harry_16

Couple of short chapters now. To make up for the last two long ones.
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“One… two… THREE!”

Harry yanked up on the broom and tried like hell to hold on as it shot into the air. He saw the stands come into view and screamed, throwing his weight up and scraping over the top by an inch. He tried to slow down but the broom didn’t seem to hear him. He was forced to try and control it as it careened along the ground.

All he could do was try to aim the thing like a bull in a rodeo as it bucked and vibrated at sixty miles per hour. He crashed near the dock and stumbled to his feet. He stuck the Chimera to a tree with a quick fixing charm and added a really nasty curse for anyone who tried to take it.

He dashed down the dock and stopped by the walkway up the Durmstrang ship.

“Ayauhteotl!” Harry waved his wand and a multicolor mist appeared over the walk, revealing the wards. Harry dipped his wand into each node and spun it around like a baton, watching the changing color.

It was like a combination lock, he just had to match them up… done!

Harry ran through the mist and dashed up to the back of the ship and grabbed the wheel. If his ten minutes spent reading up on magical boats was anything to go on the starter should be… somewhere?

Harry glanced from the incomprehensible mass of Victorian-looking knobs and switches on the wide control panel to the three dimensional, ships wheel attached to the middle of a gyroscope.

Bugger… wait! There were little panels above the controls. Labels… labels in German. Bugger. The only one he could read was the ship’s name, in bold copperplate above the controls.

The Spirit of Njordr

“Well Spirit, just you and me.” Harry put his hand on the throttle, the only control he could recognize. He pushed it forward and the ship surged away from the dock. He pushed it further and felt the wind flow through his hair. Ok, this was cool. He rounded the little cape and the stands of students came into view. Harry grinned, he reached into his robe and pulled out a leather pirate’s hat.

If he was going down he could at least put on a good show.
*


“THAT LITTLE BASTARD! HE‘S STOLEN MY BLOODY SHIP!”

“I believe I remember hearing you say he could take it out whenever he wanted Igor.” Dumbledore commented airily. “I believe Harry takes that kind of thing seriously.”
*


Harry grabbed the ships wheel and threw it forwards sharply. It rolled forward, swinging in its cradle, and the ship’s nose dipped down into the water. Harry gritted his teeth as the Spirit slid down into lake. The water arched up over the top like it was sluicing over a glass ceiling. Harry forced himself to breath as the last of the sky disappeared and he was surrounded by water.

Harry tried not to think about it. He raised his head and whistled at the dark water. After a long moment a glowing shape appeared and came in close to the ship.

“Miss Myrtle,” Harry waved his hat at the floating figure. “Lead the way!”

“Aye, aye!” Myrtle flew away towards the front of the ship. Harry angled the odd wheel to follow her. The darkness carried on endlessly, Harry could feel the water all around him. Harry tried to keep himself distracted , unfortunately there wasn’t much there to distract him. He glanced over the ship, it wasn’t that large, it was thin with a single mast. A… cutter… possibly? His reading last night hadn’t been very extensive on ship identification. He’d skipped right on to the basics of steering magical ships.

Great… lot of help that had been.

The ship had four catapults, two on each side. Probably already planning a dramatic victory celebration. The rest of the ship was spotless, varnished and cleaned down to the last brass railing. Harry grinned, now he knew why Karkaroff had brought so many students when it was obvious he favored Krum. He was using them to swab the decks.

Harry raised himself up on his tiptoes and looked out past the end of the ship and past the glowing specter out in front. There was a forest of seaweed, or lake-weed maybe, stretching out in front of them. It was tall enough to arch up over the ship, Harry groaned as he saw Myrtle disappear into it.

As the ship moved into the forest the kelp (lake-kelp?) slid through the water-wards around the ship and fell onto the decks. Without the water they couldn’t stay upright and fell like wet spaghetti. As the ship moved forward they slid off again just as new ones fell down. It was creepy, like the lake was trying to grab hold of the ship with slippery fingers.

A shoal of silvery fish surrounded the ship, shimmering like a rainbow. Then they changed and flickered in waves of yellow and green, rippling in bands across the shoal. Harry wondered idily whether they were magic or they were just catching the light.

Suddenly the shoal broke apart and swam away from the ship, disappearing in an instant into the darkness behind the ship.

“Oh, that can‘t be good.” Harry looked around desperately for what they were running from. Out ahead Myrtle had disappeared into the gloom. A shadow passed over the ship, moving fast through the water. Harry’s eyes flicked up but it had already disappeared into the seaweed. “Bugger…”

Harry’s hand moved to the throttle and he pushed it forward sharply, the ship surged forward. Hopefully away from the thing. Something green flashed through the kelp to the left, keeping pace. Harry hit the throttle harder and the wheel began to vibrate. He held on grimly as the weeds shot past faster and faster. The green thing kept pace, swinging closer through the underwater jungle. Suddenly it jerked towards him, Harry swung the wheel wildly but the green thing kept coming. It shot through the wards and slapped down onto the decks.

Harry slammed the throttle back, bringing the ship to a stop and stepped out from behind the steering column. The green thing straightened up, dripping, it looked like a weird horse standing up on its hind legs, standing at least eight feet tall. It’s arms ended in claws instead of hooves, giant three fingered claws. It’s horse head… no more like a muzzly dog… was covered in lank hair, like it was part of the seaweed.

“Are you a Grindylow or a Kelpie?” Harry backed away from the thing as it stomped towards him. “Or maybe a Kappa? God I wish I‘d paid attention to Lupin.”

The thing lifted it’s head and brayed, showing Harry that it’s teeth were sharp, serrated fangs.

“Stupefy!” Harry jabbed his wand at the thing, the spell flew out and impacted into it’s chest. It didn’t even flinch. Instead it screeched and lunged towards him like a bull, Harry rolled out of the way and it crashed into the floor in a mass of flailing wet limbs.

“If I knew what you were I could fight you!” Harry yelled in frustration as the thing lurched to its feet and came after him at a run. Harry spun and fled off the back deck, dashing out of reach of the creatures flailing claws. He put the mast between him and it. It lurched left, Harry matched it. It turned right, Harry matched it again and it screeched like a banshee.

“Acerbus cus…” Harry bit back on the last word. If he went to dark magic and they found out he was out of the tournament. Harry looked the creature over, heavily muscled forearms and torso, ribs like armored ridges, thin legs… Thin legs on hooves.

“Ferio!” Harry aimed at the hooves and they slid on the wet wood. The creature went down again, crashing headfirst into the floor. It scrambled up again, it’s feet slipping like a cat on linoleum, and hissed. A moment later it was down on all fours, it’s claws scraping on the deck.

“Clever bastard.” Harry jumped backwards as it bounded towards him. He had to duck under it’s swiping claws as it tried to take his head off. A moment later he felt his back hit wood, he was out of room.

The thing reared up triumphantly, bringing an arm back to deliver the final blow.

“Accio!” Harry aimed under the thing’s arm at the shinning throttle. The Spirit shot forward, throwing both Harry and the thing off their feet. The creature dropped onto one of the catapults, its head resting on the cradle.

“Diffindo!” Harry aimed at the rope holding the catapult down and it snapped up, bringing the creatures head with it. There was a hideous crack and the creature’s neck twisted back. It stumbled backwards and dropped to the floor, it’s limbs flailing. Harry watched as it shook then grew still, it’s head pointing gruesomely backwards.

“Whatever you are you‘re dead now.” Harry stumbled back to the wheel and pulled the throttle back to a more reasonable speed. Myrtle had disappeared, Harry whistled again but she didn’t rematerialize. Oh great… wait…

There was a screechy warbling sound coming out of the water. It sounded like the song from the egg. Harry spun the wheel to the right to follow the sound and pushed the throttle forward. The Spirit kept on sliding through the black water, except it wasn’t as black now. Harry left the controls and went to the side.

Ahead and down there were lights appearing out of the murk. Little lights moving, flickering, some arranged in lines. The lights followed a pattern, laid out along promenades or grouped in clumps near buildings. A city, a city underwater. Harry spun the wheel forward and the Spirit began to descend.

Figures swam up to meet the ship as it floated down, figures with grey, scaly skin and fishes tails.

“Mermaids?” Harry glanced at the mythical creatures keeping pace with him. Several of them were carrying mean looking weaponry and had weird tribal tattoos standing out in red against their pale grey skin. They didn’t look like the Disney kind of mermaid, not unless they upped the rating.

Harry aimed for the biggest concentration of lights, in the middle of the city. There was some kind of town square, hundreds of the fish people were clustered around something in the middle. Harry swung the ship around to get a better look.

There were three human figures tied up with thick, kelpy ropes to a boulder in the center of the square and an open space where it looked like another figure had been. Harry squinted, trying to identify them through the murk. Two he didn’t recognize but the third jumped out at him, her blond hair making a dandelion crown around her head, Susan Bones.

Harry cursed as he realized he couldn’t actually get the ship down to them without crushing them in the process. He stuck an arm through the ward, wand outstretched.

“Relashio!” The ropes around Susan released and she drifted free away from the stone. “Accio!” Harry aimed again and her body changed direction and came shooting towards him. The moment she fell through the wards she began spluttering and looking around in shock.

“Harry where the hell… are we on a ship?”

“No, it‘s your imagination.” Harry pulled her to her feet. “You ok?”

“Yeah, I think…” Susan looked herself over. “Dumbledore said we wouldn‘t wake up until we reached the surface.”

“Ward must have screwed with it.” Harry shrugged and hurried back to the controls. He lifted the ship away from the square and sent it off the way he’d came as quickly as he could.

“What the hell is that!”

“What…?” Harry looked where Susan was pointing. “Oh… Dead Kappa.”

“That’s not a Kappa!” Susan said, her voice high with shock. “Kappa‘s are about this tall.” She put her hand at her shoulder to demonstrate.

“Ok… It‘s a tall Kappa? It ate lots of spinach? Is this really the most important thing happening right now?”

Susan shook her head then frowned and pointed ahead of them.

“And what‘s that?” She was pointing at a moving, eel like shape in the dark beyond the bow.

“What’s… damn it!” Harry whirled the wheel to avoid it but they were already too close. It splashed through the wards and landed on the deck. Harry ran up, wand outstretched and ready for a fight, then burst out laughing. “You look ridiculous!”

“This isn‘t funny Potter.” Malfoy canceled his bubblehead charm, dragged a clump of seaweed off his head and threw it at Harry, who dodged easily. Beside him Pansy was waking up and staring blearily at her surroundings. The eel thing looked like it was made of shadows and seemed to dissolving into the floor now that it was out of the water. Malfoy watched it disappear and cursed. “Do you know how long it‘ll take to make another one of them?”

“Not my fault.” Harry shrugged.

“You ran into me!”

“Yeah well… um…” Harry paused, trying to think of any way in which it was not his fault. Malfoy saved him the trouble.

“What the hell is that!”

“Spinach Kappa.”

“Are you crazy Potter that‘s clearly a Kelpie!”

“Well if you knew the answer why did you ask?”

“I was wondering why a Kelpie with a broken neck was decomposing on the deck of your sh…” Malfoy looked around, seeming to take in his surroundings for the first time. “YOU STOLE A SHIP!”

“Technically it‘s not theft, it‘s piracy.”

“Potter you-”

“Guys!” Susan interrupted. “Shouldn‘t someone be steering?”

Harry looked at the unattended control panel then back at Malfoy. Harry rolled his eyes.

“Girls,” Harry shrugged. “Always complaining.”

Harry grinned at Susan’s outraged expression and trotted up the ships wheel. But as he got there a glowing figure materialized out of the blackness behind them.

“Harry You have to get out of here!” Myrtle yelled, her whole ectoplasmic body vibrating in fear.

“Myrtle where did you-”

“Harry just go!” Myrtle screamed, glancing back behind her. “It‘s the giant squid!”

Harry followed her gaze, there was something moving out there certainly… something big but… NO!

Harry jerked the wheel just in time as a massive fleshy tentacle came out of nowhere and crashed through the railing, raking the deck to Harry’s left.

“Get bellow!” Harry yelled to his passengers as he threw the throttle to full. The ship surged forward just as another arm tried to grab at the mast. Harry saw a massive eye through the darkness to the left, giant and red and bloodshot and staring right at him. Harry jerked the wheel down and the Spirit rose past the monster, the eye disappearing into the murk. Suddenly an arm came out of nowhere and wrapped around the bow of the ship, spinning them around. Harry drew his wand but before he could use it a bolt of silver light impacted the tentacle and it flailed away, smoking.

Harry saw Malfoy stumble away from the front of the ship and dash towards him.

“What the hell is going on!”

“Giant squid!” Harry yelled back.

“I know that! I mean this!” Malfoy waved at the complicated control panel. “Do you even know how to pilot this ship?”

“No.”

“You idiot!” Malfoy swung himself in front of the controls. His hands began flying over the weird knows and buttons, including all the ones Harry hadn’t had the guts to touch. “You could have killed us all!”

“I don‘t recall inviting you on board the good ship squid-bait!”

“Shut up and do as I say.” Malfoy ordered, still working at the controls. A moment later Harry felt a surge of power from the ship. They jumped forward, Harry could even see light ahead.

“Port!”

Looked like daylight…

“Steer to port!”

Harry jerked to life in time to jam the wheel to the left just as a massive shape appeared in the water in front of them. Harry registered a parrot-like beak and flailing tentacles before they slid past and hit the surface.

The ship broached through the surface like a whale, shedding water in great sheets. Harry clung on to try to retain some semblance of control. They hit back into the lake with a massive plume of spray, a moment later the giant squid exploded out of the lake nearby, it instantly spun around and headed for them.

“Hard starboard!”

Harry complied and soon they were racing away from the thing. Harry looked ahead and swore.

“Malfoy there‘s a cliff!”

“I know, keep going.” Malfoy was bent over the controls.

“We‘re gonna hit it!”

“What‘s the matter Potter?” Malfoy glanced up grinning. “Thought you liked this sort of thing?”

“I really hate you Draco.” Harry gritted his teeth and aimed the ship directly at the cliff. Behind them the squid was keeping pace just a few meters behind. “Malfoy…”

“Not yet.” Malfoy’s hand was hovering over a big red button.

“Malfoy…!”

“Not yet!”

Harry could see seagull nest in the cliff face. Another hundred meters. He could see seagulls. Another hundred meters. He could see eggs!

“NOW!” Malfoy smashed the button as Harry steered furiously to the side. He could hear the anchor chains rolling out and felt a loud crash as the ship came to a stop. A moment later the squid shot past, a meter away from their starboard hull.

There was another crash and the seagulls took flight, a giant flock of white leaving the cliff. The giant squid surfaced, right next to the cliff, its eyes were rolling listlessly and it’s arms floated uselessly behind it.

“Knocked itself out.” Harry grinned and stumbled over to the rail. “Knocked itself cold on the cliff.” Harry sighed in relief.

“Thanks Malfoy, I really-”

“Harry?” Harry turned around, instead of Malfoy he saw Susan standing there. “He‘s gone.”

“Gone? What do you mean…” Harry followed her pointing finger. “… Son of a bitch!”

Malfoy was surfing away over the water on a disk of light, Pansy clumped by his feet.

“We need to catch him up!” Harry turned to the steering wheel but stopped. The steering wheel was incased in ice. “Son of a bitch!”

“We could just swim for it Harry.” Susan suggested, shrugging. “We wouldn‘t win but at least we‘d finish.”

“I refuse to lose to that backstabbing bastard!” Harry cast around for another way to get back to the starting line. There had to be a way, there had to be… ah!

“No! Harry NO!” Susan yelled as she saw what he was looking at. “No way in hell!”

“Come on!” Harry said laughing as he pulled her over onto the catapult‘s cradle. “What could go wrong?”

“Are you crazy! No Harry!”

Harry grinned, and cut the cable.
*


They shot into the air. Harry could feel the pressure of the acceleration everywhere, he could see the beach approaching fast, too fast. He raised his wand against the wind and yelled the first spell he could think of.

“Eizuckerpeitsche!”

CRUNCH!

Harry tried to breath as his stomach spun in circles. He opened his eyes to see walls of crackly white. Susan was in his arms, holding him tight around the waist with her head buried in his robes.

“It‘s ok.” Harry whispered. “We‘ve landed now.”

“We‘ve…?” Susan poked her head up and looked around. She still looked a little frazzled, her eyes darting every direction. “What did we land in?”

“Meringue.”

“Meringue?”

“Yes.”

“Oh…” She was breathing heavily and still hadn’t let go of his waist. “Harry?”

“Yes.”

“Never do that to me again.”

“Ok.” Harry smiled. “I promise I‘ll never shoot you out of a catapult into a pile of meringue again.”

“This isn’t funny.” Susan said angrily, her face flushing red.

“You see me laughing?”

She was still breathing heavily, her hair falling around her face, her brown eyes staring into his, her flushed lips were so close…
*


Hermione jumped up in shock as Harry impacted into the giant mound of meringue that had appeared on the beach. A moment later the crowd was rushing from the stands, towards the white mountain. Out in front was a blond woman, yelling at the top of her voice.

Susan Bones’ mother? Hermione guessed.

The crowd reached the meringue and Mrs Bones began digging into it madly.

“Susan! Are you in there? Susan!” She was pulling off huge chunks, rapidly burrowing into the middle of the mound.

“Susan! Are you Ok? Can you hear me Su… HARRY POTTER WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU‘RE DOING!”

Harry’s response went down in Hogwarts history.

“I am snogging your daughter, what does it LOOK LIKE I‘m doing!?”
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A recent medical study indicated that each review you leave adds three weeks to your lifespan.

It’s true.

… no it’s not. Leave a review anyway.

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Ok, forget about the short chapters, decided against it.
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Harry felt his ear grabbed painfully and a moment later he was dragged from his meringue cocoon. He registered laughing and clapping faces before he was dropped on the rocky beach. He stood up and tried to brush off the white powder clinging to every inch of his body.

“Don‘t you have anything to say for yourself?”

Harry turned and looked up into the face of Mrs Bones. Behind her Susan was looking at the ground, blushing furiously.

“Yeah…” Harry grinned and patted his head. “Did you see my hat anywhere in there?”

“You little-”

“It‘s red, kind of like a pirate hat. It had a feather in it but that may have blow of or-”

“I‘ll get you!” Mrs Bones lunged at him and Harry had to dance out of the way.

“Doris Bones!” Dumbledore’s voice rang out over the crowd and Harry turned in time to see him striding purposefully through the pack of students. Mrs Bones stood straight like a child caught with sweets and Harry relaxed. The Headmaster walked closer and came to a stop in front of the three of them. “I am sorry to put a stop to this entertaining spectacle but we will be needing our champion back.”

Harry shot a smile at Susan before walking towards Dumbledore.

“And we will give him back after we are done.”

Harry winced but kept walking.
*


The champions waited in a roped off area while the judges deliberated. Harry winced and rubbed his ear, it really hurt. Trust his luck to have no injury during the task but get a twisted ear as soon as he hit land.

None of the champions spoke, Fleur kept rubbing a bandage on her arm and whispering under her breath. She sounded almost like she was praying. Krum was just staring straight ahead, moping at coming in last. And Malfoy? Malfoy was odd… even though he’d reached shore less than a minute after Harry he looked downcast, his shoulders hung limp and he kept shooting Harry glances full on… Sadness? Guilt? Envy? It was impossible to tell.

Harry looked over at the judges but it looked like they were still stuck in deliberation. The only one he could hear was Karkaroff, who was yelling and gesturing at the ship, still anchored out in the lake. Mr Crouch had a book open and was pointing to something, speaking quickly. Dumbledore stood to one side, occasionally commenting. Madam Maxim was sat to one side, apparently not paying attention. Perhaps they had already decided Fleur’s mark.

Stealing a ship Harry?

Harry closed his eyes and tried to stop a giggle escaping his mouth. Pythea’s voice in his head was light and good humored, it sounded like she was only just stopping herself from laughing as well.

Was that the best you could come up with?

“Pirating a ship.” Harry thought, grinning. “Why does everyone get that wrong?”

You are insane Harry. In the best possible way.

“Thank you.” Harry opened his eyes and tried to pick her out of the crowd but he couldn’t find her. “Where are you?”

Getting ready to leave. Pythea’s voice took on a mournful tone. I’ve been invited to a dinner in London tonight and we’ll be leaving after that. I’m afraid I won’t get another chance to see you. I’m sorry Harry, I can’t get out of it.

“It‘s alright Thea.” Harry nodded. “I understand. So this is goodbye? Until summer I mean.”

Harry… Pythea trailed off, Harry could almost hear her sigh. Yes until summer.

“Is… is there something else?” Harry asked warily.

I… I wish I could tell you Harry. Just keep the necklace on. Please…

“Ok, I understand.” Harry smiled sadly. “Goodbye Thea.”

Goodbye Harry.

“Attention everyone!” Dumbledore said, his voice magically amplified. Harry was jerked out of his mind by the Headmasters voice and felt a little empty as Pythea’s presence disappeared. “We, the judges, have come to a decision.”

Harry heard the whole student body go still.

“For Viktor Krum who used a partial transformation to great effect but unfortunately was unable to free his hostage, we award ten points.”

Krum made no movement, he had obviously been expecting something like that.

“For Fleur Delacour demonstrating a good bubblehead charm, and who retrieved her Hostage just a few moments past the time limit, we award twenty points!”

Fleur nodded, smiling.

“There has been some… discussion over the next two marks.” Dumbledore stopped and cleared his throat before continuing. “Mr Malfoy‘s used a bubblehead charm and subsequent conjuring to retrieve his hostage well within the time limit. Although he rode on Mr Potter‘s transportation for a short time we have been told that this was accidental and so should not count against him. We have awarded him thirty points!”

A small, green robed, portion of the crowd went wild with celebration.

“We have also discussed Mr Potter‘s conduct.” Dumbledore looked over and met Harry‘s eyes. It was impossible to tell what the old man was thinking. “Mr Potter brought his hostage back first, it is true. However, although Mr Crouch has informed us that Mr Potter‘s conduct was not strictly illegal, we have decided that it was dangerous, irresponsible and not in keeping with the spirit of the competition. Therefore we have awarded him no points!”

“Oh come on!” Harry heard someone yell, another voice booed and a moment later the cry was taken up across the whole crowd (except the Slytherins and the students of the other schools). Dumbledore put his hands out for quiet and people quieted down, there was still some angry muttering though.

“I am sorry.” Fleur turned to Harry and smiled in commiseration. “I think zey were to ‘arsh on you.”

“I‘m just happy to still be here.” Harry grinned. Fleur looked confused. “You know, instead of being arrested.”

“Ah,” Fleur nodded and tossed her hair. “But zey would not put ze boy who lived in jail.”

“Not permanently.” Harry shrugged and turned. “Well Malfoy that makes you the… Malfoy?” Harry cast around but the blond haired boy was nowhere to be seen.

“Oh well.” Harry shrugged and turned to the crowd. “Party in Gryffindor tower!”
*


On the way back to retrieve the Chimera with the marauders Harry stopped out of sight of the crowd and trotted down to the edge of the lake.

“Harry?” Ron called out after him. “What are you doing?” Harry ignored him. As he reached the waters edge he cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled,

“I beat you you stupid lake! Yeah you, and everything you could throw at me! I. BEAT. YOU!” Harry threw his arms in the air and laughed.
*


Harry juggled four empty butterbeer bottles in the middle of the laughing crowd in Gryffindor tower. He flipped one behind his back and just managed to catch it on the end of his fingertips.

Either he was out of practice or he had had too many bottles himself. Or maybe it had been whatever the green stuff the Weasley twins had brought was?

“We need more butterbeer!” Someone shouted near the back of the tower.

“No we don‘t!” Fred yelled back, unveiling another crate.

“Stop trying to take credit for the catering Fred,” Harry laughed. “We all know it was Dobby.”

“Spoilsport!”

Harry spun the bottles back down to earth and collapsed against the wall near a window. It was one of the few unoccupied spots in the entire tower. Initially People had questioned why Harry was celebrating having not scored at all. Harry then explained to them that although he had failed on the points fron the had won on the unspeakable-awesomeness front and that was even better.

It seemed like all of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had squeezed into the tower along with the native Gryffindors. The party had spilled up the tower with people lounging around in the bedrooms and landings (Endless fun was gained from letting the other students try to climb the staircase to the girls rooms). Harry had even seen a group of students sitting in one of the bathrooms, playing some sort of forfeit game that involved a lot of giggling, clapping and intermittent green slime. Probably a good thing they were in there come to think of it.

“Great Party Harry!” Someone yelled from across the room. Harry couldn’t see who. “Yeah great!” Someone closer shouted. Harry thought it might have been Cho. There was only one thing missing from this party that would have made it perfect.

That blond someone had been dragged home by her ear so her mother could give her a stern talking-to about her choice of boys.

Harry felt kind of bad about getting Susan in trouble. In retrospect he could have handled the situation with more delicacy, or any delicacy. But it would probably blow over, even if not it was Susan he was dating, not her mother.

So it couldn’t possibly be a problem.

Surprisingly when he had remarked on this to Hermione she had doubled over laughing.

“What?” Harry had said, as his friend held her stomach in pain. “What?”

“Nothing Harry. Nothing.” Hermione had patted him on the shoulder, still chuckling. “It‘s nice to know that you‘re naive about some things.”

Harry shrugged it away, it was probably a girl thing.

Speaking of which… Harry saw a figure sitting out by the front of the school, a figure who looked like it had blond hair. Maybe her parents had let her come home early?

Harry pushed himself up and shouldered his way through the crowd towards the portrait hole. He grabbed a few butter-beers on the way and fended off any questions about where he was going,

“Just to the bathroom.” Harry grinned. “The one up there‘s covered in slime.”

Harry slipped out and closed the portrait firmly behind him before trotting away down the corridor. He effortlessly slid behind a statue as Filch ambled past before proceeding down to the entrance Hall. The main door’s were closed at this time of night so Harry left by a side door and skirted the edge of the castle until the main doors came into view. The figure waiting there was not the one he had expected.

Malfoy was sat there, head in his hands and absolutely still about halfway up the steps. For a moment Harry thought he might have been petrified before he saw the Slytherin shift his feet. Harry ghosted up silently until he was next to the other boy. Malfoy wasn’t crying or anything, no angry shaking or despaired muttering. He just seemed… numb.

“We got to stop meeting like this.” Harry’s voice sounded especially loud in the night air and Malfoy’s head jerked up. Harry could almost see the moment it took for Malfoy to put his usual scowl back in place, like a mask over everything.

“What are you doing here Potter?” He sneered, but it didn’t have it’s usual kick. Even it felt muted.

“Saw you from the tower.” Harry shrugged. “Thought you were Susan come back early.”

Malfoy snorted and shook his head. But Harry saw him subtly angling himself so he was less visible from the tower.

“Why are you here then?” Harry asked. “I assume there‘s some sort of party in Slytherin?”

“Isn‘t there a party in Gryffindor?”

“Avoiding the question.” Harry grinned. “Nice.”

“Just go away Potter.” Malfoy shook his head and sunk back down to the steps. Harry ignored him and dropped down onto the seat next to him. A long moment passed in silence.

“Did Karkaroff give you any trouble about the ship?” Malfoy said suddenly.

“Making me pay for the repairs.” Harry shook his head. “God knows how much it‘ll co-”

“I‘ll deal with it.” Malfoy cut him off. “My father has people for that sort of thing.”

Harry took an appraising moment before the bulb clicked on in his head.

“Ah!” Harry smiled. “I was wondering.”

“Wondering what?”

“Why the giant squid attacked us.” Harry leant back and lay down on the steps behind him. “It‘s an ancient protector of Hogwarts, trained to only attack dark magic. And I know I wasn‘t doing any dark magic…”

Malfoy bowed his head, but Harry could swear there was a sliver of a smile at the edge of his lips.

“That eel thing you were riding when I first saw you? That thing that dissolved into the deck?” Harry guessed. “I‘m thinking you don’t want anyone to find traces of it whilst they‘re repairing the ship. Maybe get you kicked out of the competition, at the very least.”

After a moment Malfoy started chuckling, just a wry little noise, but it was there.

“Very good Potter.” Malfoy lay back on the steps as well. “I keep forgetting you‘re actually intelligent.”

“Thank you, I think.” Harry laughed. “Butter-beer?” Harry held out a bottle.

“Thank you.” Malfoy took the bottle and elegantly flicked the cap off with his wand. Harry rolled his eyes and took his off with his teeth. They drunk in silence for a while, the wind whistling through the grass and about the towers of the old castle. Harry could even hear the echoing laughter from Gryffindor tower far above.

“So what is this?” Harry broke the silence. “Are we like friends now or something?”

“We‘re drinking beer together.” Malfoy stated flatly.

“Chums? Buddies?”

Malfoy rolled his eyes.

“Co-conspirators? Friendly rivals?” Harry grinned. “Agreed non-combatants?”

“We are drinking beer together.” Malfoy repeated. “And you‘re talking too much.”

“Emo git.”

“Scarhead.”

“Snake.”

“Orphan.”

“Peroxide.”

“I looked that up you know.” Malfoy commented, bringing down a strand of his hair to stare at. “I think I‘m more a platinum blonde.”

“Always about money with you isn‘t it.”

Malfoy shrugged and silence descended again.

“So…” Harry broached carefully. “Are you gonna tell me why you were sitting out here in the first place?”

Malfoy didn’t answer, just stared off into space.

“I mean there must have been a reason…”

“Why would I tell you.” Malfoy said under his breath, his old venom dripping from the words. Harry could see the masks pulling back into place.

“No reason… just… well something strikes me.” Harry wondered if this was the right course to take but kept going anyway. “Your best friends are Crabbe and Goyle right? Except they‘re not really the talking-to kind of friends. Actually they don‘t seem as much like friends as they do like… employees I guess. They work for you.”

Malfoy remained silent, staring out into the Scottish night.

“And I haven‘t seen you hanging around Pansy as much lately.” Harry shrugged. “Good choice on your part that… And anyway even when you were together you didn’t really seem to talk. She was more an ornament then a girlfriend I think. I don‘t know much about your Quidditch mates but none of them are in the same year as you are they? And I know you don’t talk to anyone outside Slytherin house.”

Malfoy’s grey eyes bored into the darkness as Harry dryly dissected his life.

“And I haven‘t seen many owls coming to your bit of the breakfast table other than your family‘s eagle owl. You almost never write back. That old woman, Ellen Hayward? You cared about her a lot I think, but she‘s gone now.” Harry took a deep breath. “So the thing is… the point is… the reason you should tell me what’s bothering you, is that you don‘t really have anyone else to tell.”

Malfoy stayed silent for a moment longer then wet his lips.

“Thank you Potter.” His voice broke a little as he was speaking. “That‘s made me feel much better.”

“I didn‘t mean it to come out that that harsh.” Harry shrugged apologetically.

“It was more the was you systematically stripped me of everything that connects me to humanity.”

“That too.”

Malfoy shook his head ruefully and downed the rest of his drink.

“I can‘t tell you the reason.” Malfoy shook his head. “Not the main one anyway.”

“Then… the minor one?” Harry coaxed.

“You really want to hear?” Malfoy asked, sounding confused.

“This may come as a shock to you blondie, but I don‘t hate you.” Harry grinned. “Anymore…”

“You hated me last year.”

“I humiliated you last year.” Harry smiled evilly. “But I didn‘t hate you. Ginny, now she hated you. And the year before we were practically bestest-buddies.”

“I was your informant in a racist cult.”

“As I said, buddies.” Harry quipped (mentally noting down the fact that Malfoy had referred to it as a racist cult). “Now either stop avoiding the question or at least try and be less obvious about it.”

“It‘s just…” Malfoy took a deep breath. “My father hasn’t written.”

Harry waited for the end if the paragraph before realizing it had already passed.

“That‘s it?” Harry asked incredulously. “Daddy hasn‘t written?”

“I came first in the task!” Malfoy said angrily. “I‘m in first place in the tournament. Surely he has something to say about that. He didn‘t write to me after the first task either.”

“How about when you were chosen as champion?”

“He did write to me then,” Malfoy nodded. “But it was strange, it was like he didn‘t know whether to congratulate me or not.”

“Why do you care?” Harry asked, confused.

“What do you mean ‘why do I care‘?” Malfoy looked shocked. “He‘s my father.”

“Oh, not my field of expertise I guess.” Harry shrugged. “For me family is squarely divided between died-before-I-remember and treated-me-like-crap.” Happy paused. “I suppose it‘s possible that the ones that died before I was born also treated me like crap… unlikely though. Either way I don’t have to care what they think, or would have thought, about me.”

“You don‘t feel any, I don‘t know… compulsion… to live up to their expectations?” Malfoy asked, seeming genuinely curious. “None at all?”

“Nope. Why do you think I never tried to learn to fly?” Harry shrugged. “It‘s the upside to being orphaned.”

“I envy you.” Malfoy said, shaking his head.

“There are a couple of downsides as well.” Harry replied dryly. “You‘ll never have to learn how to use newspaper as an insulator.”

“You didn‘t have to run away from home.” Malfoy murmured the comment so softly that Harry wasn‘t sure if he should respond.

“I chose to.” Harry shrugged. “I could have stayed I guess, but I‘d prefer to have my freedom.”

“I see.” Malfoy looked down into his empty bottle, rolling it idly between his fingers. Harry handed him a full one. “Do you ever regret-”

“No.”

“Right.”

“Do you…” Harry took a deep breath. “Do you ever regret not leaving?”

“What makes you think I‘ve thought about it?” Malfoy said evasively.

“Your line of questioning, your overall demeanor, the fact that I‘ve met your father, the fact that you already said you envy me.” Harry shrugged. “Lots of things.”

“You haven‘t been legilimizing me have you?” Malfoy said angrily.

“You‘d know. You‘re better at occlumency than me.”

“There are mollusks better at occlumency than you.”

“Magical mollusks?”

“No.”

“Darn,” Harry grinned and shrugged. “Oh well. Anyway, about your father not writing…”

“There‘s nothing I can do I was just-”

“You‘ll just have to win.” Harry said glibly. Malfoy turned to him in shock. “Then he‘ll have to pay attention.” Malfoy stared at him, his eyes wide. Harry just laughed. After a moment Malfoy started laughing too.
*


And it was with that that Harry and Malfoy became friend. There are some things you can’t share and not become friends and your sucky family life is one of them.

It’s not as dramatic as fighting a troll, but in the long run it’s probably a more stable basis for a friendship.
*


“Errg…” Ron groaned, his head in his hands.

“Brother dear, let me ask you something.” Ginny said, making sure to add extra volume to the vowels. “The twins are your brothers, they are your older brothers. That means you have known them your entire life. So let me ask you… WHY THE HELL DID YOU DRINK THAT STUFF THEY GAVE YOU?!”

Ron’s response was calculated and articulate.

“Errrg…. think ‘m gonna throw up.”

“At least Neville has an excuse.”

Neville responded by shuddering and rolling onto the other side of his bed. Harry, who had only had a glass or two of the twins ‘party mix’ and so was in a more human condition chuckled a little.

“Ok I understand why you‘re not sick.” Harry pointed at Ginny. “You didn‘t drink any, neither did Hermione. But why aren‘t Padma and Parvati sick.”

“Oh Hermione mixed us up an antidote.”

“There‘s antidote?” Ron whimpered. “Why not make for us?”

“She‘s mixing up another batch for Neville and Harry now.” Ginny smiled evilly. “You on the other hand… Maybe you should think about apologizing before you start asking for favors.” Ginny got up and left the room, chuckling under her breath.

“Ok,” Harry shared a glance with the bedridden Neville. “Guess they haven‘t totally forgotten about the ball thing.”

In the end Harry palmed his vial of antidote and gave it to Ron. If he hadn’t then the rest of the day would have been very unpleasant. Ron did his best to sound ill so the others didn’t catch on. This might have worked if Ron was not a completely awful actor. It the end Harry just gave up and accepted that the day was going to suck. They had transfiguration anyway so it could never have been good.

As Harry was slinking out of class miserably (McGonnagall had dropped extra homework on him) when he realized that someone had been missing from the lesson.

“Guys, where‘d Susan go?” Harry asked the assembled marauders.

“Um… I heard her parents got permission to keep her home for the week.” Parvati said evasively.

“Oh, hope she‘s back for the Hogsmeade weekend.” Harry shrugged and turned towards their next lesson. Behind him he heard Padma whisper,

“Is he really that oblivious?”

“I think so.” Her sister responded. “In some ways he‘s worse than Ron.”

“Not most ways though.”

“Oh definitely not, but a few.”

“I have quite good ears up here girls.” Harry commented. “So either whisper better or talk in code.”

“Inkthaye heaye ancay derstandunaye isthaye?” Parvarti whispered conspiratorially.

“Brilliant sister,” Padma rolled her eyes. “Just brilliant.”
*


Susan didn’t materialize all week. Harry considered owling her but figured she probably wouldn’t want to be bothered at her parents place. When the Hogsmeade week end finally rolled around Harry waited in the entrance hall for a while, but when she didn’t show up he shrugged and left to meet up with the marauders.

As he neared the castle gate he casually disillusioned himself and slipped behind Filch, who was eyeing everyone going in and out evilly. He removed the enchantment as son as he was out of the caretakers sight, shocking two third years Gryffindors..

“Can you not do that Harry!” Elizabeth snapped at him.

“Sorry,” Harry winked at her and Vanessa. “But it‘s better than crossing the bloody lake.”

“Why don‘t you steal another ship?” Liz quipped back at him.

“Don‘t want to seem formulaic. Need to keep things fresh.”

“You‘ve done the invisibility thing before too.” Vanessa pointed out.

“Good point, I need some new material…” Harry tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Know anywhere I can get a Hippogriff?”

The two girls laughed and Harry shrugged, so long as it worked he‘d keep using disillusionment. Except with mad eye moody. Harry walked the rest of the way into town with the little Slythi-Gryffs then split off as he spotted the marauders.

“Hey guys, anything happening?”

“You probably shouldn’t be here Harry.” Hermione said sharply as Harry sauntered up. “McGonagall’s around town somewhere, and so are Crouch, Madam Maxim and that other judge, Ludo Bagman.”

“Damn,” Harry winced. “That‘s a heavy group.”

“That‘s what we thought.”

“Well if I wear a disguise or something…. Wait, were those four together?”

“Yeah.” Ron answered, sounding confused. “They all went into the Three Broomsticks together. Why?”

“Three Triwizard judges and the de-facto administrator of Hogwarts meeting up?” Harry winked. “I wonder what they could be discussing.”

“You gonna eavesdrop?” Fred asked excitedly.

“We‘ll help!” His twin chimed in happily.

“Harry no!” Hermione pleaded. “You could ruin your chances in the tournament!”

“I‘m already last.” Harry shrugged. “What else can they do?”

“Chuck you out.” Padma suggested. “Come on Harry, your habit of ignoring school rules has expanded to include ignoring both ministry laws and basic common sense. Lets just go back to Hogwarts.”

“No.” Harry shook his head. “And anyway, since I‘m last place I need to take a few risks or I‘ll never win.” Harry turned to the Weasley twins. “You mind scoping out the broomsticks for me?”

“No problem Harry.” Fred winked and a moment later he and his brother disappeared.

Harry left the other marauders and waited outside the pub for Fred and George to reappear. After a moment they walked out, a little too nonchalantly.

“Guys, walk normally.” Harry hissed. “Unless you want everyone to know something’s screwy.”

“Do not lecture the masters.” George put his hand to his chest in mock shock. “We were doing this before you even learnt how to tease a pocket.”

“No you weren‘t.” Harry said flatly. “Unless you were doing it before you were eight.”

“You learnt to pickpocket at eight?” Fred said, scandalized.

“Seven. I‘m younger than you remember.” Harry said impatiently. “Now what did you see in there?”

“All four of them are at a table near the back.” George said, pointing back towards the building and vaguely to the left. His twin just kept shaking his head and muttering ‘seven?’. “It’s one of the private booths.”

“Ok, time to be old Jack Shaky again.” Harry rummaged in his bag and brought out his old man mask and raged cloak. After donning his disguise he shuffled across the street and entered the pub. As soon as he was in he picked out his marks near the back of the room. Not wanting to arouse suspicion he walked up to the counter and ordered a glass of wine. A drink not childish enough to make him look like a child but not strong enough to make him seem like a child wearing a disguise to get alcohol.

With the goldilocks drink in hand he walked creakily over to the next compartment over from the judges and sat down.

“-don’t see where it zey av all gone.” Madam Maxim was saying. “Ze last time I was over hear zey were everywhere.”

“It‘s been a much wetter summer than usual.” McGonnagall said. “That may have cut down their numbers. Flowers blooming later and so forth.”

“Perhaps.”

“It may also be the habitats.” Mr Crouch said knowingly. “Encroachment by the muggles. Their habitat gets destroyed and they can’t go anywhere. They don‘t like to cross woodland you know.”

“Really? I would have thought they did it naturally?” McGonnagall asked.

“Oh no they don‘t like to cross natural barriers, they only like open spaces. Only a few species actually live in the woods.”

Were they talking about butterflies or something? Harry shook his head, this was the most boring conversation he’d ever eavesdropped on.

“Not like acromantula then?” Bagman joked.

“No nothing like them.” Crouch replied humorlessly. “Acromantula will live in any area with a sufficient food source provided they can find a place out of the sun to sleep during the day.”

“It… It was a joke Barty.”

“Oh… I see.”

The four fell silent and Harry mentally labeled Barty Crouch as ‘the conversation killer’. Harry took a sip of his drink and grimaced, did people drink this for pleasure? Harry slumped down on his seat as the four adults in the next compartment began discussing some philosophy book.

“Well, can‘t always overhear good stuff.” Harry thought realistically. “Sometimes people just talk about garbage.”

Harry figured it was safer to wait for them to leave first so he waited, wisely not drinking any more of the acidic drink in front of him. After an hour or so of boring adult discussion he heard them get up and begin to move off.

“Wait a moment Crouch.” A new voice cut in. “Want a word with you.”

Moody?

“What is it Alastor?” McGonagall asked pointedly.

“Just a little personal matter Minerva.” Moody said easily. “See you back up at the castle.” Harry saw the two women and Bagman leaving.

“Did you look into it?” Moody asked bluntly.

“I fail to see what‘s so interesting in-”

“You don‘t need to. Did you find anything?”

“The department of magical transportation hasn‘t reported any unscheduled portkeys in Dorset.”

“That‘s all you did?” Moody said scathingly. “Looked through a few old reports?”

“Look Moody, this is your obsession.” Barty Crouch said smoothly. “We’re busy enough at the ministry with Fudge’s transgressions and Dumbledore causing trouble. I looked into it as a favor but there‘s nothing there. Just a normal, tragic, act of an old woman who wanted to die before her mind went.”

“Did anyone do an autopsy?”

“Moody…”

“Did they?” Moody pressed.

“The coroner examined her at the scene.” Crouch said wearily. “Standard cause-of-death detection spells revealed-”

“Nothing.” Moody cut in. “Because they can‘t tell a murder from a suicide.”

“Moody nothing can tell that.” Crouch said in exasperation. “If you drink poison yourself it has the same effect as if someone doses you with it. No one can detect the difference.”

“Anyone check her potion making equipment?”

“Yes, it had traces of the potion that killed her on it.” Crouch stood suddenly. “Sorry Alastor I looked into this as a favor, but there‘s nothing suspicious. Nothing to investigate, this is just an old lady who made a mistake.”

“Why are you so sure?” Moody said, his voice going low. “Was a time when even a hint of foul play would have had you at it like a bloodhound, but not now. You know something.”

There was silence for a moment, then Harry heard a chair scrape as Mr Crouch sat back down. When he began talking again it was at a whisper that Harry had to strain to hear.

“They found a note.”

“Suicide note?” Moody asked keenly. “Could have been forged.”

“They tested it. It was written by her, with her own free will.” Harry frowned, he hadn’t realized it was possible to test for that, but since Moody seemed to accept it it must be true. Crouch continued, “Obviously they wanted to keep it under wraps.”

“But everyone knows it‘s a suicide.” Moody sounded suspicious. “Everyone with an ounce of wit anyway.”

“It wasn‘t the act itself,” Crouch whispered lower. “It was the contents of the note. The reason she did it.”

“Eh?”

“She killed herself to be with… with…” Crouch took a deep breath, as if just giving voice to this was strenuous. “ … with someone named Mark Lanka, he was her housekeeper until about a year ago. She died to be with the man she loved.”

“Tragic,” Moody said dryly. “But it doesn‘t explain any-”

“It does if you take into account the fact that Mark Lanka was a registered squib.” Crouch explained in a hushed whisper.

“Oh… Oh I see.” There was the creak of a chair as Moody leant back. “And in an old established pure blood family…”

“That sort of behavior would be deeply shameful. Especially considering how respected she was.” Crouch sighed. “It was decided that it was better hidden. She didn‘t deserve to have this stain on her name.”

“Right,” Moody growled. “It was all for her benefit.”

“In any case.” Crouch stood again and pushed his chair in. “The case is closed, please don‘t discuss this with anyone.” Harry heard him leave the pub. A few moments later…

“Heard all that Potter?” Moody said from the other booth. Harry grinned.

“Was it really that big a deal?” Harry asked.

“To them that care it would be.” Harry could almost see Moody shrugging on the other side of the partition. “And the suicide makes it worse.”

“I see. Guess that solves it then.” Harry took another sip of the bitter wine. “Assuming Mr Crouch is telling the truth.”

“Oh I think he is.” Moody said begrudgingly.

“You trust him?” Harry asked, shocked.

“I trust him to be him.” Moody growled. “If there was so much as a hint that dark magic was involved Barty Crouch wouldn’t just walk away.”

“Doesn‘t he work in some dead end office…” Harry scratched his head, trying to remember. “International magical co-operation? Odd place for a dark wizard hunter.”

“Didn‘t used to be. Used to be an auror, like me. Then a senior auror, like me. Then a department head, which I‘m happy to say is unlike me.” Moody sighed sadly. “He was a tough nut but he did what he had to do in those times.”

“What went wrong?”

“Ended up arresting his son.” A gluging sound came from the other side of the partition, like Moody had just drained his mug. “Barty Crouch Jr, and don‘t think the papers didn‘t have a field day with that. ‘Crouch sentences Crouch’, ‘Set a Crouch to catch a Crouch’ , lots of ammunition for those hacks.”

“Hilarious.” Harry commented dryly.

“Anyway, he never quite recovered from the fallout. But he keeps his ear to the ground and a lot of people in the ministry respect him. In any case, I think this case is closed.”

“Guess so.” Harry sighed. “Sorry I wasted your time Professor.”

“That’s alright, you weren’t to know. And besides, keeps me young.”

“Say,” Harry suddenly remembered something. “He said Dumbledore was causing trouble at the ministry. You know what that‘s about?”

“Dumbledore has it in his head that you-know-who is on the way back.” Moody’s voice was so flat it was impossible to detect what he thought about it.

“Haven‘t seen anything in the Prophet.”

“Rita Skeeter‘s death neutered them. They haven‘t even been gouging Fudge that hard over all his screw ups.”

“Big thing to ignore though…”

“The ministry‘s hushing it up.” Moody snorted. “The parts of the ministry that are still functioning anyway. Don’t know where Dumbledore got the idea though…”

Snape’s dark mark…

“I‘m sure Dumbledore has his sources.”

“Such as?”

“Sources we mere mortals cannot tap.”

“And yet you clearly know.” Moody chuckled. “That‘s what I like about you Harry, you make things interesting. Ever need any more help, just ask.”

Moody got up and left, his wooden leg clomping against the wooden floor.

Harry sighed and took another sip of his drink, grimacing in the process. He felt sort of bloated from the excess of exposition. Harry shrugged and got up to leave when he saw a scrap of paper on the floor, under the table.

Harry leant down, careful to act like he was creaky and old, and picked it up. He began unfolding it and marveled at how it just kept unfolding, over and over until it was the size of a poster. On it was drawn some complicated maze pattern, passages intersecting and turning and ending in blind alleys. There was an open space in the middle and several other clear places around as well. The map had little anotations everywhere that Harry had to squint to read…

“Sphinx… quicksand… devil snare…?” Harry read a few more of them then folded the thing back down and stuffed it in his bag. It obviously wasn’t connected to the case.

After leaving the pub and shedding his disguise Harry went back to the castle (disillusioning himself again to squeak past Filch). As he was crossing the entrance hall he spotted someone in one of the side corridors. He trotted up to the figure, who stopped and turned as he drew near.

“You missed Hogsmeade.”

“Mum kept me home.” Susan said, not meeting his eyes.

“Was she pissed at you?”

“Yes Harry,” Susan turned in irritation. “She was pissed. She yelled, she screamed, she was pissed. Now go away.”

“Well don’t take it out on me.” Harry quirked an eyebrow. “I didn‘t yell at you.”

“Harry… just please go away.” Susan shook her head. “She says I can‘t see you anymore.”

“And you‘re gonna listen to her?”

“Harry please just go.” Susan turned and walked down the corridor. Harry followed confused.

“I don‘t get it.” Harry hurried to keep up with the scurrying Susan Bones. “I like you, I got the impression you liked me.”

“It‘s not that…”

“If it‘s not that then what else is there?” Harry slid in front of her and brought her to a stop with his hands on her shoulders. “Come on Bones, be a little bit less Hufflepuff and a little more marauder.”

“The marauders aren‘t a house.” Susan murmured, still not meeting his gaze.

“Oh yes they are,” Harry winked. “The hidden house, the house that never gets point because we have no rules. Come over to my side Susan, it‘s more fun over here. Lets go for a walk, down by the lake.”

“I‘ve got an essay due…”

“Did you not listen to a word I said?” Harry put a hand under her chin and tilted her head up to meet his eyes. “Come on… do you really want me to walk away?”

Harry leant in and kissed her lightly and lingeringly. Or at least that was what he tried for, he wasn’t exactly an expert.

“Harry please…” Or maybe he was… “Wait… have you been drinking wine?” Harry shut her up by kissing her again, this time harder. About halfway through she started kissing back. Harry leant back, they were against a wall. Had he pushed them against a wall? He certainly didn’t remember doing that.

“Oh Harry.” Susan was blushing tomato red. “My mums gonna kill me.”

“That‘s if she ever finds out.” Harry snaked an arm around Susan’s shoulders. “Lets take a walk.”
*


“Harry where were you?” Hermione asked.

“Hogsmeade, remember?”

“Why do you have lipstick on your shirt collar?”

“Um… ran into a bunch of… magic… kissing… flowers? They exist right?”

“No.”

“Oh.” Harry shrugged and grinned evilly. “Guess I must have been snogging someone then.”
*


Despite being in last place in the tournament the following weeks were some of the best in Harry’s memory, and they didn’t even involve pranking anyone! He had the marauders, peace and friendship with Malfoy and a girlfriend. Susan was still occasionally struck with bouts of nervousness, thinking that her mother would somehow find out about their continued relationship (despite the fact that Harry had already taken care of this by ordering Digger to intercept any post sent from a Hogwarts professor to Doris Bones). But other than that it was perfect.

The marauders often ended the day by lounging around outside on the grass outside talking or doing Homework. And because they were there lots of other Gryffindors came too, and usually Susan brought her Hufflepuff friends. Before long the after-class-outside-lounge became a fixture for most of the school. Luckily the marauders took enough different classes that they could always bag a place before it got too crowded.

One afternoon when Harry was on the verge of falling asleep there on the grass, with Susan lying across him, her head pillowed on his arm, a shadow fell across them.

“Harry wake up.”

Harry’s eyes flickered open and he saw Malfoy standing over him.

“You‘re ruining my beauty sleep.” Harry complained.

“Then I‘m sorry because you really look like you need it.” Malfoy quipped laconically.

“One of us has a girlfriend Malfoy, remind me which one of us that is?”

“One of us knows what a comb is, remind me which one of us that is?”

“Me, it’s what honey comes in isn‘t it?” Harry grinned. “Anyway what is it?”

“Judges want us.”

“For what?”

“I don‘t know, I don’t take divination.” Malfoy rolled his eyes.

“Ron does,” Harry glanced over at his friend, who was doing some Divination homework at that moment. “Look in the crystal ball. Tell us what’s happening.”

“Don’t be stupid Harry…” Ron said, eyeing Malfoy suspiciously. “Wait…” He peered into the sphere and blinked, surprised. “Actually, it does look like there‘s something in there.”

“Really? What?” Harry sat up, dislodging his girlfriend. Ron had never before actually seen something in the ball.

“It‘s kind of distorted…” Ron squinted and scratched his head. “Looks kind of like a face…”

“Some sort of creature?” Neville guessed.

“Troll? Giant?” Harry asked, interested.

“Don‘t know, ugly though. Huge red spots all over its face.” Ron peered closer. Hermione’s eyes suddenly widened and she began to giggle. A moment later Harry got it and slapped a hand over his mouth to stop himself laughing.

“Weird red hair too…” Ron continued, oblivious. “Think it‘s some kind of giant? Some of them have red hair.”

“Not one word.” Harry said to Malfoy holding a finger up. “Not one word.”

“Too easy anyway.” Malfoy shrugged and stepped back as Harry stood. They were about to leave when Padma said,

“Hold on, what the hell was that?”

“What?” Harry turned.

“That!” Padma pointed between Harry and Malfoy. “You‘re not at each others throats! You almost look like friends. Are you on some sort of drugs?”

“No.” Harry shook his head. “That would disqualify me from the tournament.”

“It‘s not like they‘d check.” Malfoy pointed out.

“You never know.” Harry shrugged. “I can just see that Crouch guy running at me waving a plastic cup.”

“I wonder if that‘s the third task.” Malfoy half smiled.

“A urine test? Kind of anticlimactic.”

“Not if it’s in front of the whole school.”

“Oh.. True.” Harry shrugged. “But at least it‘d truly put rumors of Harriet Potter to rest.”

“Also… Fleur.”

“Cad.”

“STOP!” Padma yelled in exasperation. “You‘re doing it again!” All the marauders were now staring at Harry and Malfoy.

“It‘s ok.” Harry shrugged. “Long story short I decided that we should have a truce. Since we‘re both in the same boat over the tournament and all.”

“But, he‘s Malfoy!” Ron said, disbelieving.

“It‘s Ok.” Harry explained. “You don‘t have to stop hating him just because I did.”

“I‘m certainly not going to stop hating you.” Malfoy chimed in.

“You‘re not helping.” Harry said, exasperated.

“I‘m not trying to.” Malfoy shrugged. “The judges want us by the Quidditch pitch.” Malfoy turned and walked, unconcerned, towards the pitch.

Harry turned back to the shocked marauders.

“Sorry guys, I know this kind of blindsided you.” Harry spread his hands apologetically. “But we kept getting stuck together, the dragons, the boat, Bournemouth…”

“Malfoy was there?” Ginny interrupted.

“Oh yeah, I didn‘t tell you that.” Harry cursed himself silently. “Yeah he was there, the woman was an old friend of his.”

“The blond hair…” Hermione said, thoughtfully. “It was his wasn‘t it.”

“Yep.” Harry nodded. “Had to snatch it from the aurors.”

“But Harry, he‘s Malfoy!” Ron started again, seemingly stuck in a loop.