HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black [ Chapter 53 ]

"Famous? What for?"

"When he was a child a Dark Lord came to kill him. Somehow the Killing Curse failed and the Dark Lord was destroyed. He's known as the Boy-Who-Lived."

"Ah." Godric looked grateful. "He sounds like a man of my own heart. I'd very much like to meet him."

Aries left with the promise that he'd return with Godric Gryffindor's Heir before the end of the year and an interesting recommendation for the Third Task.

Gryffindor was more interesting than Salazar had admitted and his views on magic were far from what current wizards thought.

….

January ended quicker than many of the students liked and February was fast approaching which meant one thing for the three schools: Valentine's Day.

Daphne had already accepted his request to escort her to Hogsmeade that weekend and he looked forward to the break from training and homework.

Professor von Reich had taken to pushing him incredibly hard in their training sessions in preparation for the final tasks of the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

The result was that Aries felt far more in control of his magic than ever before and he had good reason to suspect it would be needed sooner rather than later.

The morning of his date with Daphne was crisp and cold. Aries, however, was warm within his Durmstrang coat while many students of the other schools were bundled tightly under thick winter coats and scarves.

The cold felt refreshing to him though it never truly affected him thanks to his affinity for fire. It always gave him a certain warmth, something that Daphne took advantage of as she took his arm and pulled herself close to him.

They walked among the shops nearly in the same order as their previous date. Daphne wore the silver necklace holding a small sapphire at its end that he had bought her, though he still felt inclined to purchase just about anything that caught her eye.

The Blacks were a rich family but even without access to the Black Family Vault, Cassiopeia had gathered herself a small fortune, one that Aries himself had access to.

Aries had a vault of his own of course, the Slytherin Vault, which contained riches that Aries doubted he or his descendants would ever be able to squander.

The young couple, though the official nature of their relationship had yet to be decided, took a seat in a cozy booth in the back of the Three Broomsticks.

Aries saw that Thomas and Susan were across the room and gave the Potter heir a respectful nod.

Potter seemed thankful earlier that Bones had not wanted to go to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, something that Aries agreed with.

The tea shop seemed terrifying, even to one who had been subjected to his aunt's Cruciatus Curse.

Ginny Weasley sat with them next to Neville though it was clear that she'd rather be in Susan's place than their own, something that Aries thought the other redhead undoubtedly noticed.

Daphne was observing her surroundings as well, but Aries noted that her attention was focused on her younger sister Astoria, who was sitting alone with one of her male Slytherin classmates. Aries' date was tense and it was obvious she disapproved of something.

"Father is thinking of accepting Malfoy's marriage proposal." Daphne offered when he expressed his interest.

"He knows that I would never accept to marry Draco, but Astoria has a different outlook on the Malfoy heir.. She has a bad taste in men in my opinion."

"Your father would say the same of you if he knew of your involvement with me." Aries said cheekily as he finished his butterbeer.

The drink was good, but all it did was make him want firewhiskey. "I worry that he might attempt to find a suitor for you."

"That would be a problem depending on your intentions with me." She gave him a coy smile. "Though I wonder what would happen to said suitors."

"They would be. . . encouraged to seek a contract elsewhere should my intentions lean one way or the other."

"Encouraged is one way to put it, my dear." Daphne gave her sister one more look before turning to Potter and Bones.

"Amelia Bones could make a good ally to the Potters. She would make a better ally for you."

"I agree." Aries said with an air of approval. "Plans are already in place. Though Potter's relationship with her niece could accelerate things."

"And when will I know these plans?" She asked. "You spoke very cryptically after the Ball and I had hoped you'd be more forthcoming than you have been."

"In time darling." Aries replied. "Now is the time to lay the foundation." Thomas and Susan were in fact making their way over to them.

Aries could not have asked for a better moment as he welcomed them to their table. Susan gave them both a look of caution but given Thomas' ease with the two she seemed far more accepting of the Ice Queen and the Durmstrang Champion than her classmates.

"Aries, Daphne." Thomas greeted. "Having a good Valentine's Day?"

"It's been excellent Potter." Aries said more than likely cutting off a sarcastic comment from Daphne. "I have to say Hogwarts is far more festive than Durmstrang."

"You don't celebrate holidays there?" inquired Susan.

"Oh, the students do, but other than Yule, most of the staff ignores the holidays. We do not have an Easter break either as Karkaroff deems such things a distraction from learning."

"That sounds suffocating." Daphne interjected. "I know Pureblood families with more festivity than that." Her comment seemed to relax Susan fully and an enjoyable conversation came forth.

The three were all very interested in the coming Dueling Tournament but Aries had paid it no mind.

None of those who had competed in the Quidditch Tournament were allowed to duel and it put Durmstrang and Hogwarts at a significant disadvantage.

Aries felt that Beauxbatons were the clear favorite to win this tournament as one of the French seventh-years, Jean Pole, had been devastating his opponents in the early round.