Hogwarts' Dawn
Chapter 2
By Jeconais
Author Notes:
For those that haven't seen it, I posted some thoughts about the story and the first chapter here: http://jeconais.fanficauthors.net/news/268/
And, erm, wow, what a response to the first chapter. For something that was supposed to be just a bit of fun, it grabbed a life of it's own. And I didn't think it was that good. I suspect some people will be disappointed with this chapter - but that's the way the cookie crumbles, and other such useless sayings.
After a chat with Sirius, and an explanation of the Time Diluter, Harry, in a moment of madness, agreed to increase his schedule. His favourite lesson of each day was the lessons with Kate. It had nothing at all to do with the fact that she spent most of her time naked, that he now knew that she had b-cup boobs, and that she had amazing legs.
He smiled, he couldn’t even pretend that was true to himself.
His lessons with anyone apart from Wood, who was a psycho, were fun. And he was finding out all sorts of things he never knew, or cared to know, before.
His Goblin based finance lessons were interesting, and would have been more enjoyable if it wasn’t for the fact that the Goblin smelled of rancid meat.
Sirius was helping a retired Auror with his duelling lessons, while several other people had been hired just to teach him new spells.
Hermione was researching who actually owned the Daily Prophet, and he was pleased to see that she worked even harder when there was money involved.
Melissa was a lot of fun to work with. She had produced some of the most surprising information from him, such as the fact he was a titular lord. While he didn’t have any special political powers, or a seat on the Wizengamot, it did allow him the title of Lord Potter.
He hadn’t seen anything of Ron since this whole thing had started, and he wasn’t actually missing him. He had enough people around him all the time to not feel lonely, and while they were employees, they seemed more like family.
Even Nasher and Thrasher – for all their limited intelligence – were amusing to be around, especially Thrasher, who made it a point of pride that he would eat anything, even spiders.
Sirius’s announcement in the Press hadn’t made much difference, but it had started to lead toward a few pertinent questions being asked by a few quiet people. The rest had called for his money to be impounded.
But, for all the fun Harry was having, he couldn’t help but be a little afraid of the fact that the First Task was fast approaching.
“So what do you think?” Fred asked.
“That getting drunk on wine is worse than getting drunk on whiskey.”
“Agreed. What about Harry?”
“It appears that the more that we throw at him, the better he does, and when he’s tired, he learns even better.”
“Which is useful, as he’s always tired.”
“Very true.”
“We need to have a word with the bodyguards, Melissa might have been the first to notice – smart, that one – but other girls seem to have finally realised the rich and powerful part, and Wood forcing him to run before breakfast, so he shows up at breakfast just wearing that t-shirt; showing that our diet is starting to work.”
“Sometimes, brother mine, you worry me.”
Fred grinned. “Do you remember what Charlie told us last night?”
“No, but I recorded it.”
“A genius idea. Should we tell any of the others?”
“Have they hired us?”
“No.”
“Then no.”
“Quite right. Charlie’s gonna be pissed when Harry uses it.”
“Then he shouldn’t have drunk so much of Harry’s wine.”
“Speaking of which, do you think we could get him to do us a couple of casks of it? A Harry Potter wine would sell really well, and it’s good stuff.”
“Ooo, good idea,” George said. “Some of the Frenchies would kill us to be able to get a hold of bottles when ever they liked.”
“We should talk to that Christophe fellow, he seems reliable.”
“Right, our boy should be finishing the lesson with Kate shortly.”
“You do know that we’re in the wrong business?”
“Yes, compared to how much she gets paid an hour for what she does, absolutely. However, imagine what would happen if we were hired by someone like Bones?”
They shuddered in unison.
“So, she lucked out this time, but deserves it because normally she deals with people like Fudge?”
“Exactly.”
“Let’s give her a bonus.”
“It’s so much more fun spending other people’s money.”
The two grinned and dashed down to the corridor outside Kate’s room.
“Harry,” they called, as he exited, a small smile on his face. They nodded to the bodyguards, “it’s time for another lesson with us. This one is important.”
“Aren’t they all?” Harry asked, doing his robes up.
The seven moved to the next classroom, the bodyguards sat at the back.
“Now, this is the most important lesson you’re ever going to learn.”
Harry looked interested.
“It’s how to be a showman. It’s not enough to win; you have to win with style. Take the first Task, when you’re dealing with the dragon.”
“Wait,” Harry said, “dragon?”
“Oh, yeah, you have to get an egg from a dragon’s nest.”
“Right,” Harry said in disbelief.
Fred and George laughed, and started to explain.
After thinking about it for a morning, Harry decided it was only fair to tell Cedric and Viktor. He tried to tell Fleur, but she just sniffed as he approached her, and walked off, her nose somewhere in the stratosphere.
At breakfast the morning of the First Task, Harry was feeling reasonably calm. He felt that he at least had a chance of getting through the day.
Hermione was talking to Viktor, something Harry found pretty amusing.
His bodyguards were concentrating on their lunch – steak and potatoes today – and seemed cheerful.
The French students were chatting away merrily, and he was starting to understand quite a lot of what they were saying.
His musings were interrupted by the strange sight of a small girl entering the Great Hall and looking around in awe. She looked to be around seven or eight, with long silver blonde hair and blue eyes. The resemblance to Fleur was obvious.
As a large group of students trampled toward her, he found himself out of his seat and lifting her up and out of danger before he could think.
“Hi,” he said.
She looked at him with huge blue eyes, and then hugged him tightly.
He carried her back to the table, ignoring the looks he was getting from half the pupils.
“What’s your name?” he asked her, as he sat down.
“Gabrielle,” she said slowly. “I am Gabrielle.” The words were hesitant and pronounced with a very strong French accent.
“I am Harry,” he introduced himself, using his school boy level French.
“Hi Harry, I’m … … … happy … … … boring … … … horses.”
Harry blinked, “You’re going to have to speak a little slower,” he said – or at least hoped that was what he said, he might have just insulted her mother.
Gabrielle giggled, but went still as the doors to the Great Hall crashed open, and Madame Maxime and Fleur Delacour stormed in, yelling loudly.
He felt the girl tense in his arms, then try to escape.
“Stop,” he roared at the two who had entered so dramatically. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re scaring her, and I won’t stand for it.”
His four bodyguards were on their feet, their wands pointed at the two.
“My sister,” Gabrielle said in French, tugging on Harry’s shirt.
“Now that we’re all calm,” Harry said softly, “Fleur, why don’t you join us for lunch? Dobby, two more plates, please.”
The plates appeared instantly, one opposite Harry, where Fred and George normally sat, the other next to his. He shifted Gabrielle around.
“Thank you,” Gabrielle said in her fractured English.
“You’re very welcome, Gabrielle.”
Fleur scowled as she sat down. In a polite voice, she started to berate Gabrielle. Harry sighed. “I might not speak much French, but I am starting to understand it. I’d appreciate it if you’d stop it, now.”
Fleur’s scowl deepened, before it fell away and she smiled at him, her hair moving in a soft wind, “Harry,” she purred, “why not let me have my sister?”
A warm feeling shot through him, all he had to do was give Gabrielle up and she’d smile at him. And wasn’t that worth it?
‘No.’ The same internal voice that had appeared when Mad-Eye had tried to put the Imperius curse on him said.
He shook himself, to find that his bodyguards were enthralled, in fact, half the school was. He growled and pulled his wand out. He pointed it at her, “Stop,” he ordered.
Fleur looked shocked, but if anything, the effect seemed to increase.
“Stupefy,” he snarled. Fleur collapsed to the ground, and everything was back to normal.
“That bitch!” Smasher shouted. “I’ll kill her; enthral me, will you?”
“No,” Gabrielle squeaked.
“Smasher, Crusher, Nasher, Thrasher, please sit down. You’ve just been taught lesson two.”
The four boys stopped their frowning and settled down, their attention now firmly on Harry.
“It’s not enough to protect a client from physical threats; you have to be aware of mental ones as well. Now, Fleur’s Veela charm incapacitated you, that could be bad if there is an assassin, or she was one herself.”
“So what do we do about it, boss?”
“Well, the first thing you could do is get some female help; they are immune to this particular charm. In the long run, you need something to protect your mind from external influences. And that seems like the perfect next project for our Chief Researcher.”
“Oooh,” Hermione said, nodding eagerly. “That sounds fun. I’ve got all the info about the Prophet.”
“Great,” Harry said. “Can you write it up for me, and give it to me by Friday? I’ll go through it with my Goblin advisor.”
Hermione nodded.
Smasher finished writing the advice down. “Thanks boss,” he muttered.
Harry was vaguely aware that most of the school was watching him. “Shall we wake your sister up?” he asked the quiet girl in his lap.
She started to nod, before her expression turned impish. “Do we have to?” she asked slowly, in French.
Harry grinned at her. “Probably.”
“If we must.”
“Rennervate,” Harry muttered.
Fleur shook herself, and slowly sat up.
“Is that how you solve all your problems?” Harry asked in distaste, “cheap mind control?”
Fleur blushed and looked down.
Harry looked down the table, at the Beauxbatons students who were all glaring at Fleur. “Christophe,” he called. “You mind translating for me and Gabrielle for a few minutes?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“So, Gabrielle, what’s going on?”
Gabrielle launched into a furious speech, which Christophe translated.
“I’ve been locked in that Carriage for weeks, not allowed out because `it’s not safe`. All I can do is read my books and they’re boring, I wanted to come to England to make friends, not see the same four walls all the time. So this morning, when no one was looking, I ran out and came here, and then I was about to be squished, and you saved me and stopped Fleur and Madame Maxime from yelling at me, but then Fleur tried to hit you with Veela power, but it didn’t stop you and Dad’s gonna be so mad at her.”
Harry blinked, and smiled a thank you at Christophe.
“Smasher, make a note: Use the word squished more often in general conversation.”
“Squished – I like that word,” he agreed.
Harry turned back to Christophe. “I understand,” he said, trying not to speak to fast to let his translator catch up. “For many years I’ve been locked in a small room all summer, often with very little food, by people who hated me.
“It was done for my own safety, but what people don’t understand is that physical safety is only part of it, and that the mental abuse can be a thousand times worse. And that seeing the same four walls and ceiling can send you nuts.
“I can understand why you ran away, Gabrielle, I would have done so myself, and in the same situation, I’d do so again.” He turned, and looked at Fleur, “so, what we need to do now is work out a way that you can get out of there during the day. How about if you come to classes with me during the day, having breakfast, lunch and dinner with us at the table, and spend the evenings with your sister?”
“Really?” Gabrielle gasped in French.
“Sure,” Harry replied. “I could do with a partner that I know more than – normally I’m with Hermione, and she’s the smartest witch in the world.”
“Wow,” Gabrielle whispered, looking at Hermione – who was blushing.
“Now, today is the First Task, and I’m sure you want to see your sister do her best.”
Gabrielle shrugged.
“So, today, Nasher and Thrasher here are your personal bodyguards. They’ll make sure you get the best seat to watch.”
“Yay,” Gabrielle cheered excitedly.
Harry looked at Christophe. “Thanks for translating.”
“It was my pleasure,” Christophe said slowly. “Was that story true?”
“Sadly, yeah,” Harry said with a shrug. “I don’t like to talk about it.”
Christophe nodded, and then flicked his eyes toward Fleur.
Harry sighed. “The first task is dragons,” he whispered. “You might want to do some emergency studying.”
Fleur nodded slowly. “I know,” she said. “T-thank you.”
Gabrielle snorted and muttered something Harry didn’t catch. Christophe’s laugh signified that he did.
Harry put his hands on the girl’s waist. “Am I going to have to tickle you?” he asked.
Gabrielle waited while Christophe translated, before she shook her head hard, her long blonde hair going all over the place.
“Now look what you’ve done,” Harry scolded, and pulled her hair back over her shoulders. “Eat,” he ordered.
Gabrielle did as she was told, chatting to him as best as she could. Despite the fact that neither knew much of each others language, they were able to understand each other – although there was a lot of laughing and repeating of sentences.
When lunch was finished, Harry looked at Crabbe and Goyle. “No one comes near her, no one touches her, curse first if in doubt, ask questions later. Only release her to Fleur or me.”
“Gotcha, boss,” Nasher said. “Let’s go kick people out of the best seats for you,” he said to Gabrielle with a wink.
Gabrielle giggled, and hugged Harry, before walking over to the two boys.
Thrasher grinned and bent down, easily lifting her in the air and onto his shoulders.
Gabrielle cheered, and chatted away merrily in French to the two of them, despite the fact that the two could barely speak English.
Harry looked at his watch, “well, we better get going,” he said to Smasher and Crusher.
“Yeah, we don’t want to be late,” Smasher agreed.
Harry stood, nodded to Fleur.
“Good luck, Harry,” Christophe called.
Harry turned and winked at him. “À cœur vaillant rien d'impossible.”
Christophe raised his eyebrows, before toasting Harry with his drink.
“Harry,” Melissa called from the Slytherin table.
“Mel?”
“Knock ‘em dead, kiddo.”
“Thanks, sis,” he replied with a grin. At the Professor’s table, Snape turned red in fury.
“Pity you can’t give yourself a bonus,” Smasher noted. “That’s a great colour on him.”
“I know,” Harry agreed, as they wandered out and headed toward the tents. Viktor and Cedric followed him, with Fleur trailing after them.
Inside a large tent, they met up with Ludo Bagman. Smasher and Crusher stayed outside.
“Come in, come in,” Bagman said, repeating himself redundantly.
Harry sighed and moved to one side, allowing the other three to enter. Viktor and Cedric immediately started pacing while Fleur sat glumly on a wooden stool.
“Well, I’m happy to tell you that your first task is to rescue a golden egg from a dragon!”
There was a distinct lack of reaction from the four champions.
“So,” Ludo said, looking a little confused. “Ladies first,” he said as he offered a bag to Fleur.
Fleur scowled at Lugo, and reached in, pulling out a Welsh Green. Viktor was next with a Chinese Fireball, followed by Cedric with a Swedish Short.
“Yay,” Harry cheered as he rolled his eyes and took the Hungarian Horntail.
“Well,” Ludo said happily, “you all know what dragons you are facing. Cedric, you’re up first. Harry, can I have a word?”
“Go ahead,” Harry said, not moving.
“Outside.”
“No, then.”
“But…”
“You can say it here, or not at all.”
Bagman scowled and walked out, leaving the other three champions starting at Harry.
He shrugged. “I don’t like him.”
Viktor laughed suddenly.
“So,” Harry said, “everyone got a plan?”
“Yeah,” Cedric replied.
“Why?” Fleur sneered, “need to steal ours?”
“Wow,” Harry said, looking at her. “It’s really true isn’t it, what is on the outside isn’t relevant when compared to what is on the inside. You may be good looking Fleur, but you are really not a very nice person. Cedric, Viktor, have fun out there, I’m rooting for both of you.” He wandered over to a bench and relaxed down on his back, staring at the roof of the tent.
He did his best to sink into a meditative trance, so that he wouldn’t have to hear what was going on.
It hardly seemed like any time had passed before Smasher was rocking his shoulder. “You’re up, boss.”
“Thanks,” Harry said, sitting up.
“Want us to come in with you?”
“Yes,” Harry replied instantly. “However, that would be against the rules. This one I have to fly solo.”
“You’ll do it boss, you’re the best.”
“Thank you.” Harry followed him and Crusher out of the tent and through to the arena. The noise was deafening, thousands of people staring at him, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
To the right, he could see the tiny form of Gabrielle cheering, with Crabbe and Goyle next to her, cheering as well.
He waved at her and made his way to the starting point. He took a deep breath, and surreptitiously reached in to his pocket and grabbed a couple of smoke bombs.
The dragon was glaring at him, as Harry danced forward, moving over the rocks. For the first time, he had a grudging respect for Wood, as he wasn’t finding the running and dodging difficult. He tuned out the banal commentary on his actions, as the dragon launched a stream of fire at him.
He jumped to one side and let off a smoke bomb into the flame. Thick smoke streamed out, obscuring him from the judges.
Another flame, and another smoke bomb, followed by a third, cut him and the dragon off from everyone’s sight.
Harry pulled out his wand and looked at the dragon. “Bed time,” he whispered, before casting the spell Fred and George had given him.
The dragon looked faintly betrayed, before it lowered its head and fell asleep.
Harry grinned to himself, centuries of training by their keepers had left them conditioned to fall asleep on the use of a command. Of course, the command was a closely held secret – all those rugged dragon handlers didn’t want their secret out.
Harry grabbed the egg, and sat down comfortably. He cast a lightning spell and then screamed loudly.
“Potter screams,” Bagman shouted, “it’s terrible, we can’t see anything because of the smoke.” Harry cast a spell to emulate the roar of a dragon. “That dragon sounds enraged, can’t we do anything about this dratted smoke? I think I see something!”
Harry reached down to a previously scorched area, and used the soot to darken his face and clothing, before he ran and threw himself through the smoke barrier, trusting his reflexes and luck.
“Potter comes flying out, must have been a hell of a hit. He gets to his feet, and he looks mad. He removes his robes, leaving him in a T-shirt, are you watching witches? With his wand in hand, he dives back in. There’s more lightning, green lighting, what spell causes that? The dragon roars again, this is exciting. That’s a Stunner that comes from the cloud, narrowly missing professor Dumbledore. Is Harry taking on a dragon in magic?
“That, ladies and gentlemen, this takes guts, real pure guts! The roaring is at a fever pitch now, and what’s this? The smoke is clearing. My, that was a loud thump, I could swear that the ground shook!”
Harry cast a spell to mask the effect of his sleep command.
“What’s that, has the dragon eaten Potter?” Bagman’s voice rang out.
Harry grabbed the egg, and stood over the dragon, his wand raised, as the smoke bombs died out. The crowd had gone silent now, as they waited for the smoke to clear enough so that they could see what was going on.
Quickly, Harry bent and picked up a sharp rock and used it to slice his cheek open. He dropped the stone and got back into his pose.
“It’s Potter,” Bagman screamed. “He has the egg, and he’s defeated the dragon. Potter defeated the dragon, it’s on the floor, he’s done it. Potter’s done it. This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. A fourteen year old contestant gets the egg faster than the other contestants. This is the best display of magic I’ve ever seen; normally it takes a team of wizards to defeat a Horntail!”
The crowd were going absolutely nuts.
It looked like Fred and George were right. Humans were curious creatures. Feed them a light show, some flashy spells, and some horrific sounds, and their minds did the rest. He knew that the crowd would talk about this, and each time the retelling would get better, until people would swear blind that they could see through the smoke, and could describe each movement that had been made.
Harry raised his egg above his head, acknowledging the crowd, who cheered even louder in return.
He could see Gabrielle jumping up and down, before she said something to Nasher and Thrasher, who lowered her over the edge of the side. Gabrielle charged to him, jumping up and hugging him.
He smiled and held her up with one arm, like the child she was, and headed toward the judges table.
“I think,” Ludo announced, “that we’ll do the scores now.” The crowd quietened as they turned to the judges expectantly. “Madame Maxime, if you please.”
Olympe raised her wand, and shot a ribbon into the air.
“A ten,” Ludo screamed. “A ten!”
The crowd cheered, before they died briefly.
Mr Crouch was next.
“Another ten!”
The crowd cheered again.
Professor Dumbledore, a sad look on his face, raised his wand.
“A five, a measly five? Are you senile, Dumbledore? Were you watching the same thing I was?”
Gabrielle hissed at Dumbledore from his arms. Harry stroked her hair soothingly.
In that one moment, Dumbledore lost years of hard gained respect. The abuse from the crowd was vitriolic, and seemed to surprise the Headmaster.
“Professor Karkaroff?” Bagman waited, while Igor looked in disbelief at Dumbledore, before he let his ribbon show. “Another ten!”
The crowd roared their approval.
“As for me, there is only one score that I, Ludo Bagman, can give. A ten! This gives Potter forty-five out of fifty and puts him into first place!”
Harry offered a bow to the other guests, and then carried Gabrielle out of the stadium. Gabrielle was waving at the crowd, who were still cheering heartily.
He met McGonagall, as Hagrid, and some other dragon handlers rushed past him to tend to his dragon.
“Well done, Mr Potter,” Minerva said, a proud look on her face.
Harry smiled at her.
“Straight to Madame Pomfrey,” she ordered. “Let’s check that you’re unhurt.”
“I’m fine,” Harry said.
“You have a nasty looking cut on your cheek, and you’re singed.”
Harry shrugged. “I feel fine.”
Gabrielle reached up and gently kissed his cut cheek. He was surprised to find that it stopped stinging. “Merci,” he whispered to her.
McGonagall blinked. “Well, that was unexpected,” she announced, as Smasher, Crusher, Nasher and Thrasher surrounded him.
“Great work, boss!”
Hermione flew toward them, and hugged him tightly. “You idiot,” she screamed. “That was brilliant!”
For the first time, Harry felt a bit of guilt, not much, as he’d rather not have been entered in the first place. He resolved to tell Hermione the truth later.
Fred and George were the next to arrive, and they accompanied him to the tent, keeping everyone else from getting close.
Harry entered, still carrying Gabrielle, and looked around. Cedric had half his face covered in some orange goo. Cedric smiled at him. “Good one,” he praised.
“You too,” Harry agreed.
Krum moved over and slapped him on the back. “Brilliant,” the Bulgarian stated.
Harry grinned at him. “Hermione’s outside, she was worried about you.”
Krum beamed and patted him on the back again.
Harry lowered Gabrielle so that she could go to her sister. Gabrielle sighed, walked over, and hugged Fleur, who clung back to her.
“Hello everyone,” Ludo said, as he bounced in. “Great performance, all of you. Now, you have plenty of time before the next event. Half past nine on February the twenty-fourth. You will have to solve the clue inside the egg first. All clear? Then off you go!”
Harry walked out first, Viktor behind him, and the Bulgarian fell into step with Hermione.
“Thanks, guys,” Harry said softly to Fred and George.
“We’re so proud of you,” Fred replied.
“Yeah,” George said, “and the performance was brilliant. When the smoke cleared and you were standing there, holding aloft that egg, we got goosebumps!”
“I feel a little guilty, though.”
“Why?” Fred asked. “The crowd came for a spectacle, and you certainly gave them that!”
“Remember, you hired us to make sure you got through this alive. That’s what you did; everything else was just the icing on the cake.”
“Yeah,” Harry agreed, feeling better. “We’ll have to try and keep the others alive as well.” He wrinkled his nose. “Even Fleur, I guess, I do like Gabrielle.”
Fred and George shared a slightly concerned look.
“Anyway, let’s go get some food.”
Smasher opened the doors to the Great Hall, and they entered, heading toward their table.
Harry was surprised by the cheer he received from the Hogwarts students. He sighed and ignored them. Just a few hours before they had been glaring at him.
“Ignore the hypocrites,” Melissa advised loudly as she walked up to him and gave him a huge hug. “You were brilliant, kiddo.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Sit with us?”
“Yeah, why not,” she agreed, and joined them at the table.
“Harry, impressive,” Christophe said, as he led the French students in. “Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.”
Harry raised his glass and saluted the French boy. “I can only think of one thing to do now,” he announced.
“Get drunk and have a party?” Christophe suggested.
Harry pulled out his wand and created a large barrel. Another spell created the wine to fill it.
The French students cheered, as Fred and George put up a barrier between their table and the rest of the school. The Professors hadn’t made their way inside yet, so there was no one to stop them.
“Smasher, Crusher, arrange for someone to monitor the doors. Let in our friends but no one else. Rotate it, so that you can have some fun, but no one gets drunk.”
“Of course not, boss,” Crusher said, looking slightly offended. “We’re on the clock!”
Harry smiled at him. “Good.”
Cedric, along with Hermione and Viktor were allowed straight in. Harry passed all three a glass each, and saluted them. “Ladies and Gentlemen, the real male Champions!”
There was a cheer, as Cedric and Viktor blushed. Fred and George were in a corner, and a few minutes later, some music started.
The Durmstrang students were invited in, as were a couple of Hogwarts students, including Oliver Wood who had helped Harry over the past few weeks. Everyone else was politely, or if they were persistent, impolitely turned away.
Thrasher and Smasher seemed to really enjoy being doormen.
Angelina, Alicia and Katie were allowed in, on Fred and George’s request – which Harry granted as the girls weren’t on his “Took Malfoy’s badge” list.
Snape tried to shut down the party, but the hungry looks at his arm from Smasher and Crasher sent him on his way – with a bonus face colour for the boys.
Harry, more in relief than anything else, didn’t care about anything, so much so that he found himself on the table, dancing with Adrienne and having a ball.
The dancing was interrupted by Dobby and the House Elves bringing out some food for them – and the Elves had gone all out. The food was European, mainly Italian, and everyone ate enthusiastically, as conversations in three languages flowed around.
“Boss,” Smasher called.
Harry looked up; Gabrielle was waving at him, with her hand in Fleur’s, who looked embarrassed to be there.
Harry nodded, and Smasher stood to one side. Gabrielle immediately abandoned Fleur, and dashed up to Harry. He moved to one side, allowing her to sit next to him, and a plate appeared for her.
“I’m starving,” she announced cheerfully, and dug in with scant regard to table manners.
“Gabrielle!” Fleur shouted.
Gabrielle rolled her eyes and started to eat more normally. In between bites, she started to talk to him again, using the mixture of French and English they had tried earlier.
“So, how did you not fall for my sister? All boys get stupid when she does the whammy-thing.”
“Crusher,” Harry said, “add ‘whammy’ to our must-use-more-often list.”
“Will do, boss,” Crusher agreed.
Gabrielle giggled.
“Well, it’s kinda like the Imperius,” Harry explained. “That’s the mind control spell. So once you can block the one, you can block the other.”
Gabrielle nodded her head.
“Did you have a good time watching?”
“Oh yeah, my guards were great. They got me food, drinks, and the seats were brilliant. And when someone tried to get me to stop cheering you, they threatened to shove his head up his own bum!”
Harry laughed.
“Cedric made a rock into a cute doggy. He used the doggy to distract the dragon, but got burnt. Can I have some wine?”
Harry blinked at the change in conversation, and then looked at Fleur. He held up his wine glass, then pointed at Gabrielle, who was looking pleadingly at her sister.
Fleur held up her hand, and held her things about an inch apart, while mouthing, “Un petite.”
Harry poured a small amount into Gabrielle’s glass, while she bounced next to him. She suddenly stopped bouncing and sat up straight, like a grown up would.
“Remember to sip,” Harry advised. “The first time I tried some, I gulped it down like butterbeer, and spent the next five minutes choking.”
Gabrielle giggled, and then slowly took a sip. She smiled at him, and continued to eat, “why did you call that girl your sister?” she asked, as she nodded toward Melissa.
“Melissa’s been helping me with a few problems; we’ve become very good friends, and she started calling me her little brother, so I returned the favour.”
Gabrielle nodded. “She’s pretty.”
“Thank you,” Melissa said from down the table.
“She is,” Harry agreed. “You think we should find her a boyfriend?”
Gabrielle nodded eagerly. She leaned forward and looked past him at Christophe, before she launched into some furiously fast French that Harry caught about one in every eighth words of.
Christophe looked shocked, and then went white, then red, then white again, before he looked bemused and sat back. “All right, all right,” he eventually said, “stop, please.”
“Did you just ask Christophe to ask Melissa out?”
“Ask, no,” Gabrielle replied happily. “Ordered, yes.”
Harry laughed and hugged her. “Well, I better do the same thing.” He vaulted over the table, and squeezed into a place that didn’t exist next to Melissa. “Christophe’s good looking,” he whispered into Melissa’s ear. “He’s also funny, intelligent, and is Beauxbatons Head Boy. When he leaves school, he’s going to come and work for me, although he doesn’t know it yet, so he’ll be moving to this country.”
“Really?” Melissa asked.
“Would I let anyone not suitable near my sister?” Harry asked.
Melissa looked at Christophe, who looked uncomfortable, thoughtfully. “Why not,” she eventually decided. “Christophe, let’s talk after dinner.”
Christophe shot her a shy smile. “Maybe you’re right,” Melissa muttered to Harry. “Thanks, kiddo.”
Harry grinned and walked around the table back to his plate. As he did, he noticed the glares he was getting from the non-invited students, but couldn’t bring himself to care.
“Harry,” Cedric called.
“Cedric?”
“Can we get my girlfriend in here?”
“Who’s she?”
“Cho Chang.”
It was with a bit of surprise that he realised that he had completely forgotten that he liked her. A few months ago, that might have devastated him, but not now, he wanted a girlfriend, sure, but he just didn’t know who he wanted. He needed to find someone he liked first, and he hardly even knew Cho.
“Sure, go ahead,” he said.
“Thanks.”
Harry nodded and took his seat back next to Gabrielle. It didn’t take him long to finish the meal, as he chatted with the young girl.
After they had finished, Harry looked at her seriously. “Promise me you won’t have any more wine.”
Gabrielle pouted at him, but gave her promise.
“Good,” Harry praised, as Fred and George started the music again, “because I want to dance.” He stood and offered his arm. “Fair maiden?”
Gabrielle giggled, and took his hand, dragging him eagerly over to the corner. The young Veela was a far better dancer than him, but he didn’t care, he was just having a good time. Soon the others were dancing with them, as that party took off again.
When the party finally round down, they were the only people left in the Hall, the others long gone to bed. Harry picked up the sleeping Gabrielle, and looked at Adrienne, “want to show me where she sleeps?”
Adrienne nodded and stretched. “Most fun I’ve had in years,” she said.
“Yeah,” Christophe mumbled, from where he was entangled with Melissa on a bench against the wall.
“Good party,” Viktor agreed.
“We’ll do it again after the second task,” Harry said.
“Anyone got any clues as to what the task is?” Cedric asked as he yawned.
Harry balanced Gabrielle carefully as he grabbed his egg and opened it. An unholy yowling filled the air. Harry jumped and chucked the egg into one of the barrels of wine.
“What was that?” Gabrielle asked sleepily.
“It’s okay, princess,” Harry said, “go back to sleep.”
“Okay.”
“Can you hear that?” Cedric asked. “It’s coming from the barrel.”
They gathered around the wine barrel, and head some faint singing.
“Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour - the prospect's black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.”
“I think we’ve just solved the mystery,” Harry said dryly. “Hermione, dear, take it away.”
“Git,” Hermione mumbled. She yawned as well. “Merpeople,” she explained. “They’re going to take something of value to you, and you’ll have to rescue it with in an hour.”
“And that,” Harry said, “is exactly why she is the smartest witch in the world.”
Hermione blushed, but had a pleased smile on her face.
“So we haff to learn to breet undervater?” Viktor asked, the alcohol giving him more of an accent than he had been displaying recently.
Harry moved to the tables and perched on the edge, switching Gabrielle (who was getting heavier) to his other arm. “If you don’t want to think outside the box,” Harry said, a wicked smile on his face.
“Harry,” Cedric protested. “I don’t like that smile.”
“Me neither,” Viktor agreed.
“It’s a Harry smile,” Hermione explained, “he gets it when he’s about to do something mind-boggingly brave and stupid at the same time. And the worst thing is he’ll come out smelling like roses.”
“Wow, there was a ton of colloquialisms in there,” Christophe said dryly. “Harry, are you going to top what you did today?”
Harry grinned and nodded firmly.
Viktor sighed. “I vant to continue to play Quidditch. I only entered dis silly competition because of Karkaroff. You go first, I follow you.”
Cedric looked at him and sighed. “I liked the idea of the glory, to impress Cho’s dad, but well, facing that dragon wasn’t fun. I’d rather remain un-burnt. I’ll do the same.”
“Yeah,” Cho agreed quietly.
Fleur looked down her nose at Harry. Before she could say anything else, Christophe looked up from Melissa and said a few words. The words Harry recognised included ‘bitch’, ’idiotic’, and ‘grow up’.
Fleur pouted at him, but then shrugged and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Fine,” she muttered. “You can make a fool of yourself first.”
Harry ignored her. “I’ve got a better idea,” he said, “I’ll not do anything for the first forty minutes, that should give you enough time to get the points you deserve, and then I’ll do my thing. Points don’t matter to me, but doing it in style does. Now, let’s get this one to bed, then I can collapse and look forward to my first ever hangover!”
There was some wry laughter, as the Hogwarts students went one way, and most of the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students went the other, leaving a few of them to take Gabrielle out to the Carriage.
Harry followed Christophe and Adrienne into the huge carriage; he was a little too tired to appreciate what was probably a glorious interior.
He placed Gabrielle down on the bed indicated, removed her shoes, and tucked her in, before kissing her on the forehead. Gabrielle curled up instantly.
“One more for the road?” Christophe offered, holding up a bottle of wine.
“Thanks,” Harry said, “but I don’t want my bodyguards getting a chill.”
“You’re a good man, Harry,” Christophe decided.
“I’m a `leetle boy,`” Harry corrected amiably. “Hope to have the chance to become a man one day.”
“You’re getting there incredibly fast,” Adrienne assured him. “And ignore Fleur, she’s a spoilt brat.”
“Night,” Harry said, walking back outside, and happily walking back to the Durmstrang ship, a little unsteadily.
“Boss,” Crusher said.
“Yeah?”
“You don’t see the world like we do, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you don’t care who people are, only how they are.”
Harry thought about it for a minute, and then nodded. “If you judge people before you meet them, you over-look something. Judging them by their actions is fairer all around.”
Smasher nodded, opening the door for him to his room.
He didn’t bother to undress as he collapsed face first on the bed.
The knock for breakfast was far too early, and he trundled, almost dead, to the Great Hall.
Gabrielle was waiting for him, and was far too cheerful. The other students he was friends with entered and headed toward his table, Cedric and Melissa sitting on his table from the start.
“Oh sod it,” Harry said as his headache increased. He removed his robes, and then pulled off his shirt.
“Woo,” Fred cheered. “Take it off!”
Harry rolled his eyes at him, before kicking off his shoes and socks, and removing his trousers.
“Yeah baby,” George yelled.
“Dobby,” Harry called. “One hangover cure please.”
There was a strange sensation, before he found himself thirty foot above the Great Lake.
“Ssssssssshhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt!” he yelled on his way down.
The water was cold, bloody cold, but it was refreshing. As he reached the surface, Dobby grinned at him, and there was another snap, and he was back in the Great Hall.
“Damn,” he muttered. “That is one hell of a hangover cure.” He pulled out his wand, only to be hit with drying and warming charms from Fred and George. Dobby arrived afterward with clean clothes for him.
He dressed quickly, and ran his fingers through his hair. “Now I feel human,” he announced.
“You’re a braver man than I,” Cedric announced. “I’m quite content to just sit here and suffer.”
“Yeah,” Viktor agreed.
“If you don’t shut up, I will start cursing,” Christophe muttered from the table, where he had his head in his hands.
“I can cure that for you,” Harry offered.
“Don’t you dare, you…”
“Christophe,” Adrienne interrupted, “don’t swear in front of Gabrielle!”
“Sorry,” Christophe muttered.
Gabrielle grinned at him. “So what classes do we have today?” she asked.
Harry blinked at her for a few minutes, before he remembered his promise.
“We start with Charms, then Transfiguration.”
“Woohoo,” Gabrielle cheered.
“Gabrielle,” Christophe called, “please!”
“Sorry,” she apologised, and started to eat.
Harry thought that was a good idea, and after his ice bath, he was starving. He ignored the owls that swooped in with the morning papers.
“Hey, Harry,” Cedric called. “You’re a hero.”
Harry groaned.
“Did you really throw the Inverticus curse?”
“What’s that?”
“Turns something inside out,” Hermione replied.
“Oh,” Harry replied. “Nope.”
“Didn’t think so,” Cedric replied. “If you’d cast all the spells listed here you’d be dead of magical exhaustion.”
Harry groaned again.
“Harry,” Dumbledore said, as he approached the table. “Can I have a word with you, please?”
“Is this a casual chat we can do here?”
“I think my office would be better, and I would prefer it as one on one, please.”
Harry looked at him for a moment, and then nodded. “Wait with the guys,” he said to Gabrielle.
“Okay,” she replied, and he followed the Headmaster to his office.
“Do you know why I only gave you five points yesterday?” Albus asked, as he settled down.
“Because all I did was tell the dragon to go to sleep and put on a show?”
“Exactly.”
“Have you ever studied psychology?” Harry asked.
“A little,” Albus replied.
“Melissa is obsessed with it. Have you read the paper today?”
“Not yet.”
Harry pointed to the Daily Prophet on his desk. “Why not read the account.”
Albus picked up the paper, and frowned as he read through it quickly. “This isn’t what happened.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Harry replied. “Ask any student, or one of the other headmasters, and they’ll all tell you that the Prophet is right, and more, they will swear themselves blind that they saw it.”
“The smoke was in the way.”
“They’ve already forgotten that. What they remember is that I fought a dragon, and that you only gave me five points.”
Dumbledore sighed and turned to page five, he showed the headline to Harry. “Barmy Dumbledore Robs Potter!”
Harry smiled.
“You’re growing up, Harry.”
“I’m trying to,” Harry agreed.
“Have you given any thoughts to your friends?”
“Of course, I see them every day,” Harry replied.
“I meant young Ronald, and Ginny, and your other friends in Gryffindor.”
“Oh, those back stabbing traitors. No, I’ve not given them a single thought.”
Albus frowned at him. “Now, let’s talk about your little spell.”
“Okay,” Harry agreed.
“Please stop using it in Hogwarts. Alcohol is banned for children.”
“Okay,” Harry agreed again.
Dumbledore looked slightly suspicious at his easy acceptance. “I would talk about the young Ms Delacour accompanying you to classes, however, your Professors have already agreed.”
“Excellent. Was there anything else?”
“No.”
Harry nodded and strolled out, meeting up with his bodyguards and Gabrielle. Now that he was awake, functional, and no longer hung over, he had to smile at the girl. She was dressed in a full pint-sized Hogwarts uniform, complete with Gryffindor tie. He lifted her up onto his shoulders.
“Dobby,” He called.
The elf appeared with a pop. “You called, sir?”
“How much extra work would it be for you to serve our table on the Durmstrang ship?”
“Very little,” Dobby said eagerly.
“Okay, thanks.”
Dobby nodded and popped out.
“Dumbledore’s ordered me to stop giving out wine at meals.”
“That’s not fair,” Smasher stated.
“Yeah,” Harry agreed. “It occurs to me that we might have better luck eating on the ship. Maybe you can put a word or two in with professor Karkaroff, assuming that you can find him.”
Crusher smacked Harry on the back. “Good idea, boss.”
Crusher and Smasher left them at the door, as Nasher and Thrasher were waiting for them. Harry lifted Gabrielle off his shoulders, and went down on one knee. “Are you ready?” he asked her.
She nodded firmly. She opened her bag and showed him her quill and parchment.
Harry smiled and took her hand, leading her in. He sat with her at the back, so that he could help her understand what the Professor said. Thrasher and Nasher sat in front of them.
Filius bounced in cheerfully, waving to Gabrielle, who giggled and waved back.
“Right, after the excitement of yesterday, I thought we’d try a charm that would have been useful. The Extinguishing spell. Now, if you’ll watch me, I’ll do it first, and then you can practice on the candle on your desk.
Harry pulled out his own quill and some parchment, and noted down both the wand movements and the incantation.
He looked at Gabrielle’s paper, to see her faithfully copying down what was said, mixing some French words. He whispered a few things in English for her to help.
Filius came around and lit their candle.
Harry looked at it for a second, then in one movement, waved his wand and said the words. His candle extinguished itself, as Gabrielle cheered.
Flitwick smiled. “Take five points, Harry.”
Harry grinned at him, and then swirled his wand in his fingers and offered the handle to Gabrielle. She looked at him in confusion. “Go on then,” he told her.
“But I am too young,” she said softly, her eyes betraying a yearning hope.
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” he grinned.
Gabrielle reached out slowly and took the wand reverently. Harry moved her hand, and used the wand to light the candle again.
“Now, you know what to do,” he told her. “Give it a shot.”
Gabrielle waved her wand and said the words, but nothing happened.
“Okay,” Harry said, “first thing we need to do is correct your movements. Pretend that you’re dancing, and this is just a hand movement. Watch me.” He made the wand movements again, trying not to exaggerate them.
Nasher and Thrasher turned in their chairs to watch, and copied Gabrielle, as she repeated the movements again and again.
“Perfect,” Harry praised. “Now, what’s the incantation?”
“Exstinctum,” the answer came from three voices.
Harry pushed the table forward a bit, and then lifted Gabrielle into his lap. “We’ll do it together this time,” he told her. “We’ll do the movement, you say the word.”
Gabrielle nodded and concentrated. Together, they did the movement, but as she said the words, he mouthed them as well, and felt the slightest pull on his magic.
“I did it!” Gabrielle squealed.
Harry hugged her tightly. He looked at his two bodyguards. “See how easy it is?” he asked. “Turn around and do it!”
The two turned instantly, and two movements and two words later, their candle was extinguished. “Cor,” Nasher said. “I’ve never done magic the first time before.”
“Now,” Harry said, putting Gabrielle back down and borrowing his wand to re-light the fire. “You’ve already done it once, you can do it again.”
Gabrielle nodded and waved his wand, before she said the words, and the candle extinguished itself.
She moved to her parchment and wrote down, in fragmented English, exactly what had happened.
“Mr Potter,” Filius said, as he wandered over to them.
“Professor?”
“Take another twenty points for teaching two Slytherins and young Miss Delacour.”
Harry smiled at him.
“As you’ve done this, have a look through the next chapter of your charms book.”
After Charms, they met up with Crusher and Smasher, and headed toward Transfiguration. The lesson followed the same plan, although the Slytherins were not in this class. Harry would do the spell first and then teach Gabrielle to do it.
He was a bit surprised by the wide-eyed looks he was getting from Professor McGonagall and Hermione.
After Transfiguration, they headed down for lunch. Fleur was sitting with the other Beauxbatons students. “Why not go tell your sister what you’ve done so far,” Harry suggested.
Gabrielle nodded and dashed over to her sister, hundreds of words spilling from her mouth.
He could see a look of disbelief on Fleur’s face, and rolled his eyes. “Gabrielle,” he called.
She looked up.
He passed her his wand, and nodded to the candles on the table. She grinned at him, made the movements, and said in a firm voice, “Exstinctum!” All five candles extinguished themselves.
Fleur looked shocked, as did the other Beauxbatons students.
As he took his wand back, and re-lit the candles, he asked aloud, “Is anyone going to tell me why I keep getting strange looks?”
Adrienne raised her hand.
“Adrienne?”
“Children haven’t got the magical control to do spells, that’s why they don’t do magic before school.”
“Oh,” he said slowly, scratching his head. “So, anyone want to bet that I can’t get Gabrielle up to at least a second year level by the end of the school year?”
“No,” Adrienne said, “I think you can do it.”
“What d’ya think, Gabrielle? Want to put the work in? You’ll have to do homework.”
Gabrielle nodded eagerly.
“We’ve got Defence Against the Dark Arts after lunch,” Harry said to her, as he moved down the table to his place.
Gabrielle took up her spirited rendition of the morning’s events.
“She’s not the same child we saw three days ago,” Christophe said quietly to Harry.
“She reminds me of me,” Harry explained. “I always wanted someone to save me.”
Christophe took another long look at him. “Want to explain how you taught her magic?”
“I think your girlfriend would understand it more.”
Christophe grinned, and stood; he dashed over to the Slytherin table, and whispered into Melissa’s ear.
She looked at him for a second, before she looked thoughtful, then intrigued. She stood, and walked with Christophe back to his table. “Spill the beans, kiddo,” she ordered.
Harry leaned closer to the two. “Magic is about belief and control. I made her practice the control first, and then as she cast the spell the first time, I had a small amount of contact with my wand, and cast the spell wordlessly. As far as Gabrielle was concerned, she cast the spell herself, so doing it on her own wasn’t a problem.”
“I can think of three things wrong with that,” Christophe said.
“Yeah,” Melissa agreed slowly. “Explain this wand contact thing.”
Harry pulled out his wand. “I was trying to polish it, and noticed I was making sparks, when I didn’t really want to.” He flipped his wand, pointed high and to the right, and cast a stunner. He flipped it back, “and I realised that that you only need contact.”
“Right,” Melissa nodded. “Good work, kiddo. So you think you can get her up to second year level?”
“Probably higher,” Harry said. “I’ll go back through my text books and see what I did, and teach her all the spells.” He moved back to his seat, and ate his now traditional steak and Guinness lunch.
“Harry,” Hermione called, “can you fit me in for a private chat before Defence?”
“Of course,” Harry said. He picked up his plate, drink, and a knife and fork, and headed toward the end of the table. As he expected, a new table appeared at the end. He’d suspected for a while that Dobby was taking his fanatical service to a new level. “Thanks, Dobby,” he whispered.
The air to the right seemed to vibrate in happiness.
Harry sat, and the sound from the rest of the Hall died down. Hermione shook her head and sat opposite him, a couple of sandwiches on her plate.
“So, should I call you Mr Potter now?” she teased.
“Why?”
“Because you’re growing up,” Hermione explained. “And what you did at the Tournament, it was amazing.”
“And fake,” Harry said.
“Oh, I know that,” Hermione replied airily. “But you still pulled it off. I was in the crowd Harry, the energy was palpable. Everyone suddenly realised that you can be Harry Potter, the symbol, as well as Harry, the lazy but powerful, wizard who picks up strays like me and makes their world better.”
“Hey,” Harry protested, blushing furiously.
“Gabrielle,” Hermione pointed out with a grin, “who is pretty sure that you are Merlin.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “She’s a great kid.”
“Harry, I know I was a bit against this idea, but well, I’ve seen you start to grow. You’ve worked so hard, all your school work is excellent, you’re getting great marks on everything you do.”
“I am?” Harry asked in surprise. He hadn’t been paying attention to that.
Hermione put her hands on her hips. “You might not notice these things, Mr Potter, but I do!”
“Please,” Harry begged, “just call me Harry.”
Hermione grinned. “Anyway, can I do some of your lessons with you?”
“Some of them,” Harry agreed. “The ones where I’m learning to grow up probably wouldn’t be good for you.”
“Yeah,” She agreed. “I’m just interested in the spells. I really don’t want Oliver yelling at me to run around the lake one more time.”
“Nor do I,” Harry muttered.
“Harry,” Hermione said softly. “I think you have some real friends over here.”
“I have the best one in front of me.”
“Git,” Hermione whispered again, smiling at him softly. “But I thank you all the same. My point is, I was going to speak up for the other Gryffindors, but I’m not now. Ron’s convinced that you are now Malfoy Mark Two, and most of the others agree. They’re jealous because you’re doing something that they’re not. They’re saying that you’re flaunting the fact you’ve not poor, despite the fact that someone is out to get you, they accused you of showing off yesterday, when they were cheering you before they didn’t get access to your party. Its petty, it’s hypocritical, it’s nauseating, and I’m fed up of it.”
“Me too,” Harry agreed.
“You’ve got Christophe, Adrienne, Melissa, Viktor, Cedric, Fred, George, and of course Gabrielle, who are viewing you as Harry, nothing more, nothing less. And as they are older, they’re treating you like an adult, and you’re responding. I’ve had so much fun talking to people over here, and learning from them.
“The other day, Ron and Ginny started bad mouthing you, and we argued.”
Harry growled.
“Stop that,” Hermione ordered, “I’m quite capable of looking after myself. Anyway, a couple of Slytherin Prefects stepped in and ordered those two to back off. They checked that I was alright, and walked with me to class. They said that if Melissa liked me, that was good enough for them!”
Harry smiled. “Technically, you two could be sisters.”
Hermione grinned massively at him. “I love you, too, Harry,” she said softly. “Even if you have to wrap your declaration in silly boy words.”
“Silly boy words?” Harry protested.
“Yep,” Hermione agreed cheerfully.
“Hermione,” Harry said, looking at her. He took a deep breath.
“Hold on a second,” Hermione ordered. She braced herself dramatically.
“I’m not planning on coming back to Hogwarts next year. I’m going to go to Beauxbatons.”
Hermione blinked and then relaxed. “Right, I’ll start brushing up on my French immediately.”
It was Harry’s turn to look shocked. “What?”
“Beauxbatons has the largest library in Europe,” Hermione explained. “And my parents would be so proud if I was to learn in France.”
Harry smiled at her.
“I’ve started my research on protecting your mind, for those of us who don’t have a will of stone. There’s a whole branch of magic called Occlumency based on defending your mind, and Legilimency, which is getting into someone else’s mind. I’m sure that you can do it, but I’m not sure that Crabbe and Goyle could.”
“Nasher and Thrasher,” Harry corrected amiably. “They like their new names.”
Hermione giggled. “Did you know that Draco’s lost a load of influence in Slytherin House? With out Crabbe and Goyle, he has to rely on his dad, and well, rumour has it that there are gangs of wizards roaming the streets looking for Dark Marks, and his dad has one.”
“I wonder if he recognises that turnabout is fair play.”
“How many arms have you received now?”
“Eight. I’m splitting the cost with Sirius. Which is eight Death Eaters that aren’t hurting people any more.”
Hermione nodded. “Did you really have a word with Viktor?”
Harry smirked. “You’d think I’d let just anyone near my sister?”
“Git,” Hermione said fondly, for the third time.
Harry looked up, as Crusher and Smasher hovered nearby. “We finished?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “Thanks.”
“Hermione,” he said softly, “I am always available to my friends.”
She smiled at him. The noise level increased as the charm died down. “Boss,” Smasher said, “We’d like to introduce Squisher.” They moved to one side, revealing a fourth year Ravenclaw that he thought was named Lisa Turpin. He mentally wound through his list of people who had taken the badge, and she wasn’t on it.
“Welcome,” Harry greeted her.
She looked at him in surprise. “Just like that?” she asked.
“Crusher and Smasher are professionals. They wouldn’t have hired you if they weren’t sure that you couldn’t do the job.”
Lisa smiled and nodded. “Thank you,” she said. “As my future is now invested in yours, may I enquire as to your fighting training?”
“I’m practising duelling two times a day, and working on my fitness as much.”
“Can you stand, please?”
He nodded.
“And throw a spell at me?”
Without changing expression, he smoothly pulled out his wand, only to find that Lisa had his wand reversed, and in her control. He lightly touched the tip of it, “Stupefy.”
Lisa started to fall, only for Crusher and Smasher to catch her.
“Rennervate,” Harry said softly.
Lisa shook herself and looked at him for a long moment, a hint of awe in her eyes. “Damn,” She muttered. “So much for being impressive.”
Harry grinned at her. “Don’t worry, you were, and I get your point; if you’d stepped back a few inches, I would have been defenceless.”
She looked at him for a long moment. “No,” she decided, “you will never be defenceless.”
“Fred, George,” Harry called.
The two wandered over.
“We need to fit Lisa into my schedule.”
“Why?” Fred asked.
“Pull your wands out.”
They looked at each other, and did, only for Lisa to do her speed trick again, this time retreating several steps afterward.
“I see,” George said. “Well, sleep is for wimps anyway.”
“Yeah,” Harry said dryly. “Make sure she gets paid for that as well.”
“Wait,” Lisa said, “that is part of my bodyguard work.”
“No, it’s not,” Harry stated. “I’m the boss, I choose.”
“Yes, boss,” Lisa agreed, smiling a little. “Shall we go to Defence?”
Harry nodded. “Gabrielle,” he called. The girl came running, skidding to a stop next to him.
“Hi,” she said brightly to Lisa and Hermione.
“Gabrielle,” Hermione greeted her. “Looking forward to Defence?”
Gabrielle nodded hard, her hair going all over the place.
Harry sighed, and dropped to his knees. He stroked her hair back over her shoulders. “There,” he said. Gabrielle beamed at him, and he stood and they walked out of the Great Hall.
Author Notes:
Don't normally add translations, but as I've had a few people point out that they prefer them:
À cœur vaillant rien d'impossible. - To a valiant heart, nothing is impossible.
Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières - Little brooks make great rivers (a comment on Harry growing up and his potential)
Thanks to Kokopelli for betaing this for me.
I should post some thoughts about this over the next few days, especially in regards to Gabrielle and Lisa.
Next Harry Potter thing I'll probably post will be the start of year 3 of Perfect Slytherins.