This chapter was beta by EroHocoLoco!! All love to her!!!
Now onward to the chapter!!
Meeting the masses head-on
Harry stared at The Great Hall doors, a frown on his face as he squirmed. He didn't want to go in, after what had happened yesterday he didn't want to meet the masses or even any of the Weasleys. He didn't want to know if Fred, George or even Ginny also thought it was he who had put his name into the stupid cup.
But…
He was also hungry.
"Harry?" He looked up in surprise as he saw his uncle come walking up from the dungeon stairs, the amber eyed raven wearing a long green robe with muggle pants and shirt under in black. "What in Merlin's shaggy beard are you doing out here?" Julian frowned as he walked over to his nephew.
The fourteen year old nervously licked his lips and looked at the doors once again. "I…Uncle I can't do this…"
Julian sighed and bent slightly to look into emerald eyes. "Harry, you're a Gryffindor. Hold your head up high and keep your parents memory in mind." Julian hugged the young boy. "You haven't entered this willingly and you don't want to do it but damn it, you're going to show the true colors of the Potter family and the true colors of Gryffindor and we're going to walk into that hall with our heads held high. You're no coward Harry." Harry stared at his uncle before nodding and squaring his shoulders. If his uncle could enter the wizard world for him, then Harry could enter The Great Hall for his uncle.
Seeing the light that ignited in Harry's emerald eyes, Julian gave a satisfied smirk. "Just like your mother Harry, that stubborn look could only belong to her."
Harry's heart took wings at that, making him happy. For once, he was being compared to his mother and not just his father.
Squaring his shoulders, Harry turned around and walked into The Great Hall, his head held high as he felt his uncle follow behind him. The instant the two stepped in, a hush descended on the four tables before Gryffindor broke out into applause and the other houses broke into whispers, good or bad Harry wasn't sure.
It still didn't stop him as he walked to the Gryffindor and took a seat across from…oh fuck; he had taken a seat across from George and Fred Weasley. The two grinned at him.
"Hi there Harry my boy-"
"We were wondering when you-"
"Were coming down from your-"
"Beauty sleep-"
"Talking about beauty-"
Two twin pair of eyes followed Julian Slink-Potters trek up to the head table where he got a seat next to Snape. The two gave each other short nods before Snape settled back to eating and Julian served himself some food.
"Who is he?"
Frowning at the twins even as he noticed others were listening in, Harry got himself some toast and bacon. "That is my uncle Julian guys, leave him alone." The red-haired twins blinked and looked at each other, exchanging a silent conversation before grinning at Harry. "Your uncle is quite the looker. But then again, you're not bad looking yourself Harry." They winked and Harry couldn't help a slight smile and blush as he concentrated on his breakfast.
"…Do you two think I put my name in the cup?"
The twins blinked at Harry before laughing. "If we couldn't manage it then you couldn't either! Not to mention how you hate attention Harry." They grinned and Harry felt relieved.
From the head table, Julian kept half an eye on Harry. He almost smiled at the way he was dealing. 'Good boy, you're making your parents proud. Can you two see him, James and Lily? He's doing so well.'
"I see Harry is feeling good." Julian looked at Dumbledore, a blank look settling on his face.
"After I talked with him, he started feeling a bit better." He murmured in a measured voice as they watched the delegations from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang arrive with their headmistress and headmaster.
The two took a seat at the head table too, as their students got seated at different parts of The Great Hall. Those from Beauxbatons took seat mostly at Ravenclaw table but some migrated both to Slytherin and Hufflepuff but none came to the Gryffindor table. Durmstrang however spread out equally over all four tables and no one was more surprised than Harry when Victor Krum sat down right next to him.
1*"Are you vell Harry Potter?" He asked in his heavy accented voice and Harry nodded slowly, staring wide eyed at the Quidditch star. Why was he sitting next to him!
Krum only gave a slightly sour faced smile that reminded Harry more about a grimace but he had to admit that Krum had a certain... charm, he would say. Harry had come to terms about being attracted to other males last year and he had really started to notice things. He had also noticed he had a thing for redheads as had been proved during the world cup.
His cheeks came alive with a blush as he thought back to Bill and Charlie.
~~Flashback~~
Harry sat outside, grilling a few sausages that they were going to eat. Mr. Weasley wanted to keep up the illusion of them being muggles though Harry couldn't understand why. The raven sighed and wondered why Hermione and Ron couldn't be out there, though Ron had murmured something about not wanting to be eaten by mosquito and Hermione…well she had a book.
Suddenly he heard a slight commotion and looked up.
It was Charlie and Bill, neither wearing a tread on their chest. A blush stormed its way up Harry's cheeks, necks and ears as he looked back down at the sausages. He gave them a wave as the two stepped into the tent with cheerful hello's, once again leaving Harry alone outside with only his now rather x-rated thoughts.
But a few minutes later, Charlie came back out and sat down next to the teen, smiling at him. "Hey there Harry."
Harry blushed and started talking with Charlie, the two still talking as the others came out to get their sausages.
~~Flashback end~~
He shook himself out of the memory and finished eating, glancing up to see if his uncle was finished.
Julian caught the look and got up, wiping his mouth. He then rather elegantly stepped down and started walking towards the main doors. Harry gave a smile to Fred and George. "It was nice knowing you two don't hate me or think I put my name in the Goblet…"
The two twins grinned and nodded, watching as Harry left with his Uncle, most likely going to discuss things.
A few days went by with the school being divided in their opinions on Harry being a champion but then again, no one really voiced that when the teen's uncle was around, especially after the first day when Julian had literally cursed Karkaroff when he had said something about Harry.
The amber eyed male had justified his action as, 'defending my nephews and his parents memories' and Karkaroff, as angry as he was did not report it to anyone.
And because of Julian, Harry had managed to deal with the 'Potter Stinks' badges all on his own. Unfortunate, he had also learned that Hermione had taken Ron's side in this little dispute and believed he had put his name in the cup. It almost broke his heart.
During those days, Julian did his best to teach Harry some skills to survive as he once again got accustomed to the wizard world. He had really stayed away for far too long. He had almost cursed the house elf when it had popped into his room!
Julian sighed and rubbed his face. Things were really not going the best for him…
There had been more than just a few occasion where he had almost attacked students for coming up behind him, he almost even cursed a few for startling him in the halls.
Julian looked up at the knocking on the portrait. Pulling his robes on over his muggle, Chinese style cloths and jeans while using a spell to get his hair into a neat ponytail, he walked over and opened the portrait, raising his eyebrow at the fifth year Slytherin standing outside. "You're to come up stairs; Dumbledore figured you would like to be in the room while Rita Skeeter is near your nephew." Julian stared at the boy before nodding sharply and stepping out, letting the portrait shut behind him.
There was no chance in Merlin's saggy balls he would let that Skeeter woman near his cub!
Squaring his shoulders and pulling back on his fierce mask, Julian kicked the door open and stepped in, giving everyone a measured look.
Madam Maxine and Fleur were already there with Krum and Karkaroff. In a corner was Ludo Bagman talking with a woman that Julian instantly recognized as Rita in magenta robes, Diggory was talking to Fleur. He also noticed a camera man that kept looking at the veela like girl.
However, his entrance had startled everyone and everyone stared a bit wide eyed at him. Julian just raised his eyebrow back at them. "What?" He smirked when most went back to what they were doing except…Rita.
He leveled amber eyes on her as she stared back almost hungrily. He knew what she wanted, she wanted gossip.
His lips drew back in a snarl as he twirled his wand with his hand. It seemed to stop her from whatever she had intended to do.
Soon after, a rather pale Harry came in after being escorted to the room by a rather enthusiastic Colin Creevey. Julian instantly grabbed his nephew shoulder and guided him over to Cedric Diggory.
"H-Hi Cedric…" Harry smiled shakily and the older agent smiled in sympathy. "Which class?" He asked, now ignoring Fleur. "Potion." Cedric whistled and patted Harry on the shoulder, the one Julian was not holding. "Tough luck, how'd Snape react?"
The two talked as everyone waited, Julian keeping Skeeter in check by glaring and silently snarling at her each time she tried to come towards them. He was NOT going to let that damn woman get her hands on HIS nephew.
Finally, Dumbledore arrived with Mr. Ollivander in tow. The old man froze at the sight of Julian who looked away, finding a spot to stare at. "Mister Slink…now there is a wizard I never thought I see again…"
The old man stepped further into the room, his eyes on the amber eyed raven. "I remember your wand very well, only one I ever made. It was as if your wand knew what was coming for you-"
Julian growled and looked at Mr. Ollivander finally. "Please, Mr. Ollivander, you are here to weight the champion's wands, not mine." That stopped the older man who stared a bit at Julian, before nodding and setting off into examining the wands of each contester. Suddenly, his uncle's advice about polishing his wand yesterday made much more sense Harry decided.
And then the photo session came.
For some odd reason, Rita Skeeter demanded that Julian should be on it to. "You do want to support your darling nephew don't you?" She gave a rather predatory smile at him. The older raven looked at Harry before sighing. "Very well…" Reluctantly, he slid up behind Harry and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
Julian put up a firm façade for the world as the resistant uncle who would stand by his nephew side, come what may. Though inside all he wanted to do was curl up and hide underneath his bed once again for never to see anyone else.
"Now I was wondering Mr. Potter, would you allow an interview with Harry here?" Rita stared at Harry, waiting to sink her claws into him.
Julian snorted and gave her a dark glare. "No, Harry is not to have contact with the media yet. Beside…giving an interview with Harry would overshadow the other contestants and you don't want to do that, do you?" The last part was added rather silkily as the two stared each other down.
Finally, Rita gave a rather strained smile and nodded. "I understand, of course, as his uncle you are suppose dto look after his best interest…"
The older Potter gave Skeeter a rather toothy smile back before pulling Harry from the room, walking towards the man's private rooms. It was only once they were back in Julian's room that the older man spoke again, the rather small body dropping down in the couch with a heavy sigh.
"…Harry…you should stay away from that woman." He murmured, staring at the ceiling. Harry sat down next to his uncle, gently placing his hand on a thigh. "If you think that's the smartest, uncle…then okay…" Julian looked at Harry and gave a weak smile, pulling the boy closer and into a light hug, leaning his head on top of the messy mop of hair.
"…I'm gonna talk with Dumbledore about taking you out one weekend and getting you some new things…what you say to that?" Harry laughed quietly. "I don't really need anything Uncle, just your support honestly…"
Julian snorted and nuzzled the younger boy. "That doesn't mean I won't spoil you rotten. Beside, you need new normal muggle cloths and honestly, those glasses really do need a check on and all. I think you can use muggle contacts." He lifted his head and looked at Harry with a slight grin, most of his walls crumbling down in front of his only living relative.
"Muggles are rather ingenious you know." Harry laughed again and hugged the older man tightly, frowning slightly at the tenseness he could feel for a second before it went away and Julian hugged back, nuzzling Harry's hair lovingly.
They were family and Julian would look after the younger Potter for as long as he lived.
Harry hoped that Julian would live for a long time.
1* (Is terrible on accents so forgive her…)
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oh! And here is a link to a drawing of Julian .com/art/Julian-Slink-Potter-163613907