Title: Revealing Ink
Chapter Ten: Champions and Tantrums
Ships: HP/DG/(HG?) NL/TD
Rating: M (For later chapters)
Warnings: Language
Key: "Speech" 'Thoughts' {Foreign Language} ~Parseltongue~ SPELLS
A/N: Format for above comes from Paladeus
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Usual disclaimer: I own none of the characters in the Harry Potter Universe, Just my own OCs
Sunday passed with Harry training Hermione in the morning, and hanging out with the girls in the afternoon. All and all a good relaxing day, he did have a good laugh at the twins sporting beards after trying to con the Goblet. Aside from that one time he kept his distance, no need to tempt fate right?
Monday started out so well, he worked out, had a leisurely breakfast, went to class, nice lunch, went to more classes, then it all went downhill. It seemed that the year had seemed a bit too calm so far so Malfoy had to assert his obsession with Harry when he figured it would have the most effect.
Harry was walking down the hallway headed back to the tower to drop off his bag before heading to the Feast when he saw Malfoy step out of an adjourning hallway. The smirk on his face told Harry that nothing good would be happening in the next few minutes.
Harry felt himself relax minutely as he passed Malfoy, 'Well I guess there is a first time for everything' Harry thought right before he heard Malfoy call out, "Looking forward to seeing you at the Feast Potter. I can't wait to celebrate the deaths of your Blood-Traitor father and Mudblood Whore of a mother. I really think a feast is too much credit for them, but hey at least the food is good. "
Harry stopped in his tracks as he felt his anger rising. He was about to turn around and beat the living snot out of Malfoy when he heard a slap followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground. He quickly turned around to see Daphne and Tracy standing over Malfoy, who had a bright red handprint across his face and was curled up on the ground holding his groin.
Harry was just as shocked as several students that were standing around the hallway. He saw Tracy spit on Malfoy before her and Daphne turned around and walked toward him. Daphne and Tracy quickly grabbed an arm each and marched him down the hallway. After a few minutes he seemed to come back to himself.
"What did you guys do to him?" Harry asked, slightly nervous to know the answer
Daphne looked too angry to speak so Tracy said, "Daphne slapped him at the same time I kneed him in his shriveled bits. Now where is Hermione so I can get her and we can relax before the Feast? We still have about an hour after all."
Harry told her to check the library and she went off while Daphne continued to pull him towards the Hangout. When they got there she pushed him down on the couch and snuggled into his side. He automatically pulled her closer as they waited for their friends to arrive. He ran his fingers through her hair to try to calm her down.
"Daphne, it's ok. You can calm down now. Thank you for smacking him around but why did you do that? I know you and Trace are going to catch hell in the Pit tonight." Harry asked while trying to sooth her.
"Bugger the Pit, I couldn't let him say those things about your parents. He deserved much worse. And I am tired of us having to keep our relationship a secret, and so is Trace. Plus I am not going to be having a secret boyfriend, I want to be able to hug and kiss you when I want, not have to worry about who is around." Daphne said with a slight blush as she calmed down.
Harry smiled down at her, "Relationship? Are we finally ready to resume our boyfriend/girlfriend duties?"
Daphne looked up at him and pulled his head down into a slow kiss. She felt the need to snog him senseless but was interrupted by the screech of Hermione, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BLOODY ARSEHOLE! WHEN I SEE…"
Harry and Daphne broke up their kiss and looked over to see Hermione's Red Face Of Fury. Harry smiled thinking that the last time he saw that face was right before she smacked Malfoy last year. It was one look that he hoped he was never on the receiving end of.
Hermione saw Harry and Daphne kissing and lost her train of thought. Seeing the smile and glint in his eye caused her to break into a smile of her own, red face and all. "So are you two going to be an item now? Or are we going to be relaxing in the se…erm, romantic tension for a few more weeks?" Hermione asked as Tracy stood behind her smirking.
Harry and Daphne both started to blush before Daphne said, "We weren't that bad. And yes I do believe that we are ready to resume dating. Now we just need to get some guys for you girls and we will be set." She finished with her signature raised eyebrow.
Hermione and Tracy both sat down and looked at Daphne, "Pfft, as if. Where are we going to find anyone who can compare to Harry here? Maybe after school, but all the guys here are immature boys who have no idea how to treat a lady." Tracy said with a smirk, "Now if you want to share, I'm sure we can divvy up the week properly, three days for you and two days each for Hermione and me. Sounds good?"
Daphne and Hermione both started laughing before Daphne calmed down and said, "No I don't think so, I just got him. Give me a while till I break him in before I decide to share him."
Harry looked at her in shock, while Hermione tried to suppress a blush. She was sure Daphne was just joking but maybe she would really consider it. Hermione decided not to get her hopes up, better to just remain friends until she could find someone who could compare to Harry…'like that would ever happen.'
Harry let out a nervous laugh before stating, "Well Trace, we were thinking about bringing in a new guy into the group. You know someone for me to talk to when you girls decide that you are going to have girl talk. Maybe someone else for you to attempt to embarrass. Maybe you would be interested in a new guy to try out as you seem to have lost your touch with me?"
Tracy looked at Harry, "Just who would we talking about?"
Hermione simply stated, "Neville Longbottom. He's sweet, a gentleman, and interesting if you get past his shyness."
Daphne giggled as she pictured Tracy breaking poor Neville. She had never told anyone else that Tracy had thought Neville was cute since 2nd year. She seemed completely unfazed when Tracy sent a glare at her, "I never said anything, this is the first that I am hearing about any of this. I swear Trace."
Trace seemed to calm down before she saw Harry looking back and forth at both of them, "What am I missing here?"
Tracy nodded at Daphne before hiding her face in her hands.
"Well Trace has had a bit of a crush on Longbottom since 2nd year. She thought he was cute, for a Lion." Daphne said with an evil smirk. She was going to enjoy teasing Tracy about this after all the flak that Tracy gave her over Harry.
Tracy felt her face flame up, but she looked up and dared anyone to say anything else about it. Harry lost his gobsmacked expression and decided that it was time to change the subject to less dangerous topics.
They went back to the subject from a few days before and started discussing Champions.
Once it was time to head for the Feast Harry told the others to go one without him, he wasn't much in a Feast sort of mood at the moment. Daphne quickly volunteered to keep him company and sent the other two a look that clearly stated that they could leave. Taking the hint both girls left with smirks on their faces as they knew Daphne would be able to bring Harry out of his funk.
Daphne and Harry sat and talked a bit before they resumed where they had left off. Needless to say Harry was in good hands as he was snogged borderline comatose till they were interrupted…
Hermione was sitting next to Neville trying to enjoy the feast. She had told him that Harry wasn't feeling up to the new crowded Feast and they had been making small talk ever since. She did note that Tracy kept shooting worried gazes at her and Neville. So she did what anyone would do, she would look straight at Tracy while talking to Neville. Every once in a while he would look in Tracy's direction to see where Hermione was staring, unknowingly adding to the stress that Tracy was feeling. As soon as he would turn back to his food Tracy would send murderous glares at Hermione. Needless to say, Hermione was really enjoying herself.
After the desert was vanished, everyone waited on the edge of their seat as Dumbledore dimmed the lights and waited for the Goblet to make its decision. When the blue flames flashed red several students let out a gasp.
Dumbledore shot out his hand and pulled the paper out of the air as a chameleon would an insect, "The Durmstrang Champion is…Viktor Krum."
Krum stood up and took a bow before heading for the ante chamber as indicated, as the door closed behind him everyone quieted except for the Durmstrang Headmaster who was still clapping.
Looking at the head table Hermione muttered, "Pompous arse" this caused Neville to gasp before he let loose a quiet snicker.
Once again the Goblet flashed crimson, Dumbledore's hand shot out and pulled the paper from the air, "The Beauxbaton champion is…Fleur Delacour."
Delacour stood and made her way to the ante chamber amidst crying from her fellow classmates.
Hermione looked at the Beauxbaton students and rolled her eyes, "Drama Queens" she stated causing Neville to laugh.
Once more the Goblet flashed scarlet before Dumbledore reached out and pulled the paper out of the air, "The Hogwarts champion is…Angelina Johnson"
Angelina stood to much cheering from her table, as she walked to the ante chamber hearing cheering from three tables and a smattering of boos from the Slytherins.
As the chamber door closed Dumbledore called out, "And that concludes…"
Back in the Hangout Harry was enjoying his snog while trying to remember why today was such a bad day. They were both letting their hands wander when the door to the Hangout slammed open revealing a pale Hermione, Tracy and Neville (who was gobsmacked by Tracy's presence as well as seeing Daphne glued to Harry).
Harry not knowing what was going on, quickly pulled his hand out of the back of Daphne's shirt and let out a humorless chuckle, "Maybe a knock next time. Hi Nev, meet Daphne my girlfriend and Tracy."
Daphne blushed at the way they were found as well as the sudden introduction, "Hello Neville" She said quietly.
Hermione's pale face quickly regained its color and then some at the compromising position that she had found her friends in. "No time for introductions Harry. They are waiting for you in the Great Hall. Your name came out of the BLOODY GOBLET!"
Harry started to laugh before noticing that the three in the doorway didn't seem to be joining in, "You are not kidding, are you?"
All three shook their heads.
Daphne felt as if she just got kicked in the gut by Dumbledore himself. She was quickly trying to work out a way to get Harry out of this situation. Harry on the other hand decided to forego thinking and jumped straight to mindless rage.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE BLOODY JOKING! I WENT NOWHERE NEAR THE DAMNED GOBLET! I JUST WANTED A NORMAL MERLIN BE DAMNED YEAR!" He quickly stood and went to the door, half way there he stopped and spun back to Daphne and gave her a kiss and told her he would be back before storming out of the room.
Daphne touched her lips before she felt her eyes starting to water, "Damn that Dumbledore, he is supposed to prevent these kind of things. Everyone sit down and close that door, we have to wait for Harry."
Tracy and Hermione quickly sat on either side of Daphne to hold her as Neville took a seat on the loveseat. "So how do you all know each other?" Neville asked trying to break the tension that was palpable in the room.
Harry stormed into the Great Hall, most of the students had already left but a few stragglers remained. They all quickly got of the way of Harry as he looked as if he was ready to kill. Professor McGonagall quickly pointed to the ante chamber and followed her raging student into the room and cast silencing spells on the room before her cub could let loose his roar.
"WHO THE HELL PULLED MY BLOODY NAME OUT OF THE GOBLET!" Harry bellowed.
Dumbledore looked surprised that the normally quiet and courteous Gryffindor had made such an entrance, "Mr Potter you should lower your voice. And I pulled your name out of the goblet, as such you will be competing as the fourth champion for…"
Dumbledore never finished his thought as Harry spun on him, "I DON'T NEED THE MONEY OR THE GLORY! I WANT OUT! I REFUSE TO COMPETE!"
Mr Crouch spoke up in his brisk manner, "Now see here young man. You have no choice, you either compete or you lose your magic."
Mr Bagman quickly agreed, "The first task is on November 24th and will be a test of courage, so you will not find out what you will be facing until you get there. True courage is facing the unknown." He said with a smile.
"That is not courage that is blatant stupidity. How the bloody hell am I supposed to know what to practice if I don't know what I am facing? I'm three damn years behind everyone else to begin with and now I have to 'face the unknown', might as well start digging my own grave. Thanks for nothing you pompous arse." Harry turns and quickly strode out of the room. As he was leaving he could swear he saw Professor McGonagall trying to smother a giggle as he left the room.
After the door shut she told the other three in the room, "Well that went well. Good thing we cleared out the other champions and headmasters before Harry got here. We would hate for them to think that the British were forcing an underage and unwilling student to join a deadly competition." With that she turned and made her exit with thoughts of how to help her cub survive this farce.
Dumbledore was still reeling from the fact that Harry had yelled at him, he was going to have to talk with him soon. He needed to know of his suspicions. Hopefully he would be willing to listen.
Harry was livid. Every year it was some new death trap waiting for him. No one else came to school knowing this might be the year they might die. Not unless it was some crazy military school or maybe spy school. But every other student who came to Hogwarts had to worry about finishing their homework and dealing with typical magical teenage drama, not life threatening trauma. They didn't have to save the rest of the school and still be ridiculed for it, ungrateful toe-rags.
Harry quickly found his way toward the Hangout knowing that the girls and probably Neville were most likely waiting for him. As mad as he was he would not be trying to alienate any of his current friends or newly reinstated girlfriend. As he walked into the room he saw four worried faces look up at him, he couldn't help the tension ease from his frame as he saw no accusation, only worry in their eyes.
Daphne quickly got off the couch that she was sharing with Hermione and engulfed Harry in her embrace. "Please tell me it was just some practical joke." She whispered
"It wasn't, I have to compete or lose my magic. Apparently it doesn't matter that I didn't put my name in the Goblet, all that matters is that my name came out. So now I have to compete, or turn into a squib." Harry looked thoughtful for a second before a smirk slid onto his face, "You think if I become a squib that I will finally have a calm and normal year?"
Neville tried to hide a laugh by coughing but evidently was unsuccessful as he received a glare from Hermione and a slap upside his head from Tracy. Daphne was the only one who saw the impotent rage and sorrow in Harry's eyes. She knew that he was using humor to try to relieve the tension his friends were feeling, she scowled at him before she slapped his chest.
"That's not funny, I don't want you to get hurt but I also don't want you to lose your magic. What are we going to do?" She said into his chest.
"What do I always do? I'm going to play it by ear and try not to think about it." He said with a smile.
"NO! You are going to train and you are going to beat this thing. And we are going to help you. Trace and I are top of the class in Charms, Daphne and I are top of the class in Transfiguration. Neville is the best at Herbology and really good with Creatures, and no one has topped you in DADA. I'm sure that together we can beat this. Plus I don't doubt that we could find some others in the higher years that would be willing to help." Hermione said with that gleam that she got when she found a new project.
Harry felt gratitude that they were willing to help him, with them by his side he figured that he might be able to keep up with the other champions. "Ok, when do we start?"
After another hour of figuring out what everyone's role was, the Lions and Snakes went their separate ways for the night. Hermione and Neville went in first with Harry following under his father's cloak. The common room was one big party and no one noticed as Hermione quickly went up to her dorm while Neville made his way, followed by Harry to their dorm. Upon entering their dorm Harry thanked Neville for sticking with him before he stripped and changed into his pajama pants and climbed into his bed, drawing the curtains shut. He laid there for a few minutes wondering at the treatment he would receive in the morning before he turned over and managed to fall asleep.
When he woke up the next morning he decided that he was going to skip his workout and climbed into his trunk for a long hot shower. He really enjoyed his shower better than the communal showers because his shower had a smooth floor compared to the worn stone floor that the castle showers had. Plus his shower had a much higher water pressure. After enjoying a twenty minute spray down, he got out and walked back into the bedroom to find his uniform laid out on the bed, pressed with his book bag loaded for the day. After dressing he took his book bag into the sitting area where he found a large mug of coffee waiting for him, 'I guess Dobby knows that it's going to be a long day.'
Harry sat and took a sip of the bitter coffee, he felt the heat travel down to his toes and felt more alert, "Thank you Dobby, I needed this"
"Anythings to help Master Harry Potter Sir" Came a disembodied squeaky voice causing Harry to smile.
After his coffee Harry climbed out of his trunk to find Neville getting dressed by his bed. Neville looked startled for a second before raising an eyebrow. Harry just smiled, "Come on and I'll tell you about it on the way to breakfast."
Both boys made their way to the common room where a few students were loitering around looking as if they were regretting the party last night. Hermione was sitting on the seat by the fire going over a charms book. After getting her attention the three made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast with Neville getting filled in on the way about the trunk. As they made their way to the Gryffindor table, they noticed a significant drop in ambient noise.
Neville started to look around till he heard Hermione mutter, "Here it starts again" He looked back to see Hermione muttering angrily under her breath while Harry just shook his head and looking like he was trying to hold in a laugh.
They quickly settled down and ate breakfast in silence, Harry enjoyed that they was able to be silent and just think without having to fill the void with meaningless chatter. It made for an enjoyable and peaceful breakfast. But alas it would not last.
Harry was finishing off his last bit of eggs when he saw a shadow fall over his plate. When he looked up he saw Ron doing a decent imitation of the rare Purple Faced Walrus, aka Uncle Vernon, minus the mustache and about a hundred kilos of course.
Harry wiped his mouth as he noticed Neville pulling his wand slowly in case anything happened while he felt Hermione next to him quickly erect a privacy bubble around their little group, plus Ron. Harry dropped his hands onto his lap and shifted over to give Hermione's leg a squeeze to show his gratitude.
Harry looked at Ron calmly and said, "Morning Ron, knut for your thoughts?"
Harry had a rough time keeping his face straight as he heard Hermione mutter something along the lines of ridiculously overpaying.
Ron just grated through his teeth, "Seriously Harry, not only did you cheat your way in but you couldn't even let your best mate know. Now you sit here like it is no big deal that you went and stole away the attention from the true Hogwarts Champion Angelina. What the Bloody Hell is wrong with you?"
Harry tilted his head before responding, "Well I didn't cheat, I never put my name in or asked anyone else to. And I don't even want to do this, I'd rather Angie won this and didn't have to deal with me stuck in this with her. But I definitely didn't choose to compete, and would rather sit back and enjoy the show with everyone else. Now if you are done accusing me of something that I did not do, I have class to go to, good bye."
Harry quickly stood and started walking out of the Great Hall with Hermione and Neville before he felt a spell fly by Neville quickly tried to erect a shield only to notice that Hermione already had one up while Harry stepped in front of them with his wand raised. Harry was preparing to retaliate when McGonagall's voice rung out, "Mister Weasley, you will lower your wand right now and follow me. I think it's about time to have a talk about appropriate behavior."
Harry saw Ron lowering his wand quickly as his face took a shade a red that looked more at home on a rose or tomato, 'Maybe a baboon's arse is a better comparison'. Harry saw Ron muttering under his breath while following their Head of House out of the Great Hall, before he started chuckling.
Neville and Hermione looked at him as if he was crazy, they almost got cursed for Merlin's sake. Harry glanced at them before simply stating, "A lecture for being an idiot and no breakfast before class. Ron's definitely having a bad day."
He then began to exit the Great Hall to head to class, he noticed that most people were quick to get out if his way. 'Oh yeah, definitely going to be a long day'
A/N: OK Tenth chapter done, you can expect my next chapter sometime next weekend.
Thanks for reading