Chapter 6
Blaise gives me a watchful eye as he continues back with his breakfast while Draco and Theo share a questioning look.
"What has got you so happy this morning? Were you on a secret date that you aren't telling us about?" Tracey asks me with a curious smile before she looks at Daphne.
What is she talking about?
"Stop being foolish. I told you that I was going to meet with my sister...which I honestly kind of regret. Stori can go on and on about gossip," Daphne replies, her sister seems to be the exact opposite of her in some ways.
Interesting…
I still decide to have my fun with her. I am in a good mood after all.
"Daphne, it is time to come clean," I start as she looks at me with a questioning and warning look.
"I will not keep this part of our lives concealed from our friends...Yes, it's true. Daphne and I had a wonderful time together yesterday," I see her about to say something but interrupt. "It's okay Daphne. There is no need to cover it up. We need to be honest and open about what we have."
I can see the anger in her eyes as she reaches for her wand while everyone else is trying not to laugh, including some other Snakes at our table who are listening in. This is my cue to hit two birds with one stone. I'll take it easy on her for today, my mood is making me a softy.
"I am only joking. I am sure your time with your sister was more than pleasant. I, on the other hand, met with… a rather... highly sought-after lady... if you catch my drift," I tell them and wait for their reaction.
Daphne looked relieved and then at the mention of the ‘highly sought-after lady' almost dropped her wand.
She is not the only one to think of Bellatrix. Which is what I want them to think...Only I will know that I really mean Cassie, even though I did see Aunt Bella.
Tracey's fork drops on her plate before she quickly picks it up.
My roommates are not fazed, but the other students make slight fearful facial expressions before going back to their meals, trying not to look in our direction. There is no better feeling than having power. No wonder why people will do anything to hold onto it. However, I need to take Lord Hanzo’s advice to heart. I can't let this feeling get in the way of my destiny.
"So to answer your question, that is why I am so happy this morning, Miss Davis," I chuckle.
Tracey just gives me a light smile. I don't think she knows what to say, but she is probably really glad she came to offer an alliance early on in this game.
"So, Draco, you ready for practice come tomorrow? You are competing against five other people," I ask him, changing topics.
He immediately replies with his boastful attitude as the conversation goes into practice on both the new and Triwizard tournaments.
***
We are not the only ones who are interested in the upcoming tournaments.
I heard as much when we were heading back from lunch. I was curious enough to touch the stud on my ear to listen in on the group in front of us.
"The system is rigged! I am telling you. My brothers got Cedric to vote against me and Roger is an idiot. Cedric has no clue what he is doing and Roger isn’t any better. We are going to come in last place," Ron tells his fellow Lion peers.
"I am not sure about that, Ron," Dean interjects, clearly cautious of not wanting to be shamed along with his housemate.
"I agree. Cedric is well-liked and Davies seems like a pretty smart guy. They are both skilled athletes as well," Neville adds, trying to calm his roommate from digging his own grave.
"And I don't think your brothers have that much sway on Cedric. Are you sure this has nothing to do with you not making it?" Seamus asks, passive-aggressively calling the youngest Weasley male out.
"Don't be ridiculous. Me not making the team only proves my point that the picks were wrong, and the choices they made were all mistakes. Especially the Commanders," the redheaded Lion defends his own words.
"Oh, so this about Potter being the starting Commander? We should have known," Lavender remarks, and Pavarti smirks along with the other boys.
Ron just glares at her.
"Ron, Harry did really well. He had the best average in Archery, Bo-staffing, Wand Dueling, and Broom Flying. He was a natural from what we saw. Don't be mad just because a Slytherin got the position," Parvati chips in.
She is rather observant.
"He deserved the position, not to mention he looked damn right dreamy while doing it. Those Beaxbaton harpies will fall off their brooms when they see him," Lavender put in, as the males rolled their eyes while Parvati chuckled.
"You got that right, Lav," Pavarti agreed.
Well, that is good to know.
I might just bring up the reputation of Slytherin males by the time I get out of here after all…maybe.
"Oh, what do you girls know!?" Ron retorts "No one cares what comes out of your mouths on these topics. Girls have no clue about athletics!"
He makes this all too easy. Is there anyone else this stupid? I wave for my group to hold back as I briskly walk forward.
"Come now, Ronald. There are plenty of people who care what comes out of their mouths. Especially when these ladies have such gorgeous lips...among many other exquisite assets that wouldn't be appropriate to talk about in public," I come in with a shit-eating grin.
"Oh, do go on, Harry," Pavarti smiles after she sees me and lights up a little.
Lavender is even more pleased with my arrival. "Please do go on, we'd love to hear," she tells me somewhat seductively.
The other males tense up at my arrival, especially the dumb one.
"Perhaps another time...when we are in private, yeah?" I tell her and she just giggles and agrees.
"I actually came here to talk to Ron," I announce and I see the ginger brace for whatever I throw at him.
"What do you want, Potter? I didn't expect you to come over here without your protective posse," he asks defensively and tries to insult me I guess.
"We are right here, you blind weasel," Draco replies as they walk forward and I can see the other Lions brace for a fight.
I am slightly annoyed that they didn't stay back, but Snakes do stick together, so who can blame them? Even Daphne came over with Tracey, Pansy, Claire, and Millie.
"No need for those words, or those looks, everyone," I tell them as I try to look at Ron as honestly as I can portray.
"I came here to apologize to you," I tell him and he looks confused but drops his guard.
"You see I heard that you feel that the results and picks were wrong for the new tournament. You are strong, clever, powerful, and witty. You should have been a starter on the team," I continue and can see my fellow Snakes are thinking I have gone crazy.
The Lions look at me like I have grown three heads.
However, Ron is getting gobs of confidence and I can only imagine that his ego is growing by leaps and bounds.
"Umm, thanks...You are right, I should have been on the team. I am quite powerful," he tells me, probably reassuring himself.
I have to put up my mind shields so I don't laugh before continuing.
"I feel like you should get another chance. Why don't you duel against me in front of the whole school to show your true power and skill? Surely when you beat me you will show them how wrong they were...right?" I challenge him lightly.
I am the spider and he is the fly stuck in my craftily put-together web. My Snakes all have smiles and expressions of joy on their faces, even Daphne.
Ron thinks for a second before he goes to reply but is stopped by Seamus.
"Wait, Ron...you a...might want to leave things lay where they are..." Seamus interjected, at a loss as to what to say next.
At least he is smart enough to think of his fellow housemate's future health, even if Ron isn't.
"Yeah... it may also seem like you are challenging the Captains," Neville adds.
I am impressed with his quick thinking.
However, I am going to squash this notion by telling them that I am sure the Captains won't mind. They'll love to see me take down this egotistical git...However, it looks like I won't have to.
"I don't care what the Captains think. You got it, Potter. I apologize in advance for the beating you are going to receive," he smirks in a way that only an oblivious idiot can.
The Lions look at him in shock. The Snakes, even Daphne, share a look of anger at Ronald Weasley, who must have gotten dropped too many times as a child.
"Well thank you for being so polite, Ronald. I'll see you tomorrow on the pitch before practice?" I ask him.
"I'll be there. I hope you don't get too scared and decide not to show up," he smirks.
Well, I can't let him go with that comment, I was willing to let him walk away, but now I have to scare him a little.
"I'll be there, don't worry. I will be there early though...you know...to talk with my teammates on strategy on how not to come out of this too battered...I hope Angelina and Cho will still be of use after I tell them that you let me know that women know nothing about athletics...It looks like this is going to be a hard one for me. But I can't go back on my word now...See you on the pitch tomorrow," I smile when I see Ron's eyes bulge.
"Gents," I nod my head to the males who are trying to hide their smirks at their stunned redheaded roommate.
"Ladies, always good to see you out and about," I tell them with my best smile.
"Hope to see you again really soon, Harry...next time somewhere more private," Lavender tells me with a flirtatious expression as she licks her lower lip and sticks her more than ample chest out, giving me a quick wink.
"Same here," Parvati adds, slightly turning like she is about to walk away but stops and coincidentally shows off her captivating rear end.
"Ditto," I tell them as I walk away and see that Ron is still stunned at the threat of Angelina, while Seamus and Dean look at me questioningly.
Neville seems neutral and is trying to figure me out.
My female Snakes give one look back before looking at me like I am weird for flirting with another house's females and...do I detect a hint of jealousy from the female Snakes?
I now have another plan to deal with Daphne.
Blaise might be right though, maybe I just want what I can't have, but somehow I just can't believe that. There is something about that girl that...oh, never mind.
We continue to walk back to our dorms and I see that my posse is smirking with anticipation.
"Tell me you are going to blast that Weasel to kingdom come," Draco tells me.
"I am not," I reply to looks of questions from them.
They know by now that I have more to say and wait for my next response before saying anything.
"I am going to slowly embarrass him and destroy his mind before dealing the crushing blow. I am not going to let him come out of this just to come after me later. He is too much of a pest and will never learn his lesson by himself. I'll force the lesson into his mind and body," I tell them.
They know better than to ask how I am going to do it but they all seem more than satisfied with my reply.
The girls are probably thinking that as Bellatrix's contact, I must have magic skills that are beyond powerful...If they only knew the half of it.
I can't wait for tomorrow.
***
Tomorrow comes in no time whatsoever.
News spread fast and by lunch and dinner that's all people could talk about. Even the other schools were going to try and see it. The little weasel was loving the attention. He should have lived it up while he still could. We headed back to the dungeons after dinner, with people from all houses telling me to take him down... hard.
Apparently, I am not the only one who is extremely annoyed with the youngest male Weasley. This includes his little sister, who made her way over to me on our walk back. I motioned for my crew to go on ahead and they did.
"What's up, Gin?" I asked one of my two favorite third years.
"I know my opinion doesn't matter to you but..." I waited for her to maybe tell me not to injure her brother too badly, much like the twins had, but I was wrong.
"Ron is a prat. I would appreciate it if you took him down multiple pegs. He has been the biggest thorn in my side," she told me.
"He had some issues when you became a Slytherin?" I guessed.
"He told me he disowned me...he was my older brother...I looked up to him and then..." then she stopped.
"You are wrong," I told her and she looked up at me with a questioning look.
"Your opinion does matter to me. I will make sure he gets his just deserts...I promise you," I told her before she smiled and, to my surprise, pushed up on her toes and kissed me on the cheek before walking away casually to Astoria.
***
Ginny had shown her courageous side with that peck on the cheek, and I think I am starting to now heed Cassie’s warning. I am not a plaything, but I may be losing my edge. I better improve my mind shields or else these women are going to be the end of me soon enough. I laugh to myself at the thought.
I didn't think females were going to be an issue in my master plan.
My mind might be much older than most, but my body is still pretty young. You see the rituals I went through...oh here we go, looks like I need to focus.
The weasel has finally made it and I come out of my mediation to see that a large crowd has gathered in the stands.
"Alright, Potter, I will make this quick for you," Ron taunts me, for all to hear.
Many roll their eyes while some Gryffindors cheer.
Cedric Diggory is included in the eye-rolling. He is going to be the unofficial referee for this thing. I asked him to oversee partially so I will get into even more of his good graces.
"Okay, since I am quite busy these days, let's get this show on the road. Potter, are you ready?" he asks in tradition, before looking over to me.
I push out my arm as my wand goes sliding into my hand from its holster,
"Ready," I reply.
"Weasley, are you ready?"
"Ready," he replies, getting his wand from his cloak.
I briefly scan his facial features and hypothesize he has some effective spells to use against me.
"On the count of 1, you may begin," Cedric announces as everyone prepares for the duel to begin.
"10" Cedric starts as Ron comes into a striking position. I just stand there carefree as the others join in on the countdown.
“9”
“8”
“7”
“6”
"5"
"4"
Let's see what this little cat can do.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Baubillious!" Ron shouts as the yellow bolt of lightning goes streaming at me. And he starts with a lethal spell...idiot.
"Conductos," I step aside and cast calmly as my wand tip glows and sucks in the rest of the energy bolt, that initially missed me, so the audience doesn't get hit by secondary effects.
"Lethal curse used! Match over! The win goes to..." Cedric starts with furious eyes directed at Ron.
"Let's keep it going for a little more...I bet Ronald here just had a bit of a premature release. We'll keep this match under control won't we, Ron?" I tell him and slightly start to attack his mind while he can't yet feel the intrusion.
"Yeah," he grumbles as his cheeks tinge slightly in red.
I'll start off easy on him, "Stupefy!"
He casts a protego and shields.
"Reducto!" I cast at the ground in front of me and then transfigure the debris into larger rocks before continuing.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" I shout as the debris gets picked up and becomes a floating shield in front of me as it keeps me safe from his poor excuse of spell-fire.
I move forward, making my way over to him, and with a quick flick of my wand, the remainder rocks start to fly around him, encircling him. He tries to blast them apart but I just cast again and send another batch of rocks into the small tornado of debris that is keeping him inside.
Then I have to stop and pretend like I am trying to catch my breath. This magic is beyond what someone in my year should be capable of and I need to sell this without blowing my cover. While I am pretending I am trying to catch my breath, I wandlessly attack his mind with dark thoughts and images of his demise. I making him scared and destroying his illogical sense of entitlement.
Although he can't get a spell out, I can get a spell in as I manage to form a small hole into the circling rock wall.
“Impedimenta!” I fire into the hole and it hits him in the side. I briefly hear the cheers of the Slytherins before I make my next move.
This is for all those who think they can take me on and think I am just a man behind a name.
This is for Ginny who was thrown to the curb by an older brother who was supposed to protect her no matter what.
This is for the end of a rivalry between my house and Gryffindor.
This is a statement to all other houses and schools… if they decide to join the opposing side in the future, this is what they will be facing.
I need to act quickly because I don't want any of the students to go running off to get a professor.
"This is for attacking the House of Potter! After this, I'll call us even!" I shout at the slow-moving Ron before I cast a speed charm on myself, that will decrease my weight and build my muscles slightly so I can move faster. I again don't want to show anyone my true speed and this has to look realistic before cancelling his rock prison.
I got to Ron and cast a sticking charm on his hand so he wouldn't drop his wand. I don't want Cedric ending the match before I am done with him. Ron's arm begins to move and try to cast a spell, but I don't let him. I sheath my wand and swing forward, punching him on the cheek as he jerks down. Before he can make another move my other fist nails him in the gut. I jerk my knee into his lowered chin before I go spinning around so I am facing his back.
That’s when I swing both my fists inwards next as they connect with his kidneys, not enough to kill or vitally wound, but enough to cause an extreme amount of pain. I swing around again and thrust my foot forward into his lower stomach, before he goes flying back. I take out my wand and summon him back, catching him by his throat.
With one last move, I slam him to the ground and he passes out from the pain. Luckily, from my position, I can secretly shove a healing potion down his throat to make sure his inner organs don't get damaged. I want to make an example out of him, but not kill him.
"Potter... I think it's over," Cedric tells me.
I look back at him and shake my head.
"He still is holding his wand!" I smirk before non-verbally casting a levicorpus on him, causing him to hang upside down. I finish up by turning his robes Slytherin green.
"And there you have it, folks. I hope you enjoyed the show!" I laugh before raising my wand for the final attack.
"Expelliarmus!" I exclaim, thrusting my arm forward, putting a good bit of power into it. His wand soars forward and he goes flying towards me.
I don't even bother trying to catch it.
"If anyone has any other issues with the picks that our brilliant Captains made, feel free to speak up!" I tell them threateningly and see Hogwarts' Captain and Assistant Captain smile at me appreciatively.
"Thank you to all our guest visitors for watching, but at this time the show is over and we ask you to take your time as you head out, seeing as our practice will be starting shortly," I end and for added effect give a small bow.
The many shocked faces that are now looking at me were expected. However, I am very much surprised when I am also met with an abundant amount of applause. The Slytherins, and many many others, are on their feet, standing up, and openly cheering for me.
Many are even asking for an encore.