DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter; J. K. Rowling does.

Short A.N. -I'm also going to start off by apologizing for this chapter being uploaded so late in the week. Also, I have a response for the Guest reviewer at the bottom. It's nothing bad, I just enjoy the conversations that reviews start. ;p

Anyway, on with this chapter!

Harri could not believe her luck. She also could not believe she'd just outflown a dragon. Despite being slightly injured, she figured it was a small price to pay for not being dead if she was being honest with herself. She winced reflexively as Madame Pomfrey manually tightened the wrappings around her arm. She thankfully wasn't in any pain at the moment, courtesy of Madame Pomfrey's potions of course.

"Do you know how lucky you are?" Madame Pomfrey chastised as she shuffled around Harri, twirling her wand in formations Harri's brain couldn't keep up with.

"Eh, my luck comes and goes. I was the unluckiest person alive for my name to come out of the Goblet of Fire as a fourth contestant. I was the unluckiest contestant cause I drew the deadliest dragon from the lot. But now, I'm the luckiest because, you know, I didn't die with my last ditch effort." Harri informed the Healer with a slight grin, ticking off her fingers as she went. The older woman huffed and shook her head at the girl's cheek.

"Last ditch effort? What was your first effort?" Poppy grumbled as she continued going about her business in fixing up Harri.

"I spoke to it in Parseltongue on the off chance that it could understand me. You know cause snakes and dragons can be similar, the scales and tongues and being reptiles. But, I think I just made it angrier. It shot a jet of really intense fire at me. I kind of panicked after that. I'm pretty sure my brain blocked out most of the experience though. All I really remember is a blur of wind and flames. But I didn't die so there's that accomplishment"

"Where would you even come up with that idea from. Physiologically dragons and snakes are nothing alike. Aside from being reptiles." Poppy squeaked and Harri grinned brightly at the Healer's reaction. It was funny when Poppy got worked up. She was also still feeling lightheaded from the potions she was given earlier.

"You know I'm your favorite patient Poppy. Don't kid yourself . . . wow, whatever potions you have me on are good. I can't remember the last time I didn't feel my elbow." Harri commented and looked down at her injured arm curiously. She shifted a bit and winced when her shoulder twinged in pain. "Note to self, only pain-free when I don't move, got it," Harri whispered to herself and Poppy disregarded her patient's quirks. When she was under the influence of pain potions she tended to speak anything and everything aloud. Including what should be her own innermost thoughts.

"There is no competition. Simply because I see you the most Missy. Now, I don't want to see you injured or in my Halls for another extended stay until after the Second Task. Do you hear me?" The matron ordered firmly and Harri just grinned at her again. She gave the woman a sloppy salute with her other hand-grin still firmly in place. Poppy huffed out a laugh at the girl and continued with another set of diagnostic charms. The girl was still a bit too rambally. She's purposefully scanned the girl with useless charms to bide for time. "Alright Miss Potter. You come and see me in a week's time. Keep that sling on and if you feel any pain; or if you feel like something isn't right-you come straight to me. Understood?"

"Yes Madam Pomfrey. Am I free to leave now?" Harri replied and curiously asked. The Matron nodded, reluctantly, and Harri gave her another smile. "Thanks Poppy! I hope the rest of your day is boring." Harri practically chirped as she beat a hasty retreat out of the medical tent. She heard the grumbled exasperation from the healer as she left.

She briefly thought about egging her on more but didn't want to test fate and have Madam Pomfrey come up with some stupid reason for her to stay in the healer wing. The overrated golden paperweight she procured from a dragon nest was under her arm awkwardly; since it was so bulky and she only had the use of one hand. She made her way back to the castle, taking the scenic route to avoid other students.

"Oh, Harrikins!" twin shouts sounded from somewhere behind her. She was just about to enter the doors through one of the many side entrances. She searched for the ginger-headed twins that belonged to the voices and smiled a bit at the sight of the two hauling two bulging bags on one shoulder each. They'd gotten supplies, likely for a party in Gryffindor.

"Gred, Forge; to what do I owe the pleasure?" she greeted them happily. Even though she was at odds with their younger brother, the twins were some of her favorite people ever.

"We know you're not one for crowds-"Fred began with a smile stretching his face like a Cheshire cat. Harri had to smile at his statement. They really did know her well. Much more than Ron in any case.

"But we do hope you'll show up to your own party at least."George continued with a little sigh and Harri wanted to laugh at his dramatics but was able to hold off.

"But if you don't, we have a surprise for you." they finished together perking up simultaneously and losing their faux sullen expressions. Fred pulled out a small box of different kinds of chocolates from Honeydukes. They were the variety of flavored truffles she loved. She didn't often get them though, a) because they were rather pricey and b) she didn't indulge in sweets very often. Harri smiled softly at the gesture from the two and dropped the stupid golden paperweight to throw her one good arm around them both. Or, tried to at least. She ended up hugging George more than Fred. They laughed but carefully hugged her back. Conscious of her injury and her usual shyness about physical contact.

"Thanks you two, that's really sweet of you. You didn't have to. I won't even be mad if one of them is a joke product." She chattered after snatching the box and looking at it through the clear portion of the lid. She grinned mischievously at them after her last statement. George's face fell but Fred started cracking up hysterically.

"I told you she would say that! Poor slightly dumber twin." Fred cheered once he got his breath back. Harri laughed as well and high-fived Fred while George hung his head in shame.

"Oh, uglier twin. I have been firmly put in my place. I didn't think you'd want to get turned into anything after facing a dragon. I know better now, for next time." he announced and Harri shook her head.

"Please, no. Don't jinx me. I don't want to ever face another dragon again!" she denied fiercely, shaking her head.

"Not even to visit a reserve? Charlie will be heartbroken Gred."

"Too true, too true Forge. However ever do we tell him?"

"I think he'll understand considering the traumatic experience I went through." Harri deadpanned and shifted her unuseable arm slightly to try and slip the chocolates between her body and the arm in the sling. She gripped the edge of the box in her hand, since it was her shoulder that was hurt, and held it against herself so that it wouldn't fall. Once that was done, and she knew it wasn't going anywhere, she bent down and grabbed the Golden Paperweight to lift it under her arm. It slippped through her hand where she grabbed the stupid thing and apparently opened the clasp that was there. As it dropped from her hand the egg fell away in four sections onto the ground. Her minute panic at breaking it was interrupted by a terrible screeching noise. Harri gasped at the sound and fought between wanting to shut it off and put her hands over her ears. Fred came to the rescue though since Harri was limited by one arm. He quickly closed the egg and latched it back shut.

The three of them relished the silence for a moment before bringing their eyes from the Deafening Golden Paperweight to each other. As Harri looked at the twins and they seemed as confused as she was about the noise.

"Either of you knows what kind of animal makes that kind of mating call?" Harri asked lightly, trying to break the tension. Fred and George looked at her incredulously then burst out laughing.

"Nope? Okay, thanks for the help boys. Good work." Harri continued sarcastically, only making the two laugh harder.

"No idea Harrikins. You've got your work cut out for you with that one." George announced once he was able to get breath back into his lungs. Harri's shoulders slumped a bit but she quickly shrugged it off and made grabby hands, one armed, for her paperweight.

"Give me the Deafening Overrated Golden Paperweight. I'm going to start looking through animals in the library." Harri announced. "Thanks for the chocolate and give my regards to those fickle minded housemates of ours!" she called over her shoulder with a grin as she made her way back into the castle. The twins watched her leave and shook their heads in unison.

"Gred, we best keep an extra eye on our Harrikins," George commented softly, still watching as Harri disappeared around a corner.

"Forge, that is one of the better plans you've come up with. Let's go cause some mayhem for our fickle minded housemates, shall we?" Fred said and sent his brother a roguish grin.

"We shall" George answered with an identical grin of his own. They quickly gathered the bags they were previously carried and tromped back up to the castle. All the while, their expressions never wavered.

Harri was finally making her way back to Gryffindor tower after spending a few hours in the library looking through some of the books that might help her with her egg problem. She just hopes that it helps and she's not going in the wrong direction. Her only focus on the Tournament was to survive it. She knew that she was extremely lucky with the first task, she had to be prepared for the second task.

When she finally made it back to the common room, the party was still going. She tried to sneak up the staircase to the girls' dorms but apparently wasn't stealthy enough because her name was called out and a cheer went up through the room. Harri sighed in exasperation and prepared herself for the exuberance her housemates seemed to be made of. She sucked up her discomfort and smiled at the congratulations she received. Just as someone's hand was coming toward her, probably to pat her on the back or ruffle her hair, it was diverted and landed on Lavender instead. Her dorm mate squealed and glared at the person who'd essentially hit her and they backed off. Pavarti sidled up on her other side and took the Golden Paperweight burden out from under her arm to carry it for her. They buffered their housemates on either side of her as they guided her to the middle of the common room. Harri was so grateful for them. They understood her anxiousness in crowds now and generally helped out when they could. They usually walked with Hermione and herself to and from classes since the halls got rather crowded at times.

"Harrikins!" Fred and George greeted her brightly once she was in the middle of the room.

"Defeater of Dragons!" Fred announced energetically and took up a position on one side, gesturing wildly to the crowd of Gryffindors

"Snatcher of Nests!" George added and made the same motion on Harri's other side.

"We are not worthy!" they proclaimed and promptly dropped to their knees in a bow. Forever the pranksters and always out for a laugh; they instantly brightened Harri's spirits and made her feel worlds better and much more at ease.

"Thanks guys. And thanks to everyone for the well-wishes! I probably won't stay too long in your company, I'm a bit tired and I don't want to spoil your fun being a party pooper."

"What you're too good to hang out with us now?" a snide arrogant voice questioned from behind her. Harri's eye twitched and she restrained herself from physically punching the git in the face. Pavarti, who was still flanking her turned toward Cormac McLaggen with a piercing look.

"McLaggen, are you dim? She out flew a dragon and is hurt! I'm surprised she's even standing right now. Go sulk in a corner or something. Keep your comments to yourself." Pavarti snapped at the older boy. Harri had turned to face him and snip his irritating presence in the bud but the fashionable Indian beat her to it. Harri smiled at her support and bumped shoulders with her in affection.

"Thanks," she said softly but Pavarti waved it off.

"He's an idiot, don't listen to him. I'd like to see how he feels after facing a Hungarian Horntail." Lavender snapped harshly and none-too-quietly. McLaggen's face mottled in embarrassment at the two girls' remarks but twin glares from the twins shut down any retort he was about to come up with. Harri grinned at Lavender and nodded her thanks to her as well.

"We're so glad you're okay though Harri." Pavarti urged the girl and guided her to a plush couch since Harri wasn't immediately going up to the dormroom.

"Yeah, but you scared us something fierce when you hopped on your broom." Lavender agreed and with wide eyes.

"I can't believe you actually outflew it," Hermione added with a hint of scolding in her tone but Harri could hear the underlying concern. Her sudden appearance, however, Harri was not prepared for.

"You're the one that told me to keep it as a last resort," Harri grumbled after she got over her scare. Rubbing her shoulder a bit as it was starting to ache again. Hermione gave her a light glare.

"It was the last resort of at least three different plans."

"Hey, you would panic too if you had a very large and very hot jet of flames racing towards you. The only thing I remembered after Plan A was Plan G." Harri defended herself. Hermione couldn't hold her ire for long though. She soon crumpled and sat down by Harri's feet, placing a hand around her ankle and squeezing it lightly. As if making sure she was actually seeing Harri and that she was real. Cause, you know, ghosts were a thing in the magical world.

"Please don't ever do that again."

"Again with the predictive comments! Don't jinx me! I never want to come within fifteen feet of another dragon. The only reason I'm not saying I never want to see them ever again is because I know that they're some at Gringotts." Harri sputtered causing her dorm mates to laugh at her antics. Just as Harri was about to start up again she was cut off by a large yawn escaping from her own lips. Blinking a few times after a huge wave of exhaustion took over her she shook her head and looked at her roommates.

"I think that's a good indication that you're ready for bed Harri. You've had a death defying day. You deserve some rest." Hermione announced, ever the voice of reason in any given situation. Pavarti and Lavender were nodding to her in agreement and Harri knew she was outvoted. All three girls had been keeping a sharper eye on her, especially since her name came out of the blasted cup. They were all too well informed of her restless and nightmarish nights. Lavender had even suggested her having a lie down in the middle of the day once. Harri thought she was having her on at first. Midday naps would have never been tolerated by the Dursleys'. She shuddered to even think of the consequences.

"Okay, okay. I'll go lay down. No need to fret." Harri obliged and stood slowly from her seated position. She glanced around for a moment for the stupid golden paperweight but didn't see it anywhere.

"I asked Katie to put it in our dorm. You'll find the egg there." Pavarti offered when she saw Harri's curious looks.

"Deafening Golden Paperweight. Please don't call it an 'e' word, brings up bad memories." Harri corrected and requested. All three girls had amused grins on their faces as they guided Harri toward the Girl's dormitory. They were cut off from their amusement by the sound of someone clearing their voice.

"Hey, Harri." Ron started as soon as he got the four girls' attention. Harri looked at her former best friend impassively when her eyes settled on him.

"What can I do for you, Ronald?" Harri asked when it didn't look like he was going to continue. She saw him wince a bit when she said his full name.

"I wanted to apologize for what I said and how I acted. I've been a right git to you Harri and I'm sorry." He mumbled out scratching the back of his head in nervousness. Harri stared at the youngest male Weasley and sighed. He only just barely meant his apology. What Harri was trying to determine in her mind was if it was worth it to continue arguing with him. After a few moments of silence, she spoke.

"I'll forgive you. But Ron. . . I don't think we'll ever be as good of friends as we used to be. You hurt me, really hurt me. I don't know if I can trust you as I did before." Harri told him, keeping her voice low. She didn't want to air their conflicts to the whole of Gryffindor house. There weren't many people around them but they both had volatile tempers and it could easily turn into a screaming match. Ron's face reddened, in anger, embarrassment or shame Harri didn't know.

"Got it. We're good now though?" he asked with just an edge of sharpness in his tone. Harri's eyebrow twitched just slightly but she let his irritation go. She was too tired to deal with a jealous git.

"Sure," she replied tersely and turned to head up the staircase to her dorm. Like she'd already told Hermione, her loyalty to her first-ever friend was well and truly obliterated.

The next morning, Harri and her select number of friends had a great laugh for most of the day. The Weasley twins had struck the house of the lions. The individuals that vocally opposed or shunned Harri for her unwilling entry into the Goblet of Fire walked around the entire day singing everything they said and some even broke out into song and dance. Also at completely random times, their robes would suddenly change into obnoxiously colored muggle tracksuits. The Twins weren't even punished, in fact, Professor Flitwick and McGonagall had given them bonus points on their most recent exams not yet handed back for excellent charms and transfiguration work.

A.N.

I didn't have McGonagall and Flitwick give points to the house of Gryffindor because I wanted them to know and appreciate why the twins pulled the prank. I wanted them to understand that the House of Gryffindor didn't deserve the points because they were the ones that shunned and bullied Harri, to begin with. So I didn't want them to seem like they were rewarding the entire house for the behavior. Also, I don't think McGonagall would be the type to openly support their pranking ways.

In addition to my A.N. at the beginning of the chapter; I have been trying to upload twice a week for this story but this week just did not happen. I hope that I will have enough time to upload another chapter on Sunday but I don't know if I will be able to. I haven't completed writing it yet and I generally like to edit quite a number of times before posting. If this chapter is not as polished as my previous ones it is because I skipped a few edits. Sorry, life just sucks sometimes.

To the Guest Reviewer:

It has been forever since I've actually read the books so I'm basing most of my writing off of the movies. And in my personal opinion, you're completely right about the Ron X Hermione pairing not working. I also agree with you about your views on the matter. I just can't see them being happy in the long run. Especially since they nitpick so much about each other. That's not an attraction that's an irritation. Hermione needs someone who challenges her intellectually and can be a partner to her. She's too independent to be a hand-holder. And Ron, he is canonically lazy about something that is super important to Hermione. And she is canonically uninterested about the things that Ron deems important. Granted they're very young in this but I just don't see what they value in life meshing as well as it could. I can honestly go on and on in a rant but I don't want to take up so much of this A.N. lol. I would also like to point out that I mean no offense to those people who love them as a couple this is just my personal view of it.

Cedric is troubled, just plain and simple. I have it in mind that he is just one of those people that goes with things. If it doesn't concern him then he won't really do or think much about it. He gets peer pressured and was one of the sheep of the wizarding world that didn't think for himself. He's changing though. Just slowly.

Also, thank you for the tidbit about Susan and the other Hufflepuffs! I forgot about that. I definitely want Neville to be more of a presence in the story but so far, he just hasn't made an appearance. It's coming though, I feel it. Oh, and yes, Neville does believe Harri, there was no question of that.