No matter how many times Harry had seen the evidence, it still surprised him how much Dumbledore was able to run Hogwarts like it was his own little fiefdom. There were no reports of dead professors or injured students. Nothing left the school and what little had made it through whatever enchantments were placed on the owlery were somehow ignored. No DMLE investigation had been brought to the school no matter how many days it had been.
Fortunately, that all worked in his favor. With Snape already out of the way and no need to answer awkward questions, Harry was free to enact a plan to not only increase his own power, but would also assist those in this world that were counterparts to allies from his own.
While Harry had already finished his Hogwarts education (such as it was), he relished the opportunity to have access to the school library once again. With some of the things he had learned from the Black Library, gaining access to the restricted section would be trivial. There were several books that had been referenced that he was sure had been sequestered here. Even more were bound to be in the Headmasters office given Dumbledore’s need to keep all information to himself.
Leaning back on his desk, he considered the latest correspondence from Daphne. She exhibited the same brilliant mind of his own, not to mention the biting wit of her favored accomplice. Were he a different man, and were it not too likely that his own Daphne would discover it, he would have been tempted to use his knowledge of her for a seduction. As it stood, he would instead put that brilliant mind to work.
The restructuring of Slytherin was well underway. Daphne hadn’t even needed to nudge things very much, as Malfoy’s mouth had already gotten himself into trouble that his two bulky bookends couldn’t get him out of. Daphne had used her knowledge to leverage herself additional protections within the dorm itself, as well as brokering several deals that Harry thought would help them both out. It seemed that some of the older Slytherins had access to resources that he hadn’t even considered before she brought it up.
Turning his head, he considered the staff standing next to the desk. Should he look into building another staff? This world’s ferret hadn’t made himself the type of enemy that he had been back home. Same with the minions. Perhaps he should focus on the Goblet and how he had been summoned to this world. Whoever had messed with the Goblet was definitely an enemy and thus fair game.
Sighing, he leaned back. Now he really missed his Daphne. She would have known how to research the spells on the Goblet. Suddenly he leaned forwards. Maybe this one knew others in the school who could be used for such a project. Additionally, he should look into the rules and requirements for this tournament he’d been shanghai’d into. There were bound to be some perks to the thing in addition to all of the burdens of being a contestant.
***
“Mr. Potter, why aren’t you in class?”
Harry looked up from the tome he was studying in the library to see Professor McGonnagal standing at the end of the table with a stern expression, then raised an eyebrow at her. “And what class would that be, Professor? I’m a Hogwarts graduate. Have you started offering advanced positions for those looking for their Masteries?”
It was a marvel how much emotion could be put into that stern look without her expression changing. “Be that as it may, we cannot have you wandering around unsupervised.”
“Oh? And why would I, an adult and Lord of the Realm, require supervision?”
That actually got a change out of the Transfigurations Master. “The Headmaster was under the impression that you were a seventh year.”
“It appears that neither of you listen well. I just told you I was an alumni. The Headmaster never enquired as to my educational status. Additionally, I have no legal status here, due to my kidnapping. How would I have even been enrolled in Hogwarts? Who would be paying for my schooling?”
Marking his place and closing the tome, Harry turned his full attention to the Professor. “Was it your intention to assist me in acquiring legal status in this world?”
McGonnagal folded her arms. “Your status as an otherworlder has yet to be proven. Until such a thing has been determined, you are being treated as the Harry Potter who has been missing all these years.”
A smile spread across Harry’s face. “Well then, that does seem interesting. From what I can tell, Harry Potter should have been in his fourth year. Yet the Headmaster claims that I should be a seventh year. You can’t have it both ways, Professor. Either you believe me to be a different Harry Potter, meaning you have to take my word for my status, or you believe me to be the missing Potter heir, and thus a fourth year, who should have access to all the assets of the Potter estate.”
That scowl was truly legendary. If he could weaponize it… mentally shaking away the thought, he concentrated on smiling at the Professor.
“It is the theory of the Headmaster that you were lost to time and that the Goblet has retrieved you home.”
“That is a fascinating theory and one I would love to explore. Why don’t we take the time to travel to Gringotts and see what the Goblins believe my status to be. That should let us narrow things down. Thank you, Professor, for offering to take me.”
Standing up, he took the tome to Madam Pince to return to its home before heading towards the Front of the school, the Professor following in his wake.
***
Harry sighed as he leaned back in his chair, glaring at the desk. The visit to Gringotts had been a mixed experience. They apparently had ways of knowing that his magic wasn’t the magic of the local Potter Heir, so he had no access to the monies within those vaults. That meant he was broke and beholden to Hogwarts for his care and safekeeping. However, they were able to confirm his age and adult status, so he wasn’t required to attend classes either, so at least he had that going for him. Additionally, he was able to get a hold of the rules for the Tournament as well as a solid understanding of what Hogwarts would be doing for him during his time in their care.
The tournament rules were rather fascinating. They gave the champions a lot of rights and powers that he was betting the organizers weren’t aware of. The more important ones were the care and treatment of the champions and their representatives. With Hogwarts already having agreed to his upkeep in payment for his kidnapping, he was going to be able to request further financial support, so at least he wouldn’t be broke. Eventually. Until then, he would have to make due with what he could.
Making a copy of the tournament rules, he had an elf take them to Daphne, along with his letter detailing his plans and ideas. He then turned his attention back to the list of people that she had recommended as having the intelligence to help with researching the Goblet. He’d never considered some of these people. They hadn’t been in Ravenclaw with him, nor did they stand out during his time at Hogwarts. One name tickled his memories though, a muggleborn who had been killed his first year. It would seem she had survived in this world and was one of the top witches in her year.
Smiling to himself, he set out to write another set of letters. He certainly planned to keep the elves busy.
***
“Ms. Bones, would you have a moment?”
Susan turned around to find Harry Potter of all people approaching. Her fellow Puffs all slowed to a stop as they considered the newcomer. Not much was known about the person who had shown up in a pillar of fire. He never attended any of the classes. No one even knew where he slept at night, though there had been efforts to learn that information. Not from Hufflepuff, of course. Live and let live and all that.
“Mr. Potter. How can I help you?”
Harry smiled at her, offering a short bow. He didn’t have his staff with him, but he did have the skulls adorning the shoulders of his robes. While macabre, they hadn’t seemed dangerous. More protective than anything else. Plus he’d taken care of Snape. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the moment.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Bones. I won’t take up too much of it. I was mostly wondering if your family had a house elf that you were allowed to call. It seems that no one has informed the DMLE of what has happened here. The Headmaster said he had no plans to inform them himself and I haven’t seen any responses. I would have hoped to at least address my legal status with your Aunt, if possible.”
Susan blinked in surprise before her eyes narrowed. “Now that you mention it, it is strange that we haven’t seen any response. I mean, someone died!” She gave a quick glance among her housemates before nodding. “Thank you for pointing this out to me, Mr. Potter. I’ll see that something gets to my Aunt, one way or another.”
“Thank you, and please, call me Harry.”
***
Harry sighed. “This would be a lot simpler if we didn’t have to troop down here every time we wanted to examine the Goblet.” He scowled down at his notes for a moment before turning to regard those who had gathered to help him.
There was an interesting collection of students around the table. Most of them were sixth and seventh year Ravenclaws, though every house was represented. The most interesting though, had been the younger years who had been invited, such as Hermione Granger, a fourth year Gryphondor, and Luna Lovegood, a third year Ravenclaw.
Both of the younger years had offered some fascinating insights into the workings of the runework on the Goblet, as well as theories about the spells used to trick the thing into summoning him into the Tournament. Luna’s spells that worked as a better dictaquill and that copied their notes were especially useful.
Hermione seemed to look around the table before biting her lip and raising her hand. Harry offered her a bland look before responding. “We’re not in class, Hermione. You don’t need to raise your hand.” Waving away her sheepish look, he instead urged her to comment.
“There doesn’t look to be any way to separate the magical signatures on the Goblet. It’s absorbed so many over the centuries that they all blend together. I think we should focus on isolating the ability that summoned you and see if we can’t either reverse it or turn it into a more permanent connection.”
Harry offered the girl a grin. “Now that is an ambitious suggestion!” He sent that grin around the table. “All those in favor of shifting focus?” This time only Hermione’s hand wasn’t raised, though hers eventually joined the others, once she got her blush under control.
“Ms. Granger, if we get a stable connection between worlds working, I promise a very nice reward once I have access to my finances again. The same goes to all of you here. Now, let’s see what progress we can make before they kick us out again.”
***
“I”m sorry, could you please repeat that. I don’t think I heard you properly.”
Luna blinked up at Harry before nodding and repeating herself. “There are dragons in The Forbidden Forest. Four of them.”
Sighing, Harry reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. The other hand tightened on his staff. For a moment he was silent, trying to understand the true gravity of what he had been told. There was no other reason for dragons to be in the forest, especially four of them, other than to be involved in the Tournament. Given what he had been reading about previous incarnations of the Tournament, the Champions would end up facing the dragons one way or another.
There was no way for him to deal with a dragon without using some of his more exotic abilities. Sure he could kill the dragon but that would expose a lot of his secrets to whoever had summoned him. That was the last thing he wanted. Not to mention that slaying a dragon would put a lot of attention on him.
Suddenly he perks up, he eyes going to the skull atop his staff. Now there was a thought. Focusing on the diminutive blond before him, he leaned down and gave her a hug. “Thank you for telling me, Luna. I know just what to do with this info.”
***
Gouts of flame erupted over the treetops. Harry watched from a safe distance on one of the school brooms, disillusioned and covered by every secrecy spell that he knew. Drifting a little higher, he was finally able to see the clearing and the four cages containing some angry dragons. There were maybe a dozen dragon handlers out there trying to control those beasts. More importantly though, there didn’t appear to be any security around the clearing. They must have been relying on secrecy and obscurity to keep things safe, or at least some value of safe at least.
With a grin, he made his way into the trees, slowly weaving between branches as he neared the clearing. Coming to a stop beside a particularly gnarled specimen, he drifted down to stand at the base of the tree. After shrinking the broom and placing it in his robes, he called his staff, then placed the other hand on the trunk.
Harry had only cast this spell one time in the past, but he still remembered everything about it. Fortunately there were plenty of angry spirits roaming the woods, victims of the inhabitants that gave the forest its Forbidden moniker. Some of those spirits had been there for centuries and built up quite a bit of hatred for the living.
Binding those angry spirits to the tree, he gave it life and direction. Mostly to distract the dragon handlers. Not that he cared if they were killed but it would make things harder if there was an investigation into what he did this night. Injured dragon handlers would be cared for by their own healers rather than going to the DMLE or other local healers.
It took time to enchant additional trees but he didn’t stop until he had an even half dozen. By the time he was done he was feeling drained from bending so many spirits to his will. Fortunately it was mostly a mental exhaustion rather than one affecting his magic. He would need all that remained to cast the spells on the dragons once he got the wranglers properly distracted.
A grin every bit as macabre as the skulls adorned his face as he pictured the havoc those spells would wreck on the day of the first task. Before that though, he needed to make sure the Goblet was dealt with.
Would be a right shame if he lost his magic before he could get rescued or return on his own.
***
Harry stood before a pedestal holding the Goblet of Fire. The lone Ministry guard was outside, unconscious and more importantly, unaware of who had knocked him out. Reaching into a pouch with gloved hands, Harry pulled out Ravenclaw’s Diadem, complete with resident soul shard. He was fortunate that his staff reminded him of the horcrux hidden in the castle. It made things simpler.
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Dropping the Diadem into the Goblet, he took a step back before removing his gloves and taking hold of his staff. Calling upon the knowledge gained from the Black Library as well as experimenting on Voldy’s Horcruxes, he crafted a spell to convince this particular soul fragment that the Goblet was the enemy. Unfortunately, souls didn’t like being manipulated and Tommy’s were especially stubborn. Fortunately he had plenty of both time and magic to get this done.
By the time he managed to kick the soul shard into gear Harry was drenched in sweat and only his grip on the staff kept him upright. However, he refused to fall. Not because anyone would see his moment of weakness, but because weakness could become a habit, one he couldn’t afford in this world of hidden enemies. At least in his own world he knew who his enemies were and could see them coming. Or go chasing after them as often was the case.
Mentally pushing aside his exhaustion, he watched as a dark cloud erupted from the Goblet before wrapping around like a snake to squeeze the ancient artifact. Imagine his surprise when another force erupted from the Goblet, this one formed of flame and smoke. Harry watched in fascination as the two powers battled for survival. It was only after the skull atop his staff hissed at him to do something that he realised the opportunity being afforded him.
While he kept part of his attention on the mystical combat, the rest of his mental energy was engaged in crafting the right magical matrix with prompts from the staff. What seemed like frantic hours but was merely moments later, the fight was winding down, both ethereal snakes appearing lethargic.
Harry reached into his robes and withdrew a bag, from which he pulled a perfectly spherical piece of bone about the size of a peach. There were numerous runes etched upon its surface. After setting the sphere into the mouth of the skull on his staff, he pointed it at the nearly concluded combat.
Both surviving snakes seemed to shudder before piercing screams filled the air. One from the horcrux and a seeming multitude from the Goblet. Those clouds streamed through the air and into the mouth of the skull, almost as if it was eating the magic. It wasn’t that far off, as the magic was being drawn into the sphere of bone. Green light shown in the eye sockets of the skull before it erupted into green flames.
A sharp cracking echoed through the room and Harry glanced up to see the Goblet split vertically in half before falling off the pedestal, leaving a pristine and uncursed Diadem in its wake. Harry had just a moment to grin in triumph and summon the Founder’s artifact before he collapsed to the floor. He was just barely able to croak out a request for a Hogwarts elf to help him to his room.
***
Harry groaned awake and rolled onto his side, grateful as he reached with a shaky hand for the glass of water on the nightstand. Thank Merlin for House Elves. Once he was feeling a little more steady he waved a hand to cast the tempus spell. Seems he’d been out for most of the day. That meant he only had one night before the first task. Fortunately he had managed to finish everything in time, if only just barely.
Putting on his glasses, he looked over to where his staff was standing next to the bed with the bone sphere nestled in its jaws. His grin grew as he contemplated that sphere. It was a type of magic he had yet to explore while in his own world and the thought of what he would be able to unleash in conjunction with what he’d already imbued the dragons with had him nearly giddy with excitement.
Even better was the thought that all of this experimentation was in a place that was safe to unleash. There would be few repercussions for him to deal with once he was back in his own world. Better yet, much of what he was doing here should be able to be brought back with him, considering he had retained possession of his staff and custom robes.
For a moment he felt a slight twinge of regret that some of his new friends might get caught in the crossfire. Not enough to stop his plans but perhaps he would make an effort to ensure that they were taken care of first. Did that mean he needed to warn them about the dragons or could he somehow turn things to his favor in all the commotion.
Sighing, Harry decided he didn’t have nearly enough information and set to writing yet another letter. Sometimes it felt like he’d lost half his brain behind when he was summoned to this world. He was going to have to do something amazing for his Daphne when they finally saw each other again.
***
Daphne made her way through the stands with her sister and Tracey. Along the way she collected the other members of the Research Group they had formed with Harry. Even Hermione. Together they all headed to a section of the stands that the letter had indicated. While she hadn’t been told exactly what was going to happen, she had been informed that things could be dangerous. That was even more apparent when he had explained that the task would include dragons. Dragons! At Hogwarts!
Pushing aside that terrifying thought, she focused on guiding the group to their spot, ensuring that they had a good view of the action and a clear path to the exits. She also took the time to convince the group to brush up on their shield charms and other protective spells, though only a few of the higher years were practiced with the spells. While she knew of the spells in theory, she hadn’t really had the chance to put them to use.
In addition to the protective spells, she also had people organize some privacy spells for their group. Since the spells were meant to cover a much larger area than she was used to, they needed to work together. They managed to get everything done in time and more importantly, without drawing any attention from the professors or the ministry forces. Harry had been quite insistent that they do nothing to draw attention to themselves before everything started. He wanted no chance that they might be linked to what happened.
After settling into her seat, she turned her thoughts to the actual task. The champions would be fighting dragons in some capacity. Harry would be facing dragons. She very deliberately did not allow herself to dwell on how dangerous that would be. She knew he had a plan, something spectacular as well as dangerous in its own right. While she would have liked to know more in advance so she could properly prepare for it, there was something to be said about the excitement of the unknown.
With an internal frown she squashed that last thought. She did not need to get herself emotionally entangled with the man already linked to an alternate version of herself.
Now if only she could properly convince herself of that.
***
Harry stood to one side in the Champions’ tent and watched the other champions select their dragons and tried to keep himself calm. He still wasn’t fully recovered from the most powerful and elaborate bit of magic he had ever cast. The only thing keeping him from freaking out at the prospect of facing a dragon was knowing he wasn’t going to be facing a dragon if everything went according to plan. However, he was preparing for the worst as well. It was possible that he missed some factor in his spell, some variable that could lead to a lot more than the planned bloodshed.
Shaking away the thought, he instead focused on the immediate. Drawing the final model dragon, he looked at the small Hungarian Horntail in his hand. A small smile came to his lips as he watched the little incarnation of fire and destruction rampage on his palm. Perhaps there was a backup plan should he need it as well.
Turning out the rest of whatever the Ministry officials had to say, he instead worked to catch Krum’s attention. Leaning close, he whispered, “Things are not as they seem. The dragon has a task beyond the one for the Tournament.” The Durmstrang champion narrowed his eyes at Harry before offering a curt nod. A moment later the young man was through the flaps of the tent and into the arena.
Harry nodded to himself and allowed himself to be herded away from the entrance of the tent, so that he couldn’t interfere or get unfair information, according to the official. Suppressing a chuckle, he retreated to his corner of the tent, where his staff awaited him.
That had been an interesting confrontation earlier at the weighing of the wands. Olivander was able to determine that the staff was indeed a wand, although not one he had ever encountered. Harry considered himself fortunate that the Wand Maker hadn’t the time to fully examine the staff and some of the more esoteric components of it. Such as the presence of a horcrux. No one else was allowed access to the staff either, lest they be accused of tampering and subject to the retribution of the Goblet.
Whispering softly to himself and the staff, Harry gathered his magic and concentration, reaching out to the dragon that crouched in the arena.
***
Daphne watched the dragon in morbid fascination as it seemed to ignore the Durmstrang champion, its attention turned towards the Judges’ Table. Even when Krum started casting at the dragon, the beast merely shrugged off the spells and started lumbering away from the nest. The chain only delayed the dragon for a moment before it snapped. Fire lashed towards the table only to billow up against an invisible shield.
Glancing through the wall of flames, Daphne could see the Headmaster with his wand out, most likely the one who cast the shield, while the other judges seemed to be scampering around in terror. Except for Madame Maxine, who looked as calm as Dumbledore, her wand weaving something to no doubt deal with the dragon.
A sudden roar had Daphne’s gaze snap in another direction as one of the other dragons crawled over the edge of the far side of the stands. This one looked to be focused on a group of Ministry officials, a tongue of flame licking out, only to be rebuffed by a group of Aurors. Suddenly the stands shook and Daphne knew it was time to focus on survival.
Each of the students in the Research Group seemed to be under more emotional control than the vast majority of the screaming crowd. Not that Daphne blamed everyone else. Not only did they have no clue something like this would happen (not that Daphne had expected rampaging dragons) but most had come for the excitement of the Tournament. That excitement had been turned to terror even as the Aurors and other Ministry officials tried to gain some kind of control.
By the time the other two dragons had made their way into the fight, ignoring the dragon handlers casting spells at them from atop their brooms, the Research Group had already affected a slow moving retreat, gathering those around them when they could. Several of the group called out the status of the dragons, noting that the first one to attack the judges was down, most likely dead, if the giant metal spear sticking out of its chest was any indication.
Just as the group was escaping the stands and heading towards the school they were confronted by Harry, who had somehow appeared before them. He looked to be smiling at the chaos, the eyes of the skull adorning his staff glowing with a green light that was reflected in his own eyes. “Everyone, please continue to the school and do not stop for anything. I fear that the events this night will forever change the way things are in your world. Before that happens, I wanted to thank each of you for everything you have done. You will find a series of small gifts waiting for you when you reach your dorms. While I have enjoyed our time together, I truly cannot wait any longer to go home. There are those who need me and are waiting for me.”
Harry offered them a deep bow before turning with a swirl of his cape (when did he get a cape?) and launching himself in a sort of glide back towards the arena.
Daphne watched him float off towards an arena packed with rampaging dragons, torn between wanting to help the friend she’d only known for a month. Ultimately, she knew she wouldn’t be able to do anything about the dragons and turned to continue back towards the dorms. Perhaps when Harry finished with everything he would be able to explain things.
***
By the time Harry returned to the arena, only one of the dragons was still up and fighting. The Hungarian Horntail that he would have had to face looked to have managed to pin down Karkaroff. At least it looked like it could be the Durmstrang Headmaster. It was kind of hard to tell without a head, but the outfit looked the same.
Harry watched as the remaining Aurors and Headmasters were able to drive the dragon back from its prize and then pin it in place with a multitude of stunning and blasting hexes.
Well now, couldn’t have them just stunning the beast. Slamming the butt of his staff against the rocky ground, Harry summoned a spike of stone beneath the dragon, that then darted up and pierced the mighty chest of the beast. There was a strangled cry from the dragon and for just a moment he regretted what he had done. These were majestic creatures and deserved better than to have been slain in this manner. Fortunately he had plans already in place. Everything had worked out the way he had planned. All that exhaustion had been worth it.
Reaching out with his magic, he grabbed hold of the souls of the marked Death Eaters that he had forced the dragons to target. Using the power of those dearly depart he then latched onto the cores of the dead dragons, wrapping the multitude of souls together into a bound creature and forcing them back to shambling unlife.
Each of the four dragon bodies shuddered for a moment before pulling themselves back into a standing position, their eyes glowing the same green as his staff. Even more than before, the dragons shrugged off all attacks being used against them, even the solid projectiles that had previously slain them. The stone pillar in the Horntails chest snapped apart before crumbling away.
“Harry! What is the meaning of this?”
Turning away from where the dragons were lumbering towards him, Harry faced the gathered survivors, a smile on his lips. “I’m just gathering my forces, Albus. I’d decided, that since you weren’t making any efforts to return me to my home, I would find a way to force you to do so. Four undead dragons seemed like a lot of force, don’t you think?”
The four dragons circled protectively around Harry, though they did take the time to flame towards the dragon handlers on their brooms, driving them back. Trying to take down one dragon was one thing. Four dragons quick another indeed. Especially since they had been augmented and changed by whatever force had reawakened them.
The Headmaster sighed, though he never lowered his wand. “Dark Magic, Harry? I’m so disappointed in you, my boy.”
Beside the Headmaster, some man was screaming at the security and DMLE forces to arrest Harry. Everyone was ignoring that man.
Harry merely smirked back at the Professor. “Kidnapping and Oath Breaking, Albus? I’m so disappointed in you.” He waited a moment, savoring the barely concealed look of consternation on Dumbledore’s face.
“Now that I have your attention, here is my demand. Send me home or I reduce Wizarding London to ash. You have one week to figure it out.”
Ignoring the shouted demand, Harry swung onto his Horntail. The group then lumbered out of the arena after clearing the way with several gouts of flame. As he was leaving he could hear a lot of that shouting being directed at the Headmaster.