So for a couple weeks that's how it went. I would go through the day normally and sneak out to see Cedric. We were getting to know each other a little more every night, in more ways the one. I loved listening to him talk. He talked about wanting a good ministry job where he could make a lot of money and be able to support his parents who had very little. I was getting to know the selfless, caring man he was and he was getting to know me. We didn't talk about secret lives or things I wished I had. In his mind I was just Hallie. Normal, Hallie.

Other nights there was no talking. There was kissing,and exploring, and discovering things about both of us that had never been discovered. We didn't go that far but we didn't need to. Just the feeling of being together felt infinite. He also made it very clear that until I'm ready, we wouldn't go further. He told me we should wait, that it'll mean more. He told me he wished his first time had been special. He wants that for me.

Then the day to announce the three champions from each school came. I found myself hoping Cedrics name would not be picked, as he disregarded my pleas and persuasions to keep his name out of the mix.

First Viktor Krum

Second Fleur de la Coeur

I held my breath as they said the one name I feared. "Cedric Diggory."

and then something happened. The goblet became alive again, and another paper flew out. This time it actually was the one name I should fear.

"Harry Potter."

They eyes in the room turned towards me. I could not breathe. I turned back and forth towards Hermione and Ron who were on either side of me.

"No." I whispered

I started to slide the glasses off my face but felt Hermione's hands next to me start to push me up. "No." I told her

"Harry." She said. "You have to."

"No she doesn't." Ron argued, pulling me down. At this point everyone was staring at me. I hated when people stared at me.

The room was silent. In possibly the most awkward moment of my life, I walked through mountains of people and joined the three champions. Subtly Cedric's hand brushed the back of mine. It was his way of saying 'it's okay'

We were ushered into the headmaster's office and then all hell broke loose. The adults were wild that I this 14 year old "boy" would be competing with adults who had had about three more years of training.

After the yelling subsided, Dumbledore who had been sitting calmly simply asked "Harry, did you put you're name in the Goblet?"

I shook my head. "No, I would never want to do anything as dangerous as that by choice."

"There you have it. He did not do it." "But will he compete?" Professor Mcgonagal questioned.

Arguments fired again should I, should I not.

This time the minister answered. "The contract is binding. Harry Potter must compete." he stated.

I turned to Dumbledore and raised my eyebrows. "Well if Harry Potter must compete." I began. I shouldn't have to compete. I am not Harry Potter. I am not the boy who lived.

"Then you must compete." Dumbledore finished.

Everyone seemed very confused at the interaction we just had. "I think we're all tired." Professor Mcgonagal began "and I think it would be wise if we all took some time to calm down." As the room cleared out, I tried to leave with Cedric but Professor Mcgonagal pulled me aside and brought me to her office.

"You can take the foolish glasses off now." She told me and I did, happy to run my fingers through my long hair. "Now the rules state that the champions cannot receive help when it comes to the tasks, however as you pointed out earlier, you are not Harry Potter. That means I will have no moral obligations to not assist you. You will come to my classroom every day after your classes. I will work with you to catch you up to the other students you will be competing against. If anyone asks you have detention. This will be a fair fight" She told me.

She sent me back to room after telling me to research defensive spells to work on this week. I walked back to the common room, glasses, charm and all, to discover a party in full swing. I quickly located Ron and Hermione who joined me up to Ron and I's room. Neville was the only one in the room thankfully. "Neville, do you think we could have some privacy?" I asked him.

"I was just going to the bathes anyway." He told us gathering his things and exiting the room.

I heaved a huge sigh as I plopped down on my bed and kicked my shoes off. "You'd think I could have one year to live my life in peace but no, the second I'm the smallest bit happy, it's ripped away from me!" I complained.

"Can you take those glasses off. It's really unsettling to me now." Ron responded, clearly all too familiar with my dramatics.

I pulled off my glasses and sat up pulling my knees to my chest. "So what did they say?" Hermione asked me.

"I have to compete. They're all furious and I guess it's my punishment, but you guys know I would never chose to be in the tournament." I told them

"We believe you." Ron said with absolute certainty. Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

"And guess what." I told them, "Mcgonagal said she's going to help me since you know there really isn't a Harry or whatever. She says its fine." I said a little more optimistic.

—

So my best friends supported me. Little did I know, the rest of the school wouldn't. As I walked through the halls the next week, I couldn't help but find myself wincing every time I passed a Potter Stinks badge. Ron threatened to beat up anyone he saw sporting the badge but I reminded him he couldn't beat up the entire school, and if I wanted to beat someone up, i could do it myself.

I spent my days trying to avoid attention, my afternoons learning double what the other fourth years were learning and my nights with Cedric. We utilized every empty classroom and secret passageway. Ron and Hermione were worried I wasn't spending enough time on my classwork… and also sleeping. I told them they need to stop worrying about me.

At the end of the week Colin Creevey burst into Potions.

"Professor Snape, Harry is needed for a photo session." The boy burst out excitedly.

I could never tell how my potions professor felt about me. He often avoided my eyes much like my aunt, and while he has seen me as Hallie, he seems more comfortable being more of a complete arse to Harry's face than mine.

"Well now that you've interrupted my class so rudely I'll be taking 25 points from Gryffindor. On your way Mister Potter." he shooed me out.

I arrived to take my photo with the other champions. It was awkward because Rita Skeeter had insisted that the girl be in the front. Cedric grabbed my shoulders to stop me from lurching towards the chair. Even more awkward was the ministry representatives gathered there for the picture. Including the representative for the minister of magic. Also known as my brother.

Standing next to me for the picture he put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. He whispered in my ear "We need to talk later."

When the picture taking was over I shrugged his hand off my shoulder, looked at him and said "I'm pretty busy, if you want to schedule an appointment you'll have to contact my people." with as much snark as I could muster and walked across the room.

When asked who would be interviewed first I shot my hand in the air. Although it was not what I was expecting.

I was ushered into a broom closet that was filled with two chairs. The blonde makeup sample in front of me pursed her lips together. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Potter, I've heard so much about you." She offered her hand and I mustered up my manly handshake.

"Now where shall we begin?" She asked, and before I could say anything continued. "Is it true that your entry into the tournament was a cry for help to have someone reach out and be the parent you've always wanted?" She questioned.

I scrunched my forehead in confusion. "Umm- no, I actually didn't put my name in the goblet." I answered.

"And what would prompt you then to want to compete in this tournament? Will you be wearing the honor of your dead brother while you compete?" and there it was. A reminder that while I had to live with who I was, my brother got to go and become someone else. After all, it's not like he ever bore the name Potter.

I decided to feed the beast a little and give her more of what she wanted. "I actually never really knew my brother, you know because I was so young, but I've heard he was very selfish. He would always break promises and try and give people gifts to apologize for being a rotten git." I told her

"At ten years old?" She asked.

"Yes, so young. To think what kind of person he would be like if he had become a contributing member of society."

"So you feel as though your parents were wrongfully mistreated by their son?"

"Well, I feel he was often rotten to our mother but not really to my father, I don't think he really cared for my father." I said recalling this time, losing my focus.

"Your father?" she asked. "Are you implying that you did not share a father with Reese Potter?" She questioned.

"I didn't say my father, I said our father." I stated, now not quite sure.

"hmm" she quietly pondered

"I have one statement for your article." I told her now getting annoyed. "I didn't want to compete in this tournament. I don't want to compete in this tournament but now that I have to, I will get through it. I don't care about winning, I just want to survive and be on my own. i don't remember having a family and I don't need one either."

I squeezed past her, exited and slammed the door. I saw everyone was outside staring at it. Cedric began to follow me but he was pulled in to be interviewed next. Instead as I burst into the halls Reese began to follow me.

"Mr. Evans," Barty Crouch called out. "where are you going?"

"For a walk." He called and followed me out.

I don't know where I was walking to really, just trying to find a way away from my brother. I whipped my head around at him. "Can you stop following me?" I exclaimed.

He scrunched his face up. "I need to talk to you. I don't know why you're so mad but can we discuss this like adults, preferably somewhere less out in the open?"

"Like where? Your daddy's office?" I snapped taunting him.

He exhaled, clearly frustrated. Good. "That sounds like an excellent idea, seeing as I need to talk to him as well." he calmly stated although I could tell he was getting frustrated with me. "We'll stop so you can get changed on the way?" He offered.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Might as well, I can't very well walk back into my potions class with you." I mumbled.