Chapter 9
A/N- Just a reminder; Harry doesn't love quidditch. He loves flying. That's demonstrated when he's on a broom, Buckbeak, and the dragon in canon. People confuse the two but his 'love' of quidditch is grossly exaggerated; he doesn't follow the sport professionally.
Lots of people presuming things about the previous chapter and how OOC Harry is and blah blah blah...did people forget they share their minds with two magical creatures who can be very, very dangerous and controlling? That one can most definitely take control of the person and the other desires to control men, manipulate them, and make them subservient to them? Because I didn't. I mean give me some credit; I haven't been focusing on Hermione's fears about what the Veela could do for no reason.
Anyway, here's 7 pages that take place the morning after the previous chapter.
Enjoy!
Apollo checked in on one of his newest young Veela to see a thoroughly destroyed room. It was good the room would vanish when they left; broken chairs, broken table, holes in the wall. So that was what happened when a werewolf and a Veela mated. In hindsight maybe he should have seen two highly controlling and aggressive creatures who both wanted power mating in a tornado of sex and violence but for some reason he'd thought things would be okay. He moved to the two teens who were lying asleep on a bed whose frame was broken. The bedsheets were ripped but they were partially covered. Enough to keep them a little warm, at least. There wasn't very much blood. Plenty of scratches on the young man's body and some bite marks on his Veela but beyond that they seemed uninjured. His Veela had always been a bit more durable than your average human; the human body was just so weak. Far too many squishy parts that could easily cause your death. The werewolves had bodies that were hard to break too. If this wolf had taken that challenge in that silly little broom game head-on he wouldn't have died; been very sore with some broken bones absolutely but he would have most certainly lived. The gods tended to keep that knowledge to themselves. Didn't need people thinking they were super-human. Just giving some of them magic made them idiots; giving more of them lycanthropy and with full knowledge of its abilities would be a very bad idea. Human beings and power went about as well together as oil and water.
The gods had long taken a passive interest in the lives of mortals but some, like himself, Ares, Hades, and Aphrodite, just couldn't help but get involved here and there. Eternity was dreadfully boring without engaging with the human race. Most magicals still looked to the gods named by the Greeks for deities; though few worshipped them they did acknowledge them. Satisfied that the two teens were alive and in good health he vanished from the room. He hoped his Veela and her mate took what had happened well. This would be a rough morning for them.
Hermione woke first and immediately groaned in pain. She felt like a giant bruise. Looking down she was horrified to see bite marks on her body. She let the sheet fall down her chest to see bite marks on her breasts, her nipples, her shoulders, arms, waist, hips, and sides. All from Harry? She looked at her boyfriend to see scratches all over his chest and arms with a couple on his face and several large and purplish bite marks on his neck. She gently nudged him, "Harry? Harry wake up."
"Five more minutes Hermione," he mumbled before his eyes shot open, "Hermione?" He looked at her body, "Wh-what happened to you?"
"What happened to us is the better question," she said. "Look at yourself." Harry did, frowning in confusion. "The last thing I remember is us arguing about quidditch. I was saying I'd rather love you in one piece than several because you'd have to take all the injuries the wolf can prevent and that's all that I remember."
Harry did remember that but there was more to that conversation, "Wait so you don't remember basically scolding me about my playing quidditch and how much it upsets you and how I don't think about your feelings and then sticking your hand in my pants?"
Hermione closed her eyes as she tried to think back. She couldn't. But it felt similar to the feeling of trying to enter Harry's mind when they'd been learning Occlumency together. "Harry the Veela is keeping me out of a portion of my mind. Why would she do that?"
Fast thinking wasn't Harry's strongest suit but fortunately there only seemed to be one answer and it was one that made sense to him. If Hermione wasn't Hermione and was someone like Molly Weasley, at least. "The Veela was trying to gain dominance over the wolf," he said.
"So she guilted you knowing that with your past refusing me anything would make you worry you'd lose me," Hermione reasoned. "She's very manipulative."
"That means all these marks and scratches weren't us making love but the two of them fighting for dominance in our relationship," Harry said. "If they were flesh and blood I'd kill them."
"Me too," Hermione frowned, glaring at an unseen object, "slowly." She looked back at Harry, "Please tell me everything you remember about last night."
And Harry did, word for word, stopping only where his own mind did, when Hermione's hand had gone down his pants. When he finished he looked at Hermione, "I feel kind of violated. The Veela flat-out took possession of you and abused our relationship and your knowledge of me to her gain."
Hermione was fighting back tears. The one thing in her life that she valued more than any other was Harry. The Veela had risked her relationship with him for her own gain. Harry wrapped his arms around her, "I'm not mad at you Hermione."
"N-no it's just," she lost the fight and the tears poured forth freely, "my biggest fear came true. The Veela used me to push our relationship somewhere we didn't want it to go. I would never try to emotionally blackmail you to do something like that Harry. Make you do extra credit for a snog, yes, but never threaten you with our entire relationship and now…how can you even want to be near me after what she's done?"
Harry lifted her head to look him in the eye, "Because I love you Hermione. I'm really angry and frustrated and scared but I love you. You told me when I became a werewolf that I was still me. You're still you too. You're still the girl I fell in love with; you just seem to be sharing a brain with someone who is without a doubt a Slytherin through and through." She smiled through the tears and Harry kissed her. She closed her eyes and returned the kiss, smiling into it when Harry pushed her back onto the bed. Last night they'd been robbed. It wouldn't be happening this time.
When they collapsed into bed exhausted they immediately snuggled close. "I think those books and magazines we got really helped," Harry mumbled as he adjusted his position to be more comfortable.
"Agreed," Hermione sighed, resting her head on his chest and smiling as his arms wrapped around her. "The room is a disaster."
"The wolf and Veela are really violent," Harry said. "I think we need to work out what to do about them. That book of yours never mentioned what happened last night. My book never mentioned mine can take over when it isn't the full moon."
"Maybe it's because we're together," Hermione mused. "I mean the Veela and the wolf are both masters of the mind, right? They want to size each other up but you haven't turned yet. The wolf forced itself into control without the transformation to learn about its opponent."
"This is so incredibly messed up and weird," Harry sighed. "What do we do first?"
A plan. Hermione was good at those. "First we treat our wounds and then we take a shower. Presuming they didn't destroy that too."
"Can we have sex in the shower?"
"Harry!"
"What? Maybe us shagging will shut them both up. We get to make love and they keep their whatever-they-have to themselves."
"And that hypothesis would have to be tested by a control period of no sex."
"Already did that love," Harry winked. "Looking around it wasn't the best plan."
"It wasn't even a plan," Hermione said, resting her head on the pillow next to him, "but you did make me feel really good and I don't see why we couldn't enjoy a shower that might get a bit longer than usual."
"Fantastic," he smiled. "If you teach me that healing spell you used on my wolf bite I can cast it on you. Wait, you won't turn will you?"
"Veela, vampire, or werewolf. You can only ever be one. There are no vampiric werewolves because the diseases, parasites, gifts, whatever you want to call them can't co-exist."
"In the same mind or relationship?" Harry asked.
"The same mind. The relationship has mostly been going well."
"Maybe the Veela wants to play the field," Harry theorized. "If we broke up over quidditch you could date whoever."
"While it's possible," Hermione conceded, "I don't think that would work."
"How do you mean?"
"Veela are loyal to their mates. I think what was really going on was that the Veela wanted to get a chance to seize a man she could control with her powers. Veela can do that with any man but their mate. Most people don't meet their mate as early as we did."
"So she's petulant because she can't seduce men and control them," Harry sighed. "Like a bloody child who isn't getting the toy they want at the store."
"Exactly," Hermione nodded.
Harry smiled and kissed her, "Well you're mine and I'm yours and screw them."
"Hopefully us finally being intimate will make the Veela behave," she said. "Although we might have to be together quite often."
"Because that's such a tragedy?" Harry asked, nudging her playfully.
She gave a coy smile, "I wouldn't go that far. Maybe a minor inconvenience."
"Inconvenience huh? I have to get you for that," he said, tickling her sides.
"H-Harry! No!" Hermione wiggled as she laughed, trying to get away from Harry as he grinned.
The tickle fight lasted a bit before Hermione dragged Harry out of the bed and to the bathroom. It was intact, much to their approval. "It looks like the one in the hut," Hermione said.
He smiled, "Time to test out that shower?"
"First we need to clean our wounds and heal ourselves. I'd rather enjoy a shower with you without the evidence of our traitorous counterparts all over our bodies," she said. "Wouldn't you?"
Harry nodded. Seeing his Hermione with bite marks all over her body did not appeal to him. The fact that they couldn't remember last night's encounter irritated him and the sooner the evidence of it was gone the sooner he would feel better. Hermione kissed him. "What's that for?"
"Not letting me hate myself or holding the Veela against me."
"Remember when you were entering the common room and Dean helped you through the portrait hole and I got so possessive I left bruises on your thigh from holding onto you too tightly?"
"Yes," she nodded. That had been before they'd left Hogwarts for the summer.
"You didn't hold that against me even though I hated myself for harming you. I thought for sure you'd leave me but instead you just hugged me and told me it'd be alright, that I was still learning about the wolf and how to control it."
"Well you were," she said.
"Yeah but that doesn't change what happened. And now it's my turn to say that you're still learning about the Veela and our relationship isn't one that's existed before so there are added difficulties we have to learn about together."
"My mate is a very smart man," she smiled, taking her wand and casting the healing spell onto his injuries from the previous night. "I like it."
"I'm glad," Harry smiled. "I love you," he whispered.
Hermione kissed him on the lips before looking at his body, "This is going to take a good amount of time."
"Teach me the spell as you go," Harry said, "so that I can learn." She nodded and talked him through it as she healed each scratch. In total it took her twenty minutes, then it was Harry's turn.
Once they were finished they shared a smile as they entered the shower. "You do good work Hermione," Harry said, gazing at his body as the water fell onto him.
"You do too Harry," she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him against her, "I believe I promised you shower sex."
Harry didn't even have time to grin before her lips were on his. His hands moved to her hips and he pulled her flush against him. Her hand slid between them and gently squeezed him making Harry groan into her mouth. It only took a few strokes to have him standing at attention. Harry's lips left hers and he picked her up. The cool shower tile pressing into her back had Hermione shivering. Harry's mouth moved to her neck, "I'll warm you up," he promised.
She smiled and slipped one leg around his waist, pulling him against her, "I love you."
There wasn't much conversation during their shower, though there were plenty of groans, moans, and Hermione screamed Harry's name towards the end. Then they cleaned up and exited. They'd been gone a long time and needed to get back to the tower. Winky and Dobby popped them back to their beds so they could get dressed. Hermione glanced at a clock and was relieved to see that it was still early; it was entirely possible no one noticed. She noticed Winky had pulled her bed curtains closed and Hermione decided to play along with her usual wakeup traditions. She gathered her clothes and shower things and got ready for the day.
When she exited the bathroom dressed and ready to go down to breakfast Lavender and Parvati were just waking up. "You were out late. We have news to tell you."
"Harry and I took a walk and we got back late," Hermione said automatically before blinking and looking at them, "What news?"
Lavender grinned, "Neville has a girlfriend!"
"Hannah Abbott," Parvati added.
"Our Neville?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Yes," they nodded. That was shocking. Neville was incredibly shy. That he would have a girlfriend when he could barely look at a girl almost defied belief.
"Wow," Hermione said. "Good for Neville, I guess. Is he excited?"
"More like terrified," Parvati answered. "Apparently it happened without his knowledge." Hermione smiled. That sounded more like Neville. He was so skittish around people in general.
She said goodbye to the girls and walked downstairs to see Harry sitting on the arm of the chair. "Hey you," she smiled.
"Hey yourself," Harry grinned, standing up and kissing her, "I missed you."
"Neville has a girlfriend," she told him.
"Really? Neville?"
"Really. Neville," she nodded.
"Huh," Harry tilted his head in thought, "does Neville know he has a girlfriend?"
"Apparently he recently learned he does," Hermione said.
"That makes more sense," Harry chuckled. "Can I take my girlfriend to breakfast?"
"Of course you can," she smiled. "I could definitely eat. Feeling rather famished."
Harry grinned. He was the reason she was famished. He liked that. They exited the portrait hole together and headed downstairs, "Dean and Seamus were awake after my shower. They didn't notice how long we were gone."
"Neither did Parvati and Lavender. Tonight will be harder."
Harry nodded. That night was the night of the full moon. "Dobby already has our path worked out. We'll be okay."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
Harry contemplated that for a few minutes. "I think this time yes. And about our discussion last night…I think some important points were brought up. I'm rather…durable…and it's impossible to feign injury with Madame Pomfrey."
"Meaning what?"
"Well if I still play I'm going to have to be really careful, which won't win us matches. The fairest thing to do would be to quit," Harry said.
"You're sure?" Hermione looked at him, concerned. For her it'd be a relief to not have to sit there and worry as he was targeted by other teams but she really wanted it to be Harry's decision.
"I love flying. Quidditch is really just a means to the end. As far as sports go watching it is really hard. Where are you supposed to look? The chasers? The beaters? The seeker? It's so busy. And really one-sided. I mean, my team can be doing horribly and if I catch the snitch we can still win. That's stupid."
Hermione stared at Harry, surprised. She knew he wasn't quidditch mad but she'd always thought he loved the sport. "Why do you play if you don't love it?"
Harry stopped walking, "Honestly in our first year I didn't really feel I had a choice. It was join the team or get sent home from Hogwarts in my eyes. I didn't want to leave the school. I was scared."
Hermione pulled Harry into a comforting hug, "Oh Harry," she whispered. Then she pulled away, curious, "What about the World Cup?"
"I liked going to the World Cup but it's like I told the twins; everything before the game was way better than the actual game," Harry shrugged. "If I got to choose between hanging out with Dean and Seamus and playing quidditch the choice would be easy."
An eyebrow rose as she asked, "Why am I not listed?"
"You're always an easy choice," he smiled. "I love being around you."
She smiled and kissed him, "Very smooth Mr. Potter."
"Why thank you Miss Granger," he winked. "Let's go get breakfast."
At breakfast Harry walked over to Angelina to talk to her. When he finished his story about wanting to quit the team because he'd never been incredibly into quidditch in the first place she gazed at him, "Harry how did you get put on the team?"
Harry told her the whole story about the Remembrall and Malfoy and then him thinking that 'Wood' was what McGonagall was going to use to beat him and his fear of leaving Hogwarts. Angelina nodded as he talked. "I had a feeling that was it. Oliver and McGonagall never give room for other people's opinions when it comes to quidditch. And as a scared first year…well I'm amazed you stuck it out this long."
"Oliver can be rather scary," Harry said. "But after yesterday when I nearly died…Hermione and I had a long talk about it last night and some more this morning and I don't feel like dying playing a game I've always felt bullied into."
Angelina nodded. "I understand that Harry. Could I maybe get you to stay on the team in a non-playing capacity? I need help training a new seeker."
Harry smiled, "I'd be happy to do that. Will the team be upset with me?"
"Katie, Alicia, and I were terrified watching you and Cedric flying at each other. They'll understand; maybe even be supportive. The twins were always being pushed around by Oliver so I'm sure they'll understand. Lee is new but he's followed this team his entire career; he'll be okay with it. The rest of Gryffindor, I'm not so sure about."
"I know it's going to be difficult to find a new seeker after we've already played. But I can't rely on luck to keep me alive; especially since for the most part my luck is bad."
Angelina nodded her head, "We'll work something out. Our next game is in March so we have a large amount of time to find a new seeker."
Harry let out a breath, "Thanks Angelina."
He moved to get up when Angelina grabbed his arm, "You know, seekers make good commentators. You should consider taking over that position. It'd certainly make it easier on Lee. He doesn't like his replacement. You read the game well Harry and I think you'd be good as a commentator. Plus it's safe; McGonagall is in the box with you so any rogue bludgers are easily dealt with."
Harry rather liked that idea. It would soften the blow on Dean and Seamus and maybe keep the rest of the school off his back; and having seen Match of the Day and football matches at Hermione's house that summer he had certainly seen and heard commentators at work. It seemed like interesting work. And if he told McGonagall he was interested in commentating maybe that'd keep his Head of House off of his back. "How do I apply for that job?"
"The headmaster makes that decision Harry," Angelina answered, "he's the most neutral person in authority."
Harry's eyes widened, "Wait, he chose Lee?"
Angelina laughed, "I think he liked Lee's colorful, inappropriate remarks which peppered his commentary. But yes he did. Lee just had a meeting with him in his office and that was that." Harry nodded. That sounded good. He'd do that.
Dobby arranged a meeting after breakfast for Harry, who kissed Hermione goodbye before he headed up to the headmaster's office. He couldn't remember the last time he was alone with Dumbledore. It felt rather weird. "Ah Mr. Potter," he heard as he entered the office. "Dobby the elf says that you want to discuss the position of quidditch commentator?"
"Yes sir," Harry nodded. "I would like to quit the team and apply for the job. After I nearly collided with Cedric yesterday…I've nearly died playing quidditch each year of school. First year it was Voldemort, second year it was a rogue bludger, and last year it was Dementors. This year it was another student. Cedric didn't mean it but we both could have died."
Dumbledore tilted his head, "I thought you liked playing the game."
"Sir to be perfectly honest the game is weird. Each goal is 10 points each but a single player chasing a single ball separate from the game decides the winner? It's absurd," Harry said. Then he swallowed, "Sir, a footy match is 90 minutes. Why can't a quidditch game be that long? Why must it be either 10 minutes or 10 days? People have lives. They have families. They can't sit and watch a ten day quidditch match."
"An excellent point Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "Of course those at the Ministry are not eager to change rules that have been in place for so long."
"Sir I think a good deal of the magical world is like that. They wouldn't even make the killing curse illegal until it was an economic issue; never mind the fact that people were dying. That didn't matter. Losing money did."
Dumbledore just nodded. He gazed at Harry for a moment, "I do think our new commentator won't work out. I presume you have discussed this with Miss Johnson?"
"Angelina understands. She actually suggested I do the commentary. Said it'd soften the blow for Gryffindor."
Dumbledore certainly knew how quidditch-mad the students could be. It was why he hadn't cancelled the sport despite the tournament being at Hogwarts. He quite agreed with Angelina Johnson; there would be backlash with Harry quitting the team and him being a commentator might be enough to soothe those tempers. At least somewhat. "Mr. Potter did you know what quidditch was when you joined the team?"
"No sir," Harry answered.
"Were you given a choice in joining?"
"Uh, no sir," he answered. "Well, yes actually. I believe my choices were leave Hogwarts or join the team. At least, that was my understanding of it at the time."
"I feared as much. Professor McGonagall can be quite…demanding," Dumbledore said. "I will have a word with her myself Mr. Potter. You need not speak to her on this matter. Had you come to me with this your first year I would have dealt with the situation."
"To be honest sir your reputation, even what little I knew, made you quite intimidating my first year."
"Would it have helped if I spent more time among the student body?"
Harry nodded in the affirmative. "Yes sir."
"I think that's an excellent suggestion Mr. Potter. I will do just that. As far as I'm concerned you have the role of commentator." Harry got up to leave and Dumbledore waved his hand, curtains falling over the portraits of the former headmasters. Harry was nearly to the door when Dumbledore spoke, "Mr. Potter I understand your desire to keep your lycanthropy quiet and I certainly applaud your bravery in protecting Miss Granger from Professor Lupin but if you harm a student I cannot help you." Harry froze. He turned to look at Dumbledore, his eyes wide in fear and surprise.
Harry got up to leave and Dumbledore waved his hand, curtains falling over the portraits of the former headmasters. Harry was nearly to the door when Dumbledore spoke, "Mr. Potter I understand your desire to keep your lycanthropy quiet and I certainly applaud your bravery in protecting Miss Granger from Professor Lupin but if you harm a student I cannot help you." Harry froze. He turned to look at Dumbledore, his eyes wide in fear.
"S-sir?"
"Mr. Potter I have travelled the world and met a great many people and creatures. Hiding lycanthropy from me is like hiding your snowy owl Hedwig in a pile of green leaves. Impossible."
Harry swallowed. "H-how do you know how it happened?"
"While you slept after it happened I asked Madame Pomfrey for information on your injuries and any marks on your bodies, worried one of you might have been bitten. Madame Pomfrey might underestimate Miss Granger's capabilities as she is not in on the secret, however I am well aware of your girlfriend's magical prowess and I personally taught her that spell. As for knowing how it happened, I deduced that the only reason you'd have been bitten was if you were trying to protect Miss Granger. I've been headmaster a long time Harry. I can spot young love as well as werewolves."
Harry gave him a measured look, "Are you going to expose me?"
"Of course not," Dumbledore stood and indicated Harry join him on the couch, "I am quite impressed that you've handled it, and hidden it, so well. Tonight is the first full moon since school began and I want to know if you're prepared for it."
Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You're not going to make me take Wolfsbane?"
"Mr. Potter I worked with an alchemist for some time. And I'm in the political scene. I know what Wolfsbane does and I know why it was created."
The way Dumbledore spoke had Harry answering, "Ministerial control over werewolves."
"Precisely," the headmaster nodded. "And not the first time they've sought and gained control over a population. The ministry doesn't permit muggleborns to cast magic at home using a law that appears to cover all students; when in fact they have no way of knowing who in a magical home is casting the magic so only muggleborn students are impacted by it. It's a pureblood method of trying to keep them behind. If students like yourself and Miss Granger cannot practice at home and your families who are paying for your education can't see the benefit then what happens?"
"They return to the non-magical world," Harry's eyes widened, "sir that's really underhanded."
"That is the only way the Ministry of Magic works, Harry. Efforts to change that way have always been impossible thanks to purebloods like Lucius Malfoy; he's not the only one but he's perhaps the one most familiar to you." Harry nodded his head in understanding. The headmaster looked him over, "Have you experienced any problems turning?"
Immediately Harry's mind went to that morning but he wasn't so sure Dumbledore knew about Hermione being a Veela. They weren't exactly common and she was the only one in Britain as far as they knew. Harry wasn't about to see if Dumbledore knew about that. He'd keep quiet about it. He needed to talk to Hermione about all of this. "No sir. I was a bit scared the first time but Hermione was really encouraging and she did lots of research so I had a pretty easy time of it. And I worked on Occlumency to help control the possessive side and my temper. We worried my temper would only get worse."
"Do you have a plan to get out of the castle?"
"I have help from some elves. Hermione's going with me tonight. My wolf wouldn't harm her." His memory flashed to that morning and he barely avoided wincing at the thought. The wolf hadn't actually harmed Hermione; he knew that. Just as the Veela hadn't actually harmed him. Their wounds hadn't been severe. Just flesh wounds; they had barely drawn blood. If anything the fact that they were mates, that they loved each other, had kept both creatures from doing serious damage.
"I recommend the Forbidden Forest. Anywhere else might be too noticeable."
Harry nodded his understanding. Then he thought of something, "Sir, Sirius doesn't know. I wanted to tell him in person but he's…well I think he thinks I'm mad at him for abandoning me still because I want to stay with Hermione and the Grangers next summer. He doesn't understand that Hermione's not just my girlfriend, she's my mate and the Grangers have a great forest behind their house for me to run around in when I turn. Sirius lives in the middle of London."
"Yes telling him any other way than face-to-face is not ideal," Dumbledore nodded. "I wouldn't worry too much Mr. Potter. The issue will be resolved eventually. Sirius has to focus on himself first and given his treatment it might be best to not tell him right away. His mind is being worked on the most and if Sirius knows then it can leak out."
That hadn't occurred to Harry. He nodded and stood, "I should get back to Hermione."
"One thing before you go Harry," the headmaster said. Harry sat back down, "I know this question will sound odd but I must ask it. When you transformed the first time did anything happen to your scar?"
Harry frowned at the question. It was weird. "My scar hurt really, really bad. Then afterwards my headaches went away. Hermione figured there was dark magic in it from the night my parents died and the wolf forced it out."
Dumbledore smiled. For two reasons; first, his hunch was right and Harry was free. Second, his brightest pupil was certainly living up to that title. Seeing Harry's confusion he spoke, "Harry, Hermione was quite right. If my guess was accurate, you were a horcrux."
"A what?"
"A horcrux is a vessel that holds the piece of a person's soul. You destroyed one horcrux your second year in the diary."
Harry was wondering if he was somehow channeling Hermione when he spoke, "Voldemort created vessels for his soul? That's how he survived then."
"Yes it is," Dumbledore nodded.
"And I was one?" Harry asked. Again the headmaster nodded. Harry felt his temper grow, "And you let me be one?!"
Dumbledore's hands raised in surrender, "I didn't know for certain and I wasn't even sure he had horcruxes until I heard rumors he was alive still in a disembodied form. The diary proved it. The only known way of getting rid of a horcrux is to destroy the object it is housed in. I hoped to work out a way to remove it while letting you live, Harry."
Harry calmed down, "So you didn't know I was one."
"I suspected it but I had no proof and I didn't wish to alarm you; especially since if you were I couldn't remove it. With yours gone though I think we're well on our way to stopping Voldemort for good."
"No offense sir but I have enough on my plate being a werewolf," Harry said.
"I certainly don't seek to include you in this Harry. I believe your part in this ended when the horcrux left you." Dumbledore glanced at the clock, "I fear I've had you here too long. Do enjoy what remains of your weekend Mr. Potter."
Harry got up and walked to the door before turning back, "Thank you for the commentator job sir."
"You're very welcome Mr. Potter. Have a good day."
As soon as he was downstairs Harry headed toward the library. Hermione had an 'extra' project she was working on that she had to research. Upon entering the library he looked around. He didn't see her bag at any of the tables. "She's in the stacks Mr. Potter," he heard from behind him. He turned to see Madame Pince looking at him over her glasses. "Restricted section. She had a note from a professor."
"Yes ma'am. Thank you," Harry said, heading off to the stacks. On the weekends the library was always deserted; Sunday night there were a few people but the rest of the weekend only Hermione was ever there. He entered the Restricted Section to see Hermione taking down notes. "You could use a table."
"Then people would question me using a muggle pen and notebook," she responded before looking up and smiling at him, "how did it go?"
"Pretty okay. There were some surprises but I'll tell you about it later," he said. "What are you working on?"
"Extra Transfiguration," she answered. "I have to research animagi and work out how to distinguish an animal and an animagus."
"That would have been useful third year or before," Harry said. She nodded in agreement. "Don't suppose you have seen books on quidditch commentators?"
She shook her head in the negative, "Sorry Harry. Maybe you should just ask Lee. He'd probably love to train his replacement."
Harry could definitely see that. Especially if what Angelina said was true. "I'll talk to him later this week I guess. I have plans today."
Hermione, whose head was back down as she copied the parts of the text she needed, looked up to ask, "What plans?"
"Kidnap my girlfriend from the library and snog her."
She raised an eyebrow, "That's only one plan Harry."
"The others are rated M for mature," he responded with a cheeky grin. Hermione rolled her eyes. Secretly she was relieved that their playful banter had returned. She worried about that after last night. "Need help?"
"Thank you but I prefer to be able to read my notes," she teased, winking at him. Harry pouted as he sat down to wait. On the plus side he had time to process his conversation with Dumbledore that morning.
After Hermione was finished Harry suggested they head up to the room and so she let him carry her bag. She was certainly curious as to what took Harry so long; he'd been gone an hour. During that hour she'd taken the time to think about what had happened as well as look through her book on Veela. Pages had been added somehow and the first page that was added had merely said- I'm sorry; I owe you one. She knew it had to be Apollo. The pages that followed had been incredibly detailed. Apollo offered his own insights into the Veela and more information than ever before; information he said she couldn't tell other humans. Harry was the only exception.
Harry created the room and they entered. Once the door was shut he looked at her, "Dumbledore knows I'm a werewolf."
"I can't say I'm surprised," Hermione admitted, "he knows a great deal about werewolves. Is he going to turn you in?"
Harry shook his head, "No he just wanted to ask me about how I was doing with it and then he asked me about my scar."
Hermione frowned, "Your scar?"
"He asked what happened when I turned. I told him and then he said that he guessed that I was a horcrux but the wolf forced it out."
"A horcrux," Hermione repeated. "The wolf forced it out so it's dark magic and it was harming you."
"A horcrux is a vessel that contains a piece of someone's soul."
"Your scar had a piece of Voldemort in it," Hermione rubbed her face, "is it gone?"
"He says yes. He didn't tell me sooner because he didn't know how to get rid of it. Horcruxes are supposed to only be removed by the vessel being destroyed."
"Which means the wolf definitely pushed it out. Self-preservation to the highest degree," Hermione mused. "I'm less angry at the wolf now. It saved your life twice."
Harry was of a similar opinion. He still wasn't sure what a horcrux was, exactly, but he knew he definitely didn't want to be one. That certainly made it possible to forgive the wolf. "What about the Veela?"
"Apollo wrote in my book. He wrote that he owes me one and he wrote about how frequent sex will feed the Veela, making me get along with her easier."
"What does he say is frequent?" Harry asked. He wasn't sure what number was 'normal' so frequent could be twice a day for all he knew.
"At least every other day, if not more," she answered.
"Well if we have to, we have to," Harry winked.
She pulled him onto the couch and they snuggled together, "Thank you for your sacrifice kind sir."
"Did he say what happened last night?"
"We were right; they were both fighting for dominance. Sex and violence. The Veela tried to get you to submit to her and the wolf came out in response to fight."
Harry sighed. "To be honest I feel less violated by last night than I do about being a vessel for Voldemort's soul for about twelve years."
"That's just outright creepy," Hermione nodded. "I always kind of figured our first time we wouldn't have much control. I didn't imagine no control but I thought they would both take the lead." Harry nodded in agreement. Hermione asked, "Does Dumbledore know I'm a Veela?"
"I don't think so. He didn't say anything about it. I didn't tell him," Harry held onto her as he told her everything that had happened during his conversation with Dumbledore.
After talking about Dumbledore and snuggling for a long while Harry worked on his homework and Hermione worked on her Transfiguration assignment. By lunchtime Hermione was about half-way done with her assignment and Harry was finished with most of his homework. They walked down to the Great Hall together for lunch, "So how do we react?"
"I don't see any harm in him knowing," Hermione said. "He's keeping quiet about it so that's a good thing. And realistically what can we do?"
That was true. He didn't think either of them could take on Dumbledore. He'd have to trust the headmaster to keep his secret. They met Dean and Seamus on their way into the Great Hall and they all sat together. "So how was your morning?"
"We worked on homework," Hermione said. Harry smiled. Telling them about quidditch would have to be done in private and Hermione had just put the focus on schoolwork. It was a good save. "Harry finished up the Transfiguration essay."
"Yeah? I'm still stuck on the wand movement," Dean said. "Do you flick or whip it?"
"Flick," Harry answered, "It helps if you twist your wrist like you're turning a key instead of just moving your wand with your fingers."
Seamus smirked, "Is that one of Hermione's tricks?"
Hermione grinned, "Harry can come up with his own tricks. He's smarter than he looks."
Harry held his hand to his heart, "You wound me!"
"She didn't call you dumb," Dean pointed out.
"I don't care about that Dean," Harry rolled his eyes, "she insulted my fashion sense. I dress quite smartly thank you very much." They all laughed.
After lunch Harry, Dean and Seamus went to a classroom to practice Transfiguration and Charms spells while Hermione returned to the library for her animagus paper. Harry wasn't so sure that the guys wouldn't blame Hermione for his decision and he wanted to make it clear the choice was his alone; Hermione's ringing endorsement didn't really matter. It only made it easier for him knowing she was as always in his corner.
He cast some privacy spells before speaking, "Guys, I have something to tell you."
The two boys frowned at each other before looking at him, "That's not a good tone Harry," Seamus said.
Dean's frown grew, "Are you and Hermione breaking up?"
Harry's eyes widened, "Of course not! Hermione…she's…she means more to me than anything else. I love her with everything that I am. We're definitely not breaking up."
Dean and Seamus both let out sighs of relief, "That's good."
"Yeah. You'd be really mopey without her," Seamus winked at Harry. Harry smiled.
Dean kept them focused before the banter took them off on a tangent, "So if it's not about you and Hermione breaking up, what's the negative tone for?"
"I'm quitting the quidditch team," Harry said, wincing as he anticipated their reactions.
"After yesterday I don't blame you," Dean said. "Mate, you've nearly died every year we've been here while playing quidditch."
"Plus you're not as insanely into it as the rest of the team," Seamus observed. "I mean, we know you so we know how you look when you're obsessed; you don't have that look when you play quidditch."
"So you're not mad? I know you both love it."
"I'm a West Ham United fan through and through mate," Dean smiled. "Quidditch is more like a second sport. 'When in Rome' as the saying goes. The World Cup was my first professional match and it was insane but footy has long held my heart."
"I like quidditch but I don't think I could ever be as insanely obsessed with it as other students," Seamus shrugged. "And personally I think quidditch is much easier to like when you don't know any of the players on the pitch. Watching you play even first year scared the shite out of me." Dean nodded in agreement.
"Wow," Harry said. "I thought you might blame Hermione."
"Harry we like how you play the doormat husband role but you have a strong will. If you didn't want to do something like quit quidditch Hermione couldn't make you. Make you do extra credit or go shopping with her? Yeah she can make you do that. But you're not actually a doormat. It's just a good way to hide how serious your relationship is to the rest of the school."
Harry chuckled. He knew he liked these two for a reason. This was apparently another one. "I'm not completely done. Angelina wants me to stay on and help train the new seeker and I applied for the commentator job and got it."
"You'd be good at that," Dean said. "Need any help with it? Like a co-commentator?"
"That'd certainly make watching the game easier," Harry said. "You want to work with me?"
"I think commentating the matches would be cool. Maybe be good for a future résumé," Dean answered. "If you don't mind and would like my help of course. I don't want to step on your toes Harry."
"We'll have to ask the headmaster since he gives the final word but I think someone to help would be cool."
"Wicked," Dean grinned.
The rest of the day went pretty normally for Harry. Hermione rejoined them for dinner and afterwards she helped the boys go over their homework. Harry enjoyed the normalcy; perhaps especially because he was going to be turning into a wolf later that evening. After homework was done the boys played Exploding Snap with the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan while Hermione sat in an armchair, reading. Harry did his cursory glance of the common room to check for Ron. He wasn't there. He looked at the twins, "Where's your brother? He hasn't been around since the game."
"Hiding up in the dorm," George answered. "Little wanker is furious Gryffindor won and that Lee had a clean sheet."
"He's going to have to come out for class," Dean pointed out.
"Don't expect him to draw attention to himself though," Fred said. "When Ron gets embarrassed he tends to hide."
When it was time for bed Harry went upstairs with Dean and Seamus after saying good night to Hermione. He checked the secret compartment of his trunk to verify that his energy potions Hermione had brewed for him earlier in the week were ready. He placed one in a backpack before adding some salves and cologne. He waited until the room was quiet before he quietly called for Dobby, who popped in silently and took hold of Harry, popping them both out of the tower.
They were near the Room of Requirement. Harry smiled when Hermione appeared and they shared a kiss, "Ready?" She asked.
"I'm ready," he nodded. "I have my bag."
"Good," she squeezed his hand and they carefully made their way down the path that Dobby had marked on the Marauder's Map.
It took them quite a bit of time to get out of the castle, in part because Peeves had let off dungbombs near the Great Hall and they'd needed to sneak past slowly as Filch cursed under his breath while trying to clean the area. On the plus side Mrs. Norris wasn't around because of the smell. They opened the large cask Dobby had indicated and they slipped through, Harry first. He dropped into a tunnel and caught Hermione before they ran through the underground tunnel and climbed out through a grate about halfway to Hogsmeade. The moon was bright and Harry felt the change starting, "Dammit," he growled.
"Keep moving," Hermione said. "Don't stop moving Harry. You have to get to the forest," she reminded him.
Harry just kept moving. He had to get into the forest quickly. They were out of sight, for now, despite being in a wide open field. Harry ran quickly. He just made it under the cover of the trees as he felt the urge to howl grow. His last conscious thought was that he'd made it just in time before he lost all consciousness.
Hermione was very glad she'd had him take his clothes off in the tunnel. It was just an old pair of underwear from the Dursleys that he was wearing as he ran into the forest. She hated the idea of leaving him outside alone; she always stayed outside with him when the full moon was out before school had begun. Her big concern was how the wolf would react to her given the Veela's actions the previous night. She entered the forest to see a familiar wolf slowly standing up and shaking itself. It looked at her and growled. "I'm not too pleased with you either you know," she said to it. Harry might not be able to talk to it but Hermione had reasoned that she could. The one weakness both creatures had, Apollo had pointed out in her book, was a fierce loyalty to their mate. If Hermione could use that to her advantage to make them both calm down on the need to dominate, she would. She knelt down in the dirt, "You could have hurt me. She could have hurt Harry. I know you feel the need to be the Alpha but how would you feel if you did hurt me? You both scared us. We…I love Harry so much and the two of you could have destroyed our relationship. Is that what you want? Us to break up?"
The wolf padded over to her and nuzzled her face. She wrapped her arms around it, "I accept your apology. You need to remember though that I dealt with you when you were a possessive jerk and it's only fair for you to deal with her when she's a manipulative devil." The wolf licked her face in answer and she kissed the top of its head, "I'll see Harry in the morning. You take good care of him okay? I want him returned to me in one piece." The wolf nodded before walking her out of forest after she'd put the backpack up a tree. Dobby could point it out to Harry. She looked around, "Winky I'm ready to go back."
"This way Miss," Winky said, watching as Hermione covered herself with the invisibility cloak, "that is very good cloak."
"I know; Harry quite likes it," Hermione smiled. She followed the elf back up to the school through a different passageway.
At dawn Harry rubbed his head. He was covered in dirt. Lying near him in the dirt was a dead deer; a doe. "I killed Bambi's mother," Harry stared, his eyes wide.
"Master Harry here is youse backpack," Harry looked up to see Dobby sitting on a tree branch, "Dobby will get rid of evidence youse left."
"Thanks Dobby. Can you do it while I clean up and put clothes on?" The elf nodded and Harry used his wand to cast Aguamenti, rinsing himself off. He quickly got dressed before taking Dobby's hand. The elf popped them to the tunnel entrance and Harry ran up to the school through the tunnel.
Once he was in the school proper Dobby popped him back up to the Room of Requirement. He entered the room to see Hermione asleep in a bed. The room looked way different from when he created it. It was far more romantic. Warm colors like browns and deep reds and a fireplace and so many warm and very romantic features. He wondered if that was the difference between him and Hermione. Looking around the room to make note of what she liked he took a few mental notes before smelling himself to make sure he was clean enough to get in the bed. He slipped out of his clothes and climbed into the bed, kissing Hermione on the cheek. "H-Harry?" She turned and rubbed her eyes, "Are you okay?"
"Safe and sound," he smiled. "Go back to sleep love." She turned back and closed her eyes again. Harry closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.
Hermione woke a couple hours later with Harry snuggled against her and smiled. She gently nudged him and he rolled onto his back. She carefully moved so as not to wake him as she looked over his body. No wounds or scratches. The wolf had delivered her Harry back to her in one piece. She kissed her boyfriend on the lips and he smiled in his sleep. "We'll make this work Harry. I know it," she whispered.
He mumbled and opened his eyes, "Hermione?"
"Good morning handsome," she smiled softly, running a hand through his hair and straddling him.
"I had a dream like this once," he said, his hands moving to her thighs. "Well, many dreams like this actually."
She smiled and leaned down to kiss him, "I've had dreams about this too," Harry's hand moved to hold her face to his as they kissed while his other ran up her thigh. He hadn't noticed she was wearing a nightgown when he'd climbed into bed. He quite liked the silky feel under his fingers. "I love you Harry."
"I love you too," Harry kissed her and moaned when her fingers slipped under his waistband. Definitely just like his dream.
Harry wondered if Hermione was an energy potion because after two orgasms a piece (those magazines really helped) and a shower he felt ready for the day. He took the potion she'd prepared anyway and they went down to breakfast. The elves had delivered their uniforms and books and taken care of preventing people from noticing their absences from their dorms. At breakfast Dean and Seamus arrived after them and they talked about the classes they had that day as they ate. Neville could be seen staring at his plate and Ron was sitting near him also incredibly quiet. "Is Neville afraid of having a girlfriend?" Harry asked. "I've always been delighted that Hermione is my girlfriend. Neville looks terrified."
"As horrible as you had it at the Dursleys, I think Neville had a rough childhood too," Hermione said. "He's always been accused of being a squib and his aunt seems kind of…mean."
Harry remembered seeing Augusta Longbottom in Diagon Alley once. Watching her interact with Neville was telling; she acted like he was a burden; Harry, being used to being treated as a burden, certainly could relate but where Harry tried to do things for other people and be helpful and useful to prove his worth Neville just withdrew into himself as though validating the label of 'burden' that was thrust upon him. "I reckon Neville hasn't ever had anyone believe in him."
"Maybe Hannah can be his Hermione," Seamus teased his friends.
"No way Seamus. My Hermione is one of a kind," Harry grinned. "Good thing too. Otherwise the grading curve would be destroyed and we'd all look like idiots."
Hermione nudged him with her shoulder, "Harry…"
"Hey, I'm proud of your brain. Without it I might not be here."
"Well that goes without saying," she teased, making Harry feign hurt and the boys laugh.
It took Harry two more energy potions to get through the day but no one picked up on the fact that he hadn't slept the night before. Most of the focus seemed to be on Neville and Ron; Ron because of his attitude toward the quidditch team and Neville because while most of Gryffindor had expected Hermione and Harry to become a couple no one ever expected Neville to suddenly have a girlfriend. On Harry's part he kept the fact he was leaving the team quiet; he needed to deal with one problem at a time and once his two nights of transformation were over then he could tell people.
On the plus side, Hermione had been able to get through to the werewolf, something they'd never tried before. How to get through to the Veela seemed more difficult. She didn't come out like the wolf did and Hermione had more awareness of her but communication seemed difficult between the two of them. Harry knew for sure he couldn't talk to the Veela like Hermione did the wolf so he busied himself with working out how to communicate with her.
Chapter 11
A/N- Confession. I am recreating the tournament tasks so that it's not the same old thing and because in the story it makes sense. And I have zero ideas for what the tasks could be. So if you readers have any ideas, send them to me and you get a shoutout if I use them. I need three tasks and I think they need to incorporate Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. Those were the tasks covered in canon and I want the same sort of format in that style.
As for this chapter, well we get up to the evening before the Halloween feast, some relationship and personal growth for many characters, I rewrote some history because an idea struck me, and banter. I like banter.
The second evening Harry was able to make it out and into the forest much easier and once his transformations were done he felt far better. Though that maybe had more to do with getting a full night's sleep again instead of a few hours than anything else. September ended with Harry telling the rest of the quidditch team about his desire to leave the team and instead be a commentator. Angelina's predictions were pretty accurate. The girls were all very understanding, the twins related to his feeling bullied by Oliver, and Lee was delighted he wanted to be a commentator. Lee had then spent hours with Harry and Dean talking about the finer points of commentating, much to the amusement of the rest of the team and Hermione and Seamus.
Telling the rest of Gryffindor had Harry being targeted with some verbal abuse until the Weasley twins proudly boasted that Harry was the new quidditch commentator and Lee was training him. That soothed most people, though a few still muttered about Harry's 'traitorous' actions. Quietly and nowhere near Hermione. Ron was of course the most vocal, though he quieted when Seamus loudly observed that Ron seemed to have taken over the mantle of bully from Malfoy. Being compared to Malfoy was a disturbing thought to Ron and all the fourth years knew that. The redhead was much quieter after that.
One day before Potions class Draco pulled Harry aside and thanked him for talking to Sirius. Draco would be living with Sirius that summer so long as he stayed at Hogwarts until then and behaved himself. The glee on Draco's face at the mere mention of not living with the Weasleys anymore was surprising but good to see. It gave Harry hope that Draco could actually change.
Draco's life had a dramatic change when Pansy received a letter early in October in which her father informed her that he'd broken the betrothal contract between Draco and Pansy. It was a tearful Pansy who read the letter before running out of the hall crying. Draco read the letter and felt his stomach sink. He glanced up and saw Harry and Hermione at the Gryffindor table laughing about something. They didn't have a betrothal contract. They were happy together. Draco wasn't clueless about the non-magical world. He knew marriage contracts were nearly non-existent in the non-magical world and it was considered a very dated and bad tradition.
Draco made his decision and ran out of the hall after Pansy, finding her up on the fourth floor near a window wiping her eyes. "Pansy?"
"D-Draco?" She looked up at him, "Go away. You're not my betrothed anymore. We can't see each other now."
"Sure we can," he said. "I'd just be your boyfriend instead of your betrothed."
She shook her head, "No we can't! Daddy was very clear. I'm not supposed to have anything to do with you. I'll just have to wait until Daddy finds a new husband for me."
Draco walked away from her feeling rejected. Pansy was only with him because he was her betrothed; not because she liked him. He really liked her. He felt betrayed.
After two weeks of very frequent sex Hermione felt the Veela's presence in her mind calm down. Not that she minded what they had to do to achieve that calmness; nor did Harry. He was often seen with a big grin on his face and Dean and Seamus would tease him about it, although they didn't know about the couple sneaking off and shagging.
When it came to quidditch Harry had a replacement after a short search. Colin Creevey got the role which had Harry groaning. Colin had never stopped being an annoying fan, and the money from the basilisk being given to him had only increased Colin's awe regarding Harry. On the plus side Colin could afford a fast broom and got himself a Nimbus 2002, the most recent model. Harry spent many evenings out on the pitch teaching Colin, more than he thought were necessary but Hermione rewarded his patience with the boy and that soothed his irritation. Colin had the right build for a seeker, at least, and Harry definitely no longer did. It was nearly time for him to transform again when his sessions with Colin finally ended. Angelina had declared him ready to train with the team.
Harry's October transformations fortunately happened before Halloween; they also happened right before the arrival of the two schools for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. On October 30th a slightly tired (but done with his transformations for the month) Harry stood with his friends and girlfriend as they all gathered outside of Hogwarts to watch the arrivals of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. "How will they all get here?"
"I don't know but I'm sure it will be spectacular. This is their chance to show off and try and intimidate the competition," Hermione said.
At that moment a huge carriage flew down onto the lawn, pulled by six huge winged horses. They looked like something a giant would ride. "Those are some big horses," Seamus said. Those around him nodded in agreement.
The carriage was not alone. There were two other carriages behind it as they landed in the courtyard. The door opened and an incredibly large woman exited first. Behind her came a stream of girls in blue robes. Hermione leaned into Harry instinctually and she knew a Veela was among the visitors. She was subconsciously marking her territory. Harry wrapped his arm around her, "Cold?"
"A bit," she said, leaning into him. Harry pulled her against him. He knew Hermione could cast a subtle warming charm. Veela were rare but there were many of them in southern France and the area around the Mediterranean according to Hermione's Veela book from Apollo. Beauxbatons was in France and that at least one went to the school was to be expected. That meant the Veela was trying to mark Harry as Hermione's, which he was definitely okay with.
Dumbledore greeted the headmistress, Madame Maxime, and the Beauxbatons contingent entered the castle. Harry frowned, "Why do they get to go inside while we freeze?"
"Oh come on Harry. Hermione won't let you freeze," Seamus said. Harry stuck his tongue out at his friend as Hermione moved closer to him.
"He's just jealous he only has Dean to snuggle up to," Hermione responded, making Harry laugh.
"Hermione you know I could do better than Seamus!" Dean protested.
Harry just shook his head and wrapped his other arm around Hermione before whispering into her ear, "What do I do to get a warming charm?"
"I can think of a few things," she responded. "None suitable to do in public though."
"Do you accept an I.O.U.?"
"For you yes," she said, subtly casting the warming spell on Harry. He smiled as he felt it take effect. It was quite cold that night and the wind was particularly biting. Harry had also noticed that after his transformations he was more sensitive to cold; Hermione teased him that he missed the fur. Harry thought it had to do waking up naked in the forest in the middle of Scotland in autumn. Either way, a warming spell from his mate made it all better.
They didn't have long to wait for Durmstrang. A large ship emerged from the Black Lake and Hermione could hear people expressing awe about the emerging ship. To her mind it was very similar to a toilet flushing and in her Ancient Runes course they'd learned about magical pirates like Blackbeard who had used runes to escape capture from various naval forces. The ship looked like a pirate's ship and she was certain it used the same runes. "I bet the Giant Squid isn't pleased," Harry said.
"They didn't actually go up through the lake," Hermione said. "It's an old rune pirates used. When activated it creates a whirlpool that vanishes the ship and the ship can then re-emerge in another location."
Harry looked at her, "How do you know where it will go?"
"A second rune that when activated pulls the ship to a pre-determined location; similar to how a portkey works," she answered.
"I am sometimes amazed at just how much knowledge you have," Harry whispered into her ear. "Then I get all impressed and a little turned on about it."
"We could try redecorating," she mumbled into his shoulder, knowing full well Harry's keen hearing would pick up her words. Harry grinned at the thought of the Room turning into a library for them to shag in. He definitely could feel the wolf's approval and if Hermione's light shudder was any indication the Veela approved too.
Durmstrang wore blood red robes and all looked very irritated. Harry wondered if traveling by that ship wasn't exactly smooth sailing; some of the boys looked quite green. "Beauxbatons brought all girls and Durmstrang brought all boys," Dean pointed out.
"They probably only chose their best students and Durmstrang has always been male-dominated and Beauxbatons more female-dominated," Seamus said, sounding eerily like Hermione in tone. Dean snorted. Seamus looked at him, "What?"
"You were channeling Hermione when you said that," Dean answered.
Harry was rather amused watching Seamus protest that to Dean. He looked at the Durmstrang students. He recognized Marko and Anton from the broom race at the World Cup. They both looked irritated. Krum was the easiest to find. The headmaster who was called Karkaroff was fawning all over him. "I think that's what people might have expected Professor Dumbledore to be like to me," Harry said to Hermione.
"That doesn't seem to be in his character," she said.
The line of Durmstrang students suddenly stopped. Harry turned his head to see that a very serious looking Rufus Scrimgeour was standing in front of Karkaroff blocking the doors into the school, "Igor Karkaroff. You will make yourself available for questioning this evening."
"I am a guest here and headmaster of Durmstrang," Karkaroff glared, "For what am I being questioned?"
"Knowledge of a plot to bring Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, back to power," Scrimgeour said, grabbing the man's sleeve and yanking it up to reveal the Dark Mark. "I don't care if you turned on your master to save your hide. I'm not letting you into this castle without questioning you about your knowledge of recent events involving Barty Crouch Jr. and Peter Pettigrew."
Karkaroff looked at Dumbledore, "Albus! Do something!"
"Every person in this castle who has had a connection to Tom Riddle has been questioned, Igor. Even those who taught him. You are no different. The students in my care trust me and the professors here to protect them. Their parents trust us to protect them. Twice in the past three years we have failed them. There will not be a third time." Harry smiled. The Dumbledore who was speaking was the Dumbledore who had taken on Death Eaters at the World Cup. Harry was a big fan of that Dumbledore.
Karkaroff visibly wilted in front of Rufus, nodding his acquiescence of the terms. Harry was pretty impressed with both Rufus and Dumbledore; they weren't bending. He liked this side of Dumbledore. Durmstrang entered the school and then the Hogwarts students filed in. Harry let Hermione go ahead of him, smiling when she held onto his hand and pulled him along behind her.
Dumbledore stood at the head table, "To our guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, welcome. Shortly before the school year began we uncovered a plot to resurrect Tom Marvolo Riddle, better known as Lord Voldemort. Peter Pettigrew and whatever remains of Voldemort remain at large, but the plot was stopped. The plot involved getting Harry Potter entered into the Tri-Wizard Tournament through the agent Barty Crouch Jr. who was disguised as Alastor Moody. I quickly recognized that Alastor was not himself when he arrived here and I contacted the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Through our swift action we were able to learn the details of their plot. Consequently the tournament will have added precautions and every teacher in this school, including myself and Rufus Scrimgeour, has been questioned with Veritaserum. Tonight as we speak the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has embarked on a mission along with the Department of Mysteries to find and capture Pettigrew and Riddle. Every individual taking part in this has been thoroughly vetted. By the end of the evening I believe that the two people responsible for the deaths of the Potters will be captured and finally be held responsible for their actions."
Harry felt Hermione squeeze his hand and he returned it. Rufus had told them about it earlier and sworn them to secrecy. Harry still felt nervous, though. Voldemort was really, really good at escaping. And he knew the aurors weren't incompetent but Voldemort was dangerous whether he was a weird disembodied form or otherwise. Dumbledore continued, "Because of the plot we have completely changed the tasks for the tournament and there will be added protections on the Goblet of Fire. Rufus, if you could let our guests into the school," Rufus stood and walked out of the hall.
When he returned it was with eight armed goblins with a ninth walking in the middle with a box in his arms. The box was placed on a pedestal and the goblin opened it to reveal a goblet that was gold and jeweled. Dumbledore walked around the staff table and tapped the goblet. It lit on fire with green flames and he spoke, "Gringotts has been guarding the goblet and at the request of myself and the Ministry; goblin wards were added to it to prevent anyone underage entering and anyone underage's name being submitted. I added my own spells to it as well but I will certainly sleep easier knowing that the goblins have assisted us in protecting those of you too young and inexperienced to compete from entering or being entered without your knowledge." Harry definitely liked the sound of that. He had zero interest in the tournament. He and the boys had looked it up and decided quickly that it was a mystery why they'd even brought the thing back. It sounded highly dangerous and had obviously been ended for a reason. Bringing it back seemed like an odd decision since there was still a strong element of danger; they were limiting the ages of the participants for a reason after all.
The headmaster sat back down, "Those looking to enter the tournament will place their names on a piece of paper and submit it to the Goblet of Fire between the end of dinner and shortly before tomorrow's Halloween feast. Those who submit must understand that the contract is binding. Once you enter you cannot change your mind. Be certain in your decision to enter. One student from each school will be chosen as a Champion and the winner of the tournament will receive 1000 galleons." There were plenty of murmurs when the prize was announced. Dumbledore nodded his head, "Yes I know it's a large sum. Now then, let's enjoy dinner!"
With that food appeared on the tables and people settled in to eat and talk about the tournament. Durmstrang was sitting at the Slytherin table and Beauxbatons at the Ravenclaw table. "The Beauxbatons girls are really beautiful," Seamus said. Dean flicked him on the ear, "Ow!"
"Quit staring or they'll think you're a creep."
"Hogwarts has better looking girls," Harry said, distracting the boys and making Seamus make gagging noises until Hermione twirled her wand in her fingers. He promptly hid behind Dean. "Real Gryffindor there Seamus."
"Your girlfriend can be terrifying mate," Seamus responded.
Harry looked at Hermione, "Hermione please don't frighten Seamus."
"I suppose I can behave," she said, tucking her wand away. "But you're spoiling my fun." Dean laughed.
After their plates were full talk turned to the tournament. "Wonder who will enter," Seamus said. Harry and Hermione nodded at his words, though they were busy pondering who among the guests was a Veela.
Hermione wasn't sure who the Veela was of the new visitors but if she could recognize their presence, they could recognize hers. That was a problem. They needed a plan. She felt herself start to panic at the thought of being 'exposed' as Veela and had to take a deep breath to calm herself down. Harry was better at calming her down but they couldn't talk about this newest problem quite yet.
Having never actually met another Veela, she wasn't sure how that interaction would go. She did know that they wouldn't go after the mate of another Veela but that didn't exactly soothe her worries. She was worried about being outed as a Veela. She and Harry had agreed keeping quiet about it as long as they could was the best plan. They needed to stay below the radar, or as close as they could to it anyway, so that Harry being a werewolf would go undetected.
Harry ate dinner trying to work out how they could identify who the Veela from Beauxbatons was…it always felt like they just worked one problem out and a new one promptly fell in their lap. That was exhausting. Was it too much to ask to have one danger-free, low-key year at Hogwarts? He and Hermione had full plates without the added stress of life-threatening situations and whatnot.
That thought drifted back to the tournament and the hopefully impending capture of Voldemort. He couldn't be positive about it. Halloween was tomorrow and every Halloween something horrible had happened. Hermione attacked by a troll, the Basilisk being released, Sirius attacking the boys' dorm to get Pettigrew…he was certain that somehow Voldemort would escape and his name would still somehow make it into the goblet. He just hoped he wasn't chosen.
Hermione was certain she knew Harry's concerns but he didn't seem to be showing any hint that he was worried. She was impressed with his Occlumency control; Harry was usually obvious when he was worried, especially to her. She leaned into him, "You okay?"
"Just looking forward to Pettigrew being brought to justice," Harry said, forcing himself to smile. Hermione rubbed his back in support. "You know me too well."
"How about you look at tomorrow as the anniversary of the two of us becoming friends and not as a bad day?"
Harry smiled. But for that troll he'd not have become friends with Hermione. And if they weren't friends they'd never have become a couple; hell, Harry probably wouldn't have even survived that first year at Hogwarts. "I'm still nervous."
"That's what divine favors are for," she whispered into his ear. Harry smiled. Apollo had said he owed Hermione. He was surprised she'd use such an amazing opportunity on him and immediately felt quite unworthy of it. She could have asked for anything, literally anything, and she instead wasted it on him.
When dinner ended Harry and Hermione headed to the library to finish up their homework; it wasn't until after curfew that they managed to break away and up to their Room. Once inside Harry looked at her, "You shouldn't have done that Hermione."
"Done what?" She asked, confused.
"Used up a favor owed to you by a god on me! It's…it's not that important. I'm not that important," Harry rubbed his face, "you should have saved it for something more."
Hermione stared at him for a few moments before speaking, "You mean more important than catching the worst despot since Grindelwald? More important than someone who orchestrated rapes, murders, and tortures for fun? Not to mention the countless crimes he committed directly, of course," Hermione took his hands in hers, "this is the same man who made my boyfriend an orphan. A boyfriend who has always felt unworthy of love and affection and has an almost overwhelming need to prove his worth to people. Who is so afraid he'll upset me he's quick to agree with me even when I'm wrong."
"You're never wrong," Harry automatically said.
She gave a small smile as she stepped closer to him, "A boyfriend who doesn't think that I could ever love him or need him as much as he loves and needs me. A boyfriend who doesn't understand how angry I get at Dumbledore, Sirius, Lupin, Pettigrew, and Voldemort for what they did to him. Harry it hurts me that you think that my love for you is so easily pulled away or vanquished," he moved to speak but she kept talking, "it isn't. And you're about to apologize to me and I don't want to hear it. I don't want an apology for the way you've been conditioned to behave and live. I don't want an apology for your belief that you love me and need me more than I need and love you. I don't want an apology for you thinking I wasted my favor on Voldemort." She covered his mouth when he moved to speak again, "I do want an apology, though, for you ever thinking that you're not worth my time and resources. You, Harry Potter, are always worth it. And for me you always will be."
She moved her hand away from his mouth and Harry kissed her, "I love you Hermione Granger. Not least of which because you can kick me in the arse when I need it, be it physically or verbally." She tilted her head to look at him and he nodded, "And I'm sorry that I said that I'm not worth you using your favor. It was yours to use and catching Voldemort is a worthy cause."
"Thank you," she said before yanking him to her and kissing him, "I believe you owe me."
"You collecting now?"
"Of course," she smiled, kissing him sweetly, "we're alone now."
"That is very true," Harry nodded. "So what, pray tell, do I owe you for that warming charm?"
"I've quite enjoyed the fact that my boyfriend is a Parselmouth before but not nearly for as long as I would have liked," she pressed against him, "I think that's a suitable favor don't you?"
Harry really enjoyed the images that popped into his head of a nude Hermione screaming his name. "Here in the bedroom or should we make it a library?"
"You want me screaming in the library because I always shush you," she smirked. "I think tonight we use the bedroom. Maybe tomorrow we could use the library?" He liked the sound of that and kissed his girlfriend in answer.
-Earlier that evening during Hogwarts' dinner-
Apollo had been surprised at his young Veela's request, but he would adhere to it. He would not be letting Voldemort or Pettigrew escape. Or let them injure any aurors. A few calls into some friends and Riddle Manor was surrounded by Hades, Ares, Apollo, and Aphrodite. "We could kill him," Ares suggested.
Hades rolled his eyes, "Have you forgotten about the horcruxes?"
"Like you couldn't call his soul pieces to you in an instant," Ares retorted, "I wasn't aware the god of the dead was so weak."
Aphrodite stepped between them before Hades could respond, "Apollo what do you want us to do?"
"He needs to be captured by the humans," Apollo answered.
"I wouldn't mind making it easier for them to kill he who thinks he can cheat death," Hades growled. "No one cheats death. I always get them in the end."
Aphrodite frowned, "But doesn't that violate the wishes of Zeus?" Angering the lord of Olympus did not appeal to her in the least.
Ares looked at Apollo, "The Veela's wish was specific or broad?"
The patron of Veela tilted his head as he remembered her wish, "She wished for them to be captured and that I make sure justice is done."
"So we could take out the horcruxes," Ares reasoned. "In the name of making sure justice is done."
"But how do we explain our presence without announcing our presence?"
Silence fell before Apollo spoke, "We could lead the humans to the horcruxes. We could speak without being seen. Hades thanking them for returning a soul to him would certainly be enough."
"Most British wizards and witches ignore our presence," Ares frowned.
"My Veela doesn't. Her werewolf mate doesn't. He's prayed to me as well."
"Why you?"
"Artemis deals with wild animals; werewolves are not wild. Besides I'm known for my affections for wolves, ravens, crows, snakes, and more. The lad is a Parselmouth. Most fear snakes. I do not."
"And his patronus is the wolf."
"His wolf in physical form apart from him," Apollo responded. "I don't mind him praying to me. The lad needs people to listen and support him other than his mate and I'm happy to assist."
"So Apollo gives them visions of horcruxes," Aphrodite said. They always got sidetracked.
"I will make it safe for them to claim them," Ares said. "And easier to destroy them as well."
"I claim the soul and remind them that we are still around, just quieter than we have been in the past," Hades said.
"And I protect the humans destroying horcruxes and capturing those two in there," Aphrodite said. "That sounds like the best course of action."
"Can I kill the snake?" Ares asked.
"Aphrodite how do you put up with him?" Hades asked.
"I take off my clothes," she answered. "After that he does what I want."
"Cupid's arrows are annoying like that," Ares muttered. Hades smirked.
"If all of you are able to behave let's make sure the two in there are captured. As for the snake, I don't care. It isn't a horcrux but I do not doubt he would make it one. Make it quick and painless."
Ares rolled his eyes. Apollo's affection for snakes and whatnot was weird. But he'd obey the god's request if only because the god was letting him kill. Ares was the god of war for a reason. He very much enjoyed killing.