Yuletide Blessing

Second Task

With the imposter captured and Moody recuperating in the hospital wing, Dumbledore was forced to find a substitute teacher, as he was unable to take that upon himself. Moody suggested "borrowing" one of the Aurors for a few weeks, until he regained his health. He also recommended a few names.

Madam Bones was not happy to lose an Auror, even if temporarily, but was aware of the importance of teaching defense properly. She chose a young auror for the task, hoping this would least affect her department.

Harry was quite happy when the new teacher introduced herself: "I'm your temporary defense teacher until Professor Moody recuperates from his illness. You may call me Tonks. And yes – I'm an Auror and a metamorphmagus. Now, open your books at..."

Tonks proved to be a decent teacher and a lot of fun, using her special ability to make her students more attentive. Both Harry and Hermione liked her at once, as did most students, despite having to work hard in her class. They felt they were really learning something useful.

This didn't mean they forgot the second task. As it was going to take place at the lake, and even with his precautions, they were all bound to get wet and cold, Hermione insisted that Harry practice warming and drying charms as well as some that could keep the wind out, like an extended version of the bubble-head charm.

A few days before the event, they talked with Hogwarts again. "I want you to make sure that none of the hostages will be taken underwater. You should make it impossible for any of the participants to go deeper than three feet."

'Should I do it now?' they sensed the school.

"Yes, and keep it active until the day after the task. Do you have enough magic to hold the extended wards for almost a week?"

They didn't get a reply, but sensed some hesitance.

"We shall charge you a bit more," Harry said, sensing a kind of relief from the castle.

Hermione went first, charging the school with her magic for ten seconds. Harry followed her, making it twenty seconds, just to be sure. Both felt a bit more tired when they finished, but it was the end of a very tiring day anyway. This didn't stop them from showing their love to each other for another hour before falling asleep happy and sated.

With Harry's modification active, none of the hostages could be taken underwater, making Dumbledore fume. "Why are the hostages floating on the water?" he demanded to know.

The mer-people chieftain shrugged. "There's some magic keeping them out of water. Not even ten of my people together were able to pull anyone into the water. They are barely even wet!"

As much as he tried, the headmaster was unable to undo that magic. Well the second task would turn out much simpler than planned.

The morning of the task was cold and dreary. There was no rain, nor snow, but the wind was freezing. Still, the four champions had to stay in their swimsuits, expecting the task to take them underwater. Harry knew it wasn't the case, but just walking through knee deep water, was something best done with no heavy clothing.

It was so cold, that even seeing Fleur in a very skimpy swimsuit didn't help him feel warmer. She also looked like she was slowly freezing, despite the multiple warming charms she cast on herself. Harry felt that his warming and shielding charms were not enough either. Unsure about it, he tried to contact Hogwarts silently. 'Hogwarts, can you hear me?' he asked in thought only.

'Loud and clear, my Lord. Can I do anything for you?'

'Is it within your ability to make a warmer area around each champion. We're almost freezing.'

'Done, my Lord, and it doesn't require much magic either.'

Harry felt the warming immediately. It wasn't overly warm, though. He still needed his personal warming charms to feel comfortable, but he would not feel like he was freezing without them. The other champions felt the warming as well and welcomed it, although they believed it was the effect of their own charms.

Ludo Bagman now explained the task. "Each of you has a hostage floating at the centre of the lake. You have to free your hostage and return here within an hour. Good luck to you all!"

At the signal, Fleur cast a bubble-head charm on herself and jumped into the water, as did Cedric. Both were surprised to be stopped almost as soon as they reached the water, yet none let this stop them. Despite the magical bottom being less than three feet deep, they started swimming. Krum, who intended to use a partial transfiguration, was unsure about what to do. His planned strategy seemed unfit for the situation. He just renewed his warming charms and started running through the thighs-deep water, reaching a speed about equal to swimming in that shallow water.

Harry had a different strategy, one he had perfected after knowing that the wards would prevent anybody from going deeper than three feet. He first tried a summoning charm, although he didn't believe it would work. It didn't, as expected. Now he cast a charm on his feet, covering them with rough shoes. He then pointed his wand at the water, causing the upper layer to freeze hard enough to hold him. Keeping the freezing charm on, he started running, his rough shoes keeping him from sliding on the ice.

By the time he reached the lake's centre, the other champions were still quite a distance form it, yet he waited for them to arrive and free their hostages before he grabbed Ron, put him on a conjured sled and started running back, reaching the shore first.

Hermione was waiting for him with a warm embrace, a kiss and a coat. Ron, who was awakened from his magical slumber as they reached the shore, was taken to the medical tent for examination.

"That was magnificent!" Hermione whispered in his ear.

"You are magnificent," he replied, kissing her again.

Harry glanced at the judges table. They all seemed confused and angry, but the outcome was clear. He noticed Dumbledore looking suspiciously at him and turned away. He didn't think he needed to reveal more than he had already done.

The Gryffindor common room was full of celebrating students by the time "the golden trio" arrived, after Ron was released from the medical tent. "Our champion is the best!" some called. Harry only grimaced. He remembered that same room in a very different atmosphere after his name came out of the goblet. He liked being accepted, yet he disliked the way public opinion was swayed so easily.

Back in their room, Harry initiated another conversation with Hogwarts.

'My Lord, are you satisfied with the wards and the protection on the lake and on the champions?'

"I'm very satisfied and I want to thank you for assuring the safety and the well being of all the champions. I believe you helped the hostages as well, haven't you?"

'Yes, my Lord. The magic invoked by the headmaster was not enough to keep them safe from the frost-byte. I added some more warming to keep them safe.'

"I'm sure they would have thanked you had they known, as I'm thanking you. I may need your services again when I learn more about the third task."

'Always at your service, my Lord.'

Moody was released from the hospital wing a few days later, but it took another week before he started teaching, or resumed teaching, as most students believed. In a way, Harry felt that fake Moody was a better teacher, as real Moody didn't seem to like teaching very much, despite his excellent knowledge of the subject matter. Harry hoped that if Moody would not stay, Tonks would replace him, as he had grown quite appreciative of the young metamorph.

With the third task still far, they concentrated on their studies. Hermione kept helping Ron occasionally, but it was becoming less frequent. Instead, the Potters seemed to become much closer to Neville. Whenever he joined them for homework, he was contributing to the studies and not distracting from them, as Ron often did, resulting in better grades for both Harry and Neville.

"My Gran would like to invite you for Easter, if your plans allow for it," Neville told them.

"We have no plans. I thought we shall stay at school, as always," Harry said.

"Most students stay," Neville commented, "as it is only a few days and the train ride is too long, but you can skip the train and gain almost two full days, if you want."

"We may consider that," Harry said. "Did your Gran say why she wanted to meet us?"

"She said that your parents and mine used to be very good friends, and your grandparents had been her friends until they died. She seemed quite eager to get to know 'the next generation of Potter,' as she said."

Harry turned his glance at Hermione. She didn't seem to say anything, although she seemed to approve the idea. Harry turned back to Neville. "We'll be glad to accept her invitation. I hope she can also tell me some more about my parents."

Neville smiled. "I'm sure Gran would be delighted to tell."

Harry wasn't sure about the best way to travel. Neville suggested a portkey, as he intended to use, reminding Harry that as a Lord, he was fully authorized to create portkeys, yet Harry remembered how unpleasant the portkey ride had been during the summer. He didn't like the idea too much, and wasn't even sure he had the knowledge to create a portkey. He then remembered how Diggy had helped them after the winter vacation. He felt sure that she would like helping that way again.

Come Easter, Neville just stepped out of the Hogwarts gates and activated his portkey. The Potters didn't even walk that far. Harry called Diggy, who took them promptly to their apartment at Diagon Alley.

It turned into a very pleasant vacation. They stayed in the apartment for most of the day, studying the books in the library, enjoying Diggy's cooking and making love. In between, they also accepted a call from Longbottom Manor, officially inviting them for a visit the next afternoon. Shortly before dinner, Diggy took them to the Granger house, where Hermione's parents were happy to see the young couple, embracing Harry in just as tight a hug as they did with Hermione.

It was a new and welcome feeling to be loved by some adults, and Harry enjoyed the feeling as much as he could. The Granger couple was delighted to share dinner with the Potters and to get some more updates on what was happening at school. "Are you not concerned about the third task?" they asked.

"Not particularly," Harry responded. "Hermione found out that it was always a kind of maze with some obstacles. Due to my position as a Lord, I can safely demand that no life-threatening obstacles would be set. That probably excludes all of Hagrid's pets. As the owners of Hogwarts, we may also request it to put some extra protections for the champions, making it even safer. Besides, I don't really strive to win, although that could be nice. I only want to survive it, and that seems more than probable right now."

"Can't you assure it?" Dave asked worriedly.

"Can you assure anything?" Harry retorted. "Even when staying inside, a meteor may fall on your head, as I've read some time ago. I'm reasonably sure that I can do it, and I trust Hermione to make sure that we've taken all necessary precautions."

This brought a smile on the faces of the older couple.

The rest of the evening was simply pleasant, as they spent their time the way a loving family normally does. By the time they said their goodbyes, Harry felt like he was very lucky to have such parents-in-law.