Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Though Angelina adored Fred Weasley, his insistence that there must be some way to enter the Tournament when he was only sixteen, was getting on her nerves…
If they were going to put an age limit on prospective entrants, then surely, they had some way to enforce it.
Probably some method that would make Fred’s habit of thinking around corners impossible…
Yet she wasn’t quite expecting to see George accompanied by an equally dishevelled Slytherin Fourth Year watching as only Lea downed a potion before the two idiots crossed the age line.
Fred wasn’t tossed out surprisingly after entering his name; however, Lea was.
Not only that, Lea’s hair turned white and he instantly seemed to grow a beard.
Fred looked surprised and then glanced at George.
Angelina was one of the few people who could tell the two apart. They had tells after all; Fred twisted his left thumb when he was nervous, while George tugged on his right ear and he used to have a scar on his left arm where Percy apparently spilt hot soup as a young child.
George also was the shyer one, he let Fred lead and was the gentler one who was fonder of Herbology, Charms and Potions. Fred on the other hand was a dab hand at Defence and Transfiguration but neither liked History.
Then again whichever one was watching that Slytherin shyly was obviously George.
George rolled his eyes at Fred, then he tugged Nott out of the Great Hall.
Why in the world…
A creature inheritance…
Fred had a creature inheritance, of course, he did! No wonder he’d given up that ill-founded jealousy of George’s feelings for Theo Nott.
Angelina still had feelings for Fred, but it was clear that he didn’t really share them. He clearly had a type; quiet, shy and bookish.
No matter what Ron or their mother said, her gift of Roxi to Fred had filled an empty place in his heart. George had spent the last year coming into his own and learning to stand outside of Fred’s very large shadow.
Angelina would have to be blind not to notice that Fred was somewhat distracted, he mostly ignored George but he would sniff at the oddest times as if he were smelling something amazing only to literally walk into walls or practically fall down the stairs like poor Harry and Dean.
George’s head was in the clouds himself, he was only in classes and rarely appeared in the Great Hall.
He seemed as if his relationship with Theo had finally turned sexual, Angelina was truly happy for him.
Letting go of her own feelings for Fred was far more difficult than Fred’s putting away his for George.
She’d get over it eventually, a witch’s first crush wasn’t always their true love after all.
XooooooX
Angelina had spent Halloween making Fred work on his schoolwork, he was the only one out of their study group who was falling behind.
Needless to say, he was quite sulky about it by the time they made it to the Great Hall.
Angelina vaguely remembered that after the feast Dumbledore was expecting to announce the Triwizard champions.
The almost palatable excitement was greater than her previous five Samhains of course, and Angelina was looking forward to it. If they were going to sort on who best represented Hogwarts as in a mix of the Houses it ought to Adrian Pucey, but if it was brains then it could be either Pucey or Montague. George hadn’t entered as far as she knew so he wasn’t going to have a chance at the ‘glory’. Angelina was sad about the lack of quidditch this year, while the Triwizard had a dangerous history, what with the last champions and the three Heads of the participating schools ending up killed or grievously injured by a marauding Cockatrice. Angelina still wanted a chance to represent Gryffindor…
She’d just about given up after hearing Viktor Krum was going to represent Durmstrang and Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons were Champions.
“Hogwarts will be represented by a Gryffindor.”
“Of course,” Former Slytherin Quidditch captain Marcus Flint said loudly from the opposite end of the Great Hall.
“It’s not fair. Gryffindor is always getting chances like that.” Zacharias Smith, her Hufflepuff fellow prefect Deborah’s younger brother grumbled.
“Quiet, as I was saying, Hogwarts will be represented by Ang,”
Gryffindor didn’t need anymore, they roared.
“That’s my Angel!” Lea yelled.
Fred led a cheer, “Angelina~! Angelina!”
“That’s enough!” Snape snarled. “Ms Johnson, if you’ll join the other champions in the antechamber.”
Angelina was half in shock as she woodenly made her way towards the room she’d waited in as a first year.
She was just about to pass the Head Table when Dumbledore sputtered.
“What’s this? Pot… Harry Potter!”
Angelina spun around, Harry? What about the kid?
Dumbledore lifted his hand, the head table levitated and he stormed over to Gryffindor.
Angelina winced as the Headmaster yanked Harry away from their shell-shocked House table and dragged him towards Angelina.
The Headmaster growled at her, “Move!”
Angelina hurried to open the door, only to have Harry practically hurled into the room.
Dumbledore turned on her, “Ms Johnson, did Harry ask you to enter him into the tournament?”
Angelina gaped at him, “You’re joking? Harry’s been saying for months he wants nothing to do with the tournament. He wanted a quiet year. I wouldn’t have entered him. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy would have hexed me.”
“Did your boyfriend Fred Weasley do it?”
Angelina recoiled as if struck, “Fred is not my boyfriend, he’s just a friend. George would incinerate his homework if he considered it and then chase him with a Beater’s bat. Harry is like a beloved little brother to us, we wouldn’t do that to him. Oliver would hex us if he thought we’d do that.”
“She is lying of course. They are in the same House.” Karkaroff the rat accused.
Angelina tossed her braids, her eyes narrowing on Snape who stood in the shadows. “I’ll take veritaserum, I did not enter Harry in the Tournament. I don’t know anyone who would. I’d join Hermione and Malfoy in hexing whoever did. I know the rules, you have to be seventeen, Harry’s barely past fourteen. It’s an insult to his mother’s memory to put him in the Tournament, he shouldn’t even be required to attend this feast! It’s the anniversary of her death, only someone extremely cruel would do this.”
Snape’s voice was icy, “Potter, is she telling the truth?”
Harry was defiant as he held onto his wrist, “I said I thought the tournament was dangerous. I told Ron I wanted nothing to do with it. I don’t know how my name ended up in the cup. I spent all day aside from meals in the library. We were studying… ask Ms Prince.”
Immediately, Angelina had tunnel vision, she’d noticed George was particularly protective of Harry since the beginning of term. She’d helped her father care for enough dogs to recognize certain behaviours. She ignored the arguing adults and went to examine Harry’s wrist. She gasped in horror at the state of his wrist, “That’s IT!” she summoned her elf Ally and demanded that it bring her healer.
Harry tried to argue with her.
Angelina glared at him, “Do you want me to tell Oliver?”
Harry blinked, “About what?”
Angelina leaned over to whisper, “That any of your crashes ought to have killed you?”
Angelina watched Snape’s ears twitch ever so slightly.
Her healer arrived promptly, “Angelina? What is this? Oh, hello, Albus… Severus, Fleur.”
The imperious witch ignored the others.
“I mentioned my concerns over the summer to you. Remember how I told you that he had most of his bones healed after last year’s crash?”
Andromeda nodded.
“Ms Johnson, this is not the time or the place!” Dumbledore protested.
Angelina snapped, “He’s on my team, damn it! If I’d known he was so ill, I would have told Oliver to break his own broom and give up on Quidditch, hang the consequences of that. I’m responsible for him even if we don’t play. He’s like my little brother, it was all suspicions before but now. I know I only treat dogs but the Headmaster shattered his wrist and practically dislocated his shoulder!”
Andromeda and Snape’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Harry was cringing, “I’m fine. It’s just a sprain…”
Angelina crossed her arms and glared, “Don’t lie. I’ve treated breaks and sprains, I know the difference.”
Her healer cast a series of spells at Harry, her brow furrowing with every spell. Her voice was icy when she finally spoke. “Albus Percival Wulfric Bay Dumbledore,”
“Brian. My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.”
“It’s Bay, you arrogant narcissist! Who are Harry’s guardians?”
“As if it’s any of your business but he lives with Lily’s sister.”
Andromeda snorted, “Lily Evans-Potter didn’t have a sister, she asked me to help her find out her magical ancestry when she was pregnant. Clearly, the reason you had her and James’ wills sealed was because you didn’t want anyone to figure out your precious Muggleborn heroine wasn’t so Muggle after all.”
“Andromeda, now is not the time or the place.” The headmaster repeated tersely.
“I, Andromeda Penelope Tonks, daughter of the House of Black swear on my magic that Lily Potter was born to the House of Prince as an unnamed daughter. Harry Potter doesn’t have an aunt but he has an uncle and a close cousin. I wish that you hadn’t involved yourself and let things play out the way they were meant to. I swear here on my magic that Harry Potter is the nephew of Severus Snape of the House of Prince.”
When her healer’s wand failed to shatter, her words were clearly true.
Potter trembled, “Snape’s my uncle? But he hates me…”
“I don’t. I was an idiot. I fought with the Ministry during the riot, I defended you to Crouch. You would never cast the Dark Mark, you would likely never have even seen it since you were raised in the Muggle World. I never tried to learn why I felt a connection to your mother. It was because her loss ripped my heart out, having Lupin around last year reminded me of the past and I didn’t know how to handle the pain that caused so I lashed out.” Snape shrugged.
“That is how I’ve always reacted. Hence why I’ve attempted to make changes, I was forced to see myself last year and deal with the person I’d become. Learning about our relationship last year might have been disastrous to us both.”
For all his mistreatment of Gryffindors, Angelina felt sorry for him. To have lost his sister before learning Harry’s mum was his sister was sad. Angelina wasn’t a twin or anything but to lose her sister Alona like that would be painful…
“What is the point of this?” Dumbledore sputtered.
“Harry can’t enter the tournament without his guardian’s consent, I proved that his supposed muggle relatives have no say in his life.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because they’ve starved him! His bones were healed last year, were they not? He had to suffer through skele-grow regrowing his bones after that crash. However, his bones are already so brittle that his ribs were obviously broken over the summer and you Headmaster managed to shatter his wrist and nearly dislocate his shoulder. This boy is so dangerously unhealthy due to starvation and physical assault that it’s despicable. I hold you entirely responsible! You, Pomfrey and Minerva!”
“This is some revenge scheme, isn’t it?” Dumbledore retorted hotly, “You’re still angry that I took away your Head Girl badge and sent you back to Slytherin after your elopement.”
“I eloped with a Hufflepuff and you decided that my behaviour was shameful, but no this has to do with Harry. I’m disgusted that your lousy excuse for a healer-in-charge, who is a fourth-rate medi-witch in reality and a drunk, missed something a quidditch player who treats dogs noticed. I will be speaking to the Board of Governors, Madam Greengrass, Madam Bones and Lyall Lupin.”
“No need to go so far.”
“Really? Then you’ll see to it that this boy who ought to be in St. Mungos living on a steady diet of potions is exempted from the tournament or do we have to make this a political scandal? Chief Warlock found complacent in starvation and abuse of Boy-Who-Lived by Muggles? Skeeter would enjoy that headline.”
“See this is revenge.”
“Severus, as Harry’s nearest blood relation do I have your permission to formally examine Harry and to discuss his health with Healer Hyrum Smythe? I have heard that Dumbledore has threatened him with slander and illegal treatment due to a fall down the stairs.”
“Yes, what does Lyall Lupin have to do with Potter… Harry?”
“He’s your Lupin’s grandfather, remember?”
“Oh and?”
“Lupin is Harry’s great-grandfather and Remus’ grandfather. Small world, isn’t it?”
Poor Harry looked so bewildered.
The Triwizard had caused him to be blind-sided.
Angelina hadn’t intended to cause such a ruckus, all she wanted was to make sure Harry was treated properly. Professor Lupin was Snape’s Lupin? Lupin was Harry’s cousin? Snape was his uncle? She was feeling a bit light-headed.
“Mild shock. Here have a potion, both of you.” Andromeda forced them to swallow a calming draught. “I don’t see what Harry has to do with this mess, legally you can’t force him.”
“His name came out of the goblet, it’s a magical contract.” Bagman blurted out.
“He’s fourteen, Ludo! I may be only a healer but I know that an underage witch or wizard cannot enter into a magical contract of their own free will. I was a parent after all. I can’t imagine Lily Evan’s son entering this ridiculous tournament.”
“He’s James Potter’s son,” Dumbledore growled.
“Really? Because I still see Lily prominently, I ought to know I delivered him. James was a reckless, feckless bully. Yes, he grew up but he was a spoilt brat who didn’t know how to deal with rejection. This glossing over of his bad qualities because he’s dead is stupid, he may have been my cousin but like Sirius, I still recognized his faults. You can judge a person’s character by how they treat their supposed inferiors. Now get on with your farce of a Tournament, I see three champions, two of whom are distant cousins with the exception of Krum. Go on with your business, Severus, Harry and I have things to discuss and authorities to see. Your little game of placing Harry in the Muggle World for his so-called protection is over. Come on, we have much to discuss.”
Angelina felt a bit bad for Harry having his personal business aired so publicly.
Even Delacour who had been displeased with his presumed champion status seemed worried for him and Krum as well.
The Heads of their respective schools predictably sided with Andromeda about the boy being ineligible to participate. Only Crouch and Mad-Eye who appeared after Harry was escorted out frowned.
“Where’s Potter?”
“With the healers,” Angelina snapped. “and his family, it’s ridiculous that anyone would believe that Harry cheated. He never wanted in this tournament. He thought I was crazy for considering it.”
“He will have to participate, won’t he, Crouch?”
“A contract is a contract…” Crouch murmured.
“Harry’s fibbing, of course. Someone probably entered him because he asked. If not Johnson, then Fred Weasley. He has a certain disregard for the rules.”
Angelina snapped, “That’s it! I’m sick of hearing this, I will be complaining to Fred’s grandfather and my father. Your slanders are insulting, neither of us entered Harry.”
“I haven’t figured out how someone as young as Fred Weasley entered at all. I locked the line to birthdays in regards to have the Trace active.”
Angelina snorted, an active Creature Inheritance broke the Trace. How foolish of him to have his age line only tracking the Trace…
“Do you know something Ms. Johnson?” Moody glowered at her.
“Only suspicions, not facts.” She huffed, “Fred didn’t cheat if that’s what he’s implying. I stand by what I said before; I didn’t enter Harry. He never asked. Fred wouldn’t dare because George would beat him with his own bat for even considering it and destroy his homework.”
“George Weasley is a coward, he doesn’t belong in Gryffindor. He was sorted either on blood or he chose to follow Fred because he has no self-identity.” Dumbledore sniffed.
“George is his own person; he has his own magical gifts and interests. He’s in love,”
“With a filthy Slytherin who is just using him like the Flints used the Woods, to deflect attention to their Death Eater Loyalties.”
“Theo is not a Death Eater!” Angelina snapped. “I thought we were supposed to be informed as to the Tournament’s Tasks and expectations? I did not enter this Tournament to be insulted or listen to my friends being slandered. What sort of a Headmaster are you? You should never have been reinstated!”
“Detention Ms Johnson.” Dumbledore retorted.
“No. I won’t go and if you complain to my father, I’ll insist that we sue you! I think you’ve shamed Hogwarts enough for one night. I’ll be glad to listen to information regarding the First Task or attend the Wand Weighing when you can treat others with respect, Headmaster. I look forward to a fair competition Miss Delacour and Mr Krum. May the strongest competitor win.”
Then she flounced out of the antechamber.
To her surprise, both of her fellow champions followed her.
Angelina knew her House wanted to celebrate but after that debacle, she just wasn’t in the mood.
Just wait until she told George…