The wands
Harry and Hermione made their way to the infirmary after breakfast to write to Sirius. Hermione have Harry a quill, some ink and a parchment, before looking around for an owl as Harry wrote his letter.
As he wrote, the door opened again and Harry’s head snapped up. He didn’t relax when he saw that it was Reborn at the door. The muggle however, merely nodded at Harry, glanced at Hermione and then at the owls.
”Hello, er, Professor,” Harry said awkwardly, and Reborn frowned slightly as he closed the door.
”Call me Reborn. Professor sounds like something Verde would use,” he said, and Harry nodded dumbly.
”Are you... here to send a letter?” Harry asked hesitantly.
”What else?” Reborn asked, looking around warily at the nesting owls. There was a moment of silence and Hermione came back with an owl. Reborn stayed where he was. A thought struck Harry.
”...do you know how to use Owl Post...?” Harry asked.
”Does it look like it?” Reborn asked, a hint of annoyance showing. “Skull didn’t bother elaborating on anything. That damned Lackey.”
”...should we...” Hermione started to say, “should we help you...?”
”...that would be appreciated,” Reborn said, disgruntled.
Hermione went off to look for an owl again, and came back a few seconds later with a lofty looking barn owl.
”Alright, do you have your letter?” Hermione asked, and Reborn handed it to her. “Um, okay then... all you have to do it tie this on here, and then tell the owl who it’s for, and if possible, where that person is.”
”Sawada Tsunayoshi, Japan.”
”Japan?” Hermione asked, bemused. “That’s... a bit far.”
”Can they do it?” Reborn asked, and the owl have an angered hoot, and nipped Reborn’s finger in offence.
”Sure they can,” Harry said hastily. “It just may take a while.”
”That’s fine,” Reborn hummed, and the owl took off. They watched it go, and then Harry turned to his owl.
”Padfoot,” Harry said. “Somewhere in... I don’t know.”
The owl hooted and took off as well, and Reborn turned to go.
”I thank you for your help,” he said smoothly.
”Wait! Pro- Mr. Reborn!” Harry said, Reborn turned, raising an eyebrow. “Last night, you said you saw someone in the castle, putting a slip of paper in the Goblet. Did you really?”
”What reason would I have to lie?” Reborn asked. “Skull also said it, and he isn’t someone who lies. Acts, yes, derails the conversation so far off course no one knows how they got there, yes. But lying? No.”
Harry nodded slowly.
”Then... do you know who...?”
”No. He got away before I could see. He turned invisible,” Reborn lied smoothly.
Harry slumped, then nodded. He said, “Oh. Ok. Thank you anyway for answering my questions.”
”Of course.”
In the next few days...
“Furnunculus!”
”Densaugeo!”
”Impedimenta! Protego! Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus!” a new voice roared, firing off four spells in rapid success in less than three seconds.
Harry and Malfoy’s wands flew out of their hand and into... Skull’s. Who looked absolutely livid. He said in a deathly calm voice, “Accio Potter Stinks badges.”
At once, all green and red badges flew into a ready made bucket held by Reborn. There was silence as Skull walked forward briskly, glancing at the two spell casters.
”...ten points from both Slytherin and Gryffindor. And one from all those who stood by watching. Five points from Slytherin for these badges,” Skull said quietly, his eyes seemed to glow an even brighter purple than usual. “And detention to Malfoy for use of the derogatory word Mudblood.”
There were loud protests and then a soft, deadly voice asked softly, “And what is all this noise about?”
Eyes turned to Snape and Malfoy jumped at his chance for freedom.
”Sir! Potter attacked me!”
”Enough of your lies, or I’ll feed you to Oodako!” Skull snarled, and Malfoy flinched back. Skull turned his glare towards Snape. “Teach your house some manners, Severus. Whenever I am around, I will not tolerate the use of that word. If I catch him using the word again, there will be consequences far worse than detention.”
There was silence, and no one seemed to even breathe, until Snape nodded slowly.
”Apologies, Ri- Skull. I assure you it will not happen again.”
”I’d hope not,” Skull said, then he turned on his heels and walked away furiously with Reborn.
”Professor-” Malfoy began to say.
”Hold your tongue, Mr. Malfoy,” Snape said quietly. “Skull de Mort is not someone you want to cross.”
Then he too, left. Students began to trickle into the classroom slowly, until only Ron, Harry and Hermione were left there. But then- there was a streak of light and a spell hit Hermione’s face.
”Hermione!” Ron and Harry yelled, and there was a crow of laughter as Malfoy and his goons ran away. Skull appeared in front of Malfoy though.
”Alright,” Skull said in faux calm. “Extra training sessions with Reborn, two more detentions, and another 60 points from Slytherin. Come with me.”
Reborn appeared behind Hermione and gently took her hand away from her mouth as she whimpered. Ron and Harry grew in fury as it was revealed her two front teeth were growing at an alarming rate. Reborn sighed and patted Hermione comfortingly. Or, as comfortingly as Reborn could get.
”Alright,” he said. “It’ll be okay. Let’s just...”
Harry thought he saw Reborn’s hand glowing yellow for a brief second, but he must have imaged it, as it was gone in the next second. However... Hermione’s teeth did stop growing... Reborn glanced at Harry and Ron.
”Tell the teacher Miss. Granger won’t be there for the lesson. Neither will the blonde prat. If he tries to argue, tell him what happened.”
Harry and Ron nodded dumbly as Reborn ushered Hermione away and the two entered the classroom. Harry sat down, and Ron walked away to join Seamus and Dean. Harry’s hands clenched under the table.
”Hermione and Malfoy won’t be at in class,” Harry said as Snape opened his mouth. “Reborn said to tell you.”
Snape’s mouth shut, and he looked furious, but nodded, and started to talk to the class. A few minutes alter though, there was a knock at the door and Colin Creevy peeked in.
”Um sir, I’m supposed to take Harry Potter upstairs.”
”Potter has another hour of Potions to complete,” Snape said coldly. “He will come upstairs when this class is finished.”
”Sir, Sir, Mr. Bagman wants him,” Colin said nervously. “All the champions have to go. I think they want to take photographs...”
Harry almost strangled the kid then. He glanced at Ron, who was staring determinedly at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing ever to be seen.
”Very well, very well,” Snape growled. “Potter, leave your things here. I want you to come back to test your antidote.”
”Please, sir, he’s got to take his tings with him,” Colin squeaked. “All the Champions-”
”Very well! Potter, take your bag and get out of my sight!” Snape snapped.
Harry packed his things and hastily followed Colin out. As they walked, Harry half listened to what Colin said, giving the needed answers to the kid’s rambling.
”Good luck!” Colin said when they reached the right room, before scampering away.
Harry knocked on the door and entered. He looked around the room for the other Champions. Viktor Krum was standing moodily in a corner as usual and not talking to anyone. Cedric and Fleur were in a conversation. Bagman, a woman he’d never seen before, Ollivander and the three Headmaster were inside as well. A man holding a camera was there too.
Bagman then spotted Harry and shot up from his seat.
”Ah, here he is, Champion Number four! In you come, Harry, in you come... nothing to worry about! It’s just a wand weighing ceremony!” he said cheerfully.
”Wand weighing...?” Harry repeated nervously.
”We have to check if the wands are fully functional, you know, as they’re very important in the tasks up ahead,” Bagman answered, then gestured to the woman. “This is Rita Skeeter. She’s doing a small piece on the Tournament for the Daily Prophet.”
”Maybe not that small, Ludo,” said Skeeter. “I wonder if we can have a little word with Harry before we start? The youngest Champion... you know, to add a bit of colour?”
Before anyone could say anything though, the door burst open and Skull stormed in, dragging a disgruntled looking Malfoy behind him. Skull blinked, then groaned.
”Why?” he snapped at... the wall. “Why is it that all the classrooms so far have been either having a lesson inside them, locked, or just goddamn stupidly fake? How the hell am I supposed to lecture a student if the castle itself doesn’t allow me?”
”Skull?” Dumbledore asked. “Is everything all right?”
Skull’s eyes snapped towards Dumbledore and he scowled.
”No,” he growled. “It’s not. Students these days are so... so... rude and vile and have crappy attitudes. I remember when I was at school, there used to be a prefect who went around giving anyone who used the word ‘mudblood’ a detention and took hundreds of points off their house. Now look, people like this-” here he shook Malfoy’s arm- “using the word like second nature. What the hell parents are teaching, I really don’t know.”
”Aren’t you just eighteen? Graduated last ‘ear?” Fleur asked.
”I was cursed,” Skull snapped. “I’m older than fifty, goddamnit.”
And there it was again, Harry realised. Skull kept saying he’d been cursed, but with what? A de-aging spell of some sorts? But, thinking back on it, he’d said that Reborn was cursed too... Harry realised Skull was speaking again.
”-for barging in. I’ll be on my way.” But then Skull’s eyes snapped towards Rita Skeeter and he looked furious. “You,” he hissed, his voice full of hostility and venom.
Rita looked confused.
”Sorry, do I know you?” she asked, and Skull sneered.
”No, I suppose you wouldn’t recognise me. But I sure recognise you, Skeeter. ‘The Treacherous Deeds of the Son of Alphard Black’ was it? Hah, one day, you’ll swallow your own tongue. And I’ll look forward to it.”
The he swept out, dragging Malfoy along. But then he came back and pointed his finger in her direction, and then went back out. Suddenly, Skeeter’s eyes bulged. She pointed at her mouth and gave small desperate shrieks and whimpers. Her mouth opened and closed, and Harry saw, to his horror, that her tongue was folding in on itself.
He turned his head to look for Skull, but the mysterious man had already disappeared. Skeeter was ushered out frantically by her cameraman, and then Ollivander cleared his throat.
”Well... shall we get to it, then?” he asked feebly.