Chapter 32: Shadows of the Deep and Lights of the Ballroom
The days following the first task of the Triwizard Tournament were tense, with speculation rippling through Hogwarts. Students chattered endlessly about dragons, daring feats, and, most of all, Harrison Strange Potter's eerie calm when facing the monstrous Hungarian Horntail. Yet, for Harrison, the thrill of victory was overshadowed by an unsettling discovery that led him deeper into the web of Voldemort's fragmented soul.
The Cup of Deception
Bellatrix Black, now healed and devoted after her mental unshackling by Harrison, knelt before him in the concealed war room beneath Potter Castle.
"You asked for the Cup of Hufflepuff, Master," she said, presenting the ancient golden chalice wrapped in enchanted silk. "It was kept in the Lestrange vault as you foresaw."
Harrison took the cup reverently and cast a series of detection spells—each designed to identify the dark aura of a Horcrux. Nothing. No trace of soul.
His sapphire and amethyst eyes narrowed. "It's clean. The soul fragment's gone."
Bellatrix paled. "Then… he must have already retrieved it."
"Voldemort is moving. He's not just rebuilding—he's hunting. We're not just racing against his past. We're racing against his future."
Yule Ball Whispers
As the festive season approached, Hogwarts transformed into a winter wonderland. Icicles sparkled on the high arches, and magical snowflakes drifted gently from the enchanted ceiling.
The night of the Yule Ball arrived like a breath of warmth in the cold, casting aside shadows, if only briefly. Harrison walked into the ballroom in black and crimson formal robes embroidered with ancient runes of the Pharaohs. Clarissa stood beside him in an elegant green and silver dress that sparkled like serpent scales. Her obsidian-black hair was styled in flowing waves, and her scarlet eyes glittered with passion.
Whispers followed them.
Penelope, now stationed at Potter Castle for post-graduate training and research, watched from afar via the three-way enchanted mirror. She smiled knowingly at their elegance.
Fleur Delacour, looking stunning in ocean-blue silks, arrived alone but was quickly joined by Cedric Diggory, her date and also the hostage for the upcoming task. Though not a champion, Cedric had grown close to Fleur through mutual respect and flirtation. Their chemistry shimmered under the candlelight.
Hermione stunned the room as she arrived on the arm of Viktor Krum. Students murmured in surprise—particularly Ron, who looked flabbergasted.
Harrison twirled Clarissa across the ballroom. Their dance was fluid and powerful, like waves cresting on a stormy sea. As they finished a perfect spin, he bent to whisper in her ear.
"You look like a goddess tonight."
She smirked. "Then claim me like one."
He kissed her knuckles, a small, private gesture beneath the grandeur.
Second Task: The Waters Below
The joy of the ball soon gave way to anticipation for the second task. The Black Lake glistened under the morning sun, its surface deceptively calm.
Harrison stood among the other champions: Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum. The audience gathered, whispers crackling like static.
Bagman's voice boomed: "Each champion must rescue a person dear to them, taken into the depths of the Black Lake. You have one hour. Begin!"
As the whistle blew, Harrison dove cleanly into the icy water, his transformation instantaneous. Webbed fingers, gills on his neck, and scales trailing his arms—gifts from his divine lineage as Poseidon's son.
He moved like a torpedo beneath the surface, dodging grindylows and merfolk with natural ease. Clarissa's form appeared far below, floating calmly in a bubble of enchanted air.
As he reached her, he noticed Cedric beside her—also a hostage—and Fleur's younger sister Gabrielle on the other side.
He grimaced. "This isn't just one for each of us. They want to test our morals."
With swift incantations and Poseidon's power, Harrison created an immense pressure wave that propelled all three hostages toward the surface. Grindylows tried to intercept, but he summoned a tide that swept them away.
Above the surface, students gasped as all three emerged at once, unharmed.
Madame Maxime screamed, rushing to Gabrielle. Fleur burst into tears and thanked Harrison profusely.
"You didn't have to…"
"I did," he said simply. "Because I could."
Krum arrived minutes later with Hermione in tow. He stared at Harrison with a blend of awe and silent respect.
Bellatrix's Vow
Later, in the privacy of the Room of Requirement, Bellatrix knelt again.
"I failed you," she whispered. "I did not detect the missing soul."
Harrison placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You did exactly what I asked. And you are not to blame."
She looked up, loyalty burning in her eyes. "Then command me again. I will not falter."
He nodded. "We must prepare for war. And for that—we will need every secret Voldemort buried."
And in that dim chamber, with allies forged through truth and redemption, Harrison Strange Potter took one step closer to the destiny carved into the echoes of time.