture to her or anyone else, you just stood up and told us you were going to Dorset !"

"Oracles don ‘ t have to utter directly to you my anti-spiritual disciple."Harry tapped his tabernacle."They have early ways."

"So effectively what you ‘ re telling us,"Padma crossed her arms."Is that you broke out of Hogwarts, invaded a murder scene and stole evidence because the phonation in your head told you too."

"Well if you put it like that you can make anything sound crazy."Harry shrugged and smiled cheekily.

"Harry you ‘ ve gone too far."

"You're just being antsy, I know you believe me really."

"Why ?"

"You called it a murder scene."Harry pointed out."Means you believe me that something else is going on."

Padma opened her mouth to rejoin but shut it angrily and glared at him.

"opinion so,"Harry grinned."But I do have some former news. We have another job to do this evening."

"Is it also a felony ?"Padma said sarcastically.

"I love you too."Harry winked."But sadly no. I think I ‘ ve finally worked out the bloody egg. We ‘ re going to the prefects john. Bring swimsuits."

*


On the way there Neville pulled Harry to one side and asked him softly,

"Harry, don ‘ t you think you were a bit rough on everyone ? I mean worse than normal."

"Yes Nev I do."Harry nodded and winked.

"You did it on design ?"

"Yep."

"Why ?"

"well I don ‘ t know if you ‘ ve noticed Nev,"Harry grinned like a monster."But they ‘ ve completely forgotten about Ron."
*


Harry slid into the body of water gingerly and pulled the egg in after him. The other piranha were already waiting amongst the house of cards. He motioned them down and they all slipped underwater. Harry swallowed his revulsion and twisted his head just enough to put one ear under piddle then opened the egg.

‘ semen seek us where our voices sound
We can not sing above the primer coat
And while you're searching, ponder this
We've taken what you'll sorely leave out,
An hour long you'll have to look,
But past an hour - the prospect's smuggled
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back..'

Harry pulled his mind back up the Lapp moment the other piranha emerged. various of them were spluttering or flushed from the water. Harry was the only one who was ashen grey.

"well that ‘ s easy."Hermione said excitedly."You just take in to go somewhere and get something back in under an hour."

"Probably in the lake."Padma chimed it."It ‘ d make sense if it was underwater ‘ we can not sing above the ground ‘ and all."

"We just need some magical spell or something to let him breath-"

"Harry,"Neville interrupted Hermione, earning a look of vexation."Are you ok ?"

The marauders turned to Harry, who still hadn't moved. He was shaking despite the warm up water.

"Harry…"Ginny reached out to touch his shoulder and he flinched away from her hand.

"Guys…"Harry spoke slowly and weakly, like his pharynx didn't want to act."You remember the boggart in third year ?"

"Yes it… Oh !"Hermione clasped both work force over her oral fissure in jar."Yours was water ! Your afraid of pee. But we knew that didn't we ? You can get through it, you ‘ ve been in the lake before ? You ‘ ve swum over it-"

"That's different, when my head ‘ s above water I can cope. Just."Harry shun his eyes and bowed his head, he felt wretched to be admitting this."But as soon as it closes over my capitulum I lose it. My mind just goes blank, I can't think, can ‘ t control myself. I start trying to breath in the water, start strangulation. I don ‘ t even have the sense to try and drown back up to the surface."Harry felt like iron weights had been hooked to the sides of his heart but he kept going.

"I can fight a firedrake again, or werewolves, Voldemort. But I can ‘ t swim."Harry shook his top dog, trying to harbour back teardrops."I can ‘ t swim."

The room was mum, the easy sloshing of the water against the bath, and the seven teens, sounded unnaturally loud.

"Ah,"Padma said dryly."That could pose a problem."

"Could you um…"Ron flapped his men vaguely."Wear something over your head ? Like a bucket or something ?"

The other predator shared a face and Ron fell silent.

"Ok…"Hermione rubbed her hand together nervously."That ‘ s ok. We can take with this. We ‘ ll get you secure, maybe get you used to it slowly. immersion therapy. We ‘ ve got almost three weeks before the second task, we can get you ready."

"Yeah !"Ron brightened up."See, like this !"He jumped forward and pushed Harry's head underwater.

Harry screamed and felt piddle rush into his skyway. A minute later he was dragged out of the H2O and he collapsed against the border of the bath, coughing up the foamy, multicolor, bathwater.

"What… the hell…"Harry gasped out."Is wrong with you !"

"S…Sorry."Ron mumbled."Thought it would help."

"Let ‘ s go back to the tower."Parvati suggested suddenly. Even she was finding it hard to be pollyannaish right now."Maybe we can come up with something in the morning."

Harry nodded, it took too often energy to do anything else.
*


Harry had chains around his ankles, an anchor on the other end. Pulling him deeper and deeper down into the lake. He tried to scream but nix came out. It was getting darker and darker… black. Harry kept screaming but the black water filled his oral fissure like a gag. It was everywhere.

Harry woke up sweating and shaking and stumbled out of bed. He felt, and smelled, like he had run a marathon. He reached the bathroom and shed his soppy pajamas quickly before spinning the tap for a exhibitioner. The nebuliser fell into the short tiled cubical but Harry didn't enter, instead he stood outside it shaking.

He hesitantly put a hand forward but as soon as the spray splashed it he jerked back. His spirit was racing. He turned the shower off and grabbed his wand, he ran a cleansing charm all over his body before changing into his gown and scurrying out of the bathroom.
*


"Harry are you OK."Someone asked him for the fiftieth time that day.

Harry growled at him and the scholar scurried off. Harry sighed, it was too much to take.

He had another nightmare that nighttime, again trapped in the lake. This fourth dimension in a John Cage that was bolted to the lakebed. He kept trying to get out but the bars were made of steel.

Once again he couldn't bring himself to shower down and made do with a cleaning charm. When someone offered him a glass of piddle at breakfast he almost cursed them into oblivion.

Harry buried his face in his hands, it was getting worse. It was like every nightmare left a little art object of itself in him. Bulking fear on top of veneration until he self-destructed.

"Harry…"Voice ? Harry looked up and saw Parvarti's worried human face."We ‘ ve got creatures now… but I ‘ m sure Hagrid won ‘ t mind if you miss it."

Harry shook his psyche and stood up. Maybe something trying to gore him would take his head off his phobia.

They walked down to Hagrid's cabin. Harry didn't say anything, neither did anyone else.

"goodness dawning all,"Hagrid was his usual jolly self."We ‘ re having today ‘ s lesson down by the lake."

No !

Harry almost collapsed on the grass. Hermione and Padma moved off at a run, trying to stop Hagrid as he strode off towards the blueing expanse.

Harry leadenly put one foot in front of the other. He was vaguely cognisant of Ron and Neville trying to blab out to him but he blanked them out. He stopped as the forage sloped down towards the water system. There were some thing in pens near the waters surface, Hagrid was opening one while Hermione and Padma talked to him. Harry couldn't hear what they were saying but the hand move were pretty emphatic.

Harry felt his frontal bone get slick magazine with stew. He tried to step closer to the lake but the speech sound of it filled his ears. The gentle sloshing moving ridge echoed somehow in his head and became a raging cataract, making it unimaginable to digest on anything. The water system seemed to uprise while staying in the same lieu, creeping nigh to is eyes.

Harry's boldness broke and he turned and ran back towards the castle. He heard cry behind him but ignored them, he needed to get away. It felt like the lake was right-hand behind him, like a chasing animal. He hit the steps of Hogwarts at a sprint and kept going. He had to hide !

All the while the water kept rushing in his ears.
*


The marauders begged out of Hagrid's example to go regain him. They spit into team and searched the castle. It was nightfall before they found him. Neville and Ron stumbled on him in the dungeons, in a tiny, dead-end corridor. It didn't look like it had been used in eld. Harry was just slouched against the back wall, his subdivision tucked into his robes.

"Harry ?"Ron approached carefully.

Harry didn't solvent, his gaze was fixed of a little dripping division of the roof. His eyes followed each droplet as it grew, dropped and splashed into a stodgy patch on the floor.

"Harry ?"

Drip, drip, drip.

"Are you Ok ?"

Drip, drip, drip.

"Is there anything we can do ?"

Drip, dripping, drip… Harry looked up and his eyes met Ron's. The red-header almost flinched back, his Friend gaze was hollow and tedious, like all the life sentence had been sucked out of him. But even so it seemed to throw barely contained fury.

"Yes,"Harry's phonation sounded like it was seeping out through Harlan Stone."I do necessitate your help."

"Ok ? What do you ask us to do ?"

"I need us three to go back up to the prefects bathroom."Harry clenched his handwriting, he even seemed to be trembling."And you ‘ re going to try that submersion therapy matter again. Except this time you ‘ re gon na hold me under."
*


Harry turned the rap to entire and forced himself to ascertain as the bath filled to the brim. He didn't add any soap, he had a spirit he would be inhaling a good deal of this water.

"Are you sure you want to do this Harry ?"Neville said nervously.

"I have to."Harry tensed himself and slipped one leg down into the water. He felt like his pelt was tightening up, like his whole leg had pins and acerate leaf. He gritted his teeth and dropped the residue of his body in. Already he felt like screeching, the pee was everywhere.

"Ok, Neville you ‘ ve got a scout ?"Harry said through chattering teeth that had null to do with the temperature.

"Yes."

"Ok,"Harry began taking recondite breath in provision."Keep me under for five seconds, whatever I do. We ‘ ll get-up-and-go it up from there."

"Are you su-"

"Stop asking me if I'm sure !"Harry snapped. He turned to Ron, who was already in the bathroom."Do it !"

Harry closed his eye and felt manpower close around his shoulders. A moment later he was dunked down. He tried to keep his mouth shut but as soon as the weewee closed over his head he panicked and breathed in a bang-up gulp of body of water. His lungs and throat burned and he flailed helplessly.

After what felt like a life-time he was pulled to the surface. He collapsed against the side of the bathroom and lay there, coughing up his lungs onto the tiles. He weakly realized that there was blood mixed in with the water, he must of bit his tongue trying to breathe.

"Was that five second ?"Harry said weakly once he had stopped coughing.

"Yes."

"brand the side by side one ten."

"Harry !"Ron protested."I can ‘ t do this to you ! The tournament ‘ s not Charles Frederick Worth this !"

"It ‘ s not even about the tournament any more."Harry shook his fountainhead."It's got so much worse I can't involve a shower bath, I can ‘ t go near the lake. I ‘ m dehydrated because I don ‘ t even want to drink a glass of pee. I can ‘ t live like this. please mate… ten seconds."

Harry felt Ron move towards him through the water and pull him to his feet. Harry took a deep breather and closed his eyes.

Again he was plunged into inferno. Harry broke again and gulped in water. He saw lights news bulletin on the interior of his eyelids. He felt like the bathtub had become a whirlpool spinning him around and around. Every muscularity clenched and released like he was having a raptus. The lights faded, and dark replaced it.
*


Harry woke confused. He was lying on a bed, with rag over him. He wasn't wearing his glasses so the Earth in front of him was blurred. His chest felt enceinte and breathing was hard.

"Where am I ?"He croaked out.

"The hospital wing Mr potter. You stopped breathing. Mainly because your lungs were to the full of water."A white blob appeared into Harry's position and a moment later his glasses were returned. Madam Pomfrey straightened and shook her promontory."You've been here two days repairing the damage, your lungs were damaged. You were really remarkably dullard, I don ‘ t even be intimate what to say this time."

"At to the lowest degree I can ‘ t blame this one on stairs."Harry smiled weakly. The school nurse snorted.

"You ‘ re Friend is over there."She jerked her headland at another bed where Ron lay."He hasn ‘ t left since you were brought in. He seems to palpate guilty over something."

"Sorry."

"Don ‘ t say it to me, say it to him."Madam Pomfrey turned to lead then asked."Do you need anything ?"

"My pharynx hurts."

"I ‘ ll get you something for it."Madam Pomfrey bustled off.

Harry cleared his throat,

"Ron !"At the sound of Harry's voice the marauder stirred."Ron wake up."

"Harry ? Harry you ‘ re awake !"Ron rubbed his optic and slid out of bed."I ‘ m so sorry Harry, you stopped moving but I kept you under. I thought you were getting used to it… I didn't know you ‘ d blacked out. I almost killed yo-"

"Because I told you to."Harry broke in."You didn ‘ t screw up, I did. And if I wasn ‘ t so screwed up in the first gear place none of this would be necessary."

"You ‘ re not screwed up Harry. You ‘ re just… Harry."

"I jump onto trains."Harry shook his head and express joy, but here was no humor in it."I ‘ m XIV and I ‘ ve murdered two hoi polloi you can ‘ t secern me that ‘ s normal."

"But that was self defense."

"And I didn't even hesitate ! I just stabbed them !"Harry continued."I have incubus, I ‘ m aquaphobic and I remember things I shouldn ‘ t know. Something ‘ s wrong with me."

"But-"

"I manipulate people, I have no horse sense of when I ‘ ve gone too far, I potioned a teacher, dueled another one, I lie, I cheat, I steal. You can ‘ t tell me I ‘ m normal, not with a straight person face."

"But Harry,"Ron moved up and put a bridge player on his shoulder joint comfortingly."All that stuff's what makes you you."

"Being me sucks."Harry rolled over away from Ron. Madam Pomfrey returned with a glass of piddle and a small tumbler of spicy liquid.

"Drink all of it. It ‘ s quite bitter."She disappeared into her business office again.

Harry reached out and gulped down the aniseed flavored potion. He reached out for the water glassful but his fingers stopped an in from the glass. Harry sighed deeply and dropped back onto the bed.

"What is it Harry ?"Ron asked.

"It didn ‘ t work."Harry breathed faintly."It didn ‘ t even work."
*


"Bellevue."Harry spoke the password then knocked on the door.

"seminal fluid in."

Harry turned the handle and stepped into the guest twenty-five percent of Hogwarts. A few of the temple handmaiden were sitting at the tabular array reading, they looked up pointedly as he entered. He tried to push aside them. He walked over to where Pythea was sitting by the window on a little lounge. Harry pulled over a chair and sat.

"Are you feeling better ?"Pythea asked, though she didn't audio concerned.

"Yes. Thank you."

"I looked in on you in the hospital wing, but I couldn't stay."Pythea's eye's flickered to the Edward D. White robed women around the table.

"That ‘ s alright."Harry smiled."That ‘ s not what I came here about. I need advice."

"About the second project ?"Pythea smiled faintly."You fear it."

"Yeah."Harry answered, not bothering to enquire how Pythea knew."I don ‘ t think I can do it. I mean there are spells and thing, bubblehead charm, Neville suggested gillyweed. But none of them ‘ ll piece of work for me, not if I go wild the instant I hit the water. I don't know what to do. I ‘ m scared Thea, I need help."

"Are you asking for my advice as an prophet ?"Pythea cocked her head."Or as a friend ?"

"Please Thea,"Harry begged."Just give me something."

"I have advice for you Harry."Pythea took his hired man in hers."But you may not like it."

"Tell me."

"Give up."

"What ?"Harry frowned, confused.

"Don't compete in the moment labor. You can still win on the third even if you get zero for this one."

"But… The goblet ‘ s a binding contract."Harry shook his drumhead."I have to compete."

"You have to contend in the tournament."Pythea corrected."There have been various times in the past where a champion has skipped a task for medical ground. And a phobic neurosis is a legitimate medical reason."

"But… I ‘ d have to tell them."Harry bit his lip."The whole school would know."

"You fear that happening ?"

"Yes."

"More than you fear the lake ?"

"No."Harry shuddered and shook his head."Why are you telling me this ?"

"Because I hate to see you hurt Harry."She was rubbing her fingers unconsciously on his hand."But even more I hate to see you scared."

Harry nodded faintly. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea.

"But I still have hope."Pythea smiled suddenly."You always think of something."

"Ok, that was your friend answer."Harry smiled."What ‘ s the enigmatic one ?"

There isn ‘ t one Harry. There never is with you.

Harry was about to suffice but Pythea put a finger's breadth to her lips and smiled.

"Would you like a game of Bromus secalinus while you ‘ re here ?"She said out loud.

"chess game with a mind-reading seer."Harry rolled his eyes."This should be fun."
*


Harry took Pythea's spec of hope that he would think of something and clung onto it like a life line. He spent every availably present moment in the library trying to find some early way into the lake. He researched astral jutting, animagi, freezing and boiling spells and obscure charm. He got his acquaintance to brew a potion of courage to try to master the fear but it wasn't enough and the upshot only lasted a few bit anyway.

So it came to be the night before the job and Harry was still in the library, sitting behind a pile of books, despairing.

There was no reply, he should just consecrate up.

"burning at the stake the midnight oil potter ?"Harry heard Malfoy's spokesperson and jerked his head up to see the boy walk out from behind a bookshelf, a great deal of leger under his arm.

Harry's brow furrows as he worked back through Malfoy's sentence. It took him a few seconds to work out out what was bothering him about it. There hadn't been an insult in it ! It had been a simple, normal question.

"Yes, I see you are too."Harry pushed some of his own books aside and the Slytherin sat down. The books he had all had exchangeable title of respect to Harry's own."You have a architectural plan for tomorrow ?"

"Yes."Malfoy nodded."Just making indisputable nada can go haywire. You ?"

"No."Harry admitted shaking his oral sex."No I ‘ ve got nothing."

Silence reigned in the wickedness, musty library.

"You must have something."Malfoy said, shrugging."A niggling charm or so-"

"No."Harry shook his head again."aught that will play for me."

"But wh…"Malfoy leant back in his chair. Harry could almost see the gearing turning in his head."The Boggart in third year…"

Harry said zilch, he didn't have to.

"You ‘ re afraid of body of water ?"

Silence.

"That ‘ s… not just for you then."Malfoy smiled."But very good for me."

"Screw you Peroxide !"Harry sneered and knocked over a pile of books into Malfoy's lap."And get off my table !"

"You invited me here."

"I un-invite you."

"Too bad, I ‘ m settled now."Malfoy leant back and flipped a Holy Scripture open, balancing on the back two wooden leg of his chair. Harry had the unbearable urge to tip him over.

Harry gritted his teeth and ignored him, pulling another book over. A few minutes passed in silence then…

"Potter, what the nether region is Peroxide ?"

"Muggle matter,"Harry muttered."Come to think of it it wasn ‘ t much of an insult."

"You must be stressed then,"Malfoy said without looking up from his book."If you can ‘ t even abuse correctly."

"Would you like me to try again ?"Harry jabbed."I ‘ ve got lots."

"I tend to cling with mudblood."

"Evidence of a fundamental lack of imagination."Harry shut his book and picked another."Is it possible you're parents accidentally lobotomized you as a child."

"No."Malfoy replied coldly.

"Is it possible you're parents intentionally lobot-"

"Screw you shortarse !"

Harry chuckled despite himself and dropped his heart back to the text in front of him. It had some information about an ancient wizard who was able to part sea. It also said the knowledge of how to do so had been lost millennia ago. He dropped that one as well and grabbed another.

"Really scared of water ?"

Harry ignored Malfoy and sank deeper into the book.

"And you can ‘ t think of a way around it ?"

Harry sighed and looked up. Malfoy was staring at the roof, deeply in thought.

"Courage potion… ?"

"Tried it, upshot doesn't shoemaker's last prospicient enough."

"A transformation of some kind ?"

"Any transformation that keeps my judgement intact livelihood my phobias intact as well."

"How about charming an animal to get whatever-it-is for you ?"

"Against the rules of the contest."

"Some sort of diving Vanessa Stephen ?"

"Now you ‘ re just scraping the hindquarters of the barrel."Harry sunk onto his hands on the table."brass it, if I ‘ ve had weeks to come up with an answer you ‘ re not gon na get it in one night. I ‘ ve been racking my brains trying to think of some way that's within the rules but it just isn ‘ t there."

"wellspring how about out of doors them."Malfoy shrugged."You said you were going to cheat on anyway."

"In front man of the intact school ? And the jurist ?"Harry shook his head."I ‘ d never get away with it."

"Is this Harry Potter I ‘ m talking to or some variety of imposter."Malfoy laughed dismissively."You don't worry about how to get away with things. You do them and get away with them later."

Harry opened his back talk to object but a light-bulb came on in his judgment. He stood suddenly, driving his chair back.

"I need different books."He stated suddenly before turning and walking away. After a second he turned and said,"Thank you."

"I owed you one."Malfoy said, his middle back on the volume in front of him.
*


"Ginny !"

Why is he shaking me ?

"Ginster wake up !"

"Harry ?"Ginny woke slowly and groggily."Harry it ‘ s still the midsection of the night."

"I know."

"How did you even get up the stairs ?"

"Listen Gin, I need to borrow the Chimera."Harry was whispering but he sounded insistent.

"Sure Harry."Ginny shook her read/write head, clearing cobweb."What do you need it for ?"

"Can ‘ t Tell you."Harry smiled evilly."If I told you you ‘ d be an accessory."

"An accouterment to what ?"Ginny was wide awake now.

"A Harry Potter Plan !"Harry grinned in the wickedness, then disappeared.
*


"Mr Potter…"Minerva McGonagall licked her lips and stopped speaking. All around her the various adults were starting to titter, the scholarly person too. Dumbledore was giving Harry an evaluate looking, maxim was laughing openly, Crouch just looked scandalized.

They were standing by the edge of the lake, the second task was about to get down and all but one of the mavin were wearing swimsuits. Those three were the I giggling at the fourth.

"Mr Potter…"She tried again, pointing at what Potter was carrying."That is a broomstick."

"Yes, I am mindful of that."

"Is it possible you misunderstood what the job before you consists of."

"Anything ‘ s possible."Potter shrugged.

"You realize that the broom handle will not even work underwater ?"

"Yes."

"Is there any chance that you will tell me what you ‘ re planning."

"No."

McGonagall shook her fountainhead and turned back towards the stands. Behind her the champions moved into communication channel by the boundary of the lake. She shook her head word as travelling salesman read out the prescript in his tawdry roaring voice, then…

"One… two… ternary !"

Harry shot into the air like a bullet and careened backwards towards the tie-up. Audience fellow member scattered but Harry managed to regain control at the last minute and pulled up to buck over and out, following the bend of the lake until he disappeared behind a hill.

"Did he run away ?"

"Where did he go ?"

Muttering broke out around the standpoint. McGonagall shook her head, they had said the Sami affair hold out time and Harry had come through.

Her heart were drawn to the top stand, to the sliver of clean amongst the nighttime robes. The Pythea was standing before her seat, her eyes fixed in the focussing Harry had disappeared. A moment later she started laughing, a clear Chrystal laughter that flowed over the stands.

McGonagall looked out to try and see what she was seeing but saw aught. A moment later a pattern appeared in the lake, rounding the hill that had hid it from sight and pushing out quickly into the open water.

One by one the crew fell silent, every eye fixed on the thing in the lake. McGonagall put her hand to her mouth, even given a thousand class she would never have thought of this.

Karkaroff was the first to erupt the silence. Shooting from his death chair, his face red with madness he raised his fist and yelled,

"THAT LITTLE SOB ! HE ‘ S STOLEN MY BLOODY SHIP !"



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