Disclaimer: The characters of Harry Potter are the property of JK Rowling, Scholastic/Bloomsbury publishing and Warner Bros. I'm just borrowing them for the time being and hopefully I won't mess them up too much.
Harry awoke the next morning in a cold sweat, his T-shirt sticking to his chest and covers gripping his arms and legs like vines. Clutching his throbbing head, Harry tried to recall what had woken him.
He had been in the room with Voldemort and Wormtail. Voldemort was happy, as he had received a message from someone.
"Excellent," Riddle hissed. "It seems that my servant has completed the first stage of the plan. Harry Potter must compete or lose his magic, either way I am one step closer to my vengeance."
"My Lord…" Wormtail trembled.
"Now Harry Potter will soon be delivered into my clutches," Voldemort hissed in laughter.
Shivering, Harry rolled out of bed. Glancing around, he saw that Ron's bed was empty. Scowling, Harry left the dormitory and headed down to the Great Hall.
"Harry," a very familiar voice cried out as Harry reached the bottom of the marble staircase. He turned and saw Hermione chasing after him, carrying a stack of toast in a napkin.
"I figured that you wouldn't want to have everyone starring at you this morning," she said.
"Yeah thanks for that. But how is it different from every other day here," Harry growled. Hermione nodded sadly.
"I guess," she said. "But I thought we could take a walk down by the lake."
"Sure."
They left the crowded castle and headed down to the lake. Harry ate the toast silently, his brows furrowed in thought as he looked over the glass smooth water. "Have you seen Ron this morning?" he asked as they approached their favorite tree.
"Yes, at breakfast," Hermione said softly, not meeting his eyes.
"He doesn't believe me," Harry whispered. "I figured as much."
"Actually I think he does." When Harry gave her an incredulous look, Hermione continued, "Isn't it obvious, Ron's jealous."
"Of what? He's acting like a prat, does he think I want this?" Harry scoffed.
"He's jealous of you. You're Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, youngest Quidditch player in a century and now the youngest Triwizard Champion," Hermione said. "And Ron has always thought that he had to live up to his brothers, thinking that he was overshadowed by their accomplishments. And with you being his best friend, he again is in the shadow but this time of the Boy-Who-Lived. People don't see him, Ron Weasley, they only sees Harry Potter's best friend or Fred and George's brother."
"And that's not my fault," Harry snarled. "Has he done anything to make himself stand out? No, he just sits back and thinks that everything will fall into place. Does he really think I want all this attention and fame? Does he realize what it has cost me? My parents, my personal life, everywhere I go people are always pointing at my scar. No one sees me as Harry; they only see this bloody scar. I would trade all of it for what he has. A loving family, friends that would do anything for him but all he does is moan and groan about how bad he's got it."
"I know Harry but…" Hermione began.
"No buts Hermione," Harry growled. "I hate having people stare at me, and now my best mate doesn't believe me. He's got to get over this jealousy, I've never lorded anything over him. He's been with me most of the time anyway, he should be proud of the way he's handled himself. First year, sacrificing himself in the chess game, second year, going into the Forbidden Forest and meeting with Aragog as well as going down to the Chamber with me. Last year, standing up to whom he thought was a mass-murderer, putting himself in front of me. I couldn't ask for a better friend but he really needs to mature."
"I wonder if it's because of his mother," Hermione said.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, look at Mrs. Weasley, she's always trying to control everything. She doesn't let her children try anything or take any risks and if they do, she berates them. Bill and Charlie have very successful careers but does she care? No, she wanted them to go into the Ministry like Mr. Weasley and Percy because it was safe. She treats Ginny and Ron as they'll fall apart any second, she doesn't let them try things. My mother is protective but Mrs. Weasley takes it to the next level. It could be that Ron isn't as mature as us."
"What do you mean?"
"Look at our childhoods," Hermione said. "Neither of us had any friends before coming to Hogwarts, we were alone and had to grow up quickly. Ron didn't have that issue; Mrs. Weasley coddled him and Ginny as they grew up. She wants them to be her children forever. And while they will always be her children, she has to realize that they also have to grow up and become their own persons."
Harry frowned. He thought back to the night he spent at the Burrow over the summer, the conversation when he had brought up training. Mrs. Weasley had been shocked that someone as young him was training to fight.
"I guess you're right. But Ron needs to realize that nothing comes to you without hard work," Harry said. Hermione nodded. "You believe that I didn't enter right?" he asked sheepishly.
"Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here with you," Hermione said, slapping him upside the head.
A wave of relief washed over Harry. He should have known that Hermione would believe him. She had always been there for him even if she was going against the grain. Last term when Harry had received the Firebolt, Hermione went behind his back to McGonagall just to make sure that he was safe, not caring about his reaction when he found out. Looking back, Harry realized that he was more disappointed in Hermione, rather than really angry with her. He wished that she had come to him before going to the professor. 'But then would I have let her go through with it?' he thought.
"Hermione, I never did say thank you for what you did last year," Harry said softly. "I'm sorry I treated you so badly, it's just no one had ever spent so much money on me before and for some reason I thought that you going to McGonagall was your way of saying that I didn't deserve it or some stupid like that."
"It's ok Harry, that's what friends are for," she said. "Never having to say you're sorry or thank you."
"Come on let's go back to the castle. I want to go and try to talk some sense into Ron," Harry said, standing up. He pulled her up with him.
"What do we have here, Scarhead and the Mudblood," a sickeningly familiar voice drawled. They turned to see Malfoy along with Crabbe and Goyle blocking the doorway.
"So Scarhead, I've got a bet with my father on how long you'll last in the Tournament?"
"Congrats Malfoy, but I can guarantee that I'll last longer than you would," Harry growled. "And I'm sure that you would have wet yourself as soon as you realized what you had done if you were chosen. But then again, I doubt the Goblet isn't thick enough to pick a sniveling, slimy coward like you whose only vocabulary consists of insults and 'my father.'"
A pink tinge had crept up Malfoy's deathly pale cheeks. "My father…"
Harry broke out laughing. "There you go Draco," Harry sneered. "Are you a broken record or what? You can't do anything without the fact of having your father behind you. How about you grow some balls and a spine?
The two Gryffindors pushed their way through the dumbstruck Slytherins and headed toward the marble staircase. Malfoy spun, his hand groping for his want when a sharp baritone laved with venom and deep with unfathomable power boomed out from around the entrance hall.
"If you cast a spell, Malfoy, you'll regret it," the voice said. Malfoy looked up, emerald green eyes were glaring through him and lit with some inner fire. "I'll challenge you to a wizard's duel and you won't be able to use Filch to get out of it."
The other students in the entrance hall were transfixed by the display. Throughout the castle, energy could be felt pouring off of Harry.
"What's going on here?" a silky voice cut through the air. Snape had just arrived from the dungeons.
"Nothing sir," Harry said coldly. "Just a disappointment between students."
"Potter attacked me," Malfoy whined. Snape's head snapped around, his mouth twisting into a predatory grin. Outraged cries filled the hall as witnesses voiced their protest.
"Silence!" Snape roared. "Let's see, that'll be fifty points from Gryffindor and two weeks detention Potter."
"NO!" Harry's voice boomed.
"No Potter, well that's just earned you twenty more points off and another week's detention," Snape sneered. His smile was baring his yellow teeth.
"That's enough Severus," McGonagall's curt voice cracked like a whip. Every head spun to the Transfiguration professor. "Now what's going on?"
"Snape is being his usual greasy self," Harry barked. A collective gasp rang through the hall.
"Why you…" Snape began.
"Enough," McGonagall said. "Five points from Gryffindor for insulting a professor. Now then what's the meaning of all this?"
"Potter attacked Mr. Malfoy," Snape sneered.
"Did he?" McGonagall asked. "Did you witness the attack?" Snape nodded. "Then what spell did Mr. Potter use? I don't see any negative effects on Mr. Malfoy."
Snape blanched. "It was some spell that I didn't recognize surely Black and that thing have been teaching him," he said, recovering quickly.
There was a great blast, knocking everyone off their feet. A flash of light and a blur found Harry standing over Snape, his wand drawn aimed right between Snape's beady eyes.
"If you ever insult Remus Lupin again, I will kill you," Harry's voice growled out, every syllable perfectly audible.
"Harry," Hermione cried, wrenching his arm aside. Snape slowly got to his feet, his eyes never leaving Harry's.
"Mr. Potter put your wand away this instant and come with me," McGonagall barked. Harry stowed his want but not before giving Snape and Malfoy one final glare, before allowing Hermione to drag him aside.
"Now then, would someone please tell what the bloody hell is going on?" McGonagall cursed when she, Harry and Hermione entered her office.
Hermione quickly recounted the story, as Harry still looked murderous. McGonagall's lips thinned as the story went on. When Hermione had finished, they were barely visible.
"I can't believe that man's audacity. Don't worry Mr. Potter, those points will be reinstated, except for the ones I took and you won't have detention," McGonagall ranted.
"Thank you Professor," Harry said. "It's probably for the best, because I'm sure if you put the two of us in a room together along, only one would be coming out."
Hermione and McGonagall paled at the thought. "But what about Potions Harry?" Hermione asked. "You know that he's going to try and retaliate during class."
A positively evil grin formed on Harry's face as he turned to face Hermione. McGonagall groaned. "Oh I know that look, it's the same as your father's when he would come up with a prank."
"Professor McGonagall, isn't it true that the Triwizard Champions are exempt from end of year exams?" McGonagall nodded. "Well then, if I don't have to take the exam, why should I have to attend class?"
Identical grins formed on Hermione and McGonagall's faces. "I don't see that being a problem Mr. Potter," the Head of Gryffindor said. "Though you do know that this will not sit well with some others."
"I know," Harry said. "But my relationship with Snape will well known so that should help. And I do plan on doing all the fourth-year work as well as attending some classes, if only to annoy Snape and take some of the heat off of my classmates."
"You're right," Hermione said. "Ron is going to blow his top when he hears about this."
"Probably but he knows how Snape treats me. And hopefully with me in the classroom Snape will focus more on me rather than Ron or Neville," Harry said. "And I'll make sure I bring you some memories of class Professor. Snape is a terribly teacher, all he does is write the instructions on the board then spends the rest of class making snide comments against everyone not in Slytherin. Like I told Dumbledore last night, Snape has been cooking my grades ever since I came to Hogwarts."
"What do you mean 'cooking your grades'?" McGonagall asked.
"It means that he's been deliberately giving me lower grades than I deserve. I'm not saying I'm a brilliant Potions maker but I'm better than my grades indicate. I don't know how many times Snape has vanished my Potion and given me a zero because it's not perfect while some Slytherin students can't put a cauldron right side up."
"Is this true Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked sharply.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Professor Snape has been nothing but unprofessional since our first class of first year. He immediately singled Harry out and asked him three questions that were O.W.L level, as well as allowing Malfoy and other Slytherins to sabotage Harry's work then blame Harry for it."
McGonagall looked shocked. "I never knew. I just thought that you had inherited your father's Potion ability rather than your mother's."
"Of course not, I'm sure that old Lemon Drop has been hiding my results," Harry snarled. "Its funny how he seems to know everything that happens in the castle yet doesn't do anything to curb Snape from showing blatant favoritism to the Slytherins."
"Well then, you both have given me much to think about. It's getting late, you two should get down for dinner," McGonagall said. Harry and Hermione recognized the dismissal and left the office.
"Hermione, I don't feel like dealing with all the stares in the Great Hall. I got enough of it last night," Harry said. "Let's go down to the kitchens."
"But Harry, students aren't allowed in the kitchens and you don't know where they are?"
"Who said that?" Harry smirked, pulling out the Marauder's Map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The map quickly inked into existence. The majority of the dots, including all the teachers were in the Great Hall. "Come on, I'll show you the way."
Harry led Hermione off the Entrance Hall and down a couple of staircases before coming to a portrait of bowl of fruit. Reaching up, he tickled the pear. It shivered and Hermione swore she heard a giggle coming from the portrait. A silver handle appeared and Harry pulled it open. The door swung open reveling a high ceilinged room that was seemed to be the size of the Great Hall. There were four long tables situated just like they would the House tables in the Great Hall. All around them, dozens of house elves were scurrying around the room, placing platters of food and drink on the tables only for them to disappear a moment later, most likely reappearing on the tables in the room above them.
"Hello there," Harry said loudly. "If it's not too much trouble, I was hoping to get two dinners for myself and my friend here?"
Within a minute, Harry and Hermione had a platter of sandwiches and two flagons of pumpkin juice. After thanking the elves, the duo made their way up to the Gryffindor common room to eat. The common room was graciously empty when they arrived. Harry and Hermione sat down at their favorite table by the fire. They had just finished eating when the portrait hole opened and a very familiar red head entered.
"Ron," Harry said stiffly. The red head snorted.
"What do you want Potter?" Ron snarled.
"He just wants to talk to you Ron," Hermione said.
"So you're taking his side then Hermione. Think that he's innocent in this."
"Yes I am," Hermione snapped. "Harry didn't enter the Tournament. Someone set him up. I know you don't really believe that Harry entered."
"Yes I do," Ron snarled, though with slight hesitation. "He always gets whatever he wants. The rich and famous Harry Potter, lording it over everyone else."
"And pray tell, how have I been doing that?" Harry asked quietly. "I didn't even know magic existed until I got my Hogwarts letter. My parents were murdered when I was one year old, I was sent to my relatives who hated me from the word go. My bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs for ten years, I was treated like a house elf as my 'family' tried to 'stomp the magic out of me'. So Ron, do you really think that you want my life? You living alone with a family that despises and fears you, no Mum or Dad, no brothers or Ginny. Forced to work from sunup to sundown, I didn't even know my own name until I was five years old when my teacher asked. I was always called 'Freak' or 'boy' at the Dursleys."
Harry hadn't wanted to go this route but once he had started, it was like an avalanche, spilling out of his mouth without censor. Hermione had tears welling in her eyes, while Ron's face was deathly pale, his mouth hanging open. "You know only a little of what I had to go through when you and the twins rescued me before second year, remember pulling those bars off my window," Harry snarled. Ron bowed his head.
"I didn't know I had any money until I went to Gringotts that first time," Harry continued. "I've offered to spilt my vault with your parents but they said no. I never had anything before coming to Hogwarts; so don't complain about having a hard life. You know that I hate my fame; no one looks at me as Harry, just Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived, except for Hermione and at least I thought you did."
Ron looked down at the floor, Harry could see that his ears were tinged red, though he wasn't sure if it was anger, embarrassment or shame.
"Look Ron, you're a good bloke but you've got to get over this jealousy," Harry said. "If you want to be thought of as Ron Weasley, you need to work for it. Look at Bill, Charlie and the twins; they have worked hard for where they are now. Do you really think that their lives just fell into their laps? No, they had to work for it. You're a smart mate Ron; just look at your chess game but you can't just think that everything will be given to you?"
"I hope this gets through to you Ron," Harry said standing up. "You were my first friend, and I've rather not lose you but friendship is a two-way street. Good night Hermione, Ron."
Harry disappeared up the stairs leaving Ron and Hermione standing in the common room. Hermione gave Ron her patented 'McGonagall' stare before retiring for the night as well, leaving Ron standing in the middle of the common room.
A/N: I know a lot of people like to bash Ron, he's easy to bash. However, I don't really want to bash Ron, just give him a good kick up the ass. He's an ok bloke but he needs to grow up, and that's what I'm attempting to do. If you have any ideas that would help me, they would be much appreciated.