Renouncing Magic's Child

Harry watched his younger self from across the chamber. He was sitting with Draco and Neville today. He was surprised how quickly Draco and Harry had become friends. It had sort of happened overnight and Harry had yet to work out how. They seemed to be getting on though so that was good. He was a little disappointed to see that his younger self wasn't spending much time with Hermione or Ron. But he noticed they also seemed to be making new friends in the chamber. Hermione was currently sitting with a group of Ravenclaw girls and that was something interesting in itself. Hermione had never been particularly good at making friends with other girls. And Ron was happily talking to Seamus and Dean about his collection of Chocolate Frogs cards.

Professor Flitwick was casting his usual spell on the book and before Harry knew it the entire chamber went quiet as everyone got ready for the next chapter.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione ... get past his dragon unscathed.

Sirius was grateful that Harry thought to reassure his older self. He could only imagine how concerned he was.

On the way, ... suspected it all along.

"Why?" Blaise asked.

Ron shrugged. "Malfoy bragging on the train."

Blaise nodded. He didn't like it but it was fair. Everyone knew that Lucius Malfoy had been involved with the death eaters.

"Fits, doesn't it?" ... the World Cup...

"Karkaroff wasn't involved in that," Lucius said. "He wouldn't have been welcome."

I'll tell you one thing, ... Come here - I'll do it -"

"Only got a scratch?" Sirius asked, bewildered. This kid really liked to trivialise Harry's experiences.

Pigwidgeon was so overexcited ... how could they be?"

Minerva huffed. Stupid. Foolish. Gryffindor.

Ron went on ... appreciated it all the same.

Ron blushed. He hadn't realised he was that transparent.

Hermione, however, ... I hate to think what's coming next."

Sirius frowned. Finally some sense.

"Right little ray of sunshine, ... should get together sometime."

"And we're back to the bickering," Remus said, shaking his head. He really didn't know how Harry put up with it.

He threw Pigwidgeon ... food from the kitchens by now."

"Why would you ruin the surprise?" Lee asked.

"Harry doesn't like surprises," George said, understanding his brother perfectly. He might be a little git but he was a good friend... some of the time at least.

Sure enough, ... Cedric with his head on fire.

Amos did not look pleased. Cedric however laughed good-naturedly.

Harry helped himself ... second one for three months.

"Even so, I hope you got to work on that clue straight away," Minerva said.

"Blimey, this is heavy," ... "It's in the tournament rules... "

"That is inaccurate," Albus said. "He was not allowed to receive help from a teacher. Fellow students, on the other hand, was perfectly acceptable."

Hermione blushed.

"I was supposed ... she grinned rather guiltily.

"Nothing wrong with getting help from your peers," Minerva said. "Although, Hagrid shouldn't have told you about the dragons and Moody was playing a very fine line. That said, I'm rather glad they helped you."

"Yeah, go on, Harry, open it!" several people echoed.

Everyone looked at the book in anticipating. Harry did not. He really hoped that the book wouldn't screech at them.

Lee passed Harry the egg, ... playing the musical saw.

Albus sat forward abruptly. "Your second task was in the lake?"

Harry nodded. He wasn't surprised Albus had worked it out. He did speak Mermish after all.

"But Miss Delacour is part veela. That is highly dangerous," Albus said in disbelief. Why hadn't they changed the second task when they learned that?

"Shut it!" ... fight the Cruciatus Curse!"

Neville blushed.

"Don't be a prat, Neville, that's illegal," said George.

"Didn't stop a professor using the imperius curse on us in class," Harry said.

"They wouldn't use ... a bit like Percy singing...

Percy glared at his brother.

maybe you've ... Harry. "

Percy glared even harder at his brother.

"Want a jam tart, Hermione?" ... you've got to watch -"

That got a round of laughter.

Neville, who had just bitten ... "Just my little joke, Neville..."

Mrs Weasley shook her head. Her boys were so silly.

Hermione took a jam tart ... I said I was peckish."

Everyone sighed. This chapter was going to be exhausting. They just knew it.

"How do you get in there?" ... Just tickle the pear, and it giggles and -"

"Don't tell her!" several people groaned. Everyone else eagerly took in the information, looking forward to going to visit the kitchens themselves.

"The house-elves quite like receiving visitors," Albus said.

He stopped ... stir them up into rebellion?"

They really did try not to laugh. The idea was just too ridiculous.

Several people chortled ... "You'll put them off their cooking!"

"In fairness to Miss Granger," Lucius said, "no one has really explained anything about house-elves to her. And most of you who tried to put her off, gave her quite selfish reasons. I don't really blame her for not listening to you."

Just then, ... custard creams we hexed -"

Augusta shook her head. The twins were clearly exceptional pranksters. She knew that they had good business sense too. It was a shame they wouldn't require investment however, with the entire Prewett holdings at their disposal.

Within a minute, ... He even joined in laughing.

"Now that is a sign of a good prank," Remus said. "When the person you prank can enjoy it too."

Sirius laughed, knowing full well that was a dig aimed at him. He had been a little too unkind with his pranking during their school years. He had regularly crossed over the line between school prankster and bully. It wasn't something he was proud of.

"Canary Creams!" ... seven Sickles each, a bargain!"

"Very well done," Filius said with a cheer.

It was nearly one ... they were all right, really, dragons...

"You're mental," Ron said with a chuckle.

The start of December ... its black sails billowing against the dark skies.

"We were warm enough," Krum said.

He thought the Beauxbatons caravan was likely to be pretty chilly too.

"We were freezing," Fleur said.

Hagrid, he noticed, ... light-headed.

Hagrid blushed. He hadn't realised that the smell would affect the children.

This was unhelpful, ... we'll jus' settle 'em down in these boxes... "

"I really hope they hibernate," someone muttered. They really didn't like the skrewts. And if they slept through winter that was less they had to hear about them.

There were now only ten skrewts ... repulsive things Harry had ever seen.

Amos narrowed his eyes. They sounded far too dangerous. And what's worse, if they kept growing, they would only get less controllable.

The class looked ... pillows and fluffy blankets.

"You might have done better with soil or aspen or something... natural," Amos said. "And preferably fire retardant."

"We'll jus' lead 'em in here," ... "Don panic, now, don' panic!"

The adults all stared at the book in fear. Just what was happening?

while the skrewts rampaged ... barricaded themselves in;

"Sensible," Moody huffed.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione, ... only one skrewt was left.

Minerva and Poppy looked livid. This was not acceptable.

"Don' frighten him, now!" ... the skrewt off with their sparks.

Arthur didn't like the sound of this lesson. It was clear Hagrid might benefit from a little more guidance in reference to what he should be teaching children, and the importance of age appropriate content.

"Well, well, well ... pumpkin plants nearby.

This wasn't good. If Skeeter was there, there was no chance this wasn't going to end up in the prophet.

"Who're you?" ... over to its fellows.

"She was barred from the school?" Lucius asked. He hadn't known that.

"After her article about Harry," Hagrid said. "He didn't like that she forced a student to have an interview. And without supervision too."

Rita acted ... beaming still more widely.

The last thing the school needed was Hagrid telling Rita about the skrewts. Lucius grimaced. Losing his space on the board of governors had been frustrating. He'd always been one of the first to advocate for keeping the press off school grounds.

"Blast-Ended Skrewts," ... where do they come from?"

Lucius grimaced. He knew what happened as a result of this conversation. That article had made for unpleasant reading. Of course, at the time, he'd been quite pleased. One of Dumbledore's most trusted at risk of losing his job... It was a dream come true, after losing his position on the board. Not that he had anything against Mr Hagrid personally.

Harry noticed a dull red flush ... she stepped on his foot.

Sirius sighed. "Two things. First, you are the children and Hagrid is the adult. You do not have to rescue him from what is quite frankly his own foolishness. Hagrid knew what he was doing when he bred the skrewts and he flouted the law. While I deeply care for Hagrid, I think we all have to remember that he is an adult and is responsible for his own choices. It is not your responsibility to smooth things over for him. Secondly, Hermione, I know you meant well, but why not have tried to get Ron to help. Why Harry?"

"She was more interested in Harry," Hermione said.

"So, you what? Just decided to throw your friend under the bus?" Sirius worked hard to moderate his voice. He didn't want his annoyance to show. "Hagrid is an adult and can and should fight his own battles. Harry isn't a shield you or others can hide behind. He's a human being and more important he is the child here. Not Hagrid. Hagrid was responsible for protecting Harry. Not the other way around."

Hermione stared at Sirius, not even blinking, before eventually she nodded her head. He was right. She shouldn't have done that.

"Ah, you're here. Harry!" said Rita Skeeter as she looked around.

"As if she didn't know," Remus muttered.

"So you like Care ... waiting to see if the coast was clear.

Several people sighed. This looked bad. Very bad. Not only that but it was bad. None of them should have had that lesson.

"This is o'ny me second year," ... "Er - yeah, why not?"

"Oh, Hagrid," Remus sighed.

Harry had a very bad feeling ... "Until Friday night, then, Hagrid!"

Hagrid shuddered. He shouldn't have agreed to that interview.

"She'll twist everything he says," ... sort of thing Hagrid might do.

Hagrid stared at the floor. Was it so bad that he liked creatures? He supposed he was a little bit guilty of bending... and sometimes breaking the law.

"Hagrid's been in loads of trouble ... I meant best."

"That is not the worst," Hagrid said with a grimace, remembering just how ruthless Skeeter had been.

Harry and Hermione laughed, ... went off to lunch.

Rita grinned. She really did have a talent for causing mischief. Young Rita was looking thoughtful though. The prince didn't like her older self and that was going to be a problem. She needed to find a solution. This young man was going to be the most influential person in their world, she couldn't risk being alienated from him.