21 Chapter 21: Task Training and Wand Weighing

"Alright, Harry, first things first. You got any workout clothes here?" Tonks asked her newest student as they came to a halt near the edge of the Black Lake.

Harry ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "Err, no. Sorry. That's one thing I haven't bought yet…"

Tonks just shrugged and pulled out a small backpack to start rummaging through it. "No worries, I kind of expected that to be honest. Most wizards and witches don't bother with regular exercise since potions and spells can regulate a lot of things exercise would help with. Ah, here we go," she said pulling out a pair of shorts and a tank top, handed them over to Harry and stepped back. "Put these on."

"Ugh…Tonks…we're in the middle of the grounds," Harry waved around him as his face grew red. Fred and Fleur came up walking down from the castle in time to hear and both started giggling.

Tonks rolled her eyes and waved her wand conjuring a small screen. "So modest! Better? Now hurry up!"

Sighing, Harry quickly switched out of his robes and into the gear Tonks had provided. "Wow, these fit well."

"Well they better. I asked Shiva for your size before grabbing them. And I asked Madam Malkin's to throw a fitting charm on them too," Tonks said.

Fleur came forward. "Do you mind if we stay to observe some of ze training, Miss Tonks?"

Tonks looked her up and down, narrowing her eyes. "Fred can stay, but he needs to change as well. You're Fleur right? The girl Harry and Hermione helped at the World Cup?"

"Oui." Behind her, Fred saluted Tonks and transfigured his robes into something closer to what Harry was wearing as he stepped out from the curtain.

Tonks considered Fleur for another few seconds. The younger girl's eyes strayed to Harry's figure and Tonks couldn't help the small feeling of annoyance that sprang to life watching this blonde eye him. But…it wasn't fair to Fleur to get frustrated with the girl. Tonks had taken an intentional step back so she didn't have the right to get annoyed with other girls not doing the same. Besides, she was supposed to be friends with Harry. "Fine. You can stay. Both of you though need to understand that my priority is Harry. If you keep up, you can keep working with us. But if you fall behind, that's your problem." The two other Champions nodded and Tonks let out a breath as she turned back to her charge. She had to blink a few times and consciously clamp down on her hair.

Harry had filled out. He wasn't a gangly, too skinny kid anymore. He didn't have much in the way of muscles but he was fit and somewhat toned. Probably a nice mix of Quidditch and getting decent meals during the summer finally. Shiva had mentioned something about the nutrient potion regime finally finishing up a month or two ago too…shaking her head Tonks snapped herself out of her ogling. Hell, no wonder, Fleur had been staring.

"Alright, first lesson, Harry." He nodded to her and stood at attention. "What is the best way to not get hit by a spell?"

"Cast a protego or a variant shield charm," he said immediately.

Tonks shook her head. "Wrong. Try again."

"Err, intercept it with something? Like a conjured rock or a precision spell?"

"Nope. One more guess."

"Umm…" he paused to consider. After a few moments his eyes widened and Harry said with a smile, "Don't be where it's hitting."

Tonks smiled back and nodded. "Exactly. Lesson number 1: Avoidance. You can't be affected by a spell if it misses you. Dodging is probably one of the single most useful skills any wizard can learn. Most spells are stopped by shield charms but the Unforgivables in particular are not fazed by them. No Crucio or Avada Kadavra will hurt you though if they can't hit you."

"But we are not going against a person firing ze killing curse," Fleur said frowning. "At least…I would certainly 'ope we are not…"

Fred shrugged. "Being around Harry for more than five minutes you learn to expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't happen."

"Hey!" Harry shouted indignantly.

Tonks just rolled her eyes and addressed Fleur. "True, but the principle still stands. If you can dodge an AK you should be able to dodge most of what's coming in this Tournament."

Harry held up a hand. "What about area attack spells? Like fire or a ramped up version of my Freezer?"

"That's the water and ice one right?" Harry nodded at her question while Fleur just raised her eyes, intrigued. "Area spells are harder. Dodging isn't as useful against them so shields tend to work best. The best defense against someone tossing out area attack spells is a strong offense. Generally most area spells take a bit more power to cast and they will also drain your shields a lot faster. So you need to take them out quick. Going up against creatures that breathe out fire or something…doubly so. Attack and attack fast. Keep them off their game while you dance around the battlefield." The trio nodded their understanding.

"Alright then," Tonks said rolling her shoulders. "From now on, Monday through Saturday we'll meet out here at 6 a.m. and go for a quick run around the lake and some fitness exercises afterward to build endurance. We'll skip that this morning and just work on technique and dodging." She gave an evil little grin. "Let's get started shall we?"

Harry groaned as he slipped into the library seat next to Hermione. She started rubbing his back and he felt some of the knotted muscles loosen a bit. "Tonks work you hard?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Lots and lots of jumping around. Quidditch is good for the arms and the thighs. Not so good for the lower legs or the back apparently. So what are we working on, Mione?"

She pulled over a book grinning. "Research." Harry snorted and raised his eyebrows at her. "Okay, okay, creature research. Bagman may not have told you what you're facing in the First Task but 9 times out of 10, it's been some sort of magical beast. Generally you have to kill it, get past it or steal something from it. So, we're doing research and drilling into you as many different kinds of magical animals as we can, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses."

"Okay, sounds good." Harry said concentrating on her hand still rubbing his back. "What classification are we looking at first?"

Hermione chewed on her lip and Harry had to concentrate to focus what she said instead of letting his mind wander. "Well, I figure we should probably start with some of the five X creatures and move on to the four X creatures. I have a list of some of the more likely animals they might choose based on prior decisions."

"Factored in Umbridge and her horribly blatant hatred of me?"

Hermione snorted. "It's me, Harry. Of course I have. That's…" she trailed off and fingered a page in the book. "That's actually what I'm afraid of."

Harry reached over and squeezed her leg before kissing her cheek. "I'm going to be okay, Mione. I promise you, I will survive this thing. Now what are we looking at first?"

Hermione set her shoulders and nodded. "Right. Yes. Okay, so this is a chimera…"

Harry, Fred and Fleur met up with Daphne after lunch. Surprisingly Viktor Krum was present as well. "Hi, Viktor," Harry said. "I didn't think you'd want to join us."

The Quidditch star shrugged. "I haff heard of the Greengrass prowess as vell as your own. I admit I don't believe half the stories but…did you really slay a basilisk?"

Harry and Daphne both nodded. Fred grinned and just pointed to the two of them before saying, "They're being modest. Just the two of these Slytherin Slayers went up a thousand year old serpent with just a wand, a few rune stones and a whole pile of attitude! Then Harry here pulls a sword out of a hat and stabs the thing through the mouth!"

"Fred…" Harry muttered running a hand through his hair.

Krum nodded appreciatively. "This is impressive. And I hear also you are good Quidditch player. Ve must play a game sometime. For now though, ve learn."

Daphne took Harry aside before saying anything to the others. "Harry, I don't mind teaching you, but…I'm not sure about the others. Most of what I plan to show you…well let's just say that Hermione wasn't exactly wrong." She turned away from him and shuddered a bit. "I'm not proud of what my father has taught me and I hope that you never have to use these things, but I think you should know them anyway just to be safe."

Harry put a hand on her shoulder and gently turned her around to face him. "Daph," he said softly, "you don't have to be ashamed of knowing darker spells. I don't care. Hell I have a rune stone that launches a giant railroad spike at someone. I'm not exactly the pinnacle of light here."

Daphne snorted. "True. I suppose neither of us shoot rainbows from our behinds. I'll teach the others one of my first spells but afterwards I would prefer it just be you and me and any of our core group if they are interested."

Harry nodded. "I'll let them know."

They walked back over to the group and Fleur smiled at the two. "So, what is zis grey spell Fred has been going on about so much?"

Daphne's mouth lifted into a predatory grin. "Well, Fleur, funny you should ask. See there is a reason I'm referred to as the Ice Queen."

Harry frowned. "I thought that was because you rebuff practically everyone in Slytherin."

"Well that certainly helps reinforce it," she shrugged. "The main reason though is a spell that is particularly useful on boys that get too uppity and decide to take liberties where they aren't wanted. My mother termed it the Frozen Balls." All three boys present gulped and subtly shifted a hand in front of their groin. "I don't suppose I have a volunteer to demonstrate on?"

"Ah, Mr. Potter! Come in, come in!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed as Harry stepped into the classroom. All of the desks had already been push back against the walls and Flitwick was beaming at the student. "I heard from Miss Greengrass that you needed work on the Summoning Charm. I think we can do that at the end of this lesson as the charm is quite simple really and just takes practice. First I'd like to go over a bit of basic dueling strategy."

Harry nodded. "Okay, Professor. I really appreciate you offering to help me on this. I know I've kind of turned you down previously…"

Flitwick laughed and waved the comment away. "Yes, bet you're regretting that now, eh? Don't worry though. You already know the spells I would've taught you and you're proficient enough. No, what I plan on teaching currently is chain casting."

"Chain casting?" Harry asked cocking his head.

The diminutive man nodded excitedly. "Yes. Spell Chains make any duel or battle far more intense and decisive. Some are more difficult than others but that doesn't always translate to more effective. I'm only going to focus on the simpler ones for the moment."

"Err…"

"Oh! I haven't explained it yet!" Flitwick turned and pointed towards one of the walls. "Watch my wand, Harry." Flitwick started waving his wand in intricate patterns and shouting out spells. Unlike every other casting Harry had seen, this time there was no pause or transition between anything Flitwick used. The professor's wand was in constant motion shifting from spewing out flames to a lash to a jet of water to ice to a gust of wind to a banishing spell before he abruptly stopped.

Turning back to a wide eyed Harry, Flitwick smiled. "That is a chain casting. A series of spells that begin as the previous one ends such that with practice you never have to stop between each spell. Done well against an unskilled opponent, you can easily overwhelm them through sheer speed and combined effects. What I just used was the Off Balance Chain. One of the most basic options available."

Harry just kept goggling at the man. "Holy…wow…"

Flitwick chuckled. "Let's begin shall we?"

McGonagall smiled as Harry came into the classroom she had set aside with Fred following in. "Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley, I am afraid you will have to take a seat in the corner over there."

"Aww, the Corner of Shame," Fred groaned theatrically holding one hand over his head and the other over his heart. He conjured himself a small hat saying DUNCE, donned it and took his seat.

The other two rolled their eyes at him and Harry took up a position near the Transfiguration teacher. "Now, what I'm going to show you is how to turn your battlefield against your opponent. I don't imagine you will be able to accomplish quite as much as I will show you but if we can get you both up to the point of being able to raise obstructions I think that will be sufficient."

McGonagall proceeded to make a little demonstration shifting several desks into birds that dive-bombed a mannequin in the back of the room. The birds exploded in mid air before several of the raining feathers turned into swords and spears skewing the target. More desks became suits of armor and started marching towards the dummy and when they threw their spears, those shifted into snakes that bit their target. Spikes rose out of the wall and floor skewing the dummy bringing the demonstration to a close.

Fred whistled and clapped slowly while Harry just stared at the destroyed target in awe. McGonagall smiled at him. "There is a reason I enjoy Transfiguration, Mr. Potter. It can be…quite cathartic to let loose every once in awhile." Harry slowly nodded. "Now as I said, I don't expect you to be able to do much of that at all even by the end of the year. Your father became quite good at it but it took him nearly five years of intense practice focusing solely on that. No, what I'm going to primary show you, Harry, is how to forge walls out of the surrounding ground. If your enemy can't see you, they can't hit you."

Harry went to Fleur's training session with Luna tagging along behind. She had a free period and wanted to see what the older woman could do. Well that and she had 'wanted to show Coco the grounds.' Privately Harry was half convinced the latter reason was the real one that she was following him out to the lawn by the lake.

Luna drifted off to the side as Coco stopped to sniff at the trees nearby and Harry moved up to greet Fleur. The Veela smiled back and motioned for him to sit down. " 'arry, I zink before we begin training I should explain a bit about myself. 'ow much do you know of ze Veela?"

"Not much," he said shrugging. "There aren't many books with quality information on them in Britain. Some of the stuff I did find was…pretty biased." He scowled thinking about the prejudiced drivel he had read.

Fleur sighed and nodded. "Yes. I assumed as much. We are a private people as it iz and it does not 'elp zat many dislike your country's attitudes towards non-humans. Ze primary zing you must know is twofold. One," she said holding up a finger, "iz zat we are nearly immune to mind magics. It iz part of ze benefit to ze Allure – I will explain ze Allure in a moment. Ze second thing is zat ze flames I can conjure are…not typical fire."

Harry nodded. "Yeah I kinda figured that one out when you said at the World Cup that they were 'hungry'. Seemed a bit more than regular fire."

Fleur nodded. "Oui. Ze Veela flame is like a diluted form of a Fiendfyre in actuality."

Harry frowned. "Wait, Fiendfyre is the thing that has a mind of its own and almost always ends up killing the caster too because they can't control it or stop it from consuming everything around it right?"

"My flames are not zat bad, do not fear. A Veela fireball will only seek to consume ze target and zen behave as a regular flame. The conjuration imbues ze intent." She paused for a second and concentrated. Her arm sprouted a light coat of feathers and a fireball coalesced in her hand. "Zis fireball iz intended to simply eat ze blanket laid out over zere. Should I miss ze blanket it will be a normal fireball. Should I hit ze blanket zough…" she aimed and lobbed her fire. It hit the blanket and the flames seemed to spread out to the ends of the cloth then curling back into the center as it burned away. When the blanket had disappeared under the flames, the fire simply stopped moving on its own and simply started to burn the grass around it. Fleur sent a short burst of water from her wand to extinguish it.

"Zat iz ze Veela fireball. I can target it towards simply your shirt if I wished. Zough you would likely have burns afterward it would not consume you az it did ze blanket."

"Wow," Harry muttered. Smiling at Fleur he said louder, "That's really useful, Fleur. Thanks for explaining that." She nodded in reply. Both were interrupted by Luna.

"Does it have a name?" the younger girl asked innocently. "It seems like it should have a name. Veela are people of love and passion. Can we call it passionfyre?"

Fleur's mouth dropped open and Harry laughed. He had to hold his sides as he shook. Fleur took several attempts but eventually responded. "We simply refer to zem as fireballs…I…passionfyre?" she finished weakly.

Luna nodded with a large smile. "Oh, yes. It's so appropriate don't you think! Please can I call it passionfyre? Please, please, please?" She clasped her hands in front of her chest and her eyes widened with her lip turning down in a half frown. Harry shook his head. Fleur was goner. Almost no one could resist Luna when she gave them that look.

True to his prediction Fleur caved. "Fine. Call it ze passionfyre. But when my maman complains zen you will be ze one to explain to her!"

Luna hurriedly nodded and skipped back over to Coco giggling. Harry shook his head at the two. "Don't worry, Fleur. Luna is very good at these things. You mentioned the Allure?"

Fleur sighed. She turned back to Harry and nodded. "Oui. Ze Allure is primarily why Veela are disliked. We subconsciously emit a magical field zat calls to zose around us. Primarily males but it can also attract certain females az well. Ze Allure does not brainwash anyone contrary to what ze books say. It merely causes extreme infatuation. It iz a form of control, true but it cannot make someone do anyzing more zan zey would normally do – albeit under extreme circumstances. Zey wish to please us and if we turn zat desire up zen zey will do most of what we ask. Zis has been abused in ze past, but it iz not somzing zat many of us would do intentionally. Extreme emotion can make control harder. Zere tend to be very few zat are resistant or immune to ze effects. My fazer is one. And…"

"I'm another right?" Harry asked rubbing his chin and thinking back to the World Cup and when she had first come to sit with them.

"Yes. You are highly resistant to my Allure, 'arry," she said smiling. "It is…nice to be around someone zat I do not have to worry about constantly controlling myself near. Ze resistance tends to be somezing innate. Our best guess iz it iz related both to a person's desire for privacy az well az their level of attraction to us wizout the Allure's effects. I bring zis all up 'arry because I want to try somezing with you. I am particularly skilled with personal enchantments and charms. I understand you already have a charms teacher so I would like to work on your resistance. I want to 'elp you improve your natural ability and 'opefully learn to block out zings more intense zan my Allure."

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"Zings like powerful sleeping charms, compulsions, Notice-Me-Nots, perhaps even ze Imperius. I will, of course, not be casting ze Imperius on you. But I would like your permission to flare my Allure to work on improving your ability to resist zis zen move on to ze other items. If we progress far enough, fast enough zen perhaps we can work on improving your ability to function while on fire."

Harry gulped. "Err, Fleur, please tell me you mean 'under' fire and not 'on' fire."

She just smiled. "Why, 'arry, I thought you realized zat I explained 'ow ze Veela flame works for a reason?"

Molly Weasley was sitting in kitchen making dinner Friday afternoon. Arthur had come home a few minutes ago but she'd sent him into the living room so he could relax after his long day like normal. The house was so calm and quiet now that all her children had either left or were at school.

Bill and Charlie were still out of the country in their far too dangerous jobs. No matter how often she berated those two to wizen up and settle down into a safer, more stable career neither ever listened! She had no idea where she'd gone wrong with raising those boys. Molly shook her head sadly at the foolishness of youth. All she could do at this point was keep trying and hoping this bit of rebellion would peter off soon enough.

Percy was doing fabulously though! He'd even gotten a job with the Ministry! Oh she couldn't be more proud of her perfect son!

Thinking of her youngest four though...Molly frowned and nearly burned her stew. The nerve of Fred to cheat his way into the Triwizard Tournament! She was only thankful that dear Ron had had the good sense to inform her before she read about it in the papers. That the twins had managed to con him into the attempt as well! When those two got home she'd make sure they took the lesson to heart for once.

And poor, poor Ginny. She'd felt it as the contract between her daughter and the Potter boy had been destroyed. The goblins had been only too happy to inform her that he had taken the document with him when he left. She didn't understand how Harry Potter could have possibly damaged the contract on his own without the approval of Dumbledore. She'd have to ask the Headmaster about that when she visited the school next. How it had happened wasn't nearly as important as the fact that it had though. Harry Potter declaring her daughter unworthy?! She could only hope he'd taken her scolding to heart. It wasn't enough that he was pushing her sons into even worse behavior than usual, but now he was saying their family wasn't worth his hand!

Harrumphing, she scooped out two bowls of stew and called her husband to the table.

"Are you alright, Molly? You look upset," Arthur asked as he sat down.

"It's nothing, dear. I'm just still a little frustrated with the boys."

Arthur reached over to pat her hand. "Fred will be fine. I've always known that if he applied himself, he'd go far. You just watch this will be the best thing to ever happen to him."

Molly started to reply but stopped as an owl came into the room and dropped off a smoking red letter. "A Howler?" she said blinking in confusion as she stared at the letter. "Who could possibly send me a Howler?" She reached out to the letter and as soon as she touched it, it sprang to life.

HOW DARE I ENTER THE TOURNAMENT?! Molly froze as Fred's voice reverberated through the room. George's followed immediately after. WE BOTH ENTERED THE THING, MOTHER! AND SO DID PRECIOUS LITTLE RONNIKINS OR MAYBE HE FORGOT TO MENTION THAT TO YOU. Fred and George were definitely switching lines now and her face grew red. MAYBE HE FORGOT TO MENTION SOMETHING ELSE? LIKE HOW HE SAID THAT I DESERVED TO BE MAIMED AND HARRY DESERVED TO DIE IN THIS COMPETITION? AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, MUM, FRED IS MORE THAN CAPABLE ENOUGH TO DO THIS. AND I'M TRAINING WITH HARRY AND THE OTHERS. AND WE TRIED TO ENTER THIS LONG BEFORE HARRY SHOWED US AN EASY WAY THAT NO ONE HAD CONSIDERED. HE DIDN'T 'CORRUPT' US; HE PROBABLY PREVENTED US FROM HURTING OURSELVES BY GOING FOR MORE IMPRESSIVE OPTIONS! AND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, MUM, IF FRED DID FOLLOW YOUR STUPID ADVICE TO BOW OUT HE'D LOSE HIS MAGIC. SO KINDLY STOP TALKING ABOUT THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, MUM!

The Howler curled up and vanished into a ball of ash. Molly slammed her fists onto the table and stood. "Why those two! I'm going to that school immediately and – " She cut off as a second bird came into the kitchen and dropped another Howler onto the table. Trembling with rage, Molly reached out and touched that one as well only to cringe back as her daughter's voice shouted throughout the house.

HOW DARE YOU YELL AT HARRY, MOTHER! YOU SIGNED THAT HORRIBLE CONTRACT FOR US BEFORE I WAS OUT OF NAPPIES. PRACTICALLY BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE HOSPITAL! HARRY HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A GENLTEMAN SINCE HE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND TOLD ME WHAT HE WAS DOING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. HE HAD EVERY RIGHT IN THE WORLD TO TEAR THAT THING UP AS SOON AS HE WAS ABLE BUT HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT FIRST TO MAKE SURE I WAS OKAY WITH THAT. THAT I WOULD BE ALRIGHT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF YOU SELLING ME OFF AGAIN! IF YOU EVER TRY TO FORCE ME INTO A MARRIAGE AGAIN MOTHER I WILL GO TO BILL AND YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN!

Molly's mouth dropped open as Ginny's Howler's ash fell to the table. She fell into her seat and simply stared at the mess on her table.

"Molly," Arthur said. She looked up at him and cringed. Her husband's face was set in stone. She hadn't seen him this angry since they had left school. "What contract is Ginevra talking about?"

"Arthur, dear, it's really nothing. Just a little...well – " Molly was against saved from finishing her reply as a third owl came into the kitchen bearing another Howler. She paled and reached for her wand to banish it.

Arthur caught her wrist and plucked the wand from her hand. "Perhaps we should hear what this one says as well, Molly." He reached out and this time a voice she didn't recognize yelled out into her home.

YOU THREATEN MY WARD!? WHO THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE SHITE THAT HARRY POTTER HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH HIS ENTIRE LIFE! HE DOES NOT NEED SOME TWO BIT HAG THREATENING TO SPANK HIM FOR STANDING UP FOR HIMSELF! YOUR TWINS WOULD'VE GOTTEN THEIR NAMES IN THAT THRICE DAMNED GOBLET WITH OR WITHOUT HARRY TELLING THEM HOW TO DO IT WITHOUT HURTING THEMSELVES AND IF YOUR YOUNGEST SON HAD HAD ANY BRAINS THEN HE WOULD NEVER HAVE TRIED TO ENTER HIMSELF. SPURNING YOUR DAUGHTER?! HAVE YOU EVER BOTHERED TO SPEAK TO THE GIRL, MOLLY WEASLEY? HARRY RISKED HIS FREEDOM TO ASK YOUR DAUGHTER WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO WITH THAT STUPID CONTRACT AND SHE ASKED HIM TO TEAR IT UP BECAUSE IT WASN'T RIGHT OR FAIR. AND WHAT THE BLOODY HELL MAKES PUREBLOODS SO PERFECT? THE SMARTEST WITCH IN THIS SCHOOL HAPPENS TO BE A MUGGLE-BORN YOU BIGOT AND HARRY IS THE MOST PROMISING MAGICAL INVENTOR OUR WORLD HAS SEEN IN A GENERATION YET HE'S A HALF-BLOOD! STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY WARD WOMAN!

The Howler curled up into ash and Molly could only gulp as she looked with wide eyes at her husband.

"Molly. I think we need to have a bit of a talk over what you have been doing the past few days."

It had been a grueling week for Harry. None of his friends or allies had let him rest for very long. Between the massive amounts of specialty training coupled with the few regular classes he attended and Tonks' workouts, Harry was completely wiped. He took some slight comfort in knowing that at least Sirius and Remus weren't among those punishing him with individualized spell training. Both had wanted to, but apparently after speaking with Tonks they admitted they couldn't contribute much more beyond what Harry was already getting. Instead they were holed up in the Black library doing researching to see if they could find anything unusual or off-the-wall that might be useful.

Sunday dawned bright and clear and Harry was lying on the grass with Hermione, Fleur and Tonks nearby. They had just finished a final Allure resistance experiment. Harry had been amused to find that even on full blast, Fleur barely even caused his eyes to droop anymore yet Hermione amusingly enough had started to crawl towards the blonde for a few seconds before catching herself and sitting back down muttering something under her breath. Tonks also confessed to feeling something but had discovered that if she rapidly shifted a few times she could clear her head and avoid the majority of anything Fleur dished out. It wasn't quite as good as natural resistance but it worked in a pinch.

"I hurt in muscles I didn't even know I had," Harry complained.

Tonks snorted. "This is nothing. I couldn't even feel half my body when Moody was done with me my first week. Still need to try and talk to that idiot..."

"He was your primary trainer right, Tonks?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," she agreed. "Things have been so busy this week that I haven't had an opportunity to sit down with him. When I'm free he's teaching, when he's free I'm tutoring. We'll meet up eventually and have a drink or something. Well, I'll have a drink while he sips from his canteen. There's a limit to paranoia."

"Zis is ze grumpy scarred man with ze peg leg and odd eye?" Fleur asked scowling. "I do like 'im. I feel like he iz seeing right zrough my robes whenever I get close."

Tonks shrugged. "Mad-Eye can stare pretty hard so I can't blame you for that. He may be an arse, but he's a good man. He'd never use his eye to do that, Fleur."

Fleur shook her head. "I will still keep avoiding 'im all ze same zank you. Ze only ones on zese grounds I would let see under my robes would be 'arry and 'ermione."

Harry's eyes bulged and Hermione started coughing, two sets of cheeks giving off huge blushes. Tonks had to force her hair to stay the blue she had chosen for the day and push down the growl that had started to come up. Hadn't she already decided not to get angry with the French girl? She had no right to be territorial when she wouldn't admit to having a claim!

"Um, err, ah..." Harry tried to say something but just spluttered. Fleur on the other hand started laughing.

"You two are far too easy to tease!" she said between chuckles. "Truly zough while I doubt I'd object I would much prefer to go on a date or somezing first. I am not...what is ze English expression – hard boiled?" The three others turned to Fleur blinking for nearly five seconds before bursting out in side-splitting laughter. "Well, I guess it was not ze right expression zen," she said rolling her eyes.

"It's, 'easy' Fleur," Tonks said between her laughs. All the enmity she had felt a few moments ago drained away. The Veela girl could apparently be as adorable as Luna sometimes. "You're not easy."

"Ah. Yes, zat. I knew it was an egg expression."

Hermione shook her head quieting down. "That's not really the etymology of the expression, Fleur. It actually comes from – "

"Hermione, not the point," Harry said wiping his eyes. His stomach grumbled loudly and he snorted again. "Well speaking of food...Sucks we have to head inside to get some though."

"You could just call a house elf and ask them to bring us a picnic basket you know," Tonks commented.

"Really?" Harry asked. "Um, any house elf, could I ask a favor?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the same time saying, "There are house elves at Hogwarts?"

A loud crack sounded as in front of the group of four a house elf in a small uniform made out of an old ratty sweater and a single glove appeared standing in the grass. The elf bowed low and Harry stared at him. "How can Dobby bes of service Great Master Harry Potter Sir?"

"Dobby?" Harry asked incredulously. "You're at Hogwarts now? I – hi! How have you been?"

Dobby straightened up and immediately burst into tears. "Great Master Harry Potter Sir inquires after Dobby's health?! Great Master is Best Master Ever!"

"You know this guy I take it?" Tonks asked fighting to hold onto her laughter. Fleur made no such attempt and was curled up on the grass biting her fist. Harry just groaned.

"Dobby, please, we've been over this the last time, either just Harry or if you absolutely must, Harry Potter or Harry Sir. Okay? Please? And for the love of Merlin, please don't start calling me Best Master Ever Great Master Harry Potter Sir!" Harry tried desperately pleading with the elf.

Dobby's sobs quieted and he peered at Harry. "Can Dobby use Master Harry Potter?"

"Harry Potter."

"Master Harry."

Harry groaned. "Fine! Just no more than two words."

"Deal!" Dobby stuck out his hand and Harry shook on it. "Now how can Dobby bes helping Master Harry, Master Harry's Grangy, Master Harry's Tonksie and Master Harry's Flower?"

Tonks and Fleur both raised their eyebrows at these names. Hermione was too busy glowering at Harry to seem to notice her new name.

"Um, can we get a picnic basket out here? If it's not too much trouble. We can go inside if it is," Harry said running a hand through his hair.

"Oh no, Master Harry! It bes no problem! Dobby gets it and brings it right back!" The house elf quickly snapped his fingers and vanished.

"Haaarrrryyyy," Hermione said slowly. Sensing danger Harry turned to smile at his girlfriend.

"Yes, Hermione?" He tried to flash her the look he knew made her lose interest in anything but snogging him.

Apparently he wasn't as practiced at it as he'd hoped. "Why is Dobby still referring to you as Master?"

Holding up his hands he looked to the two older girls for support but they just smiled and waved him on. "Traitors. I have no idea, Hermione. I haven't seen him since Daddy Malfoy left the castle Second Year."

She frowned. "You didn't bind him to servitude afterwards?"

"If I had don't you think you'd have noticed by now?" Always appeal to logic. Hermione would listen to logic.

"Well...yes, I suppose I probably would have..." she said sounding unsure.

Tonks shrugged as the picnic basket popped into existence in between the four. "You sure about that, Harry?" She ignored the betrayed expression he shot her. "I'm not saying you did it intentionally but house elves kind of need the bond to survive."

Hermione crossed her arms and huffed. "They don't need institutionalized slavery to survive! That is brainwashing on a cultural level!"

"No, Hermione, I don't mean figuratively they need work – though they do of course like it – I mean literally. Here, watch, Dobby? Can you come back for a minute?"

"Miss Tonksie bes calling for Dobby?" Dobby asked as he popped in with a crack.

"Can you please tell, Master Harry's Grangy," Hermione noticed the nickname that time but held her tongue for the moment, "what happens when a house elf isn't bound to a family?"

"It is not something elveses usually be talking about..." Dobby said wringing his hands.

Hermione frowned and sat forward a little. "Why? Dobby, please."

Dobby sighed and looked to Harry who nodded encouragingly. "If elveses lose their bond they lose their magics and then they die."

Hermione froze and Harry shot up straight instead. "Wait what? I gave you a death sentence by freeing you?!"

Dobby hurried shook his head fast enough for his ears to flap. "Oh no, Master Harry! Yous be freeing Dobby from bad masters! Dobby being ever so grateful! But...Dobby being bad too..."

Fleur smiled softly and reaching out to pat Dobby's shoulder. "You bonded wiz your 'ero, no?"

Dobby nodded his head glumly. "Dobby is sorry, Master Harry. Dobby knows he should have asked but...Dobby didn't want to make yous feel pressured."

Harry groaned. "I think Neville needs to pick his pureblood classes back up again. Don't worry about it Dobby. If you're happy with me you're welcome to stay." He was promptly tackled back down to the ground by a sobbing elf wrapped around his chest. "But I have ground rules!" Dobby hurriedly pulled back and sat up to listen. "Okay Rule 1: no intentionally hurting yourself. If you think you need to be punished run it by me first." Dobby nodded. "Rule 2: No trying to save my life unless I specifically ask for it. Also any potential life saving attempts must be themselves nonlethal to me and friends/allies, and should also not be expected to cause severe bodily harm including maiming, scarring and permanent disfigurement."

Fleur started to chuckle before seeing Harry was serious and cutting off. She stared for a moment with an open mouth before turning to Hermione who mouthed 'later'.

Dobby seemed to consider. "Can Dobby attempt to save Master Harry's life if Master Harry is unconscious or cannot ask for help if Dobby agrees to the restrictions on life saving attempts?"

"Sure."

"Dobby agrees."

"Okay, Rule 3: You get two days a week time off as well as 50 galleons a month," Harry said.

Dobby looked horrified at Harry's offer. "1 day a month and 1 galleon every three months," the house elf replied, voice much firmer than before.

"4 days a month and 1 galleon every month."

Dobby paused before replying, "2 days a month and 1 galleon every month."

Harry nodded. "Deal. Final rule for now, Rule 4: You need a proper uniform. Since I can't give it to you can you make your own if I ask you to buy the cloth?"

"Dobby can do so!" The little elf started bouncing up and down in his excitement. "Master Harry? Would Master Harry be willing to take on second elf? Master Harry will have a big family someday. Winky would be very useful!"

"What happened that Winky needs a new family?" Tonks asked concerned.

"Winky's master was killed while Winky was in another room. Winky heard the fight and tried to help but was too late. Winky refused to bond to Master's son when she found she was released. Winky did not like Master's son."

Harry frowned. "Wow, that's awful...Umm, I'm really not sure if I need a second elf, but I don't want her to have any issues. Anybody else want to help out?"

Hermione frowned, but shook her head. "If no one else will than I suppose I will but I would really prefer not to have a slave. Even if it is apparently a symbiotic relationship it still feels wrong."

Fleur also refused. "My family has house elves already."

"Dobby how about I stop by the kitchens to meet her tonight? If she's nice enough and we don't clash then I could take her in," Tonks said shrugging.

Dobby nodded enthusiastically. "Thank you Miss Tonksie! Dobby be making sure Winky is presentable. If Master Harry needs anything, just call for Dobby!" The house elf popped away leaving the group to themselves.

"Well..." Harry said attempting nonchalance, "who wants food?"

Harry was just finishing up his morning routine with Tonks when Colin Creevy came running up to them breathing hard. "Har…ry…hi! I've…been…looking for you! Weighing…Wands…need you. Come on!"

Tonks raised her eyebrows at the third year while Harry cocked his head trying to puzzle out just what Colin was saying. "Creevy," Tonks said, "hold up. Catch your breath. Now, let's try this again. What do you need Harry for?"

Colin still panted but could at least talk again. "The Weighing of the Wands. For the Tournament. He was supposed to be in Potions but Snape said he wasn't there. We're supposed to be up in the classroom in a few minutes."

Tonks shrugged. "Well they're not going to start without him. Guess we're done for the morning, Harry. Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Try not to kill whichever reporter attempts to swipe you. That tends to reflect badly in the articles."

"Haha, Tonks," Harry deadpanned. He wiped his face with a conjured towel then walked over to the younger boy. "Well lead the way, Colin."

"Follow me, Harry! I can't believe you're in this! This is so amazing! Is it true that you're also the Heir Black? Because if you are you know that means you need a second relationship and you know people talk and everything and it's just, well, that opens up a lot of options you know." Harry nodded along politely and decided that Colin could give Hermione a run for her money with 'the amount of words uttered without breathing' award. He completely missed Tonks hysterical giggles and Colin's blushing look.

"So, Colin, I imagine they're going to have a photographer but considering some of the articles that the Prophet puts out I'd prefer to have some counters in the Quibbler. Luna's in class, but they already pulled you out. You want to sign up as my official photographer?" Harry asked.

His eyes widened and he gushed, "Really, Harry?! You want me!?"

"Sure, might as well," Harry shrugged. Colin turned bright red and mumbled an acceptance. Harry couldn't help but think he was missing something…

The two walked into the classroom that Colin indicated and Harry waved hello to the other three Champions talking in the corner. Harry started to walk towards them when he was waylaid by a woman in acid green robes and horrible horn-rimmed glasses. "Mr. Potter! Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet. So glad you could make it! You must be ever so enthused to be the Hogwarts Champion. Come, come with me. We need to get an interview before the ceremony starts."

Harry narrowed his eyes as the woman dragged him away and towards a broom closet. "If you want an interview I'd prefer it to be in the corner. Well within sight of the rest of the room, Ms. Skeeter."

"Oh don't worry, Harry, I won't do anything untoward with you," she said with a horribly false giggle. She opened the door to the closet and started to pull him inside. Harry noticed Fleur's face set in an angry snarl as she pushed off from the wall.

Before Skeeter could get him in, Harry pulled free from her grip and crossed his arms stepping back. "Ms. Skeeter, I am not remotely comfortable with being out of sight with you. If you want an interview it will be out here."

Skeeter's smile faltered before she plastered it back on her face and whipped out a green quill setting it on a piece of parchment hovering to her side. "Well from what I hear, Harry, you seem to enjoy being alone with older women. Professor Babbling, Auror Tonks, Fleur Delacour…why it's almost as if you're seeking out the company of these aged witches. I just assumed that you would enjoy my own company as well."

Harry scowled and behind him he heard Fleur snarl low. He felt a slight push on his mind and recognized the feeling of her letting her control of her Allure slip. As amusing as watching his friend roast this woman alive would be, he decided to nip this in the bud himself. And Skeeter had insulted Shiva. Marge had made that mistake too. "Ms. Skeeter, how about I give you a statement just so we are absolutely clear? Former Auror Tonks has been my friend for years and is currently my primary tutor for this Tournament. Fleur Delacour has been a friend since we helped each other survive a terrorist attack at the Quidditch World Cup and is a fellow Champion who is also helping me to learn enough to survive this competition. Professor Bathsheda Babbling has been my legal guardian for years and was my mentor prior to that. I advise you to destroy whatever your Quick Quotes Quill wrote and report that statement exactly as I stated and intended it. The last person who made the mistake of insinuating I was in an intimate relationship with the woman who has been the closest thing to a mother I've ever known was blasted into a wall with 10 broken bones."

Skeeter's eyes narrowed. "The people have a right to the truth, Harry," she said uttering the much hated battle cry of the reporter.

"I've read your 'truth', Ms. Skeeter. I think even Voldemort tells the truth more often than you do," he sneered, twisted on his heel and walked away, extraordinarily happy with the flinch he'd received from mentioning the Dark Lord.

Fleur stepped up into the spot Harry had just vacated. " 'arry is not ze only one who takes offense to illicit allegations. I recommend you report ze facts." She conjured a ball of…passionfyre…and idly lobbed it from hand to hand before letting it dissipate. "Insulting me is somezing I am used to. Insulting my friends zough…zat I do not take sitting down."

Skeeter snorted at the two teenagers as they walked away. "Fools," she muttered. "Everyone knows the quill is mightier than the wand."

Fleur was pleasantly surprised when she walked back up to the other Champions and Harry hugged her. "Thanks for having my back," he whispered. Pulling back he gave her a wry grin. "And thanks for not setting her on fire. I'd hate to have to try and deal with that fallout."

Krum nodded. "Yes. If ve are to dispose of the trash ve should do it somvere more private." The other three looked at him wide eyed before all four started laughing at his joke.

They were still laughing as Umbridge, Bagman and the Headmasters walked into the room with Ollivander following along behind. Umbridge's face took on a distinctly sour expression as she saw the Champions actually enjoying each other's company and Harry rolled his eyes at her upturned nose.

"I see everyone is here. Excellent!" Bagman said with a grand smile and a flourish to the front of the room. "Now without further ado let's start the Weighing of the Wands! Mr. Potter, let's get you up here first."

Shaking his head in annoyance Harry started forward and joined Ollivander, handing over his wand when asked. Ollivander's inspection of his wand made Harry feel a bit creeped out. The way the man handled the stick of wood seemed almost…sensuous. Everything was pronounced in good working order shortly enough however and things went well for Fred too. Krum looked mildly annoyed as Ollivander put down the manufacturer of his wand but held his tongue.

Fleur though…Fleur was not the only one angered by the wand maker's comments towards her. "Who cares if her wand has a Veela core?" Harry couldn't help himself from blurting out. Most eyes in the room turned to him. Inwardly Harry cringed but he kept up his annoyed glare on the outside. "I mean, it obviously works very well for her. Is there really any reason to comment on Veela hairs being temperamental other than to deliver a backhanded insult? We already have Umbridge for those. We don't need another."

Umbridge's smile widened sending shivers down Harry's back. "Why dear boy, you must be mistake." She gave her horrid little giggle. "I would never insult proper purebloods. Why just look at Mr. Krum! His wand was obviously the highlight of the showings today." The implications that the other three Champions didn't fall under her aegis of being 'proper purebloods' wasn't lost on anyone except Bagman. And maybe Dumbledore whose distant expression never once changed.

Fleur took her wand back from Ollivander and nodded sharply. "Zank you, 'arry. At least some of ze Eenglish know 'ow to be polite."

Maxime stepped forward. "Eef we are done exchanging barbs perhaps it iz time to take ze pictures."

Harry groaned and moved where the photographer, Bozo, and Skeeter directed them. They kept trying to shift him to the front but he had managed to mostly avoid it through the majority of the pictures. It took almost half an hour before they quit snapping shots and Harry was able to wrangle the others for a few quick shots from Colin. The younger boy hurried away calling out that he'd be sure to get them to Luna for her article.

The four Champions walked out of the room together chatting amicably. Rita tried one last time to cut them off but they just parted and walked passed her completely ignoring the woman. As they reached the door, Viktor tossed out a final comment to set the reporter's blood boiling. "So, may I give an interview to this Quibbler as vell?"

Tom Riddle, a.k.a. Dark Lord Voldemort, was in the middle of a rather frustrating day. He was currently propped up against the back of the armchair with Wormtail holding a communication mirror in front of him. As if this wasn't annoying enough that he couldn't hold the thing himself, the fact that Wormtail was shaking so much the view kept shifting was almost enough to have Voldemort sending another Crucio into the fool. Sadly he'd have to wait – it wouldn't do to break the mirror until after he'd finished his conversation after all.

"Barty," Voldemort said slowly and in a voice barely above a whisper. He didn't dare try to shout as this homunculus form wasn't quite capable of managing that and still conveying his displeasure. "What do you mean, the boy will likely die? I thought I sent you there to ensure that Potter would be delivered to me?"

The form of Barty Crouch Jr. shifted uncomfortably on the other side of the glass. "Master, I've been going over everything. There's simply no way for me to discreetly assist the brat during this Task. That bitch Umbridge is listening too closely to Dumbledore's 'suggestions'. There's going to be a ward that prevents anything and everything from getting through and if I do anything to the arena before it starts we tip our hand and it could ruin everything. Master…if I may…if the boy dies during these Tasks…wouldn't it just prove that he wasn't worthy of being the source of your new blood to begin with?"

Voldemort snarled. He was right of course, but there was certainly no way that Barty would be told that until Voldemort could present it as his own idea first. "He has insulted me and I wish to repay that insult. I suppose…if the boy were to be horribly torn apart limb by limb in front of his friends and family during a Ministry sponsored event...that might make my recruitment simpler and would certainly demoralize the opposition. What creature did you say he'd be facing?" It would have to be suitably impressive to make up for the lack of a personal kill after all. Something like a nundu would do nicely.

"They've acquired a manticore, a hydra, a dragon and a Greek chimera, Master," Barty said smiling.

Voldemort's eyes widened. "A true chimera?"

"Yes, Master. The rumor is they've already lost a handler trying to coral it into the transport."

Voldemort laughed. He couldn't help it; this made up for the problems he'd been having recently. Oh this would be fun to watch! "See that he faces the chimera, Barty. Should he by some miracle survive…well all the better to cement the loyalty of my Death Eaters again when I kill him."

"It will be done, Master."

"Do try to ascertain that at least one of the fools survives. I would hate to have to abduct some random wizard on the night of the Final Task."

"Don't worry, Master, the solstice ritual will not have any problems. While the other Hogwarts Champion appears to be a joke, the Durmstrang one is promising. And the half-breed also appears competent from the few times I've been able to catch her training."

"Would Krum work as the sacrifice?" Voldemort mused out loud. He couldn't remember making any enemies of a Krum family, but there were so many names and it was so long ago. It was possible he'd killed a relative or two.

"I managed to speak with him several days ago, Master. He should do fine if required. The boy is powerful and smart, but he cares little for things beyond flying and being able to protect himself it seems. He is starting to befriend Potter as well and he seems to have no love for our beliefs."

"Very well." Voldemort waved his small hand in dismissal. "Do you have anything further to report?"

Barty hesitated causing Voldemort's eyes to narrow. Before the Dark Lord could comment though, Barty began to speak, "Master, Potter has acquired the services of a Metamorphmagus former Auror. The half-blood daughter of the Blood Traitor Andromeda. Nymphadora Tonks is skilled but…that is not why I bring it up. Moody was apparently her mentor. The paranoid old man surely has some method in place to let other Aurors know if he was compromised. While Dumbledore has fallen for the ruse easily enough, I…feel I'll have a harder time convincing her." He wrung his hands and scowled. "I tried asking Moody but the man has the damnable training at evading Veritaserum questions! Without the specific wording to force him into the right corner I'll never get enough to make certain all the bases are covered and I need to save the little Veritaserum remaining. I've been avoiding the half-blood in the meantime."

Voldemort nodded. "Very well. I've heard of this particular Auror. She is a fool and incompetent. She may have battle skills but nothing more. She won't be a threat. Avoid exposure at all costs. If you have to eliminate her, but be certain to cast the light on another. Perhaps Karkaroff. The fool had the audacity to turn on several of your brethren."

"Yes, Master."

"Barty," Voldemort said, "don't act against her unless forced. We don't want to stumble after nearly 13 years of biding our time now do we? The timing is nearly perfect for my rebirth and I don't want anything mucking it up at the last minute. Do. Not. Fail. Me. Or you will beg for death."

Barty nodded and bowed low. "I will make you proud, Master." The mirror blanked and Voldemort leaned back into the seat. He scowled down at Wormtail and dismissed the rat. So hard to find good help these days. At least Barty was competent.

Nagini slithered up and wrapped several coils in front of him. Voldemort smiled as he reached out to stroke his familiar. The Potter boy had performed impressive feats before. Perhaps he would survive. A shame Voldemort couldn't convert him to the correct side. Once he regained his body, if the boy was still alive then he'd probe the brat and see if there was some trigger he could use. Supposedly the Muggle relatives had been abandoned. That avenue was rather useless. There would likely be something he cared for though. Something Voldemort could give him or take away. Ah, no point in worrying about it now.

Harry Potter would sadly be dead by the end of the week after all. At least he could claim it was by his own hand after his orders to Barty.