AN: New chapter! Longest one yet, with a little over 7,000 words. Hope you guys enjoy. And if I could describe this chapter in three ways, it would be; S.P.E.W, dragons, and penis jokes.
Chapter 23: A Daunting Task
Harry was having the worst day of his life, worse than the time everyone thought he was the Heir of Slytherin. At least he had his friends sticking up for him at the time. Now, his best friend has joined the school in hating him while one of the few students that believes him is trying to get Ron to talk to Harry. Not even all of Gryffindor were supporting him, some because of jealousy and the others thinking that someone else was more deserving. He expected nothing less than insults from the Slytherins and understood that Hufflepuff had its own champion to cheer for. He had hoped Ravenclaw would've been more objective to the situation, but he was proven wrong when majority of them sported the same pin the Slytherins and Hufflepuff was wearing. He sighed and took comfort that at least one student in each house and all but one professor believed him. Snape was about to start their lesson when there was a knock on the door.
"What?" Snape asked when he opened the door.
"Excuse me sir, but I was asked to take Harry Potter upstairs." Colin Creevey said nervously under the gaze of the Potions Master.
"Mr. Potter still has an hour of Potions to complete." Snape said. "He will head upstairs when he is finished."
"Please sir, Mr. Bagman's asked for him." Colin said. "All the champions are being called, for photographs..."
"Very well." Snape said. "Potter, you will return after you've finished, and I expect you to be able to produce a proper antidote."
"Sir, he's being asked to take his things since they don't know how long they'll take." Colin said.
"Fine!" Snape snapped before glaring at Harry. "Potter, take your things and get out of my sight."
Harry obliged without question. After a short walk and some encouraging words from Colin, Harry arrived in a room where Cedric, Fleur, Viktor, Mr. Bagman, a photographer and a woman with blonde hair, a pale complexion, a green dress and a strange pair of glasses were waiting. He shot a small smile at Cedric, who did the same, before he was greeted by Ludo.
"Harry Potter." The woman with the weird glasses greeted as she stepped forward. "Rita Skeeter for the Daily Prophet. A pleasure."
After exchanging quick introductions, Harry moved to the wall Cedric was leaning on.
"What're we doing here?" Harry asked.
"Photographs." Cedric replied. "But Skeeter's here for a story." Cedric said the last word with a hint of disgust, making Harry look at him. "Harry, she's the one who wrote the article about how the Ministry screwed up at the World Cup and about the attack on Moody before he came to Hogwarts. She takes all the negative things about something and blows them out of proportion. That's how she sells papers; with lies and controversy. Never give her an interview."
Harry nodded and watched as Ludo and Rita talked, the former Wasp looking rather conflicted.
"Come now Ludo, just one quick word with Harry." Rita said in an obviously fake sweet tone. "Just to add a little colour. The Wizarding community has a right to know how the youngest champion is coping, right?"
"Well, I suppose a few minutes will be alright, since Dumbledore's not here yet." Ludo said.
Skeeter smiled and walked towards Harry.
"Come Harry, I'm sure there are people out there that want to know you're alright." Skeeter said.
"Well, you can write that I am." Harry replied. "Besides, Professor Dumbledore will be arriving in any second."
Skeeter insisted and Cedric looked like he was going to hex her, and Harry had no doubt he would have if Dumbledore didn't arrive at that second.
"Dumbledore, how are you?" Rita greeted. "I hope you saw my article on the International Confederation of Wizards' Conference."
"Enchantingly nasty." Dumbledore replied. "I most particularly enjoyed the part where you referred to me as an 'obsolete dingbat. But we can discuss your article later, Rita. For now, misters Diggory and Potter are needed."
Dumbledore beckoned his two students to follow him and Harry saw Mr. Ollivander, the wand-maker.
"Now one reason you're here is because of the pictures. The other is for the wand-weighing." Ludo announced and Harry looked confused. "Since you'll only be allowed your wands in the first task, it's important for us to see that they're in perfect working condition. And we have Mr. Garrick Ollivander, the finest wand-maker Britain has ever seen.
Ludo then took a seat with his fellow judges and the champions sat together, with Harry sitting in between Cedric and Fleur. Mr. Ollivander called Fleur and Harry watched as Mr. Ollivander inspected Fleur's wand and called out its properties.
"Oh my." The old wand-maker said with a surprised look. "I believe the core is veela hair."
"Oui." Fleur confirmed with a nod. "One of my grandmuzzer's."
"I never use veela hair, personally. I find that it makes wands too temperamental." Mr. Ollivander admitted. "But to each their own."
After a few more minutes of inspecting, Mr. Ollivander made a bouquet of flowers pop out of the tip of Fleur's wand and declared himself satisfied. Once Fleur sat down, he called Cedric, and smiled familiarly when Cedric handed over his wand.
"Ah yes, this is one of mine." He said as he was handed the long wand. "Twelve and a quarter inches…ash wood…Its core is a hair from a very fine male unicorn; took several handlers to keep steady and nearly ran me through with its horn. I see that you are tending to it regularly."
"Just polished it last night." Cedric said with a cheeky smile, before turning to Harry and winking, making the younger teen blush.
Harry then looked at his own wand and saw it covered in fingerprints. He grabbed a fistful of his robes and roughly wiped the wooden appendage, making a few sparks fly out of the tip. Fleur looked down at him and sneered, and Harry stopped.
Mr. Ollivander then used Cedric's wand to make silver, smokey rings, and the wand-maker happily handed it back.
He then called Viktor, who presented his wand, and Harry saw that it was much thicker than his or Cedric's. Mr. Ollivander mentioned a foreign name, the maker of Viktor's wand, inspecting it a little more before making birds come out of the tip. Once he handed Viktor his wand, he called Harry.
"Ah yes." Mr. Ollivander said as Harry handed his own wand. "Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember."
And Harry remembers the day he got his wand as well; he had tried several wands before Mr. Ollivander gave him his current one, and said that it was curious that the wand chose him. Only when Harry asked what was so curious that he learned that the phoenix that gave the feather for the core of Harry's wand gave only one other, and the wand it was contained in was Lord Voldemort's.
He never told anyone of this and was afraid Mr. Ollivander would reveal the information, dreading what Skeeter would do with the information. But the wand-maker did not do so. He did nothing different with Harry's wand, except examine it longer than the others', before making a fountain of wine shoot from the tip and declaring it was still in perfect working condition.
"That concludes the wand-weighing." Dumbledore said. "Why don't you all head to dinner? No point in returning to you classes since they will soon be over."
"Photos, Dumbledore." Bagman said. "A group photo, Ms. Skeeter?"
"Yes, and then some portraits." Skeeter said.
The first take was the group photo. It took longer than anything else since Madame Maxime's shadow covered everyone wherever she stood and the photographer had not enough space to move back to capture her in the frame. Eventually, she sat while everyone stood around her. Fleur was the obvious person to put in front with her headmistress, but Skeeter kept pulling Harry towards the front to greater prominence. Krum skulked in the back, which was weird since Harry thought he'd be used to this by now, while Karkaroff stood next to him, twirling his beard to give it a curl. Dumbledore stood on the other side of Madame Maxime, behind Harry and Cedric, who stood side by side. Barty Crouch, who looked as sick as ever, and Ludo Bagman, stood at each side.
After the group photo, they took individual portraits.
"How about another one?" Rita suggested. "And let's make the background each of their respective schools."
They all agreed and Fleur was first. When the picture was developed, it showed Fleur, but behind her was a lush greebpn garden filled with different flowers and a large, beautiful building. Viktor was next and his photo showed him and a nearly dark corridor, lit braziers hanging from the walls.
"Alright, lets shoot Cedric first, and can we have the Hufflepuff banner flowing behind him?" Rita suggested.
"Hold on, we already have individual portraits." Harry pointed out. "You're shooting the school's representatives. Cedric and I may he from different houses, but we're both students of Hogwarts."
"Harry is quite right, Rita." Dumbledore said, preemptively cutting off Rita's sentence. "Besides, dinner will be starting soon and the champions should be well-fed."
Skeeter conceded and Dumbledore winked at his two students before moving out of the way. When the picture was taken, it showed Harry snd Cedric standing side by side in the Great Hall, the banner with the Hogwarts Crest hanging above all four house tables.
The photographer gave the champions a copy of each of the photos and they all headed to the Great Hall. Viktor and Fleur walked ahead of Harry and Cedric, which he was glad since he wanted to talk to Cedric.
"How are you doing?" Cedric asked and Harry sighed. "That bad, huh?"
"Ron's not talking to me, Hermione's trying to make him see reason, majority of the school thinks I either got to enter my name by getting pass Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard of his and our age, or that he was in on it." Harry began. "Sirius is coming back, risking getting caught because I complained that my scar hurt, and we're both in a death tournament, with no idea of what we're facing for our first task and only equipped with our wands and the spells we learned so far." Harry paused to take breath. "All things considered, I'm doing pretty well."
Cedric took Harry's hand and brought the, into and empty classroom.
"A prefect's the last person I'd expect to have fantasy's about doing it in a classroom." Harry joked.
But Cedric knew Harry was doing it in an effort to quell the fear he was feeling. So he pulled the younger teen close and hugged him tightly. Harry hugged back and buried his face in Cedric's chest. As they hugged, Cedric whispered reassurances that they'll be alright. After a while, Harry looked up and place a short kiss on Cedric's cheek.
"Thanks." Harry said as he rested his head on Cedric's chest again.
"No problem, and we are going to make it out of this." Cedric said.
"Promise?" Harry knew Cedric was being honest, but still asked to get some sort of comfort.
"Harry Potter, as long as I live, I'll do all I can to keep you safe." Cedric said, making Harry smile and kissed him.
"Well, at least with these photos, I can make use of Joseph's gift." Harry said as he brought out the golden pocket watch that his Slytherin friend got him for Christmas the year before. "Now the hard part is deciding witch photo to put in here."
Harry was only choosing between the picture of him and Cedric together, and the photo of Cedric's individual portrait, which he made a copy of to give to Harry. He eventually decided to use the photo of just Cedric and said he'd add the photo of them to the album. They then walked hand in hand until they reached the entrance to the Great Hall, where they said quick goodbyes before heading to their respective tables.
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"So, this Skeeter voman, she's not good at vot she does?" Viktor asked during dinner.
"She's very good at what she does, but what she does is not journalism." Joseph replied. "She's the kind of person real journalists would hang in a public square, if they were given the chance."
Every Slytherin that heard him nodded their heads in agreement. Draco sat on his other side, while Viktor was on the other. The taller Slytherin had returned to eating with his housemates. He and Draco talked again, but only about schoolwork.
"Any luck with figuring out what the first task will be?" Joseph asked and Viktor sighed. "No luck, so far?"
"They said that ve are supposed to show courage in the face of unknown challenges." Viktor replied. "That could be any of a hundred different things."
Viktor looked stressed and Joseph look worried. Draco was about to offer some words of encouragement when an owl landed in front of him with a letter. The way his name was written helped Draco identify that the letter was from his father.
Draco,
I am pleased to hear that you've taken your engagement to Astoria seriously, even more so that I heard it from her parents. I'm assuming you'll be taking her to the Yule Ball. If so, send us word; we want you two to look like a proper pure-blood couple.
Your father,
Lucius Malfoy
Draco sighed when he finished reading it. He was about to throw it into the fireplace closest to him, when it was snatched out of his hand.
"Give it back, Zabini." Draco growled.
"I think not, Draco." Blaise replied with a playful smile. "The only reason for you receiving a letter at this time is if it's extremely important. Maybe it has something to do with the tournament."
Now everyone seemed interested in the letter. Draco tried to grab the letter, but Blaise easily ducked out of the way.
"Oh my. It is important, but it's not about the tournament. Well, not completely." Blaise said, his grin widening.
"Return it or I will hex you." Draco threatened, still trying to catch Blaise.
He eventually caught his housemate, but they both tripped and Blaise lost his hold of the letter. When Draco got up, the letter was somewhere worse than Blaise's hands; it was on Joseph's plate. The raven stared at it for a few seconds before picking it up and handing it to Draco.
"Aren't you going to finish your dinner?" Viktor asked.
"I've lost my appetite." Joseph replied. "It's hard not to when the people seated next to you don't know how to act their age."
Draco muttered a quiet apology while Blaise smiled proudly.
"Are you going to the library?" Viktor whispered, intending for only Joseph to heat, but Draco did as well.
"Yes, I'm going to look for some spells that may help you." Joseph replied before gathering his things.
"Can I ask you for a favour?" Viktor asked Draco as soon as Joseph was out of the Great Hall.
"What is it?" Draco asked.
"Can you check on him? See if he's alright?" Viktor asked.
"Why me?" Draco asked.
"Vell, from vot I've heard, you two have been friends since childhood." Viktor replied. "He's bound to trust you more than anyone else."
"I understand." Draco said as he sighed. "But things are tense between us, right now."
"Were you..." Viktor began before moving closer to Draco and lowering his voice to a whisper. "Were you the one Joseph vos vid before me?" Draco stared at his plate blankly for a few seconds before nodding. "I apologise if I had cause your relationship to end."
"It's fine, we were bound to break up. Our relationship was on the rocks before you came." Draco said, ignoring the thought that said it was his fault.
"Vell, I vouldn't vant to put you in an awkward position." Viktor said, and Draco shook his head.
"It's fine, I'll check on him." Draco said. "I mean, he is still my friend."
Viktor thanked him before conversing with his schoolmates and Draco began thinking how he could engage his friend in a conversation, while casting a Stinging hex on Blaise's legs underneath the table.
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Harry had thought that his situation couldn't get worse. Well, he was proven wrong when he saw Skeeter's article published the next day. It was all about him, Fleur and Viktor were only mentioned towards the end, Cedric wasn't mentioned at all and even without talking to Harry except for greeting each other, she had an entire paragraph about how his inspiration was his parents and how he cried every night thinking about them. Worse of all was she dragged Hermione into her article, causing her to get some grief, especially from the Slytherins.
"Just ignore them, Harry." Hermione said as they walked to Care for Magical Creatures. "You and I know everything that she writes is pure and utter tripe."
"I know, but it doesn't help that people read and believe it." Harry sighed.
Harry had hoped that Ron telling him about their detention with Snape that night and that he had received a letter from Sirius last night would be the start to them talking again, but it wasn't. It even seemed like his attitude worsened after reading Skeeter's article, probably thinking that Harry was loving being in the tournament.
"Come on Harry, please talk to him." Hermione insisted.
"He started this." Harry said.
"You miss him!" Hermione stated.
"Of course I do, but someone as immature as that can't be a good influence on me." Harry said.
"You're using Joseph's words because if you use your own, you'll admit to missing him." Hermione pointed out. "Yes, he tells me some things."
"Then I'll tell you what I told him and Cedric." Harry replied. "I want to be friends with Ron again, but something has got to change about how he acts. I know how hard it is living in someone's shadow, sure it was Dudley's, but it's big enough to count as five people." Hermione gave a small smile. "He should know by now that I never wanted to have a spotlight on me, and I still don't."
Hermione nodded and they let the issue rest for now. She then convinced Harry to come with her that Saturday to Hogsmeade. After plenty of insisting pleas, Harry gave in, telling her she'll ask Cedric and probably Cho to come so it won't look like she's alone.
Harry walked side by side with Ron in a tense silence, on their way to detention with Snape. They got to the Potions lab and Harry raised an eyebrow to find Joseph there. It looked like he was brewing something. He doubted that he was being tutored by Snape. The Potions Master then placed a box in front of Ron and Harry.
"You will be carefully separating these beetles's eyes, wings, shells, and legs." Snape instructed. "Try not to butcher them. If you produce and inadequate amount of acceptable ingredients, you will have another detention tomorrow. And try not to make too much noise."
"Sir" Joseph called. "Can you please have Potter do his work in this table? I will need to adjust my potion with beetle shells and having fresh ones will be better."
"You heard him, Potter." Snape said as he summoned another box and halved the beetles between the two boxes. "I am holding you accountable if Mr. Duskgem's potion is a failure. It is more likely that you would give him an ingredient of poor quality rather than him making a mistake."
Harry bit his tongue and took his box, walking toward the table next to Joseph's workstation. Harry picked one of the beetles up and stared at it with disgust.
"It's not that bad." Joseph said and Harry looked at him. "He made Longbottom hand scrub the cauldrons clean, once."
"You come here a lot, then?" Harry asked.
"Just when I need to." Joseph answered. "And no, I can't tell you what I'm brewing, or what it's for."
Harry nodded and picked up his knife, positioning it in different angles before sighing.
"It's not that hard, Harry. You'll want to take the eyes out, first." Joseph said and instructed the Gryffindor on how to properly remove the eyes, legs, wings, and shell. The worse was the shell, since at times, Harry would cut too deep, and the beetle's innards would spill out.
"Things haven't improved between you and Ron, have they?" Joseph asked and Harry shook his head. "I'm surprised; people usually come together in their mutual hate for Snape."
"Well, anything's possible." Harry sighed.
"How are you and Cedric doing?" Joseph asked.
"We're coping; we're actually meeting Hermione and Cho at the Three Broomsticks this Saturday." Harry replied. "You should come with us."
"Don't you think that would be a strange sight? The two Hogwarts champions, a Gryffindor, a Ravenclaw, and a Slytherin seated together." Joseph asked. "People will talk, speculate, assume. People assuming you and Cedric are dating would be the best case scenario. The worst case is people will think you're working together."
"Well, I hadn't thought of that." Harry admitted.
"I'll take care of it." Joseph said and Harry looked at him. "Just be there."
A few minutes later, Snape inspected Harry and Ron's work.
"As expected, you've butchered majority of your beetles, Weasley." Snape said. "Luckily for you, Potter's done an adequate, but messy, job. Who would've thought it?"
Harry and Ron washed up before heading to Gryffindor tower in another tense silence.
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"So Joseph will be joining us?" Hermione asked as they walked towards Hogsmeade.
"That's what it sounded like." Harry replied from under his invisibility cloak.
"Well, I'm sorry that we left for Hogsmeade later than usual, but you've made some progress in your Summoning charms." Hermione praised.
"Thanks." Harry said.
On their way there, they ran into Hagrid and Professor Moody.
"Nice cloak, Potter." Moody said.
"Can your eye...er you." Harty began awkwardly.
"Yes, it can see through Invisibility Cloaks." Moody confirmed. "Came in handy plenty of times."
Just then, Hagrid's face became serious and leaned closer to Hermione.
"Harry, come meet me latet tonight, alright? I've got something important to show you." Hagrid said and Harry agreed.
Hagrid and Moody then left.
"Harry, you could be late for Sirius."
"If Hagrid says it's important, then I should go." Harry said and Hermione conceded.
They walked into the Three Broomsticks and as soon as Rosmerta spotted Hermione, she beckoned the brunette to come closer.
"Go on up." She said. "First door to the right."
Hermione nodded and headed to the room. When she opened the door, she and Harry saw Cedric, Cho, and Joseph seated around a table. Once the door was shut Harry removed his cloak and took a seat next to Cedric.
"Where the butterbeer?" He asked.
"Bad week?" Cedric asked with a smile while Joseph placed a glass of the drink in front of the Gryffindor.
"Detention wasn't so bad, thanks to our Slytherin accomplice." Harry replied, leaning onto Cedric.
"How goes preparing for the first task?" Cho asked.
"We're doing fine." Harry said and Cedric nodded.
"Have any idea what it's going to be?" Joseph asked.
"No, but..." Harry hesitated. "Hagrid wanted me to meet him tonight, said it was important. Might have something to do with the first task."
"And you will share it with us, not just Cedric?" Joseph asked, making Harry look at him. "Our main priority is keeping you two alive, but I have a personal interest in this matter."
"Yes, I'll share it with you guys." Harry said. "Thank, also. For looking out for us."
"What, did you think we'd leave you to flounder around?" Hermione asked.
"And if it weren't for Joseph and I, you two would still just be staring at each other in the Great Hall." Cho said. "Well, you still do that, but you wouldn't be together."
"Honestly, I'm surprised the whole school hasn't caught on." Joseph stated.
"Thanks guys." Harry said sarcastically before smiling.
"That reminds me." Hermione said before bringing out a box, making Harry groan. "I hope you'll all my organisation."
"Spew?" Cho asked confusedly as she looked at the badge that was handed to her.
"S.P.E.W." Hermione corrected. "The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. Did you know that house-elves are practically slaves?"
"Honestly, we don't have one under our employ, but I don't think it's that bad." Cedric said.
"It's horrible. House-elves are bound to their masters, who are free to do with them as they please. And they can't do anything to fight back." Hermione said. "They even hurt themselves as punishment if they even think about speaking ill of their masters. Harry, tell them about Dobby."
Reluctantly, Harry told the three about Dobby, how he came to his relatives' house, how he tried to stop him from getting to Hogwarts, tried to get him sent home from Hogwarts, and how he saved Harry after he had helped freed him from the Malfoy family. Hermione then told them about Winky.
"Just because one family is terrible to their elf doesn't mean all of them are." Joseph stated. "And Mr. Crouch had to sack the elf, it was politics. If he kept her in his employ, the Ministry would ask him serious questions."
"So you're alright with the enslavement of an entire race?" Hermione asked.
"It's not so black and white if you know the history." Joseph pointed out. "Many people have gotten used to the idea of elves being slaves that they had forgotten about why that came to be. Only a few pure-blood families have texts on why this came to be."
"Would you please enlighten us, then?" Harry asked, half hoping the explanation would get Hermione to stop nagging people into joining.
"The short version is that the elves knew they were powerful magical creatures, but they eventually learned that there were even more powerful beings in this vast world." Joseph began. "That being the case, they had to constantly move around to avoid getting killed. They eventually decided to find someone or something that could protect them, but they weren't just looking for something powerful; they were looking for something that could fend off about anything else. It took a while, but they eventually came to a village inhabited by wizards and witches. They observed them for a while, watching them fend off things like wolves, salamanders, and redcaps. It was when the wizards and witches defeated a dragon that attacked their village did the elves reveal themselves. They asked for protection in exchange for their services."
"Well, that certainly puts some things to light." Hermione admitted. "However, that does not excuse abuses against them."
"And I agree, but not all families abuse them." Joseph argued. "Our house-elves are well-treated; we never give them tasks that are too dangerous, they can have whatever they want to eat, and we've ordered them to clean their rags, since they won't accept anything."
"Smart, since house-elves have to obey every order their masters give them." Cedric said.
"But why didn't they accept the new things?" Hermione asked.
"Because anything they can wear, whether it's a sock, shoe, or pillowcase, will be considered clothes to them." Joseph said. "Anyway, the reason they're so frightened of being set free is that they are afraid of facing enemies more powerful than themselves."
Hermione nodded in understanding and agreed to put the S.P.E.W. talk to rest for the time being. The five of them stayed and chatted for a while before they left separately; first Joseph, then Cedric and Cho, followed by Hermione and Harry, underneath his invisibility cloak.
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Draco sighed as he headed for his dorm. He had just escaped from Astoria, who had been talking his ear off about dresses. He was growing very tired of having to hear her talk about something. There were so many things he hated about her; he hated how she would always sit next to him. They weren't officially a couple yet, but she had no doubt told her parents that, explaining the letter from his father. She kept pointing out things she didn't like about him, insisting that he change it. Worst of all, she asked where he was when they aren't together, who he was with, and what they were doing.
He walked into the dorm and found his friends on their beds; Blaise was reading through his small, black, journal. No one knew the contents of it, but Blaise seemed proud of it. Crabbe and Goyle were playing Exploding Snap, and Nott was reading on his bed. Joseph was also reading, but not in the same leisurely way Nott was; he was reading a thick book and three others sat around him opened in certain pages. Draco wondered what he was doing it for since there were no tests in the foreseeable future. He then remembered what he had promised Viktor and approached the raven.
"Can I help you?" Joseph asked, not looking up from the book he was reading.
"I was just wondering if we could talk." Draco said, spying a piece of parchment that had the word 'dragons' written on it.
"As you can see, I'm busy." Joseph said. "But if you insist."
Draco slowly sat on the other end of Joseph's bed, pulling the curtains shut and casting Silence charms.
"Is this going to be about the letter?" Joseph asked. "Draco, I don't care who you date. That's your business."
"It's not about that." Draco said, although he felt a slight sting in his chest. "I was wondering how you've been doing. It's been a while since we talked to each other about anything but schoolwork."
"I've been well." Joseph answered. "How about you? Are things working out between you and Astoria?"
"Things are great." Draco lied. It was the automatic response he had for that question. "I'm actually thinking of taking her to the Yule Ball."
"Is that your decision or your father's?" Joseph asked. "Draco, we may not be dating anymore, but I'm still your friend and care about you. Making decisions based on what your father approves of is not a good way to live your life."
"He only wants what's best for me." Draco replied.
"All parents want the best for their children, but you're the only person who knows what's best for you." Joseph explained as he set down the book he was reading before picking another one up. "You should live the life you want."
"How are things between you and Viktor?" Draco asked.
"Other than stressing over the first task, things are going well." Joseph replied.
"Well, I better leave you to your reading." Draco said.
"Draco, I'm glad we talked, and I'm sorry I was being stubborn since we broke up." Joseph said. "But things worked out; we're both in happy relationships instead of being in a rocky one. This is better for both of us."
Joseph sounded like he was trying to convince himself, but Draco nodded and agreed. The two bade each other goodnight before Draco headed for his own bed and shut the curtains, trying and failing to ignore the pain in his chest.
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Harry walked and spotted Cedric in the Transfiguration courtyard with his friends. Ignoring the other students, Harry headed towards the group of Hufflepuffs.
"Can I speak to you?" Harry asked and Cedric nodded, the two of them moving away from the others. "Dragons, they're making us face dragons in the first task, there's one for each of us."
"Dragons, are you serious?" Cedric asked in disbelief.
"Yes, that's what Hagrid showed me last night." Harry explained. "I tried to tell you after I talked to Sirius, but you were already asleep and I was distracted this morning."
"Do Fleur and Krum know?" Cedric asked.
"Yes, Hagrid brought along Madame Maxime. I think they were on a date." Harry said and shuddered, making the brunette chuckle. "And Krum most likely knows, since Karkaroff was there too and I handed Joseph a note when I passed him on the staircase."
"So…dragons." Cedric said and Harry nodded. "Will you be alright?"
"I'll be fine, I've got Hermione to help me." Harry said with a smile. "Go back to your friends."
"Oh Harry, I've asked them not to wear the badges." Cedric whispered and Harry said it was fine.
"Well, well, Potter, how's the second Hogwarts champion doing?" Draco asked sarcastically.
"What do you care Malfoy?" Harry spat.
"My father and I have a bet you see." Draco said. "I bet you wouldn't last five minutes. My father, well, he thinks you won't last five seconds."
"I don't care what your father thinks, Malfoy." Harry said. "He's vile and cruel, and you're just pathetic."
"How dare you?!" Draco said as Harry walked away. "I'll teach you."
"Oh no you don't, sonny!" Someone yelled and Harry turned in the nick of time to see Moody turn Draco into a white ferret.
"I'll teach you to hex someone when their back's turned." Moody said, levitating Draco up and down, earning laughs from the surrounding students.
"Professor Moody!" McGonagall called as she approached. "Professor Moody, what're you doing?"
"Teaching." Moody replied.
"Is that…is that a student?" McGonagall asked with a shocked look.
"Technically it's a ferret." Moody answered before pulling on Crabbe's trousers and stuffing Draco into it.
"I'll get him." Goyle said and stuffed his hand down Crabbe's pants, before taking it out just as quick.
Draco then climbed out of one of Crabbe's pants leg and McGonagall turned him back.
"My father will hear about this." Malfoy said.
"Is that a threat? Is that a threat?!" Moody yelled as he chased Draco. "I can tell you stories about your father that would make even your greasy hair curl, boy!"
"Alastor!" McGonagall called as she stepped in front of the former auror, and pointed her wand at him when he would not desist. "We do not use Transfiguration as a punishment. Surely Dumbledore told you this."
"He might've mentioned it." Moody said quietly.
McGonagall lowered her wand and dispersed the students. Moody asked Harry to follow him. Harry turned to see Cedric still smiling widely and waved before following the Defence professor.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Draco stared at himself in the mirror. He had just finished bathing for the third time and he was still unsatisfied. After being inside Crabbe's trousers, he conceded that nothing will ever be enough to make him feel clean again. He was about to re-enter his dorm when he heard Blaise talk to someone.
"Where've you been?" Blaise asked.
"In the library, where else?" Joseph returned.
"Well, you're never going to believe what happened." Blaise said, no doubt with a smirk, and recounted the events in the Transfiguration courtyard.
As Blaise did, Draco considered locking himself inside the bathroom until the end of the school year. Once Blaise finished, his friend said something that made him feel better.
"And you guys did nothing?" Joseph asked.
"Well, Goyle did shove his hand down Crabbe's pants." Blaise said, stifling his chuckle when Joseph glared at him. "But it's not like we could've done anything; Moody's a professor and we didn't know any spell to counter it."
"Did you tell Snape?" Joseph asked.
"Well no." Blaise admitted. "But McGonagall took care of it."
"She'll just give Moody a talking to and leave it at that." Joseph said. "I'm going to tell Snape."
Draco heard a door shut and he felt a little happier as he got dressed.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Harry nervously awaited his turn as Viktor took on his dragon. He would occasionally hear Ludo say something and the crowd gasp, cheer, or scream. The only thing that kept him from cracking at this point was the knowledge that Cedric was safe. There were several screams when he was out there, but it ended with the crowd cheering. He could use some words of encouragement from Cedric, but they both left their necklaces in their trunks, knowing it'd be confiscated. A few minutes later, the crowd erupted into cheers and Bagman announced that Krum had gotten the egg. Harry heard Ludo call his name and that was the last thing he heard as he walked to the enclosure. He could hear Mr. Bagman announcing and the crowd, but he didn't listen to them, he didn't care. All that mattered right now was him, that golden egg, and the giant, black, lizard guarding it.
"Accio Firebolt." Harry casted as he raised his wand to the air.
At first there was nothing. The crowd looked confused and Harry feared that it had not worked. But then he heard a distinct whistling in the air. He turned and saw his Firebolt racing towards the enclosure. It stopped right next to him. Coming to his senses, Harry mounted the broom and took off. Harry saw that the Horntail didn't follow him, but was eying him suspiciously with its yellow eyes. Harry then looked at this entire thing as a Quidditch match with the egg being the snitch and the Horntail being the entire enemy team, including bludgers. Strangely enough, this thought made him calmer and he sped towards the dragon.
After a flying around a bit and taking a minor blow to the shoulder, Harry deduced that the dragon had no interest in pursuing him, yet. He had to bait it into taking to the air. So he flew around it, close enough to think it's a threat, but far enough so that it couldn't reach him with its teeth or tail. He did so for a few minutes and the Horntail took off and chased Harry. Seeing his opening, Harry dove and flew as fast he could towards the nest. Before the Horntail could react, Harry had gotten the egg and the handlers were rushing outside to subdue it.
"Can you believe it ladies and gentlemen?" Ludo called. "Harry Potter, the youngest champion, retrieved his egg the fastest."
"Excellent work, Potter." Professor McGonagall complimented when Harry landed. "You'll need to see Madame Pomfrey about your shoulder, though."
"Yeh did it, Harry!" Hagrid cheered.
"Nice and easy does it, eh Potter?" Moody said with a nod.
Harry thanked them all before being shooed to the medical tent by Professor McGongall, where Madame Pomfrey sat him on a bed and begun working on the wound. While being tended to, Madame Pomfrey vented about how the school keeps putting students in serious danger by bringing dangerous creatures to Hogwarts. Harry felt a sting when the medi-witch applied a disinfectant to his shoulder, but felt it instantly heal when she casted a spell on it.
"Now sit here and rest for a few minutes before going to get your scores." Madame Pomfrey ordered, looking sternly at Harry when he tried to stand. "Sit!"
Harry obeyed, glad to be able to relax after so long.
"It feels fine Madame Pomfrey, I swear." A familiar voice said in the neighbouring ward.
"Well, leave it on for another hour, Diggory." Pomfrey ordered and a few seconds later, the curtain was pulled back and Cedric walked in, and Harry's eyes widened at seeing an orange blob covering half his face.
"I look that hideous?" Cedric jokingly asked.
He then sat next to Harry and they held each other in a tight embrace, letting out sighs of relief. They just hugged for the next few minutes, relishing this moment of peace, glad that both of them weren't seriously injured.
"So what happened to your face?" Harry asked and Cedric chuckled.
"I tried distracting the dragon by transfiguring a rock into a dog." He explained. "It worked for a while, but the dragon changed its mind. I had gotten the egg, but also got burnt. Madame Pomfrey said it wasn't too bad and I'll look as good as new once this blob's off."
Harry smiled and cupped the side of Cedric's face that wasn't covered in goop.
"I wasn't able to watch you, since I was being tended to." Cedric said. "But from what I've heard, you were amazing."
"The entire thing was terrifying." Harry admitted. "But when it was over, seeing everyone cheering, it felt like I hadn't just faced a dragon at all."
"I know what you mean." Cedric said before a smile crept onto his face. "So the question is, who'll get the higher score."
"Obviously me." Harry said with a smirk. "You got half your faced burned. I only got a wound on my shoulder and it's not that deep."
"Yes, well my dragon was bigger." Cedric argued.
"Mine was more dangerous." Harry returned. It wasn't long before Cedric was straddling Harry's legs, trying to get the Gryffindor to concede defeat.
"Harry what's taking so long?" Someone called. "They want to give you your..,oh."
Hermione stopped when she opened the curtain and Ron looked at the pair with wide eyes.
"Looks like we've got some explaining to do." Harry said, a huge blush on his face.
"Cedric and I will explain, just go get your scores." Hermione said, ignoring the look Ron gave her. "They can each give you a maximum of ten. Good luck."
Nodding, Harry walked out of the tent and onto the platform. He received an eight from Madame Maxime, a nine each from Barty Crouch and Professor Dumbledore, a ten from Ludo Bagman, which he found odd since he got hurt, and a Karkaroff gave him a four, which was outrageous. It wasn't so bad in the end; he and Cedric survived, completed the first task, he was tied for first with Krum, majority of the school didn't hate him and were supporting him along with Cedric, he and Ron made up and was no longer hiding his relationship from the redhead, Karkaroff's plan of getting rid of him with the dragon failed, and the next task wasn't going to take place until February. Things still weren't safe, nor were they perfect, but at least they were starting to look up.
AN: I apologise for the late update, but I've gotten extremely busy in the past month. And to be honest, I didn't feel up to writing it the past week. As we all Potterheads know by now, Alan Rickman passed last week on Thursday. When I heard the news, I felt my heart weep, it still does. I don't doubt that it will be a long while before the wounds in our hearts heal.
But if I may borrow something from Professor Dumbledore, we should remember Alan Rickman. And when we do, we should not focus on how he's gone, but we should celebrate what he has done for the entire world. All those who have worked with him describe him as a kind and generous man. They will tell you stories of how despite being extremely busy himself, they could always ask him for help, and Alan would reply to them within the day. Alan Rickman may be gone, but his legacy will live on forever. Not just in his movies, but in the countless actors and actresses he helped mentor while working with them, and with the lives around the world his works touched.
Rest in peace, Alan Rickman. There are no words that can sufficiently express the world's gratitude to you, but be it Potter fans, Die Hard fans, Love Actually fans, or anything else, you will be in our hearts and minds, always.