A pillar of flames burst to life, whirling in heatless blue. It only lasted a few moments before fading away, revealing….
A tall young man dressed in what looked like a blue trench coat of some sort, with a tricorn hat in the same blue. Beneath the coat was a heavy white shirt and black trousers tucked into equally black boots. The entire outfit had gold highlights in various places. He held a tall staff of some golden material, topped with a blue crystal. Green eyes gazed from beneath the brim of the hat. “Huh. This isn’t Dalaran.”
The young man waved a hand and a shimmering image appeared in the air for a moment, a hazy cityscape that Dumbledore didn’t recognize. The image popped apart a moment later, eliciting a frown from the young man.
“Can’t reach Mom either. Just where did Kalec send me?”
Professor Dumbledore coughed softly, drawing the young man’s attention to where he’d been standing nearby. “Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, young man. I am the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. I confess to some confusion on how you managed to be here as well.”
“Hogwarts, huh? Never heard of you. Must be a new school. Have you sent a representative to the Kirin Tor?” The young man turned his gaze from the Professor to sweep over the Great Hall, those green eyes intent. “You look to be prospering fairly well though so I commend you on your school.”
Dumbledore blinked at the statement. New school? “I assure you, young man. Hogwarts is the finest magical education establishment in the world.”
The young man stood up straighter before swinging his staff onto his back, where it seemed to attach itself. Folding his arms across his chest, he said, “Then it would seem I’ve been sent further afield than usual, for I’ve been nearly everywhere in the world and I’ve never heard of your school. At least, not on my world.”
Another blink for the Headmaster. “I beg your pardon. What do you mean by that?”
“Do you not have otherworldly travel here? Teleportation? Portals?” The young man seemed to pause at the looks he was getting, not only from the Headmaster but from many of the students who were nearest to the conversation.
Reaching up, the young man removed his hat before running his fingers through his unruly black hair. Dumbledore stared for a moment at a scar that was momentarily revealed. The current topic, while fascinating, would need to be revisited. “Excuse me, but by any chance would your name be Harry?”
That seemed to actually catch the young man by surprise. “Yes. Harry Potter actually. How did you know?”
Dumbledore smiled widely, his eyes twinkling. “Oh Harry, my boy. It is so good to see you again after all these years. I’d feared you lost forever.”
More confusion from young Harry. “Not sure how you knew my name, Headmaster, but perhaps we can move this conversation to somewhere a little less public?”
The Headmaster nodded slightly. “Of course. If you would follow me.”
Before they had even started walking towards the doors of the Great Hall the room was filled with speculation and murmurs, as well as several of the professors making to follow them.
A confused Cedric poked his head out of the Champions’ Room.
“Were we supposed to keep waiting?”
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“That is a most extraordinary story, Harry.”
The two were in the Headmaster’s office, along with a smattering of other professors, most notably Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick. Others had wanted to join the group but Albus had decided that it would be better if it were slightly more private, at least to begin with.
Leaning back in his chair, he considered the young man before him from over the tops of his glasses. There was definitely a resemblance to a young James Potter, once one looked for it. The clothing was robust and would have been more suited to something from the Durmstrand contingent. The staff leaning against the chair in which young Harry sat was also fascinating and Dumbledore felt himself aching to study it, a feeling he felt echoed in Flitwick.
Harry leaned back in his own chair, hands resting on the hat in his lap. “It’s the one I grew up with. I never imagined that I would end up back in my birthworld any time soon. We had only just begun researching new portal techniques for locating this world.” He frowned slightly before shaking his head. “That a single artifact was able to track and bring me across the barrier between worlds. I would love some time to study the artifact… you called it the Goblet of Fire, correct?”
Dumbledore smiled gently at Harry. “You are indeed correct, Harry. However, there are more pressing matters to consider.” He ignored the incredulous looks from his professors, especially the particularly venomous one from Severus. “The Goblet has brought you here for a reason. To participate in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, a contest between magical schools, whose participants are bound by a magical contract to ensure their cooperation.”
Harry’s frown deepened. That frown grew deeper still when the explanation of a magically binding contract was given. “That seems pretty heavy for something I was entered into involuntarily. If what you say is true, I expect you’ll have no objections to my studying the Goblet to see how it ties to my magic.”
“Typical Potter arrogance. You think you have the magical knowledge to understand an artifact crafted by some of the most skilled goblin artisans.”
Harry turned his frown at Severus. “I’m sorry, who are you? And what would I know about Potter arrogance? I was raised by a Proudmore in another world.”
Dumbledore managed to cut off Severus before more could be said to derail the conversation. “Perhaps the Goblet can wait until you’ve had time to study the magic of this world, Harry. I’m sure the Professors would be happy to work with you, as would many of the students.” He inclined his head towards the other two heads of house. “Though I am at a loss to explain the age difference. You say you’re in your late teens?”
Harry shrugged. “Not sure on that one. I can only tell you that I’ve seen nearly sixteen turnings of the seasons while living with Mom. We figure I was a little over a year old when I was found.”
The Headmaster ignored the scoff from his Potions Master, instead focusing on getting more details of Harry’s life in another world, with additional questions and commentary from the other Professors.
Eventually the conversation seemed to drift back to the circumstances that had brought Harry home. Dumbledore took the time to guide the questions towards Harry’s disposition at the school, suggesting he take one of the long unused guest rooms for the night. They could continue things in the morning.
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“So the dragons here aren’t sentient? They’re more beasts or monsters?”
The half-giant seemed taken aback. “Oh, I wouldn’t call them monsters. They’re just misunderstood, is all.”
Harry considered the man before him for a moment before nodding. “Of course. I wasn’t implying that they weren’t majestic beasts. I just meant that I wouldn’t be able to negotiate with them like I would the ones on my world.”
Hagrid looked to think it over a moment before nodding. “Well, I can’t say as I know anything about that, but you might try talking to the dragon handlers. They might know something.”
The twice-displaced wizard offered the man a smile. “That does seem like a good idea. Thank you, Hagrid.”
“Happy to help!”
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Harry walked through the flaps of the tent and into the arena, his eyes immediately tracking across the rock strewn floor to the dragon standing protectively over a clutch of eggs. One was the obvious target, glowing golden, while the others appeared to be actual dragon eggs. A frown crossed his lips at the thought of endangering the precious eggs for the sake of a contest, his conversations with the dragon handlers coming to mind in regards to just how rare the dragons were in this world.
Focusing on the dragon, he reached behind his back for his staff. The wizards had wanted to take it away from him and it had only been his demonstration of channeling magic through the staff that convinced them it was his equivalent of a wand. Not that he needed the staff for his casting, but it definitely helped increase the potency of the spells.
Channeling that magic across the dimensional divide, he called forth a water elemental. Sending it forward, it used it to grab the dragon’s attention for long enough to start channeling a much longer spell. The temperature in the arena dropped suddenly and a small cloud grew over the dragon.
Just before a burst of flame breath could finish off the elemental, it unleashed a frost nova, trapping the dragon’s feet in ice. Fortunately, the dragon had been hovering protectively over the eggs, so while they might have been hit by the frost nova as well, they weren’t affected as a blizzard of ice shards slammed into the dragon from the overhead cloud.
Ice encrusted the dragon’s wings, its back, its tail. As more ice grew over the dragon, its actions grew more distressed, unleashed bursts of fire upwards to try and ward off the ice. It was to no avail. Before too long, the dragon was almost entirely covered.
Harry walked calmly over and retrieved the golden egg, careful not to disturb the other frosted eggs. The ice wouldn’t kill the dragon, but it would definitely be lethargic for a number of days as it recovered from the cold.
Holding the egg aloft, he made his way back to the tent amid the roars of the crowd, both cheers and jeers.
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“This world's merfolk are definitely not like the denizens of the waters of my world. Besides the obvious physical differences, that language is just painful to listen to on the surface.” Harry looked from the egg to the notes he was taking from the tome in the library of Hogwarts. One thing he did have to give the school, they had an extensive collection of tomes. Most of his time was spent here. He wasn’t the only one, though.
Victor Krum, the Drumstrand champion, seemed to spend a great amount of time in the library, along with one of the Hogwarts students, Hermione, if he remembered correctly. She seemed to spend more time here than he did, as she was almost always there when he was. Closing the tome, he set it on the table, tapping the cover in thought. Perhaps it was time to actually get to know some of the students here. At the very least they would be able to help him better navigate the library and maybe they could help him with his studies of this world’s magic. The sooner he could learn artificing the sooner he could examine the Goblet.
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“Pardon me, Professor Flitwick, but could you please repeat that.”
The half-goblin (no relation to the ones of Azeroth, thankfully) offered a wry smile. “As one of the champions, you are required to bring a date to the Yule Ball, where you and the other champion couples will be the main guests. You’ll lead many of the dances.”
Harry reached up, removing his hat to run his fingers through his hair with a sigh. “I suppose that makes sense.” Replacing his hat, he resisted the urge to sigh again. “I don’t suppose there is somewhere I can go to learn about the dances here? I imagine the ones my mother taught me wouldn’t apply here.”
There was a light of curiosity in the professor’s eyes, alongside a glint of amusement. “No, I don’t suppose they will. I have heard though that Professor McGonagall will be teaching her Gryphindorrs. Perhaps you can join them.” After a slight pause, he continued, “Do you, by chance, have someone in mind to escort to the Ball?”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Harry thought about it for a moment before slowly nodding. “There is really only one student who I’ve interacted with. The rest seem to be suffering from a combination of fascination and trepidation when dealing with me. Those who do actually approach me always ask me about the scar I received as a toddler. As if I could remember what happened at that age.” He gave a shake of his head. “Sorry, didn’t mean to go on a tangent there. Yes, I have someone in mind. I hope she’s available…” He trailed off as he contemplated just how much time the girl spent with the other champion.
“Then again, perhaps not.”
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“Sorry, Harry. Victor’s already asked me.”
“Don’t suppose you have someone else you could recommend?”
“Well… there is one of the Ravenclaw’s. She’s a bit… odd.”
“Oh?”
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Harry was surprised by how much he enjoyed the Yule Ball. It wasn’t that different from some of the functions his mother had taken him to. Certainly the music was vastly different from what he was used to. However, the company more than made up for it.
“Really, Harry. You don’t have to spend the whole time with me. I know there are others who would like to dance with you.”
Smiling down at his dance partner, he shook his head. “There is no one here more important than you, Luna. Not only did you accept my invitation to the Ball, but not once have you tried to ask me about my time as a baby.”
The young lady in his arms cocked her head to the side. “But you’re not a baby. Why would that matter?”
“Exactly. They have no interest in me as a person, only as a symbol. You, however, have been an utter delight. You talk to me. You tell me things I didn’t know. And you listen. So thank you, Luna, for making this one of the best nights of my time here at Hogwarts.”
“You’re welcome, Harry.”
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Harry glare at the Black Lake, fear and anger warring for dominance as he listened to the rules of the second task. When Luna hadn’t showed up to visit before the task, he had been disappointed. His first real friend in his land and she’d already been called away. When he heard that something important had been taken and hidden in the waters, that disappointment had switched to fear for his new friend. Then anger that they would possibly endanger his friend for the sake of a contest.
Ignoring the sound of the cannon, he instead focused on the spell. It was one he’d seen his mother use but hadn’t had the chance for himself. Hopefully he didn’t kill himself casting.
At the end of the docks, a fog rolled in. The glowing blue outline of a ship emerged from the fog, slowly solidifying into wood and steel, that faint glow lingering in places.
Harry collapsed to the docks, panting, his arms quivering as they struggled to support him. After a moment he was able to make it to his feet, lumbering towards the ramp of the ship that lowered to let him aboard. Within a moment of his boarding, the ship sank beneath the surface of the lake. Gripping his staff, eyes gleaming with power, letting him see through the water, though most of the water was kept away by the ship forming a protective bubble over the deck.
A water elemental formed at his side as he streamed through the water, his focus on the depths and finding his friend. Merfolk and other denizens of the depths were ignored, though most made way automatically for his ship. The elemental was sent after a group of grindylows that tried to attack the ship, a quick frost nova leaving them well behind as he continued towards the center of the lake.
Soon enough he arrived to find a group of children bound to a stone at the center of the merfolk village. Luna and Hermione he recognized immediately, the other two not as much, though the youngest reminded him of someone. Ah yes, the Beauxbaton Academy champion. Must be a family member. No matter. He would help them all.
Diving through the water barrier, he grabbed the nearest sharp rock he could find and cut free Luna. After shoving her towards the ship, he moved to help Hermione, only to be interrupted by a partially transfigured Victor, who came chomping by to retrieve the girl. Blinking in surprise for just a moment, Harry shook his head before working to free the other two. A quick ice lance sent any dissenting merfolk scattering.
With the three young women on his ship, he quickly made way back to the docks. It was time for another long talk with Headmaster Dumbledore.
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The more he learned about this world, the more he wanted back home. It had taken some doing, but he’d finally convinced Luna to tell him what had been going on in her time at Hogwarts. Normally she only talked about the magical creatures that she was studying, or her general studies in magic. However, he’d begun to hear things from the other students when they thought he couldn’t hear, then eventually approached Hermione about it. Once she confirmed some of what he’d heard, he’d gone straight to find Luna.
Now that he knew though, what was he to do about it? Confronting the bullies seemed like the obvious choice, but would it really help her? What would happen after he returned home? Most likely the bullies would return to their own ways without him around to threaten them.
Frowning, he considered teaching her how to summon an elemental, curious as to what type of affinity she might be drawn to. Perhaps air?
This bore more thinking on.
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Scowling down at the closed book in front of him, Harry finally set it aside. There was no way he would be able to learn enough about this world’s artificing in the time he had before the final task. That made studying the Goblet to get home early difficult enough as to seem impossible.
Leaning back in his chair, he thought about what he’d accomplished over the months he’d been at Hogwarts. There were very few people he’d bothered to get to know, mostly just Hermione and Luna, with a couple more casual acquaintances, mostly among the other schools rather than the students of Hogwarts. People who hadn’t been interested in him just for his scar.
Studying a different type of magic had been fun, he admitted to himself. Wand magic was different enough from back home, accomplishing things he would have never imagined. The way they handled potions for instance. He had a few books stored to go over in more depth with the alchemists in Stormwind and Dalaran.
Several other types of magic had intrigued him as well, especially things like transfiguration, a style of magic for which he’d had no real equivalent.
Pushing back from the table, he decided to leave the library. Maybe he should spend some more time with those friends before the final task. Especially Luna. Her view of the world and its various lesser known magical flora and fauna was an absolute delight.
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A hedge maze? That was the final task? Sure, it was supposed to be populated with dangerous creatures and challenges, but would this really be that much of a challenge? Also, what’s the point of having an audience when there was nothing to see but the outside of the maze? It wasn’t like watching a battle in an arena. Everyone there would be bored out of their minds. This was like the second task all over again.
Harry shook away those thoughts. They weren’t really his concern and were out of his hands, really. All he had to do was participate in the task and his requirements to the Goblet of Fire’s contract would be completed. He didn’t even have to win. At least there was no one else at stake this time around.
Glancing from the entrance to the maze and to the Defense of the Against the Dark Arts teacher giving him meaningful looks, Harry continued to hide his frowns. The man had tried getting close to him throughout his time in Hogwarts. While he was definitely well versed in this world’s magic, his style of combat wasn’t close enough to what Harry had been trained in, making it hard to adopt those tactics. He did keep practicing some of the spells though. Wielding a wand may be inconvenient compared to how he normally would cast spells, but the sheer variety and difference of those spells should make for a surprise next time he was facing down the Horde.
The cannon firing interrupted his thoughts and Harry headed into the maze.
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The acromantula gave a final chitter before slumping where it was impaled by icy shards. Harry panted as he leaned against the hedges. That had actually been more difficult than he’d original thought. It also hadn’t been the first monster he’d encountered along the way. He’d recognized Hagrid’s little creations, the blast-ended skrewt. Those had been equally horrifying, though they would have fit in perfectly back home. Same with the acromantula. Oversized creatures were pretty standard in a lot of places.
Finally regaining his breath and stamina, Harry worked his way deeper into the maze. He hadn’t planned on traveling so far, having only wanted to stay on the outskirts as a way to participate. However, something always seemed to drive him deeper, whether that be some creature, or a random attack by Victor, who Harry thought he had been on cordial, if not friendly, terms.
Eventually, he arrived at the center of the maze, where the championship cup stood on a pedestal, waiting to be taken. Harry stared at the cup for several minutes, waiting, hoping that one of the other two champions would arrive. This was their world, after all. They deserved to win.
Finally, he decided to just end things, making his way through the clearing and taking hold of the cup.
He really should have expected it when the thing whisked him away in a gut wrenching whirl of colors.
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The moment the world stopped spinning, Harry cast a frost nova and then blinked in a random direction. He wasn’t expecting to crash into a tombstone, of all things. Looking around, he found himself in what appeared to be a cemetery, with a lot of the other tombstones now carrying a lining of ice. There was also a wretched looking man encased in frost, with wand outstretched. Definitely not a friendly welcome.
Drawing his own wand, he first banished the strange man’s wand, then bound him with a quick incarcerous. Switching from wand to staff, he slowly approached the man, eyes scanning the surroundings. There was a cauldron, some supplies, and some sort of cloth bundle, all frosted.
A soft voice drew Harry’s attention from the man to the cloth bundle. “Even now, you defy me, Potter.”
Reaching out with the end of his staff, he slowly pulled open the bundle to reveal some sort of wizened creature, vaguely humanoid. “You see what I’ve been reduced to. All because of you and that night.”
Harry watched the creature for a moment before realization had his eyes widening. This was the Dark Lord Voldemort that had everyone so terrified they couldn’t even say his name? “How is it you’re alive? They told me you were defeated all those years ago, even giving me credit for it. Was that all a lie?”
“It is only a partial truth, Potter. I live on, if you can call this living…”
The thing, Voldenmort, trailed off, as Harry jammed its sternum with his staff. “Then let's see if I can finish the job this time.”
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Harry landed with a crash on the champion’s platform outside the maze, clutching the cup and a bundle of cloth. A musical fanfare greeted him as he struggled to his feet. There was all kinds of hubbub concerning him winning, which he ignored to instead walk over to Dumbledore, dropping the bundle at his feet.
“Here’s your Dark Lord. Don’t let him get away again…”
Harry was cut off as he was engulfed by a pillar of fire. When the fire disappeared, so did Harry.