A Familiar Bond: Chapter 19 (Patreon)

The morning of the first task found Harry with Valerie and Daphne as they walked toward the infirmary.

The castle was almost empty by now as most of the students and professors alike had already made their way over to the arena for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.

However, they had something else to take care of first.

Professor Slughorn should have woken up days ago if Madam Pomfrey’s diagnosis was to be believed. However, after they had left, the man had a sudden heart attack in the middle of the night. The Hogwarts matron had successfully prevented the worst from happening but she could not prevent the old wizard’s condition from worsening.

The man had not woken up until this morning. Adhering to his request, Madam Pomfrey had made sure he had been informed about it and here he was with his girlfriends, all on their way to greet him.

“Think he’ll be fine?” Valerie asked softly.

“Who knows?” Daphne replied in an equally quiet voice. “It got much more serious than either of us thought.”

Harry had to agree with that sentiment. They had never imagined that Slughorn would react the way he had and it had frightened them all for his life. It was truly fortunate that Madam Pomfrey had mitigated everything successfully.

The Infirmary was also vacant apart from Madam Pomfrey and her solitary patient and as they got closer, they saw Slughorn lying on the cot with his eyes closed and his breathing even.

“He’s awake. You may talk to him, but make sure you keep it down,” Madam Pomfrey instructed as she stepped to the side.

Harry nodded and walked closer, standing beside the bed and gently clearing his throat.

Slughorn’s eyes opened and they fixated on him instantly.

“Professor,” Harry smiled gently and took the bouquet that Daphne handed him. He placed it alongside the mountain of gifts that already surrounded the man’s cot.

Slughorn kept staring unblinkingly at him.

Slowly, Harry reached forward and took the man’s hand, frowning when he felt the feeble grip tighten. He looked up and saw Slughorn staring at him with tearful eyes.

“I’ve held it close to my heart for years, feeling nothing but regret and shame,” the man rasped out feebly. Harry could see how much effort it was taking for him to speak and he firmly clasped his hand with both of his.

“You don’t have to say anything, Professor,” Harry said reassuringly. He did not want the man’s situation to worsen any more than it already had. “You never knew. You were simply doing your job as an exemplary educator. You are the last person who should feel guilty.”

Slughorn merely closed his eyes as tears slid out of them. Harry squeezed his hand once again.

“Stop feeling the misplaced blame, Professor. You should instead be proud that you finally managed to successfully overcome this tremendous burden you’d been carrying for so many years,” Harry reassured the man.

There was a long moment of silence in the infirmary as Slughorn wept in the agony of regret.

“Doesn’t it feel liberating, sir?” Harry said encouragingly. “To finally be rid of this burden? To face the horrors of your past and come out on top? I know you are a very strong man, sir. Does it not feel good to know that everything will soon be alright?”

Slughorn opened his tearful eyes and regarded him for a long moment. Harry stared back reassuringly.

“You truly are your mother’s son,” the old man whispered with a nostalgic smile.

“Then as your favorite student’s son, I’m telling you not to feel any regret. You have overcome your past and you should be proud of that,” Harry said firmly. “And I promise you. Nothing will be in vain. Steps are already being taken to destroy all of them.”

Slughorn’s eyes widened slightly as he stared at him. Harry nodded resolutely.

“So that is why…” he whispered as he trailed off. “That was Dumbledore’s true intention, wasn’t it?”

Slughorn let out a mirthless chuckle that soon devolved into a cough. Once he’d brought himself under control, he looked at Harry tearfully.

“Tell truthfully, dear boy,” he whispered. “Was any of it true or was it all just an act you put to carry out Albus’ wishes?”

Harry’s eyes softened in understanding and he smiled.

“It is true that my first instinct was to manipulate you into giving it up, but it did not feel right after we spent some time together. I want you to believe that I truly hold you in high regard, sir. I might have done a lot of things to get into your good graces but it was not always motivated by my hidden intentions.”

Slughorn regarded him and consequently, Daphne and Valerie for a long while before he sighed. Smiling, he lay back on his cot and nodded.

“It is the first task today, hmm?” He said softly as he smiled. “Do Hogwarts proud.”

Harry smiled.

XXXXX

“Harry! There you are!”

Harry was slightly startled at the loud shout but he quickly schooled his features and gave the exuberant man a polite smile. He forced himself not to grimace when the man clapped him not too gently on the shoulder, smiling widely.

“Good to see you too, Mr. Bagman,” he greeted courteously and looked over at the others inside the tent.

Mr. Crouch was standing by the side, a distasteful look on his face as he gazed at Ludo Bagman who was none the wiser. Harry had to suppress a snort at that. Krum was lounging in the corner with a look of intense focus on his face as the headmaster of his school stood beside him, looking around and glaring at everything.

‘Does he think his precious champion will be attacked here in front of everyone?’ Harry thought.

Madame Maxime was noticeable as always – a towering figure standing behind her prized pupil whom Harry gazed at and winked. He smiled when she winked back and smirked.

Fleur looked like those female warriors of old in her light blue combat attire. It had long sleeves that covered even her palms and the waist fanned out in a skirt. Her legs were also covered with blue trousers. Harry unabashedly ran his eyes over her figure, traveling over her front which was elegantly designed with golden bands running over her chest, emphasizing her sizeable assets.

Amused, Fleur let him admire her.

Harry walked into the tent and nodded at all those who caught his eyes. He expertly ignored the people from the press, particularly that vulture from the Prophet, and joined Dumbledore who gave him a placid smile.

Ludo Bagman was still following him exuberantly and had to be interrupted by Mr. Crouch, much to the amusement of almost everyone present.

“You can fawn over the lad in your personal time, Bagman. We have a task to get on with,” Mr. Crouch grouched. His lips were curled in a sneer.

Bagman grimaced.

“Ah yes, the first task. Indeed, Barty,” he smiled widely. “Champions, if you would please gather around.”

As one, the three champions moved, standing side by side in a circle and looking at Bagman who brandished a moleskin pouch from the pocket of his flamboyant robes.

“One by one, you will pick out an item from this pouch here. It will tell you the challenge you will face. There are three… err… varieties, you see,” Bagman informed.

No one showed any reaction apart from understanding. They all knew what the task entailed.

“Miss Delacour, if you please,” Bagman smiled, holding out the pouch for her.

Fleur released a breath and nodded. She confidently reached inside and took out a miniature model of her dragon. Harry noted it was the Norwegian Ridgeback.

A loud gasp echoed around in the arena outside the tent as the spectators saw what the champions were truly up against on the giant suspended screen that telecasted everything around them.

“The Norwegian Ridgeback,” Bagman announced with aplomb. “One of the few poisonous breeds of dragons around. Good luck, Miss Delacour.”

Fleur nodded and stepped back, smiling when Harry squeezed her hand discreetly.

“Mr. Krum, if you please,” Bagman smiled. The surly-faced Bulgarian nodded curtly and reached inside, pulling out the miniature model of a gray dragon.

“Ah, the Ukrainian Ironbelly!” Bagman announced dramatically. “A fierce dragon by all means, and one of the best when it comes to guarding something. Looks like a good challenge indeed, Mr. Krum.”

Krum nodded, curled his fist around the model tightly enough to almost make it crack, and stepped back.

“And that leaves Mr. Potter,” Bagman’s eyes had a hint of pity to them. Harry scoffed to himself. “I wonder which dragon the champion of the host school shall face.”

“You don’t say,” Harry muttered under his breath.

“Hm? What was that?”

“Nothing,” Harry chuckled and reached inside the pouch, pulling out the miniature model of a snarling Horntail.

“The Hungarian Horntail,” Bagman said in a voice that was much subdued from his previous two announcements. “A nasty piece of work indeed. I’d seriously advise you to come up with a sound strategy.”

Harry nodded curtly and stepped back. He squeezed Fleur’s hand when she held his and pulled away shortly.

“Now,” Bagman smiled widely once again. “You know your challenge, but overcoming it is not your goal today. Each dragon shall be guarding a golden egg. Your task is to steal that golden egg by any means necessary. The first champion who steals their egg and crosses the exit line will be awarded forty points. The second champion will be awarded thirty points and the final will get twenty points. Ten points will be reserved for the judges to award based on the champions’ performance during the task. I must explicitly state that all spells short of the Unforgivables are permitted.”

The champions nodded in understanding.

“Very well then,” Bagman clapped his hands. “We shall be underway in an hour. Please take this time to think your strategy. Remember that you can only carry your wand and the clothes you have on your person. Any other artifacts are forbidden, and that includes any family heirlooms as well. Good luck, champions!”

The champions watched as everyone walked out of the tent. They greeted their respective head professors respectfully and assumed their place around the tent.

The cameras monitoring the tent vanished to showcase the dragons in the Forbidden Forest, making the spectators gasp or look on in wonder.

Harry was surprised to see Bagman come back. He was even more surprised when the man made a beeline toward him.

“Ready, Harry? Think you’ve got this in the bag?”

Although slightly surprised, Harry nodded.

“Look, it’s no shame to admit that you’re feeling overwhelmed here. We all feel like that sometimes. Why, I believe I was this close to pissing my pants when I was making my professional debut,” Bagman chuckled. “My coach helped me out a lot back then, oh yes.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Bagman,” Harry chuckled. “I think I can manage this just fine.”

Bagman looked startled for a second before he grinned and patted him on the back once again.

“Attaboy. See you then. Good luck, Harry,” the man said exuberantly and rushed out of the tent, leaving a chuckling Harry who rolled his eyes.

XXXXX

“Think they’ve got everything under control?” Valerie asked, slightly nervous. She was with Daphne, Tracey, and Astoria near the front of the stands, looking on at the large screen as the dragon handlers dealt with the visibly irritated dragons.

“Don’t kid me, Val,” Daphne muttered. “They’re dragons. I doubt even Dumbledore would have everything under full control. There’s always a possibility of something going wrong.”

“Be positive, Daph,” Tracey remarked. “Your man will manage it all just fine.”

Daphne sighed and nodded.

“Hopefully so,” she replied.

“He better,” Valerie said curtly. “Or it’s the couch for him for as long as we feel like it.”

Tracey looked at them and snorted.

“Yeah, as if you’d be able to hold on for so long,” she replied mirthfully.

Valerie looked at the brunette and smirked.

“We got each other, dear Tracey,” she replied, and Tracey watched with wide eyes as both Valerie and Daphne wrapped their arms around each other’s waists. “I think we can hold on just fine. It’s him who needs to worry.”

Tracey averted her eyes in exasperation. Truth be told, she had no idea how this thing worked among those three, and if Daph was to be believed, they were looking to add Delacour into the mix as well.

‘Well, whatever floats their boat, I guess,’ she thought.

Meanwhile, inside the tent, Harry sat by himself on a chair as he contemplated how to go about the first task. He had the Horntail to face and he would prefer to get it done as soon as possible and without any injuries if he could help it.

It was a test of his abilities, as Dumbledore had told him – a way to judge how far he had come and what he needed to improve as a combat wizard.

Furthermore, he had an important meeting to attend after the task concluded.

The thought of the upcoming meeting brought his attention to the woman it concerned the most and he looked over toward Fleur who also sat in contemplation. As if feeling his eyes on her, she looked over and gave him a small smile. Harry nodded reassuringly at her.

Indeed, both of them needed to complete this task. Ever since they had discovered it was dragons they were facing, they had been devising several strategies to take down the ferocious creatures without severely injuring them. If he was being honest with himself, their task had been easier than they had thought since they did not need to subdue the creatures but only to get past them and steal the golden egg. It would be a challenge but one that was much easier than expected.

They saw Krum stand up and walk toward where the restrooms were and the moment the man was out of sight, they glided toward each other as one.

Arms wrapped around each other, they kissed passionately. Their breaths became one as their tongues entangled, lips moving sensuously.

Breathless, they pulled away and stared into each other’s eyes.

“Let’s get this done as soon as we can,” Harry said firmly.

Fleur looked up at him with a smirk.

“Eager, are we?”

“To make you fully mine? More than you believe.”

“You seem very confident that you’ll both convince my Papa and tame the veela as well,” Fleur replied. The hope in her voice was unmissable.

Harry smiled and pecked her lips softly once again.

“I have faith in myself and the ritual,” he replied.

Fleur was already aware of the ritual he had undertaken with both Valerie and Daphne and she had also been filled with optimism when she’d heard how it worked. She only hoped her optimism wasn’t false.

“Then you have my faith as well,” she replied, smiling. “Papa is already in the stands with Maman.”

“I saw them on my way here,” Harry replied before his lips curled into a smirk. “Guess I better put on a show for my prospective in-laws then.”

Fleur let out a tinkling giggle and swatted his chest playfully.

Suddenly, they heard the rustle of fabric and saw Krum emerge from the restroom. He gazed at them for a second, arms still wrapped around each other, and with a bored gaze, he took his seat once again. Harry and Fleur exchanged an amused look as they pulled away, assuming their respective places once again.

The first task was still a little under fifteen minutes away.

XXXXX

Antoine Delacour sat with his wife Apolline alongside the rest of the French dignitaries who had arrived for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. His countenance was one of distaste as he stared at the spectacle put forward.

Apolline glanced at her husband and sighed. He never liked violent displays of magic just for the sake of it. Her husband was indeed a martial man, having served in the French Auror Force for a couple of decades before assuming a permanent governmental post, but the pointless display of magical prowess in events such as tournaments just for the entertainment of a select few had never impressed him.

He had been firmly against his daughter competing in one but he did not try to dissuade her from it, nor did he ever try to exert his will upon her. His daughter was a grown woman and as such, she had the right to make her decisions, whatever they might be. He could only advise her, but it was her choice whether she listened or not. More often than not, she did. However, this time, she did not.

Antoine sighed as he thought about his daughter.

For years, she had been shunned by her peers for looking like a child, and then when she suddenly blossomed into his beautiful flower, she had been shunned for it. Fleur had never felt accepted by her peers, nor had she ever felt she had earned anyone’s respect for being such a remarkable witch.

He knew she had chosen to participate in this tournament only because she wanted to prove her prowess as a witch. A part of him respected the sentiment. Alas, his principles did not fully align.

Nevertheless, he would stand firmly behind his daughter, supporting her until the end. He knew she was a capable witch, and as the only female competing against two males, she had an additional point to prove as well. He had to admit that he was looking forward to seeing how much she had learned.

He also could not help but recall the letter he had received from her a few days ago. She wanted him to meet someone with the possibility of forming an official alliance. He knew what she meant, and to think she had found an Englishman to spend her life with was surprising, to say the least. He was aware of his daughter’s views on males from across the channel, so for her to find someone so soon after arriving filled him with both anticipation and apprehension.

There was only one possibility here – the veela had identified someone to be her mate, and Fleur had agreed. That meant he would have to take proper measure of the young man concerned.

They were supposed to meet in the evening after the task concluded. His wife had told him to keep an open mind about it and that was what he was going to do. However, it did not mean he would be a passive participant either. If this young man wanted his daughter, he would first need to prove himself, both as a wizard and as a person.

“Dear, it’s starting.”

Antoine smiled at his wife. It was indeed starting.

The arena morphed around them. Three massive walls made of the same stone that the ground was comprised of emerged. There was a loud whoosh as the arena lit up once again and three portkeys activated, transporting three massive cages filled with the dragons they had seen minutes prior on the large screen in each of the three segments.

The names of the champions appeared on the gate leading into each segment of the arena, corresponding to the dragon they had selected.

Antoine looked at the Ridgeback keenly. It looked slightly agitated which was saying a lot since they were regarded among the calmest of the species, even though they were not calm in the traditional sense.

The dragons looked well-fed, which was both a good and a bad thing. It meant they would not be overly aggressive due to hunger but they could fight and defend the treasures better.

He wondered how the champions, and his daughter in particular, would approach this task.

“You seem oddly interested in the task considering your views on spectacles like these,” Apolline said, slightly amused.

Antoine chuckled.

“My girl is competing, dear. No wonder I am interested,” he replied.

Apolline’s reply was cut off as a loud siren echoed around the arena and they watched as the cages confining the dragons transformed into massive chains. She grimaced at the sight of the creatures as they craned their necks, trying to break their bindings, to no avail.

“This feels barbaric,” she muttered in distaste. Antoine nodded in agreement.

“I still have no idea what madness made them reinstate this tournament. It was abolished for a reason.”

“Money, dear,” Antoine replied, glancing around at his fellow dignitaries who looked on gleefully.

The doors leading into the arena opened and Antoine smiled when he spotted his daughter standing ready at the entrance. She looked determined as she held her wand by her side. He glanced at the other two champions and nodded to himself. Both had a demeanor of utter seriousness.

This was going to be interesting.

XXXXX

Harry and Fleur watched Krum go inside one of the tunnels that led to the arena before they turned to each other. Silently, they reached forward, clasping hands and kissing each other softly.

“See you soon,” she said as she pulled away.

Harry smiled and nodded, watching as she walked into the tunnel. With a sigh, he schooled his features into a determined one and walked into the tunnel designated with his name.

The tunnel was mostly dark with lamps at every twenty yards or so. It was quite a long walk and he winced as the door leading to the arena opened on its own, blinding him with the bright sunlight.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament!” Ludo Bagman’s voice boomed. The crowd roared deafeningly. Unfortunately, it resulted in agitating the dragons more than they already were.

Harry stepped inside the arena, crossing the barrier that kept the outsiders separate and saw the Horntail roar furiously as it noticed him. He could not help but grimace. This creature would be a nasty piece of work.

Taking a deep breath, he tuned out both the commentary and the roar of the crowd, focusing himself on the task at hand. His eyes closed momentarily and he exhaled, opening his eyes and staring at the dragon.

He reminded himself that his goal here was to test himself and he stepped forward once again, staring back in defiance when the Horntail roared in warning once again.

The creature must have not liked his response, or the lack thereof, as it reared its head. Harry saw the nasty blue glow of dragonfire and quickly whipped his wand out. He knew about flames, and blue was the hottest.

The dragonfire shot toward him at a breakneck pace and Harry whipped his wand, casting Protego roughly twenty yards in front of him. As expected, the dragonfire shattered the shield upon contact. Harry wasted no time and waved his wand around.

The crowd gasped as one when his shield shattered but many were left confused when he conjured another shield. However, several individuals stared, either disbelieving or impressed at the flawless demonstration of the Protego Maxima. They were left further awed when Harry cast the Fianto Duri and the Repello Imimicum in quick succession, marveling at how quickly the spells took effect.

All the while, Daphne, Valerie, and Dumbledore watched in visible pride.

The dragon stared, stupefied, as its flames failed to reach further. Snarling, the creature poured even more power and magic into its flames, and everyone watched how the blue glow seemed to encompass the entire center of the large screen. The rocky surface of the ground seemed to blur and wobble under the heat but no matter what the dragon did, Harry’s protective barrier remained impregnable.

Harry stood relaxed as his protective barrier held the dragonfire at bay flawlessly. He could see the dragon getting agitated beyond measure and he stayed prepared to move at a moment’s notice should his barrier collapse. As of right then, there were no signs of that happening.

On the other side of the stone wall, Krum was flinging curse after curse at the Ironbelly. However, the creature seemed poised as it guarded its treasure, simply growling in warning every once in a while.

Meanwhile, Fleur had gone for the enchantment she had told them about. Her veela heritage came to her aid and she dedicated herself to ensnaring the Ridgeback from a close range, all the while shielding herself from the occasional flames the dragon would spew.

“Isn’t she doing a brilliant job, dear?” Apolline remarked with a wide smile as she saw her daughter shield herself against another bout of dragonfire.

Antoine did not reply, prompting his wife to look over at him. He had a look of wonder on his face as he stared at the giant screen. Curious, Apolline looked over and her eyes widened.

Harry Potter stood in the middle of the arena while the Horntail shot glowing blue flames straight at him, only for it all to be repelled by an invisible barrier.

“He’s not even trying,” she whispered in shock.

“He is testing himself,” Antoine replied confidently. “He has worked on his magic and is using this opportunity to see just how much strong he’s gotten. He cast Protego Horribilis and enhanced it with Fianto Duri and Repello Imimicum. Probably the ultimate defensively enchanted barrier one could create, and he did it in less than two seconds. Truly remarkable to use this tournament in such a manner.”

Apolline was surprised to notice the admiration in her husband’s voice and she looked back at the screen that showed Harry Potter.

“And now he goes on the offense,” Antoine whispered.

XXXXX

Harry had no idea how the other champions were faring but if the roar of the crowd was anything to go by, they were being thoroughly entertained. He scoffed to himself.

The dragon was relentless in spewing flames and Harry did not miss how the color had long changed from blue to white. The Horntail was getting tired and it showed in its flames. He kept his barrier up all the while, withstanding the assault of dragonfire and he observed with utmost satisfaction as it never bucked even once.

He knew his enchanted barrier was very powerful. Val, Daph, and Fleur had all taken to simultaneously and together cast as many offensive spells as they could and they could never manage to bring it down. Val had even theorized that the only spell that could pierce through his barrier apart from the Unforgivables was probably Fiendfyre. After this demonstration, Harry was inclined to agree.

The dragon was visibly struggling now, but more than that, it was getting more and more agitated as time went by and all its efforts resulted in failure. Alas, its agitation was not backed by the magic it had at its disposal as the white flames slowly turned to yellow and then orange.

Harry deemed it was enough of a test now. The dragon’s flames were very weak now. Quickly, he took down his enchanted barrier none too gently.

A resounding explosion rocked the entire arena, deafening the entire crowd who looked over in shock. Nothing but black smog filled the center of the arena as the Horntail craned its neck around, trying to both spot and smell him.

Suddenly, a massive boulder collided with the dragon’s snout, making the crowd gasp out loud. Chunks of sharp teeth clattered onto the rocky terrain as blood gushed out of the Horntail’s muzzle.

The smog cleared slowly and they saw Harry’s wand glowing a crystal white. Limbs made out of rock shot from the ground, wrapping around the Horntail’s mouth, forcing it shut. Another pair of massive arms protruded out, trapping both the wings underneath while a final arm pinned the Horntail’s spiky tail on the ground.

Fully immobilized, the Horntail stared at its captor with its glowing yellow eyes brimming with rage and hatred.

Harry stood to the side, his wand glowing and at the ready. He could feel the creature struggling against its bindings and he reinforced the hold. The dragon’s defeated rumble echoed in the otherwise silent arena around him.

Students, professors, members of the press, and all the dignitaries stared at him as he gave the Horntail a final glance and strolled over to where the golden egg was. He lifted it up and without any further delay, he walked out of the arena.

The crowd remained silent before hushed whispers broke out as the dragon handlers came to take care of the Horntail. It was a performance beyond anything they had ever seen. While many were left impressed, there were several who stared, seething.

Dumbledore looked around in satisfaction as Harry finished the task first with such dominance. He had tested himself as he had expected and he displayed his magical superiority for the entire world to witness first-hand.

Meanwhile, Valerie and Daphne were hugging each other as they stared proudly at Harry’s retreating figure. They also saw Fleur who successfully put her dragon to sleep and walked out with her golden egg. Tracey and Astoria looked at the two girls before they exchanged an exasperated smile.

“So… no couch time for him then?” the latter interjected, making Daphne look at her sister with a smirk. Valerie pulled back to smirk at the pair of brunettes as well.

“He better be ready with stamina potions ‘cause he’s gonna need them.”

Both Tracey and Astoria deadpanned.

XXXXX

Antoine and Apolline Delacour stared, visibly impressed with the show Harry Potter put on for everyone watching. To think that someone in their fourth year was so adept at spellcasting and so advanced was indeed a marvel.

“Looks like there’s a lot more truth to the legend of Harry Potter than we’d believed,” Apolline remarked.

She chuckled when her husband remained silent.

“Looks like someone left quite an impression on you, dear,” she remarked.

Antoine could only nod with a disbelieving smile etched on his face.

“I’m being honest, dear. I never expected something like this from anyone in this tournament, much less from the youngest champion. That young man is indeed special.”

“Careful, dear,” Apolline warned mirthfully. “With the way you’re talking about him, people might think he’s your long-lost son or something.”

Antoine chuckled.

XXXXX

He should have seen this coming.

His wife had such an uncanny habit of predicting the unpredictable. He should have paid it more mind when she first uttered it.

However, as he stared at his daughter and the young man whose arm she was clinging to, he reminded himself to listen to his wife more.

For looking back at him was none other than Harry Potter – the young man he had been praising ever since the first task and also the young man whom his daughter had apparently chosen to be her life partner.

“Well, can’t say I saw this coming.”

To be continued…