As Harry watched Voldemort apparate away, the evening caught up to him. He staggered against a headstone and slid down to the ground physically and emotionally drained. He felt the pain from both of his arms but in comparison to the exhaustion he felt it was only a minor annoyance. Around him reigned silence. One moment there had been spell fire, crying and numerous other sounds of a small battle, the next moment only the sounds of crickets rubbing their wings together in hopes of attracting mates could be heard.
In Harry's head it was a different story as two other witches who had thought their bondmate was dead, now realized he was alive. Love, anxiety and questions filled his mind. As the emotionally and physically drained body of Harry Potter sat upon the grave of one of Tom Riddle's father's father, he barely knew what to say. He didn't even acknowledge when his oldest bondmate's arms encircled him. As she physically held him, the weight of what had happened to him since he'd left the maze hit him. As he tried to comfort his other two bondmates, to assure them he was alive, he realized he was also assuring himself.
Dumbledore had experienced too many years of fighting in his life to let his guard down too quickly. His eyes surveyed the graveyard to ensure that all dangers had passed with the departure of Voldemort. He noticed Sirius walking back toward his godson with Pettigrew levitated beside him as well as Remus and Alain both looking in disbelief at Harry and Fleur. Dumbledore's own eyes found the young man in question and the woman who was holding him as if she was afraid to ever let him go again. It was then he saw the movement to their right. At first it was only blades of grass seemingly moving in a breeze, but as his old eyes became more and more use to the darkness, he could make out the long dark shape moving slowly toward the couple. "Nagini," Dumbledore thought before calling out a warning. "Fleur to your right."
Though physically and emotional drained herself, it did not keep the young Veela witch from reacting to protect her bondmate. She spun her head and her wand at the same time and saw the snake. It appeared to be circling her and Harry in the long grass, either trying to escape the graveyard or possibly trying to finish what her master had been unable to do. Fleur could see the long gash along its body from the first time she had hit it. She sent another cutting curse at the snake and this time smiled with satisfaction as the head of the snake was severed from its body. Just as she sighed in relief that the creature was dead, a long drawn out scream pierced the silence. Everyone's wands were up again instantly but only confusion reigned as the scream seemed to come from the body of the snake. Finally after just a few seconds the sound faded away to nothing.
"What was that?" Remus asked as he looked around, expecting some kind of attack.
Dumbledore stared at the body of the snake as the scream finally ended. His mind flooded with suspicions of what had just happened as he remembered a young man of only twelve telling him of a scream that had seemed to come from a diary as he stabbed it with a basilisk fang. "Something for another time," He finally replied. "I believe the threat has ended."
That was all the rest needed before gathering around Harry and Fleur. As questions were asked of him, Harry just shook his head to let everyone know he wasn't ready to discuss it yet; not until he had comforted the two other bond mates who were still waiting for him. With tired eyes he sought out the Headmaster. "Sir, there two other ladies I really need to see. Can we go back to Hogwarts now?"
"Yes of course Harry," Dumbledore replied. "I will go retrieve Miss Granger from our staging area. The rest of you can take the Portkey Fleur has and return to my office."
"Not yet sir. 'Arry's arms," Fleur said. She touched her wand to Harry's broken arm and said "Episkey." Harry felt warmth spread through his arm as he watched the bones move into the right spot. A few seconds later the pain was entirely gone.
"I should 'ave done zat earlier love, but I…" Fleur didn't finish as Harry's lips had found hers again for a light kiss and he mentally thanked her. He smiled as he asked. "Where were you two years ago? That was much better than Lockhart."
"Two years ago I was but a little girl," She replied in the same tone she had used so many months previously in describing Harry. "A little girl who definitely would not 'ave deserved a 'usband like you," She smiled at her bondmate as she held out her hand to help Harry to his feet. Then so everyone could hear she said "I had to fix your arms 'arry. I know how you land with portkeys," The smile and laughter from Harry made her feel much better. She pulled out the knife and held it out for everyone to touch it. As they all reached for the portkey, nobody noticed the uninvited guest, currently in her beetle animagus form, crawl back under the collar of an unsuspecting Remus Lupin.
....
Rita Skeeter desperately wanted to get back to her quill and notepad and start writing the story of the decade. "Stories," She reminded herself. Rita had just watched He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named return to life. As she started mentally putting together the story that would be front page on tomorrow's Prophet, she couldn't help but think of what led her to be where she was.
Rita's night had started innocently enough. She had been invited to the Triwizard Tournament's third task by Minister Fudge himself. He told her of his plans for the announcement of Amos Diggory to replace Ludo Bagman.
"It's the perfect time to announce Mr. Diggory," Minister Fudge had said. "Upon the completion of the historical competition that reflects the hard work of that department. Make sure you have your photographer there ready for the announcement."
Rita had come, prepared to do that story as well as a follow up on Bagman. There would also be the story of the contestants and eventual winner of the Triwizard tournament to write about as well. By being the guest of the Minister, she'd been given a seat very near the judges table and that's where it had all begun.
When the young Veela girl and her friend had interrupted the judges, Rita Skeeter had been intrigued, especially when the Granger girl had shown up as well. That intrigue turned to intense curiosity when Dumbledore led the three girls away. The Daily Prophet reporter smelled a story brewing and kept her eyes on the departing group.
....
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