Patron (Harry Potter AU) (Complete)

Starfox5 · Apr 3, 2015

Pahan said:
I guess the big question would be what determines how much magical "strength" someone has, and how it varies or changes over time.

The birth lottery for starters, "exercise" for the rest, though you don't grow weaker with disuse (but your skills might deteriorate when not used).

Pahan said:
Interesting. Pansy may be playing with fire, here.

She is. If Draco was smarter, he could abuse his "idiot image" with horrible efficiency.

Pahan said:
True. Beyond a certain point, it becomes a bit cartoonish, though, especially given how important Hermione considers her image and appearance in this continuity.

It will mostly happen in private, when she shows emotions. And I am not sure if we're having the same view of what she is doing - it's not as if she's regularly biting her lips bloody, or such. It's an expression not unlike rubbing your chin when thinking.

Pahan said:
Separation and conflict between what's legal and what's magical --- interesting.

It seems logical to me. The idea that Magic somehow comes with automatic legal updates has its roots likely in the canon underage detection system, but it feels a bit odd when it's extended towards other areas as well, witch less of an impact on the Statute of Secrecy. Here custom/tradition demands that magical changes are to be followed legally in most cases, but also vice versa - if a Patron bets his or her retainer, that's expected to followed through with a ritual in case the bet is lost. Not that custom is clear cut since Harry was forced into this tournament, but then, custom is clear in that stakes are to be ransomed back.

Pahan said:
With Voldemort coming back and Dumbledore being more proactive, there might not be much of a Society left standing by the time the story is over.

That depends on the way the war is fought. I am planning on a shadow war that goes on for longer than in canon.

Starfox5 · Apr 4, 2015

Chapter 6: The Yule Ball

Ron Weasley was sitting in the Gryffindor common room, waiting for Harry and Hermione to return from the infirmary. He was a bit irked that he hadn't been allowed to enter as well, but on the other hand he was glad they had tightened up security. And to be honest, he would not have wanted to see Hermione lying there, hurt and bleeding and helpless. Nor Harry in his usual state when the girl was hurt.

He summoned a butterbeer and some snacks Parvati's mother had sent from the basket floating around the room, then blinked and tried to remember when he had last contributed to the "common room fund". He didn't count his mum's cake last week, that was sort of a family contribution. Deciding it had been long enough he pulled out a galleon, flipped it into the air and banished it towards small box for donation. He was ready with a levitation charm when it reached the box, and gently guided it into the slit in the top there.

"Smooth."

Ron turned his head towards the sound and smiled. Parvati Patil looked impressed by his brief display of precision casting. "I try." He answered, modestly, though his grin was anything but modest.

"You were very impressive today. You beat that Beauxbatons student handily, and she was two years your senior." The half-blood beamed at him.

"She underestimated me, but yes, I did well in that fight." Ron answered. And he had - his shield had held, and his stunners had been well-aimed, boxing the witch in and driving her into his next stunner. Like Remus had taught him. He frowned. "I got steamrollered in the next fight though. Those spells from that Durmstrang student just shattered my shield."

"Steamrollered?" Parvati looked confused.

"A word from Hermione. It means the same as "bludgered" here." Ron answered. He could see Parvati's slight frown at that. As he had expected. He was not the smoothest wizard, but one could not be Harry and Hermione's best friend for years and not learn at least something about the finer points of social climbing. And he had eyes, ears, and a sister in Gryffindor. Hermione might be too noble to sabotage her dorm mates' dreams of dates to the Yule Ball, but Ginny certainly wasn't. Now to drive the point home.

He lifted his snack. "I really like this. At the Yule Ball I'll have to ask Padma for some good Indian dishes to order then. It might even be a challenge for the kitchen." He kept his face bland and earnest, but inwardly he was enjoying the witch's thin-lipped smile.

"I could help you there. I know all about Indian Cuisine." Parvati didn't give up quickly, he had to admit. The way she was leaning forward, not quite touching him… she'd be cutting a swath through the school in 6th year. He waved her off. "Ah, thank you, but I want to coordinate with Padma. Twice the dishes to sample, if we pick different things. And as her date, I will of course let her choose."

That did it. "Ah, how gallant of you. My sister is a lucky witch." Parvati's smile was quite forced now, but she managed to gracefully retreat to Lavender, who was waiting in the wings. Ron wasn't sure if Parvati had been talking to him because he had asked her sister and not herself, or if she had been testing the waters for her friend, but he didn't care. Even if he had been interested he had already asked Padma, which Hermione assured him was a smart witch and nice to talk to, and he'd not go back on that. Not that Parvati had been the only witch praising him for his performance.

A murmur that sprang up drew his attention to the door that had just opened. Harry and Hermione had arrived! He waved at them and looked both over while they made their way through a quickly formed throng of well-wishers and friends. Both looked well, so there must not have been any complications in the infirmary.

"And the heroine of the day arrives!" He summoned two more butterbeers for his friends and grinned at the slight blush on his friend's face. She didn't like it when she was teased, even if it was a mostly honest compliment. She had done well, after all, better than he had done. But then, knowing her, he had expected that. After casting a privacy spell, as much for privacy as for simply dampening the noise from a mostly full common room so they could easily talk, he continue. "I guess you have already altered your studying plans to incorporate more transfigurations and conjurations."

Harry smirked, and Ron knew he had sunk the quaffle. His other best friend pouted. "Am I really that transparent?"

"Only to those who know you well." he added with a smile. 'Not as well as I'd like' remained unsaid.

"I'll need to adjust my tactics too. Indirect attacks require a different set up. I am still not convinced they are superior to my preferred spell choice, but I can't dismiss their use in certain situations," the young witch explained, between sips from her bottle. That was, he knew, Hermione-speak for 'I realized I was wrong, but don't want to admit it right now'. He didn't quite grin, but he felt vindicated - he had told her that one could not entirely rely on direct attacks, as she called them. Not that it had helped him much; that 6th year student had demolished his own conjured help with demoralizing ease before knocking him out.

The rest of the evening they discussed dueling tactics and watched the recording of the final match of the competition in Harry's omniculars.

*****

"That mudblood! How low must one sink to turn my own family's spells against me? A honorable opponent would not even have thought of such!" Draco was pacing in the Slytherin common room, fortunately behind privacy spells, even though anyone knowing him could probably tell exactly what he was saying from his expression and gestures. Pansy kept her supportive smile in place instead of telling her boyfriend that one witch taking control of a transfigured creature from her opponent had decided one semi-final. It wasn't as if Draco would let reality intrude in his world even if it brought gifts.

"Of course not, Draco. But it's an international competition. As you said, foreign standards are different, and so Granger's actions couldn't be sanctioned. Maybe you can show our class how to duel properly next time we spar in Defense?" She sat with her legs crossed at the ankles and pushed under the couch and her upper body leaning forward, attentively, as if she was hanging on the lips of Draco. He ate it up, and struck a pose straight out of a play.

"Oh, that is an idea, Pansy! I'll teach that mudblood how a Malfoy duels when the rules are not favoring underhanded tactics! She will rue the day she dared to cross me!"

Pansy had to make an effort to keep her smile from showing her satisfaction. She should have been surprised that Draco just denounced what most of their House would call cunning tactics, but she knew him too well. That he had apparently forgotten that they would use the same rules when they dueled in class - the standards of the International Dueling Circuit Federation - as they had used at the Triwizard Tournament Dueling Competition she had also expected. 'Too easy' she thought, 'but it should still be amusing.'

"What did your father say about your performance in the competition?" Draco had reached the second round, which had been a surprise for everyone but for Pansy, who had known about his plans to use a family spell. She had won quite a little sum from Housemates betting on Draco losing in the first round. Crabbe and Goyle had won their bets as well, but Pansy wasn't sure if they had known or counted on that spell as well, or simply bet on Draco out of stupidity or blind loyalty.

Draco sat down next to her, pouting. "He lectured me about exposing a family secret for a 'mere school competition', and I had to promise not to use any other spell he taught me in public." Her boyfriend sneered in an imitation of his father that probably was meant to be derisive, but simply looked just like his usual sneer. "Mother was very proud though."

Pansy doubted that. Narcissa Malfoy had never struck her as a simple witch. She thought it more likely that Mrs Malfoy had let Draco's father do the lecture instead of doing it herself. It was what she would have done in her place. If she would ever let any future child of hers grow up as spoiled and stupid as Draco, of course.

While Draco prattled on about what he was expecting as Yule gifts from his family, Pansy pondered Granger's performance in the competition. She had done better than expected, even counting the fact that one of her opponents had been Draco, but she had shown a surprising lack of variety in spell choices. A weakness Pansy would be quick to exploit, should they ever cross wands for real. She'd not make the same mistakes as Draco had done.

Draco… at first it had been an amusing game, manipulating the idiot. Playing the besotted girlfriend. Using him for pranks and getting him into trouble was such a rush. But this term, Draco had changed. He hadn't gotten any smarter or more skilled, but he had grown more cruel. Less inhibited. Pansy had been sure so far she could drop him whenever she wanted to by orchestrating an embarrassing incident that gave her enough of an excuse to 'finally see the light and drop the git', but lately she had been wondering if Draco would accept such an outcome, or do something… foolish.

*****

Harry, Hermione and Ron were watching the recording from the final match again later that week, with Sirius and Remus, who were going over the spells and tactics used by both duelists. Both were pointing out how some spells were a bad choice outside a duel, or a less than optimal choice.

"If you have a killing shot, take it. A dead enemy cannot be enervated, healed, or otherwise used against you." Sirius explained. "At least not until someone turns the body into an Inferi, but that takes longer than a fight usually lasts, and if you let an enemy do that you deserve getting eaten." Then he winked at Harry and added "And not in the good way." Harry fought the urge to hex his godfather.

"I wish I had succeeded in getting my walkman to work. I could have borrowed my parent's camcorder, and Harry could have recorded the whole tournament, and we could watch it on a television screen, pause and even use slow motion." Hermione sighed. Her experiments had shown progress or so she claimed, but she still had wrecked both electronic gadgets she had brought with her.

"Muggles have pensieves now?" Sirius was blinking in surprise.

"No, the just found ways to record things for the television, remember Lily's explanation?" Remus corrected him.

"When we accidentally blew her parents' television up? Yes, I'll never forget that lecture. Or that hex." Sirius shuddered, then sent Harry a glance. He had commented a few times, usually when drunk, that he felt guilty that Harry had no good memories of his parents. Harry smiled at him. He loved hearing such stories about his parents, and he was sure he would get the whole story out of his godfather later. The young wizard patted Hermione's thigh when he heard her mutter about wizards not getting it. She had gotten better - or more resigned - about it. A year ago she'd have tried to explain and correct the two wizards.

"Alright. Due to popular demand…" Sirius coughed and wriggled his eyebrows at Hermione who sniffed at his antics, "... we will teach you how to use transfiguration and conjuration in battle today. Or start on it, at least, so you can train by yourself while we resume Harry's training in dealing with water-based threats. Everybody, pay attention! This is how to create a cat from a bunch of rubble. You'll be able to scale that up to a lion later, but I'd rather deal with a cat than a lion if you lose control."

Harry and his two friends stood up and paid attention, then tried it themselves. It was far harder than it looked, and Harry quickly understood why it was not a really popular tactic for the average wizard. His first attempt was looking like a cat built from cobblestones glued together, if one squinted. And it moved like one too, that is, not at all. Hermione's was moving at least, if reduced to stumbling around, while Ron had created a decent copy of Crookshanks' head, without a body. It still managed to meow, which was so creepy. Harry couldn't help but shudder at the sight. His retainer, of course, thought the crime against nature was cute. But then, she thought Crookshanks was cute, and that little devil was the ugliest cat Harry had ever seen. Even Ron, who spoiled the beast rotten, admitted that.

Sirius was laughing like a hyena, and even Remus was showing far more amusement than the faint smile he usually had for the trio's antics. Harry quickly exchanged glances with his friends, and a salvo of minor hexes turned their instructor's laughs into cries of surprise and dismay. They paid for that though - at the end of the lesson, each of the three was sporting numerous scratches that the cats had accidentally caused, or so the two older wizards claimed.

Harry didn't mind, it had been a good lesson, informative and entertaining. And after dealing with fire drakes trying to disembowel him, scratches from cats did not really concern him much. Though seeing red lines crisscross over Hermione's arm and hands made him swear revenge, of course. She was his retainer, it was his duty after all.

*****

Shopping for dress robes with Luna Lovegood was an experience. A unique experience, Hermione Granger had found out. The young blonde witch was dashing around in "Seamstress Sophia's Shop" in Hogsmeade, pulling out dresses with her wand and floating them in front of her or Hermione seemingly at random, often returning them with an inane comment before Hermione managed to get a good look in one of the floating mirrors that trailed the two of them. After twenty minutes of those antics, ten of which her Patron had spent openly chuckling from the seat he had conjured for himself, she had had enough. "Luna!"

The blonde girl froze for a moment, in the middle of summoning a frilly pink robe Hermione wanted to burn at first sight, and turned her head towards her without moving the rest of her body. "Yes, Hermione?"

"Do you know what kind of robe you want to buy?" Hermione forced herself to remain polite, and not let her frustration show. She was used to planning her purchases in advance as much as possible, and narrowing down the selection in a methodical manner. "If you do we can pick a matching or complementary robe for me."

"Of course!" Luna beamed at her. "Let me show you!" With that the witch grabbed her hand and pulled her with surprising force over to a section of color-changing robes, pointing at what Hermione would have thought was a cape, if not for the thin, shimmering bands of fabric floating in front of it. "It won't get boring during the ball since it will be changing colors!"

Hermione stared at the robe for a moment, then glanced over at Luna, who had already summoned a screen and thrown her robe over it. "Luna?"

"Just a moment!" came the perky reply, and a camisole joined the robe on the screen, then a wand held by a slender hand appeared over them, and a flick later the dress Luna had shown Hermione floated over and disappeared behind the screen.

A few moments later the screen, still serving as a rack for Luna's clothes, slid to the side and revealed Luna, wearing her chosen dress robe. Which still looked like a cape to Hermione, though one that moved by itself. Underneath it Luna was clothed in thin sashes that wrapped themselves around her body before coming together in a kind of shred fringe that formed a skirt, of sorts. Both the sashes as well as the cape were moving and changing their colors. Hermione imagined herself wearing a matching outfit, and couldn't help but blush.

"How does it look?" Luna asked, with a beaming smile. "The outer robe looks a bit stuffy, but it's winter after all, and we can always drop it if it things become heated."

"Very daring." Hermione managed to answer, wondering briefly if Luna was flirting with her, or if she was reading too much into what might simply be a poorly worded comment about the expected temperature in the ball hall. "We should look now for a robe for me that goes well with your robe." She wasn't going to wear the same style, she thought to herself. Then she noticed Harry was staring at Luna from his seat, and narrowed her eyes at the quick stab of jealousy she felt. "Maybe we can link two of those robes with an enchantment, so we're always wearing complementary colors?"

"Oh, a great idea! Are you sure you can enchant them that way?" Luna clapped her hands enthusiastically at the idea.

Hermione studied the garment more closely, running her wand over it to check the enchantments. Satisfied with her findings she nodded at Luna. "Yes, I should be able to. And probably add some personal touches and tweaks." She grabbed a robe and held it up to her own body, smirking when she noticed Harry blinking in surprise.

Then her view of him was cut off by the screen Luna had called back, and Hermione barely managed not to yelp when she felt Luna's hands on her, tugging at her robes. "Come on, Hermione, time to strip naked!"

"What?"

"You can't wear anything under that robe, silly." Luna explained while trying to pull Hermione's robe off the girl - without any success, of course, due to her enchantments on the robe. But those hands were wandering around a bit too much for the muggleborn witch's comfort.

"Ah… wait a second…" Hermione managed to extricate herself from the blonde's grasping but probably, hopefully, innocent hands, and used her wand to lift her robe off her, quickly followed by her underwear - just in case Luna wanted to help her again. The girl seemed to have a quite different idea of personal space than anyone else Hermione knew. Unless she knew exactly what she was doing - it was impossible to tell with the blonde witch. She flicked her wand and her garments joined Luna's on the screen.

The new robe wrapped itself around her on command, and when Hermione looked into one of the floating mirrors she had to tell herself she was wearing more than she usually wore at a beach. Several times. Fortunately, the mirror's own comments were tasteful and polite - and helpful. Quite unlike some of the mirrors at Grimmauld Place, whose lewd suggestions were often anything but.

Just as she was getting more or less comfortable in her new robes the screen slid to the side, and she heard Harry gasp and Luna giggle.

Yes, shopping with Luna was a unique experience.

*****

"Today we will be learning about the Unforgivables." Mad-Eye Moody was pacing in front of the class, managing to look like a caged tiger despite his peg leg. It was the 18th of December, and he was filling in for Remus Lupin. Like every month. Hermione still couldn't understand how the werewolf teacher hadn't been outed yet - though she wasn't complaining, of course. "Who can name one of them?"

Hermione had started to raise her hand before he had even finished the question. She had read up about the Unforgivables years ago. One tended to learn such things as the retainer of the Boy-Who-Lived. A glance told her that Harry was smirking, and she pouted just a bit. He still tended to be amused by her eagerness in class, no matter how much she toned it down. Which she had.

"Granger!" Moody barked, his artificial eye rolling around and staring at her for an instant before moving again.

"The Imperius, Professor." As a first year, she'd have named all three. She had learned since.

"Correct. Who can name another? Brown!" Hermione saw Lavender jerk with surprise at being called without having raised her hand.

"The Killing Curse."

"Correct. And the last one? Potter!"

"The Cruciatus." Hermione snuck a glance at Neville. His parents had been tortured into insanity with that curse, and the young wizard was struggling to keep a neutral expression.

"Correct. Why are they called the Unforgivables? Granger?"

"Because casting one on a wizard or witch is punished by imprisonment for life, Sir." Hermione quoted the textbook definition. She wasn't sure if casting one of those on a normal human would be punished the same - she hadn't found a precedent.

"Right. They also have other characteristics unique to them. Shields cannot stop them. The only defense is to dodge or take cover - and either action is damned difficult if you're up against a competent caster." Moody glared at the class with his natural eye while the enchanted one whirled around wildly, scanning for enemies, hidden or not. "And they need the caster to truly want his target dominated, dead or suffering. That emotional component is another unique characteristic of those spells. Other spells are affected by the caster's emotions, but only those three spells require it."

"We'll start with the Imperius Curse. That nasty spell allows the caster to take total control over the target. Any order you give will be executed, as if one was commanding a construct. Any order, that is, no matter how cruel. No matter how insane. You will do your best to at least try to execute it. But a few things you will not be able to do." The old auror narrowed his good eye and stared at Malfoy. "You cannot cast an Unforgivable while you're under the Imperius. The spell's control is such that you cannot muster the emotions to cast an Unforgivable." Malfoy swallowed, but kept staring at the auror, who grinned maliciously. "And that means that if you see anyone casting an Unforgivable, they are not under the Imperius."

"Now, the Killing Curse. Unstoppable, unresistable. Only one wizard ever has survived it." Everyone in the class room looked at Harry. Even Hermione glanced at her Patron, to see how he was taking this. He was staring at the teacher, and seemed to be holding up well. Moody continued. "No one knows how Potter managed that, and I do not recommend that anyone else try to repeat the feat. The Killing Curse instantly slays you. No wound is left, no blood is spilled, you're simply dead. Supposedly it is painless, but so far no ghost has appeared who could have confirmed that."

"And then we have the Cruciatus Curse. Being hit by it feels like a thousand burning knives stabbing into your skin. The pain is worse than anything you can imagine." He grinned at the class again. "Even giving birth pales against it, or so I have been told. I can tell you from my own experience that it is worse than getting your nuts crushed." The auror laughed briefly. "Only the worst wizards use it, since it has a single purpose: to cause as much pain as possible. For everything else you have better spells."

Hermione wanted to correct him - she thought that the Cruciatus Curse, for its ability to bypass a shield, would make a great tool to incapacitate someone quickly - but held her tongue. To voice such thoughts, no matter how logical, would stain both her and Harry's reputation. She glanced over at Neville again. Their friend was sweating, his jaws clenched together, but he was still holding up. He was in Gryffindor, after all.

Moody continued. "The Cruciatus is a sustained spell. If you're held under it long enough the pain gets too big and you lose your mind." He glanced over at Neville, who was staring at his desk and breathing heavily. "Now, we will discuss the history of those spells, from their creation to the time they were outlawed." Hermione started to eagerly take notes - she might learn something she hadn't researched yet.

*****

The second Yuletide in Sirius' house was quite different from the first, Harry thought happily. Back then, in his and Hermione's third year, Sirius had just been exonerated, the house had been a mess of curses, pests and filth, neglected by a deranged house elf. Harry, Hermione, Remus and Sirius had been using the kitchen, the only clean and safe spot in the building, to hold the ceremony at the family altar and exchange gifts. Everyone had still been very careful to avoid hurting anyone's feelings by accident, with Sirius feeling guilty about abandoning Harry to chase after Wormtail, Remus feeling guilty for not believing in Sirius or trying to get him a trial, Hermione feeling guilty for not realizing why Crookshanks was going after Wormtail despite knowing that kneazles had a reputation to sniff out lies, and Harry feeling guilty for wishing they had done this at the Grangers' instead. Despite that it had been a happy occasion, and not just because Sirius had given him a Firebolt. It had hinted at a better future for everyone, a shared desire to make this work.

This year's Yuletide was what everyone had hoped for back then, at least that was Harry's impression. The house had been cleaned and refurbished, the curses and dark items had been removed and Kreacher was … more polite. He still called Hermione "Master's godson's slave", but everyone ignored that after Hermione had claimed the elf wouldn't know better with his history of service to the Black family. Harry had thought the claim sounded a bit forced, but he hadn't pressed his friend. House elves were a volatile subject for Hermione.

Apart from Hermione, who according to Sirius might as well be moving in officially, they had other guests as well. Sirius' cousin, Andromeda Black-Tonks, was visiting with her husband Ted and their daughter Nymphadora. The head of the Black-Tonks family was a beautiful witch with perfect manners, a biting wit and pride to spare. Harry could see how she had chosen to be emancipated and left without a knut from her family rather than remain under the thumb of the husband of the harpy whose portrait had taken two curse-breakers and a new wall to get rid of. Her husband Ted, a half-blood, was a jovial wizard who seemed to be easy-going but observant. Both worked as lawyers specializing in contract work, or so Harry had understood. He knew the Wizengamot had only allowed their marriage after their daughter had been revealed to be a metamorphmagus, able to assume any human shape she chose to. The belief that this rarest of magical talents could only be the result of a union blessed by magic itself was widespread, and no member of the Wizengamot wanted to be seen as opposing magic's will. Nymphadora - she had quickly taught both Harry and Sirius to never shorten her given name - was currently attending the auror training course and shared both the love of pranks and of lewd jokes and remarks with Sirius. Fortunately, her parents managed to rein her in some. Usually.

They were sitting in the salon, next to the lavishly decorated family altar upon which the gifts for the gods were slowly consumed by a magical fire. As Sirius had explained it was bad luck to pass out the gifts for the mortals before the gods had had their due. To Harry's ears it sounded more tradition than faith though. Not that he'd mention that - religion was a tricky topic of conversation. He and Hermione had found out that in their first year.

He glanced over to his best friend, sitting next to him with a couple of his presents in her lap, ready to pass them out. Their gifts, actually, but the little fiction of her passing his gifts out allowed Hermione to attend the family gathering as his retainer, since the Black-Tonkses were not yet close enough to family to let go of the conventions of polite society in their presence. With the way things were going though Harry was sure that would change soon.

Sirius had been peering at the altar for several minutes now, visibly impatient, and finally stood up. "The gifts for the gods are now sufficiently given!" he announced. "It's time to pass out our presents!" With a swish of his wand he summoned a mass of brightly-wrapped presents of various sizes that floated around him. Harry knew that the size or even shape of a present's wrapping was no indication of what was contained within, but he couldn't help but speculate when a star-shaped present floated over to Remus, and a square one to Andromeda while Nymphadora had to duck a round one that kept trying to smash into her like a bludger on the pitch until she immobilized it with her wand. The young auror glared at Sirius and everyone else, in case anyone dared to laugh openly.

Harry got a square-shaped one, almost bigger than his torso, as well as another that seemed to change shape constantly, both from Sirius, and a few smaller ones from Remus and the Black-Tonkses. Hermione passed out his own gifts with precise movements of her wand, floating them over to their recipients. The gifts for the Black-Tonks were nothing too personal, the latest dictaquills with translation functions for the parents, and a mokeskin wand holster for Nymphadora. Remus, always a tricky one to give a present to, with his tendency to refuse "handouts", received a beautiful robe he could not take offense to thanks to the protective spells Harry and Hermione had personally enchanted it with, turning it from an expensive gift into a homemade one. The look he sent at both of them after checking the enchantments said he understood just what they had done. Harry grinned at him in response. Sirius, who had more money than he knew what to do with, in his words, got a muggle bathrobe with a more than passing resemblance to the usual attire of a certain muggle publisher and mansion owner. His delighted whoop proved that this was an aspect of muggle culture he was quite familiar with, as Hermione had predicted.

Harry's first gift from Sirius shrunk down when he opened it, revealing a smaller case made of polished wood. Inside was a beautifully crafted retainer's collar. Any mayor whose chain of office paled next to it would be envious. It was actually Hermione's gift, but custom prevented Sirius from giving it to her directly. Harry smiled at his godfather, and picked the chain up. "My wand."

"My Patron." Hermione lowered her head towards him.

Harry placed the chain on her shoulders, admiring how well it went with her dress robes. He was about to conjure a mirror for Hermione when suddenly there was a blinding flash, and Hermione was left wearing a dog collar with him holding a leash. Nothing but a dog collar, he realized with sudden horror, but he couldn't help staring while Sirius was laughing loudly and the others were split between amusement and disapproval. Remus managed to project both.

Hermione growled, and pulled out a small red stone from … her thigh? Harry blinked as she crushed the stone, triggering the enchantment she had placed on Sirius' robe, "just in case he does something stupid". Seeing Sirius wearing a muzzle and a pink straight-jacket with "Mad Dog" printed on it and hearing his muzzled complaints drove Remus into outright laughter as well, quickly followed by their guests.

"That should teach him a lesson." Hermione stated, in a satisfied tone. Harry was still staring, unable to understand why no one else was reacting to her lack of robes and anything else. His best friend noticed his blush, and looked puzzled. "Can you let go of the leash, Harry?" she whispered and raised her wand. "I want to get rid of the spell."

As soon as he let go of the leather strap he saw Hermione wearing her dress robes. Taking a deep breath, he glared at his godfather, who was smirking at him behind his muzzle and wriggling his eyebrows. If Hermione ever found out about that part of Sirius' prank she would neuter Sirius. Or Harry. Or both. He spent the next minute frantically undoing the charms on the collar, and the rest of the evening trying to ignore the memories of what he had seen. He wasn't successful in the least.

Everyone else, though, considered the Yuletide a very successful evening and was looking forward to the next year already.

*****

Harry was standing in the entrance hall of No. 12, Grimmauld Place, waiting for Hermione to come down from her room, where she was getting ready. Technically it was a guest room, but she lived there as much as in her parent's home, so everyone, even Kreacher, called it her room. Sirius had placed her next to Harry's room, but his stated intent to create a door connecting the two rooms had not been implemented. Fortunately, for Harry's peace of mind. Since Sirius' Yuletide prank his dreams had gotten far more vivid and tempting. At least he had managed, after the first night, to look at her again without imagining her naked. He shook his head to banish those particular memories. Fortunately she thought he was simply embarrassed by the implications of the part of Sirius' prank she was aware of, and even had taken to tease him some about it. Harry had ranted earlier today at Sirius for pulling such a prank on him and her, but his godfather had shrugged it off with a grin, and then told him about the time Harry's father and Sirius had placed a spell on the mirrors in the female dorm at Hogwarts that projected their images on another set of mirrors. Harry loved his godfather, but he was so often so exasperating...

The young wizard sighed and focused on the schedule for the evening. He would hand his retainer over to Luna Lovegood for the evening, as custom demanded. Then he would floo to the mansion of the Bones family, where his own date waited, while the two girls would floo straight to Hogwarts. Luna was already here, and waiting - if one could call flitting around the hall, peering and poking at things with open curiosity, waiting. Currently she was frowning at the hollowed out troll leg serving as an umbrella stand. He could not fathom why wizards would need such a thing, since he hadn't seen an umbrella anywhere in the Magical World so far. Neither did he understand why Sirius had not gotten rid of it. Nymphadora kept tripping over it each time she visited. Which, he realized, was why exactly Sirius had kept the umbrella stand.

As expected Luna was wearing the dress robes she had bought in Hogsmeade, which Hermione had later modified with some of her own spells. The scarves - or ribbons, Harry thought, given how thin they were - now floated rather than wrapped around her body, and the cape part did not simply move, but changed shape, forming a cloak on command which looked far more appropriate to the season than a flimsy cape, even though warming charms meant neither was actually needed to ward off the cold.

Sirius was standing next to Harry, passing the time with an entirely inappropriate tale about his own experiences at a Yule Ball 20 years ago, while Remus was keeping an eye on Luna, and answering about half of her rapid-fire questions about everything that caught her attention.

Then, finally, Hermione appeared on top of the stairs. She was wearing the same dress robes Luna wore, but it looked different on her, somehow. Harry couldn't explain the difference. Or anything else when he saw her wearing those moving ribbons, and smiling at him when she started to descend. Until Sirius' wolf-whistled, and Hermione narrowed her eyes at his godfather. Followed by Luna's squeal of delight at the sight of her date. Both robes did synchronize as soon as they got closer, Harry noticed, grateful for the distraction.

"My Patron." Hermione bowed.

"My Wand." Harry turned to Luna. "Miss Lovegood, I trust you with my retainer's safety and virtue for the evening."

"Mister Potter, I accept this responsibility, and will return her to you safe and sound." Luna answered in a serious tone, which changed at once when she took Hermione's hand and broke out in a wide, infectious smile. "We will have such a great evening!"

After a series of pictures had been taken by the older wizards they went over to the floo, where Harry split off to travel to the home of the Bones family, to fetch his date.

*****

The Great Hall, usually amazing enough already, was a fantastic sight. Expanded to provide enough room for all the guests, it had more than doubled in size. Illusionary snow fell from the ceiling, catching the light from the equally illusionary moon shining down on the guests. Smaller, round tables were placed around a shining dance floor that looked like the Black Lake frozen over without any snow or scratch marring the surface. Trays floated around, providing the guests with a variety of food and drink from all over the Magical World, with an emphasis on the countries represented by the three schools, of course, but Hermione had seen Indian snacks on a tray near Padma and Ron.

Hermione wished she could take out her wand and analyse some of the spellwork; she was sure it would give help her a lot in developing her own enchantments and spells. The young witch was standing next to her date, Luna Lovegood, lined up with the other couples and waiting for the champions and their dates to make their entrance. After the Yule Ceremony they'd open the ball. Their matching outfits had drawn quite the attention from friends and fellow students, which Hermione had, if a bit guiltily, enjoyed very much. Just as she had enjoyed Harry's reaction at Grimmauld Place.

She felt rather than saw Luna starting to fidget, again, and took the blonde's hand into her own, whispering: "It won't be much longer." Next to them were Neville, dressed in expensive but a tad too old-fashioned robes, with Ginny, who was wearing the dress robes Ron had bought her as a Yuletide gift. The robes were well-made and looked their price, but judging by the looks the redhead had been giving her and Luna, Ginny would have preferred a more daring design. She was out of luck though, it had taken Hermione quite some time to persuade Ron that his little sister was not so little anymore. His first choice as a robe for Ginny would have had the youngest Weasley hex him into the infirmary.

Ron himself was wearing new dress robes as well, fashionable ones. They didn't look at all like the horridly gaudy ensemble he had shown her as a joke right before the end of the term. A joke she had fallen for, she had to admit - she had been winding up for a desperately needed lesson in fashion and style before she had noticed his cheeky grin. Padma Patil was standing next to him, regularly smiling sweetly at her sister Parvati, both wearing Indian saris with identical cuts, but different colors. Parvati was attending the dance with Lavender Brown, both witches apparently preferring that arrangement to the limited selection of pureblood dates left. Perish the thought that those two social climbers would date a half-blood like themselves, or ask a muggleborn!

Luna's best friend Aicha was wearing an outfit that seemed to be taken straight out of 'One Thousand and One Nights'. Or a harem in the Magical Ottoman Empire. From what Hermione had been able to tell after a brief check earlier, the shimmering clothes were made of air and magic, rather than illusions, and tied to the little genie hovering behind the dark-skinned witch. The clothes of her date, Blaise Zabini, paid homage to his Italian heritage and looked like they had roots on a design from Leonardo da Vinci. They looked almost conservative, compared to other robes. Hermione couldn't help feeling jealous that all the immigrants from other countries could wear clothes showing off the culture of their origin country without anyone batting an eye, but she, as a true muggleborn, would cause a scandal should she wear something from muggle London, or Paris. She banished the thought. She would be enjoying this ball, not brood on things she could not change. Not yet.

Suddenly the great doors opened and the Champions made their entrance. As representative of Beauxbatons, Fleur was the first with her date, Cedric Diggory. Fleur simply looked radiant, dressed in what Hermione could only describe as "a whisp of nothing" that somehow still managed to remain on the right side of the line between daring and scandalous. Somehow she had managed to create an effect that gave the impression she was wearing almost nothing. But as soon as one focused on her one would see the still daring dress quite clearly. Hermione was dying to learn how she had managed that - Illusion? Compulsion? A variant of the unplottable charm, but inversed? - and was sure a number of the boys present would suffer from strained necks at the end of the ball. If not for the looks she had gotten earlier, she would have felt like an ugly duckling in Fleur's presence. Cedric was wearing dashing robes, but next to Fleur and her clever spellwork, he made a plain impression, despite his obvious handsome looks. At least, Hermione noted, he was not ogling his date as much as he could.

Viktor was next, leading his date Cecile Lebert, a friend of Fleur's from Beauxbatons. Both wore a matching ensemble that managed to combine both Bulgarian and French influences into something very attractive. Hermione had heard Cecile had done most of the work herself, and was planning to work in that field after her graduation. From the way the robes flattered the two, flowing in subtle but graceful waves in response to their movements, Hermione was sure she would be successful.

Then came Harry, and Hermione's smile widened while she was filled with pride. He was dressed in a variant of a duelist's robe. It was made from dragon leather lined with enchanted silk, cut so the heavy material offered the best range of movement. Hermione was quite proud of having managed to enchant the silk lining in a way that made the leather more supple, despite the material's known resistance to magic. Not many would pick those details up, she knew. Most would only notice the illusions flowing over the leather, showing celtic symbols and nordic runes of protection and battle. The rune for vengeance was prominently placed on his back, a challenge to the unknown assailant that had placed him in the tournament. Susan Bones was wearing a green dress robe that flattered her full bust while matching Harry's dueling style and, as Hermione realized, the protective enchantments as well. It shouldn't have been a surprise, she realized, Susan's head of family was the head of the DMLE, and would place a heavy emphasis on safety and protection, especially when her niece was the date of someone with an assassin after him.

The other guests applauded the Champions as they made their way towards Dumbledore, who was standing with his back to the altar placed in the center of the hall. Hermione hadn't seen the massive block of carved obsidian before, so it was probably something they only brought out for the Yule Ball. The three couples lined up right behind Dumbledore, who smiled at them before turning to the altar.

"Janus, as the year is ending, we call upon you to judge our past deeds, and bless us for the next year." Dumbledore started the traditional Yule Ceremony. He raised his wand, and all present followed his example, everyone muttering a brief personal prayer about their wishes for the next year. A tension seemed to fill the Great Hall as wands reacted to their owners' emotion and desires, sparks flying from some tips.

Then Dumbledore flicked his wand, and all lights went out in the Great Hall. Even the glow from some of the enchanted robes was dimmed until the guests were standing in total darkness. It was an eery experience for Hermione, bereft of her sight she felt as if she could sense the magic present, gathering around her and everyone else.

"Hecate, as the year ends, as the nights have grown long and the days have grown short, we ask of you to let our magic light the way for us, into the new year, to be our strength and guide. Lumos!" Dumbledore's wand lit up with a light spell.

"Lumos!" Everyone else cast as well, and the Darkness gave way to the light from hundreds of wands. They remained like that, in silence, for a minute, until the regular lighting returned and the spells were canceled.

"Jupiter, we beg you to watch over us and ours, to protect us as you protect yours." Dumbledore used a weak diffindo to cut his palm, letting his blood drip on the altar.

Hermione should have been uneasy with the idea of cutting herself, but it just felt so right, so needed. She cut her own palm and did not notice any pain. Blood dripped from her hand, but vanished before it reached the floor, and she felt more magic gather around her, growing warmer. A tingling feeling ran through her, and the small cut in her hand vanished.

She stood there, taking deep breaths, still caught in the ritual. No one spoke until Dumbledore clapped his hands. "And with that, it's time to open the ball! Champions, to the floor! Music!"

*****

Harry was mentally thanking both Hermione and Sirius for insisting that he had to take dancing lessons during the summer. He would be making a fool of himself, and his date otherwise, especially with the music provided by the Orchestra of Magical Vienna, the most famous magical musicians of Europe. To become a member of that formation one had to be better than the current member holding the spot one wanted, which was a tall order since it included the ghosts of the best musicians of the past as well. Hermione had remarked, after she had heard of and then researched the orchestra, that there would be a time when all members would be ghosts, at least temporary, given the size of the magical population to pick new members from.

All Harry cared about right now was that they were as good as their reputation, no, better even. Listening to a magical musician giving a concert at the World Cup had been great, but dancing to an entire orchestra's music was better. Much better. He felt as if he was part of the music, following the melodies wherever they led him. He thought he was more gliding than stepping, as if the dance floor was as smooth as perfectly polished glass, but he did not care, nor did he feel as if there was even the slightest possibility he could fall.

When the first dance ended he was waiting impatiently for the next dance to start. With the ball opened now, the other guests filled the floor. After another dance, he had grown used enough to the experience to both pay attention to other dancers and converse with his date.

"I would ask if you are enjoying the dance, but I think your rapt expression until now already answered that." Susan Bones smiled at him.

"I have to confess I was a bit overwhelmed by the experience, and I humbly beg your pardon for briefly not paying as much attention to you as your grace and beauty demands." Harry answered, channelling Sirius a bit. The charming, not the lewd Sirius he knew. Susan giggled, and smiled, so he was doing well, he thought.

"You are forgiven."

They danced past Fleur and Cedric, and Harry spotted Hermione and Luna dancing nearby, the two young witches twirling around each other, as caught up in the music as he had been until now. He didn't spot his other friends, but given the size of the crowd that was no surprise.

"Did my aunt threaten you should anything happen to me?" Susan sounded honestly curious.

"Not past the required formalities." Harry answered.

Susan pouted a bit. "She must trust you a lot."

"Or she trusts you a lot."

The witch shook her head, her long dark-red hair obscuring her face for an instant before her magical coiffure restored itself. "She knows me better than that," she claimed with an impish smile.

"Ah." Harry wasn't sure how to answer that, which made her giggle some more, until he joined her. The evening was turning out to be even better than he thought.

*****

About an hour later dinner started. Harry sat with the other Champion's and their dates at the table of honor, where the altar had been before the dance. The elves had pulled out all the stops and Dumbledore had announced they were able to offer any food one might desire. So far Harry had not heard of anyone disproving the Headmaster's claim. He was enjoying an entrecôte Café de Paris, ordered on Fleur's recommendation, while they made small-talk about the music, the couples and the styles of the robes they had seen. Harry wasn't paying that much attention to that, he was trying to keep an eye on Hermione and Luna's table, in case someone, like Malfoy, was trying to cause trouble.

"It looks like a number of people were surprised by the appearance of 'arry's retainer." Fleur's comment made him pay attention though.

"Oh, yes." Susan answered. "Not many expected that kind of robes from her. She's usually so … reserved. I guess it was her date's influence?" She looked Harry, slightly cocking her head.

"Ah, yes." Harry answered, truthfully. Though he wasn't sure it was entirely Luna's … he couldn't call it a fault, the dress did look very well on Hermione. His best friend was not one to follow anyone's lead easily anyway, and would certainly not have worn such a robe if she didn't want it. Which raised the question, he realized, why she would have wanted to wear such a dress.

"I assume 'ermione will be more popular in two years than many would have thought yesterday." Fleur added with a teasing tone. "I certainly would not mind if she was in her sixth year already, though my performance in the tournament might suffer from such a distraction."

"Ah." Harry didn't know how to answer that. His first thought - hands off, she's my retainer! - didn't seem to fit. Since the French witch was giggling, it was most likely a joke anyway. Even if Viktor nodded in agreement to the veela's words. Harry hoped the seeker was not having second thoughts about his stated intentions.

"Harry has been craning his neck, watching over her like a hawk." Susan was getting in on the teasing.

"He's just doing his duty as her Patron." Cedric at least was not joining the fun, Harry noted. The Hufflepuff was not one of the most popular students in Hogwarts for no reason. "It was quite the surprise when it was announced that he had become her Patron, you know. Youngest Patron in history, and thanks to a life debt. The Boy-Who-Lived does not do things halfway."

Harry quickly used the opportunity to steer the conversation away from Hermione and the Year of Discovery towards the life debt. It might feel like bragging, but it was better than talking about Hermione doing that sort of exploring.

*****

Pansy Parkinson was enjoying the Yule Ball very much. With so many important guests around it hadn't taken much for her to keep Draco from making a scene - the boy was a fool, but he could dance, and his manners were impeccable if he cared to use them. They were seated at a table with Crabbe and Goyle, who Pansy knew were not about to converse during a meal, and a Ministry employee and her husband. The topic of conversation - rising prices for coffee - was dull, but safe, and Pansy could indulge in covertly watching other couples while chatting.

Greengrass was looking at Potter, or glaring at his date, it was hard to tell. The blonde witch's date didn't notice, he was busy staring down her décolleté. Pansy carefully took note of that, it would serve nicely in a verbal confrontation with her rival. The two Gryffindor gold diggers, Brown and Patil, apparently had recovered from the blow Granger had dealt them, foiling their plans for dates, and were already well on their way to breaking up two pureblood couples while not appearing to do so. Quite clever, for half-bloods. Weasley was showing more and better manners than expected. More class too. Pansy briefly wondered if she had been influenced by Draco's rant about the redhead without noticing it, or if that was more of Granger's influence. She briefly wondered what Draco would say if she became Weasley's girlfriend. He was handsome, sufficiently rich to feel secure about himself - anyone would have to, to stay the best friend of Potter and his mudblood - and he was not in line to become head of his family. He loathed Slytherins, unfortunately, but if she managed to appear as a poor victim of Draco's evil ways… It would have to be done perfectly, to fool Granger, of course.

The mudblood herself was acting as if she actually enjoyed her pity-date with Lovegood. She was a better actor than Pansy had given her credit so far. Unless she actually was enjoying the blonde's company. That would mean anyone going husband hunting into Potter's direction would not have to compete for his attention as much as expected. Or might be getting two partners for one. Unless of course this was just Granger trying to make some of those girls show their hand prematurely, so she could counter them. Usually such ploys didn't happen until sixth or seventh year, but Granger was one to always prepare in advance.

Oh, yes, Pansy was enjoying the Yule Ball very much.

*****

Dumbledore watched his students dance and smiled at the sight, even at the two 6th years wizards whose grace on the dance floor painfully reminded him of Gellert and himself, what felt like an eternity ago. He didn't dare relax though, not with what he was sure was a follower of the Dark Lord just waiting for him to lower his guard to strike at all the innocents trusting in his protection. Alastor was patrolling outside the Great Hall. Rubeus was walking the grounds, he had insisted even though Dumbledore had asked him to enjoy the ball with Madam Maxime. The half-giant had taken the incident at the first task personally, and was determined to make up for what he saw as his mistake, even though he had not been involved with caring for the fire drakes. Dozens of aurors were present too, both openly and among the guests. With the wards of Hogwarts, and the hundreds of house elves and portraits watching, the ball should be safe. Should be. He had thought that of the first task as well, and had been proven wrong. He wouldn't let that happen again.

*****

After an hour of dancing and two hours of dinner conversation, Hermione was still not sure if Luna was just very friendly or flirting with her. She considered simply asking several times, but had decided against it every time. Her friend just had such an innocent air around her, Hermione felt as if asking such a thing would somehow hurt the blonde witch. Not to mention that she would have to decide how she felt about that as well in that case. Luna was fun to be around though, no question about that, and a good if a bit too enthusiastic dancer.

That was a good thing as well - as long as they kept dancing, and in the middle of the floor, no one was likely to cut in and ask Hermione for a dance. She'd rather not dance with some of those she had spotted waiting in the wings, like Cormac McLaggen. That Gryffindor was one of those who seemed to think that he was Magic's gift to witches, especially to half-bloods or muggleborns, whom he expected to properly reward him for spending time with them. She could of course refuse him, but since he looked slightly drunk as well, it would not just be a snub, but likely result in a scene, which would embarrass Harry. And herself.

The other wizards eyeing her were not much better, in her opinion. Her dress was too flimsy to protect against wandering hands - she had noticed the scarves moved out of the way of Luna's hands, after they had finished the enchantments - and she'd rather not suffer a grabby dance partner. Luna was touchy-feely enough to put her on edge already. Though she had to admit that seeing Malfoy stare at her in surprise, and Pansy narrow her eyes, had felt satisfying.

Lost in her thoughts she had not realized they had drifted to the edge of the dance floor right when the current song started to end, and cursed herself for her inattentiveness.

"May I cut in?" Harry was there. And looking at her. Hermione didn't know how to react to that, but Luna already had agreed, and her Patron had taken her hand and started to dance before she had gathered her wits. It wasn't exactly a faux-pas for a Patron to dance with his or her retainer, but generally it wasn't done outside dance lessons, especially not at such an important ball. Someone who didn't get to dance with him would feel snubbed. At the moment though, both relieved at having escaped McLaggen and happy to dance with Harry, Hermione didn't care.

Unexpectedly the music changed to a slower song, and all around them the other dancers danced much closer their partners. After a brief hesitation, Harry gathered her in his arms. She could feel his surprise when the scarves of her robe moved out of his way and his hands touched her suddenly bare back, but she was already resting her head on his shoulder, and had her arms wrapped around his waist.

She closed her eyes and for a song it seemed as if they were alone, just the two of them dancing together.

Chapter 7: The Second Task: Water

aguy · Apr 4, 2015

So cute

I liked the chapter. You've continued to do a great job with the world building.

turbinicarpus · Apr 4, 2015

Good chapter! Some editing suggestions that stuck out as I went:

Starfox5 said:
whose lewd suggestions were often anything but ~~helpful~~.

Starfox5 said:
young wizard was ~~fighting~~struggling to keep

Starfox5 said:
anyone else ~~tries~~try to repeat the feat

Starfox5 said:
no ghost has ~~been~~ appeared

This is unless you are trying for an unusual construction like "I am become", of course.

Starfox5 said:
Hermione wanted to correct him - she thought that the Cruciatus Curse, for its ability to bypass a shield, would make a great tool to incapacitate someone quickly - but held her tongue.

Wouldn't she be wrong, in this case? If the only reason she wants to use the Cruciatus is to incapacitate someone, rather than hurt them, it wouldn't take.

Starfox5 said:
this at the Granger's' instead

This is assuming that it's meant to refer to her parents, rather than suddenly refer to Hermione by her family name.

Starfox5 said:
widely-spread

Starfox5 said:
"The gifts for the gods are now sufficiently given!"

That seems like an awkward phrasing, and a little presumptuous. It's not Sirius's place to declare that, but the gods'.

Starfox5 said:
Harry knew that the size or even shape of a present's wrapping was no indication of what was contained within,

That's a very nice worldbuilding touch; one of those things that few people would think of on their own, but once the idea is described, it's exactly the sort of whimsical use of magic that would be at home in canon, even, to say nothing of your AU, with its more developed wizard culture.

Starfox5 said:
the envy of any mayor whose chain of office paled next to it

This one is a bit awkward. Perhaps split into two sentences?

Starfox5 said:
Everyone else, though, considered the Yuletide a very successful evening and was looking forward to the next year already.

Starfox5 said:
Harry was waiting in the entrance hall of No. 12, Grimmauld Place, waiting for Hermione to come down from her room, where she was getting ready.

Repetition.

Starfox5 said:
Then Dumbledore flicked his wand, and all lights went out in the Great Hall. Even the glow from some of the enchanted robes was dimmed until the guests were standing in total darkness.

Seeing his opportunity, Mundungus Fletcher struck, summoning the expensive silverware into a magically expanded pocket in his robes, slipping out of the Hall while Dumbledore made his speech.

Random observation: I'm probably overthinking it, but although wizarding world is supposed to be extra-egalitarian, we see two female-female couples at the ball, but no male-male couples.

Ack · Apr 4, 2015

I'm liking the fact that Hermione still can't tell if Luna's just being friendly, or more than friendly.

So, the ribbons move out of the way, huh? Hermione definitely doesn't want to dance with any grabby wizards.

Starfox5 · Apr 4, 2015

aguy said:
So cute I liked the chapter. You've continued to do a great job with the world building.

Thanks a lot!

Pahan said:
Good chapter! Some editing suggestions that stuck out as I went:

Thanks a lot! Edited.

Pahan said:
Wouldn't she be wrong, in this case? If the only reason she wants to use the Cruciatus is to incapacitate someone, rather than hurt them, it wouldn't take.

It goes through shields, pretty much interrupts anyone and takes them down, and has them shaking afterwards, and in pain still, which cannot be removed with a quick spell, unlike a stunner or body-binding curse. It still would need to be followed through with another spell, but it has a lasting effect all by its own, and likely would take a number of people out of a fight completely just from the shock.

Pahan said:
That seems like an awkward phrasing, and a little presumptuous. It's not Sirius's place to declare that, but the gods'.

Indeed. More than a little presumptuous, and it would shock any who truly believes in gods. In other words, exactly what Sirius would do.

Pahan said:
That's a very nice worldbuilding touch; one of those things that few people would think of on their own, but once the idea is described, it's exactly the sort of whimsical use of magic that would be at home in canon, even, to say nothing of your AU, with its more developed wizard culture.

Thanks!

Pahan said:
Seeing his opportunity, Mundungus Fletcher struck, summoning the expensive silverware into a magically expanded pocket in his robes, slipping out of the Hall while Dumbledore made his speech.

And was caught by Moody, who was watching all with his eye

Pahan said:
Random observation: I'm probably overthinking it, but although wizarding world is supposed to be extra-egalitarian, we see two female-female couples at the ball, but no male-male couples.

I lacked a named couple, but I now added an unnamed one in Dumbledore's pararaph.

Ack said:
I'm liking the fact that Hermione still can't tell if Luna's just being friendly, or more than friendly.

Or trying to get Hermione to loosen up in preparation for year 6. Or just messing with her.

Ack said:
So, the ribbons move out of the way, huh? Hermione definitely doesn't want to dance with any grabby wizards.

Or grabby witches. And yes, that's a very daring robe she'd not have chosen herself, if not for Luna's influence. On the other hand, she didn't change that feature while they were enchanting the robes... Lack of foresight, or subconsciousness playing a prank on her?

turbinicarpus · Apr 4, 2015

Starfox5 said:
It goes through shields, pretty much interrupts anyone and takes them down, and has them shaking afterwards, and in pain still, which cannot be removed with a quick spell, unlike a stunner or body-binding curse. It still would need to be followed through with another spell, but it has a lasting effect all by its own, and likely would take a number of people out of a fight completely just from the shock.

Not quite what I meant. Assuming it behaves as in canon (which is consistent with the way your Moody described it), the Cruciatus requires one to want to hurt the target. Ideally, it has to be wanton and sadistic (as in the end of DH), and righteous anger works, but only kind of (OotP). My thinking was, therefore, that if, say, Hermione were to cast it at someone with incapacitation as her main goal, treating the torture curse as just another tool in her toolbox, deriving no particular enjoyment from the suffering she causes, then it wouldn't actually cause the pain needed to incapacitate someone.

This is getting into headcanon territory, but this limitation also creates a justification for why the Unforgivables are unforgivable, and provides a balancing factor: someone like Bellatrix is a full-on sadist, enjoying any suffering she causes, so she can cast the Cruciatus at will and powerfully, but she pays a price for it, because she also tends to gloat in the middle of a fight, and torture for information when wizards have better ways of extracting it. For example, at the Malfoy Manor in DH, she tortured Hermione, rather than, say, trying Legilimency first.

Starfox5 said:
Indeed. More than a little presumptuous, and it would shock any who truly believes in gods. In other words, exactly what Sirius would do.

Also, the gods kinda screwed him over for a decade...

Starfox5 said:
And was caught by Moody, who was watching all with his eye

Poor Dung, can't catch a break.

Starfox5 said:
I lacked a named couple, but I now added an unnamed one in Dumbledore's pararaph.

I like that you worked in the Gellert reference.

Starfox5 · Apr 4, 2015

Pahan said:
Not quite what I meant. Assuming it behaves as in canon (which is consistent with the way your Moody described it), the Cruciatus requires one to want to hurt the target. Ideally, it has to be wanton and sadistic (as in the end of DH), and righteous anger works, but only kind of (OotP). My thinking was, therefore, that if, say, Hermione were to cast it at someone with incapacitation as her main goal, treating the torture curse as just another tool in her toolbox, deriving no particular enjoyment from the suffering she causes, then it wouldn't actually cause the pain needed to incapacitate someone.

Hermione has no problem with the "want someone to hurt" requirement, should anyone go after Harry. Though for her, it's theoretical - using the curse would hurt more than help in most situations. But trying to create a similar spell, one that incapacitates by hitting the target with sensory overload (including pain), and leaves their brains scrambled for a while, well... that's something else.

Pahan said:
This is getting into headcanon territory, but this limitation also creates a justification for why the Unforgivables are unforgivable, and provides a balancing factor: someone like Bellatrix is a full-on sadist, enjoying any suffering she causes, so she can cast the Cruciatus at will and powerfully, but she pays a price for it, because she also tends to gloat in the middle of a fight, and torture for information when wizards have better ways of extracting it. For example, at the Malfoy Manor in DH, she tortured Hermione, rather than, say, trying Legilimency first.

In one short story I read, I think one of Darklooshkin's, casting the Cruciatus was sort of addictive. It would fit. Another limitation could be that those "easy spells" make the caster sloppier, less well-versed, and dependent on such crutches. But that would need a defense that works against them. Fortunately, Hermione has a few thoughts about that,

Pahan said:
Also, the gods kinda screwed him over for a decade...

Well, he didn't become religious in Azkaban, but if he had, he'd likely blame the gods for that.

Pahan said:
Poor Dung, can't catch a break.

He's still alive, unlike in "Uncle Quentin's Spy".

Pahan said:
I like that you worked in the Gellert reference.

Thanks. Nostalgia seemed to fit Dumbledore.

DbDRAKE · Apr 4, 2015

Ah, I'm feeling kinda sorry for Draco here.

From his actions, it seems he isn't stupid so much as profoundly misled, and so committed to the view he can't even consider the facts.

Cognitive dissonance, yo!

Starfox5 · Apr 5, 2015

DbDRAKE said:
Ah, I'm feeling kinda sorry for Draco here.

From his actions, it seems he isn't stupid so much as profoundly misled, and so committed to the view he can't even consider the facts.

Cognitive dissonance, yo!

Draco's both stupid, misled, and too proud for his own good. He's no victim though - he eagerly took part in the attack on the World Cup, which was more serious in this universe than in canon, and he doesn't regret anything he did then. And he did that after 3 years at Hogwarts, where he was exposed to different views than his family's.

Prince Charon · Apr 5, 2015

Starfox5 said:
Or grabby witches. And yes, that's a very daring robe she'd not have chosen herself, if not for Luna's influence. On the other hand, she didn't change that feature while they were enchanting the robes... Lack of foresight, or subconsciousness playing a prank on her?

Sort of wondering if they only move out of the way for people she doesn't really mind touching her.

macdjord · Apr 9, 2015

Starfox5 said:
All Harry cared about right now was that they were as good as their reputation, no, better even. Listening to a magical musician giving a concert at the World Cup had been great, but dancing to an entire orchestra's music was better. Much better. He felt as if he was part of the music, following the melodies wherever they led him. He thought he was more gliding than stepping, as if the dance floor was as smooth as perfectly polished glass, but he did not care, nor did he feel as if there was even the slightest possibility he could fall.

I love your description of the dancing here. I dance myself - contra, not ballroom, but still - and you really capture the feeling of that wonderful gliding-swirling fugue state that you get into.

Starfox5 · Apr 9, 2015

Chapter 7: The Second Task: Water

Harry woke up later than usual the morning after the Yule Ball. Not surprisingly - the ball had lasted past midnight, and he had first brought Susan back to the house of the Bones family where her aunt had been waiting. Afterwards he had headed back home to Grimmauld Place so Luna could formally return Hermione to him. And then Sirius and even Remus had demanded to hear everything that had happened at the ball, and between his talk and Hermione's report, he had been dead tired by the time he finally hit his bed. It hadn't kept him from dreaming though. He held up his hand, and stared at it. After that close dancing with Hermione, with his hands on her bare back, his dreams had gotten even more vivid.

He sighed. He was her Patron, as Sirius reminded him often, and if he wanted… he closed his eyes. He'd never do that to her, never abuse his power. It was bad enough to know he could. That he even was allowed to. For all the protectiveness that the Patron Oath caused him to feel, that part seemed not to register as a threat to her.

Cursing the archaic magic having a hold on him, he got out of bed, cleaned himself with a few charms, and threw on a robe to head down to the kitchen for breakfast. Or lunch. Not that it mattered - soon after moving back into the house Sirius had made it clear that no matter the time of day, he and everyone else would be able to eat what they wanted. Hermione had as quickly mentioned a number of cultures around the world with quite different breakfast dishes than England, which had prompted Sirius to try as many of those dishes out as possible. He smiled - that had been a quite memorable month, and he still wasn't sure how many of the dishes had been real ones, and how many the result of a prank from Remus, Sirius, or even Hermione.

"What does Master's godson want?" Kreacher asked, a tad haughtily, as soon as Harry entered the kitchen.

"Tea and scones." Harry had long since decided not to react to the elf's tone and instead interpret his sentences in the best possible way. He had not sat down yet at the massive table in the middle of the kitchen before his breakfast had appeared at his usual place, with an assortment of honeys and marmalades. For all his acerbic manners, Kreacher did excellent work when not abandoned with only an insane portrait to direct him. He summoned the Daily Prophet from the countertop and skimmed it. Lots of pictures from the ball, a few puff pieces on the Ministry and the Champions, including himself. No picture of him dancing with Hermione, though. No scandal either, it seemed, or Rita would have mentioned it in detail. At least if it involved adults - she knew better than to gossip about the dalliances of teenagers at Hogwarts, that was not a topic to write about in Wizarding Britain. Every rule had its exceptions though, so one never could assume too much.

Harry was halfway through his second scone and third cup of tea, magically kept in stasis until drunk, when Hermione joined him. His best friend looked still a bit sleepy, but she was already wearing one of her usual robes.

"What does Master's godson's slave want?" The elf sounded even haughtier than usual. Hermione briefly glared at him before smiling widely, if a bit forcedly. "Tea and croissants, please, and orange juice."

Her selection appeared across from Harry's, cup and glass already filled. Kreacher had only once dared to have it appear on the ground in a bowl. Harry still didn't know what Sirius and Hermione had said - or done - to him after that, but the elf had never dared to do something similar ever since, and had even treated Sirius with more respect afterwards. He had also informed Harry repeatedly that "the 'discipline' chamber of the old Mistress" was ready, should his Master's godson feel the need to use it, but Harry had steadily ignored that.

"Slept well?" he asked once Hermione had had her first two cups of tea.

She nodded, smiling. "Like a log. That was a great ball. Even better than I hoped. The orchestra… the dancing… perfect!"

Harry nodded and finished his last scone. "At least one good thing came of the tournament then." He saw the witch lose her smile, and wanted to hex himself. He hurriedly tried to fix his mistake. "Did you enjoy your date with Luna?"

"Yes." Hermione answered, lifting her chin in answer to his teasing tone. "She was a perfect gentlewoman. And we had a very entertaining dinner conversation." Harry could imagine that.

"Was everyone enjoying it?"

"I would think so." Hermione shrugged in a manner that made it clear she didn't really care what others might have thought. "How was dinner at the Champion's table?"

"Like one of our evenings with them, just with their dates instead of you and Ron."

"How quickly we are replaced!" Hermione sighed theatrically, and Harry was sorely tempted to throw a scone at her in response.

"Susan and Cedric were pleasant company. Not as pleasant as you, of course. Or Ron." Harry added.

"How reassuring." Hermione giggled at his frown. "I trust you behaved as a true gentleman?" Her tone was teasing, but there was some concern in her eyes.

"Of course. Her aunt is a scary witch." That prompted more giggles from his best friend.

"And if she weren't?"

"I'd still have behaved as a gentleman."

That seemed to satisfy his best friend, though he didn't know what exactly she had been worried about. They spent the rest of the meal talking about the ball, and their friends' dates.

*****

"Aw, you are actually studying." Harry and Hermione, both sitting in the Black Family library, looked up at Nymphadora Tonks. The young witch was wearing her auror robes, a slightly paler red than those for senior aurors, but cut from the same material. Hermione knew from her research into clothing enchantments that all auror robes had the same basic spells on them to provide the wearer with protection and mobility, but each auror routinely placed personal spells on the robes as well.

"What else would we be doing in the library?" Harry sounded puzzled, but Hermione knew he was probably thinking of Sirius' off-color jokes.

"Well… what could a young wizard and a young witch be doing, in private?" Nymphadora leered at them in such an exaggerated way, she had to be using her metamorphmagus ability, or so Hermione thought.

"Does Sirius know you're using his lines?" Harry shot back, and Nymphadora's frown in return caused Hermione to grin. Harry had been more curt, and more annoyed with Sirius' lewd jokes recently, an attitude she approved of.

"My lines are much better than his outdated ones." Nymphadora grumbled while walking over to the table Hermione and Harry were sitting at. "What are you reading? Muggle newspapers?"

"That's a muggle magazine." Hermione explained, wishing she had stashed the November issue before starting on the tome about water spells she had found.

"They have magazines about time?" Nymphadora was already browsing the contents. "What's Star Trek?"

"A Science Fiction TV series from the USA." Hermione launched into a brief - for her - but detailed explanation of Star Trek, television series, movies, science fiction, and Dr. Who. To her surprise and delight, Nymphadora didn't look bored, but interested, and even a bit impressed. She still had not dropped the magazine, nor asked why the pictures were not moving. The only other wizard Hermione knew who was interested in her parents' culture was Ron's dad. And his patronizing attitude grated a bit on her nerves whenever she tried to explain something to him.

"Wow. I thought muggles liked football and bugs."

"Bugs?" Hermione was lost for a moment, before she made the connection. "Do you mean the Beatles?"

"Yes, the beetles. Dad told me a muggleborn friend of his was all crazy about them. Weird right?"

"Those are musicians, not bugs." Hermione changed the topic back to books and movies - muggle musicians, no matter how good, simply were not in the same class as magical musicians. At least not when it came to concerts. "But there are lots of books and movies, for every taste, actually."

"I guess that comes with the territory, if you've got so many customers, right?"

"Exactly!"

"We should go see a movie." Harry had been silent so far. Hermione had seen him smile at her enthusiastic explanations, but he had not commented.

"Great idea! Can we see Star Trek?" Nymphadora pointed at the magazine cover.

"It's not out yet in Britain, only in the USA." Hermione often cursed the release delays. It was not likely she'd be able to watch the movie in the cinema. "We can watch another movie, or we can watch a video at my parents' house." They were currently in the Alps, skiing, so she didn't have to ask for permission to bring guests over.

"What's a video?"

"A movie you can match at a muggle home on television." Harry's explanation was far too imprecise for Hermione's taste, but it was far quicker too.

"The video it is then!"

Harry went to inform Sirius of their plans for the evening, at which point his godfather invited himself to come along, claiming someone responsible had to do the side-along apparition. That claim made Remus join them too.

It was a very entertaining movie evening, even if Hermione had to write a lengthy letter to her parents afterwards, to explain why they would have a new television, a new stove, and and a new VCR. At least the fridge had survived Sirius' curiosity and Nymphadora's clumsiness. And maybe her parents would not go skiing without her. She knew she was being a bit unfair - they had known before the term already that she'd be going to the Yule Ball, and she had told them they should go ahead and enjoy their usual holiday to France, but it would have been nice if they had stayed anyway. Even if she would have felt guilty herself since she'd still spent most of her time with Harry, seeing as his life was in danger due to that tournament and he needed all the help he could get. 'Hypocrisy thy name is Granger', she thought.

*****

The Hogwarts Express after the Yule holidays was under much closer scrutiny than the one on September 1st. Neither the Ministry nor the school, and certainly not Harry's godfather were taking any chances with security. Aurors patrolled the cars openly, which rendered the prefects' patrols a bit redundant. Nymphadora was "undercover", disguised as a Hufflepuff student of their year, and sitting with Harry and Hermione as a 'last line of defense', in her words. As she had told them at Sirius' house, the Ministry even had spread the rumor that Harry would be traveling by floo back to Hogwarts. Hermione had thought that was actually a good idea, but Harry was glad he 'would not let that cowardly saboteur force us to deviate from tradition', as Sirius had put it. The train would forever hold a special place in his heart. Not only because he had met both Hermione and Ron on the train, but because it represented, even more than the Hogwarts letter, that he was a wizard.

Hermione and he had been busy over the holidays, that entertaining - if a bit expensive - movie night at the Grangers' notwithstanding. He had been studying all sorts of water spells in preparation for the next task, while Hermione had upgraded the protective spells on his and her robes. She had also started to research some spells she thought would be useful in the next task, but she hadn't gotten far yet. He glanced at her, nose buried in notes she had taken in the Black Family Library. She'd not rest enough until she had finished, he knew. Harry felt a mixture of pride and guilt at that sort of loyalty and friendship, even if it was caused by magic. He didn't deserve it, not that much, at least.

"Hello you two!" Ron's arrival interrupted his brooding, as Hermione would have called it. While Harry and Hermione returned the greeting he noticed Nymphadora. "Ah, hello Miss." He beamed at the disguised auror, and for a moment Harry was tempted to claim she was what she appeared to be. Nymphadora would play along, he was sure. Hermione though would not.

"Ron, this is Nymphadora Black-Tonks, an undercover auror and the daughter of Sirius' cousin Andromeda. Nymphadora, this is Ron Weasley."

"Wow, you look young." Ron smiled and offered his hand to the witch, then gasped when he suddenly was looking at a witch older than Dumbledore. "Merlin's ghost!"

Nymphadora giggled, which sounded very creepy coming from a crone, and changed back.

"A metamorphmagus!" Ron exclaimed. "How old are you actually?"

"Old enough to be an auror." Ron wrinkled his forehead for a moment, obviously calculating the age requirements. Nymphadora grinned, and went on. "I was in my 7th year when you three were firsties."

"Ah. An older woman then." Ron nodded sagely, while Nymphadora huffed.

The redhead was earlier than usual. He must have noticed Harry's glance to his watch, since he explained. "Mum made Dad take the floo today, since she said there might be more checks at the gates and we might be actually late if we drove."

"Did you have a good holiday?" Hermione looked up from her notes, but did not put them away.

"Dodged more pranks from the twins than not, I think. So, a good holiday." Ron grinned, and heaved his trunk up to stash it instead of levitating it. Showing off his muscles, Harry thought, but Hermione didn't seem to have noticed. His friend had barely sat down before his lap was filled with a half-kneazle demanding food. Harry grinned while Hermione muttered "traitor" at her pet.

"What about you?" Ron asked, after feeding two treats to Crookshanks.

"We spent the holidays at Sirius'. He was immature enough to prank us at Yuletide, but we were prepared for that." Hermione sniffed. "He should have known better."

"What did he do, and what did you do to him in return?" Ron leaned forward eagerly. Harry knew he was always hoping to find something he could use against the twins back home.

Hermione sighed, making her view on pranks quite clear, though Harry had had the impression she had liked preparing a revenge prank for Sirius in advance. Liked it very much. Not that he would have voiced that belief.

Nymphadora was already telling the tale, despite, or because, of Hermione's frown. "He put a spell on a retainer's collar, turned it into a dog collar with a leash." Ron chuckled briefly until the victim of the prank glared at him.

"We turned his gift into a muzzle and a pink straightjacket, with 'Mad Dog' written on the back." Hermione proudly smiled.

"What's a straightjacket?"

Hermione explained the garment to Ron while Harry hoped they'd change the topic soon, before Ron asked why Sirius hadn't pranked Harry harder.

*****

Hermione had returned to studying her notes while Harry, Ron and Nymphadora chatted about Quidditch. She needed every bit of time to finish the spell she wanted to create in time for Harry to learn it. If it worked he'd have a big advantage in the second task.

A bit after the train had left London Susan Bones visited their compartment. Since the door was locked with a number of spells, Nymphadora had enough time to change her robe's badge to that of Ravenclaw. The red-haired witch was in a good mood, though she did look at Nymphadora for a bit longer than expected when she presented herself as "Deborah Bailey, 6th year Ravenclaw". Was that some jealousy there? Hermione wondered silently. She hoped not, even though the Hufflepuff sat down a bit close to Harry. She felt slightly uneasy at that sight herself, but didn't know why. Susan was a nice girl, and seemed to like Harry.

"Did you know you snubbed me to dance with your retainer?" Susan grinned.

"What?" Harry sounded as surprised as Hermione was at the accusation, in jest or not. She was sure Harry would not have made such a faux-pas. It had been daring enough to dance with her. Daring, but nice. "I asked for your permission!" Harry sounded indignant.

Susan giggled. "Yes, you did. But someone's spreading the rumor that I left in a huff at that insult." Hermione didn't feel like laughing. Such rumors could harm Harry's reputation, and her own, if left unchecked. "Don't worry, I made it clear there was no snub." She leaned forward, almost conspiratorially. "I haven't found out who started that rumor, but I will."

"I am sure it was Malfoy through Parkinson." Harry growled. "I wondered why he was not doing anything at the ball."

"Ah… it could have been Patil and Brown too." Ron had the attention of the entire compartment. Even Nymphadora's, who should be more concerned with attacks by the still unknown assassin, Hermione thought. "I think they blame Hermione for not getting the dates they wanted. And… I might have tweaked their noses a bit about going with Padma instead of Parvati." He smiled apologetically at Harry and Hermione. "I am sorry."

Great. If she had helped those two, she'd not have to deal with yet another rumor. But the thought of helping those two, after their needling remarks, had not sit well with Hermione.

"Don't worry, we'll find out. All of Hufflepuff will be helping. They were quite proud that two champions picked a Hufflepuff for a date." Susan beamed at Harry. Hermione thought that was not much to be proud of. She would have hated to be known as the best date instead of the best witch. Susan, as the niece and heir of Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE, should know better! "And when we find out, they'll pay." Susan's grin was now more feral than amused. Hermione reminded herself not to underestimate the witch. Not that she was planning to get into a conflict with the redhead. Unless Susan would hurt Harry. Should that happen not even the entire House of Hufflepuff would be able to protect her.

*****

Harry stole a few glances at Hermione. She had been behaving a bit odd since Susan had visited. Maybe the rumors hurt her more than he had thought? He resolved to find out, in private of course. No one hurt his retainer!

A knock at the door had Nymphadora draw her wand and everyone else tense up at least. He noticed Hermione had hers behind her notes, and smiled. "Yes?"

"It's me, Luna, and Aicha is with me. Can we come inside?"

Harry looked at Nymphadora, who cast a few quick spells at the door, then changed her badge back to Hufflepuff and nodded at him. He undid the locking spell and opened the door with his wand. The blonde witch, wearing what looked like a roman-style short tunic, and Aicha, wearing her customary arabian-looking outfit, entered, trailed by Aicha's genie-kin.

"Hello everyone. Oh, you're new. Or are you?" Luna cocked her head sideways, staring at Nymphadora.

"Deborah Bailey, Hufflepuff 6th year."

"If you say so." Luna all but dismissed her and sat down next to Hermione and pulled her legs up on her seat as well while Aicha sat down more demurely across from her. "I have to thank your retainer once again, Harry. It was a lovely evening." Before Harry could answer, she turned to Hermione and hugged the surprised witch. "Thank you for a lovely evening! Our robes were perfect thanks to your spells! We'll have to create more like them, but suited for the warmer weather of summer this time!"

Harry didn't know exactly how to take that - their robes had had as much fabric as a bathing suit, not counting the cape, in his opinion. Hermione seemed lost as well, which probably explained why she did not protest when Luna twisted around and placed her head on the other witch's lap while propping her feet up next to the door. Hermione made a surprised noise while Ron snickered. Aicha seemed unfazed, but that was to be expected - she had been Luna's best friend since their first year, and was well-used to the quirky blonde's behaviour.

Luna asked about their holidays, and fortunately - for Ron, given Hermione's glare at him - no one mentioned Sirius prank while they exchanged news. Luna and Aicha had spent most of the holidays visiting each other, it seemed, split between 'hunting ice genies' and animating snow-creatures to reenact the last Goblin Rebellion. Hermione looked quite flustered since the blonde witch didn't show any indication of wanting to move her head out of his retainer's lap, even when she was gesturing animatedly while telling them about the climax of the battle, accidentally entangling her hand in Hermione's hair and pulling her head down towards her own.

"Oh, we almost kissed." Was her own comment while Hermione was busy recasting her hairstyling charms. To Harry's amusement, the comment almost caused his best friend to miscast her charm, something she hadn't done since their first year. Though he couldn't help thinking that Luna should have left Hermione's lap now.

*****

Ron had enjoyed watching Luna confuse Hermione until the two Ravenclaws had left for their own compartment again. His friend was often in need of some loosening up, he thought, or 6th year would be difficult for her. The blonde witch had certainly grown up in the last year. Like Ginny, his traitorous brain added, and he frowned. He would have preferred if Ginny had joined them in this compartment, but as usual she had wanted to sit with her friends. Unlike every time they boarded the train she had added that she might join Neville in his compartment. Ron had smiled at that, if a bit forced. If he had said a single word against that she'd have done it just to spite him.

Ron had enjoyed the Yule Ball, but he wasn't sure if Padma had really liked his company as much as she had claimed, or if that had just been born from the desire to one-up her sister. He certainly understood such a desire. In any case he would be lying if he said he had not liked the attention.

Speak of the inquisitor, and he appears, he thought, when he heard Padma - he thought it was Padma's voice - ask if she could come in. The Indian witch was let in after Nymphadora cleared her and sat down next to Hermione, greeting everyone. She didn't seem to question Nymphadora's cover, and smiled at himself. He liked that. Then he noticed that the rest of the compartment was looking at him, and he realized they were expecting him to ask Padma about the rumors. He was expected to gossip!

"How were your holidays, Padma?" It was not the best opening, but it got her talking about her family.

"They were great. Parvati was usually off with Lavender, and so I had some peace. It's hard to read if you're interrupted all the time because she wants a "third opinion" on something - which she doesn't, she simply wants to needle me. She is still steaming about the Yule Ball, by the way, going with Lavender didn't work out as well as she thought. They broke up a couple, but didn't manage to snag either of them." For a witch who said she was glad her sister left her in peace, she certainly knew a lot about her sister's actions.

"Ah, rumors. Did you know some people say Harry snubbed Miss Bones at the ball? Even though she said it wasn't the case herself?" Judging by the way Padma's eyes lit up, he thought she shared at least one passion of her sister as well.

"Oh, Parvati said she had seen Miss Bones storm off on a huff, after Mister Potter started to dance with Miss Granger. I am sure it was an honest mistake." Her smile belied her words, of course. And he had thought he knew what sibling rivalry was.

The expressions on his friend's faces didn't bode well for Parvati, and by extension, Lavender's near future. Ron himself was more concerned that even after Padma's visit he didn't know what she really thought about him. But he certainly did know that he did not wish to have her angry at him.

*****

The first days back at Hogwarts saw rumors spread like wildfire, overtaking each other. Harry snubbing Susan, Susan leaving in a huff and setting her aunt on Harry, Hermione snubbing Susan… Harry barely could track them all, though it didn't help that no one wished to tell them to his face.

"Mister Potter? What is this I hear about an incident at the Yule Ball that left your date in tears? Surely that is just a rumor." No one but Malfoy, apparently.

"Of course it is just a baseless rumor, Mister Malfoy. Miss Bones was not slighted, nor feels any ill will towards me."

"Of course. Only a fool would assume you'd be so crass as to publicly embarrass the heir of the Bones family to dally with a mere retainer so much below you. You are a wizard of honor, after all." Malfoy smiled graciously. It seemed he was getting better with his insults. Or lucky. Hermione's face remained expressionless, but Harry knew she was vexed by the Slytherin's comment. Before he could retaliate though Malfoy nodded at him and left again.

This time it was Harry who placed his hand placatingly on Hermione's thigh. Not that he thought she'd have to be kept from hexing the git. But he wanted to comfort her.

*****

Hours after Malfoy had insulted her Hermione was still fuming. That blond bigot personified most of what was wrong with Wizarding Britain. The arrogance built on nothing more than having been born into a rich pureblood family, the bigotry, the maliciousness hidden under a thin veneer of manners… she forced herself to calm down. She needed to finish her spell for Harry, she couldn't afford to waste time with angry thoughts about that idiot.

She returned her attention to the books in front of her, and her notes, glaring at the abacus. If only she had managed to get a calculator working over the holidays, but… she was getting closer, she knew, but it took so much time and effort. Neither she could spare a lot right now, with the next task, the next danger, looming so close.

"Are you creating a new spell?" Luna's voice startled her and broke her concentration right when she had managed to immerse herself in her work again. She hadn't noticed the blonde witch arriving at her table, but with the library's enchantments muffling noise and other sounds, that was no surprise.

"Luna!"

"Hermione!"

Hermione had to laugh a bit at the blonde, despite herself. Her table had already expanded to accommodate the Ravenclaw, and a new chair had appeared. Sighing, she resigned herself to losing more time. "Yes, I am. I hope it'll be useful to Harry in the next task." If it all worked as she planned, it would be very useful.

Luna peered at her notes, then looked up at her. "Just be careful. Spellcrafting is dangerous."

"It's safe. This is just a variant of an existing spell." Hermione had it under control. She wasn't about to try anything dangerous, after all.

Luna shook her head, looking more serious than Hermione had ever seen her. "It's never truly safe. I should know; my mother was a spellcrafter until she died when a new spell reacted in an unexpected manner."

Hermione didn't know what to say. She tried anyway "Luna, I…"

Luna grasped her hand, and stopped her. "Magic is not that predictable. Promise me you'll be careful, Hermione!"

The blonde witch sounded so earnest, so caring, Hermione could only nod. She hadn't known about Luna's mother, but in hindsight, she should have at least suspected something. Luna had only ever talked about her father, never her mother, when they had been shopping, or enchanting the robes, and at the ball. "I promise."

Luna smiled, though Hermione couldn't tell if it was with relief or satisfaction. "Good. By the way, why didn't you tell me Harry and Susan had come to an agreement about sharing you?"

"What?"

Hermione's plans for the evening were delayed further while Luna filled her in about the latest rumor. Apparently Susan Bones assurances that Harry had acted with her full approval at the ball had been slightly misinterpreted.

*****

Dumbledore was in his office, listening to Alastor's report on the security measures taken for the second task. It did look like the old auror had planned for every eventuality, but then, they had thought that had been the case for the first task as well. He couldn't think of anything they had missed either though.

"Very good, Alastor. This task should pass without trouble then."

"I'll believe it when it's over, and the culprit in custody or dead." The gruff auror answered, his eye spinning as usual, with Fawkes peering at it with open curiosity despite the number of times the phoenix had seen it.

"How goes the investigation into the attack on the Quidditch World Cup?" Alastor was not an active auror anymore, but he still knew everyone of importance at the department, and, as he put it, "a few even like me still, enough to talk."

"They managed to identify one of the attackers through the residue of a curse he was hit with at the Cup. Marcus Brownstem. One of the hanger-ons in the first Blood War, too young to implicate himself, and smart enough to play nice afterwards. He was interrogated extensively, but he doesn't recall who contacted him, nor does he know who had the idea for the attack. Whoever orchestrated the attack was smart - he only remembers meeting 'fellow wizards wearing masks'."

Dumbledore was disappointed, but not surprised. He had hoped to get at least a hint of who was behind this, but whoever it was, had planned this well.

"Too many suspects with the means and brains to organize this." Apparently, Alastor had picked up on his reaction.

"I fear you are correct, old friend. The whole incident doesn't make much sense. Those we suspect of being involved have so much to lose should they get caught, why would they risk that? Why now?" Dumbledore and Alastor knew one possible explanation, but to voice that without proof would invite scorn, and worse, from those who did not share their experiences.

"How are things in the Wizengamot?"

"Better than expected. Cornelius is holding up well, despite the pressure from France and Eastern Europe." But the Minister would blame anything that went wrong on him, Dumbledore knew that. It was not that much of a concern, as long as he could prevent a catastrophe. If the tournament finished without a serious incident, his standing might even benefit - and Cornelius would then try to claim credit for that as well. Judging by Alastor's snort, his thoughts paralleled his own.

"In other words, dirty business as usual." Alastor nodded to him and Fawkes, and stood up. "I'll check the perimeter once again. We'll have to pick a site to house the animals for the second task soon." The retired auror left, and Dumbledore found himself alone with his thoughts, and a phoenix, in his office.

*****

In the middle of January, two weeks before the second task, Hermione was preparing their training room for another evening with Fleur and Viktor. She was looking forward to it - she would not have to play the servant in private with them, and she hoped to be able to find out what spell Fleur had used on her robes at the Yule Ball. Ron of course was looking forward to more talking to Viktor, and maybe Fleur. Though Hermione had the impression that with Padma showing obvious interest in Ron her friend was likely to avoid even giving the hint of trying to court Fleur, no matter how unlikely him wooing a veela three years his senior was to begin with. The possible relationship between Ron and Padma irked Parvati and Lavender to no end, as she and Fay knew very well from the overheard complaints in their dorm. Between arranging the furniture and checking the snacks, Hermione looked her friends over. Both seemed more relaxed, less nervous than before. Good. She hated to see either one fret. She adjusted the floating trays a bit, to line them up better, and cast another cleaning charm on the chairs and table. Almost perfect. Maybe dim the light a bit?

She was still tinkering with the arrangement when the knock on the door announced that their guests had arrived. Running a last cleaning charm over her own robes - and ignoring Harry and Ron snickering at her - she walked to the door and opened it.

She still went to the expected formalities since they were, technically, in public as long as the door was open. "My Patron bids you welcome, Mister Krum, Miss Delacour, and offers his hospitality for the duration of your visit." The two accepted the hospitality as formally, but Fleur had a teasing smile on her face.

Once the door closed behind them, everyone relaxed visibly, and even Viktor slouched a bit in his seat while the snack trays circled around. Fleur positively lounged on the couch with an air of casual but sophisticated elegance Hermione felt a stab of envy for.

They chatted about the Yule Ball, and the rumors it had generated. Both Fleur and Viktor were very familiar with rumors, and according to them, the newspapers of their own countries showed far less restraint when it came to rumors about students than the British publications did. Some of the more outrageous rumors were quite entertaining though, at least those that did not involve herself. The one speculating about her, Harry, Ron, Luna, Susan and Padma… honestly, did those reporters know nothing about Hogwarts? Hermione didn't want to think about the mental picture that generated. It was bad enough that she had had dreams of dancing with Harry and Luna making comments as if she was observing them in the bedroom.

She did use the opportunity to ask Fleur about the spell on the veela's ball robes, but apparently it was a family secret, or so the French witch claimed. Hermione managed to ferret out enough hints though that she would be able to attempt to reverse engineer it, or a reasonable facsimile.

"Were you planning to use the spell yourself, 'ermione?" Fleur asked with a wide smile. Hermione stiffened. She did not really plan to use that spell. It was just an intellectual challenge. Mostly.

"No, no. I was just curious. It looked like a very interesting blend of different spell effects." She sipped from her glass to hide any involuntary reaction, and wished she had dimmed the lights some more.

"You made quite the impression at the Ball, my dear. If I 'ad not given my word already, I'd be tempted to keep you after my victory." Fleur was smiling, and obviously jesting, but Hermione froze. This was not something she wanted to joke about. It cut too deep. Fleur must have realized, since she apologized right away, and changed the topic to Quidditch. Hermione felt Harry's hand on her back, and smiled gratefully at him.

The rest of the evening passed without other sensitive topics being touched. Fleur and Viktor didn't invite them to visit over summer, but Hermione expected that would come after the next invitation, or the one after that. Custom demanded that hospitality was returned, after all, and she was looking forward to seeing magical France and Bulgaria. Not that Harry knew that when he proposed such evenings.

*****

The next training session with Sirius and Remus - focused on water-based spells, of course - had Harry panting with exhaustion after two hours spent swimming and diving and casting in a transfigured pool. With the second task so close, his godfather and his Defense teacher had increased the intensity of the training. Hermione was not there, she said she really had to finish the modifications to the bubble-head charm. Harry was not sure if he should be worried for her - she was overdoing it again, he knew - or relieved he would not be distracted by a pretty witch in a robe transfigured into a skin-tight suit. Ron was there though and his friend was looking as tired as Harry felt. Sirius and Remus on the other hand were looking fresh. No surprise there - they had not been in the pool.

"Come on, kids. It's only been two hours. We've got another hour left until you can rest." Sirius stood there, hands on his hips. Before Remus could chime in as well, the spell on the door announced a visitor.

It wasn't Hermione, as Harry had thought, it was Nymphadora. The auror was in her usual red robes. "Hi everyone. Are you torturing the children as we planned? I don't see any weights on their feet."

"We're saving them for the next lesson." Sirius answered while Remus nodded at the witch. Harry was too tired to say more than "Hi Nymphadora."

"Good good. Take some pictures then, for next Yuletide." The three adults laughed at that while the two teenagers groaned in protest. "More seriously, though", a quick hex from the auror shut Sirius up before he could utter his usual pun, "we think we discovered how the next task was to be sabotaged."

Suddenly Harry didn't feel tired anymore. "What? What did you find?"

"It was Hagrid, actually. He checked the animals delivered for the next task, and found out a number of them were infected with poisonous parasites from Magical Australia. Everything is poisonous down there, you know, even the plants want to kill you. And that's just the muggle parts. The Magical parts are worse. Don't ask me the name of the beasts, I forgot, but if you had wounded any of the infected animals, they would have poisoned the water and spread."

Harry winced at that. Poison was bad enough, but to be infected with parasites… he shuddered.

"What are you doing about it?" Sirius asked, now as serious as Remus.

"We're keeping them and acting as if we did not notice anything. We'll swap them right before the task, so the one behind this will think it's working and won't try something else." Harry noticed that she was chewing something, but he hadn't seen her eat anything before.

"Good idea." Remus said approvingly. Harry agreed - it was a sound plan.

"What are you eating? Can I have some?" With the important matters settled, Ron was apparently focusing on something more practical. "Swimming makes me hungry."

"It's chewing gum, not food." the metamorphmagus answered, sticking out her tongue to show what she meant. Harry blinked. He was pretty sure, and the confusion of the other three wizards present confirmed it, that chewing gum was not something Wizards were familiar with. "A muggle thing. You chew it, you don't eat it."

"Why would you do that? That sounds barmy!" Ron answered.

"It's like a chewing toy." Harry could not resist. "You know, for dogs. You should try some." When the dog animagus, the werewolf and the witch currently chewing gum glared at him, he knew he should have held his tongue. The next hour was even worse than the two before combined. For him at least - Ron was mostly collateral damage.

*****

The arena had been completely rearranged again, Hermione noticed. In its centre stood a massive cube of water, filled with coral reefs, what looked like kelp fields, and even caves. She couldn't spot any walls outside the water, so it was likely just held together with magic. Given that it was also expanded on the inside, she noticed the telltales of those charms, there was enough water there that, should those spells fail, it would flatten the arena and everyone inside.

In what looked like a transpositioned piece of the sea, various fishes swam around, and she could spot other creatures lurking in the shadows, and the kelp fields and caves must be hiding more. She would have missed them entirely, if not for the enchantments that allowed the spectators to closely observe the entire event, no matter how far the champions swam. In the centre of the water rested a giant clam, and on it sat a blue-skinned female figure wearing floating, silken clothes - a marid, Hermione realized, a water genie. In that moment, the clam started to open revealed two fist-sized pearls - one golden, one silver colored one. The bonus tokens, as Hermione mentally called them. Getting one would give 10 respectively 5 additional points. There was no bronze pearl, so a pearl was not needed to use the portal next to the clam that would take the Champion out of the arena, done with the task.

The young witch wished she was with Luna and Aicha, and not sitting, as during the first task, with a broom and a necklace next to the judges. She had read up on marids, but not enough in her opinion. She didn't know how the tournament organizers had managed to persuade such a powerful genie to take part in the task, but she knew they were known to command magic wizards could not, and were said to twist wishes and offer poisonous deals to the foolhardy.

She glanced to the small platform where Harry was already standing next to Fleur and Viktor, facing the immense wall of water. Hermione hoped Harry would stick to the plan, and not try something foolhardy. It was dangerous enough to get to the exit. She saw a small shark cut through the water and dug her nails into her thighs to avoid making a scene in public.

*****
Pansy Parkinson was wishing she was sitting somewhere else as well, rather than next to Draco. Her boyfriend was trying to lord it over their fellow Slytherins again, trying to free the seats to either side of them just so he'd stand out a bit more. He still had not realized, or so she thought, that the students did not respect him, but feared his father. Though he had become a bit more subtle in mentioning his family. It was as if he did not care as much about how others saw him as he had cared before. She didn't know why, and that worried her. She liked her toys predictable. Easy to control and use.

Draco still was vain, proud and arrogant, but he had started to handle setbacks with more grace. Losing to Potter in a bout of verbal sparring wasn't grounds to moping around for a day anymore. He was acting as if he had something up his sleeve, something that would turn the tables on Potter, but he wasn't bragging to her about it, as he used to about his past plots.

And she couldn't ask easily about it, not without endangering her own image of a silly doting girlfriend. And it was not yet time for that particular twist. But it galled to not know everything about Draco. She didn't like it at all.

Her face betrayed nothing of her thoughts though. She smiled widely, her hand on Draco's arm, and pointed out the different couples that had formed after the Yule ball in the excited manner of Daphne Greengrass, just with a tad more decorum. As expected, Draco soon looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else. It was a small victory, but she enjoyed it anyway.

*****

Harry was studying the arena in front of him. Thanks to massive expansion charms it was a vast underwater area, divided by coral reefs and kelp fields. He spotted what looked like a miniature underwater volcano, another hazard. From what he could tell the open water above the reefs and kelp fields was actually a chaotic maelstrom formed of different currents, only made possible by magic, for water would not naturally behave so.

It was clearly designed to lure the unwary or foolish in, then throw them around before spitting them back out, all their time wasted. And yet, if one could reach the center of it, the way down to the goal would be clear. If one could. He didn't see a way, not even with Hermione's spell. The currents looked simply too strong to navigate. He and the other champions would have to swim through a maze of coral reefs and underwater canyons, or brave kelp fields which could be hiding anything - or pose a danger themselves. And they would have to deal with sharks, squids, probably salt-water grindylows and similar pests as well as water elementals.

Harry was prepared for that though. Or rather, prepared to cheat a little. To break the spirit of the rules at least, if not the letter. He patted the pouch where his emergency portkey was resting, strapped to his thigh, and glanced at Fleur and Viktor. Fleur would be at a disadvantage, he knew, due to her heritage, but he didn't know how big a factor that would be. She looked confident though. Viktor was harder to read, he looked stoic as usual. Neither had revealed their plans during the evening spent together, nor had Harry let anything slip. Smirking with more confidence than he felt, he nodded at both. They returned the gesture, and then the signal to start was given.

Viktor dove right into the wall of water while Fleur and Harry transfigured their competition robes into skin-tight suits - no one wanted to go swimming in robes, especially in a race, which meant Viktor was probably transfiguring himself. Fleur cast a bubble-head charm and slid into the water while Harry cast his own charm, grateful that his suit covered him from neck to toe - having his whole body surrounded by bubbles of air would be a distracting experience - and then jumped at the water wall himself.

To his relief the spell worked as expected. They had tested it, but not against enchantments holding water back, and as Hermione had said, spells could be very unpredictable when interacting with other magical effects. Instead of water he felt air around him. He wouldn't have to worry about the coldness of water, for one, nor about breathing. But more important was the other effect, the reason Hermione had modified the bubble-head charm. Supercavitation, she had called it.

It wasn't as if he flew through the water, but coupled with a slightly overpowered aguamenti charm as propulsion he could travel far faster than swimming. It took a bit of work to steer using his wand, but he had managed to get a few hours of training in, last night, and he soon dove into one of the underwater canyons to avoid the maelstrom, leaving Fleur behind and quickly catching up to Viktor, who had apparently transfigured himself into a shark, at least partially. Harry was reminded of McGonagall's warning tales of self-transfiguration gone wrong when he passed the Bulgarian.

He was leading now, which usually would mean he'd be slowed down by whatever obstacle he'd run into first, allowing the others to catch up and maybe pass him again. Harry had no intention of slowing down though - he was a seeker, not a beater. He barely saw a school of grindylows ascend from the kelp field below before he was already past them. He couldn't ascend too much though, or he'd be sucked into the maelstrom and transported who know where, so he stuck quite close to the ground.

A man-sized shark turned towards him, but then decided he was too fast, and didn't pursue. As dangerous as it was, Harry couldn't help but starting to enjoy the trip. It was almost as good as flying on his Firebolt. Acting on impulse he rolled and let out a whoop and dove through an opening in a coral reef, skimming the ground. Their plan was working perfectly!

He was about to ascend a bit more, to avoid getting too close to a kelp field, when he suddenly saw a struggling figure in the middle of it. How could Fleur have gotten ahead of him? He moved closer and realized it was not Fleur, but Hermione! He didn't know why she was here, probably a result of more sabotage, but he'd save her. Without a thought he dove at her, then brought his wand up. A few cutting curses freed his retainer, and he took her into his arms. Her torn clothes fell off her, and he felt her hug him in return. He smiled then realized she needed a bubble-head charm as well. Before he could cast it though her grip on him tightened and she kissed him. Like in a dream.

He closed his eyes returned the kiss and felt her tongue slip inside. Her kiss tasted salty, like seaweed. Seaweed? His eyes flew open and he realized he was wrapped up in kelp, and being dragged towards the ground. He started to struggle, but barely could move his wand, and the plant's grip tightened, driving more air out of his lungs. Even with the bubble-head charm he'd have trouble breathing much longer. The temptation was there to give up, to trigger his portkey, but that piece of seaweed had used Hermione against him! Filled with fury he started to blindly send out cutting curses, until he felt the grass wrapped around himself give some, and then started to aim his curses. A few minutes later he was rising from the ground, through a cloud of cut and ripped plants. He longed to destroy the trap completely, but held back - he had to reach the center, not waste even more time. Casting aguamenti again, he continued on, a fair bit more cautiously than before.

By his estimation he still was in first place, with a sizeable lead. Or so he hoped. He did give the kelp field a far wider berth and stuck closer to the coral reef on the side when he had to pass another one. A few squids tried to make a grab at him, but he easily avoided, and left them to attack his competitors. Another reef loomed ahead. Any other time he'd have marveled at the colors and structures, but not now. Just as he was passing that as well, a sudden blow out of nowhere slammed him into the reef. The impact robbed him of his breath, and he skipped over the corals, his suit and skin sliced open from the shells.

Where had that come from? He couldn't see anything, or anyone. Another blow caught him from behind, then the next batted him back towards the reef, and more cuts joined the ones he already had suffered. His chest felt like a few ribs were cracked as well. He finally spotted a faint outline in the water, moving as if invisible - a water elemental. Cursing, he moved a bit away. He needed his wand to move quickly, but if he used it to move he could not strike at the elemental.

He winced in anticipation, and readied his wand. When the elemental moved to strike at him again, he hit it with a modified cooking charm while he got hammered into the chest again. Battered, he started to flee, using aguamenti again, pursued by the elemental. They played a game of seeker and snitch for a few minutes until the charm had finally managed to turn most of the creature's body into steam. Battered and bruised, Harry continued towards the centre, and the clam.

Shortly afterwards a school of smaller sharks, about the size of a shepherd dog, came right at him, apparently attracted by his blood. Again he had the choice of either fighting them, healing himself, or moving on and hoping to lose them. Wounded as he was, he chose to press on, and dove to the ground to get around them. He dodged the one coming closest to him, and soon was shooting through the water, pursued by the sharks.

He raced past another reef, into another canyon, under what looked like a shipwreck, and circled around the volcano, but the sharks did not give up. Either charmed, or some magical variant that was more stubborn than a mule. He didn't care right then. But he couldn't face the marid with a pack of bloodthirsty predators nipping at him. Turning around, he cast a bombarda at the leading shark. The spell turned the animal into bite-sized chunks of meat, and spread blood all over the other sharks, which seemed to be dazed by the explosion for a moment.

Good enough, he decided, and he turned away and shot towards the clam, where the marid, a beautiful, blue-skinned woman with long, pointed ears and turquoise hair was waiting. She made no move to intercept him, but kept sitting on the clam.

"Greetings, Champion. I am the guardian of the pearls. I will test your mettle, wit and power."

"I am Harry Potter, Champion of Hogwarts." He flipped her a salute and dove past her, straight for the portal. He had to grin at the surprised expression on the marid's face right before he was transported out of the arena.

*****

Hermione had been close to weeping with frustration and fear several times during the task, especially when Harry was being battered around by a water elemental, or when he suddenly dove right into a field of strangling kelp. By the time Harry was leading a school of sharks on a desperate chase she was pressing a fist to her mouth so she'd not scream. When her best friend shot past the genie to the exit, she sagged in her char with relief.

"Why did he not engage the marid for the pearls?" the young witch heard Karkaroff ask Dumbledore. She could have told them that it would have taken Harry too long, and carried a too big risk. He'd gain more points, relatively, if he simply saved as much of his lead by finishing as fast as possible. She didn't though. She was too angry still at the traps and obstacles Harry had had to deal with to explain his tactics to anyone.

He had won, and both of the other champions were still far from the centre. Too far to overtake him in points even with the pearls, Hermione noticed. She didn't care at the moment. All she cared about was Harry. He had survived. He was alive.

Chapter 8: The Third Task: Air

Ack · Apr 9, 2015

Hah! Love it.

"Nope, not going for a pointless challenge. I just want to get through this."

Everyone else: <jawdrop>

Starfox5 · Apr 9, 2015

Ack said:
Hah! Love it.

"Nope, not going for a pointless challenge. I just want to get through this."

Everyone else: <jawdrop>

Not just that - since his competitors lose more points the more time they take to finish after him, it's also a good tactic to win.

steamrick · Apr 9, 2015

Very nice task

Excellent creativity in the design. I wish Rowling had had ideas that were even half as good.

macdjord · Apr 9, 2015

Starfox5: Hermione ought to look st buying a mechanical calculator, or at least a slide-rule.

steamrick said:
Very nice task
Excellent creativity in the design. I wish Rowling had had ideas that were even half as good.

Eh. The original 3 tasks were pretty original - they just seem trite in retrospect because of how bloody often they've been reworked and rewritten by authors who weren't original enough to come up with their own variants.

Starfox5 · Apr 9, 2015

macdjord said:
Eh. The original 3 tasks were pretty original - they just seem trite in retrospect because of how bloody often they've been reworked and rewritten by authors who weren't original enough to come up with their own variants.

The first task was original, if crazy for a school tournament. It was held in an arena, and spectators got a good, if blood sports-like show. The second and third task were utter failures for a tournament meant to have spectators. Staring for an hour at a lake? Or at a hedge? What was JKR thinking?

Prince Charon · Apr 10, 2015

Starfox5 said:
The first task was original, if crazy for a school tournament. It was held in an arena, and spectators got a good, if blood sports-like show. The second and third task were utter failures for a tournament meant to have spectators. Staring for an hour at a lake? Or at a hedge? What was JKR thinking?

She was thinking about the readers, rather than the characters. That's a significant problem with her writing, as she sees no difference between plot, character, and setting, nor does she understand the Doylist/Watsonian divide.

turbinicarpus · Apr 10, 2015

Starfox5 said:
"And if she ~~wasn't~~weren't?"

Subjunctive mood.

Starfox5 said:
"Bugs?" Hermione was lost for a moment, before she made the connection. "Do you mean the Beatles?"

Also, The Byrds, as well as all The Animals, including Cat Stevens, Def Leopard, and The Monkees.

Starfox5 said:
Harry had no intention ~~to slow~~of slowing down though

Starfox5 said:
-

A general typographical suggestion: this should be either an em-dash (—) with no spaces around it or an en-dash (–) with spaces around it.

Starfox5 said:
The temptation was there to give up, to trigger his portkey, but suddenly he was furious. That piece of seaweed had used Hermione against him!

I would suggest reorganizing this: it sounds like some external factor (an "Angering Charm"?) made him furious all of a sudden, and only then does it mention that he had an actual reason to feel furious.

I do like the allusion to the canon event.

Starfox5 said:
Casting aguamenti again, he continued, a fair bit more cautiously than before.

Not 100% sure about this one: the adjectival form could be modifying "he" so it might not be wrong, while the adverbial form would be modifying "continued". The latter sounds better to me.

Ack · Apr 10, 2015

Pahan said:
Not 100% sure about this one: the adjectival form could be modifying "he" so it might not be wrong, while the adverbial form would be modifying "continued". The latter sounds better to me.

Would "continued on" work as well in this case?

Also, if you could provide this sort of grammatical critique to my stories, that would be cool.

Ack · Apr 10, 2015

Also, I lol'd at this bit: "Everything is poisonous down there, you know, even the plants want to kill you. And that's just the muggle parts."

doomlord9 · Apr 10, 2015

Ack said:
Also, I lol'd at this bit: "Everything is poisonous down there, you know, even the plants want to kill you. And that's just the muggle parts."

Well it's true. We still haven't seen the end result of Taylor taking a vacation to Australia or the Amazon Basin. Lots of jokes and speculation but nobody has actually done it and had her return with horrors that make Bonesaw squee like a little girl who has just been given a unicorn.

...Ok, bad example she would make one if she wanted it, she's just overjoyed at seeing the wondrous and terrible things nature can do when given millions of years and no oversight.

Ack · Apr 10, 2015

doomlord9 said:
Well it's true. We still haven't seen the end result of Taylor taking a vacation to Australia or the Amazon Basin. Lots of jokes and speculation but nobody has actually done it and had her return with horrors that make Bonesaw squee like a little girl who has just been given a unicorn.

...Ok, bad example she would make one if she wanted it, she's just overjoyed at seeing the wondrous and terrible things nature can do when given millions of years and no oversight.

Taylor: "I'm back from my vacation."
Others: "Welcome back."
Taylor: "Did you know that Australia has three out of the world's four deadliest spiders?"
Everyone else: "You didn't ... "
Taylor: "Say hi, fellows." <opens her luggage. Spiders pour out.>
Everyone else: "RUN!"

turbinicarpus · Apr 10, 2015

Ack said:
Would "continued on" work as well in this case?

Good catch about the "on".

My note was about whether "cautious" should be an adjective (as it's written), in that Harry was more cautious as he continued on, or whether it should be "cautiously", an adverb in that he continued on more cautiously.

Ack said:
Also, if you could provide this sort of grammatical critique to my stories, that would be cool.

I don't think I am following any of your fic at the moment, sorry. (That's not a strike against your fic; there is a lot of excellent fic I am not following at the moment.)

macdjord · Apr 10, 2015

Starfox5 said:
The first task was original, if crazy for a school tournament. It was held in an arena, and spectators got a good, if blood sports-like show. The second and third task were utter failures for a tournament meant to have spectators. Staring for an hour at a lake? Or at a hedge? What was JKR thinking?

That could be trivially corrected with, say, magic jumbotron screens which tracked the champions during the contests. The actual challenges were interesting and original.

Starfox5 · Apr 10, 2015

Pahan said:
Also, The Byrds, as well as all The Animals, including Cat Stevens, Def Leopard, and The Monkees.

Ted Tonks had a muggleborn friend who was a fan of The Beatles, and "bugs" was all he remembered, ten to twenty years later when he told that to Nymphadora. He didn't ermember any other bands.

Pahan said:
I do like the allusion to the canon Event.

Thanks a ton for the typos and grammar corrections! I updated the post. Though regarding the dashes, I am not sure that distinction would survive every copy/pasting of the story.

Ack said:
Also, I lol'd at this bit: "Everything is poisonous down there, you know, even the plants want to kill you. And that's just the muggle parts."

doomlord9 said:
Well it's true. We still haven't seen the end result of Taylor taking a vacation to Australia or the Amazon Basin. Lots of jokes and speculation but nobody has actually done it and had her return with horrors that make Bonesaw squee like a little girl who has just been given a unicorn.

...Ok, bad example she would make one if she wanted it, she's just overjoyed at seeing the wondrous and terrible things nature can do when given millions of years and no oversight.

Magical Australia in this story is not the "death to non-native wizards" country as it's in "Marriage Law Revolution", but it's filled with all sorts of lethal beasties and plants and in-betweens, some might play a (minor) role in 5th year courtesy of Jungle Jenny and Lockhart. Not sure if there will be drop bears though if you have any suggestions I'll listen.

macdjord said:
That could be trivially corrected with, say, magic jumbotron screens which tracked the champions during the contests. The actual challenges were interesting and original.

Indeed it could have been corrected, but it wasn't. It would have also affected the plot, if the champions had been carrying magical trackers and people would have been able to realize quickly that Harry was kidnapped, and possibly where to.

I did try to build up on those tasks, but I am going for both more spectacular (Tasks 2 and 3), and saner (Task 1). Swimming through a lake felt a bit less than optimal to me. Not enough dangers there, other than grindylows, and possibly mermen. All in all a rather boring swimming and navigation competition. Challenging for the Champions, who had to swim hard, but not really for the spectators. Not enough action. Task 3 was better, but a bit too "mundane" still. I'll try to build a bit on that with my 4th Task.

Edit: Oh, and every champion carries a portkey to leave a task safely - knocks him or her out, so there's no penalty from the goblet, and then ports out. This world is not as sick as the canon one to pit students against deadly dangers.

Ack · Apr 10, 2015

Pahan said:
Good catch about the "on".

My note was about whether "cautious" should be an adjective (as it's written), in that Harry was more cautious as he continued on, or whether it should be "cautiously", an adverb in that he continued on more cautiously.

I don't think I am following any of your fic at the moment, sorry. (That's not a strike against your fic; there is a lot of excellent fic I am not following at the moment.)

That's fine.
I am very well-read, but any actual skills in writing are more or less self-taught. You seem to know more than I do about the nuts and bolts of it.

Prince Charon · Apr 10, 2015

Starfox5 said:
Ted Tonks had a muggleborn friend who was a fan of The Beatles, and "bugs" was all he remembered, ten to twenty years later when he told that to Nymphadora. He didn't ermember any other bands.

So, Ted isn't a muggleborn in this setting? Does that mean Andromeda didn't get blasted off the family tree by Walburga?

Starfox5 · Apr 10, 2015

Prince Charon said:
So, Ted isn't a muggleborn in this setting? Does that mean Andromeda didn't get blasted off the family tree by Walburga?

Andromeda Black-Tonks chose to be emancipated and left without a knut from her family rather than remain under the thumb of Sirius' father, then the head of the Black Family. Most children of such families choose to stay rich rather than be free. She's now the head of the Black-Tonks Family. So, Andromeda did leave the Family, she wasn't kicked out. Ted's a half-blood, so they could marry once Andromeda had, through emancipation, become the head of her own family - members: 1 at the time - and the Wizengamot had given their permission (which they only did after Nymphadora was revealed to be a metamorphmagus, at which point the marriage was waved through (such a magical offspring cannot be a half-blood, after all, nor can such a Union not be magic's will) and Nymphadora made a pureblood.
Also, this Nymphadora loves her name, and gets angry if one tries to shorten it.

Emancipation is more or less taken straight from Roman law.

Patron (Harry Potter AU) (Complete)

Experienced.

Experienced.

Know what you're doing yet?

Formerly 'Pahan'

(Verified Ratbag) (Unverified Great Old One)

Experienced.

Formerly 'Pahan'

Experienced.

Possibly some sort of Actual Dragon?

Experienced.

Just zis guy, you know?

Well worn.

Experienced.

(Verified Ratbag) (Unverified Great Old One)

Experienced.

Matter: protons, electrons, neutrons and morons

Well worn.

Experienced.

Just zis guy, you know?

Formerly 'Pahan'

(Verified Ratbag) (Unverified Great Old One)

(Verified Ratbag) (Unverified Great Old One)

Experienced.

(Verified Ratbag) (Unverified Great Old One)

Formerly 'Pahan'

Well worn.

Experienced.

(Verified Ratbag) (Unverified Great Old One)

Just zis guy, you know?

Experienced.

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