Chapter 7A Chapter by JessieDISCLAIMER! J.K. Rowling owns all of the settings and a huge majority of the characters in this novella, absolutely NO infringement intended!!Chapter 7 “Look, an oak tree!” Albus said, gesturing to it with his wand. “There will be something else, just wait. The boss battle is yet to come.” “Did you just make a video game reference?” Al asked. I blushed, “Yeah…” “That’s hot.” I blushed more. “So what will this ‘boss’ be?” “I don’t know… A dragon? A Manticore? Hippogriff? I’m not sure.” For the first time in history, one of my guesses had been correct. The ‘boss’ as I’d called it, was a Manticore. It had wings, and a human face, with a lion’s body. Between it’s massive paws rested a metal key. It had to be the clue. “Shh.” I said quickly, yanking him behind a large tree. “What the hell is that thing?” He was pale and fear was apparent in his eyes. “It’s called a Manticore, though some countries call it a man eater.” I felt the tears rising again. “Shoot.” No, he didn’t really say shoot either… Again, though, my story. “I can hear you, you know.” Something said. It’s voice was brassy and full, almost like a trumpet. “The manticore.” I breathed. “That’s such a cruel name…” It drawled. “It could have been something like God, or Lion King, but Manticore, oh how I loathe it.” “So what would you rather we call you?” I asked, unsure if I should speak to it. “I prefer… Highness.” “Very well then, highness. Is there anything I could do to get you to give me that key?” I asked, my voice sounding a lot braver than I felt. “Mm… Well I should very much like to eat one of you. You both look positively delicious.” “Thank you.” I wasn’t sure of what else to say. “What if we don’t really feel like being eaten today?” “Then it’s a shame. You won’t get your key, and you’ll both die.” “I’ll go.” Al said. “I’ll be useful.” I grabbed his shirt. “You idiot, there’s another way. These games aren’t designed to kill people.” I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, Highness, but why don’t you just come get us? We’re right behind this tree.” “Oh, you are a smart one. You would be entertaining…” He laughed softly. “But alas, they’ve chained me to the ground like a beast. Of course, I can still move around. They wouldn’t deprive me of a good meal.” He purred. There’s our chance. I thought to myself. I remembered it’s wings. If one of us could get it off the ground, the other could grab the key and end the first challenge. But how to get off the ground… Suddenly I remembered Harry Potter’s Tri Wizard strategy from almost 24 years ago. “Accio Cirrus Rider 3.0!” I said loudly, standing with my wand out and my heart racing. “Should I get mine too?” “No.” I replied. “I’m getting yours. You’re going to ride it while I get the key.” “I can still hear you… Foolish humans. Looks like I’ll just have to kill you NOW!” They heard chains strain as he leapt for the tree. Something in my mind pulled out the fact that Manticores had three rows of shark-like teeth. It was gnawing at the tree behind us now. “Come out, come out, little humans. I get a little cranky when I’m hungry.” We could hear him pacing around. I heard the broom crashing through the trees, and I waited with my arm out. I nodded at Al, who jumped out into view of the manticore. “Hey, Manticore!” He shouted. “Just let my friend here get the key. You can have me.” The Manticore’s face showed different emotions. In the end it smiled, it’s teeth bared. “Very well, then.” I caught the broom and tossed it to Al. “But you’ll have to catch me first.” Al hopped on his broom, taking off with grace and the Manticore leapt off the ground to follow. The chain was long enough that they were above the oak trees when it became taught. I raced into the clearing and grabbed the key, hoping the Manticore would fall over unconscious or something, we were supposed to be safe once we got the key. But it didn’t. “ALBUS!” I screamed as he came within reach of the Manticore, teasing it. “ALBUS LOOK OUT!” It lunged and he dove away from it. The sound of my screaming attracted a perhaps even deadlier foe. “Who dares trespass over our territory.” Said the centaur behind me. I turned to see an arrow knocked and pointed at me. My hands went up, but I was afraid to drop my wand. “It’s just a couple of Hogwarts Champions. My name is Sophie, and the man up there about to be killed by a Manticore is Albus Potter!” “Potter?” The centaur demanded. “Prove it.” My mind raced. “ALBUS! AL! HELP! Oh god… I can’t prove it right now, the Manticore will come back down and-‘ “Manticore?” “yes, yes the Manticore.” “What evil has brought a Manticore to this part of the forest!” “The Tournament creators, the ones who made up the challenge-“ “I will shoot down this beast of dark evil, and you will remain still. Try to run and I will let it eat you. When I’ve done this, your friend will come down and prove to me that he is a Potter, and I will spare you. If he cannot, you will receive the proper punishment for trespassing on our lands.” “Yes, yes…” I breathed, slumping back against the tree. Another Centaur appeared next to me. “Restrain her.” The first centaur said. The second tied my hands and held me at the point of a deadly sword. “Is this necessary?” I plead, tears threatening to spill over. “Yes. And gag her too, I would hate for her to tell her little friend what to say. She’s a smart one.” “God, please no, sir I-“ But he stuffed the gag into my open mouth before I could object further. He passed my wand between his long, delicate fingers while the other hand held my sword. “The stars told of intruders tonight. But they did not tell of bloodshed. Perhaps you will survive after all.” He stored my wand in his belt and watched as the first Centaur took down the manticore in one shot, then confirmed it’s death with another. Albus landed gracefully. He saw the Centaurs, one of them his savior, with an arrow poised to kill, and the other with me, bound and gagged. “Who are you!” Al’s savior demanded. “My name is Albus Severus Potter.” He said, his face pale. His hands were raised, his Cirrus Rider and wand were on the ground. “Prove it.” “My father was Harry Potter, the boy who lived. He killed Voldemort-“ “That is not proof! That is common knowledge.” “He… He had his mother’s eyes, and he insisted that I do too. And he says that he spoke with a centaur! One of you! His name was… His name was Firenze, that’s it Firenze! And Hagrid is our friend too!” “Shut up.” The first said. “If you know of Firenze then you are a Potter. But Firenze was banished for communication and kindness to humans. Being friends with him or anyone he knew does not help your cause.” The centaur advanced on Albus, and Al stood his ground, though terror shone in his eyes. “This is your only warning. Stay out of our part of the forest now and forever more.” He growled. The Centaur behind me suddenly wrapped his arm around my neck, pinning an arm down as he did so, between him and the bonds I couldn’t move. “Here… So you won’t forget.” He said, carving an X into my right upper arm. I screamed, he’d dug deep enough to leave scars. He tossed my wand on the ground and galloped away, leaving my bound and sobbing in the dirt. “Oh gosh… Oh my gosh Soph? Sophie?” He used a spell to remove the bonds from my arms and took out the gag, using it to staunch the bleeding. “Centaurs… Hate humans… Firenze was the nicest of that clan. They’re not known for mercy. We have to get out of here while we can. “I thought we were safe once we got the key.” “We were misinformed.” I slumped against him as he wrapped up my arm. “Who would do this to us? Who would put us in this tournament?” The tears came now, flooding out of my eyes before I could stop them. “Don’t worry, Sophie. We’re going to make it through this, you just wait.” He looked up and froze. I was afraid to turn, knowing there would be more trouble. Al raised his hands and retreated backward. I stood to see a Hippogriff, proud and mighty, standing behind us. I bowed very deeply, my head almost touching my knees. The desperation in my eyes must have gotten to him, because he bowed back. “You ride your broom. I can’t risk anyone getting more injured. I said to Al as I walked up and petted him. “May I ride you, hippogriff?” I asked the beast. It bent down on its knees so I could get on. “I need to go where the people are. Where is the stadium?” The Hippogriff took off, jarring my multiple wounds from the Kappas and Centaurs. My wrists burned from straining at the rope. I gripped tightly to the Hippogriff. I had read all about them, but this was my first time riding one. It’s warmth surprised me, and I felt safe. I lay my head down on it’s neck, exhausted. The beauty of flight kept the tears back. I looked around, we were almost in the clouds. Al rode a safe distance behind us, but slowly crept closer as the Hippogriff flew. “It’s okay… He’s a friend.” I said softly to the creature. It seemed to understand, allowing Al to come right up next to us. I smiled at him from where I sat. The key was warm in my pocket as we soared over the castle. I had a nasty feeling about it. We reached the place where the students and staff were sitting, awaiting the return of all the Champions. It appeared as if a search party was about to be sent out, lead by none other than Mc Gonagall herself. “Oh thank goodness!” She cried as we landed. I waved her back so she wouldn’t startle the Hippogriff. “No one touch him! No one touch him!” I cried, blood ran down my arm as I waved it back and forth, but I ignored the pain. Once he landed I gave him a kiss and told him simply to “go home, and thank you.” It flew away at that and Al dismounted his broom. Both of the teams had arrived first, leaving us currently in last place for points. “What took you so long, Potter?” McGonagall demanded. “A troll.” Albus said, defiantly. “And then Kappas, and Nymphs, then a Manticore, and then ambush by centaurs!” His voice rose with every beast he mentioned. “We were lucky to make it out with out lives. The Centaurs would have killed us.” He ripped off my bandage for effect. “This, so they said, was so that we wouldn’t forget.” McGonagall looked at the Minister, who was studying the ground intently. “Rosebriar!” She snapped. “A Manticore AND Centaurs!” “It’s not my fault!” They bickered for a while, but we were still waiting on points. The Viking Headmaster from Durmstrang cleared his throat. “Shall we score the champions now?” He inquired. “Yes, let’s do.” McGonagall glared at Rosebriar. The special guest judge was none other than the reporter from earlier, Miss Ellie. Tears ran down her face, smearing her makeup, but I couldn’t tell why. We were put in second, probably because of Albus’s testimony at the end, or perhaps the fact that our key hadn’t transported us back immediately. Or even more likely, the fact that I’d ridden a Hippogriff in, and Albus had followed in his father’s footsteps, riding a broom. Either way, when we were safe in the medic station with our friends all around us, I sat in James’s arms and cried like I’d never cried before. © 2013 JessieAuthor's Note
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Added on July 3, 2013 Last Updated on July 3, 2013 Tags: Harry Potter, After Harry, Jessie, Sophie, Potter, Weasley, Granger, James Potter, Albus Potter, Scorpius, Rose, Hogwarts, Fanfiction, Tri Wizard, Tournament, Fanfic, Novella, Chapters, Romance, Cute After Harry (A Harry Potter Fanfic Thing)
Chapter 10
By Jessie
Chapter 11
By Jessie
Chapter 12
By Jessie
Chapter 13
By Jessie
Chapter 14
By Jessie
Chapter 15
By JessieAuthorJessieMIAboutOh, hello there. Welcome to my little corner of the internet... Enjoy :) Feel free to review, I can't get better if I don't know that to fix n_n more..Writing
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