Renouncing Magic's Child

Harry had been focusing ... blind panic had left him.

"Good," young Kingsley nodded. "Panic will only get you killed."

"Or seriously maimed," Moody growled.

It returned ... following morning.

No one blamed him for that. They'd be terrified too.

The atmosphere ... they would find there.

Harry grimaced. He still couldn't quite wrap his head around using XXXXX beasts for entertainment.

Harry felt oddly separate ... as he passed.

The teachers did not look impressed. They exchanged looks. They really did need more teachers. They missed far too much.

It was a state of nervousness ... curse everyone in sight.

Several people laughed. "It would deserve them all right," Severus muttered.

Time was behaving ... in the Great Hall.

"Time does that," Bode said. "It's really not as linear as we think."

Lots of people were watching.

"Everyone was watching," Harry muttered.

"Potter, the champions ... "You'll be fine!"

Sirius smiled at Hermione.

"Yeah," ... anxious as Hermione.

"I was," Minerva said. "I didn't know what to say or how to get you out of the tournament. And I felt useless. Utterly useless. It's my job to protect you while you're at the school and I felt like such a failure."

She didn't say that she now knew that she was a failure and that she's failed to protect him more times than she knew. But it was written all across her face.

As she walked ... "Now, don't panic," she said,

The twins laughed. How were you supposed to avoid panicking when faced with a dragon?

"just keep a cool head ... any the worse of you...

"I was ready to have you grabbed out the second you looked like you needed rescuing," Minerva said. "The rules don't say a thing about having to complete the tasks. Only attempt them."

Are you all right?"

"That's a daft question," Remus said with a tense laugh.

"I really wasn't in my right mind," Minerva admitted. "I was telling him to stay calm, when I was a gibbering mess."

"Yes," ... "Yes, I'm fine."

"That's a lie," Hermione said. "The only time Harry lies is when he's pretending he's fine."

Harry was tempted to argue with her. But she wasn't wrong.

She was leading him ... screening the dragons from view.

"I swear they actually want you to panic," Blaise said.

"You're to go in here ... Good luck."

"He's going to need it," Sirius sighed. If this ever happened again, he'd sue the school for negligence. Allowing a fourteen year old near a dragon must be illegal. Even if they were magically emancipated.

"Thanks," ... Harry went inside.

The tension in the chamber was escalating.

Fleur Delacour ... pale and clammy.

"I was very scared," Fleur admitted.

Viktor Krum ... way of showing nerves.

Krum noddeed.

Cedric was pacing ... make yourself at home!"

"I don't understand how he could be so excited," Fleur murmured.

"I wanted to hex him silent," Krum admitted.

Bagman looked somehow ... old Wasp robes again.

"Stuck in the past," George said. "Stupid has-been."

"Well, now we're all here ... collect the golden egg!"

"He nearly forgot to tell you what the actual task was?" Remus asked. "Can he spell moron?"

Harry glanced around... he looked slightly green.

Cedric didn't blame his older self one bit.

Fleur Delacour ... opened their mouths;

"Yes, that was exactly how I felt," Fleur said.

"Not me. I was more concerned I'd curse the idiot," Krum said with a shrug.

that was certainly how Harry felt.

Everyone nodded in understanding.

But they, at least, had volunteered for this. . .

"That was the most annoying thing," Harry said. "Everyone acting like I actually wanted to compete."

And in no time at all, ... told her what was coming.

Fleur nodded. "Yes. I knew. She didn't tell me outright but she made sure I was prepared."

The same held true for Krum... stared at the ground.

"That's how I prepare for Quidditch too," Krum said. "I need peace and quiet. Bagman made that difficult."

Cedric put his hand ... Knowing what was left,

"Of course, you'd get the horntail," Sirius grumbled. He was surprised that he wasn't panicking. Severus had a calming draught on standby just in case, but so far, he was doing okay.

Harry put his hand ... bared its minuscule fangs.

"I've still got that miniature dragon," Harry said with a small smile.

"Me too!" Fleur said and Krum simply nodded.

"Well, there you are!" ... could I have a quick word? Outside?"

Sirius sat forward. He didn't like the way people seemed to gravitate towards Harry. In his experience, people always wanted something.

"Er. . . yes," ... Anything I can get you?"

"That's a stupid question," Krum said. "Obviously you weren't feeling alright."

"What?" ... "I - no, nothing."

Pomona smiled. Harry really was very fair. Here was a perfect opportunity to cheat and he wasn't taking it.

"Got a plan?" ... Anything I can do to help... "

"Dirty cheat," George growled, surprising almost everyone. They didn't know where his animosity was coming from.

"No," ... winking at him.

"He said no!" George said, folding his arms.

"No, I'm fine," ... "I've got a plan worked out, I -"

The hufflepuffs were impressed. They weren't sure they'd have played fair under the circumstances.

A whistle had blown ... a sort of hoarse grunt.

That made the lions laugh. They never got to see Harry when he was like this. He always seemed to be fearless. Perhaps, he'd simply learned to master his fear.

Harry went back inside... sitting there and listening.

"We didn't know what was going on," Fleur said. "It was horrible."

The crowd screamed... "Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow"...

Amos looked green.

"He's taking risks, this one!" ... pity it didn't work!"

Mrs Diggory glared at her son. She wouldn't have him risking his life for a silly tournament this time around.

And then, ... captured the golden egg.

Everyone cheered.

"Very good indeed!" ... showing them to the crowd.

Cedric gulped. So, at least, he knew he hadn't died in the first task.

"One down, three to go!" ... trembling from head to foot;

"I was mentally berating myself for entering," Fleur said with a small smile at her husband.

Harry felt more warmly ... avoiding each other's gaze.

They both exchanged a look.

The same process ... she'd had it then!"

"I hated the commentary," Krum said. "It did not help my nerves."

Ten minutes later,... been successful too.

Yet again, they all cheered.

A pause, ... for the third time, the whistle.

"I hope we actually find out what they did to get past the dragon," Remus said.

"And here comes Mr. Krum!" ... fingers tingling with fear...

"That's the adrenaline," Madam Pomfrey said. "You're in fight, flight or freeze mode."

yet at the same time, ... though from far away.

"And you're disassociating," Claudius said. "That's sort of expected."

"Very daring!" ... yes, he's got the egg!"

Everyone cheered for a third time. Then they were all grinning. It was finally Harry's turn.

Applause shattered ... made of marshmallow.

That got some laughter.

He waited... a very highly colored dream.

Madam Pomfrey nodded. That wasn't unexpected.

There were hundreds and hundreds ... gouge marks in the hard ground.

Young Charlie was not impressed. This wasn't right. "Our reserve won't be involved in things like this," he told Lucius.

The Malfoy Lord nodded his agreement. It wasn't like they'd need the funding from the ICW anyway.

The crowd ... didn't know or care.

"Good. Keep your focus on the dragon," Moody said.

It was time ... He raised his wand.

Everyone held their breath.

"Accio Firebolt!" ... If it hadn't worked...

"We thought you'd frozen," Draco said. "Thought you panicked."

if it wasn't coming... swim strangely...

"That's odd," Poppy said. "I suppose you could be panicking. Unless you cast some sort of silent, wandless protection over yourself. Maybe subconsciously?"

No one had an answer for what that haze could be.

And then he heard it ... waiting for him to mount.

The cheering in the chamber grew. Finally they were going to see some action.

"I should have taken it down to Hagrid's hut," Harry said with a sigh. "Or the Quidditch pitch. It would have saved time."

The crowd ... listening wasn't important...

Everyone leaned forward in their seats.

He swung his leg over ... but also his fear...

The other champions looked at him like he was mental.

He was back where he belonged ... ugly opposing team...

That got some laughter.

He looked down ... pulled out of the dive just in time;

Sirius's nails were digging into the back of Severus's hand.

a jet of fire ... dodging a Bludger...

Krum wondered at that. Would he have been so calm if he had been in the air? He wasn't convinced.

"Great Scott, he can fly!" ... "Are you watching this, Mr. Krum?"

"I was watching," Krum said with a smirk.

Harry soared higher ... this time he was less lucky -

Sirius tensed, pulling Harry against his side.

he missed the flames, ... ripping his robes -

"Bloody hell," young Charlie muttered.

He could feel it stinging, ... seem to be deep...

Sirius, Remus and Severus all sighed in relief. Arcturus closed his eyes as he tried to picture the scene. He might have to ask his new great-grandson for the pensieve memory.

Now he zoomed ... The trick was to do it carefully, gradually...

Everyone looked slightly surprised that Harry was actually thinking and not just flying randomly.

He began to fly, ... her fangs bared...

"Patience is key," Albus said with a small smile.

He flew higher... a snake before its charmer...

That was an interesting description. Those that had witnessed it, had to say it was an accurate one too.

Harry rose a few more feet, ... a fly she was longing to swat;

"You're her Rita Skeeter," Hermione said with a smirk.

Several people looked at her in surprise. That was oddly vicious.

her tail thrashed again, ... Her jaws opened wide...

Sirius hid his face in Severus's side. He didn't want to even think about this.

"Come on," ... he had seized the golden egg -

Everyone cheered louder than ever.

And with a huge spurt ... Irish supporters at the World Cup -

"Forgotten they hate you, have they?" Sirius muttered angrily. People were so fickle.

Several of the students looked ashamed, unable to meet Harry's eye.

"Look at that!" ... quickest to get his egg!

"Amazing, pup!" Sirius squeezed Harry's shoulder, pride evident in his expression.

Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr. Potter!"

Sirius's eyes narrowed.

Harry saw the dragon keepers ... he had survived...

Everyone gaped at him. He hadn't just survived, he'd been the quickest.

"That was excellent, Potter!" ... her was extravagant praise.

"Hardly," Minerva muttered. "It was well deserved."

He noticed that her hand shook ... mop up Diggory already... "

Poppy smiled. Finally someone was sending him to her when he needed to be.

"Yeh did it, Harry!" ... Charlie said that was the wors' -"

"HAGRID!" Minerva let out an exasperated sigh as the half-giant chuckled nervously.

"Thanks, Hagrid," ... the dragons beforehand.

"Thanks Harry," Hagrid said.

Professor Moody ... dancing in its socket.

Moody looked suspicious at that.

"Nice and easy ... looking worried.

"I was indeed worried," Poppy said. "And quite angry with the headmaster too."

"Dragons!" ... bring into this school next?

"A toad," Harry said with a straight face, making several people erupt with laughter.

You're very lucky... he felt it heal instantly.

"It really is no wonder you don't think twice about doing stupid stuff like this," Mr Granger said, "if you can get healed that quickly. None of you have any sense of your own mortality."

"Now, just sit quietly ... Hermione, followed closely by Ron.

Sirius glared at the book. He wasn't sure he was ready for Harry to forgive Ron.

"Harry, you were brilliant!" ... "You were amazing! You really were!"

Harry blushed at the praise.

But Harry was looking ... he were a ghost.

Ron grimaced. That wasn't far off how he'd felt.

"Harry," ... I reckon they're trying to do you in!"

"That's not an apology," George said, arms folded.

It was as though the last few weeks had never happened -

The Slytherins rolled their eyes. Potter was far too quick to forgive. They would make him grovel.

as though Harry ... "Took you long enough. "

The Slytherins smirked. Maybe he wasn't a complete push over after all.

Hermione stood nervously ... he didn't need to hear it.

"WHAT?" everyone cried. They needed to hear it even if Harry didn't.

"It's okay," ... "Forget it. "

"He should at least apologise," Neville said sharply.

"No," said Ron, ... Hermione burst into tears.

The boys all stared at the girl in horror.

"There's nothing ... now positively howling.

The lions all laughed. 

"Barking mad," ... Ron by his side, talking fast.

Sirius wasn't sure how to feel about that. Sure, it was good that Harry had his friend back. But he really should have apologised. He couldn't understand why Harry was so quick to forgive. People grew up when they had to face their mistakes. Owning up to them and facing the consequences was a big part of that. He wasn't sure that Harry was doing his friend any favours by refusing to hear an apology. Hell, that was a big part of his problem growing up.

"You were the best, ... turned it into a dog...

Cedric grinned. He did love transfiguration.

he was trying ... rather have him than the Labrador;

Remus nodded. That was to be expected. It would need to be something human sized to provide an adequate distraction.

he only just got away.

Mrs Diggory glared at the book.

And that Fleur girl ... her skirt caught fire -

Fleur blushed.

she put it out ... he didn't even think of flying!

Viktor rolled his eyes. It really annoyed him that people thought all he was good for was Quidditch.

He was probably the best ... squashed half the real eggs -

Young Charlie looked ready to throttle Krum.

they took marks off ... a large figure eight.

"Not bad, Harry!" Sirius grinned.

"Not bad!"... marks off for your shoulder..."

"That's fair," Remus said as everyone cheered.

Mr. Crouch came next... nine into the air.

Harry wondered if that had actually been deserved or if he had been cursed to give him a high score.

"Looking good!" ... He too put up a nine.

More cheering filled the chamber.

The crowd was cheering... ten.

The cheering continued.

"Ten?" ... What's he playing at?"

Everyone stared at Harry like he had two heads.

"Harry, don't complain!" ... shot out of his wand too - four.

Krum rolled his eyes. That was Karkaroff all over.

"What?" ... you gave Krum ten!"

"Karkaroff does not play fair," Krum said with a shrug.

But Harry didn't care, ... a hundred points to him.

Ron smiled brightly at Harry.

He didn't tell Ron this, ... they threw at him now.

Everyone smiled shyly at Harry.

"You're tied in first place, ... back in the champions' tent. "

Charlie grinned. He could still remember how amazing that had been to witness. Imagine outflying a dragon!

Ron said he would wait, ... the wait had been immeasurably worse.

The teachers all chuckled.

Fleur, Cedric, and Krum ... "And you," said Harry, grinning back.

The puffs all looked between them. They hadn't realised that they'd been on friendly terms.

"Well done, all of you!" ... Well, off you go, then!"

"Well, at least they gave you a clue this time," Sirius said with a sigh. He was quite relieved and what was more, he hadn't needed a calming draught. 

Harry left the tent, ... a witch leapt out from behind them.

Harry sighed. He really hated Rita Skeeter.

It was Rita Skeeter ... the fairness of the scoring?"

Arcturus stared at the woman, assessing her. He would have to watch her closely.

"Yeah, ... "Good-bye."

That got a fresh round of laughter.

And he set off back to the castle with Ron.

"Thank merlin, that's over," Sirius said, allowing himself to finally relax. He didn't even have the energy to berate the teachers.