Y/N apparated with Dobby to his estate and a scene of chaos. Phoenix Bearers were running to and fro, Jackson and the other acolytes issuing orders.

"We don't know yet if this is a declaration of war. Ready yourselves, we may be sent to combat at any moment" Jackson yelled.

"I assure you that won't be necessary, my friend" Y/N smiled.

Jackson and the others turned to him, all dropping to a knee instantly.

"My Lord" Jackson gasped in relief as he knelt. Y/N smiled and stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Rise, brother. Rise all of you" Y/N stated calmly. The Bearers did, all looking up and gasping at their Lord's appearance.

"My Lord, your face" Vinda gasped most loudly as she forgot her place and rushed forward. Her left hand cupped Y/N's cheek as her right trailed a finger down his scar. As she observed it Y/N looked down and saw the genuine care and distress in her eyes as she muttered:

"Mon Seigneur, que vous ont-ils fait?"

Y/N reached up and took Vinda's hand, genuinely smiling at her concern as he whispered:

"I assure you, my dear. I am fine."

Vinda suddenly realised her position, a bright red blush filling her cheeks as she stepped back. Y/N smiled, cupping her face and kissing her forehead, whispering:

"Thank you for your concern, my sweet."

Before he looked out among his followers.

"It appears you, my Phoenix Bearers, are gearing up for war. Strange, I issued no such order."

The Phoenix Bearers looked around shocked, unsure what to say or do. Jackson stepped forward:

"I apologise, My Lord, and I accept full responsibility. Pour your wrath onto me, if it is required, and not the others."

He bowed, fully expecting the possibility of pain to follow. It was his Lord's right to dispense justice, or punishment, on his followers when they were disobedient, or acted without his permission. It had been that way since ancient times when one swore an oath of allegiance to a Lord, the person became their property, as the Death Eaters had to Voldemort for example. When no punishment came Jackson looked up, his Lord simply smiling:

"Thank you, Jackson, for mobilising the Phoenix Bearers. Should I fall in battle you will lead our forces. Know you act with my confidence."

Jackson smiled, and bowed again. Of course his Lord didn't punish him, his Lord was not like other Lords. He should have known that. He felt an immense sense of guilt as his Lord spoke again.

"My Phoenix Bearers, I want you to stay calm. Today was the First Task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Would you like, I wonder, to see it in action?"

The Phoenix Bearers reacted excitedly, so Y/N nodded to Vinda. She walked out the room quickly and reappeared with a skull hookah his grandfather had given him on his last visit.

It worked better with goofer dust than just blowing the dust straight out, and allowed entire scenes to be played out in the air. Y/N inhaled the dust deeply and blew the resulting smoke into the air as a scene appeared.

The Phoenix Bearers gasped almost in unison at the sight of the multi-headed beast stood opposed to their Lord.

--~--

Cornelius and Lilith were sat in his office, discussing the fallout from the first task. Fudge was pacing back and forth, sweat pouring from his person. Lilith was sat back drinking a glass of wine.

Cornelius had just finished relating the events as they transpired.

"He is mighty this one, to face a bewitched Hellspawn and walk away with nothing but a suntan and a scar that whores will cream over, he is a mighty adversary, worthy of respect" Lilith smiled, grateful of the challenge. She added as she drank wine:

"I would expect nothing less of the culmination of my husband's line."

"What do we do, my dear? He wasn't supposed to escape the first task. What can we do now?" Fudge asked in fear. His visions, delusions... walking nightmares had been getting worse lately. Much worse.

"We've already announced the tasks will be harder for him, simply... double... the difficulty" Lilith smiled.

"No. No" Cornelius said firmly, waving his hands.

"No?" Lilith asked in surprise as she placed her wine down.

"No. It is one thing to surprise attack him. It is another to attack those he loves. He will come straight for me. He will ack-"

Cornelius was cut off and choked as he was grabbed by the throat. Lilith despite being six inches shorter and easily a hundred pounds lighter had grabbed the Minister and slammed him against the wall behind him, lifting him several inches off the floor. He choked and looked in terror at Lilith's jet black eyes.

"Never defy me again. Do not forget who put that pretty little crown on your pretty little head."

She squeezed again and then threw him to the floor, Cornelius gasping and choking.

"Go make the necessary alterations. Tell the Merpeople... only one may be saved."

--~--

Y/N smiled as he said good night to his Phoenix Bearers. He had taken them to meet Pyra, allow her to recognise his followers. Seeing the three headed goliath up close filled the Bearers with even more awe for their Lord, how he was able to best not just a Legendary Creature, a Hellspawn... but while it was bewitched as well. None could fathom the true power of their Lord.

Lilly had been terrified of the huge dragon, but she trusted Uncle Y/N so much that she jumped up in his arms and allowed him to carry her towards Pyra, her middle head bowing down to the girl and allowing her to reach out and touch the massive creature, assuring Lilly she was safe.

Y/N also introduced Hati and Buckbeak to Pyra, the two staring at her in awe before Pyra took them to see her eggs, Buckbeak flying next to her and Hati running after them.

Y/N returned inside, and between Lilly wanting him to tuck her in and Evie freaking out about his burning and scar he bid good night to the rest of his followers. He carried Lilly towards the duo's comfortable apartment.

Lilly had moved in with Evie full time, and the two had grown so close Lilly occasionally called Evie 'Mum' when she wasn't fully focused on what she was doing. It made Evie's heart raise but at the same time she understood Lilly's apprehension about using the word full time.

As Y/N walked the hall with the two of them he stopped suddenly. An odd expression grew on his face.

"Is everything ok, My Lord?" Evie asked.

"Yeah, it was the strangest thing. I swear I just heard my father's voice."

He looked around the hall puzzled before continuing on, tucking Lilly into bed and then assuring Evie he was ok. Charlie and Millie lived next door and had been waiting to see him as well, before he was also tackled by Chiara. He assured the ladies in his service he was ok, that Madam Pomfrey was caring for him, and he was going back to the infirmary shortly.

He wished them good night before Charlie asked if she could walk with him alone. Y/N nodded and the two headed down the corridor where Y/N wished to investigate.

As they got round the first corner Charlie reached out to gently grab Y/N's arm. She knew such  intimacy couldn't slide in front of the Bearers as a whole, but in private it was allowed, as was calling him by his first name:

"Y/N, you know I love you, right?" Charlie said as Y/N stopped and looked at her puzzled.

"Yes... you all know I love you all as well right, that I'm not just your Lord" Y/N asked, puzzled. Charlie smiled.

"Of course we do, but I said that because... I was your therapist, Y/N. I know when you're lying to me. I watched what happened, the amount of blood when Pyra's claw struck you... what aren't you telling us? You know we are just concerned."

Y/N smiled. You couldn't get anything past Charlie.

"I was in more pain than I can remember before. I still am. I don't know the full story, only what I've told you Pomfrey told me."

"Could I see, Y/N? Maybe I can help?"

"Are you sure, Charlie? The memory is painful."

Charlie nodded, Y/N sighed. He sent the memory to her, just before he fired lightning at Pyra. Poor Charlie screamed in agony, grabbing at the left side of her face. Her screams gained the attention of numbers Phoenix Bearers who emerged from their rooms before Y/N removed the memory and Charlie panted, recovering from his pain.

She gasped and panted as Millie bolted round the corner, wrapping her partner in a loving hug and enquiring if she was ok.

"I'm fine I'm ok now I-"

She rushed forward from Millie's grip and hugged Y/N.

"My Lord, I'm so sorry."

It took a while for Y/N to convince everyone he was fine, and to get them to return to their quarters. When he finally did he walked back to the corridor where he had heard his father's voice.

As Y/N walked the hall, he noticed a door, well two doors. Doors that hadn't been there before.

There was a recess with white marble steps and a white marble architrave. Inside this were double black marble doors, outfitted with enamel of the purest gold. Along the head jamb the family motto of Fortitudinem et Iustitiam, Strength and Righteousness, was carved and inlaid with pure black obsidian.

"Seems important" Y/N chuckled to himself as he stepped forward and opened the door. He walked through and was met with a long darkened hallway.

The walls were lined with portraits in frames.

"Wait a minute" Y/N said as he noticed who was smiling back at him from the closest portrait.

"Dad?"

Thomas smiled and looked surprised at the man in front of him.

"You're not... are you... Y/N?" Thomas asked in shock, his eyes wide but his face smiling.

"Dad, we met in heaven... remember?" Y/N replied as his head still spun.

"I'm in heaven? That's nice... but you went there? So you died? That's... less nice."

"You don't remember?"

"No" Thomas smiled. "The magic in this portrait, in the tiny fragment of my soul imbibed within it, allows me to retain all knowledge up to the moment of my death, but not beyond."

"I'm sorry" Y/N replied.

"Don't be. I and the other 56 Lords here in this hallway have waited here happily to see which of my sons would join us here. I have to be honest, I didn't think it would be you. The eldest son has always triumphed."

"More time to prepare, most magical experience, it's logical the eldest would be victorious" a portrait across from Thomas replied.

"You're my grandfather, Augustus L/N, aren't you, sir?" Y/N asked the man. He nodded and smiled.

"Dean and Jacob, are they alive?" Thomas asked with concern.

Y/N nodded.

"That's good to hear. You look remarkably young for eighteen, and to have bested both your brothers" Thomas smiled proudly.

"Yeah... I'm uh 15... that's a long conversation for another day" Y/N smiled.

"Why are you dressed so oddly... and burnt?" Augustus asked as Y/N stood still in just shorts.

"I apparated here from the Hogwarts infirmary. I undertook the first task in the TriWizard Tournament today, battling a Congolese Hellspawn. It was a tough battle."

"TriWizard? Apparating from Hogwarts? A Hellspawn?" Thomas repeated with a stunned expression.

"As I said a long story. What is this place, why haven't I seen it before?" Y/N asked, looking down the long hall.

"This is the Hallway of the Lords" Thomas smiled. "Each of the 57 Archdukes before you has a portrait in here, so you may call upon our collective wisdom when it's needed. Your portrait will hang in here one day, and as for why you've only just uncovered this passage, each Lord is under a certain... let's say probationary period, to ensure they can handle the stress of their role. Our manor has judged you and found you are the one true Lord of your generation. Well done son. Well done" Thomas smiled proudly.

Y/N smiled, he now could talk to his father, his grandfather and his ancestors whenever he needed to. But there was one more thing he needed now... sleep.

"I will return soon, Dad. Get to know you properly, meet the other ancestors, but for now I need sleep, and I'm leaving for the United States in a couple of days."

"To meet with MACUSA?" Augustus asked and Y/N nodded.

"Ah the last time I was at MACUSA it was to arrange the transport of that monster Grindelwald to Europe to face punishment, before his escape" Augustus sighed.

Y/N chuckled. His return would be a long conversation.

"I will see you when I return, father, grandfather."

He apparated from the hall.

--~--

Y/N appeared back in the infirmary, landing next to his bed. Three potion bottles sat on his bar cart next to his bed with a note from Madam Pomfrey. Y/N picked it up and read it.

Y/N,

This is in case you do decide to saunter back into my hospital bed tonight. You have a Pain Killing potion, a Nourishment potion and a Calming Draught. You need to drink all three and have a good night's sleep.

I know you think you are invincible but you're not, you took a hell of a beating today and you NEED TO REST. I've asked Miss Delacour to wake me to apply more burn cream, for now get into bed and drink your potions.

Yours angrily
Poppy

Y/N chuckled as he placed the note down and opened the first potion, chugging it down.

"Madam Pomfrey waz most upset, mon Seigneur."

"That seems to be a baseline for our relationship, Miss Delacour" Y/N replied as he finished his second potion.

"You are very good at drinking potions, Monsieur" Fleur said with a giggle.

"A lot of practice. A lot of time in these beds" Y/N replied before knocking back the third potion, the Calming Draught interacting with his fatigue causing him to instantly sway. He slunk into his bed, finding instant relief from the burn blanket that was under him as he fell asleep, in shorts, uncovered.

--~--

Fleur had waited ten minutes before enacting her plan. She heard light snores coming from Y/N's cubicle and smiled, walking into Madam Pomfrey's office and through to her living area.

She did as Pomfrey had instructed her, walking through the lounge area to the open doorway where she whispered into the darkened bathroom:

"Madame Pomfrey..."

No response came and so Fleur quickly and quietly headed out to where Y/N slept.

"Madame Pomfrey did say you needed a fresh coat of dis burn cream" Fleur smiled to herself as she wiped some from the tub to her fingers and began to massage.

--~--

Y/N looked around puzzled. He was in a darkened forest but there was a bright light source in front of him.

"How did I get here?" Y/N wondered aloud before feeling himself drawn towards the light.

"I must be dreaming" Y/N continued, but he was confused. His dreams were always of a passive nature, where either he was being chased, or enduring things happening to him... that or the Hermione dreams... but he felt fully awake in this dream world.

He walked forward, towards where he was being summoned, and the light source turned out to be a clearing. He entered the clearing to see a strange creature with wings, the top half of a bird's head and shimmering feathers up and down her arms and legs. She was clearly female, and she smiled  as Y/N approached.

"You should drink" the creature said with a thick accent. Y/N looked down at the mother of pearl coloured liquid in the cauldron she was stirring and his senses were instantly overwhelmed- he could smell a freshly mowed Quidditch pitch, parchment pages from old books in the library and Hermione... not just Hermione, but her most intimate of scents... one that only he knew. Only one potion in a world could have such a profound influence on a man...

"Amortentia" Y/N said as he backed up.

"You should drink" the creature reiterated, lifting a ladle of potion up towards Y/N.

He backed up further, reiterating "No!" again.

"Drink!!!" the creature roared.

Bombarda Maxima Y/N cast wandlessly, the cauldron exploding sending scraps of metal and liquid in every direction. The creature roared in rage, a huge fireball exploding from it and engulfing Y/N whole.

--~--

Y/N woke in his bed with the strangest feeling. He half remembered an odd dream, something about a creature and fire, but it was dismissed just as quickly.

He got up and stretched, looking at the clock and noting it was 6:30am. He walked over to see Madam Pomfrey sipping her morning coffee.

"Mr L/N, what time did you get in last night?" she asked grumpily.

"I'm not sure. I had an issue to take care of at my estate and then I... I spoke to my Dad."

Poppy's mouth dropped.

"You spoke to Thomas?" Poppy asked in shock. Y/N smiled.

"I found on my estate a Hallway of Lords, portraits of all the previous Archdukes. Dad was there. I couldn't stay long, but I'll take you to him once everything calms down."

"That would be lovely dear" Poppy replied with teary eyes before she chuckled.

"Do you ever get calm days?"

Y/N laughed. 

"Not really. The burns are better, can I leave now? I don't like 'Mione walking around without me."

Poppy was puzzled by his words, but knew Y/N was just like the Headmaster- his words were always frustratingly cryptic, and there was always a reason for it.

Her eyes narrowed. Y/N didn't want Hermione in the hospital the previous day, if he was to be unconscious.

Today he didn't want her out there without him. The only constant variables were the presence of Harry Potter and Victor Krum. Harry Potter was eliminated through common sense, and so it was clear- Y/N saw Krum as a threat to Hermione.

If Y/N hadn't outright expressed it then he wouldn't under questioning, but Poppy would be raising the issue with the Headmaster later on.

She ran her wand along his torso downwards and found his skin and subcutaneous tissue sufficiently healed through magic to allow his release.

"I think you're ok to go. How's your pain? Would you like a Pain Killing Potion?"

"Yes please" Y/N replied, surprising Pomfrey. Y/N usually handled pain incredibly well.

After she handed Y/N the potion bottle and he guzzled it down, Y/N looked into Poppy's eyes and asked her:

"What haven't you told me about yesterday, Poppy? Down in the arena I lost vision in my left eye. Not just due to blood in it, but I felt my eye destroyed. Now the eye's back but the pain has been just as indescribable since.

Poppy sighed: "You've just been blocking it out haven't you?"

"It's what I do" Y/N nodded. Poppy looked up into his eyes.

"You were in a bad way when we extracted you from the arena. Your face was eviscerated, your body burnt to the bone in some parts. For you to have fought back like you did, against a bewitched Congolese Hellspawn was miraculous in itself, but what happened after..."

Y/N looked puzzled before it all came together in his head.

"311."

Pomfrey nodded.

"He laid his hands on you, and in a matter of moments you were healed. He said to do so fully would raise too many questions, but what he did was a miracle, no doubt. My guess is it's just residual phantom pain from the injury. Please come back if you need another potion later today, rather than just suffer through it. Please?"

Y/N smiled and nodded.

"Will do, I promise. I guess I owe 311 a big thank you when I see him next" Y/N chuckled. "Promise me, not a word to Hermione. I wouldn't lie to her, but just withholding information that would only hurt her is ok, right?"

Poppy saw in Y/N's eyes uncertainty. Something that was very out of character for him. She smiled.

"Since you've made a full recovery, I agree. Not a word."

"Thanks, Poppy. So I'm good to go?"

Pomfrey nodded.

"Sorry you had to put your own cream on last night. Its application is a little thick, but you got mostly good coverage."

"I didn't put my cream on. I had my potions and went to sleep. Had strange dreams though. Trauma from the task I guess" Y/N chuckled as he apparated. Poppy looked towards a sleeping French witch's cubicle and stormed across angrily.

Y/N apparated to the Gryffindor common room. Lavender was sat next to Hermione on their usual couches, Hermione grumbling:

"The twins need to hurry up. I need to get down and see him, Lav."

Her tone was full of concern.

"Nah, you don't need to wait for them" Y/N smiled where he stood. Hermione looked up and squealed happily, rushing Y/N, hugging him tightly.

"Baby, are you allowed to be here?" Hermione gasped as she pulled back from the hug, examining his bare torso.

"Yeah, Poppy let me go, I'm healed enough with magic, the rest will do with time, just need to call back in if I need a pain killing potion. Can you wait for me to have a shower before breakfast? I need one."

"Of course" Hermione smiled, following Y/N upstairs in case he needed a hand in the shower.

--~--

Hermione and Y/N arrived down at breakfast at about 8:00am. It was extremely late for them, but given the previous days events this was no surprise. Y/N and Hermione headed towards Harry, Lavender and Ron, but not before Y/N received an almost unanimous standing ovation when he entered the Great Hall.

Y/N just chuckled and nodded at those closest to him.

This is uncomfortable Y/N thought to Hermione who couldn't help but giggle.

"Your adoring public" she responded, gripping his hand tight as the couple arrived at their seats.

"How are you feeling, Y/N?" Harry asked, cuts still on his face and his right arm in a sling.

"Like I went ten rounds with a dragon" Y/N chuckled as he loaded up on egg, bacon, blood pudding, mushrooms and tomatoes.

"Someone having a cheat day?" Lavender chuckled.

"I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday, that I can remember anyway. I'm starving" Y/N chuckled.

"Hello darlings!" Pierre said happily and loudly as he joined the five friends. Y/N looked up from his plate momentarily and nodded before returning to his food.

"Sorry, outta gas" he said briefly. Pierre chuckled.

"It is ok darling, you must have earned quite the appetite. You were magnifique."

"Cheers" Y/N replied to his French friend.

"Can I ask, the scar, is it permanent?"

"It is. But Hermione digs my scars so I'm not too bothered" Y/N replied casually. Hermione covered her eyes as her cheeks flushed, Pierre chuckled and replied:

"I bet, gets you chaud et dérangé, eh?"

Just as Hermione thought she would die of embarrassment, she was saved by the mail owls arriving.

The Great Hall was crowded, all the students from the four houses down for breakfast, as well as all the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students.

Hundreds of owls filled the hall, dropping not just regular post, but also copies of that morning's Daily Prophet.

Splashed across the headline in large gothic bold print read:

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT!
Minister orders bewitched Congolese Hellspawn to attack Archduke.

Under this was a magical photo of Y/N, holding back the dragon's fire with gallons of water from his bare hands. The photo showed intense effort on Y/N's face, his skin blackened and burnt, and most of his clothing burnt away.

The article went into great detail about the first task, the outcome and the events. It made several references to disturbing rumours from Bulgaria, and to a Ministerial conspiracy against both Harry and Y/N.

The article then had a photo of Y/N in his hospital bed, his face scarred and half his torso covered in burn blankets. It interviewed him briefly, expressing his outrage that the Ministry had murdered a Congolese Hellspawn, possibly one of the last in existence, just for a competition. That his biggest concern going forward wasn't the Ministerial plots against him, but the emotional turmoil this event was having on his Grand Consort.

When pushed for his thoughts about Fudge's assassination attempt Y/N had eloquently argued that he didn't believe it was deliberate, that it was an act of treason against the Archduke and Ministerial policy and that Fudge wasn't that incompetent, knowing the penalty was death.

Finally, Rita tore apart a weak statement released by the Ministry late the previous evening that it was a miscommunication and the Minister was devastated the Archduke suffered such injuries.

Hermione had nearly torn the paper she was scrunching it so hard.

"Y/N Thomas L/N... please tell me why you would say that. Please explain it to me... he tried to kill you... we all heard it... make me understand."

Hermione was speaking through gritted teeth. She was furious. The use of Y/N's full name was proof of that. Y/N wandlessly and nonverbally cast a silencing charm around the friendship group.

"Because babe, we're not there yet. The whole country saw him make a move on me. If I push for him to be taken down now, another pure blooded bigot will be elected in his place. I'm slowly feeding them more and more rope... you know what happens when you give an idiot enough rope, right?"

Hermione sighed.

"They hang themselves."

"Exactly. Besides after we meet with the MACUSA congress, we have the hearing for my torture case, being held by the ICW, so he and the Ministry will be further placed under the pump by the International community."

"ICW?" Harry asked.

"International Confederation of Wizards" Y/N explained. "You remember DADA last year, when the Boggart showed you some of what I went through in The Hole?"

Harry nodded again. He could never forget what he saw that day.

"The Ministry is in deep shit for what I was subjected to. Another yard of rope for Fudge" Y/N chuckled.