Chapter 17
Harry’s head spun with all the information being thrown at him. Ever since he’d been entered in the cup (against his will, he constantly reminded himself with no small amount of frustration), everyone had been frantically trying to find a way to help him get through it.
He tried to point out to everyone, on multiple occasions, that he’d always been fine so far, but that hadn’t actually seemed to make anyone feel better. In fact, all the adults in his life just seemed to get more anxious because of it.
Harry rolled his eyes even as he pushed back from his desk.
It was times like this that he missed being at school. At least there, his friends could distract him, and while his family had tried, there was no hiding the collective fear they felt for him.
It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate it, because he did - of course he did - but that didn’t mean it wasn’t overbearing.
Newt, Remus, Sirius, and professor Snape were all working night and die to find some sort of loophole in the contract of the games, but Harry knew they wouldn’t find one. He wasn’t quite sure how he knew, but it felt like he was meant to do this, and nothing would get in the way of it happening.
“Hiya Harry.”
Harry toppled out of his chair with a yelp, scowling at the dual snickers before he was pulled to his feet. His scowl only lasted as long as it took to recognize the twin redheads in front of him, and then with a cry of delight he grabbed them both in a hug.
“What are you doing here?” He demanded, even as he hugged them tight, and he was hugged tight in return.
“Well, everyone knows what you’re like”
“When something dangerous happens”
“And we wanted to make sure”
“You weren’t going to do anything”
“Stupidly heroic”
“Out of some silly need”
“To protect everyone"
“Even though”
“You’re the only one”
“In danger.”
Harry stepped back, and laughed even as he scrubbed the tears from his eyes.
“You know I don’t try to be in danger all of the time.”
He was met with matching shrugs and grins. Harry laughed, shaking his head.
“How’d you get here, anyways?”
“Snuck past the wards in the forest where they’re thinnest.”
“Apparated from there. Only took a couple of jumps.”
That settled, they moved to make themselves comfortable, George sprawling on the bed on his stomach, chin propped on his fists, and Fred sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning back on his palms.
“So, what are you up to, Harry?”
Harry groaned, dropping back into his chair.
“Everyone’s going absolutely mad over the tournament.” He admitted. “They’re all trying to figure out the tasks, and when Newt and I told everyone one of them is definitely to do with dragons - well you’d think we’d told them I was lynching myself.” Harry scowled, frustrated and tired.
“Seems fair they’d be worried about you.” George put in, glancing up at Fred who nodded.
“Everyone at school’s about lost their heads. I think Ron was hoping you’d come back.”
Harry winced at that.
“Right before you got here, I thought about it. How it would be nice to be there.”
“But?” Fred prompted. Harry cast him a wry smile, glad he had friends who understood him so well.
“But Hogwarts doesn’t feel like home anymore.”
“What does it feel like, Harry?” George asked. When Harry looked back at them both, they were unusually solemn. He stared at them and they stared right back, and Harry knew, instinctively, that he would always be able to trust them.
“It feels like an omen.” He took a breath, swallowing past the fear that sometimes wanted to choke him. “It feels like death.”
Two sets of hands reached out to yank him from the chair and he was bodily maneuvered until he was tucked between them, with George on his right and Fred on his left.
“You won’t die, Harry. We won’t let it happen.” George promised.
“Right. We’re excellent at cheating, you know. If there’s a way around the rules to give you an edge, we’ll find it.” Fred vowed.
Harry found himself grabbing onto them both, afraid they’d leave now that they’d promised, but neither of them moved.
“Don’t worry, Harry, we can do all of that later. Today, we thought you’d need a distraction.” Fred stood, pulling him to his feet. “How’s a few rounds of Quidditch sound?”
George bound up then, yanking Harry’s shirt up and over his head, and while Harry sputtered in protest, trying to right himself, the twins laughed.
“Race you to the pitch!”
>>>
Natasha peeked into Harry’s room, musing at the three bodies sprawled under the covers, long limbs of Fred and George tangled around Harry who was tucked safely between the two of them. She knew the signs, after all. Knew what infatuation and crushes looked like - and though it surprised her - the three of them - even she could admit that Fred and George weren’t so much two people as a physical extension of each other.
She wondered if it would grow into what she expected or if she was reading too much into things - but she could admit, at least to herself - that Harry deserved someone like the Weasley twins.
She didn’t turn as she felt Newt approach her, not ready to look away from the floppy mess of hair that was her nephew, but she acknowledged him with a tilt of her head.
“Clint told me you received an owl from Mrs. Malfoy.” He murmured, though he didn’t join her in the doorway.
“Yes. Narcissa’s worried, though she hides it well.” She went silent, unsure what to do with the feelings churning inside of her. “I just want to protect him.” She admitted, finally closing the door and leaning back against the wall, closing her eyes as she tilted her head back.
“It was a warning. She knows what’s coming, though she couldn’t say. At some point I’m going to have to push Sirius to reach out to her. They’re going to need protection. They deserve it.”
Newt remained quiet, knowing what Natasha needed now more than anything was someone to listen.
“I’m used to being the one in control.” She admitted, smile wry, even as tired eyes opened to look at Newt. “But with this? I can never seem to hold onto that control. No matter what we do, Harry’s always in danger. And what’s worse? They expect it of him - that he’ll step up to the task. He’s just a child.” Her hands clenched in fists, and for a moment, violence shimmered over her in a palpable aura. Then she dragged it all back in.
“One of these days, I’m going to find every single person responsible for putting him in danger. And they’re going to regret it.”
“You won’t be alone in that.” Newt promised, sensing the moment had passed. Natasha smile now was brighter and far more vicious.
“What’ve you found?” She asked, and he dipped his head in acknowledgement of the dismissed topic.
“The tasks. I’ve figured out the rest of them, with no little help from my contacts.”
“What are they?”
“Dragons, as we suspected, are the first task.”
Natasha hissed out a breath, but nodded for him to continue.
“The second task, it seems, will be underwater, and will require him to face the merfolk in the Black Lake. Finally, there’s a maze they used to use. Even when the tournament was a regular event, it wasn’t often used, but it seems that this is a special occasion because it’s being brought back.”
“What’s so special about it?”
“The maze itself is alive, not to mention the creatures they tend to fill it with.”
Natasha looked away a moment, mind whirling. When she looked back at Newt it was with determination.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Newt felt a well of admiration, and nodded, smiling.
“Indeed. Shall we tell the others?”
He followed, a bounce in his step as he followed her back down the hall.
There was something about her, about all of them really, that made the impossible, seem, well, possible.