"HARRY POTTER," shouted Dumbledore, the look of rage was more infuriated than any Hogwarts students had ever seen, Ron gulped and Hermione grabbed Harry's arm in fear, Harry swallowed and stood fearlessly walking forward to Dumbledore, a Hogwarts professor grabbed Harry by the shoulder and steered him to the room with the others.
"Come to congratulate me early bud?" Alex asked Harry as the professor with one wooden leg and one fake eye led Harry into the room.
"Afraid not my friend, I'm in," Harry said with a shy grin, Cedric Diggory the Hogwarts boy looked at Harry with intense stare, not of hatred, but of simple interest and curiosity. Victor Krum the Quidditch player looked grumpy but yet again, when didn't he? Alex forced a smiled and congratulated his friend, sure his glory was gone, but somehow he had managed to steal the glory even when Alex got in and not Harry it made Alex very angry to know is best friend his own 'brother' would go against him like that. The part that was complicated about Alex and Harry's friendship was Alex's father 'betrayed' Harry's parents, landing them in six-foot holes in the ground; Harry didn't seem to mind though. Loud footsteps echoed through the room as the headmasters and judges of the Triwizard tournament entered, upon entry Igor Karkoroff, the headmaster of Durmstrang gave the professor who brought Harry to the room a smile of satisfaction. Dumbledore and Carter were talking in quick low voices, apparently Dumbledore thought Harry cheated, Harry wisely kept his mouth shut and listened intently, sure Dumbledore didn't like him, but Carter had finally convinced Dumbledore a fifteen year old couldn't out trick the Goblet of fire. Barty Crouch the official overseer of the competition said once a name came out of the Goblet of fire, the person must compete. So even if Harry didn't want to compete, he would have no choice, but since he had originally entered it was no problem for Harry, though Dumbledore seemed angrier than before he let it go, leaving the students to bed. Harry, and Hermione had seem to 'hit it off' becoming very close very fast, of course Harry just enjoyed having a friend who was female, where Hermione was hoping with all her heart that Harry wasn't hurt in the competition, of course no one could get her to admit she liked Harry but Ginny, but that was another story
Hogwarts School Of witchcraft and wizardry October 12th6:03 a.m.
Harry had taken to laying on the couch, the other's from Arcanium had gotten used to sleeping in, but Harry still got up at around five and showered, then came down to read, usually Hermione was down in the morning. "Morning Harry," called Hermione from across the room, she had just entered, at fifteen Hermione had golden brown hair and eyes and without robes a very nice figure, shapely and beautiful, it was only a figure Harry had seen once, when Hermione came down in her tight fitting jeans and a tee-shirt looking for her brush to comb her hair, Harry thought she was the most beautiful woman in the school, it just so happened she was the first woman he saw as he entered the school. Harry's new morning ritual was to beat Hermione to the Gryffindor common room and wait for her to come down, then after she came down and said good morning to him, he would casually walk over to her, trying to purposefully leave his khaki shirt upstairs or unbuttoned so she got a clear view of his muscular body and chest. The Hogwarts students secretly wondered why the Arcanium students didn't get cold in a tee shirt, but Harry told Hermione about the warming charms she grinned and laughed. "Harry what are you doing this weekend?" Hermione asked him casually.
"Are you asking me on a date miss Granger?" Harry asked.
"Possibly," Hermione answered, "there's a Hogsmeade weekend and we're allowed to leave the castle," she told him.
"Then let me start over," Harry said with a grin, "Hermione Granger would you do the honor of allowing me to escort you to Hogsmeade this lovely weekend?" Harry asked with a pleased look upon his face, Hermione nodded through her blush, Harry thought his heart had stopped when she leaned forward and pecked him lightly on the cheek; it was his turn after all to blush deeply.
"I know the first task," Hermione told Harry abruptly. Harry looked at her with a confused expression so she continued, "you are going to have to get a golden egg from a dragon, Ron's brother Charlie is one of the handler's so we found out last night," she explained, Harry nodded, and thought of Alex, his heart ached for his 'brother' who was not speaking to him as of now. "You're worried about Alex aren't you?" Hermione asked him when his face fell, Harry nodded and spoke.
"Alex was my first friend, I left my two pet's with a second year to care for, Alex is my brother, literally as well, this past August me and Alex missed a week of school, on a Sunday night we performed a blood ritual, that made us brother's by blood and mind, right now I can't hear his mind or feel his power in my blood, I fear if he keeps up the anger our bond will be lost," Harry said softly, Hermione smiled sadly. "I don't know how to get past a bloody dragon, I was glad when Alex was called an not me, the only reason I entered is because that was the only way I could come here for the year, I thought it would be exciting and fun," Harry said. Hermione nodded and stood, once standing she grabbed Harry by the hand and pulled him to standing level she dragged him to the great hall for a 'curing' breakfast with his date.
"The first Tri-Wizard even will take place this Sunday the day after our second Hogsmeade trip, a foreign student may go to Hogsmeade upon the company of a Hogwarts student, Good Luck," Dumbledore said from the grand table.
Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and WizardryOctober 16th Saturday
10:15 a.m.
Harry and Hermione strolled through the streets of Hogsmeade nearly touching together at their closeness. Hermione suggested a small diner on the outskirts of the town, Harry agreed and reluctantly put on the orange blind-fold and allowed Hermione to steer him to the diner. It was a nice diner with light green and blue interior, Hermione said she liked the food and suggested they eat something small. Harry insisted upon paying for the meal and was interrupted by a woman and a man with a cameral following her. "Harry Potter?" asked the woman, Harry nodded his head apprehensively, "how lovely, Rita Skeeter Daily Prophet may I have a few words?" she asked, "Lovely," she said before Harry could answer, "and who are you?" Skeeter asked giving Hermione a look of disgust.
"None of your business," Harry replied harshly standing so he was eye level with the woman, in fact he was beginning to dislike this woman more and more by the minute.
"Defensive are we?" Skeeter asked, "Ooh this'll be on the front page by tomorrow morning." Skeeter and her cameral man left, taking a few shots of Harry who was scowling at the camera. Hermione and Harry had walked through Hogsmeade holding hands loosely on the way back neither noticing the fact that they had just had hundreds of photo's snapped by the 'paparazzi', now that they found Potter they weren't going to give him a break.
That night with few people in the common room Hermione pecked Harry on the cheek to say goodnight, but Harry about to do the same, moved in the same direction, they caught each other on the lips and off guard, Harry's knees fell week and Hermione stumbled into the wall. Harry put his hand on the wall so he didn't fall into Hermione, and suddenly there was a bright white flash, Hermione and Harry sprang apart like two bullets shot the opposite way, standing on the right of them was a small sandy haired third year boy holding a camera. He tapped his camera with his wand and a picture appeared in his hand, another tap and the picture was animated and sent to the Daily prophet and little Denis Creevy just made one hundred galleons with Rita Skeeter.
Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry
October 17th, Sunday
The first Task
Harry tried talking to Alex, in fact he'd tried to talk to Alex a thousand times, but his friend wouldn't even give him a chance to speak, so Harry decided to ignore his brother. Barty Crouch entered the tent where the four were waiting anxiously for instruction. "Gather 'round," whispered crouch excitedly holding out a purple velvet sack, "you first Mr. Krum," said Crouch, Krum reached his hand in the bag and pulled out a model dragon on a silver chain, it had the number three attached to it's miniature neck. "Norwegian Ridgeback good luck Mr. Krum. Mr. Diggory," Crouch said holding the bag up to Cedric Diggory. He pulled out a reddish looking dragon with the number two on it. "The Swedish-short-snout, Good luck Mr. Diggory, Mr. Black," Crouch said holding the bag to Alex, Alex shot Harry a glare and reached into the bag carefully avoiding the freezing section of the bag, Alex pulled out a greenish dragon with the number one on it. "The common Welsh Green, good luck Mr. Black. Mr. Potter good luck," said Crouch dumping out a vivid electric blue dragon onto Harry's palm, Harry shivered. "The mountain blue, that spit's ice you'll have fun with this one Mr. Potter," Crouch said sarcastically. Harry put the dragon around his neck it had a bright white sign with a number four on it, around the dragon's neck. "You will begin in twenty minutes, just relax for a bit," Crouch said walking out of the tent.
"Alex," Harry said quite loudly, Diggory and Krum looked on with interest as Harry tried to reason with his friend. "Listen to me," Harry said spinning Alex around, Alex turned reluctantly but shot dagger's with his eyes, Harry cringed internally but continued, "you are my best friend, the first person that cave a damn about me, now it's my turn, Alex my brother, the first person I've cared about since I was one, please listen," Alex's gaze softened, Harry breathed a breath of relief and continued again, "be careful and I'll see you after the match," Harry said, Alex gave Harry a smile and proceeded to the edge of the tent where he was about to begin. "Good luck Alex," Harry called; Alex gave him thumbs up. Once Alex left the tent, Harry cast a temporary charm on the side of the tent where Alex had just left, Harry, Cedric and Victor could now see out, where as no one else could see in. So they watched Harry calling out every time Alex was nearly swiped by the green dragon. Cedric came over to talk to Harry.
"So you're 'the' famous Harry Potter?" Cedric asked. Harry nodded with an unconvincing smile.
"The one and only," Harry said giving Cedric a raise of his eyebrow, and reached out to shake his hand. Cedric looked into Harry's emerald eyes and grinned.
"Well I must tell you I've never seen eyes quite your color," Cedric said, Harry looked at him amusingly.
"Quite the eye for details Mr. Diggory," Harry said.
"Please call me Cedric," Cedric said to Harry, Harry smiled and wished Cedric luck as Alex swiped up the golden egg. Alex re-entered the tent looking tired and burnt slightly, Harry rushed to his side, but Alex was immediately put under care of Madam Pomfrey the Hogwarts school nurse, in the next tent over. Harry and Krum watched as Cedric transformed a large boulder into a baby dragon, the mother immediately went to tend to the dragon and left her nest unguarded. Cedric simply summoned the egg and hopped back into the tent in record time, Cedric gave Harry a beaming look as he entered the tent and went to be checked out by madam Pomfrey. Krum managed to get the egg by confounding the dragon, but in the process the dragon stepped on half of the real eggs.
"Finite," Harry said with a grin, so the others couldn't watch him. As soon as Harry entered the arena the vivid blue dragon shot out long spiky icicles at him, so he cast a simple charm on the dragon, it simply put the dragon to a harmless sleep for as long as needed. Harry unlike Cedric Harry decided to make it look real and climb the small rock to get to the next, he scooped the golden egg up holding it in the crook of his arm, he jumped down and dashed into the tent. Cedric and Alex shot him a grin, while Krum just sulked not being able to watch his enemy compete.
"NOW IF THE CHAMPIONS WILL STEP OUT ONTO THE ARENA THE SCORING WILL BEGIN," shouted the voice of Ludo Bagaman. Harry, Alex, Cedric and Krum stepped out onto the now flat arena and waited for the judges to begin, the started with Alex, as he was the first. Dumbledore shot up the number seven in a spindly orange substance. Harry clapped for his friend, and watched as Karkoroff shot up the number nine, Harry whistled loudly and clapped Alex on the back Carter shot up a number nine as well, then Crouch shot up the number eight, in total Alex had received thirty three points out of the available forty. Next was Cedric, Dumbledore gave him a nine, Karkoroff gave him a eight, Carter gave him a nine, and Crouch gave him a nine, Cedric got thirty five out of forty possible. Harry clapped loudly as the judges went to Krum, Dumbledore gave Krum a six, Karkoroff gave Krum a nine, Carter gave him a seven, and Crouch gave him a five, explaining that they were not supposed to squash the eggs, Krum had received just twenty seven points out of forty, he didn't look to disappointed, and kind of grinned when Harry told him he did well. Harry paid much attention as Dumbledore shot up a ten explaining Harry did a very advanced spell that was unheard of but had caused neither the dragon or the eggs any harm, Karkoroff reluctantly gave Harry a nine saying he did well, Carter shot up a ten proud for his pupil using an unheard of spell, and lastly Crouch shot up a nine, giving Harry thirty eight points total out of forty, that put him in the lead. When they entered the castle there was a large sheet that showed the scores of the participants.
Harry Potter: 38
Cedric Diggory: 35
Alex Black: 33
Victor Krum: 27
"Mr. Potter," Shouted a voice from across the arena later on when Harry was surveying the arena with Hermione, it looked like Ronald Weasley from a distance, but taller and broader. Harry walked cautiously toward the running redhead, Hermione following cautiously. "What is the incantation of that spell you used it would be helpful for us," said the redhead. Harry gave him a skeptical look. "I'm Charlie Weasley a dragon keeper," he said at Harry's look.
"I invented that spell in my fifth year when Alex and I went exploring we came across a dragons lair, and it had about twelve dragon's in it, but I thought of killing them with diffindo, but I decided to take diffindo and put it into a sleeping spell making it more effective," Harry said, "and the incantation is Dormiendo, in dragon it means, sleep cut, and it'll put any dragon to sleep for up to seven hours," Harry said with a grin as the large tattooed Weasley grabbed him in a one armed hug and ran off to tell his coworkers. Harry walked back to the castle with an arm comfortably around Hermione keeping her warm during the freezing nighttime walk. Harry and Hermione were very comfortable around each other it was almost like they were meant to be together, Harry felt he could tell Hermione anything, and he did.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
November 3rd
5:49 p.m.
"Attention all there will be a Ball, on Christmas night from six p.m. to two a.m. the tri-wizard champions will open with the first dance, good luck," shouted Dumbledore from the high table. Everyone gave a polite round of applause and finished their dessert, Harry and Hermione walked back to the common room, most people had noticed that they'd been spending quite a lot of time together and for the most part most were okay with it, Ron seemed a bit jealous, but then again when wasn't he? Harry looked in the room and noticed it was just a few first years, and ushered Hermione to a vacant corner, to ask her a question.
"Hermione?" Harry said in a questioning tone.
"Yes Harry," Hermione said, placing her hand on her knee, Harry looked a little nervous.
"Would you like to go to the ball with me?" he asked hopefully.
"Yes Harry," Hermione said kissing him swiftly on the cheek and wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him into a loving embrace.
"Would you like to be my girlfriend?" Harry asked out of courage from Hermione's previous answer. Hermione blushed and nodded, "So what do we do now that we're dating?" Harry asked her.
"I supposed about the same thing we're doing now hey?" Hermione asked, Harry nodded and smiled; Hermione took his hand gingerly into her own and dragged him out of the common room to go for 'a walk'. They didn't walk far; they strolled slowly through the seventh floor talking merrily. Dating for Harry and Hermione wasn't much different from being friends, except they kissed occasionally in public, and held hands comfortably when they walked, other than that they were nothing more than best friends, though at the next Hogsmeade weekend they both agreed to go off alone for two hours to purchase a Christmas gift for each other, Harry has the most perfect thing in mind.
Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry
November 6th
Saturday, Hogsmeade day
Harry was rummaging around the jewelry shop in Hogsmeade, he had to get Hermione the best Christmas gift ever, and Harry saw a set of pendants much like his 'dog tags' that he wore every day, they were solid gold and on one side read a person's statistics, name, age, birthday, health conditions, and relative location, but on the other side was a shimmering surface, the note next to it said, if you said the person's name you could talk to them like on a two way mirror. Harry asked the store clerk how much they were, they weren't too much so Harry bought them putting in the name, age, and birthday for each, later he would have to swipe a hair off Hermione to set it to her health condition and relative location, but he just had to key her in then they'd be set. Harry searched a bit longer and found a charm bracelet that let you shrink down any item of importance and connect them like charms; he bought the bracelet and went to the bookstore. Harry bought seven books and shrunk them to be charms on the bracelet.
Hermione was in the defense store, Harry had mentioned needing some new supplies, of course she really wasn't going to get him just supplies she was going to get him supplies and something she hadn't quite decided on. Of course she knew an owl was out of the question, he had two pet panthers, which were supposedly twins, and Alex had two panthers a mother and daughter. Hermione wandered out of the bookstore just moments after Harry had left and bought a book titled, 10,000 useful charms that you've never heard of by: Boston Eagle.
Harry and Hermione met in the Three Broomsticks for lunch, Hermione walked in and saw Harry sitting at a small table waiting for her. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting Mr. Potter," Hermione said with a small smile.
"Of course not Miss Granger, but first," Harry said holding up a finger, "I have a gift for you, I thought these would be most useful when I go back to Arcanium," Harry said sadly, he pulled out the black box with the two golden communicator pendants, "but I need one single hair from you," Harry said with a grin he simply reached out and plucked a curly hair from Hermione's head.
"Ouch," Hermione complained teasingly shooting Harry a playful glare, Harry poked the hair into the two pendants and snapped them apart,
"This is for you," he said handing her the one that read his name.
"But it says your name," Hermione said.
"Look closer," Harry said. Hermione looked closely at the pendant, sure it said Harry Potter but for a reason, it also said his age, and health which read, two degrees over temperature, Hermione told him that he had a fever, Harry laughed, "no I was nervous so I got a bit sweaty," he grinned. "Flip it over, and say my name," Harry instructed.
"Harry Potter," Hermione whispered, immediately Harry's face appeared in it and the one Harry was holding grew warm.
"Yes," Harry whispered to the pendant, Hermione gasped, she could hear him perfectly even though she couldn't hear what he had said out loud. "Now put it on under your shirt and feel this," Harry said with a smile and waited for Hermione to put it on, "Hermione Granger," Harry said softly, Hermione felt he pendant warm and Harry showed Hermione the picture of her face in his pendant. "You are gorgeous," Harry said softly. "That is so we can keep in touch no matter where we are as long as we are both wearing them and have no fear they are water proof, just like my silver ones I wear them even in the shower. Harry pulled out his wand and made a copy of his silver one and asked for Hermione's pendant, Hermione handed it over confused, "now you have the same one as I do, with my name, except on the back instead of a symbol you can put a memo of me on it, deal?" he asked. Hermione nodded and blushed.
Harry and Hermione walked hand in hand back to the castle stopping only when Harry wanted to take a picture of himself and Hermione in front of the shrieking shack. He pulled out the shrunken camera and enlarged it to normal, Harry suspended it in mid-air and set the timer forever thirty seconds for twenty pictures. To Hermione she said it reminded her of a picture booth at the mall by her house, Harry came up behind Hermione and wrapped his hands around her neck placing his chin on her shoulder Hermione tilted her head back to kiss Harry on the lips, nothing could be better than magical cameras. Later that night Harry and Hermione were looking through the pictures, there was one where Hermione had put snow down Harry's shirt and Harry retaliated by tripping her and landing next to her in the snow. In one they were making snow angels, another they were having a brief snowball fight, in a few they would laugh then kiss and then go back to laughing. Harry's favorite was when his animated self kept tackling animated Hermione to the ground and covering her in white fluff, animated Hermione would then retaliate and pick up the snow with her wand and dump it over his head. Hermione rather like the one where animated Harry wrapped his arms around her neck, and Hermione would then turn to kiss him. Harry almost dropped the photo where they were poking each other, because animated Harry kept poking Hermione in the eye, making animated Hermione cry and smack him, then Harry laughed remembering he really had poked Hermione in the eye, and Hermione really did hit him.
Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry
November 7th
7 a.m. Sunday
Harry and Hermione were already down in the great hall eating breakfast with the teachers; because only few students were awake they ate with the teachers. Harry and Hermione were talking with McGonagall, who promptly asked if Harry knew how to dance. "Of course I do, Professor, every year at Arcanium we have to take a week of dance classes, for social gatherings in the future, so I'd say I can dance well," Harry said.
"I would still like you and Miss Granger to report to my office after breakfast, to see if you can dance together, as an opener to the Yule Ball you will want to look your absolute best," said McGonagall happily, Hermione blushed and Harry simply agreed. Later on Harry was standing in the elderly professor's office with Hermione waiting for McGonagall to start the music. "Get ready," she said sharply, Harry gingerly placed a hand on Hermione's waist and held his other hand to her. As the music played Harry and Hermione twirled and spun with perfection McGonagall looked pleased and allowed them to leave.
"She's a crazy one," Hermione said, "and I didn't know you could dance," Hermione said with a happy smile.
"Not many people can tell that us Arcanium boys can all dance that well," Harry said seriously, he smiled to Hermione, who smiled shyly, "now that I mention it you have some superb dancing skills as well, does Hogwarts teach Dance?" Harry asked curiously, Hermione shook her head softly.
"Summers do wonders," she said.
"Summer?" Harry asked, "at Arcanium we have just holidays, like one for Christmas, one for Easter and one we have most of Sunday off, and we have the last day of the term off, so we have about two weeks without school every year," Harry said, Hermione gaped at him, McGonagall shoed them out of her office, Harry offered his hand shyly to Hermione, Hermione took his hand, and kissed him before they set off, of course Harry and Hermione ignored the death threats by all sorts of men and women who 'wanted' Harry Potter. As it was Sunday they had the day off and were planning on going and visit Professor Snape who for some odd reason had a strange fascination with Harry about Potions.
"You know Professor Snape has been a lot nicer to the Gryffindor's since you started dating me," Hermione said with a grin.
"I know," Harry said simply, "and I also know you hate Brussel sprouts and sing alto, you've told me I know," Harry said with a cheeky grin.
"Ha, Ha," Hermione said.
"Hello Harry, Miss Granger," Snape's steely voice cut through the dungeon upon their entrance.
"Hello Severus," Harry said kindly, "what are we working on today?" Harry asked.
"I'm actually trying to invent a potion that does the reverse of a protean charm," Snape said with sudden interest.
"Like the dark mark, Professor," Hermione suggested, Snape nodded. For a few hours Harry, Severus, and Hermione messed around with potions ingredients, Harry spilled some green goop on the table and wiped it up with a rag quickly. The wooden table had a golden tint to it. Harry took a vial and dumped some on the table, and smeared it around with the rag, when he lifted the rag the part where Harry had been rubbing had been turned to gold. Hermione looked skeptical, Severus pulled out his wand and did some standard tests.
"Wicked," he concluded, the gold was real, and they had the exact instructions for the potion, now they'd be pretty much rich if they wanted to, but instead they were going to show it to the headmaster of Arcanium a good friend of Snapes.
"So have you figured out your clue yet?" Hermione asked Harry while sitting on the couch of the Gryffindor common room.
"Ages ago," Harry said.
"How'd you find out?" Hermione asked.
"I opened an egg that screamed at me when I was in the bathroom I dropped it and it floated to the bottom of the bath, I dove in to get it and it was singing to me," Harry said. "It said they took something I treasure, I'll have an hour to look, and I figured out the mermaids took it and it'll be in the black lake and I'll have to use the bubble head charm to breathe under water." Harry took a deep breath and Hermione looked astounded. Alex entered the room with a confused look upon his face.
"Harry come here," he said with a slight grin slight confused look on his face. Harry was at Alex's side in an instant. "I finally figured it out how about you?" Alex asked.
"Ages ago," Harry said with a sly grin.
"I have to go Harry, figure out how to do the charm," Alex dashed off without another glance at his friend.
A/N: this is in now way going to be a complete romance fic, for the most part Harry will be in action for most of the time, this chapter had a lot of things with Harry and Hermione, it is a slight romance fic, but mostly action/adventure/drama/A.U.