Tuesday, June 22, 1995 – Morning
The morning messages in the Merlin House journals were good news.
The move to Paris was finally arranged. Professor Dawes made several visits to inspect former government buildings which could be the new home for Merlin House. Alain Delacour produced a gem. It was hidden from the main roads. It was located in the 16th Arrondissement.
The house had been almost a palace three hundred years ago. Now, all the surrounding gardens had been subdivided and built over. There were some tiny patches of garden left. The much later buildings crowded up to the ancient walls of the house. The neighbouring buildings and the narrow streets hid the size and grandeur of the house. It could not be demolished and had so many odd corners that modernizing the internal layout was out of the question. Governments had no use for it and were glad to find a new owner. It was a short walk to the Bois de Boulogne and in the other direction to the Champs Elysée. Astoria approved of the location.
It was perfect for L’École De Haute Magie. Enough of the building was habitable for the students to move in now. The summer break was enough time to have the building entirely renovated.
Wednesday, June 23, 1995 – Evening
As a prisoner in Azkaban, Sirius had changed how he thought to survive. He told Harry to change the way he thought.
It became plain to Harry over the next days that he was a prisoner too. Trapped in a life he didn’t ask for. Trapped by the plans that other people made for him.
The prophecy didn’t trap him, the way it was interpreted trapped him in the plans of Dumbledore and Tom Riddle. He could escape by running away. They would track him down and make him a puppet hero and victim again.
The third task was tomorrow. Harry tried to reduce the wave of disgust that the Ministry, Rita Skeeter and The Daily Prophet had stored up for him.
The champions met secretly.
“There is something that I have to ask you to do for me.”
“Sure Harry! Anything within reason. I won’t suddenly become Draco Malfoy’s best buddy.” Cedric laughed.
“No! No! Not that!” Harry gave the group a big smile.
Too late anyway. If Draco and Pansy get into trouble, my inconvenient sense of honour might force me to save them, again.
“When the Tournament is over, I want you all to forget that we co-operated in any way. I don’t want any of you tainted in the smear campaign that the Ministry and the Daily Prophet is going to launch against me.” Harry was grim faced.
“What are we to say? I have seen the lies in that British rag. They hate you, then they ignore you, then they hate you again.” Fleur said with her best indignation.
Harry frowned. “Say that I was a competitor. Say that I didn’t talk much. The less you say, the better for me and for you.”
Viktor placed his heavy hand on Harry’s shoulder. “You have acted with honour for the whole tournament. I am still attacked by shame that I harmed the dragon in the first task, and that I caused the destruction of some of her eggs. I could have done something much less dangerous, but I let myself act as though the creature would kill me. You had a conversation with your dragon. I was so ashamed.”
“You saved my life, you made sure Gabrielle was saved and you let me finish in front of you. I don’t care if you say there is no debt. I am indebted to you.” Fleur declared.
“I am indebted to you Harry. I would have gone into the first task with no preparation if you didn’t send me that note.” Cedric placed his hand on Harry’s arm.
Harry hung his head; he was not used to people complimenting him.
“Please don’t say anything to anyone about me. I plan to fade into the background. I will let you in on a little secret. I’m nearly crazy. If it wasn’t for the Gods of Olympus butting in when they did, I would be gone by now. My story would have finished, probably in a messy way.”
“Harry, don’t talk like that!” Cedric nearly shouted.
“I’m better than I was. Professor Dawes helps me a lot. The Merlin House guys are great.”
Harry took a breath.
“This is bad. I’m pretty sure they were told to watch me. Keep me away from high places, never leave me alone, that sort of thing.” Harry looked at the Champions.
They were horrified.
“You see if I’m depressed then I’m really depressed. I don’t talk when I should. I keep things secret that I should talk about.” Harry paused.
“Then, usually without warning, I’m volcano Harry. All this stuff comes flying out of my mouth which I haven’t thought about for a fraction of a second. Occasionally, if the mood isn’t angry then I’m hyper. I’m elated, off the scale, and I say and do things which I will regret. Up till now, I’ve been allowed to get away with it because I’m underage. Not anymore.”
“Dumbledore, the Ministry people, do they know this?” Fleur asked.
“They never asked. I would never tell them anyway. I don’t trust any of them.”
“What are you going to do tomorrow?” Viktor asked.
“I’m going to do what my Godfather suggested. I’m going wait for my turn to start. Then I will jog to the maze entrance. Then I will walk to the first corner, step around it and sit down. I will wait there for the winner to be announced. Then I will be free to get out of here forever.”
Cedric frowned. “Who is your godfather?”
“Sirius Black”
“The mass murderer?” Cedric’s eyes were wide open.
“He was falsely imprisoned. There was no trial. We gave evidence to Fudge that Pettigrew, the man Sirius was supposed to have murdered is still alive. Fudge ignored us.” Harry was now intensely uncomfortable.
“Please remember; you don’t know anything about me, even for people who say they were my friends.”
“Please, try not to get yourself killed tomorrow. I have to get back.” Harry left their Beaubatons carriage room.
Cedric and Harry walked back to the castle together. A shadow moved in the shadows.
Cedric spoke first, “Malfoy, what do you want?”
Malfoy ignored Cedric, “Harry, Snape is gone. His things are gone from his rooms. He has run away.”
Harry stopped; he was momentarily stunned.
“OK. Get back to your common room, act all innocent.” Harry replied.
“HA! HAHAHAHA!
Harry mumbled, “Yeah, all right, Draco, big joke; shut up and get moving.”
Malfoy disappeared into the night.
Cedric stared at Harry.
“Since when are you and Malfoy on first name terms.”
“I have some powerful friends. Sometimes they change things that need to be changed.” Harry walked on.
“Right, no matter what happens, I’m staying on your Christmas Card list.”
“OK, fine, just don’t talk about me.”
Shadows moved behind them.
Cedric tensed, “Are we being followed?”
Harry spoke quietly, “Yes, it’s Daphne and Tracey. Like I said, they don’t let me go anywhere alone.”
--ooOOoo—
Harry and his escort left Cedric at the stairs leading down to the Hufflepuff dormitories and continued towards Merlin Tower.
A voice called from behind. “Oi! Harry, wait up!”
Harry stopped. Daphne and Tracey moved to flank Harry. Their wands were in their hands and pointed at the newcomer.
Ron stopped and half turned as if to run away. “Whoa! Whoa! I’m not going to do anything.”
“What do you want Ron!” Harry snarked.
“I just want talk.” Ron quavered.
“OK! Talk!” Harry was angry.
“Without the wands and your guards please!”
“Sorry Ron, it’s a bad time. I’m expecting trouble. Daphne and Tracey are fine where they are.”
“Oh! Ah! I wanted to ask you if we could be friends again.” Ron was now quite pale.
Harry waited for long time. Ron started to edge away.
“We can be friends Ron.” Harry said quietly. “As long as I have got at least two people that I trust pointing their wands straight at you.”
Ron was side stepping away.
“You can tell Dumbledore that you tried. You know that his lemon drops are laced with loyalty potions.” Harry yelled at the retreating redhead.
Harry turned to Daphne and Tracey. “One day more and we are out of here.”
“Great!”
“Wonderful!”
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