Chapter 12
Luna woke up just before Draco Malfoy made his annual train visit.
"Weasley," Draco sneered, as Crabbe and Goyle towered behind him. "I've been meaning to ask; how did you get enough money for Top Box tickets? Surely your house didn't fetch that much?"
"Ron didn't get the money, Heir Malfoy," Harrison corrected mildly, "his father did."
"Well then how did his father get the money?" Draco demanded exasperatedly.
"What money, Heir Malfoy?"
"The money for the Top Box!"
"What Top Box, Heir Malfoy?" Harrison asked lazily. By this time, most of his friends were trying not to laugh. Hermione just looked resigned.
Luna didn't hide her giggles. "You're very funny, Harrison."
"Thanks, little moon," Harrison said fondly.
Draco frowned. "You did that on purpose."
"Of course," Harrison replied. "Well met, Heir Malfoy."
"Well met, Heir Black," Draco answered resignedly. He paused. "Oh, Professor Snape sent me a letter, he wants me to tutor you in potions."
"What? You?" Ron sputtered.
"Well, Heir Malfoy is even better than Mia," Harrison pointed out. Draco preened, while Hermione looked scandalized. "Mia, you're very good at practical work and following instructions, but Heir Malfoy is better at the experimental concocting. I've seen him adjust the recipe a few times to make a better potion than the original."
"Thanks, Heir Black," Draco said slowly.
Harrison nodded. "Would you mind tutoring Neville and Ron as well, Heir Malfoy?"
Ron sputtered, and Neville sighed.
"They're more abysmal than you," Draco replied. "But I expect compensation. I don't want money, I already have a fortune," he added smugly.
Harrison pulled his bag onto his lap and pulled out a little silver dragon figurine. It reared up and roared silently.
"Where'd you get one of those?!" Draco exclaimed delightedly, as Harrison gave him the dragon. "Only one person makes them and they're really hard to make-"
Harrison scowled. "They saw I was the Boy-Who-F***ing-Lived-"
"Language!" Hermione exclaimed.
"-and gave it to me for free. That's actually his original, the others can actually roar," Harrison added.
"That's fine, I prefer quiet anyway," Draco said reverently, stroking the little dragon. It curled up in his palm. When Draco saw everyone staring at him, he quickly cleared his throat, blushing, and straightened, putting the dragon into the little pocket on his shirt. "I'll tutor Heir Longbottom and Weasel-y."
"Thank you," Harrison smiled. "Do you need anything else, Heir Malfoy?"
"I was wondering if any of you were going to enter the Triwizard Tournament," Draco said.
"No thank you!" Harrison exclaimed. "I've had enough adventure for a lifetime."
"I d-don't want to," Neville agreed quietly. "Gran might want me to, though."
"It sounds amazing," Ron admitted, "especially since the winner gets 1000 Galleons, but I don't really fancy having to face a lot of danger. Like Harrison said, we've had enough of that."
"We're definitely entering," Fred grinned.
"We figure we can handle anything they throw at us," George added.
"It'll be more fun to watch," Lee hummed.
"Well, I read that this Tournament is incredibly dangerous, and people have actually died," Hermione stated. "I'm not as good as Harrison at Defense, so I most certainly would have trouble with the tasks."
"The Nargles say it's not a good idea, Heir Malfoy," Luna said serenely.
"Heiress Lestrange," Draco said automatically.
"That's right, she's kinda related to you," Ron said slowly.
"My mother is her aunt's sister," Draco explained with a grimace, when Harrison looked confused. "Bellatrix Lestrange Nee Black married Pandora Lovegood Nee Lestrange's brother Rodolphus Lestrange."
Neville's expression tightened.
"The headmaster's putting up wards that will stop anyone younger than seventeen from putting their names in," Draco told the twins. "The Ministry want only those who are of age to participate. They don't want another death on their hands."
"Can't he also put wards up that will stop people from putting other people's names in, for a joke or for revenge?" Harrison asked. Hermione bit her lip, and Neville and Ron looked alarmed.
Draco snorted. "I highly doubt he would. He would claim he didn't think there was a need."
"Maybe you can ask Professor Snape to put them up secretly," Harrison suggested.
"I'll try, Heir Black."
"You can call me Harrison if you like."
Hermione smirked, and Harrison glowered at her. He didn't have a crush on Draco!
Well, then why am I blushing?
Draco blinked. "You... can call me Draco, then."
For f***s sake stop blushing!
"I'll see you at school, Harrison," Draco said quickly, dragging Crabbe and Goyle away.
"Want to explain-"
"-your eagerness to-"
"-be on first name-"
"-basis with Dray?" the twins asked innocently.
Harrison threw his bag at them, causing the compartment to burst out laughing.
-------
"So, now that we are all fed and watered," Dumbledore began with a beaming smile on his face (Harrison and Hermione glared at him, but for different reasons), "I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices.
"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to Screaming Yo-Yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it.
"As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year.
"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
"What for?" Harrison demanded angrily, almost louder than the twins' shouts of "Why the h***?" and several more complaints. Draco was looking indignant.
"Language, Mr.s Weasley," Dumbledore said merrily. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy -- but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-"
He was interrupted when the doors to the Great Hall burst open.
A man in a travelling cloak marched up to the table, limping. Every other step made a loud clunking sound.
A flash of lightning illuminated a heavily scarred face, gray hair, and two different eyes: one a small, beady black, and the other a huge, electric blue. The blue eye was spinning and dancing around in his head, and Harrison watched with fascinated disgust as it flipped around to look out the back of his head.
"That's Mad-Eye Moody!" Ron hissed in shock. "Dad had to help him this morning -- Moody thinks he was attacked."
Moody stomped up to Dumbledore, who shook his hand. Harrison immediately frowned. He didn't trust anyone who trusted Dumbledore.
Dumbledore asked him a question, and Moody shook his head. Then the man limped over to the only empty seat.
"May I introduce our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Dumbledore said warmly. "Professor Moody."
People were so startled by the man's sudden appearance that nobody clapped except Hagrid and Dumbledore, both of whom stopped very quickly. Dumbledore moved on with his speech.
"As I was saying, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
Several people gasped, and mutterings started up. Dumbledore cast a faintly confused look at Fred and George Weasley, who hadn't reacted, before obviously realizing that they already knew.
"Some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation and allow their attention to wander freely."
Harrison bent his head, and Neville, Hermione, Lee, and the three Weasleys leaned closer.
"I don't trust Dumbledore," Harrison whispered very quietly. "Fred, George, I don't think you should try entering. Dumbledore might put harmful magic on the impartial judge."
The twins pouted but nodded. Lee's lips twitched.
"I want to try something this year," Harrison added. "I'll get back to you about it."
"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected.
"And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow. Bedtime! Chop chop!"