Disclaimer: I don't own -Man or Harry Potter.

Chapter 4 – The First Week (Harry and Kanda)

Kanda was in a foul mood, so much so that not even Lavi tried to cheer him up for fear of being decapitated. All the members of the Black Order knew that there was nothing they could do to change the situation aside from replacing Kanda with another Exorcist, but they also knew that he wouldn't accept that. Now he had his assignment, he would complete it or die (unlikely), even if he hated it.

Kanda's irritation swelled even further when he and his fellow Exorcists went down to the Great Hall for breakfast and saw that the only Champion not already present was Harry. Glaring at anyone that dared get to close, he went to the Gryffindor table to eat his soba and wait for his illegal Champion. People came and went, whispering about the irate samurai as they did so. He watched Allen, Lavi and Lenalee leave with their charges and scowled.

Ron made an appearance, carefully keeping his difference from Kanda, and ate his meal in a sullen silence, ignoring Hermione's angry hissing. If Harry's so-called best friends were present, then why wasn't he? Kanda seethed, glaring at the door as he sipped his green tea. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hermione stand up suddenly and timidly approach him. He ignored her as she sat by him and began to butter some toast.

"Kanda?" she asked once she'd finished. He fixed her with a glare that would send most people running in the opposite direction and she flinched. "I- I don't think Harry's going to come down to breakfast so I was going to take him some toast?" She finished questioningly and Kanda understood that she was seeking his permission to let him not turn up to breakfast. Realising that she was right and that his erstwhile charge was not going appear, he grunted, draining the rest of his drink and standing up, leading the way to the Gryffindor Common Room. Just as they reached the Fat Lady she swung open and the mission Champion emerged. He froze at the sight of Kanda but Hermione walked right up to him and thrust the toast into his hands.

"I know you don't want to see Ron so I brought you some food," she said. "Although I think that you really should talk to him soon. Avoiding him is not going to solve anything." Harry shrugged and bit into his breakfast.

"I'm not going to talk to him until he apologises for being a prat," he said venomously. Kanda 'hnned', catching Harry's attention. The Boy Who Lived paled at the glare on his face.

"Oh yeah, I was supposed to meet you at breakfast, wasn't I?" he realised suddenly. "Sorry about that, I forgot," he ended sheepishly.

"Don't do it again," Kanda scolded.

"Shall we go down to the lake?" Hermione interjected. Harry nodded, relieved, and led the way, attempting to ignore his surly bodyguard. He wasn't sure how much help Kanda would be against someone like Voldemort, but his unwelcoming attitude very quickly proved a welcome deterrent for other students that looked like they wanted to say something, most likely a jibe at his new status. Harry was thankful when they reached the lake with no confrontations. Settling by the water edge, he continued to munch on his toast while they watched the Giant Squid basking in the autumn sunshine. Harry was surprised at Kanda's nonchalance involving the massive water-dweller, before realising that it was probably involved in the brief he almost certainly received from Dumbledore.

Realised that he hadn't told Hermione about the events of the anti-chamber, he did so, relieved when she confirmed his hopeful thoughts that she believed him.

"That's one person then," he said, telling her about Ron's reaction the previous night. She sighed.

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked. "He's jealous." He looked at her incredulously.

"Jealous? Of what? The fact that I get to make an idiot of myself in front of people from four different schools, not to mention people in the ministry!"

"It's always you that gets the attention – don't interrupt, I know it's not your fault – and Ron's got all those brothers to compete with at home and you're his best friend and you're really famous so he gets shunted to the side and I suppose this is just one time too many…" she trailed off.

"Great," Harry said bitterly. "Tell him-"

"I'm not telling him anything," Hermione interrupted. "Talk to him yourself; it's the only way you're going to sort this out."

"I'm not running around after him!" Harry spat. "Maybe he'll realise I don't enjoy this when I've broken my neck, or-"

"That's not funny," Hermione said quietly. He looked at her. "You know what you need to do as soon as we get back to the castle?"

"Yeah," he said sulkily. "Give Ron a good kick up the-"

"Write to Sirius," she interrupted disapprovingly. "Tell him what's happened. He's bound to find out anyway – you're famous and this tournament is famous. It won't stay out of the Daily Prophet for long and I'm sure Sirius is keeping an eye on things somehow. He'll want to hear it from you first." His shoulders sagged as he realised that she was right. How had he not thought of telling Sirius already? Just as he began to worry about getting parchment from his room without being confronted by his fellow Gryffindors – and Ron – she handed him some, and one of her many quills. Shooting her a thankful look, he began to write.

Dear Sirius,

You told me to keep you posted on what's happening at Hogwarts so here goes – I don't know if you've heard, but the Triwizard Tournament's happening this year and on Saturday night I got picked as a fourth champion. I don't know who put my name in the Goblet of Fire, because I didn't. There's also a fourth school who have supplied bodyguards for the champions and mine's a scary Japanese with a sword who goes by the name of Kanda. The other Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory, from Hufflepuff.

Hope you're okay, and Buckbeak - Harry

He finished and looked up, allowing Hermione to check that he'd included everything that she thought he should. Suddenly a thought struck him – Sirius was still a criminal on the run and they'd been discussing writing to him in front of a complete stranger who didn't know of his innocence… Kanda noticed his panicked look and snorted.

"I've been briefed," he said. Harry hoped that he meant by Dumbledore and that he therefore knew the truth but Kanda didn't seem inclined to say any more and Harry wasn't going to push it. Mugen was prominent over Kanda's shoulder, after all. Hermione seemed to reach the same conclusion, if her relieved face was anything to go by.

Seeing no need to linger by the lake any longer, Harry headed straight for the Owlery, aware of Hermione and Kanda following him. Having a bodyguard still seemed strange to him. He had fought off Voldemort three times and they still thought that he needed a guard? He highly doubted that Voldemort would be deterred by Kanda – one killing curse and the Japanese would still be dead, sword or no.

They reached the Owlery and he realised a problem when Hedwig flew up to him and he remembered Sirius telling him not to use her again. He turned to Hermione.

"He told me not to use Hedwig. Whose owl am I going to use?" he asked her. She sighed, as if the answer was obvious.

"Ask Ron if you can borrow-"

"I'm not asking him anything," he said flatly.

"Then use a school owl," she said. "Anyone can use them." It was obvious she thought he was being childish, but to his relief she didn't verbally express it. Hermione was the only friend he seemed to have left and the last thing he wanted was to argue with her, because then the only company he would have would be Kanda, and that was almost worse than no company. Why hadn't he been quicker and picked Lavi or Allen before the other champions did? They at least seemed friendly.

With a heavy heart, knowing how she would react, he apologised to Hedwig before selecting a large barn owl to tie his letter too. She flew off with a loud hoot and refused to look at him, even after the barn owl had left and Harry tried to offer her treats. Instead, she clicked her beak loudly and flew out of reach.

"First Ron, now you," Harry said angrily. "This isn't my fault."

While Kanda's presence shielded him from any hurtful remarks, it didn't stop most of the school expressing their opinions in how they acted around him. He'd hoped it would settle down when the school got used to his new status, but the accusing and suspicious looks continued in full force. It appeared that they all thought that he had entered himself, but unlike his own house, the rest of the school did not seem impressed at what they viewed as yet another bid for attention.

The Hufflepuffs had turned remarkably cold towards him, demonstrated in full force one Herbology lesson when Ernie Macmillan and Justin Finch-Fletchley, who were usually perfectly amenable towards him as they worked together, refused to say a single word to him, although they laughed unpleasantly when a Bouncing Bulb that Harry was attempting to re-pot slipped free of his grasp and whacked him in the face. Hermione spent most of the lesson attempting to get the very stubborn Harry and Ron to talk to each other. Both were happy to talk to her, but neither would even look at the other. Kanda seemed to find the behaviour very childish.

Harry had expected some hostility from the usually friendly house, because Cedric was one of the few members of the house that had ever given them any glory, by beating Harry to the snitch in a Quidditch match the previous year, and it obviously appeared to them as though Harry was trying to steal his thunder and reclaim his pride. Even Professor Sprout had appeared distant, but as the Head of Hufflepuff House that was unsurprising.

He was dreading the first Care of Magical Creatures lesson of the week. If Hagrid was teaching it would have been bearable because the large man would definitely take Harry's side, but Professor Nine had proved herself to be a second McGonagall, meaning that he could expect no favouritism from her, nor shielding from the wrath of the Slytherins, which would undoubtedly be out in full force. The only possible blessing was that Kanda's presence was hopefully deter some of the snake house.

This week the class was outside Hagrid's hut and, predictably, Malfoy arrived, flanked by his cronies, familiar sneer fixed firmly in place.

"Oh look boys," he said to Crabbe and Goyle. "It's the Champion. Better get your autographs now, after all half the Champions have died in the past… How long do you reckon you'll last, Potter? Ten minutes into the first task is my bet." The other Slytherins laughed loudly.

"It's nice to see you have such faith in your classmate," Professor Nine said curtly. The Slytherins quickly stifled their laughter as Lau Jimin chattered angrily at them. "Thank you. Now that everyone is here we can begin." She indicated the large brown crates that contained the monstrosities she had introduced to them as Blast-Ended Skrewts in their second lesson with her.

"Now that I've assessed your abilities," she had said, "we are going to have a class project for the next term. These-" she had indicated a crate full of small ugly creatures "-are Blast-Ended Skrewts. You are going to be caring for them until at least Christmas." Their first lesson was spent trying to feed the stubborn creatures a variety of things – "if you ever get given a creature that you don't know and don't have time to research them these are the various foods you should try them on first". Malfoy, predictably, had shown a large amount of distain and reluctance to work until Professor Nine had informed him that the project and his enthusiasm towards it counted towards a large part of his end-of-year grade and that if he failed he would be made to care for a batch of them until he passed. His eagerness to get it over and done with was almost palatable as he tried to coax the bizarre creatures into eating the various foodstuffs. After they had discovered that the Skrewts were carnivores the creatures had increased in size dramatically. Unfortunately they had also started to kill each other.

"Today," Professor Nine declared, "you will observe that they are getting too large for the crates that they are currently in, so you will need to remove them from the crates, using these leashes to keep them under control, and enlarge the crates before replacing them. As they have not yet been out of the crates, they will also need exercise, so I would advise that as a class you nominate one or two people to cast the spells while the rest of you walk around the paddock with the Skrewts." The Gryffindors and Slytherins looked at each other in disgust before Hermione decided to take charge.

"One Gryffindor, one Slytherin?" she suggested. The Gryffindors nodded but the Slytherins began to protest, purely because it had been suggested by a so-called 'mudblood'.

"That is a sensible suggestion, Miss Granger," Professor Nine said, looking pointedly at the Slytherins. "Do I need to remind you that your ability to work together will greatly influence your grade?" The Slytherins understood the veiled threat and started to talk amongst themselves.

"Daphne," Malfoy said. At the Gryffindor's confused faces he rolled his eyes. "Our spell caster," he explained.

"Hermione," Harry and Ron said at the same time, before glaring at each other. They didn't bother to consult the rest of the class – Hermione was the best at charms and they all knew it.

Grudgingly, the class got to work, looping the leashes around the Skrewts and levitating them out of their crates. Hermione and Daphne got to work enlarging all the numerous crates to the required size while the rest of the class attempted to 'walk' the creatures.

"Mr Kanda, a word," Professor Nine called. Harry had almost forgotten the presence of his silent companion. The Japanese walked over to her and Harry saw that they were deep in conversation, before being yanked forwards by the Skrewt he was supposed to be walking. Apparently Kanda's bodyguard duties didn't include saving him from mad creatures intent on dragging him along the ground during class.

After what seemed like forever the two girls called to their classmates that they were done, before helping them by carrying the crates over to where the Skrewts were and levitating them into the crates. Once Professor Nine was satisfied that all the creatures were securely back in the crates, she dismissed them.

The rest of the week confirmed Harry's fears that the school's attitude towards him was not going to change. The Hufflepuffs, understandably, thought that he had done it one purpose to steal Cedric's thunder as revenge for the Quidditch match last year. It hurt, but they did have their own Champion to support so he knew that he couldn't expect their support. The Slytherins, of course, had always hated him and so were giving their full support to Cedric. Harry had expected nothing else. Disappointingly, the Ravenclaws were also convinced that he had managed to sneak his name into the cup and so were also giving their full support to Cedric. He had hoped that, as a neutral house, they would have given both Hogwarts champions equal support, but apparently that was not to be. Worst of all, though, was Ron's continued cold-shoulder. The last time the entire school had been against him, in his second year, he had had Ron's support. Now he realised just how much support that had been.

His lessons were also suffering, despite Hermione's best efforts. Professor Trelawny was predicting his death with more and more certainly, despite Kanda's quiet scoffs from behind him and he failed completely at the work involving Summoning Charms, resulting in extra homework. These all paled in comparison to Double Potions at the end of the week. Never pleasant, they were now nothing short of torture, with one and a half hours of the Slytherins and their Head of House determined to punish him for daring to become school champion. Hermione was trying to help, encouraging him to ignore them whilst making sure that he didn't mess up his potion, but there was only so much she could do against the wrath of the snakes.

When they arrived outside the dungeon they discovered the Slytherins already there, and that each and every one of them was wearing a large badge proclaiming in loud red letters the same message:

Support CEDRIC DIGGORY –

the REAL Hogwarts Champion!

"Like them, Potter?" Malfoy asked loudly, as Harry approached. "And this isn't all they do – look!"

He pressed his badge into his chest, and the message upon it vanished, to be replaced by another one, which glowed green:

POTTER STINKS

The Slytherins howled with laughter before pressing their own badges until the message POTTER STINKS was shining brightly all around Harry. He felt the heat rise in his face and neck as he glanced at Kanda. The Japanese didn't react. Apparently this didn't warrant bodyguarding, either. He was glad to see that Ron, standing with Seamus and Dean, wasn't laughing, although he wasn't making any attempt to stand up for him, either.

"Oh, very funny," Hermione said sarcastically to Pansy Parkinson and her gang of girls, who were all laughing hysterically, "really witty."

"Want one, Granger?" said Malfoy, holding out a badge to Hermione. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see, don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."

Some of the anger Harry had been feeling for the past week seemed to burst through a dam in his chest and he had withdrawn his wand before realising what he was doing. Malfoy smirked and drew his own wand. Three spells were sent flying at once but none of them reached their intended target. Harry's was deflected onto Goyle, another was reflected onto Crabbe and Malfoy's hit Hermione. None of them realised that had happened until they saw a sword glinting in the dungeon's light, aimed at Malfoy's throat.

"Spells in the corridor are forbidden," Kanda said coldly, glaring at the unfortunate Slytherin.

"They cast spells, too!" Malfoy spluttered, trying to edge away from Mugen.

"And they have detention for it," Snape said, emerging from his room. "As do you, for making one of the champion's bodyguard feel it necessary to draw their weapon." He looked round, taking in the three recipients of the spells. "Goyle, Crabbe, Miss Granger – hospital wing." Harry looked round to see that the two Slytherins were covered in boils and that Hermione's teeth now reached her collar.

"Now then, if everyone else would step inside the classroom and stop time wasting?" The students all filed in in silence, in shock from the events of the corridor. Kanda had used his sword, Malfoy had a detention from Snape, and Snape had sent Hermione to the hospital wing of his own violation.

Once everyone had settled, Snape opened his mouth to speak, but Kanda spoke first.

"Harry Potter is required for the weighing of the wands upstairs this afternoon, and therefore needs to be excused from this lesson." Snape glared at the Rosecross student, who glared back.

"Very well," Snape said. "Weasley will inform you of your detention details later," he said to Harry. With a start, Harry realised that Ron had been the other person to cast a spell at Malfoy. Picking up his stuff, he quickly left the room, followed by Kanda.

"Weighing of the wands?" he asked. Kanda didn't reply, leading the way in silence to a classroom, which he entered without knocking. Harry followed to see all the Headteachers of the four schools in attendance, a photographer and reporter, probably for the Daily Prophet, Mr Ollivander, Ludo Bagman, Mr Crouch and his fellow champions and their bodyguards.

And that's where I'm going to leave it now. The next three chapters will take place in the same time period but follow the other champions and Exorcists. The Weighing of the Wands will be the chapter after that, as all four are present for that bit.

Hope you enjoyed it,

Tsari