HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black [ Chapter 59 ]

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have made a decision." The rabid whispers of the crowd quieted as Ludo Bagman addressed them.

Dumbledore's spectacled eyes passed over each of the champions, lingering on Aries with a slightly worrisome look.

"Fleur was unable to reach her hostage but demonstrated an excellent use of the Bubble-Head charm. We award her twenty-five points." Aries could tell the French girl was disappointed with herself, though she seemed thankful enough for her sister's safety.

"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit. We award him forty-seven points." The Hogwarts section roared for their champion.

"Thomas Potter used gillyweed to great effect. He returned last and well outside the time limit. However, the Merchieftainess informs us the Mr. Potter was in fact the first champion to arrive at the hostages.”

“His delay in return was due to his determination that all the hostages be returned safely. Most of the judges feel that this shows moral fiber and deserves full marks, however, we award him forty-five points."

There was a hushed paused before Bagman continued. "Aries Black would have been first to arrive at the hostages and would have returned well within the time limit. He was however delayed for as good as, if not a better reason than Mr. Potter himself.”

“Upon finding Ms. Delacour being attacked by grindylows, he not only saved her from impending doom when her Bubble-Head charm was burst, but also chased off the creatures, closing off her wounds, and bringing her to the surface to be taken away for medical attention." There were surprised whispers coming from the Beauxbatons students.

"Then upon reaching the hostages he helped Mr. Potter in saving Gabrielle Delacour as well as their own hostages, Draco Malfoy and Susan Bones. It was after their ascent to the surface that some of the Merpeople, acting of their own accord, attempted to take Mr. Potter.”

“Though we are unsure of their intentions, it is thanks to Mr. Black, nearly at the cost of his own life, that Mr. Potter was able to escape. It is our view that Mr. Black placing the well beings of his competitors above his own success is deserving of full marks. We therefore award him fifty points."

The explosion of sound from the Durmstrang section did not surprise Aries Black, as the school's very competitive nature had been displayed full force since the beginning of the tournament.

The other two schools were standing, giving him a respectful and cheerful applause, much to the contrast of their behavior towards him since the Second Task.

Aries Black could not help the smile that reached his face.

Everything was going as planned and it seemed to him that there was no one that could stop the return of the Ancient House of Black.

….

Hundreds of miles away in his muggle father's manor that disgusted him, a deformed body watched his servant's memory of the Second Task with eagerness.

An idea formed in the Dark Lord's treacherous mind, an alteration to his plans. Aries Black intrigued him to no end and he came to one conclusion: he would serve Lord Voldemort, just as his father had before him, or he would die with Thomas Potter.

….

The weeks following the Third Task was the most peculiar of Aries' time at Hogwarts. Everywhere he went a sense of respect and appreciation followed, most notably from the students of Beauxbatons.

Hogwarts' seemed to be grateful for his actions in the Black Lake as well, but it mostly stemmed from the Gryffindors, something Aries still had not decided whether he liked or not.

The thing that intrigued him most was the behavior of Fleur Delacour. Throughout the tournament she had been rather flirtatious with him, often hinting at why she would make a more suitable companion than Daphne Greengrass, sometimes even to the girl's face.

It had never seemed to bother the Slytherin, often answering the veela's behavior with a back-handed comment of her own. It was the fact that in the weeks since Aries had saved Fleur's life, the French champion had steadily avoided him to a point.

Often, he would catch her simply watching him, as if studying him, or she would make as if to speak to him, but then walk away at the last second.

Hesitancy was something that annoyed him and if Fleur did not address whatever issue she had, Aries would eventually have to force her hand.

Draco was another one of the many things that seemed to annoy him lately. Not only had the Malfoy heir taken exception to him saving people over winning, but he had the audacity to say that his solution for the Third Task had been unimpressive.

Aries wanted to see if he could perform an Ancient Egyptian ritual and not end up looking like Horus for the rest of his life.

Draco's attempts at wooing Arianna, much to her and Pansy's annoyance, was nothing short of comical For once in his friend's life, Draco had managed to not seem like the pompous ass he was but it had done little to earn the affection of the Spanish girl.

Aries idly finished stirring his Strengthening Solution. His opinion of Severus Snape had dropped immensely throughout the year and while the man may be a Potions Master, he was a rather horrible teacher.

At last the class ended and he followed Draco out the door only to spot Fleur Delacour waiting for him. She motioned towards an empty classroom down the hall and he gave her a nod in acknowledgement.

"Draco." Aries said, grabbing his friend by the arm. "Cover for me." Draco gave him a confused look before he noticed Fleur as she slipped into the classroom.

They shared an amused look before Draco agreed and made to distract Arianna before she noticed Aries' disappearance.

The unused classroom was meant to be an extra Potions lab, though it looked as if it had been abandoned a very long time ago.

If not for the house elves of Hogwarts, Aries would not have been surprised if the room had been one massive web of spiders.