12 Chapter 12
I could hear Lisa and Sue whispering to each other about the new DADA Professor as Dumbledore continued on.
"First thing, I regret to inform you all that this year, all Quidditch matches are canceled as the staff will be occupied with more important matters." The discontent at his announcement is palpable as he explains further. "This is due to Hogwarts being chosen to host a legendary event, The Triwizard Tournament."
"For those of you who are unaware, The Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools, with each having a chosen champion to compete in a series of magical contests, the winner attaining eternal glory, and a prize of a thousand galleons."
By now, the noise in the hall is high as everyone whispers and talks about the upcoming event.
"Though I must warn you." The look Dumbledore now has as he addresses the students brings some of those conversations to a halt. "These tasks are not for the faint of heart, and while every precaution will be taken, safety is not guaranteed." He pauses for a moment, giving each table a look. "There have been deaths in prior tournaments, and if you choose to enter, you do so understanding the peril you will potentially face, and that you will do so alone."
By now the noise from the tables is nonexistent. "As such, the ministry and those in charge have decided that no one under the age of 17 will be able to put forth their name as champion."
I continue to look on, as people mostly those just shy of turning 17 argue about the decision, and Dumbledore continues on with a few more notices regarding the tournament and other changes for the year.
"The other schools will arrive on Halloween Day, where more information regarding the tournament will be addressed. You are expected to be on your best behavior as you will be representing not only yourselves, but Hogwarts itself. For now though, it is time for us to call it a night. Off you go."
As Dumbledore dismisses us, groups form from different houses talking about the tournament and those of age brag about entering and being chosen.
Luna skips along beside me as we exit the hall, heading up the stairs to the Ravenclaw tower.
Though before we reach the stairs, I notice Diana giving Rose, Hermione, and Ron a scowl before she starts to stomp her way over to them, no doubt intending to be her usual self.
Before she can get far though, her steps falter as she stumbles into the wall next to her, starting to pant lightly, her gaze flickering around until they land on me. Holding her gaze with my own, I snap my already raised fingers once more, causing another shudder to rack her frame.
Panic crosses her features before she realizes with everyone talking about the tournament, no one has noticed her recent stumble, though there is no guarantee if this continues for that to stay the same.
To her relief I do not continue, just give her a mimed tut and shake of the head, flicking my pointer finger back and forth a time or two.
Message received, she moves off to head down into the dungeons, all thoughts of bothering the trio forgotten.
Luna, having stopped at the same time I did, just watches on, humming the entire time before continuing to walk beside me when I start walking again.
~}-{~
Over the next few weeks Barty Jr. took to his role with fervor, going over numerous spells that had many questioning his sanity. As a point of fact, he almost exclusively stuck to spells and very rarely did he talk about any dangerous beasts.
The Slytherins enjoyed every second of it, and I even caught a few instances of them using what they learned on Diana to torment her, now that her standing had fallen so low.
One such instance occurred after their first DADA class, as I stumbled upon Diana being attacked by Nott, Davis, and her previous bookends Crabbe and Goyle, though those two were merely blocking any escape from the corridor they had cornered her in.
"What's this then?" I ask coming around the corner to the sight of the four blocking her up against a wall, Diana's robes torn in places and some blood dripping quite steadily from her left arm.
Nott was quick to posture. "Nothing that concerns you Black." The tone of his voice painting his opinion of me clearly. "You best forget what you saw here and be on your way before something happens to you as well."
"Is that a threat?" I cheerfully ask as I slowly stroll towards them. "I really hope it's a threat."
Either not caring about my words, or not understanding the shifting atmosphere, Nott just gives me a queer look. "Yes it's a threat, I thought I was being quite clear."
"Oh you were." I nod, still showing such a joyful demeanor. "I just wanted you to be sure about your poor choices before I deal with you."
Before he can retort, my unnoticed wand flicks downwards, the three boys and single girl are forced to the ground, face first, as Diana watches on.
Walking up to Nott, I place my foot on the side of his face. "This is what happens when you believe yourself to be bigger than you truly are." Removing my foot from his face, I proceed to kick him in the nuts as I pass him. "That is for touching what is mine, though none of you will remember this of course. Can't have you causing further trouble."
With a further wave of my wand, the four of them are blasted into the wall on the opposite side of the corridor knocked out instantly as I walk to Diana to tend to her wounds.
"Are you okay?" I ask her, waving my wand over her arm, vanishing the blood and sealing the cuts she has accrued.
Watching me work, as her uniform mends itself, she gives me a questioning look. "Why are you helping me?" The confusion clear in her tone.
"Like I told them, you're mine." I emphasize my point by tracing my thumb over her lips, causing her to blush. "Even if you don't quite understand that yet, we'll have to work on that some more."
Finishing up with her wounds, I give her butt a moderate slap getting a squeak in return. "Have fun." I gesture to the four laying on the ground, altering their memories as I leave. "I'll make sure no one disturbs you for the next 10 minutes, be sure to make your stance clear."
It takes a moment for her to understand, before she looks to the others in glee. "Thank you, I will."
I leave her to her payback as I continue to the great hall for some food, hearing some commotion behind me as Diana takes her time to send a message to her fellow Slytherins.
~}-{~
Diana only had to make a few more examples before Slytherin house as a whole decided to just leave her be, ignoring her entirely as long as she didn't bring attention to the house.
It only took a few weeks in regards to her accepting how things were between the two of us, the 'perks' I shared with her making her will crumble fast, and before long she was following behind me in the moments I decided to give her some personal attention.
A.N. TFTS content start
Diana grows to accept her new role in life by giving Jacob attention. Jacob puts her mouth to better use instead of her usual insults and bias.
Diana thinks Jacob is about to take her virginity, but his first present is removed and other options are taken instead.
TFTS content ends
~}-{~
As I sit at the Ravenclaw table, the hall decked out in decorations for the other schools arrival, I take a moment to glance at Diana at the Slytherin table, as she frequently shifts in her seat, dealing with the consequences of our recent meetings. From time to time I see her subtly reach up to touch her throat, feeling at the hidden collar I had given her the previous night.
Seeing my attention she blushes and looks away, remembering the screams I brought her as we had our fun.
My thoughts are interrupted as the doors open, and a sizable group of boys enter, wearing thick furred robes and hats, the clack of staffs sounding throughout as they begin to put on a show. My gaze stays on the entryway however, as I have no interest in their little dance show, waiting for the last student to show himself with their headmaster.
Thankfully their dance is short as it doesn't take long for the two to round the bend and enter the great hall proper.
Krum looks as I remember from the World Cup, while Karkaroff looks as surly as expected. Whispers break out at their arrival, though obviously because of Krum and not the former Death Eater, though almost no one knows of that.
Dumbledore strolls forward to gently shake hands with Karkaroff before he gestures to their seats, the Durmstrang students siting at the Slytherin table.
It doesn't take long for Beauxbatons to follow, as a much more interesting group of girls flow into the hall, starting their own dance. This time it is much harder to ignore them as they flit and twirl around, conjurations of little blue butterflies flowing out from their robes.
My attention however is quickly brought to one of the girls in particular, as her steps falter as she passes me. Her eyes quickly dart to mine in seeming confusion, her breathing increasing before her headmistress, who was walking slightly behind her, takes a light hold of her shoulder to push her forward, though even she shows confusion for the holdup.
Who can only be Fleur shakes her head lightly, before hurrying to catch up with the rest of the girls, as they finish their own introduction, the hall giving a louder round of applause than with Durmstrang.
Looking around I notice both Rose and Hermione giving me a look as they noticed the slight staring Fleur and I had with each other, before I give them a slight shrug, unable to actually talk to them about it.
After their introduction, the girls sit at the Ravenclaw table, Fleur in particular seems to rush to the seat across from me, giving me a penetrating stare as she sits down. The atmosphere is slightly weird as she voices no question or statement, just siting there staring at me until the food arrives and I decide to ignore her.
As everyone begins to eat, I hear Fleur whisper.
"What are you?"
Pretending to have not heard her, as the question was whispered quite lowly, I just continue to eat my meal.
~}-{~
"The goblet of fire!" Dumbledore exclaims, as he unveils the object just sat before the head table.
"Due to the dangers involved, those who wish to enter have until tomorrow to write their name on a piece of parchment, and throw it in the flame, access to the great hall will be heavily restricted, only those of age able to do so." As he gets further boos and complaints he continues on. "Those not of age who try to circumvent this will be punished, harshly." At this he glares at a few students, the Weasley twins especially.
As the feast ends, and most leave to head to bed, a few people take the chance to enter their names into the goblet, Fleur, Krum and Cedric among them. The twins consider making a shot at approaching, but Dumbledore catches their eyes and stares as he remains sitting in his chair at the head table.
As the doors close and are locked, a few professors stay behind to keep a watch to make sure no one underage can get in, among them Crouch Jr.
Pealing off from the group I was with, I sneak away to double back, before coming in through the antechamber, having used a portal to get in.
The next few hours are spent in slight boredom, as the goblet remains undisturbed, noise from the ones guarding the door occasionally being heard.
A little past midnight however, the doors slowly open, only to close almost immediately after. Coming into the light cast through the windows, is Crouch Jr. in the form of Moody. His fake eye spins around, but having had a few hours to place some extensive, if a bit short lived, wards down, I remain undetected.
With little time and with the room clear, he hobbles over to the goblet, most assuredly planning to add Rose as a fourth champion.
Just as he reaches the goblet however, I warp behind him, and with both hands I begin to modify his memories, making it seem as if he succeeded in doing what he was planning to do, and taking my time to make sure it sticks with as little inconsistencies as possible.
After a few minutes, I conclude everything is holding and I warp back to my previous spot, waiting for Barty to come to. Shaking his head, he looks around the room for a moment before shuffling back out the doors to I assume join the other professors watching the door.
Even with my success, I don't leave until the morning, and even then I don't go to sleep, slipping back in with my house as everyone enters for breakfast.
The rest of the day is spent ignoring my fatigue while keeping my eyes on Barty to make sure he never has a chance to follow through with his plans in the event my tampering fails.
To my relief he shows no signs of this happening, and as dinner closes, the goblet's fire gives a few wisps of red, having finished its choosing.
The goblet is given some room as Dumbledore descends from the head table, holding out a hand as the flames shine to a blood red, a piece of parchment shooting into the air to float down into his hand.
"The champion for Durmstrang is.. Victor Krum!" Rising to the cheers of everyone Krum steps forward, receiving a hand shake from Dumbledore.
Gesturing him to the antechamber, the headmaster turns back to the goblet, which has turned to a blood red once more, a second parchment, this one looking much fancier floats down into his grasp.
"The champion for Beauxbatons is.. Fleur Delacour!" From further down the Ravenclaw table, Fleur stands with a smile as she practically skips forward, also receiving a handshake from the headmaster.
One final time, the goblet shoots out a parchment as the third and final champion is chosen.
"The champion for Hogwarts is.. Cedric Diggory!" Following the previous two, Cedric stands to applause as he heads down and past the headmaster.
"We have our three champions!" Dumbledore begins as he turns to address the remaining students and visitors.
The entire time he talks however, Moody's mood grows darker and darker, as I continue to watch him start to realize that something has gone wrong with his plans, and after Dumbledore finishes going over the small amount of details for the upcoming first task, he does everything he can to hide the rage and panic filling him from showing.
As the great hall is cleared, and everyone sent back to their common rooms, Dumbledore and the other judges and organizers conclude to the antechamber to inform the champions of the details they will need to know going forward.
Moody however, gives some excuse to Dumbledore, and as quick as he can afford to show, leaves out a side door.
Following him again, I trail at a distance behind him as he heads out the front doors to the castle, heading to the ward line.
~}-{~
As I follow Barty as he rushes up to the manor where Voldemort is currently hiding, I think about what is about to happen.
With the distance I maintained behind him, to make sure I wasn't spotted, by the time I enter the house all I can hear are the screams of Barty, as he is tortured for his failure.
Coming to the steps the screams are coming from, I slowly make my way up while constantly checking for wards or Nagini. By the time I make it to the top of the stairs, the screams have died down, and I can hear Voldemort questioning him on what went wrong.
"I don't k-know, m-master." He stutters out, having most assuredly been under the Cruciatus. "I-I p-put the c-correct p-parchm-ment in the g-goblet as p-planned."
"Clearly you have failed." Voldemort responds dryly, his voice of such a low pitch and tone it's almost hard to fully make out from the current distance.
I move up to the other side of the door to the room they are in, as I continue to listen in.
"I do not take kindly to failure." He calmly states a moment before putting Barty under the Cruciatus again, his screams raising once more.
After the curse is released again, it takes Barty a few moments to catch his breath. "W-we can s-s-still capture the g-girl m-master." He croaks out. "At t-the end of the t-t-tournament I-I can g-grab her while e-e-everyone is d-distracted."
Peering through the cracked door I watch as baby-mort sits in his chair, Nagini wrapped around him. Standing behind the chair in a dark corner is a man I can't quite make out with the low lighting and angle of sight. Barty is on the ground in front of him twitching and panting as he prostrates himself for his failure, not even looking up as he is continuously tortured.
Taking his words under consideration, slowly twirling the wand in his hands as Barty tries to recover from the curses, Voldemort seems to ponder on the situation.
"I am very displeased Barty." He finally responds, the wand in his hand coming to a stop as it once more points at the man in front of him. "Rose Potter was to be my sacrifice, the tool used in my glorious return."
Silence descends on the room, as he seems to take a few moments between words.
"Very well." He finally decides. "Let it not be said that Lord Voldemort did not have mercy. I always enjoyed your passion to the cause young Barty, as such I will give you one last chance to make sure Rose Potter is here when the time comes."
Breathing a sigh of relief Barty raises his head to look at his master. "T-thank you, my L-l-lord."
"Return to the castle, give no one cause to suspect, and do not fail me again." The threat in his words clear.
"Yes, my L-lord." He struggles to stand at the clear dismissal.
Deciding I've heard enough, I warp behind his slowly raising form, shooting a green curse at the back of his head, followed by another in the corner behind the chair. "I think not." The words coming from no where as my form looks to materialize there.
The man in the corner has fantastic reflexes however, as he barely dodges the killing curse I sent, throwing himself to the floor. While slightly surprised I follow up with a simple stunner as he tries to roll to his feet, the awkward position and surprise slowing him immensely as the second spell hits him, his form crumpling to the floor behind the chair.
While this happens, Nagini unfurls from around baby-mort and lunges at me, only to receive a shredding curse to the face, her remains covering the front of my robes.
"Blagh!" I comment, as the wand previously in his hands clatters to the floor, the movement from Nagini in her rush to attack throwing it from his fragile fingers. Stomping the wand underfoot, I break it in half before kicking the remains away, followed by swiping at the snake guts dirtying my clothes.
~}-{~
Voldemort was certainly not pleased, as I listened to him threaten and scream at me, and the audacity of my actions as I kick the corpse of Barty to the side, checking to make sure there aren't any more surprises.
Ignoring his words for the moment, I check to see who it was that was standing behind the chair, surprised as I recognize Greyback, laying unconscious on the floor, his wand half out of his sleeve.
Picking up his wand and putting it in an inner pocket, I secure him further as I think about the nice present I'll have for Remus next time I see him.
Finishing up with making sure there are no second wands or trinkets for anyone else to use, I turn my attention back to the still threat spewing abomination.
"You know." I interrupt his rants, his voice halting at my words. "I fought with myself over what to do in regards to this year." I begin to pace in front of him, as I voice out some comments I am sure are confusing to the man in the chair.
"At times, it was almost as if the world itself was pushing for me to let things proceed as the prophecy stated, and it felt as if my mind was trying to come up with reasons to just let things happen." By now confusion is clear on the baby sized man's face, though at the mention of the prophecy his focus sharpens.
"What do you know about that." He half questions, half states, demanding an answer.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark her as his equal, but she will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
Shaking my head, I exclaim with a jab of my offhand. "See! That's exactly what I mean!" I continue to pace. "Why the fuck should I tell you that? I should just cut your head off and be done with it, what do I gain by monologuing?" I direct the question to myself as I look up into the air.
By now Voldemort is puzzled as I continue to mutter to myself, but pleased at learning the prophecy, believing the words due to my anger at having told him and the little he already knew about.
As he goes to what I assume is to try and convince me to join him, my pacing stops as I give him a hard look.
After a few moments I nod having coming to a decision. "Yes." I mutter. "That's just what I will do."
With only a few steps I am on top of him, hands reaching for his throat, and as I strangle the life out of a monster baby, his arms flail as he instinctively tries to get out of my grasp and breath.
As his arms slow, I decide to twist the knife as it were. "Don't worry." I whisper. "I'll be sure to throw your corpse in your father's grave so at least the tombstone will be mostly accurate."
As his eyes grow dim, and his struggles almost non existent, I continue commenting. "I'll vanish his bones of course, just to be safe, even with all your Horcruxes being destroyed."
With the mention of his contingencies, his faltering gaze snaps to mine, as I let him get a single breath before going back to choking him out, he deserves to have all his hope ground to dust after all.
"Oh yes…" I explain with relish. "Diary, Cup, Diadem, Locket, Ring." I count out, his movements beginning to cease.
"Not sure if you would have had the time to make another with the snake, but that won't be a problem anymore either." This last part I comment to myself, his struggles gone as his corpse lays in front of me.
Standing, I take a second to look around before raising my wand, and separating Voldemort's head from the rest of his tiny body. Then, levitating Greyback and the two corpses and leaving, a nonchalant wave of my wand vanishes the pieces of snake on the ground.
'Time to follow through on my words.' I think as I leave the house, heading towards the nearby cemetery.
~}-{~
