DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter; J. K. Rowling does. A.N. at the end.
"As if the man didn't hate me enough. It had to be his stupid class that was interrupted." Harri grumbled as she stormed into the room where the other champions were. Why they were being pulled out of lessons, Harri had no idea.
"Is everything alright there?" Cedric's voice asked hesitantly. Harri's irritated gaze fell on the last person she wanted to see or speak to. It seemed that he'd finally gotten his head out of his arse. She still wasn't sure if she could trust him as easily as she did before. But, she was fairly low on friends and people that were willing to speak kindly to her at the moment.
"No. I didn't think it was possible but I've just incurred more of Snape's wrath," she answered sarcastically rolling her eyes. It was well known throughout the school that Snape hated the mere mention of her name.
"I thought you incurred his wrath with anything you do, even breathing?" Cedric questioned back. He seemed just as hesitant to speak to her.
"Existing actually." Harri corrected then continued, "Hence, I didn't think it was possible for me to have incurred it more but, surprise! I've managed the impossible yet again. Apparently, nothing life threatening is impossible when your last name is Potter." Harri grumbled and crossed her arms. She was definitely not pouting as she looked out of the window closest to her; wishing to be anywhere else, preferably flying since that always cleared her head. She heard a feminine giggle and glanced briefly at Fleur, at least someone was enjoying themselves. Harri gave her a small smile and a nod as a greeting. The French Witch replied in kind.
"Great flying weather," Cedric announced suddenly and Harri looked up at him puzzled at the random announcement.
"Subtle change of conversation Diggory. Really, O plus level work." Harri said bluntly and enjoyed the way Cedric blushed before continuing. "But yes it is. I was just thinking that myself honestly."
"I don't think there will be time this year to really fly though. With the tournament and everything." he conversed.
"There's always time for a fly, it doesn't have to always be about Quidditch. Don't turn into another Wood." Harri commented back with a shrug. At her last comment, Cedric laughed a bit and shook his head.
"I don't think anyone can be as obsessed as him." he denied and Harri gave him an unimpressed look.
"You haven't heard Ron's rants about the Cannons, count yourself lucky." she deadpanned with another roll of her eyes skyward. She heard a snort of disbelief.
"Who vould root vor Cannons?" a very rough and deeply accented voice questioned, disgust in his tone. Harri's lips twisted when she saw Krum's face.
"My former best mate. I'm fairly certain that his twin brothers accidentally dropped him on his head once or twice. It's the only reason I could think of that would make him follow that shit team." Harri replied back lightly, a small smile on her face as she spoke. Krum seemed to be struggling with keeping his one features neutral. If she was reading his poster and facial cues correctly he seemed to be amused with her statement.
"You like Quidditch?" he asked
"I like flying more, but Quidditch is great fun too," Harri replied simp[ly. It was Cedric's turn to snort this time.
"Says the youngest Seeker in over a century who has caught the snitch in every game she's played in since her first game." Cedric scoffed and teased. Harri rolled her eyes at the older boy but the small smile she was sporting from speaking with Viktor grew just a bit at the bantering. She missed bantering with the Hufflepuff. He was a great conversationalist.
"Except for the one against you." she quipped and it was his turn to roll his eyes.
"We've been over this already, unfair circumstances." he chided.
"Unfair?" Victor said in confusion as he watched the two. It looked like he was struggling a bit to keep up with their conversation. By this time both he and Fleur had moved closer to the two Hogwarts students. Harri looked at the Bulgarian sheepishly.
"Dementors crashed the game and Harri was attacked. She fell off her broom and fell from almost 100 feet up." Cedric informed the two. Both witch and wizard's eyes widened at the omission and looked toward the young fourth year.
"Yeah, they totally sucked the fun out of that game," Harri added nodding as if dementors attacking someone during a quidditch match and almost dying was an everyday occurrence.
"Please stop making puns out of your life and death situations." Cedric requested with an exasperated smile as if he was used to it. At this point, he had to be desensitized by her comments. Both Viktor and Fleur looked back and forth between the two in disbelief, probably waiting for either to deny it as some sick joke or something.
"If I can't make fun of them then I'd be a crying, blubbering mess Cedric. I don't want to be a crying blubbering mess. Thanks" Harri quipped back sardonically. She'd crossed her arms around her torso again. Uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. She was not close enough with Cedric to talk about her crippling self-worth or lack of it.
"Excuse moi, did you say situations? As in plural?" Fleur questioned with wide eyes. Harri's attention turned to the French witch and she grimaced.
Neither Cedric nor Harri could actually reply however because the door to the empty classroom the champions were in burst open and in walked a woman in acid green robes wearing cat-eye glasses on the tip of her nose. A frumpy male with a camera around his neck following along behind her. The woman glanced around with a predatory like stare and once the four champions were within her sight she bared her teeth in a vicious grin.
"What a vision! The four Champions conversing, making friends with one another. Truly a sight." She exclaimed and instantly Harri's previously light and happy expression fell. She did not like the vibe this woman gave off. She shifted slightly so that she was standing a bit more behind the three older students. They should be in the spotlight before her anyway.
"Hello all, I'm Rita Skeeter. I write for the Daily Prophet. But of course, you all know that it's you that we don't know." She introduced herself as she moved further into the room and shook everyone's hands elbowing Fleur a bit so that she could shake Harri's hand. Both female students scowled at the woman "So, who would like to share their story?" She asked but didn't give anyone a chance to even open their mouths. She started spouting out of her own again. Harri's gaze was caught on the red lipstick that was smudged on her front teeth.
"Alright, well we'll start with the youngest," Skeeter announced, then the vile woman budged the older students out of her way once more to grab at Harri's elbow. Harri's eyes widened as she was pulled away. She tensed when she realized what was happening and resisted the foul woman trying to pull her further away from the group. Skeeter was stronger than she looked though because she was able to tug Harri a ways away before the young fourth year planted her feet and shoved her weight in the opposite direction.
"Ah, yeah pass. I'm a minor and refuse to have an interview without my guardian present." Harri announced after shocking the woman with her defiance tugging her arm away from her grasp. She winced a bit as Skeeter's fingernails scraped against the Basilisk scar on her forearm.
Sharp beady eyes found her own and tried to glare her into submission. Harri didn't budge though just stepped further away from her; back toward the three older students. They, in turn, glared at Rita and shifted around Harri. Cedric and Victor on either side of her and Fleur at her back. The French witch put a comforting hand on Harri's shoulder. Harri wasn't too worried about the sad excuse of a glare Rita directed at her. It had nothing on the glares and nasty looks Snape constantly threw her way.
"Stop being so dramatic Harri, may I call you Harri? Now follow me and it will be over in no time at all." the woman made as if to reach out and grab her again but Harri evaded her. Cedric and Victor stepped further toward the woman, putting themselves between the rabid reporter and the youngest member of their group. Harri appreciated their show of support. It meant a lot to her. Especially since this was only the first actual conversation Fleur, Victor and she had with one another. She settled Rita with a hard look of her own.
"No, you may not call me by my given name Ms. Skeeter. I don't know you and we are not even acquaintances much less friends. I refuse to have a one-on-one interview with a reporter, without my guardian or head of house present." Harri replied and repeated herself harshly.
There was no way she would be giving this woman an interview of any kind. She's read some of Skeeter's articles. Now, meeting the woman she knows that she wants as little interaction as possible with the reporter. Everyone waited with bated breath as to what Skeeter will try to do next. The scruffy photographer seeming to be enjoying the interaction immensely. He had a grin on his face he wasn't trying to hide as he observed Skeeter's irritated expression with glee.
Rita herself seemed to not know what to do either. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly. Right as it looked like she was about to say something the officials, Bagman and Crouch, as well as the three headmasters walked in.
"Good. Everyone is here. Ms. Skeeter place yourself out of the way to document the event." Crouch ordered when he saw the woman in the middle of the room. He had no patience for the gossipmonger that called herself a reporter. Harri felt Rita's glare she was pushed off to the side of the room. The photographer was given more freedom that she was. Harri withheld her smirk and the amusement she felt. It wouldn't do to antagonize Skeeter further. Because regardless to Harri's feelings about her, Skeeter was still a reporter with the local newspaper. And people read her articles; some even seemed to take them as gospel. It wouldn't do to turn the woman into an enemy.
Ollivander was soon escorted into the room and the champions were finally told what the gathering was for. He went through each champion's wand; studied it, cast a spell or two and iterated what the wand was made out of. The entire process took less than ten minutes. Including the 'hint' that Ludo Bagman gave them about the first task. Harri was left baffled at the Ministry's lack of forethought or really their poor time management skills.
"I have a question," Harri announced and waited a moment as the conversations died down and everyone's gazes settled on her before continuing. "Since it took less than ten minutes for Mr. Ollivander to look over everyone's wands. And for Mr. Bagman to tell us nothing about the first task. Why was I taken from one of my core subject classes? Diggory, were you in the middle of class before being taken out?" She questioned the officials and Cedric blankly. She looked at the Hufflepuff briefly, saw his nod but out of the corner of her eye she saw the other champions nod in agreement as well. Ludo Bagman and Crouch blinked at her question. Ollivander gave her a mischievous look and wink before shuffling his way out of the room.
"I . . . it was arranged previously." Mr. Bagman stuttered and Harri gave him a puzzled look.
"That doesn't answer my question. I've missed all of my potions lesson for this and for the majority of the time we were waiting on all of you to get here without even knowing why we were here, to begin with. Why did you cut into my class time and irritate my professor with the interruption to his lesson? Also, why was I only informed of this today? Did anyone else get prior notice? It sure looks like we should have if there were reporters and photographers here." Harri interrogated the man, he was the one that decided to be the spokesperson for all the adults that gathered here today. And he was the first to speak up. Bagman clearly struggled to form an intelligent response to her question. Harri looked at Crouch and the various heads of school, waiting for an answer.
"You've no need to worry about marks. You're exempt from your final exams Miss Potter." Mr. Crouch replied gruffly. Harri stared at him for a long moment, just blinking at him in bafflement. Beside her Fleur's face twisted in obvious confusion and she looked toward Harri then her own Headmistress.
"That still doesn't answer my questions, Mr. Crouch. And in case any of you have forgotten, I am fourteen. A fourth year student. I have OWLs next year so missing classes in one of my most important subjects are not something I'm okay with. Even if the professor hates my guts. Please make sure to schedule these . . . events, between classes or over the weekend in the future. I'm sure my fellow competitors will appreciate the sentiment as well." Harri replied shaking her head. She didn't wait to be dismissed from the room as she walked away. She was tired of talking with inconsiderate and illogical adults today. She was still trying to process what she'd just been subjected to as she walked away from the room; so she didn't notice the three companions following behind her.
"Very well said, Harri. I was in Charms when someone came for me." Cedric's voice broke her out of her musings and she jumped in fright. She was not prepared to hear his voice. The following grunt and scoff of agreement almost had her on the ceiling.
"Da, no one told us about meeting." Victor grumbled. Harri was still trying to catch herself from all three scaring the daylights out of her.
"We believe you, Harri. That you did not enter yourself into the tournament. And we apologize for not acknowledging it before. You have made it very plain to see that you don't want to be apart of this. You even refuse to call yourself a champion." Fleur explained softly after stopping the small group from continuing down the hall. It was empty except for themselves so there was no need to find privacy. Harri's eyebrows pulled together and she tilted her head at the French girl.
"It's cause I'm not one. It's not right for me to take that title. Hogwarts already has its champion. I'm just an unwilling participant." Harri explained with a deprecating grin and shrug of one shoulder.
"The Tournament is meant to make friends, oui? Why don't we all go spend time together? Get to know one another." Fleur suggested after a short silence between the four. Harri blinked at the idea and looked toward Cedric and Victor.
"I don't actually have any more classes for the day. I'm down for a fly if everyone else is." Cedric offered. The three older students noticed as Harri's eyes lit up at the mention of flying.
"That is good idea. Does anyone disprove?"Victor nodded along.
"I'm always down for a fly. Fleur?" Harri agreed excitedly. She hadn't been able to sneak away to fly since the beginning of the year. She looked at the French witch with a bright smile on her face, not realizing how young she looked to her three older companions.
"Sure, my broom is in my room on the carriage. Where should we meet?"
"We can just meet at the entrance to the castle closest to you two. I'm sure Victor has to get his broom as well." Cedric offered and received nods of agreement.
It took the four competitors less than fifteen minutes to meet back up and then kick into the air. Harri and Cedric decided to lead the other two on a bird's eye view of the school grounds. Cedric did most of the talking and showing but Harri would throw in sarcastic comments every now and then as well. She usually got a laugh out of Victor, exasperation from Cedric and a concerned look from Fleur. Harri learned that the two foreign Champions were easy to talk to as well. Which was a plus because the number of people that were on speaking terms with her was very limited since Halloween.
The four ended up at the Quidditch pitch and were taking turns showing off. While Fleur did not play Quidditch, she was an avid flyer. Harri wallowed in the sense of peace while she flew with the others. This was her absolute favorite thing about the magical world; hands down. She even received some great tips from Victor about seeking on a Firebolt; which was so surreal. They had fun racing around the pitch together playing an impromptu session of tag. Fleur and Cedric soon opted out when it became clear that their brooms were outclassed. So, they stayed in the middle of the pitch and supervised the two dare-devils.
Harri let the laughter bubbling up her chest explode out as she flew over Victor and tapped him on his shoulder before taking off again. Zigging and zagging the entire way to try and throw off his pursuit. She heard his deep chuckle from her right and executed a perfect sloth roll to try and evade his tag. Since she was essentially flying upside-down she tilted her handle and changed direction so that she was now in a nose-dive toward the ground. Victor was still more experienced on a broom however and was able to correct himself quickly and follow her down.
"That was very good move." Victor encouraged after he caught up with her. As they leveled off and slowed their brooms down Harri shot the professional a grin at the compliment.
"Thanks. It was real fun flying around with you guys," she replied, directing the conversation to include everyone.
"It was fun. We should do it again sometime. We should also probably head to the Great Hall for dinner though. It's about that time." Cedric agreed as he looked down at his watch. Harri was disappointed that their fun was ending but knew that it couldn't last forever anyway. The four made their way back to the school but Cedric and Harri waved goodbye to Fleur and Victor as they broke off to put away their brooms.
"You're something else you know that Harri?" Cedric commented as they trudged their way up to the castle. The girl tensed a bit but gave him a confused look.
"What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly. Regardless of the fun, they'd just had, she was still cautious of Cedric. He's shown that he tended to follow the crowd rather than come to his own conclusions.
"You're very personable and you don't even seem to realize it," Cedric explained with a grin. Harri's expression turned even more puzzled after he said that. "Fleur and Victor, they both seemed like very insular people. Before you burst into the room earlier, none of us had said a word to one another. And then after, you're there for barely two minutes all of us are engaging in conversation." he elaborated. Harri's cheeks reddened at his observation and she didn't really know what to say after it.
"I didn't do anything or act any differently than I normally do," she stated quietly.
"It's not a bad thing. I just thought you'd like to know." He replied with that lopsided grin he was famous for, to the female population of the school at least. He gave her a jaunty wave before leaving in the direction of his House's common room. Harri watched him go with a contemplative look on her face.
This was the second time someone had told her how easy it was to befriend her or how likable she was. It was a hard concept for her to understand though. For most of her life, at least the first 10 years of it, she was always told how much of a burden she was. Or how she was a freak and reminded daily how unworthy she was for even being alive; courtesy of her relatives. She's been at Hogwarts for only three years now, it was difficult to wrap her brain around the possibility that she could be likable.
Harri was lost in her thoughts as she made her way up to her House's common room. So she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings going there to drop off her broom or on her way back to the Great Hall for dinner. She finally broke out of her thoughts by the, unfortunately familiar, annoying voice of her arch nemesis.
"Hey, Potter! Steal anyone else's spotlight recently?" Malfoy taunted. Harri silently groaned at his appearance. It was so exhausting interacting with Malfoy. And she still couldn't understand what she could possibly have done to get on the boy's bad side so fiercely. Apparently snubbing his handshake and declining his offer of friendship in their first year was too much for him. So his obvious reaction translates to 'I hate your entire existence you shouldn't have the right to live because you didn't want to be my friend.' Very dramatic.
"Malfoy, honestly. Don't you have anything better to do with your time?" Harri questioned exasperated as she continued walking toward the Great Hall doors. She heard him scamper after her from his perch on a window ledge.
"But I've already used up my valuable time creating this masterpiece." he boasted and thrust a button under her nose. She went cross-eyed and fumbled to catch the thing. She gave him an irritated look before focusing on what it said. "Support Cedric Diggory The REAL Hogwarts Champion" was splayed out on the button in yellow lettering on top of a black background.
"What, do you want a pat on the head and a 'Job well done?'" Harri blankly questioned the boy. Irritation weaving through her words as she stared him down. His face pulled into a sneer and snatched the button from her hands.
"You haven't even seen the best part Potter," he added. After pinning it on he tapped the face of the button and it swirled and morphed into another saying. 'Potter Stinks' was emblazoned on the face of it now, in a disgusting green color that reminded her of vomit. "They've sold tremendously well in fact. I'm sure the entire school even has one. Besides of course your mudblood and blood traitor little friends. A job well done indeed isn't it Potter?" Malfoy grinned maliciously and waited anxiously at her reaction. But Harri learned from a young age how to hide her feelings; relatives that blamed you for every wrong thing that could ever happen did that to a child.
"How very juvenile. I'm sure your parents are proud." she scoffed and made to move around him; to try and walk through the door to the Great Hall. His face contorted in aggravation, his lips pulling into a sneer before once more blocking her way.
"And I'm sure your parents aren't. Oh wait, you'll never know because they died to get away from you," he growled then physically pushed past her, clipping his shoulder with her own so hard she had to catch herself from falling by grabbing onto the wall. He stormed off through the Great Hall doors. Leaving Harri blessedly alone outside of them. Harri was thankful for the chance to catch her breath and recover from his hateful words out of view from prying eyes. She knew that his opinions or anything that came out of his mouth were worthless; he just spewed out whatever malicious content he could think up. And she tried not to take anything he said to heart, but it still hurt.
She shifted into an out of the way corridor so that she could just collect herself after that volatile interaction with the blond git. Once she felt that she was far enough away from the doors to not be seen she put her back to a wall and slid down until she was sitting. Pulling her knees to her chest tightly she hugged them and placed her head on the tops of her knees. She forced herself to remember the promise she made to herself on Halloween night. She would be better than her tormentors and bullies. She would kill them with kindness and turn the other cheek. She wouldn't rise to the bait they waved towards her. So that when everything comes to light they'll know they were in the wrong and she did nothing to actively deserve their horrendous treatment.
It was going to be a very long year.
A.N.
So, first of all, I would like to apologize for the late update. Last week was very busy for me and I wasn't able to edit and upload this until now.
Secondly, thank you all who reviewed. I appreciate the words of encouragement. Also, thank you all who have followed this story. It's great to see that this story is being received well.
The next chapter is currently being edited and I hope to upload it soon as well, sometime later in the week.
Last but not least; I hope everyone reading has enjoyed this chapter. If you'd please leave an encouraging review or critique, they are most certainly welcome. Flames, however, are unnecessary and unwelcome. If you have nothing nice to say then it is best to say nothing at all. :)
