Family Visitation and A Small Altercation

(Y/N)'s POV

I reluctantly sat on the chair, "Woof" he looked up at me with a raised eyebrow "Why do you find it acceptable to storm out of my class?" "I don't know" I shrugged, he nodded, "Somehow, I don't doubt that" 

"I recommend the next time you have such an impulse, ignore it" he scowled, "Unless you enjoy being the centre of attention, giving everyone around you a reason to chatter endlessly." "Like they need a reason" I said bitterly.

"Now, for your punishment" He motioned over to a familiar chair in the corner of the room, even if this was a punishment I still wanted to protest "Professor I'm not really in the mood to be mentally attacked, can we do something else, I can stack vials and beakers or something." 

He frowned at me "Dumbledore has given me the task of preparing you for the tasks to come." He sighed, "While you are well versed in Occlumency, it is Legilimency that will be the focus today."

Then he did something I didn't expect, he strode over to the chair and sat down on it himself, "You may begin" I paused for a second, "Wait, I thought-" "Wrong, as usual" he sighed again, "But how is this a punishment, it seems more like practice." 

I could tell I was testing his patience "Well, how else will you be able to make yourself at least occasionally useful?" he said through gritted teeth, I didn't know if that was a compliment or an insult. 

Either way, maybe this was his attempt at an apology? I don't know. Snape messes with my head. Whenever he uses those long pauses I feel like I'm about to be cursed. We set up and I invaded his mind a few times.

Each time he gave me a more intense glare, until I got an idea. "Professor, can I try something, I've just had an idea that could be useful" he raised an eyebrow, "I would like to try entering your mind, but only to about 2 seconds ago." 

He looked at me confused, "If you must" he sneered, I was surprised he was so open to it, considering how private of a guy he is. Lowering his defence, I invaded his mind, I showed him his exact perspective of the conversation we just had, but this time, I overlapped myself in it.

It was like, I had spliced myself into an old movie, I was there, on top of the old memory, and from there, I could essentially replace myself, so the memory in his head played out differently, this time, instead of asking him about my new test, I changed it so in his memory, I got up and left.

In the real world I walked up behind him and stood there, our connection breaking, now if it worked, "I see your intention, I'm afraid you were unsuccessful, but it is an interesting use of your ability" he said, turning around.

"It is fair to say, anyone else, and you may have...succeeded." "Perhaps you are not entirely useless (L/N)" As I left another question pricked at my mind, "Professor, when you said, 'the coming tasks' you weren't just talking about the tournament were you?"

 He looked up at me, I could see sadness in his eyes, "We shall see." I collected my stuff and went back to the common room, was soon as I did, I was met with several people staring at me, "WHAT!" I shouted, they acted as if they were busy. 

Dennis Creevey got brave, shuffling his way towards me, "These are for you" he said, handing me some letters, I realised I should probably calm down, "Thanks Dennis" I smiled, he nodded and scurried off.

Harry's POV

Hermione continued to receive hate mail every day for a few weeks, (Y/N) sat beside her with a laugh, Insisting his "Incident" in potions was simply because he didn't want to sit near Millicent Bulstrode, and he insisted his mail was worse, they weren't threats exactly, but still very disturbing.

It was always something along the lines of, "I hope you are feeling better about your heartache, don't pay that girl any mind, if you need a shoulder to cry on, contact me" some even had enclosed information, or pictures of middle aged women, one even had a love potion. It was all very creepy.

Of course, he milked it for all it was worth, at breakfast every day he would set fire to the letters, making a big spectacle of it. Eventually, everyone got bored of teasing us, there was more interesting things going on, the third task for example.

As the day came closer me and (Y/N) were escorted to the Quidditch pitch, only to find several plants growing in the middle. "They're hedges!" I said, bending to examine the nearest one "Gardening is the last task, I was expecting more" (Y/N) smirked. 

"Hello there!" called a cheery voice. Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum and Fleur, (Y/N) picked up a stone and lobbed it at either Bagman or Krum, it was hard to tell.

We made our way toward them, climbing over the hedges. Fleur beamed at us as we came nearer. Her attitude toward us had changed completely since we had saved her sister from the lake. 

"Well, what d'you think?" said Bagman happily. "Growing nicely, aren't they. Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry," he added, grinning, "you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over!" 

"Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?" "a mess" (Y/N) muttered, then no one spoke for a moment. Then... "Maze," grunted Krum. "That's right!" said Bagman. "A maze. The third task's very straightforward." 

"The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the centre of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks." "We seemply 'ave to get through the maze?" said Fleur. "There will be obstacles," said Bagman happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet. 

"Hagrid is providing a number of creatures . . . then there will be spells that must be broken . . . all that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze." 

Bagman grinned at me and Cedric. "Then Mr. Krum will enter . . . then Miss Delacour and Mr. (L/N). But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?" 

"Sure" (Y/N) said, not sounding too impressed "Very well . . . if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly. . . ." Krum tapped me and (Y/N) on the shoulder. "Could I haff a vord?" 

"Yeah, all right," I shrugged, slightly surprised, "Sure" (Y/N) sighed. "Vill you valk vith me?" "Okay," I said curiously. Me, (Y/N) and Krum left the stadium together, but Krum did not set a course for the Durmstrang ship.

"What're we going this way for?" I asked as we passed Hagrid's cabin and the illuminated Beauxbatons carriage. "Don't vant to be overheard," said Krum shortly. "I vant to know," he said, glowering, "vot there is between you and Hermy-own-ninny."

(Y/N) snorted at his pronunciation and then glared, "Whats it to you?" he barked, quickly I said "Nothing," But Krum glowered at him, it suddenly dawned on me how tall Krum was, not that it was that impressive compared to (Y/N).

I elaborated. "We're friends. She's not my girlfriend and she never has been. It's just that Skeeter woman making things up." Krum nodded, "Skeeter is just stirring the pot, nothing's going on, well...nothing that concerns you" (Y/N) added.

Krum then pointed to (Y/N) "Hermy-own-ninny talks about you very often," said Krum, looking suspiciously at (Y/N). (Y/N) smirked, "Well, do you blame her? I am pretty cool" they looked ready to fight so I intervened "Yeah," said Harry, "because we're friends." "Yeah, good friends...very good friends" (Y/N) said with a smug look on his face, Krum frowned.

He turned back to me "You haff never . . . you haff not . . ." "No," I said very firmly. "Why is it any of your business anyway? What are you? her keeper?" then he nudged me "Get it, because, Quidditch" "I am a seeker!" said Krum defiantly. 

"Then I think you should keep looking" Proclaimed (Y/N) like that meant something, I was utterly lost, but Krum bit his bottom lip in frustration and (Y/N) gave one of the widest smiles I've ever seen.

Then he checked his watch and started to walk off, "I have to feed Bones" he claimed, but I could have sworn I saw him feed her before we came here. Krum stared at me for a few seconds "His cat" I explained, Krum nodded, then said.

"You fly very vell. I vos votching at the first task." "Thanks," I said sheepishly, grinning broadly and suddenly feeling much taller myself. "I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup. The Wronski Feint, you really-"

(Y/N)'s POV

Well, didn't expect that. Still, gloating to Vicky was a lot more fun then I thought it would be. Whatever, I have the task to focus on now, I went back to Ron and Hermione to explain everything we saw. 

We spent the next few hours doing our own thing, I was practising stunning spells on a nearby pillow, Ron was snoring, and Hermione was reading a book next to me. After a few hours of peaceful silence, only broken by the odd snore, Harry came barging into the room, talking a mile a minute.

Once we got him to slow down he explained. After I left Crouch appeared, talking nonsense about the dark lord rising again, then Dumbledore arrived. Taking Harry to his office, from there Harry used Dumbledore's pensieve.

 Everything Harry had seen in the Pensieve he shared with Ron, Hermione and me, and, of course, with Sirius, to whom Harry had sent an owl the moment he had left Dumbledore's office. We sat up late in the common room once again that night, talking it all over until it made sense.

Ron stared into the common room fire. It was hard to believe, even with the amount of detail he used to describe Karkaroffs trial, as well as Barty Crouch Jr being a death eater, among others, including our potions master.

"Dumbledore reckons You-Know-Who's getting stronger again as well?" Ron whispered. "And he trusts Snape?" Ron said. "He really trusts Snape, even though he knows he was a Death Eater?" "Yes," said Harry. 

"Well, I'm pretty sure Dumbledore of all people can tell if someone is bad, so I don't mind it, he might be a bit bitter, but that doesn't mean he's still a death eater" I reasoned, mum had told me plenty of stories of reformed criminals.

The next few days were spent practicing, since we didn't know what we would find in the maze me and Harry just tried every spell we knew, I helped him with stunning spells, he helped me with disarming spells. 

We made a promise to each other, "May the best man or woman win, no hard feelings either way...unless it was Krum" Hermione didn't like that last bit, but it really helped calm our nerves. As the weeks drew on even Hermione seemed to be in a better mood.

She had supposedly made a breakthrough on her quest for revenge against Rita Skeeter, plus she was doing well in her exams, which was something Harry and I didn't even consider, and meant we often practised alone in the common room or empty classrooms, which of course led to some new rumours, lets say, soon Hermione would be fighting me for Harry's favour.

Before we knew it, the day was here. Professor McGonagall strolled down to our table at breakfast, I smiled at her widely, thinking she was going to give us some encouragement, she returned it, but clearly had a message that she had to deliver "(L/N), Potter, the champions are congregating in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast," she said.

"But the task's not 'till tonight!" said Harry, accidentally spilling scrambled eggs down his front, obviously afraid he had mistaken the time. "I'm aware of that, Potter," she said. "The champions' families are invited to watch the final task, you know. This is simply a chance for you to greet them."

"Really?" I said, filled with the first bit of panic I've had in a while, the weight of the task being here finally settling in. She moved away. Harry gaped after her. "She doesn't expect the Dursleys to turn up, does she?" he asked Ron blankly. 

"Can you imagine, I bet at least one of them would faint" I laughed, "I'd pay to see that." So, after breakfast, I collected Bones from the dorm, figuring she'd like to see mum and dad too. As I opened the door to the chamber, I was immediately crushed. My lungs almost bursting out my mouth.

 Immediately I knew what was happening, "Hi Mum..." I strained, she released me from her death grip of a hug and I smiled down at her, "Hello love, have you grown again?" I shook my head, "No, I checked, have you shrunk?" she giggled, as did I.

Then she saw Bones on my shoulder, immediately cooing over her, " Ohhh, hello my lovely, how are you..." she scooped the cat up and held her like a baby, only to be met with loud purring.  "Hello son" said a different voice, sounding a bit more timid.

I turned to see dad, stood next to me and shifting awkwardly, but still smiling brightly, we shared a hug, it was a little awkward, but that's why I liked it, we didn't do it enough. "Me and your mother have just been catching up, she was explaining to me how this is all supposed to work. Think you can manage it?" he asked.

Mum smacked his arm, his eyes widened, "well... you know what I mean." I nodded, "Sure, I reckon I could try my best" they both smiled at me, "Good, that's all I ever ask" he smiled. Bones then abruptly jumped onto his shoulder and wagged her tail in his face.

It was an odd habit she'd had for a while, I had no idea where she got it from. Dad sneezed violently as she did, mum let out a small giggle and stroked Bones, whispering something that sounded like "Good girl."

I looked at the room, Cedric and his parents were just inside the door. Viktor Krum was over in a corner, conversing with his dark-haired mother and father in rapid Bulgarian. He had inherited his father's hooked nose. 

On the other side of the room, Fleur was jabbering away in French to her mother. Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle, was holding her mother's hand. She waved at Harry and I, we waved back, grinning.

Then I saw Mrs. Weasley and Bill standing in front of the fireplace, beaming at him. "Surprise!" Mrs. Weasley said excitedly as he smiled broadly and walked over to us. "Thought we'd come and watch you, Harry!" She bent down and kissed him on the cheek. 

"And you (Y/N) of course dear" she clarified, I didn't mind, I knew being here for Harry was more important, I had mum and dad. We made our rounds, seeing the Weasleys, who were kind enough to come to support Harry and me, mum even made conversation in different languages with the Delacour's and Krum's.

That's when Mr Diggory got a little rude, talking to Harry. "Bet you're not feeling quite as full of yourself now Cedric's caught you up on points, are you?" "What?" said Harry. "Ignore him," said Cedric in a low voice to Harry, frowning after his father. 

"He's been angry ever since Rita Skeeter's article about the Triwizard Tournament — you know, when she made out you were the only Hogwarts champion." "Well, she just sucks at her job then, there are three of us" I said, Cedric nodded, Amos scoffed, mumbling something that sounded like, "Barely." 

There was a very clear pause, then surprisingly, Dad piped up "What was that?" he confronted Diggory, who seemed oddly offended, "well, everyone here knows who the real Hogwarts champion is." He stated proudly.

Dad took a step forward, towering over Diggory, looking at him rather threateningly, "Care to repeat that?" Mr Weasley got between the two. "Now, now, let's all calm down" said Mr Weasley. Dad just huffed, "Fine" and held out his hand for Diggory to shake.

They did, but I could tell Mr Diggory's hand was worse for wear after. "Beat him won't you (Y/N)" Dad whispered to me, I nodded, I looked over and noticed Mum already had a hand on her wand. She caught my eye and winked.

"Rita Skeeter goes out of her way to cause trouble, Amos!" Mrs. Weasley said angrily. "I would have thought you'd know that, working at the Ministry!" Mr. Diggory looked as though he was going to say something angry, but his wife laid a hand on his arm, and he merely shrugged and turned away.

More to stop any fights from breaking out we followed Harry as he gave the Weasleys a tour, Mum chipping in every so often with several stories and memories, a lot of which involved pranks and first-degree burns. 

We returned to the castle for lunch. "Mum — Bill!" said Ron, looking stunned, as he joined the Gryffindor table. "What're you doing here?" "Come to watch Harry in the last task!" said Mrs. Weasley brightly. "I must say, it makes a lovely change, not having to cook. How was your exam?" 

"Oh . . . okay," said Ron. "Couldn't remember all the goblin rebels' names, so I invented a few. It's all right," he said, helping himself to a Cornish pasty, while Mrs. Weasley looked stern, "they're all called stuff like Bodrod the Bearded and Urg the Unclean; it wasn't hard."

I just shrugged at mum, who was already eating, and dad who was staring, amazed at the Hogwarts ghosts, "Hey dad, ask that one why they call him, Nearly Headless Nick" I snickered, mum groaned, "(Y/N) Not wiwe i'm eatin'" was all I managed to make out. 

Then surprisingly McGonagall made her way over to the table, "(L/N) manners" was all she said, the second she did, mum straightened up and made a weird scared sounding noise, "Yes miss" she then clapped a hand over her mouth and blushed, much to my amusement, and everyone else's.

"Have you seen Mad Eye? I would like a chat" mum asked, I shrugged, "Preparing for the third task I'm afraid" McGonagall explained. Mum nodded, but seemed a little dejected, that was until Hermione sat down on the table.

As Mum saw Hermione, the subject changed, "So, what's this I hear about you having a "Beloved" now?" asked Mum, raising an eyebrow, even dad seemed curious. Both their eyes drifted to Hermione, who was talking to the Weasleys.

"Mum that's-" I started, she looked to dad, "Its time," then he put a hand on my shoulder and nodded, "You see son, when two people love each other-" "DAD, NO!" I shouted, drawing the attention of everyone present.

They broke into laughter, finding the whole thing very funny, I muttered some curses, mum frowned at me "Language!" then she smirked, "We were just joking sweetie, we know that old bat couldn't tell the truth if she drank Veritiserum with every meal."

 she smiled, but she looked at Hermione, "How's it going?" she asked in a hushed whisper, "Mum what are you talking about Hermione's just-" "(Y/N) I'm not blind dear." She interrupted, I huffed and then murmured. "I'm working on it" I said, facepalming, she nodded, "That's my boy."

She continued "Ohhh if I ever get my hands on that Skeeter woman..." she trailed off, but made a motion that was very violent and reminded me of Ron. "That's the reporter, right?" said Dad, when Mum nodded, he scowled, which was very odd for him, "Get in line."

A thought occurred "Hey mum, can we hire a house elf?" she looked utterly shocked "Sorry sweetie, I don't plan on on owning any slaves" she said firmly "No, we can pay her!" mum sighed "With what money?" I thought for a second. 

"If I win we can use that, if I don't she can...have my pocket money" mum gave me an odd look. "Where's this coming from?" "Her name is Winky, you've met her before, she lives in Hogwarts and Dumbledore hired her."

"The elf with the stolen wand from the world cup? She was Bagman's weren't she? god rest him." She asked, I nodded, she shook her head, dad cut in "(Y/N), if we've told you once, we've told you a thousand times, you can't adopt every stray animal you see."

"Not an animal-" Mum corrected, "And not a stray!" I insisted, "I think she might get lonely over the summer so maybe she she can work for us then and at Hogwarts when school starts again" I laid out my plan. Mum still seemed reluctant, "She's my friend! and she's really sad-"

An announcement cut me off "Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now."

"Love ya both" I said, kissing mum on the cheek and hugging dad. Me and Harry got up. The Gryffindors all along the table were applauding us; the Weasleys and Hermione all wished us good luck, as well as mum and dad, and we headed off out of the Great Hall with Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor.

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