Chapter 14
Harry smiled as he looked out over the pool from his lounge chair next to the pool and watched the girls run around in their bikinis under his sunglasses. Dora, Jennifer, and Amanda relaxed in the pool on inflatable rafts while Jenna and Michelle sat in the shallow end. The adults sat under the shade of the patio, leaving Sirius to tend to the grill. They'd even convinced Frank to come this year, although Harry had to hold back a smirk when he looked at the man. He looked completely out of place in his black suit and tie, especially when he stood next to Sirius, who wore board shorts, a t-shirt, and a 'Kiss the Chef' apron.
"Foods ready!" Sirius yelled.
Levina perked up and scooted closer to the grill expectantly.
"Yeah, yeah, I made some for you, too," Sirius sighed and muttered, "Bloody overgrown pigeon."
Levitating a rack of beef ribs from the grill, he tossed it in her direction. Levina snatched it out of the air, the bones cracking between her powerful jaws as she swallowed it in seconds.
Harry lingered in his chair for a moment, taking the time to enjoy the view as the girls climbed out of the pool. Dora, the last to get out of the water, glanced over her shoulder and rolled her eyes when she caught him looking. With a smile and a shrug, he got to his feet and walked over to her. He wrapped his arm around her waist, his hand landing on her ass. Dora giggled as they walked over to the table and sat down to eat.
When Jennifer and Amanda gave her a questioning look, Dora rather blatantly threaded her fingers through his and gave them a defiant look.
"Are you two dating?" Michelle asked curiously.
"They better be," Andromeda muttered.
While the girls gave her a curious look, Jenna covered her mouth and laughed. Even Frank looked interested as everyone looked around the table for an explanation.
"Andi found Dora in Harry's bed this morning," Sirius smirked.
Jennifer and Amanda burst out laughing while Michelle blushed and turned her head down to look at her plate. Lunch was filled with teasing and laughter before Marlene brought out the birthday cake. Sirius stuck to his tradition of singing as loudly and off-key as possible before Harry blew out the candles.
"Ready for your presents?" Ted asked with a smile once they'd devoured Marlene's excellent chocolate cake.
Before Harry could answer, he pulled out a small, colorfully wrapped cube and handed it to Harry.
"This is from Andi and I," he said as Harry tore into the paper.
Opening the hinged box inside the paper, Harry grinned and pulled out the silver wristwatch for everyone to see.
"It's a tradition among British magical families to give a young man a watch when he turns of age," Andi explained.
"I love it," Harry said, strapping the watch to his wrist. "Thank you."
"Who's going next?" Sirius asked with a grin. "I want to save the best for last."
Michelle handed Harry her present next, which turned out to be a book on dueling that had only recently been published. Jennifer and Amanda had gotten him a voucher for a clothing store in Salem, Marlene and Jenna gifted him tickets to a Quidditch match for his favorite team, and Frank gave him a wand holster that could be configured to be worn on the hip or worn as a shoulder holster.
With a smug smile, Sirius handed Harry his smallest present yet, a square box that fit in the palm of his hand. Tearing into the poorly wrapped gift, Harry pulled off the lid and stared at the single silver key attached to an old keyring advertising an Indian restaurant in London.
"No way," Harry said, lifting the key out of the box.
"Sirius, you didn't," Andi said, sighing in aggravation.
"I did," Sirius grinned.
"When I said you should get rid of that thing, I didn't mean give it to Harry," Marlene said, shaking her head.
"Oh, let the kid live a little," Sirius replied. "Go on, Harry. She's all yours."
Grinning widely, Harry jumped from his seat and hugged him tightly.
"You're the best!" he said.
Sirius chuckled and patted him on the back. Pulling back, Harry turned to Dora and held up the key.
"You want to go for a ride with me?" he asked.
"Hell yeah," Dora beamed.
Harry took her hand and started pulling her towards the house.
"Put some clothes on before you ride that thing!" Andi yelled as she and everyone else got up to follow.
"What did you get him?" Harry heard Michelle ask.
He never heard the reply as he pulled Dora into the garage and flipped on the light. Walking over to the sleek, black Triumph motorcycle tucked in the corner, Harry threw his leg over the seat and grinned before turning to Dora.
"Open the door and hope on," he said.
With a smile to match his, Dora hit the switch for the garage door and quickly climbed onto the back of the bike. As the door slowly opened, Harry could see everyone gathered in the driveway to watch. Inserting the key into the ignition, he started the engine, kicked it into gear, and rolled forward. Jennifer and Amanda laughed and cheered when he rode past them towards the road.
"Helmets!" Andi shouted.
Harry pretended not to hear her as he revved the engine and turned onto the dirt road. After getting a few hundred yards from the house, he turned around and glanced over his shoulder.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready," Dora said, hugging herself against his back.
Grinning, Harry revved the engine a couple more times and then took off. He accelerated hard, running through the gears rapidly. Just as he passed the driveway where everyone was watching, he thumbed a switch next to the throttle. The wheels gently left the ground, and they took off into the air. Dora whooped in his ear as they climbed. Levina swooped in front of them with a loud, joyful cry as they cruised high above the desert.
Andi sighed as he brought in the last of the plates from the patio and set them in the sink. The guests had left a short while ago and, as usual, when it came to clean up, Sirius and the kids had disappeared. Turning away from the sink, she decided to see if she could find Harry and Dora to help her. They were both adults now, and it was time they started acting like it.
She glanced outside first but didn't see them by the pool. Hoping that they hadn't gone back out on that bike, she walked into the living room to see if they were watching the telly.
Andi gasped when she spotted them on the couch. They were still wearing their swim suits, though only barely. Dora was straddling Harry on her knees as they snogged heatedly. Harry had pushed her top up, exposing her breasts, while her hand was jammed down the front of his open shorts.
"Harry! Nymphadora!" Andi yelled.
They stopped kissing and turned to look at her, but the fact that neither of them looked the least bit embarrassed only angered her further.
"What the hell are you two thinking doing that in the living where anyone can see?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "Get in the kitchen and help me with the dishes."
Nymphadora groaned as she pulled her hand out of Harry's shorts, fixed her top, and climbed off of Harry's lap. Quickly fixing his shorts, Harry followed after her. The moment they were in the kitchen, she heard Nymphadora giggling.
Shaking her head, Andi drew her wand and cast a couple of charms on the couch. As she turned back to the kitchen, Nymphadora was leading Harry by the hand towards her bedroom door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Andi demanded.
"Dishes are done!" Nymphadora yelled over her shoulder.
Pulling Harry into her room, she slammed the door closed. It glowed blue a moment later, signaling a Silencing Charm was in place. Throwing her hands up in frustration, Andi walked back into the kitchen. The dishes in the sink were cleaning themselves, but the sponge only cleaned the middle of the plates, leaving the edges dirty. Angrily, Andi canceled the charms and redid them properly. With a sigh, she went back to cleaning up the rest of the mess and putting away the food by herself.
Not half an hour later, just as she was finishing up in the kitchen, the Caterwauling Charm Andi had placed on the couch trigger. Huffing, she stormed into the living room.
"What did I tell you two about doing that on the cou-" Andi stopped mid-sentence as she stared at the couple on the floor.
Sirius lay on his back, blinking up in confusion as Marlene pushed herself on his chest. The front of her shirt distended away from her chest where his hand was still trapped under the fabric.
"Are you kidding me!?" Andi yelled. "Stop shagging on my couch!"
As she continued to lay into them and explain why the couch was charmed to a confused Sirius and embarrassed Marlene, Harry and Dora sat off to the side, laughing so hard tears fell from their eyes.
Just a few days after Harry's birthday, they were back in upstate New York for the annual International Dueling Championship. When he and Dora moved to get in line to sign up for the competition, they spotted Professor Wilkinson talking to Flitwick and a guy about Harry's age with straw-colored hair. The moment he noticed them, Professor Wilkinson waved them over.
"Hello, Mr. Potter, Ms. Tonks," Flitwick said, smiling brightly. "I'd like you to meet Ernie McMillan. I was hoping he'd be your competition from Hogwarts this year, but Boris here tells me you'll be competing in the under twenty-one bracket this year."
"Professor Wilkinson thought I needed a bit more of a challenge," Harry shrugged.
He didn't mention that a large part of the reason he'd agreed was to push himself harder than he had in the past. After being kidnapped and put in a wheelchair for six months, he wanted to make sure he was never rendered so weak and helpless ever again.
"Well, I guess that's one less duel we have to worry about," Flitwick smiled. "I wish you the best of luck. You're going to have some stiff competition this year."
"I'm looking forward to it," Harry smirked.
Flitwick chuckled while Ernie scoffed quietly and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You know, this means we might have to duel each other," Dora said as they moved forward in line.
"I hope not," Harry muttered. "You fight dirty."
"I do not," Dora huffed.
"You hexed my nuts the last time we practiced," Harry argued.
"It was an accident!" she protested, then moved her lips close to his ear and lowered her voice. "Besides, I made it up to you later, didn't I?"
Harry smiled at the memory.
"That part was pretty good," he admitted.
When the tournament organizers posted the dueling bracket, Harry was relieved that he wouldn't be dueling Dora. Despite what she said, he didn't think there was any chance he'd get laid for the next week if he eliminated her from the competition. Fortunately, there was another familiar name on the board that Harry was anxious to duel again. Fleur Delacour.
Sure, he'd been in a wheelchair at the time, but she'd still handed him his first loss. He was anxious to get back in the ring with her and see how he did when he wasn't stuck in one place. And, hopefully, he could get his win back.
Joining his family in the stands, Harry and Dora watched the younger duelists go first. Ernie was one of the first to duel in the under-eighteen bracket, and despite being under the tutelage of Filius Flitwick, he wasn't that skilled. He won his first match but lost his second in short order.
While the finalists for the two younger brackets went off to rest and wait for the championship matches, Harry and Dora got ready for their first duels of the day. Dora went first, taking on a Romanian wizard. It was a long, drawn-out duel that gave Harry a good idea of what to expect. Professor Wilkinson, who sat next to him, pointed out the things he needed to look out for as they watched.
"This is the point where a duel becomes much more about intelligence and less about skill," he told him. "Think of it like a chess match. You need to maneuver your opponent into a vulnerable position before you can make your move. But never forget that they're going to be trying to do the same to you. You're never as safe as you think you are."
Harry nodded and watched as Dora continued to test and probe her opponent's defenses. Eventually, she spotted a pattern and used it to her advantage. She sent a hex at his head, and like he had every time before, her opponent raised a shield. It protected his face but also left him blinded for just a moment. Dora used that time to lock his legs together. While he pinwheeled his arms, desperately trying to keep his balance, her Disarming Hex hit him in the chest.
Everyone cheered loudly for her well-fought victory. With a beaming smile, Dora returned to the stands. She was still slightly out of breath with rosy cheeks when she took her seat next to Harry. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he kissed her temple and congratulated her while he waited for his first match.
He didn't have to wait long. His first opponent was a Bolivian Witch four years his senior. Walking down to the straw-covered arena, Harry stopped in front of her as the referee read the usual rules. He didn't hear them. Nor did he hear the witch's name when it was announced alongside his own. He was utterly focused on the duel ahead.
"Bow and take your places," the referee said.
Harry bowed, turned, and took five steps before spinning back around to face his opponent. He waited anxiously, his muscles tensed, for the signal to start the duel. The moment bright red sparks shot from the referee's wand, Harry and the witch standing across from him leapt into action. Hexes and jinxes were traded back and forth so fast that he barely felt in control. At any second, a single mistake could cost him the match.
And Harry would be damned if he was knocked out in the first round.
Gradually, he forced himself to calm down and think. Almost immediately, he noticed his aim and timing improve, giving him a moment to relax enough to watch his opponent's reactions. Sweat dripped down his temple as he used a mixture of spells to test her and find an opportunity to end the duel. As he fired a Bludgeoning Hex, he noticed that, thanks to the furious pace, her shield was rushed and slightly malformed. It worked fine to stop his hex, but he knew it would fail if she were pressed to stop two or three in a row.
Just as a plan formed in Harry's mind, the woman across from him waved her wand in a wide arch. After spending the last couple of minutes defending the same textbook Hexes and Curses, the sudden change threw him off. It took him a moment to realize she'd used a Suffocation Hex.
Despite its rather ominous name, it was only really dangerous if you didn't know how to counter it. Its main strength was that it could be cast over a wide area, requiring virtually no need to aim and affecting multiple people at the same time. In the time it took him to remember the Counter Curse, the magic washed over. It felt like a large hand had wrapped around his throat, cutting off his air. Only the fact that he knew what was happening and knew how to get out of it kept him from panicking.
But that did nothing to stop him from being angry with himself.
Silently, Harry cast the Counter Curse and slapped aside the Disarming Hex his opponent sent his way, hoping to finish the duel. Before she could regroup and try something else, he angrily returned fire with a Bludgeoning Hex. Once again, the witch threw up a hasty, imperfect shield, and Harry pounced on the opportunity. He let loose with two more in rapid succession.
The first hex hit her shield and was easily deflected off to the side. She looked like she was going to drop it for just a moment before she realized there was more coming. The second hex caused her to stumble back a step, and before she could get her feet under her, the third broke her shield. As she fell backward onto her ass, Harry landed a Disarming Hex and snatched her wand out of the air.
"Your winner, Harry Potter!" the referee announced.
Letting out a breath, Harry smiled as he walked forward, gave the witch back her wand, and shook her hand. As he returned to the stands, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried to slow his breathing.
"That was awesome!" Dora yelled, hugging him tightly.
"An excellent performance," Professor Wilkinson agreed as Harry was hugged and congratulated by the rest of his family.
"Thanks," Harry said, taking a seat with a sigh. "That took a lot more out of me than I thought it would, though."
"That's the adrenaline," Professor Wilkinson said, patting his shoulder. "This is the first time you've really been pushed in a duel. Don't worry. You'll get used to it."
Nodding, Harry paid close attention to the next few duels, trying to learn everything he could from them. Unfortunately, Dora lost her next match against the Romanian witch that had won the year before. He thought she could have easily taken second or third place if the brackets had been ordered differently.
Harry was more fortunate when it came to his opponents. Maybe it was because he was less nervous or because his next two opponents were only three years older than him, but he won his next two duels in a much more convincing fashion than his first.
"And that's it for day one of the competition, folks," the announcer said with a beaming smile under his black top hat. "Tomorrow, we'll be holding the semi-finals and finals for all age groups. Good luck to all our duelists."
The crowd applauded as he took a bow and left. As Harry, Dora, and their families made their way out to play a few games and enjoy a few rides before they went home, Fleur waved and made her way over.
"Bonjour, 'Arry, Tonks," Fleur said with a smile.
"Hey," Harry said, waving to her, her sister, and her mother.
As waved back and smiled brightly, Dora took his hand in hers and gripped his bicep possessively.
"I am glad to see you back on your feet," Fleur said, brushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Are you 'ealed?"
"Better than ever," Harry smiled. "And I plan to put up more of a fight in our next duel."
Fleur smiled back and lifted her chin slightly.
"I look forward to seeing what you do," she said. "I weel see you tomorrow."
Harry waved as they started to walk away, but Fleur turned back a moment later and looked at Dora.
"I 'ope you get chosen as ze Champion of your school next year," she called loudly.
"Champion?" Harry asked, turning to Dora, who looked just as confused. "What's she talking about?"
Dora shrugged.
"I think she's talking about the Triwizard Tournament," Sirius said. "It's a competition between the three best students from the three biggest schools in Europe, Hogwarts, Beaxubatons, and Durmstrang."
"But why would she think I was going?" Dora asked.
"I don't know," Sirius said, his brow furrowing. "I'll ask around and see what I can find out."
Chapter 15
Harry was woken abruptly by a loud, persistent knock on his bedroom door. With a groan, Dora buried her face in the crook of his neck and pulled the covers over her face.
"Get dressed and meet me in the kitchen," Sirius called loudly. "I need to talk to you two."
"It's too early!" Dora yelled.
"It's important!" Sirius yelled back. "You've got five minutes before I come back with a bucket of water!"
"I'm naked!" she barked before ripping the pillow out from under Harry's head and using it to cover hers.
"Then I'll send Marlene!" he shouted back.
"Harry's naked, too!" came her muffled reply.
"I don't care!" Sirius shouted. "Five minutes!"
"We better go see what he wants," Harry said.
With a frustrated groan, Dora tossed the pillow to the other side of the bed, sighed, and sat up. Harry's eyes raked over her naked body as she grumbled and got to her feet. Every time he looked at her, he noticed some subtle change in her appearance. He was positive it wasn't conscious, and she probably didn't even notice, but for him, it made every morning the most interesting game of 'spot the difference' he'd ever played.
"Quit staring at my ass and get dressed," Dora said.
Grinning unrepentantly, Harry climbed out of bed and threw on some clothes. A couple of minutes later, they walked into the kitchen. Sirius, Marlene, Andi, and Ted sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee with serious looks on their faces. Jenna was there, too, but she looked just as out of the loop as Harry felt.
"Alright, what's going on, Sirius?" Harry asked as he and Dora took their seats.
"I talked to Meredith this morning," he replied. "Hogwarts has decided to host the Triwizard Tournament this year."
"You woke me up for that?" Dora grumbled.
"Ilvermorny has been invited," Sirius said. "The headmaster of Durmstrang is a former Death Eater who was exiled from magical Britain after the war. The Death Eaters aren't too fond of him, either. He turned on them to save himself from Azkaban when he was caught and gave the Ministry a whole list of names. He'd be a fool to set foot back in Britain even if they let him. So, Durmstrang is out, and Ilvermorny is in."
"The seventh years who want to go will be spending the entire year at Hogwarts," Andi added. "Obviously, you're an adult, and the decision is up to you, but I don't like the idea of you going back alone. You know the problems we had getting away."
Harry felt like a lead weight had dropped into his stomach. They'd only just started dating. If Dora were to leave for an entire year, they would likely not be together for much longer. He hated the idea of her leaving, but when she turned to look at him, all he could do was shrug. In the end, it was her decision.
"So, either I go to Hogwarts, or I spend a year with the whole seventh year dorm to myself?" Dora said. "Sounds lonely."
Turning to Harry, she smiled and took his hand in hers.
"You think Professor Wilkinson will let you stay with me?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.
Grinning, Harry lunged forward and kissed her hard on the lips.
"You're staying here?" Andi asked.
Breaking the kiss with a smile, Dora kept her eyes locked with Harry's.
"I'm not going anywhere," she replied.
"Oh, thank Merlin," Andi burst out in relief and dropped her head onto the table.
Smiling, Ted rubbed her back gently.
"I'll get started on breakfast," Marlene said with a smile, getting to her feet.
A couple of hours later, Harry and the others were back in New York for the final duels of the tournament. They took a bit of time to explore the fair and play a few games. Eventually, they ended up at Harry's favorite game, banishing rubber rings onto a wooden dowel. He was on the verge of winning a large stuffed and animated unicorn when a short, fat, purple bird suddenly appeared in front of him. The rubber ring bounced off its beak, causing it to squawk and tilt its head in confusion.
"The hell?" Harry asked.
"Aw, it's so cute," Jenna smiled.
She reached out to pet it, but just as her fingers were about to brush its feathers, the bird vanished. It reappeared a short distance away at the popcorn stand. As it filled its beak with popcorn, the woman running the stand picked up a wooden spoon and swung at it. The bird vanished before it could make contact and reappeared a few stalls down, causing a man to shout in surprise.
"Looks like the Diriclaws escaped," Dora smirked, pointing toward the Ferris Wheel.
Harry looked up and laughed as a green Diriclaw Apparated from car to car. After a few hops, it ended up in the car the Delacours happened to be in. Before Fleur or Appoline could stop her, Gabrielle wrapped her arms around the bird and hugged it to her chest. It stayed surprisingly calm as it turned to her and chirped softly before vanishing again. Gabrielle pouted and dropped her arms sadly.
Suddenly, a group of organizers ran past, wands drawn. The Diriclaws sensed them coming and began Apparating away as fast as they could.
"I wonder how they got out," Jenna said.
"I don't know, but I hope they do this every year," Harry grinned.
"As fun as this is, the tournament is going to start soon," Dora reminded him.
"Hey, Potter!"
Harry turned back and looked at them man running the game he'd just been playing. With a smile, he grabbed the stuffed unicorn off the wall and tossed it to him.
"You would have won it anyways," he shrugged. "Good luck in the tournament."
"Thanks," Harry said with a smile and a wave. "See you next year."
Turning to Jenna, he handed her the unicorn. She tucked it under one arm and then hugged him tightly. Harry wrapped an arm around both girls' shoulders, and they all walked towards the arena where the tournament was being held.
It turned out they needn't have worried about the time. When they got there, the trapeze artists and tightrope walkers who performed in the evening were busy trying to corner the green Diriclaws on the tightrope, causing a delay in the tournament.
Looking around for an empty seat, Harry spotted Sirius, Marlene, and Andi already in the stands. He grabbed the girls by the hand and led them over.
"Hey, shouldn't you be helping?" Harry asked with a smirk and gesturing over his shoulder to the tightrope.
"I'm off duty," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "Besides, this is hardly the sort of thing you call in the MIB to handle."
"Any idea how they got loose?" Dora asked.
"From what the performers said, a little girl tried to take one of the Krups from the petting zoo for a walk. The workers were so busy trying to bring them back they forgot to close the latch when they left," Ted explained with a chuckle. "If I had heard that a couple of decades ago, I would've thought they were talking about Nymphadora."
Harry and Jenna chuckled while Dora rolled her eyes.
"It could've been Harry," she said. "He was just as bad as I was."
"No," Ted said, shaking his head. "Harry was far worse. He'd have found a way to ride one of the Occamy around until someone called the state Aurors."
"Don't give him ideas," Andi muttered.
"Bonjour."
Harry turned and smiled as Fleur took the seat next to him, with Apolline and Gabrielle sitting on the other side of her. Predictably, Sirius went all starry-eyed when his eyes landed on Apolline, prompting Marlene to roll her eyes and elbow him in the ribs. Dora, meanwhile, scooted closer to Harry and took his hand in hers possessively.
"Hey, Fleur," he said. "Looks like our duel is delayed for a bit."
They both glanced up at the tightrope, where two walkers were slowly approaching the Diriclaw from either end. How they expected to grab a bird while holding balancing poles, he had no idea.
"Not long, I 'ope," Fleur said. "I want to visit ze city before we leave."
"Are you looking forward to the Triwizard Tournament?" Dora asked.
"Oui," she smiled prettily. "Are you?"
"I'm not going," Dora told her.
"Oh," Fleur said, looking genuinely disappointed.
"Some of the families in England aren't too fond of me living," Harry explained with a shrug.
"I understand," Fleur nodded. "But it would 'ave been nice to know someone from anozzer school."
"I'll tell my friends to say hi when they get to Hogwarts," Dora said.
"Merci," Fleur smiled.
"Careful!" a man yelled, drawing their attention back to the tightrope. "Don't hurt it."
The tightrope walkers were just a few feet from the Diriclaw, who looked oblivious to their approach as it gazed around the arena with large yellow eyes. Suddenly, one of the performers dropped his balancing pole and leapt at the bird. It vanished with a pop and reappeared on Gabrielle's lap. The performer crashed into his partner, knocking them both from the tightrope. As they fell, they were quickly caught by a witch and wizard on the ground.
"I think he likes you," Harry said to Gabrielle.
The little girl beamed as she hugged the bird to her chest. Apolline said something to her in French and then sighed when she responded.
"She wants to keep it," Fleur said in response to their curious looks.
Gabrielle pouted and stroked the feathers of the Diriclaw, who'd settled comfortably in her lap while her mother continued to talk to her in French. After a moment, she sighed and sat back in her seat with her arms folded under her breasts.
"What am I going to do wiz you?" she asked, shaking her head.
"It could be worse," Andi said consolingly. "Harry came home with a Thunderbird when he was eight."
Apolline and Fleur turned to blink at him in surprise. Harry shrugged.
"Nuts! Dragon roasted nuts, here!" a young man yelled, walking through the stands with a trey strapped to his chest.
"You got Butterbeer?" Harry asked.
"Yes, sir," he nodded.
"I'll take eight, two pumpkin juices, and a bag of nuts," Harry said.
He paid the man, handed Jenna a pumpkin juice, passed out the Butterbeers to the other adults, and then gave Gabrielle the last pumpkin juice and the bag of nuts. The Diriclaw perked up at the smell. Grabbing a peanut from the bag, Harry fed it to the bird. Gabrielle giggled and started feeding it one at a time while he sat back with a smile.
Apolline sighed, "Now it won't want to leave 'er."
Smiling unrepentantly, Harry toasted her with his Butterbeer and took a sip. Fleur chuckled while Dora shook her head at him fondly. As they waited for the tournament to get started, Jenna moved to sit next to Gabrielle so she could pet the Diriclaw. The bird tilted its head up and warbled when they scratched the feathers under its chin.
"Ah, there he is."
A plump woman in a dark red robe smiled as she approached Gabrielle and Jenna.
"Thanks for taking care of him, girls," she said kindly. "But I need to get him back to his cage now."
Apolline quickly translated for Gabrielle. The little girl tried to argue but was shut down immediately by her mother. She looked on the verge of tears as she cradled the Diriclaw and handed it to the woman. The bird squawked loudly and disappeared, only to reappear back on Gabrielle's lap an instant later. The woman stared at the Diriclaw in surprise while Gabrielle hugged it tightly and looked at her mother pleadingly. With a sigh, Apolline turned to the woman.
"Can we buy eet from you?" she asked.
The woman looked at her thoughtfully and pursed her lips.
"You have a place to keep him?" she asked. "Diriclaws needs a lot of room."
"We have a vineyard een France," Apolline told her.
Looking back at Gabrielle, the woman sighed and smiled.
"As long as you can promise me you'll give him a good home, I'll sell him to you," she said.
"I promise she weel take very good care of 'im," Apolline promised.
The woman looked her over appraisingly for a moment and nodded.
"Ten Galleons," she said.
While Apolline dug through her purse for her coins, Fleur smiled and spoke to her sister. Gabrielle squealed happily and hugged her mother, nearly causing her to drop her coins. Paying the woman, who gave the bird a farewell pat on the head and left, Apolline spoke to Gabrielle sternly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, witches and wizards!" The announcer called. "Now that the unexpected entertainment is over, it's time for the semi-finals of this year's International Dueling Tournament!"
The crowd cheered loudly, and Harry settled back in his seat, knowing there would be four duels before he and Fleur had theirs. First came the semi-finals for the under-sixteen bracket, which didn't take long. The duelists going into the finals were an Egyptian wizard and a witch from the Philippines. The semi-finals for the under-eighteen bracket took longer to finish. A Swedish witch won the first duel, while a wizard from Yemen won the second.
"Next up, the first semi-final for the under-twenty-one bracket, we have Harry Potter of the United States versus Fleur Delacour of France!" the announcer called.
"Good luck," Sirius said, clapping his shoulder.
Smiling, Harry took one last sip of his Butterbeer, placed his thumb over the top, and then brought his bottle down sharply onto Sirius'.
"Git!" Sirius yelled.
The bottle began to foam rapidly as he snatched the bottle from the bench and placed his mouth over the top. He glared at Harry, who smirked and clapped him on the back as he got to his feet. Smiling at Fleur, the two of them made their way down to the arena.
"Kick is arse, Fleur!" Sirius yelled.
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Delacour, lovely to see you again," Flitwick greeted them cheerfully. "Any questions before we begin?"
"I think we know how this works by now," Harry replied while Fleur shook her head.
"Excellent," Flitwick said. "Then bow, take your positions, and wait for my signal."
Harry added a little flourish to his bow and gave Fleur a smile before turning around and walking ten steps away. He turned back around at the same time Fleur did. As their eyes met, the levity died rapidly. Harry's muscles tensed, ready to react the moment Flitwick gave the signal to begin.
Red sparks burst overhead, and they started casting hexes and curses as fast as possible. Either Fleur had been holding back in their last duel, or she had gotten noticeably better over the last year. Her spells seemed to come fast and hit harder than he remembered. She was using a lot more area-affecting spells, too. Fortunately, Harry had studied up on those over the last year.
Suddenly, Harry spotted a minute opening. When he recognized the beginning of an Animation Charm, he used wandless magic to wrench her wand down while casting a Disarming Hex with his wand. To her credit, Fleur reacted seamlessly. Spinning gracefully out of the way of his hex, she canceled the charm that she'd cast at her own feet. The animated hay, which had just started crawling towards her like thousands of worms, stopped instantly. With narrowed eyes, she batted away his follow-up spell.
Harry could feel sweat dripping down his forehead as they continued to trade spells. When it came to offensive spells, Fleur was faster to the draw than he was, but his defense was nearly impenetrable. He'd spent long hours honing his shields and defensive tactics, unsure if he'd still be in a wheelchair. On the downside, her speed made it difficult to slip in attacks. Even when he did, they were more of a nuisance than anything. He just needed to find a way to unbalance her long enough to get off more than a spell or two at a time.
It was time to take a risk.
The next time Fleur tried to cast a hex, Harry again used his wandless magic to redirect the tip of her wand while casting a hex of his own. She was forced to defend, and it turned the tide for him to really start casting some offensive spells of his own. Despite casting as fast as he could, Fleur was still faster and could slip in the odd counter occasionally. Harry knew that if he used a shield, he'd be right back where he started, so he dodged everything she sent his way instead of blocking. There were several close calls where he felt spells speed past just millimeters from his skin, but he continued to press forward, looking for any opening that might end the duel.
That all worked great until Fleur used another Animation Charm that he couldn't dodge. Growling in frustration, he canceled the charm and backpedaled slightly as she rained down a rapid flurry of hexes and curses. As he defended, he cast his mind around for anything that might distract her long enough to give him the upper hand.
Then he noticed the hay and dirt piled around his feet from her repeated Animation Charms. With a grin, he thrust his left arm forward. A cloud of hay and loose dirt shot towards Fleur, who raised her arm to cover her eyes. Just before she was completely obscured from view, Harry wandlessly and grabbed her wand arm, holding it in place instead of redirecting the tip as he had before. At the same time, he unleashed a bright red Stunning Hex from his wand and watched in anticipation as it shot toward the spot where he knew Fleur was standing. The entire crowd gasped when it pierced the cloud of dust and fluttering hay.
And then Harry's wand was ripped from his hand.
He was so surprised by the Disarming Hex that hit him that he stumbled and fell on his back. Sitting up, he watched as the dust cleared, slowly revealing Fleur. She was crouched with one knee on the ground, her head just below the spot he'd cast his Stunning Hex at. A small, triumphant smirk sat on her lips as she held her wand aloft.
Her wand that now sat in her left hand.
"Stop!" Flitwick shouted. "Your winner, Fleur Delacour!"
The crowd erupted while Harry fell back with a groan and dropped his head painfully to the ground.
"Damn it," he growled, slamming his fist down.
Getting his frustration under control, he sighed and climbed to his feet. As he walked back to the center of the arena, Fleur paused to retrieve his wand and handed it to him when they met.
"Great job," Harry said, shaking her hand and taking his wand. "I guess I used that wandless trick one too many times."
"Oui, but eet was close," Fleur said, turning her head to the side. "You singed my 'air."
Harry snorted as he looked at the handful of shortened and burned hairs on the side of her head.
"Wonderfully done, both of you!" Flitwick said, excitedly bouncing on the balls of his feet. "I haven't seen a duel like that in years!"
"Merci," Fleur smiled.
Forcing a smile and giving the short man a respectful nod, Harry followed Fleur back to their seats.
"You were amazing," Dora said, hugging him tightly.
Harry smiled as the others commented favorably on the duel despite his loss. Even Professor Wilkinson, who Harry hadn't even noticed arrive, had little to say about it.
"Sometimes, you just need experience," he said. "And in that, a loss will teach you far more than a win."
"Yeah, well, I don't like losing," Harry grumbled, sipping his Butterbeer before turning to Fleur. "I still want another rematch, though."
"You weel 'ave to come to France," Fleur shrugged. "I weel be too old to compete next year."
"Deal," Harry grinned. "I've always wanted to visit those topless beaches."
Dora turned to glare at him, but he just continued to smile unrepentantly. Snorting, she smacked his chest lightly and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Perv," she muttered.
"Yeah, but you still love me," Harry said.
Smiling, Dora kissed his cheek as they settled in to watch the rest of the tournament.
Chapter 16
"Bye, have a good year!" Andi called. "And stay out of trouble!"
Harry looked back at his family and waved as he pushed the cart loaded with his, Dora's and Jenna's luggage. Dora's friends, Jennifer and Amanda, approached the door to greet her as she boarded the train.
"Harry, can you get the trunks while we go find a compartment?" Dora asked.
"Why do I always have to carry the trunks?" Harry asked exasperatedly.
Dora smirked, "Because I give you blowjobs."
Jennifer, Jenna, and Amanda laughed while Harry thought for a moment before tilting his head in acknowledgment.
"Fair point," he said.
As the girls disappeared from the doorway, Harry turned back to the cart and sighed.
At least he could use magic this year.
Whipping out his wand, he levitated the trunks in a line and directed them onto the train. By the time he got onto the train, the girls had already vanished from sight. Fortunately, he didn't have to walk long before he found them. They were already in a compartment with Michelle.
"How did the tournament go this year?" she asked while Harry lifted the trunks into the overhead compartment.
"Good," Dora replied. "Harry decided to compete in the under twenty-one bracket. He lost to Fleur in the semi-finals, but it was a hell of a match. You should've seen it. Harry was incredible."
"I did alright," Harry said. "I really need to work on the speed of my casting this year."
"I'm surprised you're not more upset," Michelle said.
Shrugging, he plopped down on the seat next to Dora and slung his arm over her shoulders.
"I probably would be if she hadn't won the whole thing," Harry said. "Besides, I still have another three years to win the tournament."
"Speaking of tournaments," Dora said. "Did you guys hear Ilvermorny is being invited to compete in the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts this year?"
"Really?" Jen asked.
"What's the Triwizard Tournament?" Michelle asked while Amanda leaned forward interestedly.
"Well, it's supposed to be a tournament between the three best schools in Europe, but the Durmstrang headmaster was exiled from England after the war with Voldemort," Dora explained. "They used to hold it every four years, but they stopped about three hundred years ago."
"Too many deaths," Jennifer added. "They pick the best student from each school and compete to see who's the best. I can't remember exactly what happened, but they ended it after all three Champions and a good chunk of the audience were killed during one of the tasks."
Michelle wrinkled her nose, "Sounds barbaric. Like when the Romans used to make slaves fight in the Colosseum."
"Wait," Jennifer exclaimed suddenly, glancing between Harry and Dora. "Does this mean that we'll be spending the whole year at Hogwarts?"
"You will be," Dora corrected. "Harry can't go because they're only taking the seventh years, and I decided to stay with him. So, while you're all at Hogwarts, I'll be having sex with Harry in every bed in the dorm."
"You're seriously not going?" Amanda asked incredulously.
Dora shrugged and leaned against Harry with a soft smile on her lips.
"I'd rather spend the year with my boyfriend," she said.
Smiling, Harry kissed the top of her head.
"Aw, that's so sweet," Jennifer said, her smile turning into a smirk. "When's the wedding?"
"Oh, shut up," Dora said, rolling her eyes. "Anyways, who do you think will be Champion for Ilvermorny?"
"Since you're not going, probably Amanda," Jennifer said.
"I don't know," Amanda said thoughtfully. "Ryan's pretty good with a wand."
"You would know," Dora smirked.
Amanda blushed and covered her face while the rest of the compartment burst into laughter.
Ilvermorny buzzed with activity in the two months leading up to the Triwizard Tournament. Several of Dora's classmates tried to convince her to compete, considering her their best chance of winning, but she turned them down each time.
October 30th dawned bright and cool as the whole of Ilvermorny descended onto the front lawn to bid farewell to their classmates. Dora was sharing a tearful goodbye with Jennifer and Amanda when they heard the whistle of the Ilvermorny Express. Turning as one, the school watched as the large, black train chugged its way up to the top of Mount Greylock.
It moved along on a charmed track, where the rails and ties behind the train flew to the front and assembled themselves in front to create a never-ending track. The train pulled to a stop in front of the school in a cloud of steam, the brakes hissing and squealing. As the Pukwudgies loaded the luggage onto the carriages, Jennifer and Amanda said their final goodbyes, kissed Harry's cheek, and turned to board the Express.
Walking up behind Dora, Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. She leaned back into his embrace and laid her arms on top of his.
"Are you okay, Tonks?" Jenna asked softly.
"I'm fine," Dora said with a sniffle.
"Have you talked to the professors about your classes yet?" Michelle asked curiously.
"Urgh," Dora groaned, wrinkling her nose cutely. "Since I'm the only one staying, I'm going to get private tutoring."
"But that's great!" Michelle exclaimed.
"For you, maybe," Dora grumbled. "Now, they're definitely going to notice if I skip class."
Jenna giggled while Michelle rolled her eyes.
A few minutes later, Harry and his friends waved to the seventh years hanging out of the windows of the Express as it began to move. Picking up speed, the railway arched gently until the entire train was in the air and steamed its way out over the Atlantic.
Later that night, the Thunderbird Common Room felt unusually empty. The students filled their evening with speculating about the Tournament, who would be chosen, and what the tasks would be until they gradually began to trickle up the stairs one and two at a time to their dorms.
"Are you ready to go to bed?" Dora asked after Jenna and Michelle had called it a night.
"Sure," Harry replied.
"Good," she smiled, kissing him on the lips briefly. "Go get a change of clothes and meet me in my dorm."
Getting to her feet, she gave him a wink before turning and walking over to the entrance of the girls' dorm. Harry grinned as he got to his feet and quickly made his way up the stairs to the boys' dorm. His dormmates gave him knowing looks as he dug through his trunk for a change of clothes. Once he had everything he needed, Harry walked back down to the common room. Several of the older students snickered and giggled as they watched him enter the girls' dorm.
He ignored the stairs, which he'd been warned were charmed with an alarm that led to the younger dorms, and instead turned right. Finding the door with a bronze plaque that marked it for seventh years, he turned the handle and peeked inside. He smirked when he spotted Dora bent over at the waist, digging through her trunk in nothing but a T-shirt and a pair of bright purple panties. As the door clicked closed behind him, she looked back and smiled.
Her trunk closed with a thud when she turned around and trotted over to him with a grin. She kissed him passionately, throwing her arms around his neck before jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waist. Harry smiled against her lips as he spun her around and pinned her against the door. A moan escaped her lips when his pelvis ground against hers.
Letting one arm fall from around his neck, Dora groped blindly at the door until her hand landed on the lock, which she moved into place. The moment he heard the lock engage, Harry pulled her away from the door and carried her to the nearest bed. Tossing her onto the mattress, where she bounced and giggled, he quickly undid the top three buttons of his shirt, loosened his tie, and pulled it up over his head.
Dora ran her hand up his chest, cupped the back of his neck, and pulled him down for a kiss. With a quick buck of her hips, she rolled them over so she was on top, her knees on either side of his hips. Gazing down at him with a smirk, she pulled her shirt over her head, freeing her large, perky breasts, and tossed it carelessly to the floor. Harry impatiently reached up to cup the right one, his thumb caressing her light pink nipple.
Bending down to give him another kiss, Dora slid back until her feet were on the floor and dropped into a crouch. Harry sat up on his elbows as her fingers deftly unbuckled his belt. When she tugged at his pants, he lifted his hips, and she pulled them down his legs. His boxers joined them a moment later, allowing his swollen manhood to lay against his thigh impressively. Dora bit her lip as she gazed at it, arousal burning in her hazel eyes.
Quickly, she lifted her eyes to meet his and straddled his hips. Harry cupped both of her breasts, squeezing them firmly as her lips crashed against his. They groaned in unison when she ground against his rapidly hardening length, her hips rolling with barely constrained need despite the fact they'd met for a quick tryst in a broom cupboard earlier that day.
With a moan, Dora braced her hands on his chest and sat up while rocking her hips incessantly. Raising herself, she placed his engorged head at her entrance and descended on his length with a long, loud groan. Harry barely let her settle before he rolled them over, pulled his hips back, and the forward hard. Dora arched her back with a gasp, her nails raking across his back. Quickly, he settled into her favorite pace, long, slow strokes that ground their pelvises together at the end. Her heels dug into the back of his thighs rhythmically, silently directing him to use the perfect speed.
"Harry," she whimpered, her face contorted beautifully.
He smiled down at her and began rolling his hips at the end of each thrust, grinding against her. Dora trembled, her head thrown back as she let out a guttural moan. Her skin flushed alluringly, and her muscles tensed the closer she got to her peak. Despite her heels urging him to move faster, he kept his pace, knowing the slow build would make her eventual climax better. Light, breathy whimpers left her parted, swollen lips as she started to squirm under him. One hand clawed at his back, leaving behind scarlet lines on his pale skin, while the other clutched at the hair on the back of his head.
When her hair started to change colors, he knew she was on the brink. Suddenly, he started pounding her into the mattress hard and fast. Dora's entire body locked up, her muscles clenched, her mouth and eyes open wide, and her breath froze in her chest. She spasmed violently under him, almost as if trying to curl in on herself. Then, she twitched twice, her face buried in the crook of his neck, before flinging herself back against the mattress with a wail.
Harry grunted, his eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head as her depths tightened and spasmed around him. It was a feeling utterly unique to Dora, and no matter how much he wanted to keep going, it always shattered his resolve. Growling in the back of his throat, he hooked the back of her knees with his arm, folding her body in half, and began pounding down into her fluttering depths with animalistic fervor.
Dora's eyes flew open, now bright blue, and pinned him with a gaze that begged for him to finish inside of her. With a groan, Harry buried himself as deep as possible a moment before he erupted. Yanking his head down, she kissed him passionately between heavy, panting breaths as he flooded her depths. Dora groaned contentedly below him and caressed his back until, eventually, he collapsed on top of her. It took a minute for him to catch his breath before he rolled over onto his back, where she curled up against his side, her head resting on his chest.
"This is going to be the best year ever," Dora grinned.
Smiling, Harry kissed the top of her and lightly caressed her soft, smooth skin.
Fleur Delacour wrapped her cloak tightly around her body as she stepped out of the Beauxbatons carriage and onto the Hogwarts lawn. The weather was chilly compared to what she was used to, and the sun was hidden behind a thick layer of clouds, but Hogwarts Castle stood tall and imposing behind the students, waiting to greet them. It was certainly large—much larger than it needed to be for the number of students it housed.
"Dumblydore," Madam Maxime said as the headmaster took her hand and kissed the back of it.
"Good evening, Olympe," Dumbledore greeted her warmly. "I trust your trip was pleasant."
"Oui," Madam Maxime replied.
Fleur tuned out their small talk as she felt the eyes of the Hogwarts students on her and her classmates. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to ward off their gazes. Before coming here, she knew the boys in England would react strongly to her, likely having never seen a Veela before, but some of them weren't even trying. She wasn't sure what was worse, the boys who were practically droll or the ones who gazed at her like a piece of meat.
At least she wasn't the only one. They were staring at all of the Beauxbatons students like that, and most of them weren't even Veela.
"Look!" one of the Hogwarts students suddenly shouted.
Everyone looked to where the young boy was excitedly pointed. Fleur blinked, impressed, as a flying train wound around one of the mountains and quickly approached Hogwarts. As it neared the school, it quickly descended toward the ground and began to slow. It came to a stop with a loud hiss, steam billowing from the engine car. A Pukwudgie, the first she had ever seen in person, leaned out of the window while pulling a lever next to him. Stairs, cleverly folded against each of the four cars the train was pulling, slid into place as the students stepped out onto the lawn.
Gazing at Hogwarts, they talked loudly and excitedly. They even began smiling and waving at the Hogwarts and Beauxbatons students in that typical, overly familiar, American way.
Still, it was better than being stared at like a Parisian whore, Fleur decided.
The last to step off the train was an elderly woman in fine blue robes who hobbled along with the assistance of a staff. One of the Ilvermorny boys spotted her and rushed to give her a hand down the steps. The students quickly formed behind her as she hobbled over to Dumbledore, who smiled brightly.
"Esmerelda, it's been far too long since you've graced us with your presence," he said, taking her hand, kissing the back of it, and clasping it in a friendly manner.
"Not all of us have aged as gracefully as you, Albus," she responded with a teasing smile.
"Shall we take the students inside?" Dumbledore asked.
One of the Hogwarts professors, a tall woman with her brown hair tied up in a tight bun, motioned back to the castle. The Hogwarts students turned around and headed back to the castle while the Beauxbatons and Ilvermorny students followed after them. Walking through the Entrance Hall, they entered the Great Hall. Fleur looked up at the ceiling and had to admit that the charms work was rather impressive. It was just too bad they had such terrible weather.
"Please, feel free to sit wherever you like," Dumbledore said as he and the headmistresses entered behind them.
The Ilvermorny students quickly chose to join the Gryffindor table while the Beauxbatons gazed around for a moment before deciding to sit with the Ravenclaws.
"Is it true Harry Potter goes to your school?" Fleur heard a young boy ask excitedly behind her.
Smiling to herself, she settled in and greeted the students around her.
Just over twenty-four hours later, Fleur was back in the Great Hall, waiting anxiously for the Champions to be chosen. Her nerves had completely ruined her appetite, though she did her best not to show it. Munching on a baguette, she listened to the students around her debate about who would be chosen.
To her, it seemed pretty clear who the best candidates were. From Hogwarts, there was Cedric Diggory and Roger Davies. From Ilvermorny, Amanda Wilkes and Ryan Hart seemed like the best students. And among the Beauxbatons delegates, Fleur knew her only real competition was Marie Auclair. She was smart, immensely so, but Fleur knew she had more practical experience. It all depended on how the Goblet decided on the best candidate.
Was it based on potential or those it thought had the best chance to win?
Just then, the Goblet's cool blue flame grew, silencing the Great Hall and causing everyone to turn and stare in anticipation.
"It appears the Goblet is ready to choose," Dumbledore said.
Standing, he walked over to the Goblet. A moment later, the flames flared bright red, and a folded piece of parchment fluttered like a leaf until he snatched it out of the air.
"The Champion for Hogwarts is… Cedric Diggory!"
Cedric smiled handsomely as his classmates cheered loudly. Walking to the front of the hall, he shook the headmaster's hand and stood next to his head of house, who beamed proudly. Just as the applause was coming to an end, the Goblet spat out a second piece of parchment.
"The Champion for Beauxbatons is… Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore announced.
Fleur let out a sigh of relief as she got to her feet. Her classmates clapped and cheered while she walked to the front of the hall and took her place in front of a smiling Madam Maxime. The clapping ended sooner for her than it had for Cedric, and there was a long, tense silence for several seconds before the Goblet flared to life for the third and final time.
"And the Champion for Ilvermorny is…"
Dumbledore unfolded the paper, and his white, bushy eyebrows rose sharply on his wrinkled forehead. He was silent for a long moment, and Fleur knew something was wrong. The rest of the students picked up on that when, instead of announcing the name, he walked over to Headmistress Turner and showed it to her. Her brow furrowed with confusion and concern. She shared a long, meaningful glance with Dumbledore before subtly nodding.
"The Champion for Ilvermorny is… Harry Potter."
Chapter 17
Harry and Dora had just sat down to breakfast at the Thunderbird table when Professor Wilkinson approached them with a frown on his face.
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Tonks, I need you to come with me," he said.
Harry shared a look with Dora and shrugged at his questioning look. He hadn't done anything to get in trouble yet this year. Taking a quick sip of the coffee he'd just poured himself, he got to his feet.
"Something wrong, professor?" Harry asked as he and Dora followed him out of the Great Hall.
"I think it would be best if I let Professor Turner explain," he replied.
"She's here?" Harry asked, sharing a surprised and worried glance with Dora. "I thought she was at Hogwarts."
"She was," Professor Wilkinson nodded.
He didn't explain further, and Harry knew asking wouldn't get him any answers until they got to Professor Turner's office. Dora took his hand in hers as they silently walked the short distance to the headmistress' office. When they got close, he could hear shouting from inside. It sounded like Sirius, but his voice was too muffled to make out what he was saying until Professor Wilkinson opened the door.
"How the hell did something like this happen?" Sirius demanded angrily.
Harry stepped inside and quickly looked around the office. Sirius was pacing back and forth agitatedly in front of the Floo while Aunt Andi looked angrier than he'd ever seen before. Professor Turner sat at her desk, a troubled look on her face. But it was the man standing next to her, taking the brunt of Sirius' ire, that caused Harry concern. There weren't many reasons for Albus Dumbledore to visit Ilvermorny, especially when the Triwizard Tournament happening at Hogwarts.
"How could you let something like this happen!?" Sirius shouted.
"I understand your anger, Sirius, and I'm doing everything I can to find the culprit," Dumbledore replied.
"Bullshit!" Sirius yelled.
"What's going on?" Harry asked before Sirius could continue.
There was a brief moment of silence as Professor Turner, Dumbledore, and Sirius all looked at each other as if to decide who would break the bad news. Eventually, Sirius took a deep breath and crossed his arms over his chest to calm himself.
"Your name came out of the Goblet of Fire," he said heavily.
"The what?" Harry asked.
"The Goblet of Fire is an ancient magical artifact used to determine the Champions for the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore explained. "It creates a magically binding contract between itself and those who enter their names. Anyone chosen to compete must do so or risk losing their magic."
"What moron thought it was a good idea to use that?" Harry asked incredulously while Dora clutched his hand tightly.
"It was used for centuries," Professor Turner said before Dumbledore could respond. "I would assume that the British Ministry of Magic simply decided not to change how the Champions are selected. However, while I've never studied the Goblet of Fire, it seems unlikely that it would allow someone who did not enter their name themselves to be bound to a contract."
"Under normal circumstances, you would be correct," Dumbledore replied. "The Goblet would normally reject such an attempt."
"Then how did it happen?" Sirius demanded angrily.
"Someone tampered with the Goblet," Dumbledore sighed. "Filius is examining it as we speak to determine precisely how."
"And you believe that tampering was enough to enter Harry into a contract against his will?" Professor Turner asked.
"It seems unlikely," Dumbledore admitted. "Durning my brief examination, it appeared that the culprit used a simple Confundus Charm to trick the Goblet into accepting his name. But that does not mean it would be impossible, merely difficult. I do not believe it is worth the risk to Harry's magic to ignore the possibility that someone managed to forge a contract between him and the Goblet."
"He's not competing," Sirius said firmly.
"Could you give us a couple of minutes?" Harry asked.
Sirius looked at him sharply, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. Marching over to Harry, he grabbed him roughly by the arm and dragged him over to the corner of the office, where he promptly set up a Silencing Charm.
"Tell me you did not enter your name," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Of course, I didn't," Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Harry," Sirius said warningly, his head tilting slightly to the side.
"I didn't enter," Harry insisted.
Sirius stared at him for a long moment before nodding his head.
"Alright," he said. "Then what did you want to talk about?"
"This doesn't sit right with me," Harry said. "First, Nott shows up out of nowhere, then Death Eaters show up at the World Cup, and now my name gets entered in this tournament-"
"I know," Sirius interrupted. "Why do you think I'm trying to keep you out of this thing?"
"I don't think you can," Harry said.
"Look, if you're worried about losing your magic-"
"That's not it," Harry cut him off. "Well, maybe a little bit. I mean, I think we should go to England and see what's happening."
Sirius opened his mouth to interrupt, but Harry held up his hand to stop him.
"Look, if Voldemort is behind this, we can't keep hiding forever," he said.
"Voldemort's dead," Sirius said. "How could he be behind this?"
"I'm not stupid, Sirius," Harry protested. "I know they never found a body. And even if he is dead, one of his followers might have taken over. There's just too much happening to ignore this. Wouldn't it be better if we got involved and figured out what was happening instead of sitting around and waiting?"
Sirius shook his head, "I don't like this."
"Neither do I," Harry admitted. "But I like sitting around with a target on my back even less."
"Harry, this is probably nothing," Sirius said.
"And if it isn't?" Harry asked. "Look, if it's nothing, we pack up and come home."
"You're going to leave the Tournament just like that?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're not going to want to see it through?"
"Marauder's honor," Harry said, raising his hand.
Snorting, Sirius turned and sighed, staring out the window for a long moment. Eventually, he straightened his shoulder and dropped the Silencing Charm before marching over to Professor Turner's desk.
"I need to take the kids home with me," he said. "We need to have a family discussion about how we're going to handle this."
"Of course," Professor Turner nodded. "I take it that includes Jenna as well?"
"Yes," Sirius replied.
"Very well," Professor Turner said. "I'll let her professors know not to expect her."
Nodding, Sirius turned and made for the door. Harry noticed Dumbledore frown unhappily, but he made no move to stop them.
A few minutes later, Harry and his entire family were sitting around their kitchen table. Quickly, Sirius filled everyone in on what they'd talked about at Ilvermorny.
"As much as I hate to say it, Harry has a point," he admitted with a sigh. "It would be safer for all of us if we find out who's behind this and put an end to it as soon as possible."
Jenna glanced nervously at her mother, who reached over and rubbed her back gently. Andi looked furious, while Ted sat with a thoughtful look. Harry knew that Dora already supported his idea. She'd agreed with him when he filled her in the moment they left Professor Turner's office.
"So, you want to take Harry back to England?" Aunt Andi asked dangerously. "So they can, what? What can anyone possibly hope to accomplish by dragging him into this tournament?"
"We don't know," Sirius shrugged.
"That's why we should go," Harry said, looking at her earnestly.
"I agree with Harry," Dora said. "If we do nothing, they'll just try again, and it might be a lot worse."
Andi pursed her lips and sat back in her chair with her arm crossed over her chest.
"What are the chances that Harry's magic is actually at stake?" Ted asked softly.
"He's probably safe, but we can't rule it out completely," Sirius admitted.
"What about the government?" Ted asked. "How are they handling this?"
"Oh, they're furious," Sirius said. "MACUSA is raking Britain over the coals in the news for putting an American citizen in a deadly tournament against their will, and I'm sure they'll do the same thing in the ICW."
"So, you won't have trouble getting time off work?"
Sirius scoffed, "Time off? My boss called me into his office first thing this morning and asked me how many agents I wanted to take to Britain with me. They want me to head the investigation."
"Well, in that case, I think we should go," Ted said.
Everyone turned to look at Andi, awaiting her opinion. With a huff, she pinned Harry with a piercing gaze.
"You promise me that as soon as we know your magic isn't at risk and we find out who's behind this, you'll quit this tournament and come home?" she asked.
"I promise," Harry said.
Andi stared at him for a long moment before nodding. Sighing, Sirius dropped his head into his hands, scratched the top of his head, and then looked up at Marlene.
"I'll understand if you want to stay here," he said sadly.
"They already know I'm still alive," Marlene shrugged and looked at Jenna. "I'd feel safer being near you, but what about Jenna? Will she be able to go to Hogwarts?"
"If they want Harry there, they'll accept her," Sirius said.
"What about you, sweetheart?" Marlene asked her daughter. "You'll be safe at Ilvermorny, but I'd feel better if you were with us."
"I want to go with you," she said softly.
Smiling, Sirius patted her shoulder and turned to look around the table.
"Well, I guess that settles it then," he sighed. "We're going back to Britain."
"I'll have to make a few calls and make sure my clients are taken care of," Ted said, getting to his feet. "It's a good thing we kept the house in Dorset. We can add a couple of extra rooms if we need to."
"I'll get started packing," Andi said. "When do we leave?"
Fleur joined the students from all three schools as they marched out onto the front lawn of Hogwarts to await the arrival of the third Triwizard Champion. Surprisingly, the Ilvermorny contingent was just as excited as everyone else. She would have thought they would have been upset to lose the opportunity to compete to a fourth year, but Harry had such support from his classmates that they supported him wholeheartedly.
Privately, Fleur was glad Harry had managed to get himself involved. Whether through his own actions or not, she didn't care. The enigmatic young man intrigued her, and she was quickly starting to think of him as a friend. She was looking forward to competing against him again.
"Do you think he'll come on one of his brooms?" a tall, gangly redhead asked behind her.
"Don't be foolish, Ron," a girl with bushy brown hair scoffed. "I'm sure he'll just Apparate or Portkey."
"Do you think he'll sign my books?" an excitable boy asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Smiling to herself, Fleur listened to the wild speculation around her silently. They waited for a few more minutes before five figures appeared outside the front gate of Hogwarts. The excitement rose as they approached but turned to confusion when they got close. There was an older man with long, dark hair and a goatee, a short brunette, a younger woman, a tall black man with a bald head and a serious face, and an older woman with long, curly black hair and a striking face. More importantly, none of them was Harry.
"Mr. Black, Mrs. Tonks," McGonagall said as she and Dumbledore greeted the group. "Welcome back to Hogwarts. Ms. McKinnon, it does my old heart good to see you alive and well. We'd feared the worst when you disappeared."
"It's good to see you too, Minerva," the short brunette smiled. "This is my daughter, Jenna."
"A pleasure to meet you," Dumbledore smiled. "I hope you enjoy your time here at Hogwarts. Pardon my rudeness, but it appears you're two students short."
"Oh, Harry and Dora will be along in a minute," Sirius smiled. "They had to pick up something from home. This is Frank, by the way; he'll be assisting me with the investigation."
"Excellent," Dumbledore said, shaking the man's hand. "I'm sure Alastor will be glad to have your help."
"Moody's here?" Sirius asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"He's taken up the post for Defense Against the Dark Arts this year," Dumbledore replied. "I'm afraid we've had as little luck keeping a professor as we did when you were a student."
"Huh," Sirius said.
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a loud rumble of thunder. Looking up at the sky, Fleur frowned at the wall of dark clouds approaching the school and pulled her robes tightly around her body.
"Why does that boy always have to make an entrance?" Mrs. Tonks asked before turning to Professor McGonagall. "Minerva, I apologize in advance for the trouble Harry and my daughter cause while they're here."
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow questioningly, but someone shouted before Mrs. Tonks could say anything else.
"Look!"
Fleur strained her eyes as she looked at the cloud. When a flash of lightning lit up the sky, she noticed the black speck flying in front of it.
"No way," one of the Weasley twins breathed.
"Is that a motorcycle?" the other asked.
Sharing a look, they grinned.
"Wicked," they said in unison.
Fleur grinned as she watched Harry fly closer, and then she made out Tonks on the back, her purple hair whipping in the wind. As he began to descend, a massive grey and white Thunderbird burst from the cloud and followed him. The students around her gasped in shock, and though she knew he had one, even Fleur was struck by just how large and majestic it looked.
Landing on the dirt road just outside the front gate, Harry drove the motorcycle up to the school and stopped next to Sirius. A moment later, the Thunderbird landed behind Harry, spread out her wings, and cried loudly.
"Sorry I'm late," Harry smiled, climbing off the bike and holding out his hand to help Tonks dismount. "Levina stopped to snack on a sheep on the way here."
"Please tell me you weren't seen," Mrs. Tonks sighed.
"'Course not," Harry said, waving away the concern. "I used wards, and yes, I left some money behind to pay for it."
"Mr. Potter, Ms. Tonks, welcome to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said, smiling. "And what a magnificent creature. What's her name?"
"Levina," Harry said. "I hope you don't mind if she stays. She's gotten used to going to school with me, and I don't think I could get her to stay home if I wanted to."
"Oh, that won't be a problem," Dumbledore said. "I'm sure Hagrid will be happy to have her on the grounds."
A loud, musical cry interrupted the conversation, and everyone looked up as the headmaster's Phoenix flew down from the castle and landed on the handlebars of the motorcycle, facing the towering Thunderbird. They stared at each other and cocked their heads in opposite directions. A moment later, the Phoenix took to the air, pecked the Thunderbird lightly on the top of the head, chirped, and then took off in the opposite direction.
"I apologize," Dumbledore said. "Fawkes had his burning day not too long ago. I'm afraid he's going through his adolescent phase."
Clacking her beak, Levina flew after Fawkes. For such a large bird, she was surprisingly agile. In a few seconds, she'd caught up to the Phoenix and playfully tugged at his tail feathers with her beak. Then, she turned around, and the Phoenix chased the Thunderbird. The students watched as the two mythical birds disappeared around the side of the castle.
"What are they doing?" Mrs. Tonks asked.
"Playing tag," Harry shrugged.
Dumbledore chuckled, his eye twinkling, and then made a gesture toward the castle.
"Shall we head inside?" he asked.
Sirius nodded, and the group walked past the students and up to the castle. As they passed her, Harry and Dora noticed Fleur and gave her a friendly wave. Fleur waved back and then followed the rest of her classmates as they returned to the Great Hall.
"Is he always like that?" one of the older Hogwarts students asked an Ilvermorny student.
"This?" the boy scoffed. "This is nothing. Harry's just getting started."
Shaking her head, Fleur sat down with her friends while Harry was soundly welcomed by his Ilvermorny classmates. They made eye contact as she looked at him, and he waved her over. Hesitating for just a moment, she made an excuse to her friends and moved over to the Gryffindor table to join him.
"Hey, Fleur," Harry smiled. "Good to see you again."
"Bonjour, 'Arry, Tonks," Fleur said, smiling at the other girl as she possessively clutched Harry's arm.
"Hey," Tonks said. "So, who's the Hogwarts Champion?"
"Cedric Diggory," Fleur replied, looking over her shoulder and pointing to the handsome young man at the Hufflepuff table.
"Hey, Cedric!" Harry yelled.
The entire hall came to a standstill as they watched him curiously, but Harry ignored the attention he received. He waved Cedric over the same way he had with Fleur. As the Hufflepuff got to his feet, the hall returned to normal. Harry stood as Cedric approached and shook his hand across the table.
"Hey, I'm Harry," he said with a smile.
"Cedric Diggory," Cedric responded in kind before taking a seat. "Welcome to Hogwarts. That was a heck of an entrance you made."
"Well, I'd hate to disappoint," Harry grinned. "This is my girlfriend, Tonks, and this is Jenna."
"Pleasure," Cedric said, nodding to them politely.
"Well, well, if it isn't the great Harry Potter."
Fleur frowned at the Slytherin boy standing behind Harry and slightly to the left. She'd quickly learned to avoid anyone from the house of snakes after hearing many of them make disparaging remarks about her heritage. The boy had slicked-back blonde hair and a sneer on his pale face, while a girl with a rather unfortunate nose stood beside him. Glancing at Fleur, his pale grey eye clouded over momentarily before he shook his head and turned back to Harry.
"Yep," Harry said, looking at the boy. "And you are?"
"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he said, puffing out his chest with self-importance.
"Look, Malfoy, it's nice to meet you and all that, but I'd like to finish my dinner before I start signing autographs," Harry said.
Tonks, Jenna, Fleur, and Cedric, stifled their laughter as the boy's cheek turned pink with anger.
"I'm not here for an autograph," Malfoy spat, straightening his robes as he got his anger under control. "I just came here to give you some advice."
"Oh, by all means," Harry said, turning away and beginning to load food on his plate.
"I know you come from America, but things are different here in Britain. Some families are more important than others. You wouldn't want to be seen with the wrong sort," he said, glancing at a girl with bushy brown hair and her nose buried in a book. "I can help you there."
"I don't buy into that blood purity bull shit if that's what you're talking about," Harry said dismissively.
"Clearly," Malfoy sneered, his mask of civility dropping as he glanced from Fleur to Tonks and Jenna and wrinkled his nose.
"Finished?" Harry asked disinterestedly before completely ignoring him without waiting for an answer.
Malfoy fumed silently, and as he opened his mouth to speak, Fleur knew without a doubt that the next words out of his mouth would be a mistake.
"I'm surprised you had the courage to come back to Britain, you know," Malfoy said, trying and failing to sound casual. "It would be a pity if you lost your family twice."
Suddenly, Harry's elbow flew back and hit Malfoy hard in the stomach. The wind was knocked from his lungs, and his eyes bulged as he doubled over in pain. Before he could even try to inhale, Harry grabbed his hanging green tie and yank down. Malfoy's face met the solid wood table with a tremendous thud, and he slumped to the floor, his hand clutching his bleeding nose.
"Potter!" Professor Snape shouted.
Fleur blinked as she watched Snape, the headmasters, and Harry's family descend from the head table. Glancing at her, Harry winked before turning to face the furious Potions Professor.
"One hundred points from Gryffindor and a month's detention," he spat, his dark eyes glittering maliciously.
"I'm not a Gryffindor," Harry said, looking confused.
Snape puffed up his chest, ready to respond angrily, when Professor Turner hobbled to the front.
"Please explain, Mr. Potter," she said, leaning on her staff.
"This guy came over here and made some spiel about Pureblood families being more important and then threatened my family," Harry said.
"It's true, professor," Cedric added. "He said it would be a pity if Harry lost his family twice."
"I see," Dumbledore said, patting Snape's shoulder as the man seethed silently. "How would you handle this at Ilvermorny, Esmerelda?"
"A week's detention for both," Professor Turner replied.
"I find that acceptable," Dumbledore nodded. "Severus, perhaps you should take Mr. Malfoy to see Madam Pomfrey."
Snape practically shook as he restrained himself from responding angrily, then spun on his heel, his cloak billowing.
"Malfoy, come!" he barked.
Without waiting for his students, he marched out of the Great Hall. The girl that had come with Malfoy helped him to his feet and helped him stagger after him.
"Mr. Potter, the next time a student threatens you, I advise you to tell one of the professors instead of taking matters into your own hands," Professor McGonagall said firmly.
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said.
Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Sirius turned and walked back to the Head Table, and the rest of the professors followed after him a moment later.
"Five minutes, Harry," Tonks sighed. "We've been here five minutes. That's a record, even for you."
"Yeah, but it was worth it," Harry grinned.