Hello everyone if you are reading this for the first time welcome I hope you enjoy!

But to everyone else that is following, I have changed a lot about this chapter and the next one; more character development to say the least.


After finding the quietest and reclusive place in the castle one of the closets on the third floor, Rita Skeeter pushed Harry into the small cramped closet and began her interview.

"So how do you feel about the Triwizard Tournament?" Rita started quickly. not giving Harry enough time to be comfortable in the situation that she pushed him in. "Confident? Fearless?"

Harry had his back to the wall from the overwhelming quickest of this lady's questions. There were no places to sit either in this limited room so the wall was his only support system and it didn't help that Harry was still shorter than the woman, "Um, uh, I'm s-sorry, but I d-don't feel that way at all."

"Harry, may I call you that," Rita said and Harry gives a small nod to her but Rita overlooked his response and continued on to what she was saying. "Harry, the boy who lived, would you say that you are doing this to cope with the trauma of losing your parents?"

"N-no, why would you say th-" Harry confused but was cut off by her next question.

"Since you are the boy who lived would you say that you will win?"

"Uh-"

"How about that little female friend of yours? Do I see a future between the two of you?" Rita's notepad and pen were writing profusely beside her. Harry didn't know where to look: Rita's mouth throwing out words a million miles a minute or the notepad suspiciously writing things down that have not been said.

"No, you have it all wro-"

"Teenage love in so fascinating, isn't it? Especially whoever falls head over heels for a star like you."

"But me and Hermione are not dating-!"

Rita gasped, "Hermione is her name that is a cute name-" She was the one being interrupted this time as the bell rang for dinner. Harry sighed in relief, overjoyed that this interview finally ended. "I hope to talk to you more in the future, Harry."

Harry cringed at the use of his first name; it felt like they were friends when the interaction was jarring to say the least. Harry quickly grabbed his bag and left the closet to join the rest of his classmates not even once looking back.

Once he found his way to the stairs, He found Hermione quickly but unbeknownst to him Rita Skeeter didn't let him leave without evidence for her story. As Harry and Hermione walked to the great hall to get some food for their picnic outside in the courtyard, Rita transformed herself into her unlicensed Animagus form and flew onto the back of Harry's robes. Rita hears every single word that Harry and Hermione said to each other.

Harry and Hermione made small talk as they made their way outside for their picnic, this time heading for the lake just because it was a nice day out. But the real juicy part that Rita Skeeter wanted to hear started when Hermione asked about his time with Rita Skeeter.

"So, how was your interview with Miss Skeeter?" Hermione asked.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Harry grimaced as he quickly changed the subject. "How much homework did Professor Snape give us this time?"

"Half a scroll of parchment on the theory of the Polyjuice potion and when to use it."

Harry rolled his eyes and sighed; even though he was away from Rita Skeeter, there was still the other reality to enter; school and the tournament, "Do you mind helping me with our homework, Hermione?"

"Of course not," Hermione smiled.

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said while taking a bite of his fish and chips. "By the way, since you read the Daily Prophet every day, what do they talk about usually?"

"I thought you didn't want to talk about it?"

"I don't want to talk about the interview, but I'm just curious about what they write in general."

"In my opinion, they're a gossip tabloid newspaper. Just this past week the headlining story what Victor Krum and his love life in the UK is, and they have many theories surrounding you, of course, since you're in the tournament."

"So, it's the whole lot that are mad about rumours and gossip well good on them for finding things that are the most important in the world," Harry's sarcasm bleeding with implication.

Hermione started to snicker at his comment, "So, I take it the interview was horrible, to say the least because that was a horrible but funny joke."

Harry started to chuckle with Hermione at his joke the more he thought about it, "Yeah, it wasn't the most brilliant moment of my life."

Since hearing all of their conversations while ate their lunch by the lake, Rita Skeeter found her fascinating story for the next day's headlining story with a sweet sweet undeniable picture perfect evidence.

The Boy Who Lived's Secret Love Life

Harry Potter, everyone's beloved savior and Triwizard Champion, has been hiding a secret from the Wizarding World, and it is that he has fallen head over heels in love. And this is no ordinary girl to him; he has fallen in love with his best friend Hermione Granger. Miss Granger is a fifteen-year-old Gryffindor student that is in the same year as Mr. Potter and is top of her year also. Rita Skeeter has the inside scoop on their budding romance. Ms. Skeeter has described their romance as inseparable and fun. Ms. Skeeter says that "from what I can tell Harry makes Hermione laugh and that is a textbook example of young love. Also, they resemble James and Lily a lot and you know what they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Harry is like his father, fancying smart girls. I believe the love between the two will stand the test of time and I can't wait for a wedding in the future."

Hermione's jaw dropped; she could not believe what she was reading. Harry's interview with Rita Skeeter turned into a scandal that she could not fathom to think in her head, but here it was in her hands the article and the picture that went with it. The picture was of Harry and Hermione sitting close to each other by the lake, as friends, laughing and talking with one another. The picture showed their faces in full view like it was taken in front of them. Hermione's face fully expressed joy and laughter while Harry looked on at her with a wide smile too.

Hermione tried to rethink to yesterday to where and how Rita Skeeter got this photo. No one else was out by the lake, so no person could really get such a photo of Harry and her together. Did Rita Skeeter make this all up on her own? But that still didn't explain the photo. There was no doubt it was a real photo, but there was no way for someone to get it when no one was around.

Since it was the early morning breakfast time in the Hogwarts Castle Harry and Hermione could not go outside like they always did or liked to during lunch and dinner because of a school rule, they had to endure the Gryffindor table too much to their dismay.

Hermione looked up from the new daily prophet to see Harry across from her looking down and eating his toast and eggs, making sure that his eyes didn't wander into territory that he wasn't ready to face at this moment.

"H-Harry," Hermione started she could not find the words to even start this conversation. "H-Have you read the new daily prophet with Rita Skeeter's interview with you in it?"

"No," Harry said, making contact with her only. "What did she say?"

"You might want to read it..."Hermione cringed as she handed Harry the newspaper.

Harry began to read the Daily Prophet from the headlining page. He read the big main story of Harry's interview which to him was how he expected it to be. He expected it to be something he never said in the first place. When he got to the place where Hermione was concerned, at first, he was confused that the Daily Prophet was so enamored with Harry's love life when there was none to find. He had crushes like Cho Chang. who was in Ravenclaw, but he didn't really talk to her to start the idea of a romance. Hermione and he were friends. Then, he looked at the magical picture of him and Hermione laughing by the lake and started to think, like Hermione, where did Rita Skeeter get her information and how did she get the photo.

"What did the Skeeter lady ask you?"

Harry shook his head in disgust before speaking on the matter, "It is not what you're thinking Hermione, plus it's just a scandal that she made up."

"I know, but is there anything Ms. Skeeter asked of you to make her think this?" Hermione asked, gaining concern as Harry handed the Daily Prophet back to her.

"She didn't really let me talk at all. I was basically stuttering. She talked about how I thought the tournament and then asked me about my love life."

"And I was included?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

Harry nodded, "But I could never really get her to stop asking questions and she must have filled in the blanks where I was stuttering."

"Well, that explains some of it but I think we have a bigger problem."

"What do you mean?"

Hermione dug into the pocket of her robes and took out a folded letter, "Mrs. Weasley sent this morning and I think she read the article before we could ever."

"Was it a howler?"

"Yes! I was taking a letter to the owlery to send to my parents and then I get a letter dropped at my feet and it started to yell at me how could I do this to her and her family. I was very confused about what she meant as she never got around to explain what I did wrong."

"I guess everyone is blaming us in some way," Harry consoled as he put a hand over hers from across the table. "We'll work through this."

From the other end of the Gryffindor table sat Ron who also received the Daily Prophet as well and it fed into his inevitable perception of Harry and Hermione.

There was always something between those two; I'm glad the press has finally got into the story. But the scandal that comes with what's really going on will be brilliant. I can see it now, Harry exposed for being a liar, and as for Hermione, hopefully, she'll get what she wants in the end. But Harry will see she's only using him for his fame before anyone else.

Ron sipped his orange juice and glanced over to the Slytherin table and met Draco's eyes, and Draco gave a single nod back at him. Ron and Draco were giving each other the go-ahead for their planned meeting today. A secret meeting to plan what was the best way to get revenge on Harry. Karma was going to be a bitch for Harry. After Professor Dumbledore released the students from the Great Hall to their first class of the day, Ron, having free time, caught up with Draco in a secluded place in the castle. A room on the third floor which had no purpose to any of the staff or the students of Hogwarts.

Ron knew vaguely that Harry and Hermione didn't have class as well so he knew he had to be careful of who he ran into. He couldn't afford to bump into any other Gryffindor student, especially his older brother or anyone from the other houses. If he is caught talking civilly to Draco, of all people, it will most definitely put a word out around the school saying some is up.

Ron was uncomfortable with the idea of working with Draco but he was going to take a chance on the Slytherin. What was going through Ron's mind was that maybe Draco had a plan. A plan better than anything that he could ever come up with. But since this was Draco, Ron was taking precaution to what he would do with this plan.

"Malfoy, I think I am ready to join you," Ron said, after finding out that they were alone in this secluded place in the castle. The room was small, to say the least, and also had no candles around so it made this meeting with the two boys dark. From what the two boys could see from the small window light from the door there were about three different chairs in various shapes around the room. each boy picked one and started their conversation on their future plans.

"Good, you won't regret this, Weasley," Draco said. "But I have to ask what changed your mind so fast?"

"The skeeter lady; she came in wanting Harry, and he jumped at the chance"

Draco agreed patting Ron on the shoulder. Ron was uncomfortable with Draco doing this but he let him continue, "Weasley I knew you were good for it. Now We want you to be seen to us as not a blood traitor so-"

Ron's eyes narrowed, "Wait-wait who is us?"

To contrast to Ron's unsteady and uncomfortable stance to the situation, Draco was eager for this plan to start, "My father and I made a plan-"

"Why does this involve your father?"

"You'll understand once you hear the plan..."

"And what about the blood traitor thing?"

"We see your family as less and to work with us, we want you to shake that idea of blood mixing that's your family loves to do off."

Ron rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Why can't this just be a plan that involves us getting Harry into a lot of trouble?"

"It will, ugh, why does the weasel family always have to be difficult to work with?"

"If that's how is it going to be working with you I don't want to do it." Ron stood up and walked out of the room leaving Draco looking confused and with a glint in his eye a bit fearful. He had to pull his best foot forward and get Ron to their side. "Weasely, I'm the best you are going to do! No one is going to help you like I am!" Ron just continued down the corridor rejecting everything Draco said. This was a stupid idea.

Later that night in the Dungeon corridor in Hogwarts Castle Draco was sitting in his dormitory with Crabbe and Goyle looking out his window watching for an owl that his father said he would send tonight. Crabbe and Goyle were talking amongst themselves and was ignoring Draco at that time as Draco was fearful of what his father, Lucius, had to say. He knew Lucius didn't know everything but from what had happened he knew Lucius wouldn't like it at all.

Draco kept replaying the events that happened that day. He knew it was a failure. But the consequential act of explaining that to his father is what kept him usually quiet. Draco tried his best to keep his emotions under wraps. He could not afford Crabbe and Goyle to see his weaknesses so to Crabbe and Goyle Draco was sitting on his bed plotting something.

Finally, he saw the dreadful owl flying toward and landing on his window. Crabbe notice the arrival of the owl before Goyle did and stupidly asked, "Did Lucius sent you something?"

"Shut up!" Draco said taking the letter from the animal as Crabbe and Goyle continued back to talking amongst themselves.

Draco breathed before opening the letter and reading the contents.

Dear Draco,

I hope the Weasley boy has joined our side, and I hope you set up our meeting with him soon. I'm usually disappointed with you on various things like the fiasco I call 'you pulling Potter onto our side' but I want to see you redeem yourself. I think this is the best plan that you've ever come up with against Potter, and I do not wish for it to fail.

I want to talk with you tonight after everyone's gone to bed in the fireplace; I say about 2 a.m. sharp and don't be late!

Lucius

Draco closed his eyes to the idea of what the conversation between him and his father will be. He knew that it wasn't going to be good.

2 a.m. couldn't come any faster for Draco he was dreading it but 2 came faster than he was prepared for. He was sweating down his back as he sat in the Slytherin boy dormitory in his bed. He would every few seconds he would eye his table clock in anticipation. Once the clock ticked over to 1:59 a.m. he hurried down the stairs to the Slytherin common room's fireplace and waited the extra minute before his father would appear. Draco put on a confident face as his father appeared in the flames of the fireplace.

"Draco, did your first phase of your plan succeed to your expectations?" Lucius asked With a knowing look. "And don't you lie to me; I know when you're lying to me Draco."

Draco's facade dropped as he gained a worried look on his face. If his father was physically in the Slytherin common room with him; he knew that he would get a slap to the face. Trying to get Potter in his first year cause his father in do this when he came home that Christmas.

Draco gulped before speaking, "Weasley didn't join us…"

"Draco not only am I disappointed in you but how foolish could you be in letting this first phase fail." Lucius turning his nose up to him. "We need either the Weasley boy or the Weasley girl to join us, and since the Weasley boy was best friends with Potter he's our best chance of getting Potter's trust."

"I know, father," Draco bowed his head.

With Draco bowing his head to his father, Lucius knew exactly what happened between the two. "So, what did you say to the Weasley boy that he didn't join us?"

"I explained to Weasley about the blood traitor name that he has to shake off, and he got mad at the idea. I'm sorry," Draco apologized.

Lucius growled into a fiery rage at his ungrateful and displeasing son. Lucius wanted to yell from the top of his lungs to how foolish he was, but this was not the time or place. "Draco, your plan was to get Potter expelled from Hogwarts and for Potter to vulnerable to any of the Death Eaters once it's done."

Draco nodded but stayed silent. Lucius growled one last time he was finished with the conversation to his hopeless son but before ending it he had one last order for his son to do, "Tomorrow morning I want you to meet with that Weasley boy and persuade him into joining us, and don't you dare mock him! We want him on our side for our plan to work." Lucius ended the call, and finally, Draco could hold his head up and breathe once more.

That next morning before breakfast even started, Draco found Ron entering the Great Hall. Ron saw him coming from the corner of his eye and knew that Draco wanted desperately to join him. It was early for breakfast so there very few people were in the Great Hall leaving very few witnesses to notice the two fourteen-year-old boys talking to each other.

"Weasley, can we talk in private?" Draco called out before Ron could open the door.

Ron rolled his eyes to the blonde-haired boy, "What?"

Draco motioned to the corridor adjacent to the Great Hall, and Ron followed him but from a good steady distance. Making sure the coast was clear, Draco's started his proposition again."Weasley, I think you will like our plan for getting back at Potter."

"What makes you think that I will join you if you're going to bash me as you did?" Ron said, folding his arms and waiting for his explanation.

"Maybe we can make a deal," Draco smirked as he gained a perfect idea for Ron to join in on the plan.

"A deal?"

"Yes, my father and I will not berate you in any sense; we will only call you Weasley and that will be all but you'll have to renounce your title of blood traitor."

Ron took this into account but was somewhat willing to take him up on the deal but there is no way for Draco to only be nice to him, "Is there anything else for this deal? How can I know that you'll keep this promise?"

"We can make an oath, or we can make an unbreakable vow, but it has to be administered by my father."

"Can your father make that vow as well to me?"

"I'll make sure of it," Draco nodded knowing that this will be hard.

"Okay, I will join you in your plan..."


Thank you for reading!