Renouncing Magic's Child

Harry got up ... hat onto his foot instead of his sock.

Several people laughed at that, causing some of the tension in the chamber to dissipate. 

When he'd finally ... eating breakfast with Ginny.

Young Ginny sat a little straighter at the mention of her older self.

Feeling too queasy ... out onto the grounds.

"You need to eat, Mr Potter," Poppy said with a small sigh.

There, he told her ... more pressing problem.

Plenty of people in the chamber seemed to agree.

"Let's just try ... worry about Karkaroff."

Moody nodded in agreement.

They walked three times ... searching through the large pile.

"There's not much you can do," young Charlie said. "Charms and spells are almost certain to fail. With this task, you're going to have to think creatively."

"Talon-clipping ... keep them healthy. . . "

"Sorry Hagrid," Harry muttered. He really shouldn't have called him a nutter.

Hagrid merely shrugged, not at all offended.

"Dragons are extremely ... simple one would do it. . . "

"I was probably referring to the conjunctivitis hex," Sirius said thoughtfully.

"And as I proved that wasn't the best idea," Krum said.

"Let's try some simple ... whispering nonstop at his elbow.

"That would be so distracting," Anthony Goldstein complained.

"It was," Harry admitted, ignoring the glare he received from Hermione.

"Well, there are Switching Spells... make it less dangerous...

"That's actually not the worst idea," Charlie said. "Except it's teeth are really not its first weapon of choice. You need to worry about the fire breath and the tail more than anything."

The trouble is, like that book said, ... haven't got a hope,

"You'd need a mastery for something like that," Minerva said, wondering if even with her mastery she could accomplish that.

"I'm not sure even that would be enough," Albus murmured thoughtfully.

I doubt even Professor McGonagall. . .

Minerva nodded. Yes, she wasn't sure she could do what they were suggesting.

unless you're supposed ... yourself extra powers?

"That's not simple," Theo said. "At least not for a fourth year."

But they're not simple ... O. W. L. practice papers..."

"You were doing practice papers?" Percy asked. Even he hadn't been that obsessed with studying. At least not in fourth year.

"Hermione," ... I m trying to concentrate."

A few people hid their laughter behind their hands.

But all that happened, ... room for concentration.

"Stress will do that to a person," Claudius said. "You were under immense pressure."

He stared hopelessly ... but dragons had no hair...

Several people chuckled.

pepper breath... a dragon's firepower...

"Yeah, that would be a bad idea," Charlie said. "You could use a freezing charm on the fire breath but that could and probably would kill the dragon. Depending on the strength of your spell, of course."

horn tongue... an extra weapon...

Everyone in the chamber began to look a little panicked. This sounded like an impossible task.

"Oh no, he's back again, ... twittering away... "

Ron snorted. He couldn't tell if Hermione was jealous and liked Krum or was really irritated.

And sure enough, ... tied around her waist.

Hermione huffed. Those girls had been so annoying.

Harry barely slept that night... running away from Hogwarts.

"But you'd lose your magic!" Astoria cried out.

Harry simply shrugged. He could think of worse things.

But as he looked ... he had ever been happy...

Harry frowned. The looks were back. "Stop it," he said.

Everyone blinked at him in confusion.

"I don't want your pity," Harry said crossly. "For one thing, it doesn't achieve anything and for another, you're too late. If you wanted to pity me, you had plenty of time to do it in the last timeline."

They all looked down at the floor, feeling ashamed.

well, he supposed ... he couldn't remember that.

"You were," Sirius murmured. "I've never seen a happier babe."

"Constantly giggling," Minerva added. "Clapping and chattering away to yourself."

Somehow, the knowledge ... Dudley was good to know;

"Can't blame you," muttered a couple of Slytherins.

it made him feel ... know about the dragons...

Amos sat forward at the mention of his son.

the only champion ... "Go on, I'll catch you up."

Professor Sprout's mouth dropped open. Surely, Potter wasn't about to tell Cedric... That was a strangely puff thing to do from a boy that according to the hat belonged in Slytherin. Although, she recalled, it had said he could fit in any house.

"Harry, you'll be late, ... Cedric in front of them;

Pomona sighed. She wouldn't blame him if he didn't do it. If anyone deserved a slight advantage it was Harry. He was far too young to be competing in the first place.

they were among those ... he went near them.

Cedric frowned. He thought his friends were better than that.

He followed Cedric ... "Diffindo!"

Minerva bite her cheek. Part of her wanted to tell Harry off for damaging another student's property but under the circumstances, she couldn't disagree that the boy had his priorities straight.

Cedric's bag split... brand-new and all. . . "

"Sorry," Harry said.

Cedric just shrugged. The bag really wasn't that important in the grand scheme of things.

"Cedric," said Harry, "the first task is dragons."

Everyone stared at Harry is disbelief. Why would he tell his opponent?

"Well done, pup," Sirius murmured, pride evident in his voice.

"What?" ... we've got to get past them."

"I'm surprised you told him so much," Severus said. "Even if you wanted to make it fair, simply telling him the task involved dragons would have sufficed."

Even Professor Sprout was nodding. She probably wouldn't have shared as much in Harry's position. The young man was proving to be a better Hufflepuff than most of her puffs.

Harry didn't really have an answer for that.

Cedric stared at him... "I've seen them."

Cedric tried to imagine how his older self was feeling right then. He thought it might be pure panic.

Amos smiled brightly at Harry. He'd really done the young prince a disservice. He was a far better man that Amos knew. He certainly doubted that he would have even considered doing the same thing in his position.

"Thank you, Prince Myrrddin," Mrs Diggory said, a little teary.

"But how did you find out? ... he told the truth.

"I wouldn't have told anyone," Cedric said.

"I didn't know you well enough to know that," Harry said with a shrug.

"But I'm not the only one ... saw the dragons too."

Fleur and Viktor both nodded.

Cedric straightened up, ... suspicious look in his eyes.

Cedric sighed. Why would he be suspicious? He should be downright grateful. Potter might have just saved his life.

"Why are you telling me?" ... those monsters unprepared -

Everyone wondered if they could say the same.

well, perhaps Malfoy or Snape...

Severus smirked at that.

"It's just... even footing, aren't we?"

"That's surprisingly hufflepuff of you," Susan Bones commented.

Cedric was still looking ... "Diggory, off you go."

Moody sat a little straighter. He didn't want Potter alone with his impostor.

Harry stared apprehensively ... In my office, please. . . "

Amos looked concerned. Would the prince get in trouble for helping his son? It wasn't against the rules. At least he didn't think it was. Except that none of them were supposed to know.

Harry followed him, ... if he were a ferret, Harry thought dully,

"That actually could work," Blaise said with a chuckle.

he'd be smaller, ... you just did, Potter," Moody said quietly.

Moody had to agree. Potter was a better person than... well, everyone else in the chamber. 

Harry didn't know ... looking around.

"I wasn't planning on anyone knowing," Harry muttered.

He had visited this office ... when he had been an Auror.

Moody grimaced. He didn't like the idea of the impostor touching his stuff.

On his desk stood ... smaller than Moody's.

Blaise giggled like a little school girl.

In the corner ... golden television aerial.

"I own a lot of dark detectors," Moody said. "I have a foe-glass, secrecy sensor, sneakoscope, and that one there is my Secrecy Sensor. It detects secrets, lies, that sort of thing."

It was humming slightly.

"I wonder why," Moody growled.

What appeared to be a mirror ... none of them clearly in focus.

"Foe-glass," Moody said.

"Like my Dark Detectors, ... too much interference -

"Lying bastard," Moody grumbled.

students ... done their homework.

While that was potentially true, Moody shook his head. His dark detectors were well tuned and would not react to such trivia. He had them set perfectly and would only react to secrets that were dangerous in nature.

Been humming ever since I got here.

"I bet it has," Moody muttered.

I had to disable my Sneakoscope ... kid stuff," he added in a growl.

Moody almost laughed. Anyone who knew him wouldn't believe that he'd disabled his sneakoscope. He hadn't done that... EVER.

"And what's the mirror for?" ... whites of their eyes.

"That's true enough," Moody said.

That's when I open my trunk."

Moody frowned. That was an odd thing to say. While he had plenty of useful things in his trunk, if he saw his enemies in the foe-glass, he'd draw his wand.

He let out a short, ... the dragons, have you?"

Everyone inched forward, eager to hear more about the dragons.

Harry hesitated... Hagrid had broken the rules.

The puffs were all surprised by his loyalty. They exchanged looks.

"It's all right," ... always has been."

"He's not wrong there," Albus said with a sigh. He'd always hated cheating. Although he didn't personally think Harry cheated at all.

"I didn't cheat," ... he's only human."

Albus shook his head. Why did everything have to be political?

Moody gave another ... past your dragon yet?" said Moody.

Alastor and Amelia shared a look. Why was the impostor helping Harry? Unless this was all a ploy to get the boy to lower his guard.

"No," ... play to your strengths."

Pomona laughed. You couldn't really call that cheating.

"I haven't got any," ... stop himself.

Hermione and Ron both looked at Harry like they thought he was crazy.

"Of course you have strengths, Harry," Hermione said with a sigh. "You're a brilliant flyer. You're exceptional at Defense."

"You think well on your feet," Ron continued. "Never lose your head."

"You're insanely kind and generous," Hermione added.

"You're a pro at fighting off the imperius," Daphne said.

"You're a brilliant teacher," Ernie said, remembering the DA.

"Excuse me," ... "and a fat lot of help -"

Astoria giggled. Harry really didn't see himself properly.

"That's right," ... I've only got my wand..."

"Is he suggesting you out fly a dragon?" Sirius asked. "Is that even possible?"

"You'd have to be quick," young Charlie said. "Like insanely quick. Need a really decent broom too."

"My second piece ... get what you need."

Flitwick sighed. "The summoning charm is not simple. It's a complex charm!"

Harry looked ... it's not that difficult... "

Everyone laughed at that.

And it clicked... his Fire-bolt, he needed -

"The only spell you've ever really struggled with," Hermione said with a sigh.

"Hermione," ... I need you to help me."

Sirius smiled at the fact that he'd asked someone for help. That was a big deal for Harry. The mind healers clearly agreed based on the massive grins they were wearing.

"What d'you think ... she was pruning.

The mind healers sighed. Didn't she realise this was the very first time he'd actually asked her for help?

"Sorry, Harry." Hermione gave him a small, sad smile. "I was just so scared for you."

"Hermione, I need to learn ... tomorrow afternoon."

Professor Flitwick honestly couldn't believe that he had managed it. And under the pressure of facing a dragon too.

And so they practiced... stones to the floor.

Poppy looked like she wanted to tell Harry that meals were important too. But this was a dragon they were talking about.

"Concentrate, Harry, concentrate... "

"I'm not sure that's helping," Theo muttered under his breath.

"What d'you think ... Okay, try again... "

Professor Flitwick nodded. It was a hard spell to grasp.

He wanted to skip Divination ... skive off Arithmancy,

Sirius wasn't sure who he should be cross with. He thought a dragon was a good enough reason to skip class but equally... well, he wasn't supposed to say that as a parent, right?

and there was no point ... sudden, violent deaths.

Sirius took it back, he knew exactly who he was angry with. He glared at the professor in question.

"Well, that's good," ... I don't want to suffer."

Several people looked torn between laughing and crying.

Ron looked for a moment ... resentful toward Ron to care.

"I still don't get why you didn't just make up," Hermione huffed.

"And how was I supposed to do that?" Harry asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Ron thought I'd entered into the tournament," Harry said with a sigh. "Nothing short of admitting to doing something I hadn't done, would have even got us talking. And even then, he'd still have been pissed because I didn't tell him how to do it too."

Hermione blinked. She hadn't really considered that. Of course she didn't want Harry to have to lie to fix his friendship.

He spent the rest of the lesson... perhaps the fly was just stupid.

Several people laughed. Sirius didn't. He was growing anxious again. His hand tightened around Severus's.

He forced down some dinner ... chairs across the room.

"Someone really needs to remind Peeves the difference between safe and fun pranks and dangerous or deadly attacks," George said, surprising pretty much everyone.

Harry and Hermione left in a hurry ... hang of the Summoning Charm.

"Two in the morning?" Minerva asked. He'd faced the horntail with barely any sleep?

"That's better, ... "Accio Dictionary!"

The girls all giggled. Although they really hoped no one ever tried using a dragon to motivate them into learning a spell.

The heavy book soared ... out there on the grounds... "

"That shouldn't be a problem," Flitwick said. "So long as you're focused on what you want and you desire to have it enough."

"That doesn't matter," ... you're going to need it. "

The teachers all murmured their agreement. They really didn't want to see everyone's reactions to the first task.