Chapter 5: Squirrel Crazy for Golden Nuts
Deep in the Ministry Chambers, a half-skunk/half-rat finally awoke from its two week comatose slumber.
Voldemort opened his eyes and was immediately treated to a dark room with a disgusting toilet and a mediocre bed. His rattish eyes observed the room, trying to discern where he was.
"The wards informed me that you are finally awake," a malicious voice spoke.
Voldemort turned his head to see the foolish magical who had interrupted his musings. At seeing Sirius Black he was not happy.
"Black," he snarled. "Release me at once or I will kill you."
Sirius Black stood his ground and splayed his arms wide. "Go ahead," he smirked. "See if you have the magic to do it."
Realising his wand was not on him he lazily raised his fingers. "Avada Kedavra Novirga." That was the wandless spell for the Killing Curse. However nothing came from him. Voldemort looked at his hand, absolutely stunned it didn't work.
Looking up to see Sirius Black laughing at him quite loudly he snarled, "What have you done with me Black?"
"Oh, I can assure you that this happy event is not because of me," he laughed. "My godson Harry Potter has done this."
He was foiled once again by the annoying brat. But what the hell had Harry Potter done to him to make his magic not work. "What did the infernal brat do?" he thundered.
Smirking evilly, Sirius spoke. "He turned you into a squib."
Voldemort fainted.
IlIlIlI
It was now Mid-November and the First Task of the TriWizard Tournament was fast approaching. By now nearly everyone within the whole of Hogwarts Castle and its foreign guests had a suspicion of the former Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. The French students in particular were absolutely furious with him. They didn't dare do anything against him though, as they were representing their own country and didn't want to bring shame to it by mindlessly fighting bearded fools.
Down by the lake Harry Potter was relaxing after a gruelling day of dealing with Snape in Potions, whom was now more vicious since he had been accidentally been turned into a Squib. He had became more vicious than ever, blaming Harry for it and all his other fates. Although Harry knew it really was his fault, he was getting tired of the ridiculousness of the Hogwarts Potion Master.
"What's wrong, Harry?"
Harry didn't have to open his eyes to see who was talking. He would recognise that gorgeous French voice of Fleur Delacour anywhere. He no longer felt awkward around her. The conversation they had in Hogsmeade recently and then the days after it when he met her by the lake was now feeling common to him. He could also sense her by the smell in her hair. Today it smelt like vanilla with a hint of peach blossoms.
"Snape." That was all he said. He had already told Fleur about him before, so no explanation was needed.
She sat down next to him. "Just how has he managed to keep his job?" she asked. "If a teacher acts zat way towards anyone, staff or student, zey are immediately sacked."
"I think Dumbledore is keeping him around for something," Harry said. "I don't know what it is, but I really don't care anymore."
Little did Harry know, Severus Snape's tenure as Potion Master was finally drawing to a close.
IlIlIlI
Up in her new office as Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall was lamenting the decisions she made in her life.
As Albus Dumbledore's protégé in Transfiguration, she had gotten to know what she originally believed to be Albus Dumbledore, a man who was brilliant in magic. Intelligent, wise and caring. She had fallen for the decisions he had made in his life, nearly all being incredibly wise.
Then she remembered sadly when it all changed. The day her own protégé James Potter had died, the decisions went a different direction. He had left baby Harry Potter on a doorstep. She knew she was no better herself for not making him ring the doorbell and letting Harry into a heated home.
She had just recently found out how Harry was treated at the Dursley's from Sirius whom she had talked to lately. She had gone into an unprecedented fury and physically attacked Albus, having punched him in the nose.
No, she was not going to act like the dumb fool he was. She was now looking at the file for Severus Snape's employment. Albus renewed his contract by the seasons, which was ending at Christmas. She had complained about the man's teachings before, but between Lucius Malfoy on the Board of Governors and Albus, it was a losing battle. Now that Lucius was a squib and Albus was ousted as Headmaster she intended to change it. She was ashamed for not helping Severus when James bullied him, but she was too impressed with James Transfiguration abilities to notice it properly.
It was time to get rid of Severus and re-train some of the teachers in recognising signs of child abuse and to be more professional. She had already hired a new Transfiguration teacher, Professor Maggy Smeth. It was a shame that Sybil was contracted for two more years, she would have loved to get rid of her if her contract wasn't similar to the ones of the TriWizard Tournament. She had also handed down her Head Of House title to Professor Bathsheda Babbling, feeling that she didn't deserve it and the increased workload it had brought.
Her thoughts turned another direction. Right to the Goblet of Fire. She tried to investigate how Albus entered his name, but there was far too much magic on the object. She knew it was all to do with Albus, anyhow. She had seen his face when the four extra parchments had been spewn out. There had been a small smug smirk on his face, and she didn't like it. It was when his name was called out she figured out what she thought it meant. She was quite sure the look on his face had been anticipating this happening. She had tried to smooth out the anger the school had towards him, not wanting a riot to break out. She had eventually found the best way to smooth the students behaviour. She had approached the creator of the Support Cedric Diggory badges made by Draco Malfoy and bought one off him. His face when she bought one off him would be a treasured memory. She had managed to hold in her laughter at the first terrified and then confused look on his face. She knew if she was seen wearing the badge the students might relax more at seeing that the staff didn't support Dumbledore. The staff didn't want to support him anyway. Even Hagrid refused to support him when he saw that the boy he loved like a son, Harry Potter, was angry at Dumbledore.
She briefly wondered what her former mentor would do in the task, but quickly realised she didn't care.
IlIlIlI
Back at the lake the sun was finally setting. Harry and Fleur had stayed under the oak tree and finished their homework together. Harry was immensely grateful to Hermione for not coming out to join them today. She had been out with them for the past few days. She couldn't stomach Ron's behaviour and his increased appetite. When Hermione found out that it was Fleur who caused it she had laughed aloud and said it was brilliant. Harry was not expecting her to laugh at what they did to Ron.
Harry had now finished his homework and was surreptitiously casting glances at Fleur, whom was writing something down on parchment.
"Harry," she said. Her pronunciation of his name was now much better than before. "Can you translate zis to French."
She handed him the parchment she was writing on. Harry took one look at the writing and immediately blushed. For written on the parchment was I CAN SEE YOU WATCHING ME.
She smiled at him, a little tint of a blush appearing on her cheeks. "Do you like watching me Harry?" she asked in a soft voice.
Harry felt incredibly awkward at getting caught. He started fidgeting with his fingers, trying to think of a way to change the subject. Luckily the figure of Hagrid was wandering through.
"Hey Harry," Hagrid beamed at seeing his friend.
"Hagrid, have I introduced you to Fleur."
"Always good to meet a friend of Harry's," Hagrid beamed, making a small bow to the French lady. "So tell me Harry, I can see yeh don' seem to trust Dumbledore lately. Can yeh tell me why?"
Before Harry could suspect that he was sent by Dumbledore Hagrid spoke, "I'm pissed off with him too Harry. He smacked Fang for getting sick on him the other night, and like hell I'm gonna tolerate a person who hurts animals. I kicked him out with those new shoes yeh got me."
At hearing this Harry smiled wickedly and informed Hagrid of everything Dumbledore had done to him. Most of it was already in the Daily Prophet from the interview he gave to Rita Skeeter and Dumbledore's Trial. The man who was once insanely loyal to Dumbledore found himself hating Dumbledore for what he had done to poor Harry. He promised himself and Harry that he would never put him into danger. He would protect Harry until his dying breath.
IlIlIlI
Minister Sirius Black was not happy.
He had now settled in to his new job. He considered it a massive prank on the fools and incompetents in the Wizarding World, but this was getting a bit much. Just before Cornelius Fudge was ousted and arrested the man was beginning to get in contact with the dragon handlers abroad to inform them to bring over four extra dragons to which they were not happy about.
He was now listening to a very angry Charlie Weasley who was sent on behalf of his boss to complain. The dragon-handlers did not want the extra burden of transporting two dragons overseas now that they didn't need four, citing that it was too cruel.
"You have to have a solution for this madness, Minister Black," Charlie pleaded, the anger now gone from his eyes. "You are Sirius Black after all. You always had a solution for everything."
Sirius did not know how to respond to that. He absentmindedly ran his fingers through his overgrown beard, trying to think of a way to help the young dragon-handler and his comrades.
Then it came to him as his thoughts suddenly strayed to his detentions where he wasn't with James. Yes that could work. Yes that could indeed work.
"I've got it, Charlie," he whooped. "Why didn't they just do that instead of transporting dragons away from the homeland they were raised in." He shook his head. Cornelius Fudge was seriously stupid to not have thought of this ingenious plan. "I now have a great idea to ensure that the dragons won't be transported away from their homeland and be a danger to the crowds. However, as there are already three dragons here on British soil it might be better off leaving them here until the task is over."
"What is it?" asked Charlie.
"Two dragon's away from British soil would be fine for the two 'Chumpions' of the Tournament," Sirius laughed at the thought. "All we need now is a mirror."
Charlie looked at the Minister with a baffled expression. "A mirror?" he asked sceptically, trying to comprehend what was on the mind of the devious Minister. "What do we need a mirror for?"
"I'll explain in a few moments," Sirius said shrewdly. "Right now I need a mirror."
He then explained his idea to the awestruck dragon-handler. Charlie was finding the plan more amazing as the conversation flowed on. Yes, his boss would love this idea. They should have used that idea from the beginning. That way they could have avoided the dangers of transporting dangerous dragons into Britain and subjecting them to crowds. Damn the incompetent former Minister Fudge for not thinking of this.
IlIlIlI
"Ah, hello my dear friend," Albus spoke walking up to Hagrid. Dumbledore had a plan. Manipulate Hagrid into telling him what was involved in the First Task.
He was kicked out of Hagrid's Cabin after he smacked Fang for throwing up on him on that night. Dumbledore was not amused but he was promptly kicked out by Hagrid's new steel-toed basilisk spiked boots which had left him in serious pain for over a week.
"Hello, dog hater," Hagrid snarled. "Are you here to smack poor Fang again? Or do you want to smash his poor head in with a lamp."
Dumbledore put on his calm facade, despite the fact he was fuming inside from being talked to like that.
"Look, Hagrid," he said, putting on his best grandfatherly expression. "I'm sorry for smacking Fang when I saw what had happened. I have just been feeling rather down lately and I was just hoping for some support from my friends. And you are one of my closest friends."
Hagrid felt nothing. After talking with Harry and hearing about Dumbledore's Machiavellian ways he immediately saw what the man was trying to do. But he decided to play along to see what the old man wanted.
"That's okay," Hagrid said, forcing on a smile, hoping that Dumbledore would fall for it. "What do you need support with."
"I need support with the Tasks in the TriWizard Tournament," Dumbledore said.
There it is, Hagrid realised. He's trying to manipulate me into telling him what is involved in the tournament.
He was thinking of kicking Dumbledore once again when an idea came to him. Yes that could work. Dumbledore didn't notice the smirk on Hagrid's face.
"Well, they asked me if I could lend them Fluffy to take to Albania, so I let them," Hagrid managed to hold in his laughter when he saw the look of pure shock and fear that appeared on Dumbledore's face. Hagrid knew that Dumbledore had a deep fear and an allergy to dogs. When he had first introduced Dumbledore to the three-headed dog the Headmaster had instantly soiled himself from both ends and had fled back into the castle screaming. "I also gave them Jaggy."
Dumbledore was now shaking violently. He knew very well who Jaggy was. Jaggy was a Manticore that Hagrid kept as a pet in the early seventies. He was the most vicious creature he had ever come across and had just barely managed to get Hagrid to gave him away.
"I thought you gave him away," he said, his voice shaking as he spoke.
Hagrid gave him a look of scorn. "Give away Jaggy? I kept him in the forest and visited him from time to time. He was delighted at the opportunity for more food abroad."
Holding in a chuckle at the now deathly pale Albus Dumbledore, he walked away to finish his work.
IlIlIlI
The First Task was now being held on this day. Due to the shame that involved Albus Dumbledore, the old man and Lord Squibmort -as Harry now called him- were playing the game in Albania, where the other two dragons were. They would be on later on in the day after the real champions had played.
Students and staff piled into the stadium that was built specifically for the First Task. Everyone was rushing in the hopes of getting a good seat. Harry didn't like the tournament anymore, especially now that he was quite friendly with Fleur.
Harry looked up to see Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody sitting down next to him.
"Professor, how are you?" Harry asked, smiling at him. He and Mad Eye got on quite well with each other, especially after Mad Eye discovered from Sirius he was the one responsible for making Barty Crouch Junior a squib.
"Aye laddie," he gave a hard half-smile. "I'm doing fine. Thought I should come up here and keep my promise to you."
"What promise?" Harry asked confused. He could not remember the man making a promise to him, except when Mad Eye got drunk and thanked Harry by offering-
"You actually remembered what you promised," Harry asked astounded.
"Always keep them," he growled. "Did you think I didn't mean it?"
He fished his gnarled hand into his pocket and pulled out a dark hip flask in the shape of a Muggle grenade. "Once again, thanks Potter for what you did." He bent down low and spoke lowly, "I added a little drink in there for you. Watching the girl play might need that."
Giving Harry a brief wink he disappeared up to the Teacher's Row. Harry stared at the hip flask, astounded with what he'd been given. He cautiously pulled the topper open and sniffed its contents.
Up in his seat, Alastor smirked when he saw the boy do this. The Potter boy was being constantly vigilant. It was good to see someone getting the message.
"Welcome to the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament," the voice of Ludo Bagman called out.
Harry tuned out Bagman's voice and sat there worrying about Fleur. Hermione had told him that people have died in the Tournament in the past. Thoughts of Fleur entered his mind. Pleasant thoughts of her alive, happy and laughing with him. He couldn't get the dreams out of his head, not that he wasn't even trying to.
His daydreaming had him nearly miss Cedric's performance in the task. It was only when a deafening roar was heard he looked up. Cedric was trying to dodge the dragon, who had unleashed fiery breath at him. Cedric managed to avoid it. The battle for the Golden Egg carried on between them for several minutes, with Cedric trying to avoid the dragon and his various attempts to distract it. Harry watched as he got painful short burns on his clothes. Eventually he had succeeded in distracting the dragon with a transfigured dog and had retrieved his egg. He was then escorted to the Medical Tent where Madam Pomfrey was probably now checking him over.
A roaring Welsh Green made its way onto the pitch handled by several dragon handlers who were struggling with preventing the dragon from going on a rampage by luring her with her eggs.
Harry's heart leapt in his throat when he saw the dragon. Was this the one Fleur was facing. She knew there were dragons in the tournament and had told him. But she didn't know what kind of dragon she was facing.
The strangest thing to happen though was hearing the dragon talk.
"YOU BETTER NOT HARM MY EGGS," the creature roared. "I SWEAR ON MY LIFE I WILL ROAST YOU IF YOU SCREW THIS UP. I'M ONLY DOING THIS FOR THE SHEEP YOU PROMISED ME."
Why was he hearing the dragon talk? The Swedish Short Snout which Cedric had faced had him only hearing roars.
Then it occurred to him. Certain dragons were mythed to have been connected to serpents. Was he hearing Parseltongue? But how could that have been possible. He had felt his scar burst open just a few weeks ago when Voldemort turned into a squib. Searching for an answer he asked the Room of Requirement to explain what had been going on. The answer he had found had been horrifying. The mere idea of having a piece of Voldemort's soul in his forehead had terrified him, but the explanation of that; and Dumbledore's words of Voldemort transferring some of his powers to him at the end of second year made him suspect he had a Horcrux in his head. He strongly suspected that Voldemort turning into a Squib had affected it. He was quite sure that every other one created had its magic destroyed too, whatever they were.
But why was he still hearing Parseltongue? That was something he needed to investigate.
IlIlIlI
Draco Malfoy made his way off the stage.
He was bored waiting for the next champion, whoever it was, to come out. So he finally decided to take matters into his own hands. He was a Malfoy after all, he didn't wait around on anyone.
He made his way to the Champions tent, where he found Ron Weasley apparently reading the sign.
"What are you doing, Weasley?" he spat out, putting as much venom into his voice as possible. Why Harry Potter had chosen a friend like Ron Weasley he could never fathom. The Hogwarts Rumour Mill was now saying that Potter and Weasley were no longer friends. He hoped it was true.
Ron scrunched up his face in anger. "I'm here to tell the Veela harpy to stay away from Harry."
Draco snorted. The Weasel was going to do something stupid, no doubt about it. He ignored the red headed moron and looked for someone. He recognised the two champions that were still in the tent and walked over to them, his head held high.
Viktor Krum gave him a sharp look. Fleur Delacour didn't even spare him a glance. How dare she, Draco thought. No one ignores a Malfoy. He hadn't noticed that Ron Weasley had followed him over.
"Who's next out there?" he asked haughtily, expecting a response.
Fleur looked up to see who the newcomer was. She scowled when she noticed the boy who bullied Harry constantly and the one who pissed her off in the Three Broomsticks.
"Go away, leetle boys," she scowled at them. "You are not welcome 'ere. Get out."
If Draco or Ron had noticed properly, they would have seen that Fleur was getting angry. However the boys tiny brains hadn't told them to run so they stood their ground.
The cannon went off signalling for the next champion to step into the stadium which was for Fleur.
"Get out there and get eaten by that dragon," Draco ordered.
"Yeah, it will be more entertaining," Ron intervened gleefully, enjoying annoying the Triwizard Champion.
Fleur's temper rose. One more remark from the pair of them and was quite sure she would transform.
"I wonder if dragon's like the taste of half-breeds," Draco said haughtily.
Too late. Fleur's fingers started to enlarge until they transformed into talons while her skin sprouted into feathers. At the same time wings formed on her back. She was just about to roast the two cowering brats when she was called into the Stadium. Not wanting the two idiots to get off her wrath scot-free she set their hairs on fire. Ignoring the screeching and moaning from the two idiots she made her way out into the stadium.
Her transformed state had terrified the dragon into a frenzy. In order to avoid a fight and die, as the Welsh Green was sure it would happen, she just handed over the Golden Egg to the Veela who immediately left and took the egg to the Medical Tent. The dragon let out a breath of relief at managing to avoid the fight.
IlIlIlI
Harry ran into the tent looking for Fleur. He had been terrified that she would be in trouble with the dragon. To his surprise she had come out in her transformed state and managed to cow the dragon into handing over the Golden Egg. She had finished in the record time of seventeen seconds.
"Fleur," he called out, running over to her. "Are you okay?"
Fleur looked up to see Harry in front of her and smiled. This was what she needed after hearing the way she was insulted. She was terrified she would die out in the stadium as she was unsure whether her original tactic would work or not which was to bewitch a rock into a Manticore.
"Maybe this will relax you Fleur," Harry said, pulling out the hip-flask Moody had given him and handed it over to Fleur. Fleur, recognising the hip-flask, smiled at Harry and took a drink of the Firewhisky that was in it.
"Try it, Harry," she smiled at him. Harry sat on the Hospital Bed with her. She wasn't injured but she wanted to relax on the bed after what she did. Harry took his first swig of the Firewhisky in the hip-flask and immediately coughed.
"Not your first time, Harry," she asked playfully.
"No," he said sheepishly.
"Don't worry mon homme," she giggled. "I'll show you how to drink Firewhisky."
"You got Firewhisky," interrupted a rude voice.
Fleur and Harry turned around to see Ron Weasley lying on a hospital tent bed staring longingly at Harry's hip-flask.
Harry stared.
"Who's got Firewhisky?" came another rude voice from another bed. Draco Malfoy.
Harry stared again.
And burst out laughing along with Fleur. Due to the damage to their hairs caused by Fleur Delacour, Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy were completely bald.
When the scores were displayed by Madam Maxime, Minerva McGonagall, Igor Karkaroff, and Amelia Bones (who had replaced the imprisoned Barty Crouch as judge) Fleur received thirty eight points for her efforts.
IlIlIlI
Dolores Umbridge was not happy.
For years she had been the Undersecretary of Minister Cornelius Fudge. While he was in power she was free to do what she wanted. She collected blackmail on high up Ministry workers, sneaked into various countries, and enjoyed spying on important dignitaries.
Three weeks ago it had all changed. Cornelius had been arrested for corruption and bribery. His biggest financial backer and her associate Lucius Malfoy had somehow been turned into a squib who had lost massive influence when his long-suffering wife finally divorced him very quickly and had taken all the Malfoy money for herself. And worst of all, one of her worst enemies, Sirius Black, had taken up the position as Minister.
She had been furious and had been stupid enough to mouth off about the new Minister to many members of the Ministry. Sirius had heard what she had said and had packed the former Fudge Administration to work in Albania helping the dragon handlers for the part of the TriWizard Tournament that was being held there. No one missed her back on British soil. Everyone had hated her, even her allies. Everyone in the former Fudge Administration were extremely pissed off with her as she was the one that had got them into this mess. One of her new haters was silently praying for one of the dragon's to eat her.
IlIlIlI
An hour later the Stadium at Hogwarts was filled with a giant mirror positioned in the centre.
Minister Sirius Black had realised a better idea than to take the two dragons for Dumbledore and Voldemort over to British soil. The first three dragons would be kept on British soil as they had been promised their favourite food, sheep, if they cooperated.
For the show in Albania, a huge two way mirror had been placed at the stadium. It was built in a eight-way point in the shape of an octagon in the stadium so all angles could be viewed by all the crowds.
There were three rows for the Champions of the Tournament set up in the best places for the Champions and their families who were visiting. As Fleur had the highest points in the Tournament she had received the best one. Sitting with her were her parents, her younger sister Gabrielle, Harry, and her new friend Hermione Granger. At first Hermione had been a bit cold to her but Harry had forced them into a conversation and they had both quickly found they had a lot in common.
"Welcome to the Second Part of the TriWizard Tournament," Ludo Bagman announced in a booming Sonorus enhanced voice. "We will be watching the Second Part on these mirrors. What are these mirrors, you may ask? These are called Two-Way Mirrors. Two mirrors are needed, but in this case we needed sixteen."
There were murmurs among the crowds of students. Nearly all of them except Muggle-born students knew what they were.
"Now for those who don't know what these are and how they work, let me explain," Bagman said enthusiastically. He had loved the idea. He had been treated for scorn for having dragons brought over along with Cornelius Fudge. But he found the idea of watching something other than your reflection on the mirror deeply fascinating. He explained to the awed crowd properly what the mirror did and how it operated.
"Harry," came two voices.
Harry looked up from his conversation with Fleur to see the twin menaces of Hogwarts, Fred and George Weasley.
Harry smiled widely as he realised why Fred and George were over to see him. "You want to have the best seats to see what happens to Dumbledore with what you did?"
They both nodded. "Well make yourself comfortable and watch Dumbledore dig his earth."
IlIlIlI
Albus Dumbledore was understandably nervous.
After he had managed to manipulate Hagrid into telling him what was involved in the task he had studied hard to see what he could do against Fluffy. Hagrid had told him years ago that Fluffy had a weakness but he couldn't remember if he was told or not. He had searched all of his memories around his Pensieve and couldn't find anything labelled Cerberus or Hagrid.
And Jaggy, Dumbledore shuddered. He had no idea what he was going to do there. During the brief time that Hagrid had him the creature was uncontrollable. He would only listen and obey Hagrid. When Dumbledore had found him, Jaggy had tried desperately to tear him limb from limb. It was only by sheer dumb luck that he had managed to escape.
A roar sounded out from outside the tent he was in. Great Merlin, that definitely sounded like Jaggy.
His thoughts turned to another thing. The Weasley Twins. He always had the trust and loyalty from the Weasley Family. It had been notoriously easy manipulating Molly with implanting suggestions in her mind. He had planned to have Harry aligned with them and hoped he would meet Ron at Kings Cross. The redhead boy's mind was easy to plant a suggestion in it. The mind of Ron Weasley however was too disturbing to linger in again. The plan had nearly gone shot to hell with Molly arriving late at the Platform. He had planted a suggestion for her to be early but the Weasley tradition of being late for the train had removed that idea from her head, but she had still called out the Platform number as intended. Luckily Harry had still been on the Platform. He was glad Harry had strayed from the Platform when he couldn't find it as Amelia Bones had turned up shortly afterwards with her niece. She would recognise an abused child anywhere.
Molly and Arthur remained loyal to him after his name was called out of the Goblet and Fred and George had gifted him with two bags of lemon drops just before he left for Albania, encouraging him to win. They had told him to take the right bag now which contained naturally sweet lemon drops and to eat the lemon drops in the left bag when he was going in to fight in the First Task. They had told him they were specially flavoured lemon drops which would help him in the task. He agreed to the idea and had managed to hold in his sweet addiction for the bag, having already finished the first one.
IlIlIlI
Lord Voldemort -or Lord Squibmort- had contemplated what had happened to him. He had tried for four days to understand what had happened to him and how it happened to him. His new found Squibdom and his strange new form of a hybrid rat and skunk.
He was quite sure he had found the answer when he had suddenly been knocked unconscious. He had woken up several hours later to find himself binded from escape. He hadn't been tied down like he had suspected. But there had been so many wards put up that had prevented him from leaving where he was.
Loud roarings came from around him. He knew there was something vicious out there that could probably easily kill him but he refused to die. However the only door he was able to walk out of led into the large field that had been set up for him and Dumbledore where the creatures were.
He just hoped he could survive this.
IlIlIlI
GONG!
The bell had gone off and Albus Dumbledore was to begin first. He walked on to the field, trying to look as proud as anything for facing against a Cerberus and a Manticore. While walking through the tunnel that led to the field he opened the bag of lemon drops that Fred and George had given him and started shoving them in his mouth. They didn't taste much different from naturally sweet ones like the twins said but he didn't care. He Loved Lemon Drops!
He came out of the tunnel and immediately saw what was in front of him. A huge Moldavian Mangler, one of the most vicious dragons in the world, was in front of him.
Pure terror and anger washed over him as he quickly realised that Hagrid had duped him.
The timing charm that had been imbued on the lemon drops that started upon consumption finally ended. Within seconds a huge ten foot squirrel stood in place of Albus Dumbledore white a white coat of fur.
For many years after this event dragon researchers would try to find what it was about a ten foot squirrel that would make a dragon completely frantic. Eventually the only connection they could make was that the squirrel was the same colour as sheep, the favourite food of dragons.
With a deafening roar and a snap of its chain, the dragon had broke free of her restraints and gave chase to the now fleeing squirrel.
For the next fifteen minutes the crowds watching the scene from the mirrors watched as Dumbledore the squirrel ran as fast as he could on his legs. Dragon handlers moved in from all corners, ready to relax Bellatrix the dragon once it came near them. However, the dragon didn't slow down, preferring to try and bite its prey.
Dumbledore finally saw something. His squirrel tendencies told him that a beautiful golden nut was nearby. He turned his head briefly and changed directions, heading for that so glorious oh so pretty golden nut. He managed to reach the golden nut and picked it up. He then noticed a nearby hole he could eat it in.
He started darting towards it when the effects of the spiked lemon drops went into effect. As Dumbledore had eaten far too many of the spiked lemon drops, the clothes he had walked into the field wearing had completely disappeared showing off his wrinkled, elderly, naked body. Behind the mirror, several people threw up at the sight of a naked Albus Dumbledore.
Luckily, Dumbledore disappeared sooner than expected down the tunnel he mistook for a hole clutching his golden egg.
The dragon handlers managed to get control of the still insane dragon. Bellatrix the dragon was more passive now. But the dragon handlers knew she would easily become insane. It was why they named her Bellatrix when she was born as a hatchling. They subdued Bellatrix and led her back to the barn where several mutilated sheep and cows were. Once hearing her estranged biting and roars of fulfilment they realised she was herself again.
Lord Squibmort would be out shortly.
IlIlIlI
What in Merlin was he going to do? Voldemort pondered to himself.
He hadn't any magic in him to fight any beasts. He remembered from his readings that some ferocious beast was always used in the First Task of the TriWizard Tournament. He didn't understand why he just couldn't remember.
Wait was it -
GONG!
Well, this is it. Voldemort sighed as he walked through the tunnel that led to the fields. He reached the end of the tunnel and walked through, hoping to find something he could control. Upon seeing the dragon he promptly let out a huge fart in shock.
However, as Voldemort was now a half skunk and hadn't properly dispelled gas in two weeks the effect was huge. As the field was very much protected by powerful wards and had an goblin made Enhancement Charm for baby dragons born who couldn't roar properly, it reacted with the gas that Tom had let into the area.
The smell had reached Imelda the dragon, who was instantly repulsed by the smell.
"DEAR HARRIAS! THAT IS DISGUSTING! YOU CAN FORGET THE BLOODY SHEEP!" she roared already charging towards her barn. "I'M NOT STAYING AROUND HERE."
Harry had heard this dragon talk from the other side of the mirror and promptly burst out laughing, drawing some people to look at him strangely.
Imelda made her way back to the barn. The smell had gotten to her and she felt she was about to throw up.
Too Late! Imelda threw up on a woman who was walking out the gate to her barn.
Dolores Umbridge had been assigned to check the barn while the supposed battle was going on to ensure there was enough sheep and cattle for the returning dragon. However no one knew the dragon would return of her own volition. Stuck in her own musings for revenge, she didn't even notice the ground shaking with returning footsteps, and neither did she see the dragon vomit that had fallen on her. Due to the toxic nature of dragon vomit she was immediately burned alive. Months later she would be identified by a small flesh of skin that had been retrieved at the scene. There had been a toad tattooed on it which narrowed it down to only her based on her disappearance. Once her death was revealed to the public no one cared. Not even her retired father who had actually been the only one to ever like her. A huge party would be celebrated by nearly the entire Ministry at hearing that she died.
In all of the confusion Voldemort saw what he had been told to retrieve. The Golden Egg. He immediately ran to it while covering his nose. While skunks wouldn't be disgusted at the smell, rats were and he knew he was also half rat. He grabbed the egg in one hand, and while clutching his nose, he ran back to the tunnel he had come out of, managing to get away from the smell.
IlIlIlI
"Where are you taking me, Harry?" Fleur asked.
The task had ended several hours ago and Harry had explained to Fleur why he laughed so hard at the dragon. He had divulged one of his closest secrets and told her he was a Parselmouth and told her what the dragon said.
Instead of running away like he expected her to, she had just smiled at him and thanked him for being honest.
Now he was taking her deep into the Forest where the dragons were being kept overnight before the dragon handlers went home. He wanted Fleur to meet the dragon she had faced and hear what she had to say.
"I must say, that was huge fun out there today," came a voice.
"Is that the dragon I faced?" Fleur asked, as Harry had grabbed her hand and was running towards the voice. They came to a clearing and found three relaxed dragons conversing with each other.
Harry couldn't understand what the other two were saying but he could definitely understand the Welsh Green.
"What are you doing here, human?" the Welsh Green snarled.
Harry pulled out his backpack and dug in, quickly putting on his basilisk hide gloves and pulling out several heads of sheep. "I come with a peace offering in exchange for a talk with you, my dragon." Harry said bowing briefly.
The dragons were excited at seeing more food. They reached out their long tongues to grab the sheeps heads and ate them.
"You are most kind, human," the Welsh Green said. "My name is Layla, those are Chayos and Terrar."
The two dragons nodded before laying their heads down to go to sleep.
"This is Fleur Delacour and I am Harry Potter," he said, noticing Layla's huge eyes go wide.
"The Harry Potter has come to visit us," Layla screeched in happiness. Chayos and Terrar woke up immediately and looked at Harry. "Show us your scar."
So apparently he was famous to dragons too. Harry chuckled and rolled up his bangs to show them.
"Nice to meet you too."
"Give us a twirl, Harry," Layla asked. Harry did so, chuckling as he did.
"What's going on?" Fleur asked.
"Apparently dragons have heard of me too," Harry said chuckling. Fleur laughed along.
"Tell us your story, Harry," Layla asked. Harry noted with amusement that the dragon's tail was wagging like a dog's. He found the situation very surreal.
"Another time, I promise," Harry said. " I just want to introduce you to Fleur."
Layla instantly recognised Fleur, despite the young girl not being in her Veela form this time. She understood Veela when they were in full form. But not when they were angry.
"Can you ask her to transform again, but to her civil version. I would be able to talk to her"
Harry knew what the dragon was asking. Fleur told him she could transform in normal will without getting angered and that it was less complicated.
"Layla requests for you to transform civilly," he told her.
Fleur immediately transformed. Harry immediately saw one of the most beautiful creatures mankind had put on the earth.
Before he could think much Fleur had transformed back.
"Harry," she said breathily.
"What is it Fleur?"
Fleur stepped closer to Harry. They were both the same height so this wouldn't be too awkward. She closed the distance and placed her lips on Harry's.
Harry was momentarily stunned. He quickly recovered and moved into his first kiss. It was soft and gentle, just as a first kiss should be.
Fleur pulled away from Harry and smiled at him gently, holding him close. She told him softly she wanted to do that since she met him. She looked back briefly at Layla who told her to do it and smiled at her. Layla gave her the dragons version of her thumbs up.
"Let's go to the lake," Fleur said softly. She and Harry took a long walk through the Forbidden Forest holding hands, much different from the way they had entered it.
They came back to the lake at Hogwarts. They both went to their favourite spot by the tree and laid down holding hands and looked up at the stars silently. They shared a couple of more kisses before they finally parted ways for the night.
That night, Harry Potter slept well.
Chapter 6: Golden Egg and a Pair of Drunks
The next morning in the Great Hall a bizarre happening happened in Hogwarts.
Harry Potter had come in to an already packed hall with a smile on his face. Students of Hogwarts and staff members who were normally used to a moody and scowling Harry walking in to the Great Hall were wondering what caused the Potter boy to be in a good mood. The silence was quickly broken however.
"Hey, Potty," came a drawling voice.
Severus Snape almost groaned at the Head Table. Could the ever obnoxious Malfoy scion ever shut his goddamned mouth when Harry Potter walked near him?
"Are the rumours true?" the blonde moron commented, strolling up to Harry. "You broke up with Weaslebee for another boy. It's Creevey, isn't it?"
Ignoring the angry shout that came from the Gryffindor table, Draco continued to sneer at Harry. "Well, Potter, are you going to admit you're gay or not."
Harry continued to smile at the Slytherin blonde ponce. Malfoy finally noticed that he hadn't made Harry Potter angry. He gave a subtle look at the Head Table at Snape.
Severus felt like banging his head on the table. Everyone had seen the look Draco had sent him, and now the Headmistress was eyeing him to see how he would handle it. Gritting his teeth, he made his way to the two miscreants who both had the eyes of the entire hall focused on them.
"POTTER," he snarled, forgetting that he was being watched. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for blocking the path."
The green eyes flashed in his direction. Now he wished he hadn't said anything. He could feel McGonagall's eyes boring into him. He shuddered.
"Hello, Professor Snape," the green eyed devil said. "How are you this fine day?"
He opened his mouth to scream at the impertinent brat when there was an interruption.
"Bonjour, Harry," came a French voice.
Harry smiled wider. Many males in the vicinity went rigid and started drooling as the sight of Fleur Delacour threw them completely.
Fleur Delacour went up and stood next to Harry. Taking his hand, she led him to the table. Before she reached it however, Harry pulled her close and gave her a kiss, whispering a good morning to her.
The noise dropped -if even possible- lower.
The hall went silent for a brief moment, but then suddenly angry shouting came from the many males whom had made a ploy for the attractive French witch. Several girls glared in the direction of Fleur angrily, while some cried that they hadn't gotten to Harry first.
Knowing he was likely to do something that could get himself tossed into Azkaban at a moment's notice if he stayed, Severus left the Great Hall. Up at the Head Table, Hagrid smiled widely at seeing that Harry had found his first girlfriend, as he widely hoped they would get together. While not a very observant man, he noticed the looks Harry gave Fleur's direction recently and knew what was in the head of his young friend.
Sitting at his table with Fleur Harry ignored the cacophony of voices around him and the stares. He was used to it at Hogwarts and so he continued to eat his breakfast while conversing quietly with his girlfriend.
IlIlIlI
Transfiguration was the First Lesson of the day. Harry made his way to the class with Hermione by his side, whom was feeling nervous about her homework ("Did I get Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration right").
They went into the classroom and sat down. As he was with Hermione -who was always on time- they were the first in the class. Seated at the desk was the new teacher, Professor Maggy Smeth who had replaced McGonagall since she had become Headmistress. Strict but fair, the woman taught the class with exceptional vigor. Harry's grades started improving after Halloween as he had cut ties with the one who made him mostly lazy.
Fifteen minutes had gone into the lesson with Smeth when there came a noise out in the hall. A few looked up including Smeth to see Ron Weasley burst into the class looking like he had run several miles.
"Mr Weasley, explain yourself. Why are you late?" Smeth spoke in a clipped tone.
Wheezing and gasping for some air, Ron said, "Well Professor, Harry didn't wake me up so I rushed down for some breakfast than I came here."
Some of the students were surprised that Ron managed to tear himself away from his food in order to come to class.
"Mr Weasley," Smeth spoke harshly. "It is not up to someone else to wake you up in the morning. Maybe if you tried to wake up yourself you would get here on time. Now sit down and listen. You also have three days of detention for being late, starting tonight. And clean up that mess on your robes"
It was only now Ron observed that his robes were covered in bits of food from trying to shove his breakfast into his mouth. Ron glowered at the Professor but for once wisely shut up and sat down, flicking egg and kipper off his robes.
The lesson continued as if they had not been interrupted with students trying to change their guinea fowl into a guinea pig. The lesson ended with an announcement.
"May I have your attention please."
The class turned their attention to Professor Smeth.
"The Yule Ball is approaching — a traditional part of the Tri-wizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to third years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish —"
Lavender Brown let out a shrill giggle. Parvati Patil nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she too fought not to giggle.
"Dress robes will be worn," Professor Smeth continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then —"
Professor Smeth stared deliberately around the class.
"The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to — er — let our hair down," she said, in a disapproving voice.
"But that does NOT mean," Professor Smeth went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be very displeased if a student embarrasses the school in any way."
She sent a pointed look at Ron who cowered away from her gaze. "You may go."
IlIlIlI
Once classes were over for the day Harry made his way out to the oak tree by the lake, knowing he would find Fleur there. With each step he took towards the lake, the more nervous he was beginning to feel.
Buck up your Gryffindor courage Potter, he told himself, pushing himself closer to the lake. He could already see the figure of his new girlfriend by the tree.
"Hello, mon amour," Fleur said, as Harry approached. "How was your classes today?"
"Very interesting," Harry said nervously. He was quite sure Fleur already knew about the ball.
Fleur had her golden egg at her feet. She had been trying to figure out the clue in the egg but she couldn't come to any conclusion what the screeching noise would mean.
"Have you figured out what the egg means yet?" Harry asked.
"No, I haven't," she pondered for a moment. "I'm not going to focus on it too badly though. There is something else I need to focus on after all."
"What is that?" Harry asked.
Smiling, Fleur leant forwards and planted a soft kiss on Harry's lips. Harry became dazed for a brief moment, and then-
"Willyougototheballwithme," Harry blurted out.
Harry spoke so fast that Fleur didn't understand what he had said. "Sorry, Harry, I didn't get that."
Smiling sheepishly, Harry tried again. "I was wondering if you would like to go to the Ball with me."
Fleur smiled happily. She was hoping Harry would ask. "Of course, I would like to go to the Ball with you."
Harry's smile could have lit up an entire Christmas tree.
"You know how to dance, Harry?" Fleur asked.
Harry's smile went away and a look of horror appeared on his face. "Well, I-"
"Say no more," Fleur said softly, putting her arms around Harry. "I will teach you how to dance. It is my duty as your girlfriend."
She smiled at him. She took his arms and placed them at the appropriate place. They moved around in unison right there by the lake. Harry's movements were rather jerky at first as he tried to remember the steps, and keep in time with Fleur, but he caught on quickly enough and Fleur gave him a bright smile.
"You catch on pretty quick, mon amour."
Harry pulled her close and planted a brief and sensual kiss on her lips. They held onto each other like that for a few moments as they danced by the lake.
Harry lost his footing when his foot collided with the Golden Egg and fell down , pulling Fleur with him. When his foot collided with the egg, it opened suddenly and the most horrible screeching noise came from it.
"I'VE HAD IT!" Fleur screamed angrily. She snatched up the egg and threw it away. It disappeared beneath the water just near the shore.
Harry took hold of Fleur's hand and caressed it gently. The feeling of Harry's hand on hers caressing her fingers greatly relaxed her.
"Sorry I got so angry," she said sadly. "That damn egg has been making that sound every time I try to open it. It's just making me so mad."
"I understand," Harry said gently.
They sat there holding hands for what seemed like hours, but was really only twenty minutes.
"WILL YOU TAKE YOUR DAMN EGG BACK," came a roar, startling Harry and Fleur.
They looked for the source of the voice. They saw a head poking out of the water at the lake. The figure was holding the now closed golden egg.
"I AM SICK OF HEARING CLACKINTINA SING THAT BLOODY SONG," the figure shouted tossing the egg towards Harry and Fleur. Surprisingly the egg landed directly at their feet.
Realisation dawned on Fleur's face as she realised how to get the egg to work. Grabbing hold of the egg, she ran towards the lake and ran into the water, getting herself completely wet.
"What are you doing Fleur?" Harry called out.
Fleur turned to see Harry just at the edge of the water. A smile on her face she waded to the shore. When Harry was within reaching distance from her she grabbed him and pulled him in to the water, laughing hysterically at the look on his face.
"Oh, I'm gonna get you for that," Harry smiled cheekily. Moments later she and Harry were having a battle in the water throwing water at each other and having fun, forgetting about the egg she had left at the shore.
Ten minutes later they had stopped playing with each other and were both floating on their backs next to each other holding hands staring up at the bright sunlit sky. The water had been cold at first but they quickly got warmer with their activities.
But Harry had one more activity up his sleeve he always wanted to do as a kid. The famous 'Who could hold their breath the longest' game.
"Fleur, I have an idea for a game," Harry smiled at her. "Have you ever heard of 'Who can hold their breath the longest."
"I have indeed," she said happily, remembering the times she had done it before with her cousins.
"Would you like to try it?" Harry asked.
They both prepared for it. After casting a spell that would start timing them once they moved underwater they counted down. "Three, two, one, GO."
Harry ducked his head underwater at the same time as Fleur. Under the water of the lake it was a lot clearer than it normally would be.
Harry held his breath as he watched Fleur underwater. Fleur flashed him a smile. Harry smiled back. Harry knew he could probably last longer. Fleur had never done much exercise while he had done plenty from running from Dudley and his gang for years. Despite the torment from Dudley in his youth, it really had kept him fit.
Fleur blew out a bubble, a sign that she was beginning to lose her breath. Harry was about to smile in satisfaction of winning when something strange happened.
Fleur threw her arms out and pulled herself closer to Harry. The moment she was close enough she placed her lips on his. Harry was surprised but he loved the feeling of being kissed underwater. It felt really romantic. For the first time they had their first deep kiss. Harry held on to her as if his life depended on it as their lips moved slowly and passionately into each other's. It felt like everything had vanished, that there was nothing in the world but him and Fleur, and he was falling in love with it, falling in love with her. His Fleur.
Eventually, the need for oxygen won out and they both surfaced at the same time. Gasping together, both teens held each other close as they forgot about everything surrounding them as they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes, too entranced in each other.
"I love you," Harry said to her softly as he pulled her even closer.
"I love you too," Fleur said back to him. They found themselves kissing once again. Both remained like that for ten minutes before they left the scene, forgetting about the Golden Egg that was still at the shore.
IlIlIlI
A grumbling bearded man was walking to the Hogs Head in Hogsmeade in a bad mood.
Albus Dumbledore had got into another fight with his brother. After he had been kicked out as his role of Headmaster he couldn't get any living quarters at the school. For him to stay there he had to be either a student, a member of staff, or personally invited and he was neither of those. Minerva refused to give him a job and had called him too incompetent to be a teacher or to be around children, citing Harry Potter's childhood abuse as an example.
So he seeked out his brother Aberforth. While he and Aberforth never got along with each other much for the past ninety years, Aberforth gave him some houseroom, as they were still family.
He was now working for his brother, delivering drinks to tables and working behind the bar. He, Albus Dumbledore, had been resorted to working in the most dingy magical pub in all of Britain serving strangers drinks.
It had gone bad on the first night when the now squibbed Lucius Malfoy came into the bar wearing rags. He had been forced to listen to the former wealthy aristocrat complain about his current life. How his wife had left him, how he lost his money, how Harry Potter had tricked him into firing his house-elf, how Harry Potter got him kicked off the board of Governors, how he believed Harry Potter somehow turned him into a squib, how he was now wearing rags and so on and so on. Dumbledore had tried to leave the conversation but Aberforth made him listen to the man for a full night.
He opened the door to the Hogs Head and stepped in. His brother had given him the night off in order to be rid of him for a few hours, but Albus was thirsty for a drink. He poured himself five tall pitchers of Firewhisky and sat at the table in the back of the pub where he couldn't be spotted by the patrons.
By the time he had gone on to the second pitcher he was more than halfway to roaring drunk. He looked up briefly to see a figure sit down next to him. The man was dressed in all black with dark grey trousers.
"Care for a little indulgence," he offered to the man, raising the pitcher he was drinking.
"Don't mind if I do," the man said, grabbing hold of the third pitcher on the table.
Both men started drinking in a salute to each other. Once they got going on the drinks they began to bemoan their fates to each other.
"My fellow Wizards and Witches think I am the reason that the Potter's are dead," he bemoaned.
"I am the reason they are dead," the other man moaned. "I was named in some prophecy made by some booze addled fool and it nearly got me killed."
"Me and you both brother," Dumbledore said. He was liking his drinking comrade more and more. "I have been told by my former co-workers that I have to go to a Yule Ball on at Christmas. Because the Yule Ball only happens when the Triwizard Tournament is on, the magic enforcing me to the tournament demands I go to the Ball."
"That sucks," his companion slurred. "Not only do we men embarrass ourselves at that kind of event, but it takes absolutely forever to get a date. All the good looking ones get taken too quickly."
"That is why I don't go for the women," Dumbledore slurred. "I was in love with Gellert Grindelwald for years and slept with him to end the Wizarding War fifty years back."
"So that's how that ended," the man exclaimed, sounding amazed. "That just has the sweetest ending. You sleep with your lover and then you send him to jail for life."
"I'd like to take a man to the Ball for a change," he told his friend. "But I don't know how that would look."
"Why don't you take this man Albus?"
Dumbledore looked up to see his brother pointing at his drinking comrade.
"What?" he asked him, not understanding the question.
"Take this man," his brother pointed at his drinking buddy, "to the Yule Ball. You're getting on quite well with him. He will understand."
Albus turned to his drinking buddy and looked him in the face. The facial features on the man looked strange but he didn't care. "Hey mate," he slurred. "Will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
"You want me to go with you," the companion garbled to him. "You know what, why not?"
"Make a vow Albus," Aberforth said. "Vow on your magic that you will take this man, and ONLY this man, to the Yule Ball."
Albus grabbed his wand and grabbed his companions rather furry felt hand. "On My Magic, I vow to only take the man whose hand I am now holding to the Yule Ball at Christmas of this year."
As the magic glowed from the wand to ensure the vow remained Aberforth smiled in a predatorily manner. He had just tricked his brother into inviting a hybrid rat/skunk to the Yule Ball.
Life is good.
IlIlIlI
Sirius Black was furious about the day's events.
The revealing to the Wizengamot that he had never received a trial hadn't sat well with anyone. A full investigation was put into the Azkaban Prison System to find out if any of the prisoners had been denied a trial. Because the Remand period of their sentencing had gone out they were released whether they were guilty or not. Nearly all of the Death Eaters received trials but few didn't receive any.
Now there were four Death Eaters back in the public eye. Despite them not having their magic as the stunt with the botched ritual Voldemort did deprived them of it, they were still extremely dangerous.
Then to top it off, the Wizengamot decided to give Voldemort a trial. Despite the head of Voldemort was being called for by many, the majority vote whom were Death Eater sympathisers had released Voldemort from custody. The Wizengamot were sure they were safe since Voldemort didn't have any magic at all.
Dumb, deluded fools, Sirius thought as he took a swig of Ogden's Finest. Voldemort had been raised in the Muggle World. The man could easily find a Muggle weapon of destruction and destroy them in one fell swoop.
Luckily for Sirius and the Wizarding World, Voldemort would rather kiss Dumbledore and call him honey bunny before he would go near Muggle machinery.
IlIlIlI
The next morning dawned bright and sunny on Hogwarts Grounds and its lake.
As students made their way to classes at nine that morning there came two groans from the edge of the lake where Harry and Fleur had been swimming the previous day.
Albus Dumbledore and Tom Riddle woke up.
The moment Dumbledore opened his eyes he was blinded by some massive bright light.
"My eyes," he nearly screamed."Turn off the light."
There came a brief scream next to him as the brightness of the sun inflicted itself on his drinking partner from the previous night.
"Great Merlin, I need a Hangover Potion."
"What the Merlin happened last night?" Dumbledore asked himself, trying to recollect himself.
"Dumbledore," came a growl.
Dumbledore looked to his comrade to see that he was facing a man sized half-skunk/half-rat. As he had not read the Daily Prophet in days, he did not know who this was.
"Who are you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Have you not been reading the news you fool?" Squibmort hissed at him. "It's me, the feared Lord Voldemort."
"Tom," Dumbledore asked shocked. "What happened to you?"
"Harry Potter turned me into this thing and took away my magic," he told him. "According to Black he found out where I was hiding and tampered with my ritual."
Dumbledore was shocked. Harry had caused Tom to look like a hybrid rat/skunk and had actually succeeded. But how did Harry manage to do it without attracting his attention. He had Arabella watching his every move and had been informed that Harry hadn't even left the confines of the Dursley home.
He had to do ANOTHER routine Obliviation back in the Summer when one of the Dursley neighbours brought their suspicions of Harry's treatment to the authorities. It had always been a pain in the rear doing that for the first ten years of Harry's life at Privet Drive. All the neighbours were too nosy regarding the Dursley home. And Vernon's bad behaviour had always brought bad attention to him, from Muggle auditors and banks and the swindling he had done of his own company.
"How did Harry find out you were in Little Hangleton?" Dumbledore asked.
"How do you know where I was hiding?" Tom stormed at him.
"If someone like you were to lay low, they would choose the home of the first person they killed," Dumbledore said.
"I didn't even get the satisfaction of killing the Muggle gardener who I had framed," Tom moaned. "I only got to kill one person in the last thirteen years."
"That must be painful for you," Dumbledore spoke sarcastically.
"Wait a second," Tom suddenly remembered the previous night. "Weren't you my drinking buddy from last night?"
Now Dumbledore recognised the figure from last night. Oh good Merlin, what did he tell Tom? He searched his memory of what he said. He remembered telling him how he actually defeated Grindelwald. Ok, that wasn't good.
Dumbledore suddenly fainted as he remembered the vow he had made. While he fell, his foot collided with the Golden Egg that was still lying there from the previous day. The egg immediately opened and once again a loud screeching noise filled the air. As both men were suffering from their hangover Tom dropped into a dead faint on top of Dumbledore due to the noise permeating through his head.
A reporter named Rita Skeeter who was watching both men in her Animagus form was forced out of her form and quickly shut the egg before she could possibly go deaf. She had been following Dumbledore the previous day as she had a strong feeling she would find something good on the man. She had heard the drunk conversation between the two and the vow Dumbledore had made the previous night in the Hog's Head.
She could see the potential in the articles that were running in her head. Rita was having a lot of fun indeed.
IlIlIlI
Gellert Grindelwald was sitting in his cell happily reading the old articles of the British Daily Prophet.
The guard known as Nikolai was a staunch supporter of his ideals, but hadn't let it known to others as his position would be compromised. Nikolai had arranged a subscription for himself to retrieve the British Daily Prophet in Nikolai's name. There had been several articles among the International Magical Newspapers about Dumbledore's falling from society and he found the articles to be the best present he had had in years.
Now it was a new day and he was waiting for Nikolai to turn up with his meal and the Daily Prophet with hopefully a new article. He was just reading the old articles to pass the time and have a laugh.
The smell of beef wellington and Butterbeer suddenly entered his nostrils. He looked up to see Nikolai staring at him in complete horror from the other side of the cell.
"Are you okay, Niko boy," he asked in a sing-song voice.
After several seconds went by Nikolai choked out two words.
"You're gay."
Gellert reared back in shock. Just how did Nikolai find out his sexual preferences. No one had ever known he had liked men, no one except-
"Dumbledore," he growled.
"I got the Daily Prophet for you, you bloody queer," Nikolai scowled at him. "This is the last good meal you're getting from me."
With that the man turned and walked away, leaving the warm meal and the paper behind on the tiny shelf on the cell door.
Gellert ate the meal quickly as he was absolutely starving. Once he had finished he picked up the paper and unfolded it. Once he saw the headline he went white as a sheet.
DUMBLEDORE COMES OUT OF THE CLOSET
SO DOES GRINDELWALD
by Rita Skeeter
The prison turned witness to the most terrified scream that came from any prisoner in the Nurmengard walls. For the rest of the day Gellert shied into the corner of his cell rocking back and forth muttering to himself about that dreadful night he slept with Albus.
The next day he came out of it as Nikolai found something more amusing in the next edition of the paper. Gellert had gone from sobbing to laughing hysterically when he read that Dumbledore had made a vow to the former British Dark Lord to take him to the Christmas Yule Ball at Hogwarts. Despite losing the warm meals from the homophobic Nikolai he was allowed to keep the newspapers that he had in the cell.
A week later he died peacefully in his sleep, dreaming about ways to humiliate and torture his old buddy, Albus Dumbledore.