Disclaimer

All characters within this story are the creation of JKR and I do not, in no way, shape or form, resemble JKR. For starters, I am the wrong gender, I live on the other side of the pond and I proudly live north of the border...I am a Canadian! On top of that, I make no money, nor receive any money for the fun I am having in her sand box. And, oh yeah, if anything herein resembles other stuff out there in fandom, it means that I liked your story and I am just putting my own spin on it, just like we all put our own spin on JKR's creation. So, please, please do not flame if it sounds like yours. With over half a million Harry Potter fan fics out there, its bound to have been done somewhat similar before. That being stated, enjoy my little take on the HP universe.

This story is being written for the Vigilante Harry Challenge issued by DZ2.

Harry Potter and the Avenging Angel

by Dng

Chapter One

June 24, 1995

Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch

Nearing Dusk

"Good luck Harry", said Hermione Granger as she leaned in and wrapped him up in one of her famous hugs. As she pulled away, she quickly placed a chaste kiss on the corner of his mouth, her cheeks blushing slightly from the action. "I'll be waiting by the judge's table for you at the end of this task, OK?"

"Sure", said a flabbergasted Harry Potter, a weird feeling setting into the pit of his stomach after Hermione's show of affection.

"Yea, good luck mate", said Ron Weasley as he stepped forward and patted Harry's shoulder a couple of times, "I'll be waiting with Hermione when the task is over".

"OK, thanks guys".

As the three friends parted ways, Ron and Hermione heading to the stands and Harry heading towards the judges table, Harry's thoughts were on a certain bushy haired girl. Her most recent action had him deep in thought. "I wonder what Hermione is playing at. Does she have feelings for me like I have had for her ever since that hug just before I confronted professor Quirrell? If I make it out of here alive, I'm going to tell her what my true feelings are towards her", he thought to himself. Harry was brought out of his musings when the amplified voice of Ludo Bagmen could be heard over the din of the crowd.

"Witches and Wizards, welcome to the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. I am your host once again and would like to inform you of the task set forth before our four champions. In front of you is a maze that the champions must traverse to the center where the Triwizard Cup is waiting. The first contestant to reach the cup will be the winner and will be returned to this very podium signifying the end of the task and reveal to us all who the winner of the Triwizard Tournament will be. Wish all of our contestants good luck as the maze is also wrought with many different challenges from magical beasts to traps and illusions. This final task will surely test all of the champions to their limits and may the best one win".

The roar of the crowd was deafening as Ludo worked them up into a frenzy.

"May I introduce you to our contestants then. In first place with eighty-five points each, Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter. In second place with eighty points, Viktor Krum and in last place with seventy-eight points, is Fleur Delacour. What this means is that Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter will enter the maze at the same time, Viktor Krum will enter five minutes later and Miss Delacour will enter two minutes after that. Now, contestants, to the start line".

Harry and Cedric made their way to the entrance to the maze and shook hands while exchanging good lucks to each other. At the sound of the cannon blast, both Hogwarts champions sped off into the maze, Cedric going left at the first intersection and Harry going to the right. The path that Harry found himself on led on forever it seemed until he came across a break in the hedge. There was an opening to the left and he stopped. Placing his wand on his hand like Hermione had taught him, Harry said, "Point me". Immediately his wand started spinning and when it stopped, it was pointing to the left somewhat. Running through the gap, Harry turned right once more and continued to the end of the path where it turned left and headed deeper into the maze.

Oddly enough, he hadn't come across any traps or pitfalls yet and he was thankful. He heard a second cannon blast behind him somewhere and knew that Viktor Krum was now in the maze as well. Concentrating hard once more, Harry continued to jog further into the maze. As he neared the end of the corridor that he was in, he heard the third cannon blast and knew that all of the champions were now inside the maze and making their own ways towards the Triwizard Cup.

Using the point me spell once more, Harry took the next left and then coming around the next corner, he almost ran into one of Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts. Slipping on the grass and losing his balance, Harry slid underneath the Skrewt, just as a ball of fire from the blast end passed through where his head was moments before. As he passed underneath the creature, Harry remembered the lesson on the Blast-Ended Skrewts and that their underbellies were the only point of their bodies not covered by the thick armour-like shell. Pointing his wand up, he yelled, "Stupify", and the red bolt of magic jumped from his wand and hit the creature with enough force to flip it end over end, causing it to land on its back a few feet away, its legs not moving.

Picking himself up off of the ground, Harry dusted his robe off and sprinted towards the next corner. He was running so fast, trying to get away from the Blast-Ended Skrewt, that he failed to notice a Griffin as it pranced out of an alcove off to his right and straight into his path. Unable to stop himself, he ran headlong into the side of the majestic creature and promptly fell onto his back, slightly dazed. Before he could react, the Griffin lifted one of its forepaws and brought it down on his shoulder, the razor-like talons tearing through his robe and clothing before embedding them into his flesh. Harry stared up at the creature as the pain assaulted his senses and then the Griffin turned its golden coloured eyes upon him and Harry thought he seen a twinkling in their depths, an action that was reminiscent of his headmaster, before he blacked out.

When he came to, he was in the hospital wing in his own personalized bed. He had spent so much time in this particular bed over the past four years while he was at Hogwarts, that Madame Pomfrey had a sign specially made for him that said Harry Potter's Bed. Then she had had it mounted above his bed in the hospital wing.

He groaned slightly as he moved each part of his body, trying to make sure everything still worked. This particular routine had become a normal function when he found himself awakening in the hospital wing so many times. Once that he had determined that all of his body parts still worked, he reflected on how he had gotten here in the first place. The last thing that he remembered was crashing headfirst into a creature that, if Hermione had anything to say about it, only existed in legend. A gryffin had appeared in front of him, and had pierced his shoulder with its beak? And then he had blacked out.

Then other thoughts started bombarding his brain, thoughts like: Who won the Triwizard tournament?; Did Fleur, Cedric or Viktor make it through alright?; where were Ron and Hermione? He was brought out of his musings by a clearing of a throat. When he looked up, he saw that Albus Dumbledore was standing at the end of his bed, looking down at him, his blue eyes twinkling wildly. Instantly Harry felt a slight pressure in his head and an animalistic urge charged forward expelling the pressure. He watched as the headmaster winced when this happened and then a deep, commanding voice spoke to Harry,

"That fool thinks that he can just go around and use legilimancy on anyone he wants too, well he won't be reading your mind anymore Harry."

Before Harry could form any questions to the new, unknown voice, it continued, "I am projecting my voice in to your mind through a mental ability that I will teach you once we meet, where I will be able to train you more, but until then, you need to adjust to your new body and its abilities."

"What do you mean, my new body and abilities?" thought Harry.

"Well, it seems that my familiar's bite combined with some other rather unique characteristics within your blood has transformed your body somewhat, but for now, just relax and let me protect your mind from your headmaster. He really doesn't have the best intentions towards you."

"He's as guilty for killing your parents as this Lord Voldemort is, but I will explain more once we meet. For now, just play along with whatever he says and I will continue to protect your mind from anymore mental assaults."

"OK" thought Harry, finding the entire situation very wierd and then feigning curiosity, asked the headmaster "Are you alright, sir?"

""I am fine Harry, my boy, just a little bit of a headache from all of the goings on from the past two days."

'Have I been here for two days?" asked an alarmed Harry and added, "What happened?"

"Well, its a long story, but to shorten things up considerably, you were attacked by some unknown force within the maze and left for dead. You were very unconcious when we found you. Can you tell us what happened?" asked Albus with his grandfatherly persona in full force.

The voice spoke up once more, "Tell him nothing. He doesn't know what happened and for your own safety, he doesn't need to know either."

"OK", said Harry to the mental voice and turning his focus towards the headmaster, said "I. I remember running away from the Blast-ended Skrewt. I must have run into something hard while I was looking over my shoulder while trying to get away from its firey backside. The next thing I knew, I was waking up here a couple of minutes ago. Does that help sir?"

"Alas, I wish that there was more that you could tell me, but it appears that there is no more information to be passed on."

"Can you tell me who won the Triwizard Cup?"

"Well, our own Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory made it to the cup first, but I really think that you were meant to be the winner."

"Why do you say that sir?" asked Harry.

"Because the cup was a portkey and poor Mr. Diggory was whisked away to some place where Lord Voldemort used some dark, obscure ritual to bring himself back to a corporeal form."

Harry paled at the thought, but had to ask, "What happened to Cedric?"

"Alas, poor Mr. Diggory did not survive the encounter and his body was sent back to the Quidditch pitch via the same portkey with a note attached to the desecrated body announcing Lord Voldemort's return."

"That, that, that's terrible." stammered Harry. "How could he do that to Cedric, he was only an innocent student, like myself."

"Well Mr. Potter, that is why I think that you were to reach the cup first, after all, Lord Voldemort has been after you ever since you made your return to the wizarding world and started attending Hogwarts. I also believe that this was the reason why your name was placed into the Goblet of Fire in the first place, and it is for that very reason that I must insist on you returning to your relatives yet again this summer. It is the safest place on the earth and the protection that your mother provided you with her death is only available at your home."

"Don't worry", the voice spoke up once more, "You won't have to stay there long, there are plans in the making that should see your escape from there not long after your arrival."

"Yes headmaster, I understand. Can Ron and Hermione come and see me soon?"

"Yes Harry, they can and since I have other things to tend to, I will be off and let you visit with your friends."

And with a wave of his wand towards the hospital doors, they opened up allowing Ron and Hermione to come running in to Harry's side. Hermione swept him up in one of her rib crushing hugs and then the questions started.

"Are you alright? What happened in the maze? Did you here about Cedric? Do you have to go back to the Dursley's this summer? I gave the headmaster a blast you know, knowing how your family treats you and all. How long do you have to stay in here? Will you be able to join us for the Leaving Feast?"

"Slow down Hermione and I'll try to answer all of your questions. Yes, I was hit by a stunner, I think, yes, yes,

I'm not sure and yes, if I can get out of here in time."

Hermione looked stunned for a moment, but her mind quickly caught up with what Harry had just said and she quickly leaned in and gave him another hug.

"It was so terrible, poor Cedric's body, what they did to him" she said while she started sobbing silently into Harry's shoulder, "And then they had a hard time finding you afterwards."

"What do you mean they had a hard time finding me?"

"Well, professor Dumbledore cast a spell over the entire maze after Cedric's body appeared and they found Viktor attacking poor Fleur and later found out that he was under the effects of the imperious curse, and and", but Hermione started sobbing more violently into Harry's shoulder.

When Hermione couldn't talk any further, he turned towards Ron, only to see the tips of Ron's ears were very red, a definite sign that Ron was angry and barely able to contain his fury. Not understanding why Ron seemed to be so angry, Harry asked "What happened Ron, why is Hermione crying into my shoulder like this?"

"Well mate, you weren't in the maze when professor Dumbledore lowered the hedges, we only found you after Hermione checked the Marauder's Map and found you in professor Moodie's office."

Hermione started sobbing even more now and clutched at Harry, "B B B Bart Crouch JR. was ther too and he wa trying to p p poison y y you. W W W W didn't th th think th th that y y yo wer goin t live." sobbed Hermione into Harry's fastly becoming tear soaked hospital pajamas.

So that was why I was in here for so long, Harry thought to himself, and professor Dumbledore couldn't even let me know what happened to me. I'm really starting to not like him, telling me that I have to go back to my relatives, its the safest place you know, what with my mother's sacrifice and all. It doesn't make any sense now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure that there are many mothers out there who have given there lives to save their children and yet I have never heard of this protection ever before. And the headmaster didn't even believe me when I told them how the Dursley's treated me. Does he not realize that my so-called family hates me, that to them I am just a freak and a nobody and that I don't deserve to live. And come to think of it, nobody in the wizarding world has ever really believed anything I have said either, besides Hermione, he mused as he absent-mindedly wrapped his arms around his best friend and returned her hug, giving her the much needed compassion that her sobbing form seemed to need. Not even Ron could be depended on.

My so-called best mate always seems to turn his back on me when I need his support the most. And come to think of it, that wanker was also responsible for putting Hermione in the bathroom that first year. And as I think about it even more, why did the Weasleys meet me on the outside of the barrier at King's Cross, none of the other magical families met there, they all apparated in, or flued into the train station. And why was Mrs. Weasley carrying on like she didn't know where the platform was, she already had five children going to Hogwarts. The thoughts started overwhelming Harry as, for the first time in a long, long time, the magical blocks and barriers that the headmaster had placed on him at Godrics Hollow started to fail, and as the charms started to fail, Potter family traits and the Evans family intellect started to manifest themselves within Harry. Harry suddenly realized that his life was about to change and that he was no longer going to blindly follow the great leader of the light, Albus Dumbledore, and that the ministry of magic couldn't be trusted either, after all, the ministry mouthpiece, the Daily Prophet had just spent the entire year ridiculing Harry and even Hermione.

With his resolve reset, a new confidence settled over Harry. No longer was he going to sit back and let the Death Eaters come for him, he was going to study and train and take the fight to them. He would try and work Hermione into his plans, she was the smartest person in the world you know, but he would have to think about Ron, he didn't want Ron abandoning them again, especially if their lives depended on it. And he was going to avenge his older friend Cedric's death.

As his thoughts slowed somewhat, Harry shifted his focus back to the girl in his arms. The sobbing had stopped, but when he looked over at Ron, he could still see the anger hadn't abated, so he reached out his hand towards his best mate, or maybe not, and said, "Are you OK mate?"

Ron stepped forward reaching for Harry's hand and said, "Just great, I can't wait to get home where I can fly on my broom all summer."

As soon as their hands touched, feelings of betrayal, deceit, hatred and jealousy flooded Harry's senses. Harry finished the handshake as quickly as possible, the brief encounter leaving him feeling rather nauseous. He hugged Hermione a little tighter for a brief second and then feigning tiredness,, got the two of them to head back to Gryffindor tower. It was getting close to curfew and he didn't want to see Hermione get into any sort of trouble if she was caught out. As for Ron, he would have to think long and hard about his friend and what the feelings that had just assaulted his senses meant.

Before Hermione pulled away to return to Gryffindor tower, she leant in and lightly kissed his cheek as she whispered into his ear, "Madame Ponfrey says that you will be released tomorrow, in time for the leaving feast, so I'll see you tomorrow then. And with one final quick squeeze, she released her hold on Harry and headed for the hospital door, Ron at her side. For some reason, Harry found himself staring at her cute bum as she swayed her hips slightly, and then with a final glance over her shoulder at him and a shy smile, she was gone. Not once did he realize that he wasn't wearing his glasses.

HP HG HP HG

A/N: Please read and review.