As the Bill was only the first reading, Harry would hold off commenting on it. He'd do his research and 'out' the fool in the Prophet in the week leading up to when the Bill would be read for the second time and voted upon.
That meant he didn't have to listen to any more of the dribble until the next item of business was raised.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When the session was called to conclusion just before lunch, Harry was glad to get away.
He went and saw Wendell, told him that if he ever needed to speak directly to Hermione he could by asking Sirius if he could borrow Sirius's communication mirror and returned to the tiers to escort Lady Marchbanks back to Hogwarts.
As they were walking from the elevator lobby on the atrium level back to the floos he asked her of her thoughts on the meeting.
"Actually, Lord Potter," she began. "For a lot of it I was watching the interplay between you and your reprobate of a godfather. It was most amusing."
Harry just cocked an eyebrow at her and grinned.
"What was so funny about that book our Lord Black gave you?" she asked.
Harry sighed and drew the book from his pocket. Sirius had told him to keep it.
When he showed it to her, she hesitated only a moment before letting forth a great cackle of glee. When she calmed down again, she said, "Now I understand." And handed it back to him.
Accepting it back, he firmly stated, "Revenge, shall be mine!"
Again, she cackled as she again took his arm as he escorted her to the floos.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After returning to the school via Marchbanks's office, Harry returned to the Lords' Quarters to shuck his Wizengamot robes and change into school robes.
Checking the time he realised Hermione had not yet returned from Herbology to clean up before lunch and had no idea where Daphne would be, but suspected she'd be along soon.
Right as he was thinking that, Hermione entered. As she crossed the room heading for her door, she quickly said, "Give me a few minutes, I stink of dragon dung." And was gone within.
"Well, hello to you, too," he quietly said, standing in the middle of the room and looking to her door.
"Talking to yourself, Potter?" asked Daphne's voice from behind.
Spinning around he saw his concubine bonded standing in the doorway and smirking at him.
So, with no other comeback available to him right at that moment, he just blew her a raspberry.
As she laughed and walked in he said, "Hermione hurried past, complaining of the smell of dragon dung and didn't even stop to say hello."
"I gathered," she replied. "Shall we wait for her, then?"
"Of course," he nodded.
As Daphne asked Betsy to change out her books for the afternoon class, Harry did the same with Dobby. Then Daphne asked Betsy to do the same for Hermione, just as she came back out.
"Ready," she declared, retrieving her satchel where Betsy had just returned it. "Thank you, Betsy," she called out as she was checking through it.
Harry and Hermione only had to worry about Potions, while Daphne had to add her Charms text for the final class, which neither of the other two had to worry about as they had Astronomy that night.
Harry already knew it was going to be a long day for him. He'd try and catch a nap that evening and have Dobby wake him in plenty of time.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As the three Potters headed for the Great Hall, Hermione asked, "So, how did it go?"
He knew what she meant - the trials.
He replied, "Algernon Rosier got seven years, minimum security; Augusta Longbottom got six months, minimum security. Even once the verdict was read out, it was apparent she didn't believe it."
"She will have, by now," said Daphne. "The DMLE would not have mucked about getting her to Azkaban."
"Mmm..." he muttered. "That's why I'm kind of avoiding Neville, at the moment."
Daphne asked, "Do you believe Heir Longbottom will blame you for what has befallen his grandmother?"
Harry was a long moment replying before he said, "Somewhat; yes."
"He does not," she immediately and firmly said.
"Oh, Harry," said an understanding Hermione. "Neville doesn't blame you for any of this. He knows what his 'Uncle Algie' and 'Gran' did, or didn't do, is what's led to this. He knows they're responsible for their own actions."
As it turned out, Frank had immediately informed his son of the results of the trial between the judiciary and legislative sessions; and Neville in no way held Harry responsible for any of it.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After an interrupted sleep, where he managed to get a longer sleep before heading to Astronomy, Harry was up early as was his usual habit on a Wednesday morning.
Today marked one week before the Second Task and Hermione was determined they would ramp up their training for it.
So, immediately after breakfast, she, Harry and Neville - who'd offered to come and help - headed for the Room of Requirement to do some light training and practicing of the Summoning and other charms Harry might have to use in the Task.
Since he'd received his own wand, Neville had worked hard to rein back on his excessive use of magical power when casting. With the help of his father and mother he'd managed it in time to rejoin his classmates at the beginning of January at Hogwarts.
However, that did not mean he was no longer able to apply that prodigious amount of power when he wanted to. He used that just that morning during training, when he had a go at summoning the broom from off the bottom of the pool.
Like Harry, he was more than capable of the feat. But, unlike Harry, he had to quickly dive out of the way when the broom shot out of the water and directly at him. He might have had Harry's power, but not his reflexes.
"Damn!" he exclaimed, picking himself up off the pool edge while the broom clattered to the floor after hitting the wall well behind him.
Harry snickered in amusement. "Without all that dodging training we've been doing," he said, "It just might have got you."
Back on his feet and 'dusting' himself off, Neville said, "Yeah, it was close."
Walking back towards them from around the other end of the pool, Hermione said, "Well, I think you've got and practiced everything you need for the Second Task. And we've got about an hour before Daphne, Hannah and Susan are out of their classes before morning tea. Do you want to make a start on preparing for the Third Task?"
Harry grinned and said, "I think that one's going to be even easier than the first two Tasks."
Joining the two boys, she asked, "Oh? What is it?"
"It's a hedge maze, believe it or not," he replied. "The winner of the Tournament will be the first person to find the Tri-Wizard Cup, located somewhere in it. As such, even if you have the lowest number of points, you can still win by finding it first."
Neville frowned and asked, "Then what's the reason for the points?"
"The first to enter the maze will be the competitor with the highest points. After the first person enters, the next to enter will be the person in second place," he explained. "How long after the leader they get to enter depends on how many points behind that person they are. Then third and then fourth."
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