Chapter 10: The Tournament Goes On

The day of the first task arrived and Harry Potter was more nervous than anybody else at Hogwarts. He had just learned he had to retrieve a golden egg that was placed among real eggs and guarded by a mother dragon. To make matters worse, Harry got the most dangerous of all dragons brought for the occasion. He was finding it hard to believe having him survive was part of Voldemort's plan. He was considering owling to the Ministry to ask them to check the batch of Veritaserum they used on Wormtail and the Crouches.

To get past the dragon, Harry used the summoning charm he learned that year to make his broomstick appear, unknowingly using the very same idea Crouch Junior intended to give Harry while disguised as Alastor Moody. "Impressive!" Hogwarts Charms Professor Filius Flitwick happily commented. "And to think he only started learning this charm this year."

Principal Crystalgazer and Headmaster Dumbledore awarded Harry top scores for this. "Hmpf. As if the precious 'Golden Boy' wasn't already too pampered." Snape muttered.

"Honestly, Severus." Minerva McGonagall scolded her colleague. "You're being even more immature than Sirius Black. And he has the excuse of having been forced to spend years with Dementors for crimes he didn't commit."

"Black should have still been sent back to Azkaban for what he did to me, Minerva." Snape replied. Minerva found no grounds to argue.

"I still wonder how you became a teacher and avoided Azkaban, Snivellus." Sirius replied. "You should be the one inside an Azkaban cell watching the burial of what was believed to be Crouch Junior's corpse."

"This is no place to argue!" Minerva sternly replied, scaring Sirius and Snape into silence.

Meanwhile, Amelia Bones entered Albus Dumbledore's office. "Welcome back, Amelia." Dumbledore cheerfully welcomed her. "How can I help you now that the mystery of Harry's forced entry has already been solved?"

"The Department of Mysteries figured out He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named created Horcruxes and one of them is hidden in this castle." Amelia explained. Actually, they also figured out there's also a living person with another piece of Voldemort's soul but decided they could afford to wait for this person's death since they had Voldemort under Ministry custody. "We want to search the premises."

"Well, I believe there's only one place at Hogwarts where Voldemort could have a chance to hide anything." Headmaster Dumbledore replied.

Meanwhile, Principal Crystalgazer went to Gryffindor Common Room to congratulate Harry. "Way to go, Lord Potter." He said. "Viktor Krum would have gotten the same score from me but his Conjunctivitus Curse made his dragon stomp some real eggs. Now, it's time to prepare for the second task. What do you know about it?"

"All I know is that the egg I got at the first task contains a clue to know what the second one is, Principal Crystalgazer." Harry answered. "I tried to open it but all I got was some screeching noise."

"May I hear it, Lord Potter?" Principal Crystalgazer asked. Reluctantly, Harry opened the golden egg and the noise quickly led Principal Crystalgazer into ordering Harry to close it. "Lord Potter, whenever I want to hear loud cacophonies, I talk to merpeople above water. Now, if you excuse me, I have to see how things are back at our own school. Goodbye, Lord Potter."

"That's it!" Hermione Granger exclaimed after Principal Crystalgazer left. "Harry, I figured out how the clue works! The merpeople!"

"What do they have to do with the clue, Hermione?" Harry asked in confusion.

"We can only talk to merpeople underwater." Hermione explained. "Anything they talk above water will sound pretty much like what we heard from the egg. Maybe we should open it underwater."

"Will you throw the egg at the lake, Harry?" Ron asked in shock. "The Giant Squid won't like it."

"Ron, don't you remember what Dennis Creevey said about the squid being nice?" Hermione asked.

"Who's Dennis, Hermione?" Harry asked in confusion.

"He's Colin Creevey's little brother." Hermione explained. "He started attending Hogwarts this year and became a Gryffindor like us."

"Fine, the squid might have been nice to him but forcing it to hear that noise is pushing luck too much." Ron commented.

Meanwhile, Dumbledore was finally destroying the Horcrux hidden at the Come and Go Room. "I can't believe this room was something more than a place to keep chamber pots."

"Please, spare me the details, Headmaster." Amelia Bones pleaded. "I still have to go after the other Horcruxes."

One day later, Sirius Black was finishing the cleaning of his family's ancestor home when his elf showed up to announce the presence of someone at his doorstep. "Filthy master, there's a witch at the front door." Kreacher grunted.

"Is she beautiful?" Sirius asked with a smile and Kreacher rolled his eyes in disgust.

"Elves aren't knowing of human beauty standards, master, but I believe you'd like to see her." Kreacher replied.

"Did she identify herself, Kreacher?"

"She claimed to be Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Curious, Sirius Black allowed her in. "What can I do for you, Madam Bones?"

"Well, Lord Black, I don't mean to offend you now that Pettigrew's capture destroyed any doubts regarding your innocence, but the Department of Mysteries has reason to believe there's a Horcrux hidden at this manor."

"Madam Bones, you know I've never been a Death Eater, right?" Sirius Black asked in confusion.

"I know, but your brother was a Death Eater and lived here, Lord Black." She explained. "He might have brought something from You-Know-Who into this house."

"Well, there're several dark objects in this place." Sirius replied. "How do you expect to find any specific thing considering a soul fragment can be placed in any sort of object?"

"Well, that elf of yours was already serving the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black back when your brother lived here, right?" She asked and Sirius assented. "Well, he might know if there's anything here that belonged to You-Know-Who."

Meanwhile, at the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry, Ron and Hermione were looking at the bathtub Dobby brought. "Why doesn't Hogwarts offer them instead of just showers?" Ron asked.

"They're probably afraid students would stay longer than needed." Hermione suggested. "But why'd you want a bathtub, Harry?

"If I have to be underwater to listen to the egg's clue, so be it. Hermione, I'll have to ask you to leave." Harry explained. "Oh, goodbye." She quickly said and then left.

Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore was having the most awkward staff meeting ever. Defense Professor Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody was twitching around and worried anyone there would attack him. Who could blame him after all? If not for the fact he promised to help Dumbledore with the Triwizard Tournament's security details, he'd not wait until the end of the year to pack his stuff and leave. "Anything in particular to report about the students, Professors?" Dumbledore asked.

"The Potter brat is constantly taking advantage of the fact I can no longer dock points from Gryffindor for anything he does since he's officially a 'guest' from another school." Snape explained. "A school that shouldn't even be involved in this tournament."

"Severus, it's hardly Harry's fault if Voldemort decided to try to use the Triwizard Tournament to capture Harry." Dumbledore replied.

"And I still don't believe you were completely innocent, Snape." Moody grunted. "I'd have you share the Crouches' fate."

"Severus, I believe you were speaking about Harry's performance in Potions." Dumbledore calmly stated hoping it'd stop the arguing between Snape and Moody.

"Well, the brat seems to be doing better, which means either some Potions Master across the pond somehow did something right on him or he found a way to cheat I still haven't figured out but rest assured: I'll find out how he's cheating and then I'll have him expelled." Snape answered.

"What did his Principal say about it?" Dumbledore asked.

"He said he'd not trust the opinion of a Death Eater even if it's one you trust, Headmaster." Snape answered.

"You'd better hope he's not hoping to replace you as Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus." Moody commented. "He's already proving to be better than you."

After Amelia Bones left Grimmauld Place with what's left of Salazar Slytherin's locket, Sirius Black was recovering from the shocking news. Despite knowing he was at a Dark family's manor, he didn't expect to find a Horcrux there or learn the details of his brother's demise. He sure needed lots of butterbeer after this.

After finally hearing the clue, Harry decided it was time to ask a girl to dance with him at the Yule Ball. He asked Hermione, who accepted. And Harry asked quickly enough for it wasn't long after that Viktor Krum asked her. He sadly accepted her refusal, since she had already accepted Harry's invitation. Krum asked some Durmstrang girl who eagerly accepted.

Later on, Amelia Bones and two Aurors went to Gringotts to report the presence of a Horcrux within one of its walls. The goblins were shocked one of their customers dared to place one of those affronts to nature in their bank. It didn't take long to find it, since they've started searching with the vaults of confirmed Death Eaters and concluded the Lestranges would be the most likely. It seemed Voldemort stole Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, hid a part of his soul in there and had the Lestranges hide it within their vault.

After being given what was left of Helga Hufflepuff's Cup and half the other contents of the Lestrange vault as a reward for revealing the Horcrux, Amelia Bones and the Aurors went to the Gaunt Shack. Amelia mused over what she knew of the place's last resident: a wizard named Morfin Gaunt. According to the Ministry's records, Morfin was sentenced to three years in Azkaban for assaulting a muggle named Tom Riddle while his father Marvolo Gaunt got a six-month sentence for obstructing justice when the Ministry worked on Morfin's crime. Marvolo tried to invoke his magical lineage by showing Salazar Slytherin's locket and a ring that, According to Marvolo's claims, had a stone with the Peverell coat of arms. Years later, Morfin was arrested for the murder of Tom Riddle and his parents. Gaunt confessed and a spell check on his wand confirmed it was the murder weapon. Morfin Gaunt's only regret was the loss of his father's ring. Decades later, Albus Dumbledore concluded the Riddles were actually murdered by someone who stole Morfin's wand and charmed him into believing he was the murderer. Despite this, Gaunt didn't live long enough to see the Wizengamot change their verdict on the case. Nobody lived at the Gaunt Shack ever since Morfin was arrested for the triple murder. Upon searching the shack, they found what was believed to be the alleged Peverell Ring. The Horcrux in the stone was quickly destroyed. Amelia Bones was oblivious to the fact that, when the Unspeakables would receive the ring, they'd also get one of the Deathly Hallows. Now the only Horcrux left was whatever living being got a piece of Voldemort's soul but they decided to merely wait until said person dies.

Meanwhile, Sirius Black received an official letter from Gringotts.

Lord Black,

As there are no Lestranges available to receive official communications from us and you're the Head of the family Mrs. Lestrange was born to, we're informing you the Lestrange Family vault has been officially seized as punishment because a Horcrux has been placed there. As a reward for informing us of such affront of nature, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was rewarded with the Horcrux's remains and half the other contents of the vault. Please inform Bellatrix Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange and Rodolphus Lestrange they're no longer welcome at Gringotts Bank.

Sincerely,

Ragnok

Director of Gringotts Bank

Sirius Black didn't know if he felt happy at his cousin's disgrace or disgusted that someone would make more than one Horcrux. Voldemort makes even his family look sane in comparison. Well, Sirius Black couldn't imagine anything that made him happier than seeing Bellatrix's reaction once she learned it. It might even make it worth returning to Azkaban as a visitor.

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione were having dance lessons. Well, basically it was Hermione teaching him. "Harry, shouldn't you spare some time preparing for the second task?"

"I'd rather drown than embarrass myself in front of everyone during the ball, Hermione." Harry explained.

"Boys." She muttered.

One week later, Sirius Black was back at a place he never thought he'd want to see again: Azkaban Prison. "What do you want, blood traitor?" Bellatrix asked/screeched.

"As the Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, it's my pleasure to inform you the goblins seized your vault as punishment for you keeping a Horcrux there." Sirius Black maliciously replied.

"Liar!" She yelled in reply. "I'd never…" She then remembered the locket Voldemort told her to guard, stating that, for as long as it remained intact, he'd never die. "Noooooooooooooooooo! Why didn't he warn me? Didn't he know Gringotts policy regarding the Darkest Art ever?"

"Nobody taught him." Sirius replied. "He grew up in the Muggle World like his Muggle father."

"The Dark Lord cannot be a muggle's son!" She shouted in outrage.

"A daughter then?" Sirius mocked.

Months later, the Yule Ball was just a happy memory and then it was time for the second task. "Mate, where's Hermione?" Ron asked while looking around for her.

"Each champion must rescue someone precious." Harry replied. "She must be the one I must rescue. It's a good thing Principal Crystalgazer told me the hostages aren't in real danger or I'd be worried.

Not stopping to rescue the other hostages, Harry was not only the first one to return but also the only one to return on time, earning full marks from all judges except for Karkaroff.

For the third task, Headmaster Dumbledore explained the points the champions scored so far determined the order each one would enter a maze to search for the Triwizard Cup and that the first one to reach it would be the winner. The greatest obstacle inside the maze was a sphinx. Harry answered his question correctly, later Cedric Diggory answered his question correctly, and Krum used some dark magic to immobilize the sphinx. Fleur gave up bedore reaching this point. Harry and Cedric were the first ones to see the cup and were running towards it until they were caught by leg-locker curses from Viktor Krum, who beat them to the cup and won.

At the end of the year, Harry was reading the Daily Prophet. There was a photograph of Ludovic Bagman with the title "Ministry Officer still missing". "Harry, my boy, isn't there any way I can convince you to stay at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore politely asked.

"Sorry, Headmaster, but I still think I'd safer in a school other than Hogwarts." Harry said and then kept packing.

THE END

Sorry if it was rushed. I felt it was time to stop.